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
thy sorceries and the great abundance of thine inchantments And it seemes they still retained their old wicked wont Secondly Poisoning To give the Jews their due this was none of their faults whilest living in their own land not meeting with the word in the whole Bible It seems they learnt this sin after their disperson in other Nations and since are grown exquisite in that art of wickedness Thirdly Clipping of money Fourthly Counterfeiting of Christians hands and seals Fifthly Extortion A Jew occasioned a mutiny in London by demanding from a poor Christian above two shillings for the use of twenty shillings for one week being by proportion no less then five hundred and twenty pounds per annum for every hundred Sxthly Crucifying of the children of Christians to keep their hands in ure always about Easter So that the time pointed at their intents directly in derision of our Saviour How sufficiently these crimes were witnessed against them I know not In such cases weak proofs are of proof against rich offenders We may well believe if their persons were guilty of some of these faults their estates were guilty of all the rest 47. Now although it passeth for an uncontrolled truth Jews say others not cast out but craved leave to depart that the Jews were by the King violently cast out of the Land yet a great a Sir Ed. Coke Lawyer states the case much otherwise viz. that the King did not directly expel them but only prohibit them to put money to use which produced a petition from them to the King that they might have leave to depart the Land a request easily granted unto them some will say it is all one in effect whether one be starved or stabbed death inevitably following from both as here the Jews were famished on the matter out of England usury being their meat and drink without which they were unable longer to subsist However this took off much from the Odium of the act that they were not immediately but only indirectly and consequentially banished the Realm or rather permitted a free departure on their own petition for the same As for the sad accident that some hundreds of them being purposely shipped out of a spightful design in a leaking vessel were all drowned in the Sea if true it cannot but command compassion in any Christian heart 48. It is hardly to be believed The King gets incredible wealth forfeited by the Jews what vast sums of wealth accrewed to the King 1293 by this call it ejection 21. or amotion or decesion of the Jews He allowed them only bare viaticum to bear their charges and seised on all the rest of their estates Insomuch that now the King needed not to listen to the counsel of William Marsh Bishop of Bath and wells 1294 and Treasurer of England but therein speaking more like a Treasurer then a Bishop advising him 22. if in necessity to take all the plate and money of Churches a Polydore Virgil and Monasteries therewith to pay his souldiers The poor Jews durst not go into France whence lately they had been solemnly banished but generally disposed themselves in Germany and Italy especially in the Popes territories therein where profit from Jews and Stews much advance the constant revenues of his Holiness 49. King Edward having done with the Jews King Edward arbitrator betwixt Bailiol and Bruce began with the Scots and effectually humbled them and their country This the occasion Two Competitors appearing for the Crown of Scotland John Bailiol and Robert Bruce and both referring their title to King Edward's decision he adjudged the same to Bailiol or rather to himself in Bailiol For he enjoyned him to do homage unto him and that hereafter the Scotish Crown should be held in fealty of the English Bailiol or his necessity rather his person being in King Edward's power accepted the condition owning in England one above himself that so he might be above all in Scotland 1295 But 23. no sooner was he returned into his own Kingdom and peaceably possessed thereof but instantly in a Letter of defiance he disclaimeth all former promises to King Edward appealing to the Christian world whether his own inforced obedience were more to be pitied or King Edward's insolence improving it self on a Princes present extremitics more to be condemned 50. Offended hereat He proveth Malleus Scotorum King Edward 1297 advanceth into Scotland 25. with the forces he formerly intended for France Power and policy make a good medly and the one fareth the better for the other King Edward to strengthen himself thought fit to take in the title of Robert Bruce Bailiols corrival hitherto living privately in Scotland pretending to settle him in the Kingdom Hereupon the Scots to lessen their losses and the English victories b G. Buchanan 〈◊〉 Scot. libro octavo 〈◊〉 affirm that in this expedition their own Country-men were chiefly conquered by their own Country-men the Brucian party assisting the Englsih Sure it is that King Edward took Barwick Dunbar Sterling Edenbrugh the Crown Scepter and out of Scone the Royal Chair and prophetical Marble therein And though commonly it be observed that English valour hopefully budding and blossoming on this side of Edenburgh-Frith is frost-bitten on the North thereof yet our victorious Edward crossing that sea took Montross and the best Counties thereabout In a word he conquered almost all the Garden of Scotland and left the wilderness thereof to conquer it self Then having fetled Warren Earl of Survey Vice-Roy thereof and made all the Scotish Nobility Doughty Douglas alone excepted who was committed to prison for his singular recusancy swear homage unto him and taking John Bailiol captive along with him he returned triumphantly into England The End of the Thirteenth CENTURY CENT XIV TO CLEMENT THROCKMORTON the Elder OF Haseley in Warwick-shire Esq LEt other boast of their French bloud whilest your English family may vie Gentry with any of the Norman Extraction 1. For Antiquity four Monosyllables being by common pronuntiation crouded into your name THE ROCK MORE TOWN 2. For Numerosity being branched into so many Counties 3. For Ingenuity charactered by †Brit. in Warwick shire Camden to be FRUITFUL OF FINE WITS whereof several instances might be produced But a principal consideration which doth and ever shall command my respect unto your person is your faithful and cordial friendship in matters of highest concernment whatever be the success thereof to the best of my Relations which I conceived my self obliged publickly to confess 1. AMidst these cruel Wars Ed. 1. 29. betwixt the English and Scots 1301. Pope Boniface the eighth The Pope challengeth Scotland as peculiar to himself sent his Letters to King Edward requiring him to quit his claim and cease his Wars and release his prisoners of the Scotch Nation as a people exempt and properly pertaining to his own Chappel Perchance the Popes right to
Bedfordshire It began Anno 575 under King Vffa and lay most exposed to the Cruelty of the Danish Incursions 5. Of MERCIA so called because it lay in the middest of the Island being the Merches or Limits on which c Lambert's Descript of Kent all the residue of the Kingdomes did bound and border It began Anno 582. under King Cridda and contained the whole Counties of Lincoln Northampton with Rutland then and long since part thereof Huntingdon Buckingham Oxford Worcester Warwick Darby Nottingham Leicester Stafford and Chester Besides part of Hereford and Salop the Remnant whereof was possess'd by the Welsh Gloucester Bedford and d Idem ibid. Lancaster In view it was the greatest of all the seven but it abated the Puissance thereof because on the VVest it affronted the Britans being deadly Enemies and bordering on so many Kingdomes the Mercians had work enough at home to shut their own Doors 6. Of NORTHUMBERLAND corrivall with Mercia in Greatnesse though farre inferiour in Populousnesse as to which belonged whatsoever lieth betwixt Humber and Edenborough-Frith It was subdivided sometimes into two Kingdomes of Bernicia and Deira The later consisted of the Remainder of Lancashire with the intire Counties of York Durham VVestmorland and Cumberland Bernicia contained Northumberland with the South of Scotland to Edenborough But this Division lasted not long before both were united together It began Anno 547 under King Ida. 7. Of the WEST-SAXONS who possessed Hantshire Berkshire Wiltshire Somerset Dorset and Devonshire part of Cornwall and Gloucestershire yea some assigne a Moiety of Surrey unto them This Kingdome began Anno 519 under King Cerdicus and excelled for plenty of Ports on the South and Severn Sea store of Burroughs stoutnesse of active men some impute this to the Naturall cause of their being hatch't under the warm Wings of the South-VVest VVind which being excellent VVrastlers gave at last a Fall to all the other Saxon Kingdomes So that as the seven Streams of Nilus loose themselves in the Mid-land Sea this Heptarchy was at last devoured in the VVest-Saxons Monarchy The reason that there is some difference in VVriters in bounding of these severall Kingdomes is because England being then the constant Cock-pit of Warre the Limits of these Kingdomes were in daily motion sometimes marching forward sometimes retreating backward according to variety of Successe We may see what great difference there is betwixt the Bounds of the Sea at High-water and at Low-water Mark and so the same Kingdome was much disproportioned to it self when extended with the happy Chance of Warre and when contracted at a low Ebb of Ill Successe And here we must not forget that amongst these seven Kings during the Heptarchie commonly one was most puissant over-ruling the rest who stiled himself a Camden's Brit. pag. 139. King of the English Nation 18. But to return to the British Church and the year of our Lord 449 wherein S t. Patrick Irish S. Patrick said to live and die at Glassenbury the Apostle of Ireland is notoriously reported to have come to Glassenbury where finding twelve old Monks Successours to those who were first founded there by Ioseph of Arimathea he though unwilling was chosen their Abbot and lived with them 39 yeares observing the Rule of S t. Mark and his Aegptian Monks the Order of Benedictines being as yet unborn in the world Give we here a List of these 12 Monks withall forewarning the Reader that for all their harsh Sound they are so many Saints least otherwise he should suspect them by the ill noise of their Names to be worse Creatures 1. Brumbam 2. Hyregaan 3. Brenwall 4. VVencreth 5. Bantom-meweng 6. Adel-wolred 7. Lowar 8. VVellias 9. Breden 10. Swelves 11. Hinloemius 12. Hin But know that some of these Names as the 3. 6. and 9. are pure plain b First observed by Mr. Camden and since by the Arch-bishop of Armach He is made Co-partner in the Church with the Virgin Mary Saxon words which renders the rest suspected So that whosoever it was that first gave these British Monks such Saxon Names made more Haste then good Speed preventing the true Language of that Age. 19. So great was the Credit of S t. Patrick at Glassenbury that after his Death and Buriall there that Church which formerly was dedicated to the Virgin Mary alone was in after-Ages jointly consecrated to her and S t. Patrick A great Presumption For if it be true what is reported that at the first by direction of the Angel c See 1. Cent. 11. Parag. Gabriel that Church was solely devoted to the Virgin Mary surely either the same or some other Angel of equall Power ought to have ordered the Admission of S t. Patrick to the same to be match'd and impaled with the Blessed Virgin in the Honour thereof In reference to S t. Patrick's being at Glassenbur severall Saxon Kings granted large Charters with great Profits and Priviledges to this Place 20. But now the Spight is that an unparallel'd d James Usher de Brit. Ecc. Primord pag. 875. 883 894. 895. Yet the Credit of Patrick's being at Glassenbury shrewdly shaken Critick in Antiquity leaves this Patrick at this time sweating in the Irish Harvest having newly converted Lempster to the Faith and now gone into the province of Munster on the same Occasion Yea he denies and proveth the same that this Patrick ever liv'd or was buried at Glassenbury But be it known to whom it may concern that the British are not so over-fond of S t. Patrick as to ravish him into their Country against his will and the consent of Time Yea S t. Patrick miss'd as much Honour in not being at Glassenbury as Glassenbury hath lost Credit if he were never there seeing the British justly set as high a Rate on that Place as the Irish do on his Person See but the Glorious Titles which with small Alteration might serve for Ierusalem it self given to Glassenbury and seeing now the Place is for the most part buried in it's own Dust let none envy these Epithets for the Epitaph thereof Here lies the a Or Borough City vvhich once vvas the b In the Charter of King Ina and also in King Edgar's Fountain and Originall of all Religion built by Christs Disciples c Malmesbury MS. de Antiq. Eccles Glaston consecrated by Christ himself and this place is the d So called in the Charter of King Kenwin MOTHER OF SAINTS We are sorry therefore for S t. Patrick's sake if he was never there To salve all some have found out another Patrick called Seniour or Sen Patrick a nice difference equall with the Irish Apostle in Time and not much inferiour in Holinesse who certainly liv'd at Glassenbury The plain truth is that as in the e Plautus his Amphitruo Comoedian when there were two Amphitruo's and two Sosia's they made much fallacious Intricacy and pleasant Delusion in the eyes of the Spectatours So
of solid Reason and therefore the 〈◊〉 the Argument the better for his Apprehension 13. Most solid and ingenious was the Answer of a most eminent Serjeant at Law of this Age A solid Answer of a learned Serjeant to the impertinent Clamours of such against the payment of Tithes because as they say due onely by Humane Right My Cloak is my Cloak by the Law of Man But he is a Thief by the Law of God that taketh it away from me 14. True it is that this Law did not presently find an universall Obedience in all the Land This law not presently and perfectly obeyed And the Wonder is not great if at the first making thereof it met with many Recusants since corroborated by eight hundred yeares Prescription and many Confirmations it findes Obstacles and Oppositions at this day for in succeeding Ages severall Kings confirmed the same though Papall Exemptions of severall Orders and modus Decimandi according to custome have almost since tithed the Tithes in some places 15. King Athelwolphus the next year took his call it Progresse or Pilgrimage to Rome 19 Where the report of his Piety prevented his Arrivall provided both Welcome and Wonder for his Entertainment 856 Here he confirmed unto the Pope his Predecessours Grant of Peter-pence King Ethelwolph's journey to Rome and bounty to the Pope and as a a William Malmesbury ut prius Surplusage bestowed upon him the yearly Revenue of three hundred Marks thus to be expended 1. To maintain Candles for S t. Peter one hundred Marks 2. To maintain Candles for S t. Paul one hundred 3. For a free Largesse to the Pope one hundred 16. If any be curious to know how these 300 Marks were in after-Ages divided and collected How this Summe was divided and collected out of severall Dioceses let them peruse the following Account if the Particulars be truely cast up and attested to me out of Sir Tho. Cotton's Librarie and as they say out of the Vatican it self be authenticall  l. s. d. Canterbury 8 8 0 London 16 10 0 Rochester 5 12 0 Norwich 21 10 0 Sarisbury 17 0 0 Ely 5 0 0 Lincoln 42 0 0 Chichester 8 0 0 Winchester 17 6 8 Covent Lichfield 41 5 0 Excester 9 5 0 Worcester 10 5 0 Hereford 6 0 0 Bathe Wells 12 5 0 York 11 10 0 These Summes were demanded by Pope Gregory the thirteenth in the 46. of Edward the third on that Token that their payment was much opposed by Iohn of Gaunt I dare not discede from my Copy a tittle coming as they say from the Register at Rome nor will I demand a Reason why Durham and Carlisle are here omitted much lesse examine the Equity of their Proportions as applied to their respective Dioceses but implicitly believe all done very justly The reason why the VVelsh Bishopricks were exempted is because at the grant hereof by King Athelwolph Wales was not then under his Dominion This 300 Marks was but a distinct payment by it self and not the whole Body of Peter-pence amounting to a greater Summe whereof God willing hereafter 17. After the Death of King Athelwolphus Ethelredi 1 and his two Sons Ethelbald and Ethelbert succeeding him 867 this Land was in a sad Condition The Saxons wilfully accessory to their own ruine by the Danes though nothing so bad as under the Reign of Ethelred his third Son and Successour for then indeed most miserable was the state of the English harassed by the Danes who like the running-Gout shifted from Joynt to Joynt from place to place often repelled from the severall Shires never expelled out of England The Saxon Folly hurt them more then the Danish Fury refusing effectually to unite to make a joynt-Resistance against a generall Enemy For some sixty yeares since the VVest-Saxons had subdued the other six Kings of this Nation yet so that they still continued kings but Homagers to the VVest-Saxon Monarchy The shortning of their Sceptres stuck in their Stomacks especially of the Mercian and Northumbrian Kings the most puissant of all the rest Whereupon beholding Ethelred the VVest-Saxon King the Staffe and Stay of the whole Nation embroiled with the Invasion of the Danes they not only lazily looked on but secretly smiled at this Sight as the only way to Conquer the Conquerour Yea Anno Dom. 867 such their Envy that rather then one once their equal should be above them in Felicity Anno Regis Ethelredi 1 they all would be equall with him in Misery They would more contendly be Slaves to a Forrain Foe to whom they all stood unrelated then Homagers to him who had as they thought usurped Dominion over them Never considering that the Danes were Pagans Self-interest is deaf to the Checks of Conscience and Revenge which is wilde at the best was so mad in them that they would procure it with the Hazzard if not Losse of their God his Church and true Religion Thus the Height of the Saxon Pride and Envy caused the Breadth of the Danish Power and Cruelty Indeed the foresaid Saxon Kings perceiving their Errour endeavoured at last to help the VVest-Saxon or rather to help themselves in him against the Danes But alas it was too late For the Danish Garisons lay so indented in the Heart of the Land that the Saxon Troups were blasted before they could grow into Regiments and their Strength dispersed in the gathering was routed before regulated into an Army 18. This year the Danes made an Invasion into Lincolnshire Fight betwixt Christians and Danes where they met with stout Resistance 870 and let us take a List of the chief Officers on both sides 4 Christian Saxons a Ingulphi Hist p. 865. Count Algar Generall with the Youth of Holland Harding de Rehale with Stanford men all very young and valiant Tolie a Monk with a Band of two hundred Crowlanders Morcar Lord of Burn with those of his numerous Family Osgot b Vicedominus Sheriff of Lincolnshire with five hundred under him VVibert living at VViberton nigh Boston in Holland Places named from their Owners Leofrick living at Leverton anciently Lefrinkton Danish Pagans King Gordroum King Baseg King Osketill King Halfeden King Hammond Count Frena Count Vnguar Count Hubba Count Sidroke the Elder Count Sidroke the Younger The Christians had the better the first day wherein the Danes lost three of their Kings buried in a place thence called Trekingham so had they the second till at night breaking their Ranks to pursue the Danes in their dissembled Flight they were utterly overthrown 19. Theodore Abbot of Crowland Crowland Monks massacred hearing of the Danes Approach shipped away most of his Monks with the choicest Relicks and Treasures of his Convent and cast his most precious Vessels into a VVell in the Cloister The rest remaining were at their Morning-prayers when the Danes entring slew Theodore the Abbot on the High Altar Asher
future success and evidence of his former innocence 13. The calamitous Reign of King Edward the Second Anno Regis Ed. 2. 1. afforded little history of the Church Anno Dom. 1307. though too much of the Common-wealth except it had been better The character of K Edward the second A debauched Prince this Edward was His beauty being the best not to say onely commendable thing about him He had an handsome man-case and better it had been empty with weakness then as it was ill fill'd with vitiousness Pierce Gaveston first corrupted him maugre all the good counsel that Robert Arch-Bishop of Canterbury and all his good friends 5. could give him 1312 And when Gaveston was kill'd and taken away the Kings badness was rather doubled then diminished exchanging one pandor to vice for two the two Spencers In a word the Court was turn'd Taverne Stews Stage Play-house wherein as many vain and wanton Comedies were acted before the King in his life time so a sad and sorrowful Tragedy was acted by him a◠his death 14. Robert Bruce King of Scotland The satal defeat of the English in Scotland encouraged by the laziness of King Edward thought this a sit time to recover his Country and which the English detained from him Wereupon he regained Berwick inroaded England invaded Ireland King Edward in wrath advanceth against him with an Army rather dancing then marching fitter for a Masque 7. then a Battel 1314 their horses rather trapped then armed In all points it appeared a triumphant Army save that no field as yet was fought by them Thus excluding all influence of Divine Providence and concluding 't was Fortunes duty to favour them at Sterling they bid the Scots battel wherein ten thousand of our men are by our own Authors confessed to be slain There fell the flowere of the English Nobility the King with a few hardly saving himself by flight Thus as Malleus Scotorum the Hammer or mauler of the Scots is written on the Tomb of King Edward the first in Westminster Incus Scotorum the Anvile of the Scots might as properly be written on the Monument had he any of Edward the second 15. But leaving these fights 7. we proceed to other Polemical Digladiations 1314 more proper for our Pen Nine Eminent Schoolmen of the English Nation namely the disputes of SCHOOL-MEN which in this Kings Reign were heightened to perfection Formerly those were termed Scholastici who in the Schools were Rethoricians making therein Declamatory Orations Such Exercises ceasing in this Age the Terme was Translated to signifie those who bused themselves in Controversial Divinity though some will have them so called from Scolion a Commentary their studies being generally nothing else then illustrations of the text of Peter Lombard the Master of the Sentences Take them here together at one view intending to resume them again in their several Characters Name Anno Dom. 1314. Hourished Anno Regis Ed. 2. 7. Title Order 1. Alexander Hales 1240. Henry the third D r Irrefragabilis or D r Doctorum Franciscan 2. Roger Bacon 1280. Edward the first D r Mirabilis Franciscan 3. Richard Middleton or De Media Villa 1290. Edward the first D r Fundatissimus Franciscan 4. John Duns Scotus 1308. Edward the second D r Subtilis Franciscan 5. Gualter Burley 1337. Edward the third D r Approbatus Secular Priest 6. John Baconthorpe 1346. Edward the third D r Resolutus Carmelite 7. William Ocham 1347. Edward the third D r Singularis or Pater Nominalium Franciscan 8. Robert Holcot 1349. Edward the third D r Dominican 9. Thomas Bradwardine 1350. Edward the third D r Profundus Secular Priest Born at Bred in Buried in Or night Hales in Glocester-shire Hales ibidem The Franciscan Church in Paris  Oxford in Merton Col. Oxford Uncertain whether at Middleton-Stony in Oxford shire or Middleton Cheny in Northampton shire Oxford or Paris Paris Dunstan contracted Duns in Emildon Parish in Northumb. Merton Colledg in Oxford Colen  Merton Colledg in Oxford Paris Baconthorpe in Norfolk Blackney Abbey in Norfolke The Church of his Order in London Ocham in Surrey Merton Colledg Munchin in Bavaria Holcot in Northampton-shire Oxford Northampton where he died of the Plague Bradwardine in Hereford-shire Merton Colledg in Oxford S t Anselme's Chappel in Canterbury Besides many other School-men of inferiour note which we pass by in silence Now we may safely dare all Christendome besides to shew so many Eminent School-Divines bred within the compass of so few years insomuch that it is a truth what a forrein a Alexander Minutianus in Epistola writer saith Scholastica Theologia ab Anglis in Anglia sumpsit exordium fecit incrementum pervenit ad perfectionem And although Italy falsly boasteth that Britain had her Christianity first from Rome England may truly maintain that from her immediately by France Italy first received her School-Divinity 16. Of these School-men Alex. Hales their Father and Founder Alexander Hales goeth the first Master to Thomas Aquinas and Bonaventure whose livery in some sort the rest of the School-men may be said to wear insisting in his foot-steps At the command of Pope Innocent the fourth he wrote the body of all School-Divinity in four Volumes He was the first Franciscan who ever took the degree of Doctor in the University who formerly counted the height of a degree inconsistent with the humility of their order as appeareth by the close of his Epitaph Egenorum fit primus Doctor eorum So great an honorer of the Virgin Mary that he never * Pits descript Ang. denied such who sued to him in her name As since our M r Fox is said never to have denied any who begged of him for Jesus Christ 17. Roger Bacon succeeds Bacon accused for a Conjurer O what a sin is it to be more learned then ones Neighbours in a barbarous age being excellently skilled in the Mathematicks a wonder-working Art especially to ignorant eyes he is accused for a Conjurer by Hieronymus de Esculo Minister general of his Order and afterwards Pope by the name of Nicholas the fourth The best is this Hieronymus before he was a Pope was not Infallible and therefore our Bacon might be scandalized by him however he was committed to Prison at Rome by Pope Clement the fourth and remained in durance a considerable time before his own innocence with his friends endeavours could procure his enlargement 18. For mine own part Many Bacons in one make a confusion I behold the name of Bacon in Oxford not as of an Individual man but Corporation of men No single Cord but a twisted Cable of many together And as all the Acts of Strong men of that nature are attributed to an Hercules All the predictions of Prophecying women to a Sibyll So I conceive all the atchievements of the Oxonian Bacons in their liberal studies are ascribed to ONE as chief of the
that the Clergy ingrossed all Secular Offices and thereupon presented the insuing Petition to the King according to this effect insisting only in the substance thereof 42. And because that in this present Parliament it was declared to our Lord the King 45 by all the Earls 1370 Barons Ex Rot. Parl. in Turr. Lond. in 45. Ed. tertii and Commons of England that the Government of the Kingdom hath been performed for a long time by the men of Holy Church which are not * Justifiables in the French Originals 〈◊〉 whether whether not able to do justice or not to be justified in their imployment as improper for it justifiable in all cases whereby great mischiefs and damages have happened in times past and more may happen in time to come in disheriting of the Crown and great prejudice of the Kingdom for divers causes that a man may declare that it will please our said Lord the King Anno Dom. 1370 that the Laymen of the said Kingdom which are sufficient and able of estate Anno Regis Ed. tertii 45. may be chosen for this and that no other person be hereafter made Chancelour Treasurer Clerk of the Privy Seale Barons of the Exchequer Chamberlains of the Exchequer Controler and all other great Officers and Governours of the said Kingdom and that this thing be now in such manner established in form aforesaid that by no way it may be defeated or any thing done to the contrary in any time to come Saving alwaies to our Lord the King the Election and removing of such Officers but that alwaies they be Lay-men such as is abovesaid 43. To this Petition the King returned The Answer in effect a denial that he would ordain upon this point as it shall best seem to him by the advice of his good Councel He therefore who considereth the present power of the Clergy at the Councel-Table will not wonder if all things remained in their former Condition till the Nobility began more openly to favour John Wickliff his Opinions which the next Book God willing shall relate 44. We will close this with a Catalogue of the Arch-Bishops of Canterbury Simon Mepham Arch-Bishop of Canterbury Contemporary with King Edward the third and begin with Simon Mepham made Arch-Bishop in the first year of his reign so that the Crown and the Mitre may seem in some sort to have started together only here was the odds the King was a young yea scarce a man whereas the Arch-Bishop was well stricken in years Hence their difference in holding out the King surviving to see him buried and six more whereof four Simons inclusively heart-broken as they say with grief For when John Grandison Bishop of Exeter making much noise with his Name but more with his Activity refused to be visited by him the Pope siding with the Bishop Mepham so resented it that it cost him his life 45. John Stratford was the second John Sratford his successor Consecrated first Bishop of Winchester on the Lords day whereon it was solemnly sung many are the afflictions of the Righteous whereof he was very apprehensive then and more afterwards when his own experience had proved a Comment thereon Yet this might comfort him whilst living and make others honour his memory that a good Conscience without any great crime generally caused his molestation For under King Edward the second he suffered for being too loyall a Subject siding with the King against the Queen and her Son and under King Edward the third he was molested for being too faithfull a Patriot namely in pittying his poor Countreymens taxations for which he was accused for correspondency with the French and complying with the Pope Pope and King of France then blowing in one Trumpet whereat King Edward was highly incensed 46. However Stratford did but say what thousands thought His last his best dayes viz. that a peace with France was for the profit of England especially as proffered upon such honourable conditions This the Arch-Bishop was zealous for upon a threefold accompt First of Pietie to save the effusion of more Christian blood Secondly of Policie suspecting successe that the tide might turn and what was suddenly gotten might be as suddenly lost Thirdly on Charity sympathizing with the sad condition of his fellow Subjects groaning under the burthen of Taxes to maintain an unnecessary war For England sent over her wealth into France to pay their victorious Souldiers and received back again honour in exchange whereby our Nation became exceeding proud and exceeding poor However the end as well as the beginning of the Psalm was verified of this Arch-Bishop the Lord delivereth them out of all dying in great honour and good esteem with the King a strong argument of his former innocence 47. The third was Tho. Bradwardine Tho. Bradwardine the third Arch-bishop whose election was little lesse then miraculous For Commonly the King refused whom the Monks chose the Pope rejected whom the Monks and King did elect whereas all interests met in the choise of Bradwardine Yea which was more the Pope as yet not knowing that the Monks and the King had pre-elected him of his own accord as by supernaturall instinct appointed Bradwardine for that place who little thought thereon Thus Omne tulit punctum and no wonder seeing he mingled his profitable Doctrines with a sweet and amiable conversation Camden in Eliz. indeed he was skilled in School Learning which one properly calleth Spinosa Theologia and though some will say can figgs grow on thorns yet his thorny Divinity produced much sweet devotion 48. He was Confessor to king Edward the third whose miraculous victories in France The best Arch-Bishop of that See some impute more to this mans devout prayers Then either to the Policy or Prowess of the English Nation He died before he was inthronized few moneths after his consecration though now advanced on a more Glorious and durable Throne in Heaven where he hath received the Crown from God who here defended the * He wrote de Causae Dei Cause of God I behold him as the most pious man who from Anselm not to say Augustine to Cranmer sat on that Seat And a better St. Thomas though not sainted by the Pope then one of his predecessors commonly so called 49. Simon Islip was the fourth Simon Islip next Arch-Bishop a parcimonious but no avaricious man thrifty whilst living therefore clandestinely Inthronized and when dead secretly interred without any solemnity Yet his frugality may be excused if not commended herein because he reserved his estate for good uses founding Canterbury Colledge in Oxford Excipe Merton Colledge Thus generally Bishops founders of many Colledges therein denominated them either from that Saint to whom they were dedicated or from their See as Exeter Canterbury Durham Lincoln putting thereby a civil obligation on their Successors to be as Visitors so Benefactors thereunto This Canterbury Colledge is now
the silken flie wherewith Anglers cheat the fishes was onely given out to tempt King Henry to a longer patience and quiet expectation of the event Octo. 22. But by this time Queen Katharine had privately prevailed with the Pope to advoke the cause to Rome as a place of more indifferency for a plea of so high concernment Whereupon Campegius took his leave of the King and returned into Italy 49. The Papists tell us Love-Letters of King Hen. kept in the Vatican that Cardinal Campegius sent over before him some amatorious Letters which passed written with the Kings own hand betwixt him and his dear Nan as he termed her These are said to import more familiarity then chastity betwixt them and are carefully kept and solemnly shewn in the Vatican to strangers especially of the English Nation though some suspect them to be but forged For though the King had wantonness enough to write such Letters yet Anna Bollen had wit and warmess too much to part with them It would more advance the Popish project could they shew any return from her to the King accepting his offers which they pretend not to produce Our Authors generally agree her deâ—â—alls more inflamed the Kings desires For though perchance nothing more then a woman was wish'd by his wilde sancy yet nothing less then an husband would content her conscience In a word so cunning she was in her chastity that the farther she put him from her the nearer she fastened his affections unto her 50. Still was the Kings cause more delaied in the Court of Rome No haste to end the Kings cause at Rome If a melancholick School-man can spin out a speculative controversie with his Pro's and Con's to some quires of paper where the profit is little to others and none to himself except satisfying his curiosity and some popular applause no wonder if the Casuists at Rome those cunning Masters of Defence could lengthen out a cause of so high concernment and so greatly beneficial unto them For English silver now was current and out gold volant in the Popes Courts whither such masses of money daily were transported England knew not certainly what was expended nor Rome what received herein Yea for seven years was this suit depending in the Popes Court after which Apprentiship the Indentures were not intended to be cancelled but the cause still to be kept on foot it being for the interest to have it alwayes in doing and never done For whilest it depended the Pope was sure of two great friends but when it was once decided he was sure of one great foe either the Emperour or our King of England 51. It was a Maxime true of all men King and Queen hoth offended with Wolsey but most of King Henry Omnis mora properanti nimia He who would have not onely what but when he would himself was vexed with so many delayings deferrings retardings prorogations prolongations procrastinations betwixt two Popes as one may say Clement that was and Wolsey that would be So that all this while after so much adoe there was nothing done in his business which now was no nearer to a final conclusion then at the first beginning thereof Yea now began Cardinal Wolsey to decline in the Kings favour suspecting him for not cordial in his cause and ascribing much of the delay to his backwardness herein More hot did the displeasure of Queen Katharine burn against him beholding him as the chief engine who set the matter of her Divorce first in motion 52. Be it here remembred that in perswading the Kings Divorce Wolsey looks two wayes in this design Wolsey drave on a double design by the recess of the Kings love from Queen Katharine to revenge himself of the Emperour by the access of his love to Margaret of Alenson to oblige the King of France Thus he hoped to gain with both hands and presumed that the sharpness of his two-edged policy should cut on both sides when God to prevent him did both blunt the edges and break the point thereof For instead of gaining the love of two Kings he got the implacable anger of two Queens of Katharine decaying and Anna Bollen increasing in the Kings affection Let him hereafter look but for few fair dayes when both the Sun-rising and setting frowned upon him SECT II. TO M r THOMAS JAMES OF BUNTINGFORD IN Hertford-shire COrner Stones two walls meeting in them are polished with the more curiosity and placed with more carefulness So also corner bones as I may say which do do double duty and attend the service of two joynts in the Elbow and Knee are rarely fixed by the providence of Nature This Section being in the turning of Religions the going out of the Old and coming in of the New ought to have been done with most industry difficultie meeting therein with dark instructions However I have endeavoured my utmost though falling short of the merits of the matter and doubt not but you will be as candid in the perusing as I have desired to be careful in the writing thereof KKnow now in the next year Anno Regis Hen. 8 22. the Lords in Parliament put in a Bill of fourty four particulars against Wolsey Anno Dom. 1530. The most material was his exercising of power-Legative Accused in Parliament and well defended by Mr Cromwel his servant without leave to the prejudice of the Kings Crown and Dignity The Bill is brought down into the House of Commons where M r Cromwel then Servant to the Cardinal chanced to be a Burgess Here he defended his Master with such wit and eloquence that even those who hated the Client yet praised the Advocate who pleaded in his behalf This was the first time that publick notice was taken of Cromwel his eminent parts and advantagious starting is more then half the way in the race to preferment as afterwards in him it came to pass As for Wolsey though at this time he escaped with life and liberty yet were all his goods of inestimable value confiscated to the King and he outed of most of his Ecclesiastical promotions 2. Court-favourites Prefeâ—red 〈…〉 to York when it is once past noon Anno Dom. 1530 it is presently night with them Anno Regis Hen. 8 22. as here it fared with wolsey His enemies of whom no want follow the 〈◊〉 given unto him For they beheld him rather in a Sown then as yet dead in the Kings favour and feared if his submission should meet with 〈◊〉 remembrance of his former services they might produce his full 〈◊〉 to power and dignity The rather because the Cardinal was cun 〈◊〉 to improve all to his own advantage and the King as yet not cruel 〈◊〉 too perfect in that lesson afterwards His enemies would not trust the Cardinal to live at London nor at Winchester within fifty miles thereof but got the King to command him away to York sending him thither whither his conscience
Fecknam whence he fetcht his name Bred a Benedictâ—ne Monke in the Abbey of Evesham where he subscribed with the rest of his Order to the resignation of that house into the hands of King Henry the eighth Afterwards he studied in Oxford then applied himself first to Bell Bishop of Worcester and after his death to Bonner of London where he crossed the Proverb like Master like Man the Patron being Cruel the Chaplain Kinde to such who in Judgement dissented from him he never dissembled his religion being a zealous Papist and under King Edward the sixth suffered much for his Conscience 35. In the Reign of Queen Mary His Courtesy to Protestants he was wholy imployed in doing good offices for the afflicted Protestants from the highest to the lowest The Earle of Bedford and who afterwards were of Warwick and Leicester tasted of his kindnesse so did S r John Cheek yea and the Lady Elizabeth her self So interposing his interest with Queen Mary for her enlargement that he incurred her Graces displeasure Hence it is that Papists complain that in the reign of Queen Elizabeth he reaped not a Cropp of Courtesie proportionable to his large seed thereof in the dayes of Queen Mary 36. Queen Mary afterwards preferred him from being Dean of Pauls Made Abbot of Westminster a Sanders de schismate Ang. in the Reign of Q. Mary to be Abbot of Westminster which Church she erected and endowed for Benedictine Monks of which order fourteen only could be found in England then extant since their dissolution which were unmarried unpreferred to Cures and unaltered in their opinions These also were brought in with some difficulty at first and opposition for the Prebendaries of Westminster legally setled in their places would not resigne them till Cardinall Poole partly by compulsion partly by compensation obteined their removall 37. Queen Elizabeth coming to the Crown Q. Elizabeth send eth for him and prossers him preferment sent for Abbot Fecknam to come to her whom the messenger found setting of Elmes in the Orchard of Westminster Abbey But he would not follow the messenger till first he had finished his Plantation which his friends impute to his soul imployed b Reinerius in Apost Bened. pag. 235. in mysticall meditations that as the Trees he there set should spring and sprout many years after his decease So his new Plantation of Benedictine Monks in Westminster should take root and flourish in defiance of all opposition which is but a bold conjecture of others at his thoughts Sure I am those Monks long since are extirpated but how his Trees thrive at this day is to me unknown Coming afterwards to the Queen what discourse passed betwixt them they themselves knew alone some have confidently guessed she proffered him the Arch-Bishoprick of Canterbury on condition he would conform to her laws which he utterly refused 38. In the Treaty between the Protestants and Papists primo Elizabethae Kindly used in restraint he was present but in what capacity I cannot satisfie my self Surely more then a Disputant amongst whom he was not named Yet not so much as a Moderator And yet his judgement perchance because Abbot and so principall man in that place was c â—Fox Acts Mon. asked with respect and heard with reverence His Moderation being much commended Now although he was often confined sometimes to the Tower sometimes to friends houses and died it seems at last in restraint in Wisbeeich Castle Yet generally be found fair usage from the Protestants He built a Conduit in Holborn and a Crosse in Wisbeeich and relieved the poor wheresoever he came So that Flies flock not thicker about spilo honey then beggars constantly crouded about him 39. Abbot Fecknam thus being dead A recruit of English Benedictines made after Fecknams death the English Benedictines beyond the seas began to bestirr themselves as they were concerned about the continuation of their Order we know some maintain that if any one species or kinde of Creatures be utterly extinct the whole Univers by Sympathy therewith and consciousnesse of its own imperfection will be dissolved And the Catholicks suspected what a sad consequence there would be if this Ancient Order of English Black Monks should suffer a totall and finall defection The best was Vnus homo Nobis there was one and but one Monke left namely Father Sigebert Buckley and therefore before his death provision was made for others to succeed him and they for fear of failing disposed in severall Countries in manner following In Rome 〈…〉 In Valladolit in Spain 1. Father Gregory Sayer 2. Father Thomas Preston 3. Father Anselme of Manchester 4. Father Anthony Martin commonly called Athanasius 1. Father Austine S t. John 2. Father John Mervin 3. Father Marke Lambert 4. Father Maurice Scot. 5. Father George Gervis From these nine new Benedictines the whole Order which hung formerly on a single string was then replenished to a competent and since to a plentifull number 40. Hitherto our English Papists affectionately leaned not to say fondly doâ—â—d on the Queen of Scots 〈…〉 promising themselves great matters from her towards the advancing of their Religon But now they began to fall off in their 〈◊〉 partly because beholding her a confined person unable to free her self and more unlikely to help others partly because all Catholicks come off with losse of life which practized her enlargement As for her Son the King of Scots from whom they expected a settlement of Popery in that land their hopes were lately turned into despairs who had his education on contrary principles 41. Whereupon hereafter they diverted their eyes from the North to the West Unto the King of Spain expecting contrary to the course of nature that their Sun should rise therein in magnifying the might of the King of Spain and his zeal to propagate the Roman Catholick faith And this was the practise of all Jeâ—uites to possess their English proselytes with high opinions of the Spanish power as the Nation designed by Divine providence to work the restitution of their Religion in England 42. In order hereunto Pretending a 〈◊〉 the Crown of England and to hearten their Countrimen some for it appears the result of severall persons employed in the designing and effecting thereof drew up a Title of the King of Spains to the English Crown are much admired by their own party as slighted by the Queen and her Loyall Subjects for being full of falsehoods and forgeries Indeed it is easie for any indifferent Herauld so to derive a pedigree as in some seeming probability to intitle any Prince in Christendome to any Principality in Christendome but such will shrink on serious examination Yea I beleeve Queen Elizabeth might pretend a better Title to the Kingdoms of Leon and Castile in Spain as descended by the house of Yorke from Edmond Earl of Cambridge and his Lady Coheir to King Peter then any Claime that the King of Spain could
solace his Soul with the consideration of the Purity and Soundnesse of Religion in their Countryes But now alas the Gangrene of that Heresy began to spread it self into this Island So that what the c Acts 17. 6. Iewes of Thessalonica said unjustly of S t. Paul and his Followers the Britans might too truly affirm of Arrius and his Adherents Those that have turned the VVorld upside-down are come hither also Hear how sadly Gildas complaineth Mansit namque haec Christi Capitis membrorum consonantia suavis donec Arriana Perfidia atrox ceu Anguis transmarina nobis evomens Venena Fratres in unum habitantes exitiabiliter faceret sejungi c. So that the words of Athanasius totus mundus Arrianizat were true also of this peculiar or divided World of Britain Naturallists dispute how VVolves had their first being in Britain it being improbable that Merchants would bring any such noxious Vermin over in their Ships and impossible that of themselves they should swim over the Sea which hath prevailed so farre with some as to conceive this now an Island originally annexed to the Continent but here the Quaere may be propounded how these Hereticks mystical Wolves not d Acts 20. 29. sparing the Flock first entered into this Island And indeed we meet neither with their Names nor manner of Transportation hither but only with the cursed Fruit of their Labours And it is observable that immediately after that this Kingdome was infected with Arrianisme the Pagan e Ammianus Marcellinus in the beginning of his twentieth Book maketh this Irruption to happen Anno 360 which continued many yeares after Maximus usurping the empire expelleth the Scots out of Britain Picts and Scots out of the North made a general and desperate Invasion of it It being just with God when his Vine-yard beginneth to bring forth VVild-Grapes then to let loose the VVild Boar to take his full and free repast upon it 22. In this wofull Condition 379 vain were the Complaints of the Oppressed Britans for Assistance unto Gratian and Valentinian the Roman Emperours who otherwayes employed neglected to send them Succour This gave occasion to Maximus a f Zosim Histor l. 4. Spaniard by Birth though accounted born in this Island by our home bred g Gildas H. Hunting Histor lib. 1. Galfrid Monmouth and before the three later Ethelwerdus Chronic. lib. 1. Authors to be chosâ—n Emperour of the West of Europe by a predominant Faction in his Army who for a time valiantly resisted the Scots and Picts which cruelly invaded and infested the South of Britain For these Nations were invincible whilest like two Armes of the same Body they assisted each other But when the Picts the Right Arme being most strong and active suffered themselves to be quietly bound up by the Peace concluded the Scots as their own h John Fordon Scoto-Chronic lib. 2. cap. 45. Authors confesse were quickly conquered and dispersed But Maximus whose main Design was not to defend Britain from Enemies but confirm himself in the Empire sailed over with the Flower of the British Nation into France where having conquered the Natives in Armorica he bestowed the whole Country upon his Souldiers from them named at this day Little Britain 23. But Ireland will no wayes allow that Name unto it 383 pleading it self to be anciently called the Lâ—sser Britain Britain in France when conquered and why so called in Authertick i Ptolemie calles it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 lib. 2. cap. 6. p. 31. Ed. Craeâ— Authors and therefore this French Britain must be contented to heare that Name with the Difference of the third Brother except any will more properly say that the French Britain is the Daughter of our Britain which Infant when she asks her Mother Blessing doth not jabber so strangely but that she is perfectly understood by her Parent Although one will hardly believe what is generally reported namely that these French Britans were so ambitious to preserve their native Language Anno Dom. 383 that marrying French Women they cut out their Wives â—â—ilin's â—â— in the â—â—ption of 〈◊〉 Tongues for feare they should infect their Childrens Speech with a Mixture of French Words Here the Britans lived and though they had pawned their former Wives and Children at home they had neither the Honesty nor Affection to return thither to redeem the Pledges left behind them Strange that they should so soon forget their Native Soil But as the Load-stone when it is rubb'd over with the Juice of Onions forgetteth it's Property to draw Iron any longer so though we allow an attractive Vertue in ones own Country yet it looseth that alluring Quality when the said place of ones Birth is steeped in a Sad Sorrowful Condition as the State of Britain stood at this present And therefore these Travellours having found a new Habitation nearer the Sunne and further from Suffering there quietly set up their Rest 24. But not long after Maximus slain in his march towards Italy Maximus marching towards Italy 388 was overcome and killed at Aquilegia A Prince not unworthy of his Great Name had he been lifted up to the Throne by a regular Election and not tossed up to the same in a tumultuous manner This makes S t. b In Oratione Funebri de exitu Theodosii Ambrose Gildas and other Authors violently to inveigh against his Memory notwithstanding his many most c Sulpitius Severus Dialogo secundo cap. 7. honourable Atchievements This Difference we may observe betwixt Bastards and Usurpers the former if proving eminent are much bemoaned because merely Passive in the Blemish of their Birth whilest Usurpers though behaving themselves never so gallantly never gain general good will because actually evil in their Original as it fared with Maximus who by good Using could never make Reparation for his bad Getting of the Empire Surely Britain had cause to curse him for draining it of her Men and Munition so leaving it a Trunk of a Commonwealth without Head or Hands Wisedome or Valour effectually to advise or execute any thing in it's own Defence all whose Strength consisted in Multitudes of People where Number was not so great a Benefit as Disorder was a Burden which encouraged the Picts the Truce expired to harrasse all the Land with Fire and Sword The larger Prosecution whereof we leave to the Chronicles of the State onely touching it here by way of Excuse for the Briefnesse and Barrennesse of our Ecclesiastical History the Sadnesse of the Commonwealth being a just Plea for the Silence of the Church 25. We conclude this Century Frequent Pilgrimages of the Brità ns to Jerusalem whil'st S. Keby lived'quietly in Anglesey when we have told the Reader 390 that about this time the d Hieronymus To. 1. Ep 17. Palladius Galata Hist Lausiat cap. 119. Fathers tell us how Pilgrimages of the Britans began to be frequent as farre as Ierusalem there
consider how in that Age the Elegancy of Poetry consisted in Rhythme and the Eloquence of Prose in Allusions And which was the main where his Pleasant Conceits did end there his Pious Endeavours began which did not terminate in a Verball Jest but produce Reall Effects which ensued hereupon 2. For repairing to Pelagius Bishop of Rome Gregory would convert England in his person but doth it by his proxy he imparted his Discoveries unto him 586 desiring that some might be sent to endeavour the Conversion of the English Nation tendering his Personall Service thereunto But Pelagius was unwilling to expose Gregory to so dangerous a Design and the People of Rome accounting him a precious Jewell to be choicely kept for his own wearing would not cast this Pearle before Swine by hazarding him to the Insolency of the Pagans Now Pelagius not long after being called into another VVorld Gregory succeeded in his place who rising to new Greatnesse did not fall from his old Goodnesse but prosecuting his Project with more Earnestnesse sent Augustine the Monk with Mellitus and Fourty more to preach the Gospell in Britain He himself tarrying behind in Body went with them in his a 1 Corinth 5. 3 Spirit accompanying them with his effectuall Prayers and none will deny but that b Exod. 17. 11. Moses in the Mount contributed as much to the conquering of Amalek as Ioshua in the Valley 3. These men had not gone far Augustine and his fellows shrink for fear when they were surprised with a Qualm of Feare and sending Augustine back again to Gregory requested to be excused from going to so Barbarous a Nation not as yet converted to Civility whose Language they did not understand Here some will be ready to deride them for Cowards who more seriously considering with how many Excuses Moses c Exod. ch 3. and 4. being sent by God himself declined the going to Pharaoh and how loth d Ior. 1. 6. Ieremy was to preach to his Countrey-men the stiffe-necked Iews will presently change their Censuring into Commiserating the Frailty of Flesh and common Condition of Mankind But those make short Miles who looking through a Window travell a Dayes-journey in an instant whil'st Wayfaring men must honestly pay for every Step and dearly earn it with their Industry It is facile for men in their pleasing Speculations to project the Conversion of a Kingdome and with themselves to discourse a Heathen Nation into Christianity whil'st those must encounter many Difficulties who really go about to perform it Gregory perceiving them to tire in their Undertakings spurr'd them on with his Exhortatory Letter the Copy whereof is here inserted to acquaint us with the Stile of the Bishops of Rome in that Age. e Bede's History of the Church of England 1 Book 23. Chap. translated by Stapleton GRegory the Servant of the Servants of God c. For somuch as better it were never to begin a Good Work then after it is once begun to go from it again you must needs my dear Sons now fulfill the Good VVork which by the help of God you have taken in hand Let therefore neither the Travell of the Iourney neither the Talk of evill-tongued Men dismay you But with all Force and Fervour make up that you have by the motion of God begun assuring your selves that after your great Labour eternall Reward shall follow Be you in all points obedient unto Augustine whom I have sent back unto you and appointed him to be your Abbot Anno Dom. 586 knowing that shall much profit your Souls which you shall do upon Obedience to his Commandment Our Almighty Lord defend you with his Grace and grant me to see the Fruit of your Labours in his Kingdome of Heaven And though I cannot Labour my self with you yet I may enjoy part of your Reward for that I have a Will to labour God keep you healthy my dearly beloved Children Dated the 23. of July our Lord MAURICIUS TIBERIUS reigning our most Vertuous Emperour in the 14. year of his Empire the 13. year after his Consulship Indictione 14. As yet we see the Chaplain had not lorded it over his Patron as yet the Popes Crown was not built three stories high but observed a Distance of Submission towards the Emperour as appeares by his respectfull Expressions Yea this Bishop measured the time by the yeares of the Emperours Reign whose Successours have learn't a new Arithmetick in their modern dates of Charters onely reckoning by the yeares of their own Consecration without relating to any Imperiall Account Gregory by the way was the first which in Humility used the Stile of Servus Servorum Dei But as in the Method of Nature a Low Valley is immediately seconded with an Ambitious Hill so after this Humble Gregory a submissive Soul within two yeares followed Boniface the third in whom was the Pitch of Pride and Height of aspiring Haughtinesse to be term'd the Vniversall Bishop of the World 4. Besides the aforesaid Letter Augustine troubled with mocking Michals in his Passage through France Gregory wrote many others a Gregor lib. 5. Epist 58 one to Theodorick and Theodebert Kings of France and severall Epistles to sundry French Bishops to accommodate and assist Augustine and his Companions in so pious a Design And which must not be forgotten with them he sent over b Idem lib. 5. Epist 10. Candidus a Priest into France to receive the Profits and long-detained Arreres of the Popes c Idem lib. 5. Epist 57. Patrimoniolum as he terms it the Diminutive is well increased at this time and with the Mony to buy Cloaths for the Poore and also to buy English-Pagan-captive Youths in France of 17 or 18 yeare old that they might be brought up in Christianity in Monasteries so at once bestowing both Liberty Religion and Learning upon them A Transcendent degree of Charity an Almes worthy Gregorie's hands to give it And now Augustine with his Partners well encouraged effectually prosecute their Project passing quietly through France save onely at the Village of Saye in Anjou where some gigling Huswives Light Leaves will be wagg'd with Little Wind causelesly fell a flouting at them But in after-Ages the People of the same Place to repaire this Wrong erected a Masculine Church Women being interdicted the Entrance thereof to the Memory of S t. Augustine and how soundly one Woman smarted for her Presumption herein take it on the trust of d Alexander Elsebiensis in his Annall of Saints and Iohn Capgrave my Authour Plebs parat Ecclesiam mulieribus haud reserandam Introitum tent at una sed illa perit They build a Church where Women may not enter One try'd but lost her life for her adventure Yet Augustine himself found courteous Usage from the Weaker Sex witnesse the kind Carriage of Brunichilda the Queen of France unto him for which Gregory in an e Lib. 7. Ep. 5. Epistle returned her solemn Thanks
and Bertha the King of France his Daughter Wife to Ethelbert King of Kent 5. Augustine safely wasted over the Sea 596 lands with the rest at Thanet in Kent taking as it seems deep Footing if it be true what one f Flores Sanctorum Maii 26. in the life of S. Augustine pag. 499. Augustine for all his Power of working Miracles needs interpreters to preach to the English writes that the Print of his Steps where he first landed left as perfect a Mark in a main Rock as if it had been in Wax and the Romanists will cry shame on our Hard Hearts Anno Dom. 596 if our obdurate Belief more stubborn then the Stone will not as pliably receive the Impression of this Miracle But it is worthy our consideration that though Augustine all his way might be track'd by the Wonders he left behind him when Thirsty miraculously fetching a Idem p. 498. a Fountain when Cold a Fire restoring the Blind and Lame to their Eyes and Limbs yet for all this he was fain to bring Interpreters out of France with him by whose help he might understand the English and be understood by them Whereas in Holy Writ when the Apostles and Papists commonly call Augustine the English Apostle how properly we shall see hereafter went to a Forreign Nation God gave them the Language thereof least otherwise their Preaching should have the Vigour thereof abated taken at the second Hand or rather at the second Mouth as Augustine's was who used an Interpreter not as b Gen. 42. 23. Ioseph to his brethren out of State and Policie but out of mere Necessity This I say well thought on will make our Belief to demurre to the Truth of his so frequent Miracles being so Redundant in working them on Triviall Occasions and so Defective in a matter of most Moment But leaving him and his for a time safely landed and lodged that our Gratitude to God may be the greater for freeing the Saxons our Ancestours from the Bondage of Idolatry let us behold with Horrour the huge Fetters of Errour and Ignorance wherewith the Devil kept them in Durance before the Gospell was preached unto them 6. The SAXONS The Rabble of Saxon Idols like the rest of the Germans whil'st pure impure Pagans worshipped many Idols Barbarous in Name some Monstrous all Antick for Shape and Abominable in the Rites and Ceremonies of their Adoration Some averre that as the Germans affecting an Autarchy or Sole-sufficiency amongst themselves disdained Commerce in Customes or Civile Government with the Romans so they communicated not with them in their Religion Yet others affirm that in after-Ages the Dutch did enter Common with the Romish Superstition at least-wise some Modern Authours have reduced the Saxon Idols symbolizing with the Romans in Power and Properties to some conformity with the Roman Deities Now although according to Gods command to the c Exod. 23. 13 Iews their names shall not be heard out of our Mouth by way of praising them praying to them or swearing by them yet an Historicall mention of them here ensuing is as free from Offence as usefull for Information Besides the SUN and MOON the Saxons sacrificed to NAME SHAPE OFFICE Correspondent with d Verstegan's restitution of Decaied Intelligence ch 3 pag. 74. Thor or Thur abbreviated of Thunre which we now write Thunder Thursday named from him A Corpulent Statue reposed on a covered Bed wearing a Crown of Gold about which twelve Starres a Kingly Sceptre in his right Hand He governed the VVind Clouds causing Lightning Thunder Tempest Faire or Foul VVeather The Roman IUPITER Woden that is wood fierce or furious giving the Denomination to Wednesday or Wodensday Armed cap a pe with a Military Coronet on his head He was the God of Battel by whose aid and furtherance they hoped to obtain Victory e So Verstegan pag. 72. but Camden Brit. pag. 135. makes him to be Mercury MARS Friga or Frea remembred on Friday An Hermaphrodite perchance because the reputed Patronesse of Generation wherein both Sexes are joyned The giver of Peace and Plenty the causer of Love Amity and Increase VENUS Seater still remaining on Saturday Of a lean Visage long Haire bare Head holding in one Hand a wheel in the other a Paile of Flowers Conceived to have a great Influence on the kindly Fruits of the Earth SATURNE Tuyse whence Tuesday took it's name Covered with a Skin Armes and Feet naked with an ancient Aspect and a Sceptre in his Hand The Peculiar Tutelar God of the Duyâ—sh whence they had their name OOOOOOOOO Ermensewl that is the Pillar or stay of the Poor Pictured with a Banner in one Hand with a Red Rose in the other a pair of Ballance on his Head a Cock Breast a Beare before him an Escocheon c. The Pretended bestower of VVit and Cunning in Bargains Contracts MERCURIE Heile His stately Statue stood at Cern in Dorcetshire The Preventer of Diseases preserver restorer of Health AESCULAPIUS Thus we see the whole Week bescattered with Saxon Idols whose Pagan-Gods were the God-fathers of the Dayes and gave them their Names This some Zealot may behold as the Object of a necessary Reformation desiring to have the Dayes of the Week new dipt and called after other Names Though indeed this Supposed Scandall will not offend the wise as beneath their Notice and cannot offend the Ignorant as above their Knowledge Wherefore none need so hastily to hurry to the Top of the Main Mast thence to pluck down the Badge of a Acts 28. 11. Castor and Pollux but rather let them be carefull steadily to steere their Shipto the Heaven for which it is bound and let us redeem the Time for the Dayes are evill not because in their Name they bear the Cognizance of the Pagan-Gods but because swarming with the Sins of Prophane men which all should labour to reprove in others and amend in themselves 7. But it was not a Week or a Moneth A recruit of their Idols yea scarce a yeare of Dayes which could severally containe the numerous Saxon Idols Besides the fore-named they had b Selden of Tithes 10. ch pag. 269. Neptune to whom in their abominable Decimations they sacrificed every tenth Captive whom they had taken in War so making that Sea-God to swim in Man's Bloud per hujusmodi non tam sacrificia purgati quam sacrilegia polluti saith an ancient Christian c Sidonius Apollinaris lib. 8 Epist Authour Secondly Eoster or Goster a Goddesse which they worshipped in the Spring-time wherein the Feast of Easter afterwards was celebrated and so thence named as Bede observeth Thirdly Flynt so termed because set on a great Flint-stone which I dare boldly say had more Sparks of Divine nature then that Idol which thereon was erected Lastly Tacitus observeth that the Saxons worshipped the Peculiar God Herthus the self-same which in English we call the Earth adoring that whereon they did
Theophilus kept a Synod against S t. Chrysostome the Oak which notwithstanding is notoriously known to have been a populous Suburb of the City of Chalcedon 3. At the first Sessions of this Synod there was a very thin Appearance of the Britans The British Clergy refuse submission to the Pope of Rome of whom Augustine demanded that they should mutually contribute with him their Paines to convert the Heathen in Britain and that they should submit to the Pope and embrace an Uniformity with the Romish Rites especially in the Celebration of Easter What their Answer was it is pitty it should be delivered in any other Words then what the Abbot of Ranchor being the Mouth for the rest represented as followeth and let it shift as well as it can for its own authenticalness BId ispis a diogel i chwi ynbod ni holl vn ac arral yn vuidd ac ynn ostingedig i Eglwys Duw ac ir Paab o Ruvam ac i Boob Kyar grisdic n dwyuel y garu pawb yn i radd mewn kariad parfaich ac ihelpio pawb o honaunt ar air a guec-thred i vod ynn blant yDaw ac amgenach wyddod nc hwn nidadwen i vod ir neb yr yddeck chwi y henwi yn Paab ne in Daad o Daad yw glemio ac ywo ovunn ar uvyddod hivn idden in yn varod yw rodde ac yw dalu iddo ef ac i pob Krisdion yn dragwiddol He uid yry dym ni dan lywodrath Esoob Kaerllion ar Wysc yr hien ysidd yn oligwr dan Duw ar nom ni y wuenthud i ni gadwr fordd ysbrydol BE it knovvn and vvithout doubt unto you Copied exactly many yeares since by S r. Henry Spelman out of an ancient British manuscript of Mr. Peter Mostons a Welch Gentleman Spelman's Concilia pag. 108. that vve all are and every one of us obedient and subjects to the Church of God and to the Pope of Rome and to every godly Christian to love every one in his degree in perfect Charity and to help every one of them by vvord and deed to be the children of God and other Obedience then this I do not knovv due to him vvhom you name to be Pope nor to be the Father of Fathers to be claimed and to be demanded And this Obedience vve are ready to give and to pay to him and to every Christian continually Besides vve are under the government of the Bishop of Kaerlion upon Uske vvho is to oversee under God over us to cause us to keep the vvay spirituall See we here the Pedigree of the British Church which the shorter the ancienter the fewer Steps it had the higher it reached They were subject in Spirituall matters to the Bishop of Caer-lion and above him unto God without any subordination unto the Pope so that it was more then a Presumption that Religion came into Britain not by the Semicircle of Rome but in a Direct Line from the Asiatick Churches We must not forget that though many yeares since the Archiepiscopal See of the Britans was removed from Caer-lion to S t. Davids yet it still retained the Title of Caer-lion as of the first and most famous place 4. A late Papist much impugneth the Credit of this Manuscript as made since the Dayes of King Henry the eighth and cavilleth at the VVelsh thereof The Cedit of this Manuscript impugneth as modern and full of false Spelling He need not have used so much Violence to wrest it out of our Hands who can part with it without considerable Losse to our selves or Gain to our Adversaries for it is but a Breviate or Abstract of those Passages which in Bede and other Authours appear most true of the British refusing Subjection to the See of Rome Whilest therefore the Chapter is Canonicall it matters not if the Contents be Apocrypha as the Additions of some wel-meaning Scribe And though this VVelsh be far later then the Dayes of Abbot Dinoth and the English added in the originall later then the VVelsh yet the Latin as ancienter then both containeth nothing contrary to the sense of all Authours which write this Intercourse betwixt Augustine and the VVelsh Nation 5. But this Synod in fine proved ineffectuall The Synod proves ineffactual the British Bishops refusing to submit and Augustine to communicate with them without such Submission Whereupon at Augustine's motion a Blind man was publickly presented amongst them on whom the British Bishops practised in vain with their Prayers to restore him to his Sight which at the Request of Augustine to God was a Bede's Eccles Hist lib. 2. c. 2. presently and perfectly performed This Miracle convinced the Britans that Augustine was in the right for the criticall Observation of Easter But yet they could not absque suorum consensu ac licentia without the National Consent of their own People and principall Elders therein renounce their ancient Customes to embrace new Practices Indeed as for their submitting to Augustine's Jurisdiction they apprehended it unsafe for the present and mischievous for the future having another Civil Government under Kings of their own and suspecting his Spirituall Power might in processe of time intrench upon their Temporall Liberty 6. Departing hence The Dialogue betwixt the British Bishops and the Anchoret the Britans repaired to an Aged Anchoret charactered by Beda to be sanctus prudens holy and wise and none would wish his Counseller better qualified and craved his Advise how hereafter they should behave themselves in the next Synod wherein they had promised to give Augustine a meeting which out of our Authour may thus be Dialogue-wise digested British Bishops Anchoret Brit. B. Are we bound to desert our Traditions at the Preaching of Augustine Anch. If he be a Man of God follow him Brit. B. But how shall we be able to make Triall thereof Anch. The b b Matth. 11. 29. Lord saith Take my yoke upon you and learn of me for I am meek and lowly in heart If therefore this Augustine be Milde and Humble in heart it is credible that he himself beareth the Yoke of Christ and tendereth the same to be born of you but if he be Cruel and Proud it appeareth that he is not of God neither ought ye to heed what he saith Brit. B. But how shall we make Discovery hereof Anch. Contrive it so that he his may come first into the Place of the Synod And if he rise up when you draw near unto him hear him then obediently knowing him for a Servant of Christ but if he slighteth you and vouchsaseth not to rise up unto you seeing you are moe in Number let him be slighted by you Armed with these Instructions the British Bishops advance to the second Synod Where Augustine Pontifically sitting in his Chair at their Entrance entertained them onely with Neglect and Contempt which by the Britans was accordingly requited 7. Herein that stately Prelate forgot S t. Gregorie's Precept to him Proud â—iotrephes
some urged that Parenthesis Although himself long before c. to have been studiously interpolated in Bede on purpose for the Purgation of Augustine by some in after-Ages that favoured him alledging that it is not in the ancient Saxon Copies being put in as a piece of new Cloth into an old Garment with intent to fill it up but in event making it worse because this Passage checketh the Pen of Bede in the full Speed thereof no lesse against the Rules of History then of Horsemanship as he was writing the Life of Augustine the Story whereof notwithstanding still runs on and continues untill the end of the next Chapter Here some of the Jury betook themselves to the point of Chronologie as most proper to decide the matter now depending but such was the Variety of Authors that no Certainty could thence be extracted For though the Massacre of the Monks of Bangor is generally noted to be d Matt. West Chichestr MS. Bibl. pub Cantabâ—ig Anno 603. which falls out before the Death of Augustine yet the Annals of Vlster whose Authority is not to be contemned e Iames Usher Brit. Eccles Antiq. pag. 1157. Mr. Fox his moderation much moveth the Iury. observe the same in the year 613. which undoubtedly was after Augustine's Decease 14. Then a second sort of Witnesses presented themselves as f Antiq. Britan pag. 48. M. Parker g Apol. part 1 page 11. Bishop Iewel and others somewhat sharp against Augustine in their Expressions which wrought the lesse with the Jury partly because of such Authours their known Opposition to the Romish Church and partly because of their Modern writing almost a thousand years after the matter in fact Onely the Moderate Testimony of Reverend M r. Fox much moved the whole Court as one throughly well-affected in Religion and averse from all Popery and Cruelty thus expressing himself h Acts and Monum part 1. p. 154. col 2. This seemeth rather suspicious then true that Ethelbert being a Christian King either could so much prevail with a Pagan Idolater or else would attempt so far to commit such a cruel Deed But of uncertain things I have nothing certainly to say lesse to judge This I say prevailed so far with the Iury that consulting with themselves they found an Ignoramus With whose commendable Charity I concurre preferring rather to clear a Twi-light Innocence into Noon-day then to darken it into Midnight 15. To return to the Monks of Bangor Their innocent Bloud went not long unrevenged for we find i Nicolas Trivet largely cited by Sir Henry Spelman in his Councills pag. 112. recorded The bloud of Bangor Monks revenged how three British Princes namely Blederick Duke of Cornwall Margaduc Duke of South-VVales and Cadwan Duke of North-VVales bade Battel to the Northumberlanders as they were invading VVales and not onely dangerously wounded the aforesaid Ethelfride their King but also discomfited his Army and slew ten thousand and sixty of his Souldiers forcing him at last to Articles of Composition that he should confine himself within his own Country North of Trent and leave all VVales to be entirely and peaceably enjoyed by the Britans the true Owners thereof 16. However here to our great Grief we are fain to take our Farewell Farewell taken for some years of the British Church for some hundreds of years of the British Church wanting Instructions concerning the Remarkable Particulars thereof Yet D r. Harpsfield deserves a Check both for his false a Eccles Hist Seculo 7. c. 39. pag. 114. Ground-work and presumptuous Inference built thereupon For first he slighteth the British Nation as such an one as since this their Dissenting from Augustine and the Romish Church in Ceremonies never archieved any Actions of Renown or mounted to any Eminency in the world Then he imputeth their being so long depressed and at last subdued by the English as a just Punishment of God on their not Complying with Rome so pragmaticall a Prier he is into Divine Secrets But he who thus casteth forth a National Abuse can never see where such a Stone lighteth for besides the Nation for the time being their Posterity ingaged therein have just cause either to find or make Reparation to themselves I could and would my self assert the British from this Scandalous Pen were it not against the Rules of Manners and Discretion to take this Office out of the hands of some of their own Nation for whom it is more proper as they are more able to perform it 17. Onely give me leave to insert a Line or two some Pleasant Discourse will not do amiss Commendation of the British language after so much Sad matter in Commendation of the British Tongue and Vindication thereof against such as causelesly traduce it First their Language is Native It was one of those which departed from Babel and herein it relates to God as the more immediate Authour thereof whereas most Tongues in Europe ow their Beginning to humane Depraving of some Original Language Thus the Italian Spanish and French Daughters or Neeces to the Latine are generated from the Corruption thereof Secondly Unmixed For though it hath some few Forrain Words and useth them sometimes yet she rather accepteth them out of State then borroweth them out of Need as having besides these other Words of her own to express the same things Yea the Romans were so far from making the Britans to do that they could not make them to speak as they would have them their very Language never had a perfect Conquest in this Island Thirdly Unaltered Other Tongues are daily disguised with forrain Words so that in a Century of years they grow Strangers to themselves as now an English-man needs an Interpreter to understand Chaucer's English But the British continues so constant to it self that the Prophesies of old Teliessin who lived above a thousand years since are at this day intelligible in that Tongue Lastly Durable which had it's Beginning at the Confusion of Tongues and is likely not to have it's Ending till the Dissolution of the World 18. Some indeed inveigh against it Causelesly traduced by ignorance as being hard to be pronounced having a conflux of many Consonants and some of them double-sounded yea whereas the Mouth is the place wherein the Office of Speech is generally kept the British words must be uttered through the Throat But this rather argues the Antiquity thereof herein running parallel with the Hebrew the common Tongue of the Old World before it was inclosed into severall Languages and hath much Affinity therewith in joynting of words with Affixes and many other Correspondencies Some also cavil that it grates and tortures the eares of Hearers with the Harshnesse thereof whereas indeed it is unpleasant onely to such as are Ignorant of it And thus every Tongue seems stammering which is not understood yea Greek it self is Barbarisme to Barbarians Besides what is nick-named Harshness therein maketh it
the Roman Rite To conclude let not the Reader expect the like exemplification of all Articles in following Synods so largely as here we have presented them For this Synod Stapleton b In his translation of Bede fol. 118. calls the first of the English Nation understand him whose Canons are completely extant and therefore more Patrimony is due to the Heir and Eldest Son then to the younger Brethren who shall be content to be confined to their Pensions I mean to have their Articles not exemplified but epitomized hereafter 97. Theodorus He envieth Wilfride Bishop of York Arch-Bishop of Canterbury beheld VVilfride Bishop of York one of great Parts and greater Passions with envious eyes and therefore to abate his Power he endeavoured that the Diocese of York might be divided VVilfride offended hereat goes over to Rome to impede the Project and by the way is tossed with a grievous Tempest It is an ill wind whicch bloweth no man Profit He is cast on the Shoar of Freezland in Belgia where the Inhabitants as yet Pagans were by his Preaching converted to Christianity This may be observed in this Wilfride his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 were better then his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 his casuall and occasionall were better then his intentionall Performances which shews plainly that Providence acted more vigourously in him then his own Prudence I mean when at Ease in Wealth at home he busied himself in Toyes and Trifles of Ceremonious Controversies but when as now and afterwards a Stranger and little better then an Exile he effectually promoted the Honour and Glory of God 98. And as it is observed of Nightingales The South-Saxons as formerly the Freezlanders converted by Wilfride that they sing the sweetest 679 when farthest from their Nests so this VVilfride was most diligent in God's Service when at the greatest distance from his own Home For though returning into England he returned not unto York but stayed in the Pagan Kingdome of the South-Saxons who also by God's Blessing on his Endeavours were perswaded to embrace the Christian Faith 99. These South-Saxons The first the last of all the seven Kingdomes were the last which submitted themselves to the perfect Freedome of God's Service and yet their Country was in Situation next to Kent where the Gospel was first planted Herein it was verified Many that are first shall be last and the last first Yea the Spirit which bloweth where it listeth observeth no visible Rules of Motion but sometimes taking no notice of those in the middle reacheth to them which are farthest off Indeed Edilwalch their King was a little before Christened by the perswasion of VVolphere King of Mercia who was his Godfather and at his baptizing gave him for a Gift the Isle of VVight provinciam a Bede lib. 4. cap. 13. Meanuarorum in gente Occidentalium Saxonum but his Country still remained in Paganisme And although Dicul a Scot with some six of his Brethren had a small Monastery at Bosenham in Sussex yet they rather enjoying themselves then medling with others were more carefull of their own Safety then their Neighbours Conversion And indeed the Pagans neither heeded their Life nor minded their Doctrine 100. However Pagan obstinacy punished with famine these South-Saxons paid for their Stubbornnesse in standing out so long against the Gospel for they alwayes were a miserable people and at this present afflicted with a great Famine caused by three years Drought so that fourty men in arow holding hand in hand used to throw themselves into the Sea to avoid the misery of a Lingering Death In this wofull Condition did VVilfride Bishop of York find them when he first preached the Gospel unto them and on that very day wherein he baptized them as if God from Heaven had powred water into the Font he obtained store of Rain which procured great Plenty Observe though I am not so ill-natured as to wrangle with all Miracles an Apish Imitation of Elijah who carried the Key of Heaven at his Girdle to lock or unlock it by his Prayer onely Elijah gave Rain after three yeares and six moneths VVilfride after bare three yeares it being good manners to come a little short of his Betters 101. South-Saxons first taught to fish Also saith my b Bede ibidem Authour he taught the people who till then knew not how to catch any Fishes but Eeles how to take all kind of Fish in the Sea and Rivers Strange that thus long they should live in Ignorance of so usefull a Trade being though Infidels no Idiots especially seeing mens Capacities come very soon to be of age to understand their own Profit and the Examples of their Neighbours might have been Tutours unto them But Wilfride afterward wanted no Hearers Anno Dom. 680 People flocking unto him as when Christ made his Auditours his Guests they followed after him because they ate of the Loaves and were filled The Priests Eappa Padda Bruchelin and Oidda assisted in baptizing the common people and King Edilwalch gave VVilfride a piece of Land containing eighty nine Families at Selsey where he erected a Bishops See since translated to Chichester 102. Amongst other good deeds A double good deed VVilfride freed two hundred and fifty men and maid-Servants both out of Soul-Slavery and Bodily Bondage For having baptized them he procured their Liberty of their Masters which they no doubt chearfully embraced according to S t. Paul's a 1 Cor. 7. 21. counsel Art thou called a Servant care not for it but if thou maist be made free use it rather And thus by God's Blessing in the space of eighty and two yeares from five hundred ninety seven to six hundred seventy nine was the whole Saxon Heptarchie converted to Christianity and did never again relapse to Paganisme 103. Godfathers used to men of nature Age. Mention being b Parag. 99. lately made of VVolphere the Mercian King his being Godfather unto Edilwalch King of the South-Saxons some will much admire that one arrived at yeares of Maturity able to render an Account of his Faith should have a Godfather which with Swadling-clouts they conceive belong to Infants alone Yet this was very fashionable in that Age not onely for the greater state in Kings Princes and Publick Persons but in majorem cautelam even amongst Private people For such Susceptors were thought to put an Obligation on the Credits and by reflection on the Consciences of new Christians whereof too many in those dayes were baptized out of civile Designes to walk worthy of their Profession were it but to save their Friends Reputation who had undertaken for their Sincerity therein 104. Cadwallader Cadwallader founds a VVelsh Hospital at Rome the last King of VVales wearied out with Warre Famine and Pestilence left his own Land and with some small Treasure fled to Alan King of Little Britain But Princes are welcome in forrain parts when Pleasure not Need brings them
Bonis Studiis tuis vacas Perlegas quaeso hanc Centuriam vel eo nomine quod Funera Tui Mei Bedae exhibeat Tuum dico quia haud ita pridem sub auspiciis Patronatus tui typis Saxonicis pulcherrimus prodiit Meum quo Authore vel potius Authoribus in hoc Opere toties usus sum Pluribus Viro occupatissimo molestus esse nolo Vale. PAinfull VVilfride was no sooner out of one Trouble 701 but he was engaged in another Wilfride persecuted afresh by Alfride King of Northumberland Hereupon a Hist Eccles Angl. pag. 95. Harpsfield calls him the Athanasius of that Age onely saith he that Father was persecuted by Hereticks and this VVilfride by Catholicks He might have added that Athanasius was troubled for Essentiall and Doctrinall Truths whilest VVilfride was vexed about Ceremonious and Circumstantiall matters And now Alfride who succeeded Egfride King of Northumberland powerfully opposed him being the paramount Prince and in effect Monarch of the Saxon Heptarchie For as we have noted before amongst these seven Kings as amongst the Planets there was ever one Sun that out-shined all the rest This Alfride joyning with Bertuald Arch-bishop of Canterbury called a b Malmeâ—b de Gestis Pont. lib. 3. See Sr. Henry Spelman in Conciliis Anno 701. Council and summoned Wilfride who appeared there accordingly But being demanded whether he would obey the Decrees of Theodore late Archbishop of Canterbury he warily returned That he was willing to obey them so farre as they were consonant to the Holy Canons This Answer was not satisfactory to his Adversaries as having in it too little of a Grant to please them and yet not enough of a Deniall to give them a just Offence Then they sought by fair means to perswade him because much Trouble had arose in the Church about him voluntarily to resign under hand and seal his Possessions and Arch-Bishoprick affirming it would be a glorious act to preferre the Publick Good before his Private Profit But Wilfride persisted loyall to his own Innocence affirming such a Cession might be interpreted a Consession of his Guiltinesse and appealed from that Councill to his Holinesse and this tough old man being 70. yeares of age took a Journey to Rome there to tugg it out with his Adversaries 2. They accused him of Contumacy Wilfride appâ—aleth to Rome and is acquitted that he had contemptuously denied Canonicall Obedience to the Arch-bishop of Canterbury 705 He cleared himself and complained that he had been unjustly deprived and that two Monasteries of his own Founding Rippon and Hexham were violently detained from him No fewer then seventy severall a Septuaginta concilâ—abula coacta Malmsbury ut prius Councils understand them so many severall Meetings of the Conclave were assembled in four moneths and employed onely or chiefly about deciding of this Difference belike there were Intricacies therein more then are specified in Authours Knots to employ so many cunning Fingers to unty them or else the Court of Rome was well at Leasure The Sentence of Pope Iohn the seventh passed on his side and his Opposers were sent home with Blame and Shame whilest Wilfride returned with Honour managing his Successe with much Moderation equally commendable that his Innocence kept him from Drooping in Affliction and his Humility from Insulting in Prosperity 3. Bertuald He is at last restored and dyeth in peace Arch-bishop of Canterbury humbly entertained the Popes Letters in behalf of Wilfride and welcomed his Person at his Return But Alfride King of Northumberland refused to re-seat him in his Bishoprick stoutly maintaining b Contra rationem homini jam bis à toto Anglorâ—m consilio damnato propter quaelibet Apostolica Scripta communicare Malmesbury de Gestis Pontificum lib. 3. that 't was against reason to communicate with a man twice condemned by the Council of England notwithstanding all Apostolick Commands in favour of him But soon after he fell dangerously sick a consequent of and therefore caused by his former Stubbornnesse as those that construe all Events to the advantage of the Roman See interpret this a Punishment on his Obstinacy Suppled with Sicknesse he confessed his Fault and so Wilfride was restored to his Place whose Life was like an April-day and a Day thereof is a Moneth for Variety often interchangeably fair and foul and after many Alterations he set fair in full Lustre at last Being fourty five yeares a Bishop in the seventie-sixth year of his age he died and was buried in his Monastery at Rippon And as he had been a great Traveller when living so his Bones took one Journey after his death being translated by c Godwin in his catalogue of the Archbishops of York pag. 11. viri illi quos sanctissimos celebrat antiquitas Theodorus Bertualdus Iohannes Bosa Hilda Abbatisâ—a digladiabili odio impetierunt Wilfridum deo acceptissimum Sherborn taken out of Winchester Bishoprick Odo Arch-bishop of Canterbury from Rippon to Canterbury in Reparation perchance for those many Wrongs which the Predecessours of Odo had done to this Wilfride Let not therefore the Papists vaunt immoderately of the Unity of their Church neither let them uncharitablie insult on our unhappy Differences seeing by the confession of their own Authours there was Digladiabile Odium Hatred as one may say even to Daggers-drawing betwixt Wilfride and certain Principall Persons conceived signall for Sanctity in that Age and sithence put into the Calender of their Saints And it is as sure as sad a Truth that as long as Corruption resides in the bosomes of the Best there will be Dissensions inflamed by malicious Instruments betwixt Pious people which otherwise agree in main matters of Religion 4. The Bishoprick of Sherborn was taken out of the Bishoprick of Winchester by King Ina and Adelme his Kinsman made first Bishop thereof I find no Compensation given to the See of Winchester for this great Canton cut out of it as in after-Ages when Ely was taken out of Lincoln Diocese the Manour of Spaldwick in Huntingtonshire was given by King Henry the first to Lincolne in Reparation of it's Loss for so much of the Jurisdiction taken from it But at this time when Sherborn was parted from Winchester the Damage to Winchester accruing thereby was not considerable Episcopall Jurisdiction in that Age not being beneficiall but rather burthensome So that Winchester might turn her Complaints into Thankfulnesse being thus eased of her cumbersome Greatnesse This Adelme Bishop of Sherborn was the d Camden's Britannia in Wiltshire first of our English Nation who wrote in Latine and the first that taught English-men to make Latine Verse according to his Promise Primus ego in Patriam mecum modò vita supersit Aonio rediens deducam vertice Musas If life me last that I do see that Native Soile of mine From Aon top I 'll first with me bring down the Muses nine He wrote many Works one a Bede of
Monarchy was desultory and moveable sometimes the West-Saxon sometimes the Mercian sometimes the Northumberland King ruled over the rest But henceforward Egbert fixed the supreme Soveraignty in himself and his Posterity for though afterwards there continued some other Petty Kings as Kenulph King of Merâ—ia c. yet they shined but dimly as the Moon when the Sun is risen and in the next Age were utterly extinguished So that hereafter we shall double our Files and for the better regulating of time next the Columne of the year of our Lord adde another of the Reign of our English Kings THE NINTH CENTURY Anno Regis Egberti Anno Dom. To M r. William and M r. Robert Christmas Merchants of London YOu are both Brethren by Birth and by your joynt Bounty on my Endeavours It is therefore pitty to part you May no other Difference be in your Hearts then vvhat Herauldry allovves in your Armes onely to distinguish the Age of the Elder from the Younger that so the Memory of your happy Father may survive in you his hopefull Children 1. THen Kenulph 1 King of Mercia 801 sent a Letter to Leo the third The Arch-bishoprick restored to Canterbury at the instance of King Kenulph Pope by Aethelard the Arch-bishop to this effect That whereas the Metropolitan Seat by Authority Apostolick was primitively fixed at Canterbury where the blessed Body of Augustine was buried and whereas lately King Offa out of Opposition to Arch-bishop Lambert had removed the same Seat to Lichfield and procured from Pope Adrian the same Translation to be confirmed Kenulph a Malmesb. de Gestis Reg. lib. 1. c. 4. requested his Holinesse so farre to concurre with the generall Desire of the English Nation as to revoke the Act of his Predecessour and restore the Arch-bishoprick to it's proper place And knowing that Sutes in the Court of Rome speed no whit the lesse when accompanied with Gifts he sent his Holinesse 120. b Mancusae quasimanucusae a coyn about the valuation whereof is much variety The first most formall subscription in a Synod Mancuses for a Present The Gift was kindly accepted the Arch-bishop courteously entertained the Request bountifully granted and thus the Arch-bishops See dislocated or out of joynt for a time was by the hands of his Holinesse set right again 2. Aethelard returning home 3 called a Synod at Clives-Ho 803 in Kent not farre from Rochester where by Power from the Pope he riveted the Arch-bishoprick into the City of Canterbury the Synod denouncing heavy Penalties to any that hereafter should endeavour to divide them so that it is believed that the Arch-bishops See may as easily be wholly dissolved as hence removed The Subscriptions in this Council were the most formall and solemn of any so ancient The Reader will not be offended with their hard c The originall is extant in the Records of Canterbury copied out by S t. Henry Spelman in his Councils pag. 325. Names here following seeing his Eye may run them over in perusing them though his Tongue never touch them in pronouncing them Diocese Bishops Abbots Presbyters Deacons Canterbury Aethelard Arch. Aethilheah Feologeld Wulfheard VVernoth Beornmod Vulfraed Arch. Lichfield Aldulf Higherth Lulls Monn VVigfreth Eadhere Cuthberth 00000000 Leicester Werenberth Falmund Pr. Beomia Pr. Forthrod Pr. Wigmund Pr. Eadberth 00000000 Sydnacester Eadulf Eadred Pr. Daeghelm Pr. Plegberth Eadulf Hereberth 00000000 Worcester Daenebreth Higberth Thineferth Pega Freothomund Pr. Coenferth 00000000 Hereford Vulfheard Cuthraed Srygol Dygoga Monn Heathobald Shireburn VVigberth Muda Eadberth Beorthmund 000000 00000000 Winchester Almund Cuthberth Mark Cumba Lulla Northeard Vngthe 00000000 Helmham Ealheard 000000000 Folcberth Frithoberth Eadberth Vulflab Hunfride Dunwich Fidsrith Vulfheard Lulla Ceolhelm Cynulfe Tydberth Eadberth London Osmond Heahstan Plegberth VVigheard Tidhun Frithorad Ethelhelme 00000000 Rochester VVaermund 00000000 Lullingo Tuda Beagnoth Heathoberth VVigheard 00000000 Selsey VVeothun Ceolmund Duud Eadberth Beorcol Hethfride a Doubtfull whether priests or deacons Cynebald 00000000 Arch-Bishop 1 Presbyters 39 82 in all Bishops 12 Archdeacon 1 Abbots 26 Deacons 3 3. Now to make a short but necessary Digression Some observables on the method and manner of their meeting in this Synod we may observe That Bishops appeared personally and the rest of the Clergy were represented Monks in their Abbots and the Seculars in the Priests and Deacons of their Diocese respectively Such Abbots as in this Catalogue have the addition of Pr. were also Priests and so present in a double Capacity though perchance they made onely use of their Abbotship No Deans appear here as a Dignity of farre later Institution The Bishops in the order of their Subscriptions seem to observe Seniority of their Consecrations and not Dignity of their Bishopricks seeing London lags one of the last to which our Church a Harpsfield Hist Ang. pag. 743. Heraulds did afterwards assign the highest place next the Arch-bishops onely Lichfield may seem to have had the Preccedency by the Courtesie of the Synod that the lost Dignity thereof might be buried in Honour being so lately the Seat of an Arch-bishop Lastly this was but a Provinciall Council for Canterbury alone York with his two Suffragans Lindisfern and Hexham not mentioned in the meeting Thus as the Anatomie of a little Child representing all Parts thereof is accounted a greater Rarity then the Sceleton of a man of full Statute so I conceive it more acceptable to the studious in Antiquity to behold the Form of these Synods with the distinct Members thereof in the Infancy of the Saxon Church then to see a compleat Council in after-Ages when grown to full Perfection 4. Passe we by some Petty Synods celebrated in the Reign and Countrey of King Kenulph of Mercia 16 Eminent was the Council at Celichyth under VVolfred who succeeded Aethelard Arch-bishop of Canterbury 816 Wherein The Acts of the Council at Colichyth amongst other things slight or superstitious was decreed 1. That the Catholick Faith should be kept and ancient Canons observed 2. That b See S r. Hen. Spelman in his Councills pag. 328. new Churches should be consecrated with Holy-water by their Bishops and the Saint somewhere painted therein to whom the same is dedicated 3. That all in Christian Charity mutually love one another 4. That Abbots and Abbesses be blamelesse persons chosen by the Bishop with the consent of the Convent 5. That no Scotch-man baptize or administer the Eucharist in England it being uncertain whether or by whom they are ordained We may discover herein some remaining Dreggs of the long-lasting Difference about the Celebration of Easter which made the suspicious English still to harbour a causelesse prejudice against the Scotch Priesthood 6. That the judiciall Sentences of Bishops in former Synods remain ratified as also all their Acts solemnly signed with the Crosse 7. That no Abbey-lands be leased out longer then in dies spatium unius hominis that is as I take
it for the single life of one man except in some case of Extremity to help against Famine Invasion of Foes or for obtaining of Freedome 8. That things dedicated to God remain so for ever 9. That the Acts of all Synods be fairly written out with the Date thereof and name of the Arch-bishop President and Bishops present thereat 10. That Bishops at their death give the full Tithe of their Goods to the Poor and set free every English-man which in their life-time was a Slave unto them 11. That Bishops invade not the Diocese prists the Parish neither the Office of another save onely when desired to baptize or visit the Sick The Refusers whereof in any place are to be suspended their Ministery till reconciled to the Bishop 12. That they pour not water upon the Heads of Infants but immerge them in the Font in imitation of Christ who say they was thrice c See Sr. Hen. Spelman pag. 331. so washed in Iordan But where is this in Scripture Anno Dom. 816 The manifestation indeed of the Trinity plainly appears in the a Matth. 3. 16 17. Text Anno Regis Egberti 16 Father in the Voice Son personally present Holy Spirit in the Dove but as for thrice washing him altum silentium However see how our modern Sectaries meet Popery in shunning it requiring the person to be plunged though Criticks have cleared it that Baptize doth import as well Dipping as Drenching in water 5. And now we take our farewell of King Kenulph Egbert proclaimed Monarch of England who for all his great Bustling in Church-matters for the first twenty yeares in this Century was as genus subalternum amongst the Logitians a King over his Subjects yet but a Subject to King Egbert 820 who now at Winchester was solemnly crowned Monarch of the Southern and greater Moiety of this Island 20 enjoyning all the people therein to term it Engelond since England that so the petty Names of seven former distinct Kingdomes might be honourably buried in that general Appellation 6 Some will wonder Seven Kingdomes swallowed up in Engelond seeing this Narion was compounded of Saxons Iuites and Angles why it should not rather be denominated of the first as in Number greatest and highest in Reputation Such consider not that a Grand Continent in Germany was already named Saxony and it was not handsome for this Land to wear a Name at second hand belonging to another Besides England is a name of Credit importing in Dutch the same with the Land of b Verstegan of decayed intelligence Angels And now the Name stamped with the Kings Command soon became currant and extinguished all the rest For Kent Essex Sussex Northumberland though remaining in common Discourse shrunk from former Kingdomes into modern Counties VVestsex Mercia and East-Angles were in effect finally forgotten It will not be amisse to wish that seeing so great a Tract of Ground meets in one Name the People thereof may agree in Christian Vnity and Affections 7. King Egbert was now in the Exaltation of his Greatnesse Danes disturb King Egbert But never will humane Happinesse hold out full Measure to mans Desire Freed from home-bred Hostility he was ready to repose himself in the Bed of Ease and Honour when the Danes not onely jogged his Elbows but pinched his Sides to the disturbance of his future Quiet 831 They beat the English in a Navall Fight at Carmouth in Dorsetshire 31 which proved fatall to our Nation For an Island is never an Island indeed untill mastered at Sea cut off from Commerce with the Continent Henceforward these Pagans settled themselves in some part of the Land though claiming it by no other Title then their own Pride and Covetousnesse and keeping it in no other Tenure then that of Violence and Cruelty 8. Athelwolphus his Son succeeded King Egbert in the Throne Athelwolphus his universal grant of Tithes to the Church a Prince not lesse commended for his Valour 837 then Devotion Ethelwolphi 1 and generally fortunate in his Undertakings though much molested all his life-time by the Danes But nothing makes him so remarkable to Posterity as the granting of this Charter or rather the solemn passing of this Act ensuing c Ex Ingulph Malmesb. Gest Reg. lib. 2. cap. 2. Regnante Domino nostro Iesu Christo in perpetuum Dum in nostris temporibus bellorum incendia direptiones opum nostrarum nec non vast antium crudelissimas depraedationes hostium barbarorum Paganarumque gentium multiplices tribulationes ad affligendum usque ad internecionem cernimus tempora incumbere periculosa Quamobrem ego Ethelwolphus Rex Occidentalium Saxonum cum consilio Episcoporum ac Principum meorum consilium salubre atque uniforme remedium affirmavi Vt aliquam portionem terrarum haereditariam antea possidentibus omnibus gradibus sive famulis famulabus Dei Deo servientibus sive laicis semper decimam mansionem ubi minimum sit tamen partem decimam in libertatem perpetuam perdonari dijudicavi ut sit tuta at munita ab omnibus secularibus servitutibus nec non regalibus tributis majoribus minoribus sive taxationibus quod nos dicimus Witereden Sitque libera omnium rerum pro remissione animarum nostrarum ad serviendum Deo soli sine Expeditione pontis instructione arcis munitione ut eo diligentius pro nobis ad Deum preces sine cessatione fundant quo eorum servitutem in aliqua parte levigarius Placuit etiam Episcopis Alhstano Schireburnensis Ecclesiae Swithuno Wintoniensis Ecclesiae Anno Dom. 837 cum suis Abbatibus servis Dei consilium inire ut omnes fratres sorores nostrae ad unamquamque Ecclesiam omni hebdomada die Mercurii hoc est Weddensday cantent quinquaginta psalmos unusquisque Presbyter duas Missas unam pro rege Ethelwolpho aliam pro ducibus ejus huic dono consentibus pro mercede refrigerio delictorum suorum pro Rege vivente dicant Oremus Deus qui justificas pro ducibus etiam viventibus Praetende Domine postquam autem defuncti fuerint pro Rege defuncto singulariter pro principibus defunctis communiter Et hoc sit tam firmiter constitutum omnibus Christianitatis diebus sicut libertas illa constituta est quamdiu fides crescit in gente Anglorum This Athelwolphus was designed by his Father to be Bishop of Winchester 11 bred in a Monastery 848 alias 855 after taken out and absolved of his Vows by the Pope and having had Church-education in his Youth 18 retained to his Old-age the indeleble Character of his affections thereunto In expression whereof in a solemn Council kept at Winchester he subjected the whole Kingdome of England to the Payment of Tithes as by the foregoing Instrument doth appear He was the first born Monarch of England Indeed before his time there were
the English at this present had not injured his Holinesse by any personall offence against him the Pope by Interdicting the whole Realme discovered as much emptinesse of Charity as plenitude of Power But some will say his bounty is to be praised that he permitted the People some Sacraments who might have denied them all in rigour and with as much right yea 't is well he Interdicted not Ireland also as a Countrey under King Johns Dominion deserving to smart for the perversnesse of their Prince placed over it 10. But after the continuance of this Interdiction King John by name excommunicated a year and upwards 1209. the horrour thereof began to abate 10. Use made ease and the weight was the lighter born by many shoulders Yea the Pope perceived that King John would never be weary with his single share in a generall Burden and therefore proceeded Nominatim to excommunicate him For now his Holinesse had his hand in having about this time excommunicated Otho the German Emperour and if the Imperiall Cedar had so lately been blasted with his Thunderbolts no wonder if the English Oak felt the same fire He also Assoiled all English subjects from their Allegiance to King John and gave not onely Licence but Incouragement to any Forreigners to invade the land so that it should not onely be no sinne in them but an expiating of all their other sinnes to conquer England Thus the Pope gave them a Title and let their own swords by Knight-service get them a Tenure 11. Five years did King John lie under this sentence of Excommunication Yet is blessed with good successe under the Popes curse in which time we find him more fortunate in his Martiall Affairs 1210. then either before or after 11. For he made a successefull voyage into Ireland as greedy a Grave for English Corps as a bottomlesse Bag for their Coin and was very triumphant in a Welsh Expedition and stood on honourable termes in all Foraine Relations For as he kept Ireland under his feet and Wales under his elbow so he shak't hands in fast friendship with Scotland and kept France at arms end without giving hitherto any considerable Advantage against him The worst was not daring to repose trust in his Subjects he was forced to entertain Forainers which caused his constant anxiety as those neither stand sure nor go safe who trust more to a staffe then they lean on their legs Besides to pay these Mercenary Souldiers he imposed unconscionable Taxes both on the English Clergy especially and Jews in the Kingdom One Jew there was of b Mat. Paris in Anno 1210. pag. 229 Bristoll vehemently suspected for wealth though there was no cleer Evidence thereof against him of whom the King demanded ten thousand Marks of silver and upon his refusall commanded that every day a Tooth with intolerable torture should be drawn out of his head which being done seven severall times on the eight day he confessed his wealth and payed the fine demanded who yeelding sooner had sav'd his teeth or stubborn longer had spar'd his money now having both his Purse and his Jaw empty by the Bargain Condemn we here mans cruelty and admire heavens justice for all these summes extorted from the Jews by temporall Kings are but paying their Arrerages to God for a debt they can never satisfie namely the crucifying of Christ 12. About the same time The Prophesie of Peter of Wakefield against K John one Peter of Wakefield in Yorkshire a Hermit 1212. prophesied that John should be King of England 13. no longer then next Ascension-day after which solemn Festivall on which Christ mounted on his glorious Throne took possession of his heavenly Kingdom this Oppose of Christ should no longer enjoy the English Diadem And as some report he foretold that none of King Johns linage should after him be crowned in the Kingdom Anno Regis Joh. 13. The King called this Prophet an a Fox Martyr pag. 229. Idiot-Knave Anno Dom. 1212. which description of him implying a contradiction the King thus reconciled pardoning him as an Idiot and punishing him as a Knave with imprisonment in Kors-Castle The fetters of the prophet gave wings to his prophesie and whereas the Kings neglecting it might have puft this vain Prediction into wind men began now to suspect it of some solidity because deserving a wise Princes notice and displeasure Farre and neer it was dispersed over the whole Kingdom it being b Cominaeus faith that the English are never without some Prophesie on foot generally observed that the English nation are most superstitious in beleeving such reports which causeth them to be more common here then in other Countries For as the Receiver makes the Thief so popular credulity occasioneth this Propheticall vanity and Brokers would not set such base ware to sale but because they are sure to light on chapmen 13. Leave we the person of this Peter in a dark Dungeon 14. and his credit as yet in the Twilight 1213. betwixt Prophet and Impostor to behold the miserable condition of King John King Johns submission to the Pope perplexed with the daily preparation of the French Kings Invasion of England assisted by many English Male-contents and all the banish'd Bishops Good Patriots who rather then the fire of their Revenge should want fuel would burn their own Countrey which bred them Hereupon King John having his soul battered without with forrain fears and foundred within by the falsenesse of his Subjects sunk on a sudden beneath himself to an act of unworthy submission and subjection to the Pope For on Ascenision Eve May 15. being in the town of Dover standing as it were on tip-toes on the utmost edge brink and labell of that Land which now he was about to surrender King John by an Instrument or Charter sealed and solemnly delivered in the presence of many Prelates and Nobles to Pandulphus the Popes Legat granted to God and the Church of Rome the Apostles Peter and Paul and to Pope Innocent the third and his Successours the whole Kingdom of England and Ireland And took an Estate thereof back again yeelding and paying yeerly to the Church of Rome over and above the Peter-pence a thousand Marks sterling viz. 700. for England and 300. for Ireland In the passing hereof this ceremony is observable that the Kings Instrument to the Pope was * Both Instruments for the present were but sealed with Wax and the next yeer solemnly embossed with mettall in the presence of Nicholas the Popes Legat. sealed with a seal of Gold and the Popes to the King which I have beheld and perused remaining amongst many rarities in the Earl of Arundels Library was sealed with a seal of Lead Such bargains let them look for who barter with his Holinesse alwayes to be losers by the contract Thy silver saith the c Isai 1. 22. The Rent never paid the Pope nor demanded
name And this in effect is confessed by the most learned and ingenious Orator b Sir Isaac Wake in his Rex Platonicus pag. 2â—9 210. of that University Indeed we finde one Robert Bacon who died Anno One thousand two hundred fourty eight a Learned Doctor and Trithemius stileth John Baconthorpe plain Bacon which addeth to the probability of the former assertion However this confounding so many Bacons in one hath caused Anticronismes in many Relations For how could this Bacon ever be a reader of Philosophy in Brasen-Nose Colledg Founded more then one Hundred years after his death so that his Brasen head so much spoken of to speak must make time past to be again or else these inconsistences will not be reconciled Except any will salve it with the Prolepsis of Brasen-Nose Hall formerly in the place where the Colledg is now erected I have done with the Oxford Bacons only let me add that those of Cambridg Father and Son Nicholas and Francis the one of Bennet and the other of Trinity Colledg do hold absit in vidia the Scales of desert even against all of their name in all the world besides 19. John Duns Scotus succeeds Duns Scotus why so called who some will have called Scotus ob c Sixtut Senensis profundi ssimam dicendi obscuritatem from his profound obscurity in writing Indeed there was one Heracletus to whom cognomen Scotinon d Seneca in Epist fecit orationis obscuritas but others conceive him so called either from Scotland his Country or John Scott his father Nor was he called Duns as some will have it contractedly from Dominus but from the place of his Nativity though three Kingdoms earnestly engage to claim him for their Country-man England It is thus written at the end of his Manuscript works in Merton Colledg in Oxford Three Kingdoms lay claim to his birth whereof he was Fellow Explicit a Camd. Brit. in Northumberland Lectura a Subtilis in Vniversitate Parisiensi Doctoris Joannis Duns nati in quadam villula parochiae de Emidon vocata Dunston in Comitatu Northumbriae pertinente Domui Scholarium de Merton-hall in Oxonia Scotland Although John Scott dissembled himself an English-man to finde the more favour in Merton Colledg living in an age wherein cruel Wars betwixt England and Scotland yet his Tomb erected at Colen is bold to tell the truth whereon this Epitaph b Arch-Bish Spotswood in his History of the Church of Scotland Scotia me genuit Anglia suscepit Gallia edocuit Germania tenet Besides the very name of Scotus a voweth him to be a Scotch-man Ireland He is called Joannes Duns by abbreviation for Dunensis that is born at * Hugh Cavel in vita Scoti Dounâ— an Episcopal See in Ireland where Patricius Dubricius and S t Columba lie interred And it is notoriously known to Criticks that Scotus signifieth an Irish-man in the most ancient exception therof I doubt not but the Reader will give his verdict that the very Scotiety of Scotus belongeth to England as his Native Country who being born in Northumberland which Kingdom in the Saxon Heptarchie extended from Humber to Edenburgh Frith it was a facile mistake for Foreiners to write him a Scotch-man on his Monument As for the name of Scotus it is of no validity to prove him that Country-man as a common-Sir-name amongst us as some four years since when the Scotch were injoyned to depart this Land one M r English in London was then the most considerable Merchant of the Scotch Nation The sad manner of Scotus his death is sufficiently known who being in a fit of a strong Apoplexie was by the cruel kindness of his over-officious friends buried whilest yet alive and recovering in the grave dashed out his brains against the Coffin affording a large field to such wanton wits in their Epigrams who could make sport to themselves on the sad accident of others 20. I had almost over-seen John Baconthorpe Low but learned Baconthorpe being so low in stature as but one remove from a Dwarfe of whom one saith Ingenio c Johannes Trissa Nemausensis in libro de viris illustribus magnus corpore parvus erat His wit was Tall in body small Insomuch that Corpus non tulisset quod ingenium protulit his body could not bear the Books which his brain had brought forth Coming to Rome being sent for by the Pope he was once hissed d Baleus in ejus vita at in a Publick Disputation for the badness forsooth of his Latin and pronunciation but indeed because he opposed the Popes power in dispencing with Marriages contrary to the Law of God whose e Jacobus Calcus Papiensis judgment was afterwards made use of by the defenders of the divorce of King Henry the eight 21. William Occam sided with Lewis of Bavaria against the Pope Occam a â—â—list 〈◊〉 maintaining the Temporal power above the Spiritual he was fain to flie to the Emperour for his safety saying unto him Defende me gladio ego te defendam verbo Defend me with thy sword and I will defend thee with my word This Occam was Luthers chief if not sole School-man who had his works at â— is fingers end loving him no doubt the better for his opposition to the Pope 22. Robert Holcot was not the meanest amongst them Holcots sudden death who died of the Plague at Northampton just as he was reading his Lectures on the seventh of Ecclesiasticus wherein as many Canonical truths as in any Apocrypha chapter and although as yet in his publick reading he was not come to the last verse thereof so proper for mortality wee may charitably believe he had seriously commented thereon Bale descript 〈◊〉 Cent. fift pag. 434. in his private meditations Whatsoever thou takest in hand remember the end and thou shalt never do amiss 23. Thomas Bradwardine bringeth up the rear The just praise of Tho. Bradwardine though in learning and piety if not superiour equal to any of the rest witness his worthy book against Pelagianisme to assert the freeness of Gods grace in mans conversion which he justly intituleth De causa Dei of Gods cause for as God is a Second in every good cause so he is a Principal in this wherein his own honour is so nearly concerned And though the Psalmist saith plead thine own cause O Lord yet in this age wherein Miracles are ceased God pleadeth his cause not in his Person but by the proxie of the tongues and pens hands and hearts of his Servants This Bradwardine was afterwards Arch-Bishop of Canterbury and how highly esteemed let Chaucer * In the Nuns Prieststale tell you But I ne cannot boult it to the bren As can the holy Doctour S t Austin Dr Boece or the Bishop Bradwardin This testimony of Chaucer by the exact computation of time written within forty years after Bradwardines death which addeth much to his honour
moderate the execution thereof 31. This year The institution of the Knights of the Garter Authors generally agree some few making it later 1350 viz. 25 after John K. of France was taken prisoner K. Edward instituted the Order of the Garter consisting of 1. One Chief Guardian or Soveraign being the King of England 2. Five and twenty Knights whereof the first set were termed Founders and their Successors ever since called Fellows or Companions of the Order 3. Fourteen Canons resident being Secular Priests 4. Thirteen Vicars or Chorol Priests 5. Twelve Military Gentlemen of the meaner sort decayed in age and estate commonly called the poor Knights of Winsor 6. One Prelate of the Garter being alwaies the Bishop of Winchester 7. One Chancelour thereof being antiently the Bishop of Salisbury in whose Diocesse Winsor is but lately a Lay-Person The truly Honourable and well experienced Statesman and Traveller Sir Thomas Row if I mistake not was the last Chancelour of the Garter 8. One Register being alwaies the Dean of Winsor 9. One Usher who is one of the Ushers of the King his Chamber called the Black Rod. 10. A chief Herald added for the more Solemnitie by K. Henry the 5. and called Garter This Order the K. founded within his Castle of Winsor to the honour of Almighty God and the blessed Virgin Mary and of the glorious Martyr St. George and to the exaltation of the holy Catholick Faith 32. Four Essentials are requisite in the Persons Eligible into this Order The qualification of these Knights that they be Gentlemen of Name and Arms by Fathers and Mothers side for three descents Secondly that he be without spot or foule reproach understand it not convicted of Heresie or attainted of Treason Thirdly that he have a competent estate to maintain the dignity of the Order Fourthly that he never fled in the day of battle his Soveraign Lord or his Lieutenant in being in the field 33. Their habiliments are either ordinary Their habits as a Blew Ribbon with the picture of St. George appendent and the Sun in his Glory on the left shoulder of their Cloak added as some say by King charles being for their daily wearing or extraordinary as their Collar of S. S. their Purple Mantle their Gown Kirtle Chaperon and chiefly their Garter This being made of Blew is with Hony Soit qui male pense in Golden Letters enchased with precious stones fastened with a Buckle of Gold and worn on the left leg of the Fellows of this Order 34. They take an Oath Their Oath that to their power during the time that they are Fellows of the Order they shall defend the honour quarrel rights and Lordships of their Soveraign that they shall endeavour to preserve the honour of the Order and without fraud or Covin well observe the Statutes thereof This is taken absolutely by the Natives of this Kingdom but by Forrainers relatively and in part with their reference to some former Order 35. They oblige themselves Other Rites they are bound to observe first to be personally present without a just cause specified to and accepted by the Soveraign or his Deputy at Winsor on the Festival of St. George Secondly that if coming within two miles of that place except hindered by some important businesse they repair thither Anno Regis Ed. tertii 26. put on their Mantles Anno Dom. 1350. lying constantly Liegers there proceed to the Chappel and there make their Offering Thirdly that they be never openly seen without their GEORGE'S which they shall neither engage alien Fell nor give away on any necessity whatsoever Lastly that they take order their Garter at their death be safely and solemnly sent back to the Soveraign to confer the same on one to succeed him in the Order 36. I have done when I have told that their places may be vacated Order how voided on three occasions First by death which layeth this as all other honour in the dust Secondly by deprivation on the persons misdemeanour or want of the foresaid qualifications Thirdly by cession or surrender when a Forraign Prince entreth into enmity with this Crown is pleased to send his Garter back again 37. Excesse in Apparel began now to be great in England Excesse in apparel restrained which made the State take order to retrench it Some had a project that mens Cloatthes might be their signs to shew their Birth Degree or Estate so that the quality of an unknown person might at the first sight be expounded by his Apparrel But this was soon let fall as impossible Statesmen in all Ages notwithstanding their several laws to the contrary being fain to connive at mens Râ—ot in this kind which maintaineth more poor people than their charity However the ensuing passage must not be omitted 38. Item that the Clerks which have a degree in a Church 37 Cathedral 1361 Collegial or in Schools Rot. Tur. Lon. anno Ed. ter 37. and the Kings Clerks which have such an estate that requires Fur do and use according to the constitution of the same and all other Clerks which have above two hundred marks rent per annum use and do as Knights of the same rent And other Clerks under that rent use as Squires of an hundred pound rent * Pellure in the French Original And that all those aswell Knights as Clerks which by this Ordinance may use Fur in Winter by the same manner may use it in Summer 39. Passe we now from soft Furr Clergy-men injoyned to take up arms to hard Steel I mean a command from the King for the arming of all Clergy-men 40. And besides this 43 the King commands 1368 and requires all the Prelates there assembled Rot. in Tur. Londin anno Ed. tertii that in respect of the great danger and damage which perhaps might happen to the Realm and Church of England by reason of this war in case his Adversary should enter the Kingdom to destroy and subvert the same that they will put to their aid in defence of the Kingdom and cause their Subjects to be arraied aswell themselves and their religious men as Parsons Vicars and other men of holy Church whatsoever to abate the malice of his Enemies in case they should enter the Kingdom which Prelates granted to do this in aid and defence of the Realm and holy Church And so the Parliament ended Here we see More seâ—â—ed then hurt In hostes publicos omnes homo miles none are dispenced with to oppose an invading enemy But where were these Forraign Foes France and Scotland being now both of them ordered into a defensive posture whose invasion was expected Possibly these dangers were represented thorough State-Multiplying Glasses to quicken the care and continue the Taxes on the English Nation 41. The Lords and Commons in Parliament began now to find themselves much agrieved A petition against Clergy mens imployment in Secular places
They also complained With great earnestnesse that when such Merchants troubled in the Courts Christian addressed themselves for remedy to the Chancery and moved therein for a Prohibition which in such cases is to be granted unto them by vertue of a Statute made in the forty fift year of King Edward the third yet such a writ of Prohibition and attachment was against all law and right denyed them Wherefore they humbly desired the King to ordaine by authority of the present Parliament that such who shall find themselves grieved may hereafter have such writs of Prohibition and upon that Attachments aswell in the Chancery as in the Kings and Common-Bench at their choice * Ex Archivis in Tur. Londin undecimo Hen. sexti And that the said Writs of Prohibition and Attachment issuing out of the said Benches have the said force and effects as the Original writs of Prohibition and Attachment so issuing out of the Chancery of our Lord the King 70. To this it was returned Yet not fully redressed the King will be advised the civilest expression of a Denial However we may observe that for a full hundred years viz. from the middle of King Edward the third to and after this time no one Parliament passed wherein this Grievance was not complained on So that an Acorn might become an Oake and good Timber in the term wherein this molestation for the Tithes of wood under the pretence of Silva Cedua did continue But it seems it was well Ordered at last finding future Parliaments not complaining thereof 71. At this time William Linwood finished his industrious and usefull work of his Constitutions William Linwood his Constitutions set forth He was bred in Cambridge first Schollar of Gonvile then Fellow of Pembroke-Hall His younger years he spent in the studie of the Laws whereby he gained much wealth and more reputation Afterwards quitting his practice he betook himself to the Court and became Keeper of the Privie-Seale unto King Henry the fifth who employed him on a long and important Embassy into Spain and Portugal 72. Linwood being no less skilful in Civil than Canon Law First imployed Embassador into Portugal performed the place with such exemplarie industrie and judgement that had not the Kings suddain death prevented it he had been highly advanced in the Common-wealth Afterwards he reassumed his Officials place of Canterburie and then at spare houres collected and digested the Constitutions of the fourteen latter Archbishops of Canterbury from Stephen Langton to Henry Chicheley unto whom he dedicated the Work submitting the censure thereof to the Church 73. A worthy Work highly esteemed by forraign Lawyers not so particularly Provincial for England His work printed and prized beyond sea but that they are usefull for other Countries his Comment thereon being a Magazine of the Canon-Law It was printed at Paris 1505. but at the cost and charges of William Bretton an honest Merchant of London revised by the care of Wolfgangus Hippolius and prefaced unto by Jodocus Badius This Linwood was afterward made Bishop of Saint Davids whose works though now beheld by some as an Almanack out of date will be valued by the judicious whilst Learning and Civility have a being CENT XV. Anno Regis TO M r THOMAS RICH Anno Dom. Late of LONDON Esquire Great is the praise S. Paul * * Rom. 16. 23. gives to Gaius stiling him his host and of the whole Church Surely the Church then was very little or Gaius his house very large Now Hosts commonly are Corpulent persons but Gaius not so it being more then suspicious that he was afflicted with a faint body as may be collected from the words of ††3 John 2. S. John I wish that thou maist prosper and be in health even as thy soul prospereth You are Sir the Entertainer-general of good men many a poor Minister will never be wholly Sequestred whilest you are living whose Charity is like to the winde which cannot be seen but may be felt And God hath dealt with you more bountifully then with Gaius blessing you in all dimentions of Soul Body and Estate and my prayers shall never be wanting for the continuance and increase thereof 1. THis year began the smart and active Councel of Basil Hen. 6 12. to which our Ambassadours were to represent both their Soveraign 1434. and the English Nation English Ambassadors sent to Basil where they were received with honour and respect the reputation of King Henry his Holiness adding much to their credit Foraigners there being very inquisitive of them to be satisfied in the particulars of his devotion which by them was represented much to their Masters advantage But it is worth our pains to peruse the Commission they carried with them REx omnibus quos c. Anno Dom. 1434 salutem Anno Regis Hen. 6. 12. Sciatis quòd cum juxta decreta Constantiensis Concilii praesens Concilium Basileense actualiter celebretur sub sanctissimo Patre Domino Eugenio Papa quarto Nos eidem Concilio nedum ex parte ejusdem Concilii per suos Oratores nobis ex hac causa specialiter destinatos verum etiam Apostolicis Imperialibus ac aliorum quamplurimorum sanctae Matris Ecclesiae Patrum Principum saecularium literis creberrimè instigati ad Dei laudem sanctae Matris Ecclesiae prosperitatem optatam honorem praesertim ob fidei Catholicae exaltationem interesse cupientes variis diversis causis rationabiliter praepediti quo minus personaliter eidem interesse poterimus ut vellemus venerabiles Patres Robertum Londoniensem Philippum Lexovieasem Johannem Roffensem Johannem Bajocensem Bernardum Aquensem Episcopos ac carissimum consanguineum nostrum Edmundum Comitem Moritonii dilectos nobis Nicholaum Abbatem Glastoniensem Willielmum Abbatem Ecclesiae beatae Mariae Eborum Willielmum Priorem Norwincensem nec non dilectos fideles nostros Henricum Broumflete Militem Magistrum Thomam Broun utriusque Juris Doctorem Sarum Decanum Johannem Colluelle Militem Magistrum Petrum c c Or Maurison Mauricii Doctorem in Theologia Magistrum Nicholaum David Archidiaconum Constantiensem Licentiatum in utroque Jure nostros Ambassiatores Oratores veros indubitatos Procuratores Actores Factores Nuncios speciales constituimus facimus deputamus per praesentes dantes eis ipsorum majori parti potestatem mandatum tam generale quam speciale nomine nostro pro nobis in eodem Concilio interessendi tractandi communicandi concludendi tam de hiis quae fidei Orthodoxae fulcimentum Regumque ac principum pacisicationem concernere poterunt nec non de super pace perpetua guerrarúmve abstinentia inter Nos Carolum Adversarium nostrum de Francia ac etiam tractandi communicandi appunctuandi consentiendi insuper si opus fuerit dissentiendi hiis quae juxta deliberationem
Knight Henry Broomflete put before a Doctor of both Laws and yet John Colevil another Knight placed after the same Doctor I confess the contest very ancient about priority betwixt a Knight and a Doctor of Law ever since the comparison which a In orat pro. Murena Tully made betwixt Lucius Murena a Knight of Rome and Pub. Sulpitius a Lawyer either of them standing for the Consulship Though now in England the precedency of the Knight be indubitable since preferment is taken from Civil Law and the professors thereof shut up as it were in a narrow corner of their own faculty But we leave the Critical Decision thereof to his b Chassaneus la gloria mundi lib. 9. pen who hath wrot a just Tract of the Glory in truth of the Vanity of this world and exactly stated this particular with all the circumstances thereof 7. Whereas the King impowreth those his Commissioners to meddle in the point of his right of the Realm of France A charitable and no impolitick offer with King Charles his competitor submitting his Title to be discussed in the Councel it carrieth with it a confidence of his own right and charitable desire to save the effusion of Christian Bloud But this was not Councel but Camp-work and we meet not with the mention hereof once touched on in this great Assembly However so wary was King Henry or rather his Councel as not absolutely to tie up his title to the decision of this Councel but to give his Commissioners a negative voice in case they see cause to dissent 8. The general History of the Church reporteth the Acts of this Councel A contest betwixt the English and Castilaus about precedency how they deposed Pope Eugenius and substituted Felix in his room for which and other decisions therein Rome beholds this Councel but with bad eyes unto this day We will onely meddle with a difference therein which concerned our own Nation The Orators of several Kings began to take their places according to their birth-rights dating their age from their Nations first receiving of Christianity Here arose the controversie of course about precedency betwixt the English and Castile Ambassadours the former alledging Britaines conversion by Joseph of Arimathea which Alphonsus Garsias de Sancta Maria Dean of Compostella and Segovia Doctor of Law and Ambassadour for Castile with a Speech c Ex Schedis Coâ—â—onianâ—s more tedious then his name and titles much endeavoured to disprove and his arguments may be reduced to these four heads 1. First he denied Josephs arrival in Britaine and imposed the proof thereof on the English who affirmed it challenging them to produce any authentick Record for the same 2. Secondly he urged probability to the contrary out of the Golden Legend or Flores Sanctorum where it is reported how Titus taking Jerusalem caused a thick wall to be digged thorow and therein found an aged man who confessed himself to be Joseph Or Arimathea there imprisoned by the Jews for burying of Christ and that ever since he had been fed with-meat from heaven Hence he inferred that if Joseph were in durance all this while in the wall he could not as the English pretended come over into Britain to plant the Gospel 3. Thirdly grant that Joseph after his enlargement by Titus preached in Britain which must needs be after the year of our Lord seventy and two Spain long before had received the Gospel by the preaching of James the Apostle 4. Fourthly Be it granted that Joseph did preach in England it was but in a corner thereof the grand body of Britain remaining pagan many hundred years after These arguments he uttered with such an affected gravity as if he could have made the matter the more by pronouncing the words the longer 9. The English easily answered these exceptions The English their answer proving James to be slaughtered at Jerusalem by a Acts 12. 2. Herod before his pretended preaching in Spain seeing their own Country-man and an b Rodericus Ximenius in concer d. primatu cum praesule 〈◊〉 in Concil Lateran Anno. 1215. Arch-Bishop of Toledo confesseth as much They produced many ancient testimonies for the preaching of Joseph in Britain the fond fable of his being kept in a wall being beneath confutation as attested onely by a worthless Author Joannes de Voragine Their allegation that Britain was but partially converted by his preaching was but impertinent to the present purpose the point controverted not being of the universality but the antiquity of first receiving the Christian Faith Besides neither James nor any other Disciple ever converted a Kingdom totally and entirely to Christianity However nothing was concluded in this controversie alwayes agitated never decided 1. In the Councel of Pisa Anno 1409. 2. In the Councel of Constance 1417. betwixt the Ambassadours of England and France 3. In the Councel of Sienes before Martin the fifth Pope wherein Richard Fleming Bishop of Lincoln encountered France Spain and Scotland about precedency Lastly betwixt England and Spain in the Councel of Basil though therein nothing concluded those politick Prelates accounting it better to keep both Princes in hope by discussing then to put one into anger by deciding it Yea they loved to set up this controversie as that of the precedence of Cambridg and Oxford in English Parliaments out of design sometimes to delay time sometimes by starting it to stop and divert more dangerous disputes 10. Henry Chichely 15. Doctor of Law 1437 Arch-Bishop of Canterbury All-Souls College in Oxford founded Founded a Colledg in Oxford by the Name of All-Souls for a Warden and fourty Fellows which number by Statute was never to be augmented or impaired and all void places by death or otherwise once in a year to be supplied Wardens Anno Dom. 1437. 1. M r Rich. Andrews 2. M r Rog. Keys 3. Mr Gul. Kele 4. M r Gul. Poteman 5. M r Jo. Stokie 6. Tho. Hobbys 7. M r Gul. Brooke 8. M r Jo. Coale 9. M r Rob. Woodward 10. M r Rob. Stokelie 11. M r Jo. Warner 12. M r Seth Holland 13. M r Jo. Pope 14. M r Rich. Barâ—er 15. M r Rob. Hovenden 16. D r Mocket 17. D r Ashley D r Shelden D r Palmer Bishops Anno Regis Hen. 6. 15. James Gouldwel Bishop of Norwich 1472. Gilbert Bourn Bish of Bath and Wells 1554. Glyes Tomson Bish of Gloucester 1611. Brian Duppa Bish of Sarum Fellow of this House Benefactors King Henry the 6 th at the procurement of the Founder gave four Priories Alians viz. Alberbury Rumney Weeden-Pinkeney and Languenith Queen Elizabeth confirmed the Parsonage of Stanton Harcourt Reginald Poole Card. Arch-Bishop of Canterbury S r William Peter Fellow of this Colledg and Secretary to four Kings and Queens Learned Writers S r Clement Edmonds D r Gentilis an excellent Civilian D r Steward M r Diggs So that at this present this Colledg hath one Warden fourty
justly slain and their numerous rabble routed and dispersed In other remarkables Cade differed from Jack Straw First Straw defied all Nobility and Learning vowing and endeavouring their ruine and extirpation whilest Cade pretended himself to be the Lord Mortimer and next heir to the Crown and no design against Learning is charged on his account Lastly Straws Rebellion is though most falsly fathered by Popish writers on Wicliff and his adherents to have occasioned at leastwise connived at his commotion but I never met yet with any Romanists accusing the Lollards as they term them for having any hand in Cades Rebellion 23. Now began the broyls to break out betwixt the two houses of Lancaster and York The wars begin betwixt York and Lancaster so mutually heightened 1455. that scarce a County betwixt York the place whence generally their Armies started and London 34. the Goal they both aimed to win but a set Battle hath been sought therein and if any one Shire lieth fallow in this kinde the next afforded a double crop in that nature besides other Counties in the Marches of Wales as by the ensuing Catalogue will appear Place Betwixt Time Number slain Conqueror 1. S t Albans in Hertfordshire Richard Duke of York and King Henry the 6 th for Lancaster Anno 1455. and 34 th of King Hen. 6. in June Slain on the Kings side five thousand On the the Dukes six hundred York House 2. Blore-heath in Staffordshire Rich. Earl of Salisbury for York James Touchet L. Audley for Lanc. Anno 1469. the 37 th of Hen. 6. Septemb 21. Two thousand 4 hundred most Coshire men slain on Lancast side York House 3. Northampton Anno Regis Hen. 6 34. Richard Earl of Warwick Anno Dim 1459. for York King Hen. 6. for Lancaster Anno 1460. 38 Hen. 6. 9 July Ten thousand slain and drowned on both sides York House 4. Wakefield in Yorkshire Richard Duke of York Queen Margaret for Lancaster In the same year Decem. 31. Two thousand two hundred slain on York side with their Duke Lancaster 5. Mortimors Cross in Shropshire Edward Earl of March afterwards King for York Anno 1461. 39 Hen. 6. Feb. 2. Three thousand eight hundred slain on Lancaster side York House 6. S t Albans in Hertfordshire Richard Earl of Warwick for York King Henry and Margaret his wife in person for Lancaster The same year and moneth 17 Feb. About two thousand on both sides Lancaster 7. Towton in Nottingham-shire Edward Earl of March for York King Hen. 6. Same year March 27. being Palm-Sunday Thirty five thousand ninety and one on both sides York House 8. Hexham in Northumberland John Nevil Lord Montague King Hen. 6. and the Queen Anno 1464. 4 Edw. 4. May 15. Number great but uncertain York House 9. Banbury or Edgcot in the confines of Oxford and Northampton shire William Herbert Earl of Pembroke for York Robbin of Ridsdale alias Hilliard for Lancaster Anno 1469. 9 Edw. 4. July 26. Five thousand slain in the place most of them Welchmen Lancaster 10. Barnet in Middlesex Richard Nevil Earl of Warwick for Lancaster King Edw. 4. for York Anno 1471. 11 Edw. 4. April 14. being Easter-day Four thousand slain on both sides York House 11. Tewxbubury in Glocestershire King Edw. 4. for York Queen Margaret and Edward her son for Lancaster In the same year on the 4 th of May. Three thousand slain of the House Lancaster York House 12. Bosworth in Leicester-shire King Rich. 3. for York Henry Earl of Richmond for Lancaster Anno 1485. 3 Rich. 3. August 22. About 4 thousand slain in all Lancaster Place Betwixt Anno Regis Hen. 6 34. Time Number slain Conqueror 13. Stoak in Notingham-shire John Delapole Earl of Lincoln for York King Hen. 7. for Lancaster Anno 1487. 2 King Hen. 7. June 16. About four thousand wherof many Irish slain on both sides Lancaster or rather the two houses united in King Henry the 7 th Besides many other Skirmishes corrivals with Battles so that such who consider the bloud lost therein would admire England had any left And such as observe how much it had left would wonder it had any lost such still the populousness thereof But these things the Reader may best inform himself of 1459 out of the State-Historians 37. and particularly out of that Noble Italian Author elegantly and expressively translated by the Earl of Monmouth who hath written a large Volume to the great credit of our English Nation of the wars betwixt York and Lancaster So that I could heartily wish that some English man in requital of his courtesie would write the Italian discords betwixt the Guelphes and Guibelines 24. It was much Magdalen College in Oxford Founded by Bishop Wainfleet that in the middest of so many miseries of Civil Wars William sir-named Patin from his Parents but Wainefleet from the place of his nativity now Bishop of Winchester should Found the fair Colledg Dedicated to Mary Magdalen in Oxford for One President Fourty Fellows Thirty Demies Four Chaplains Eight Clerks and Sixteen Choristers which number can never be increased But though this Foundation cannot be made broader or longer admit of more members yet may it be made deeper and is capable of Benefactours charity to augment the maintenance of the aforesaid number This William Wainefleet first Founded Magdalen-Hall hard by as Scriveners use to try their pens on a small piece of paper before they begin what they fairly intend to write and afterwards undertook and finished this far more stately piece of Architecture For whoso observeth the magnificence of the structure the numerousness of the Corporation the largeness of their endowments and the mutual concinnity of all parts amongst themselves therein may possibly finde out a College which may exceed it in some but hardly any that will equal it in all accommodations Where nothing is wanting for health and pleasure except some will say that Mary Maudlin weepeth too much and the walks sometimes too wet and moist from the depressed situation thereof 25. Nor hath this House been less fruitfull then any with famous persons The many Worthies bred therein and it is observable that there is scarce a Bishoprick in England to which this College hath not afforded one Prelate at the least doubling her files in some places as by the ensuing Catalogue will appear Presidents Anno Regis Hen 6 37. M r William Horneley Anno Dom. 1459. M r William Tybbard M r Rich. Mayewe M r John Clarmund M r Knolles M r Oglethorp M r Cole M r Coveney M r Laur. Humfride D r Nich. Bond. D r Jo. Harding D r William Langton D r Accept Frewen D r John Oliver D r Jo. Wilkinson D r Tho. Godwin Benefactors King Henry the seventh Thomas Ingledue Chaplain to the Founder William Fitz-Allen Earl of Arundel John Forman D r Higden Jo. Claimund Pref. Robert Morewent John Mullins Arch-Deac of London D r John Warner
in the Sanctuary in Westminster and very pathetical he was in the perswading her to part with him haply on a point of conscience as fearing if denied some injury would be offered to the prejudice of the Church and therefore more willing himself to wooe him from her with eloquence then that others should wrest him thence with violence Yet he is generally conceived innocent here in as not as yet suspecting any fraud in the Duke of Glocester except any will say that it was a fault in him that so great a States-man was no wiser then to have been deceived by his dissimulation 3 But of the inferiour Clergie D r Shaw a popular preacher made himself infamous to all posterity Shaws shameless Sermon His Sermon at S t Pauls Cross had nothing but the text and that in the a Eccles 23. 25. Spuria vitulamina non agent radices alias Apocrypha good therein as consisting of two parts defaming of the dead and flattering of the living making King Edward far worse then he was and Duke Richard far better then ever he would be He made King Edward the fourth and the Duke of Clarence both to be bastards and Duke Richard onely right begotten so proclaiming Cicilie his Mother still surviving for a whore all being done by secret instructions from Duke Richard himself who hereby gave a worse wound to his Mothers credit then that which at his birth he caused to her body being as it is commonly reported cut out from her With Shaw we may couple another brawling cur of the same litter Pynkney the Provincial of the Augustinian Friâ—rs who in the same place used so loud adulation he lost his credit conscience and voice altogether These two were all and they too many of the Clergie whom I finde actively ingaging on his party whilest multitudes of the Lairy sided with him So that thorough the popularity of the Duke of Buckingham the Law-learning of Catesby the City-interest of Shaw then Lord Major of London and brother to the preacher the rugged rigor of Ratclifse and the assistance of other instruments in their several spheres the Queens kindred were killed Ric. 3 1. the Lord Hastings murdered King Edward and his Brother imprisoned and at last Richard Duke of Glocester elected King of England The sumptuous Coronation of King Richard 4. His Coronation was performed with more pomp then any of his Predecessours as if he intended with the glory thereof so to dazle vulgar eyes that they should not be able to see the shame of his usurpation Indeed some of our English Kings who by undoubted right succeeded to the Crown accounted their Coronation but a matter of course which did not make but manifest them to be Kings and so less curious in the pompous celebration thereof But this Usurper apprehended this ceremony more substantial and therefore was most punctual in the observation of it causing all the Nobility who held Lands in grand Soveraignty to do their service in state amongst whom Richard Dimock Esquire hereditary Champion by tenure with a safe piece of valour having so many to back him cast down his Gauntlet challenging any that durst oppose the title of King Richard and for ought I do know to the contrary he afterwards made his challenge good in Bosworth field And because sure binde sure finde he is said and his Queen to be Crowned again in York with great solemnity 5. Soon after followed the murder of King Edward King Edward and his brother stifled and his Brother Richard Duke of York It was high time they should set when another already was risen in the throne By a bloudy bloudless death they were stifled with pillows and then obscurely buried The uncertainty of their interment gave the advantage to Perkin Warbeck afterwards to counterfeit Richard Duke of York so like unto him in age carriage stature feature favour that he wanted nothing but success to make him who did but personate Duke Richard to pass current for the person of Duke Richard 6. After this bloudy act Anno Regis Ric. 3. 2. King Richard endeavoured to render himself popular Anno Dom. 1484 First by making good Laws in that sole Parliament kept in his Reign King Richard vainly endeavoureth to ingratiate himself by makeing good Laws Benevolence malevolence which formerly the subjects unwillingly willing had paid to their Soveraign power where it requests commands it not being so much thank-worthy to grant as dangerous to deny it he retrenched and reduced to be granted onely in Parliament He regulated Trading which the Lombards and other foraigners had much ingrossed to the detriment of the English Nation Now although all people carry much of their love and loyaltie in their purses yet all this would not ingratiate this Usurper with them the dullest nostrils resenting it done not for love of vertue but his own security And that affects none which all palpably discover to be affected 7. Next he endeavoured to work himself into their good will As also by building of Monasteries by erecting and endowing of Religious Houses so to plausiblelize himself especialy among the Clergy Thus he built one far North at Middleham and and a College in the Parish of a Stows Survey of London in Tower street Ward Alhallows-Barking hard by the Tower as if he intended by the vicinity thereof to expiate those many murders which he therein had committed Besides he for his time dis-Forested Whichwood in Camâ—dens Bâ—â—â—â—an Oxford shire pag 374. out of John Rouse Oxford-shire then far more extended then in our Age which his brother Edward had made Forest to the great grievance of the Country thereabouts Yet all would not do the people being more patient for an injury done by King Edward then thankful for the favour this Richard bestowed upon them He is said also to have given to Queens College in Cambridg c Stow in his Annals p. 470. five hundred marks of yearly rent though at this time I believe the College receives as little benefit by the Grant as Richard had right to grant it For it was not issued out of his own purse but given out of the lands of his enemy the unjustly proscribed Earl of Oxford who being restored by Henry the seventh made a resumption thereof 8. Duke Richard was low in stature Art hath done more for King Richard then ever nature did crook-backed with one shoulder higher then the other having a prominent gobber-tooth a war-like countenance which well enough became a souldier Yet a modern d e George Buck Esqu a claw-back to Crook-back Author in a Book by him lately set forth eveneth his shoulders smootheth his back planeth his teeth maketh him in all points a comly and beautiful person Nor stoppeth he here but proceeding from his naturals to his morals maketh him as vertuous as handsome which in some sense may be allowed to be true concealing most denying some defending others
the Truth hand to hand by dint of Scripture the Sword and Buckler thereof by God's appointment the Pope took off all his Adversaries at distance with those Guns of Hellish Invention his Infallibility and Universall Jurisdiction so that no approaching his presence to oppose him but with certainty of being pre-condemned 28. Now seeing the Complaints of the conscientious in all Ages The power of a Nationall Church well improved against the Errors in the Romish Church met with no other entertainment than frowns and frets and afterwards fire and fagot it came seasonably into the mindes of those who steered the English Nation to make use of that power which God had bestowed upon them And seeing they were a National Church under the civil command of one King He by the advice and consent of his Clergie in Convocation and great Council in Parliament resolved to reform the Church under His inspection from grosse abuses crept into it leaving it free to other Churches either to follow His example or continue in their former condition and on these terms was the English Reformation first advanced 29. But the Romanists object Objection to the contrary that England being first converted to Christianity by the zeale and care of the Church of Rome when Pope Gregory the great sent Augustine over to preach here cannot not onely without great Ingratitude but flat Undutifulnesse depart from the Church which first taught it true Religion It is answered Answer 1. First this Argument reacheth not west of Severne into Wales where the antient Britains by generall confession were converted before the time of Augustine Secondly Answer 2. this first favour received from Rome puts not on England so strict and servile an obligation of perpetual continuance that she may and must not serve God without asking her leave It ties England onely to a faire and gratefull respect which she alwaies tender'd till the Insolency of the Church of Rome made Us unwilling to pay and Her unworthy to receive it Thirdly Answer 3. some strength may be allowed to this Objection if Rome could be proved the same in Doctrine and Discipline when under the Reign of King Henry the eighth England divided it self from it with Rome when in the time of Gregory the great it was converted by God's blessings on his endeavours But since that time the Church of Rome hath been much corrupted in Opinions and practise easie to prove but that it is not the set work of our History 30. But again the Papists object 2. Objection of the Romanists that the most judicious Protestants doe ingeniously confesse that the Church of Rome maintaineth all the Fundamentals of Religion England therefore cannot be excused from Schisme for dividing from that Church which by their own confession still retaineth the true Foundation of Christianity 31. It is answered The Answer if some Protestants be so civil in their censures on Papists it appears thereby though they have left Rome they have not lost their courtesie nor their Charity But grant which is disputable the Errours of the Church of Rome not Fundamental they are Circa-Fundamental grating on the very Foundation Besides we are bound to avoid not onely what is deadly but what is hurtful not onely what may destroy the life but what may prejudice the health of our Souls But our Adversaries persist to object 3. Objection that our Reformation took its rise from King Henry's pride to pluck down a Power which crossed His designes from His covetousnesse to compasse the Revenues of Abbey and from His wantonnesse to exchange His old Embracings for new ones Well therefore may the English blush at the Babe when they behold its Parents and be ashamed of their Reformation considering the vitious Extraction thereof Answ The Answer Malice may load the Memory of K. Henry about His demerit yet grant the charge true that bad inclinations first moved Him to the Reformation yet He acted therein nothing but conformable to the Law Divine and Humane It is usuall with God's wisdome and goodnesse to suffer Vice to sound the first Alarum to that fight wherein Virtue is to have the Victory Besides King Henry's Reformation hath since been Reformed by successive Princes of England who cannot justly be taxed with any vitious reflexion therein 32. It remaineth that we take notice of the moderation of the Reformers The moderation of Reformers who being acted not with an Opposition to all which the Papists practised but with an Affection to Truth disclaimed onely the Ulcers and Sores not what was sound of the Romish Church retaining still what was consonant to Antiquity in the Four first Generall Councels 33. Matters thus ordered The Conclusion of the Contest had the Romanists been pleased to joyn with us there had been no complaining of Schisme either in their Streets or ours But such their pride and peevishnesse to persist obstinate to this day incense many people who listen more to the loudnesse than weigh the justnesse of Complaints accusing us of wilfull Separation But the Premisses well considered England may say to Rome * Gen. 38. 29. Pharez the breach be upon thee who with * 2 Kings 11. 14. Athaliah crying Treason treason being her self the prime Traytour taxeth us with Schisme when she the onely Schismatick 34. We enter now on a subject The Popes revenues out of England which we must not omit such is the concernment thereof in our History yet which we cannot compleat so intricate the nature thereof and so short and doubtfull our intelligence therein namely to give a generall estimate particulars being impossible of the Papall Revenues of England 35. Here be it premised that I humbly conceive Greatest under King Hen. 3. the Pope's Income ran the highest in England under King Henry the third and King Edward the first before the Statute of Mortmaine and after it that of Premunire was made for these much abated his Intrado And although I deny not but under King Henry the eighth he might receive more Money as then more plentifull in England yet his profit formerly was greater if the standard of Gold and Silver be but stated proportionably 36. However the vast summes Rome received hence at the time of Reformation Popes profit by sale of Trinkets will appear by the insuing commodities For first Agnus Dei's this is here set by Synecdoclie to signifie all Popish Trinkets Medals consecrated Beads c. which I as little know what they be as Papists why they use them Of these were yearly brought over from Rome into England as many as would fill the shop of a Habberdasher of Holy Wares Now though their prices were not immediately paid into the Pope's purse but to such his subordinate Officers who traded therein Yet they may be accounted part of the Papall Revenues the King hath what the Courtiers have by His consent and if such trading was not permitted unto them the
ended the other should begin that nothing should interrupt their Prayers though the Thames did divide their Persons Both those Covents dissolved by King Henry the eight were as aforesaid restored by Q. Mary and re-dissolved by Q. Elizabeth The Sion Nunnes though Clementia Thresham a principall amongst them could not go with them for sicknesse dying soon after and buried at Rushton in Northampton shire conveyed their persons and most portable Treasure beyond the Seas to Zurick Zey in Zealand thence to Macklin in Brabant thence to Roan in Normandy but found no certain place of abode till they came to Lisbone in Portugall 6. For here they had a daily Pension of five Crowns from the King of Spaine The revenue and wealth of the Lisbone Nunnes and wheat more than sufficient whilst Lisbone was His and I doubt not but the present King of Portugall performeth the same they have Vine-yards Olive-fields Corn-grounds and Houses to the value of four hundred * Every Milrey is twelve shillings six pence sterling Mil-reis a year which was the Portion of a Portugese sole Heire to her wealthy Father who becoming a Religious Sister in this Covent conveyed her inheritance unto it So that by their boxes in Indian and Brasilean ships sale of Masses and other perquisites they are said yearly to lay up six hundred pounds 7. Indeed A price of blood their first portion they began with a good bank and hereon hangs a story worth reporting When Doctor Lopez a Iew-Portugall undertook to poison Queen Elizabeth he would not to shew himself a Iew indeed doe his work till in some sort secured of his wages The summe * Tho. Robinson pag. 9. promised him was deposited with these Nunnes whilst as yet they lived at Roan in Normandie But Lopez his designe failing the same halter which bereaved him of life endowed these Nunnes with a livelyhood For the King of Spaine either out of scrupulosity not to resume the same into his Treasurie as the price of blood or out of liberality conferred those moneys on the Nunnes which since they have well house-wived and increased 8. We need not repeat what we have formerly said of the Brigetine Nunnes first founded by Briget Queen of Swedeland having Fryers permitted to live under the same roof though disjoyned with walls for their better consolation Their Confessour and Abbesse Some thirty years since Father Ioseph Foster was their Confessour having two other Priests and a Lay Brother to assist him whose names I am lesse carefull to insert because they change them as often as snakes their skins both what they took at the font and fetcht from their Fathers truly called by what they are not known and commonly known by what they are not truly called Elizabeth Preston about that time was Abbesse who being outed as in disgrace with Father Foster Barbara Wiseman succeeded in her place 9. Such as desire further satisfaction herein The Anatomi of the Nunnes of Lisbone may consult the Anatomie of the English Nunnerie at Lisbone made by Thomas Robinson published by authority and lately reprinted I confesse it may seem cruelty to cut up the living and the best of mortalls would winch to purpose if diffected alive But very much of truth is believed in his Discovery telling us of a grate betwixt those Fryers and Nunnes sometimes so churlish as to divide them sometimes so charitable as consenting to be drawn up and so to admit them to a mutuall society so that if the Fryer calleth the Nunne cometh incontinently at his command I have heard since that their Covent of late hath casually been burned down which if so I doubt not but they are able to rebuild it as gaining more by water the gratuities of Merchants than they have lost by fire Bruxells Nunnerie THey are of the Order of S. Benedict Bruxells Nunnerie and yet solely under the inspection of the Iesuits which seems improper seeing it would sound like truer construction that Benedictine Nunnes should be subject to Benedictine Monks The truth is that at the first founding hereof the Iesuiticall activity got the start of the Benedictine dulnesse and these men of lasting mettall as good at length as at hand keep the advantage which once they have gotten Indeed no Nunnes come hither but such as are transported by the Iesuits speciall recommendation and therefore it is but equall they should dresse and prune the Vines of their own planting I assure you the place is too costly for my Daughter to be entred there seeing they receive * Lewis Owen his running Register p. 102. none into their Abbey and habit unlesse she have a thousand pound or two for her Portion 2. The Abbey is very rich Their great wealth having purchased whole Manours and Lordships in Brabant with many thousand of pounds at use in the Lombards and elswhere all which the English Iesuits doe dispose of Father Gardiner and Father * English-Spanish pilgrim pag. 72. Walgrave aliàs Flower were Anno 1630 their Overseers being some sixty English Damosells under their Abbesse then the Sister of the Aunt to the present Earl of Northumberland Cambray Nunnerie DON Carlos de Colmna Governour of the City and Countrey of Cambray for the King of Spaine Cambray Nunnerie and sometimes Ambassadour for England was so allured with the beauty or affected with the piety of our English Women that as it is generally reported he gave them a Cloyster within this City where now they live and have an English Congregation erected according to the Order of S. Benedict Lately they had no lands purchased though possibly since they may be endowed Gravelin Nunnerie THe Family of the Gages at Furle in Suffex were their principall Benefactors whereof John Gage Privie Counsellour Grà velin Nunnerie as I take it to Q. Mary deserted the land and his own large estate at the beginning of Queen Elizabeth as appears by certain Tablets to be seen in their Church Yet are they the poorest of all Forraign Convents being the discalceated Nunnes of the Order of S. Clare Size cinque are sent to Bruxells persons Nobly born or richly dowried Quatur tray to Lisbone or Cambray receiving those of a middle rank whilst Duce ace yea Ames ace are sent to Gravelin the Almes-basket of other Covents Cum nemini obtrudi potest itur ad c. Such who come over with empty hands must be Nunnes at Gravelin with naked feet 2. Here I purposely omit the Nunnes of Lovaine in Brabant because not speaking pure English Nunnes of Lovaine why omitted and scarcely medietatem lingue being a Hodge-podge of Dutch and English and the former at this day most numerous Yea oftentimes the two Nations here strive for Superiority and though nature inclineth me in this contention to favour my Countrey women yet I conceive it better to leave them alone to agree with themselves and proceed to the Jesuitesses jesuitesses THese began at Luke or Liege about
wherein His owne Dignity was so neerly concern'd I conceive it the Oath of Canonical obedience to the Archbishop which consequentially commanded such ceremonies which Hooper was willing to decline For in the Kings next Letter wrote thirteen daies after to the same purpose there is mention onely of offensive Rites and Ceremonies and of no Oath at all as coincident with the former and obligatory to such Canonical observances But see the Letter RIght Reverend Father and right trusty and well-beloved We greet you well Whereas We by the advice of Our Councel have called chosen Our right well-beloved and well-worthy Mr. John Hooper Professor of Divinity to be Our Bishop of Glocester as well for his great learning deep judgment and long study both in the Scriptures and other profound learning as also for his good discretion ready utterance and honest life for that kinde of vocation c. From consecrating of whom We understand you doe stay because he would have you omit and let passe certain Rites and Ceremonies offensive to his conscience whereby ye thinke you should fall in Praemunire of Laws We have thought good by advise aforesaid to dispense and discharge you of all manner of dangers penalties and forfeitures you should run into and be in any manner of way by omitting any of the same And these Our Letters shall be your sufficient warrant and discharge therefore ¶ Given under Our Signet at our Castle of Windsor Aug. 5. the fourth year of Our Reign All would not doe Resolute Ridley stood stifly to his tackling and here was old bandying of the businesse betwixt them and Arguments urged on both sides Pro. 1. The Ornaments were indifferent of themselves and of antient use in the Church 2. Being enjoyned by lawfull authority they became necessary not to salvation but to Church-unity and it was scandalous to decline them 3. It would bring the Papist over to our Church beholding all things by them used not totally abolished by a spirit of contradiction but some decent correspondencies still moderately continued 4. It would cast a slurre on the credit of such Bishops who formerly had used those Ornaments as more remisse in Religion than such as refused them 5. Those that have stubborn wills pretend too often to tender consciences nor ought a private person to be indulged with the disturbance of the publick uniformity of the Church Con. 1. The best thing that could be said of them was that they were uselesse being otherwise ridiculous and superstitious 2. Cursed be he that removes the bound-marks Grant them indifferent in themselves and left so by Divine Wisdome it was presumption in man to stamp necessity upon them 3. Too much of the Serpent nothing of the Dove herein to offend those within to invite those without to the Church driving Protestants thence to draw Papists thither 4. The credits of some good men were not to be preserved by destroying the consciences of others 5. Hooper put himself upon the triall of the Searcher of hearts that no obstinacie but meer conscience made him refuse those Ornaments In a word all those Arguments which later Ages have more amply enlarged more clearly explained more cunningly improved more violently enforced were then and there first solidly propounded and solemnly set down on both sides Posterity in this matter having discovered no new Mine but onely refined what formerly was found out in this Controversie 26. At last the great Earl of Warwick deserted his Chaplain in open field But is forced at last to shift for himself Indeed he had higher things in his head than to attend such trifles not so much to procure a Mitre for his Chaplain as a Crown for himself even then secretly laying a design to derive the Scepter into his own family Yea Hooper was sent to prison and kept some daies in * His imprisonment not mention'd in Mâ— Fox but in the Tâ—oubles of Frankford pag. 35. durance till at last he condescended to conform himselfe in his habit to the rest of his brethren and so was consecrated Bishop of Glocester 27. But that which most opens the mouthes of Papists Defended for keepiâ—g Worcester in Commendam and other adversaries against Hooper is because he who scrupled the poor Bishoprick of Glocester afterward held the wealthy Bishoprick of Worcester in Commendam with it We read of a b Jos 7. 21. wedge of gold and little wedges say they widen mens consciences for the receiving of greater yea thus the haters of marriage first become guilty of bigamie But let such know First that the Dioceses of Glocester and Worcester lie both contiguous together Secondly many single Bishopricks in England are larger than both for extent in Land and number of Parishes Thirdly no worse a man than S. Dunstan himself had the Bishoprick of Worcester and London with it at the same time being farre more distant and remote Fourthly it is not the having of two Bishopricks together but the neglecting of one is the sin whereas Hooper in preaching and visiting afforded double diligence in his double Diocess 28. The mention of Hooper his holding of the Bishoprick of Worcester in Commendam Why Caâ—imer was not restored to the Bishoprick of Worsester mindes me of a difficulty which though I cannot answer I must not omit It is this Seeing that Latimer was outed of that Bishoprick in the daies of King Henry the eighth on the account of the Six Articles why was he not restored to the same under King Edward the sixt especailly seeing Nicholas Heath his successour was legally deprived and the place actually void Whereas on the contrary Hugh Latimer continued Hugh Latimer without any addition of preferment Here first we must largely trade in negatives It was not for any want of favour from the King seeing he stood rectus in Curia in relation to His Majesty Nor was it because his down-right Sermons disobliged the Courtiers who generally delight in soft preaching as in c Mat 11. â— soft cloathing Nor was it out of sullennesse because he would not be bedded again with that wife which though unwillingly had in his absence embraced another Nor have we any cause to suspect Latimer of Hoopers opinion as distasting Ceremonies and so obstructing his advancement But we impute it either to his conscience oft-times sharpest in the bluntest men because he would not be built on the ruines of another especially knowing Heath one of a meek and moderate nature Or to his age who Barzillai d 2 Sam. 19. 35. like was superannuated for earthly honour Alas what needed a square cap over the many night-caps which age had multiplied on his Reverend head Or because he found himself not so fit for government better for preaching than ordering Ecclesiastical affairs Or lastly because he propherically foresaw that the ingratitude of the English Nation would shorten their happinesse and King Edwards life and he was loth to come into a place onely to
volley of ill words discharged at them amongst which none so mortal to their reputation as the word Schismatick wherewith the Coxians branded them at their departure Much fending and proving there was betwixt them whether Schismatick was properly applyable to such who agreeing in doctrine dissented onely in superfluous ceremonies In conclusion nothing was concluded amongst them as to agreement And now no pitty shewed at their departure no sending of sighes or shedding of tears on either side the one being as glad of the room they left as the other were desirous of their own removall 10. If any be curious to know the names of such The names of such as went to Geneva who separated themselves from this Congregation of Frankford this ensuing catalogue a Taken out of their subscription to a letter in the Troubles of Frankford pag. 47. will acquaint him therewith William William Anthonie Christopher Thomas Iohn Williams Whittingham Gilby Goodman Cole Fox Thomas William Iohn Iohn Christopher Nicolas Wood. Keth◠Kelke Hilton Soothous Purfote Iohn Thomas William Laurence Iohn Anthonie Escot Grafton Walton Kent Hellingham Carier Of these M r. Fox with a few moe went to Basil the rest settled themselves at Geneva where they were all most courteously entertained And now who can expect less but that those still remaining at Frankford as the same in opinion should be the same in affection and live in brotherly love together But alas man while he is man will be man and Sathan the sower of tares 6. 155. 7. did set a sad dissention betwixt them which we come now to relate 11. There was an eminent member of the Congregation in Frankford The sad difference betwixt Mr. Ashley and Mr. Horne M r. Ashley by name one of a worshipfull b Troubles of Frankford pag. 55. degree and as it seems of a Spirit not to say Stomack no whit beneath his extraction Jan. 14. 16. Now there happened some high words at Supper betwixt Him and M r. Horn then Pastor of the Congregation yet so that all the difference by the seasonable mediation of the Guests was then seemingly composed But two dayes after M r. Ashley was convented before the Elders where it was laid to his charge that at time and place aforesaid he had spoken words slanderous to them and their Ministry Ashley appealed from them as an adversary Part against Him and therefore no competent Judges unto the whole Congregation as men of estimation with both Parties to hear and determine the difference betwixt them 12. Hereat M r. Horn and the Elders were highly offended Horne and the Elders in discountent quit their places pleading that they had received authority from the whole Church to hear and decide such Cases Ann. Dom. 6. 155-7 and were resolved not to depart with the power so legally delegated unto them And whereas many meetings were made of M r. Ashleys friends to debate his businesse M r. Horne and the Elders condemned them as tending to schism accounting their own presence so of the Quorum to any lawful assembly that without it all conventions were conventicles Yea M r. Horne and the Elders perceiving that M r. Ashleys friends being most numerous in the Congregation would bring his Cause to be determined by the diffusive Church Feb. 2. fully and freely forsook their Ministry and Service therein Preferring rather willingly to un-Pastor and dis-Elder themselves than to retain the place without the power Title without the Authority due thereunto 13. This deserting of their Duty Where at the Church is highly offended was by others interpreted an high contempt of the Congregation Especially when two dayes after a full Church met with an empty Pulpit 4. wherein none to teach the people The Ashleyans being far the major part took exception that Horne and the Elders should so slightly and suddenly quit what before they had so seriously and solemnly accepted as if their Pastoral charges were like their cloaths or upper garments to be put off at pleasure to coole themselves in every heat of Passion Besides these men being married in a manner to their Ministeriall Functions could not legally divorce themselves without mutual consent and the Churches approbation thereof 14. Soon after the State of the controversie was altered Inquiry how to proceed against the Pastor and Elders if accused M r. Ashleys businesse being laid aside and another of an higher concernment taken up in the room thereof namely how the Congregation should proceed against the Pastor and Elders in case they were accused for misdemeanour For hitherto no provisions were made in the constitutions of this Church to regulate this case if chancing to occur Whether because the compilers of those constitutions charitably presumed on the integrity of all such Officers or omitted the making any law against them in favour to themselves as most probable to obtain such places or because no canons can at once be compleated 14. but a reserve must be left for the additions of others to perfect the same But now eight were appointed to regulate the manner of the proceeding of the Congregation against Pastor and Elders if peccant who were without or rather above censure according to the old Discipline which still inflamed the anger of M r. Horne and his Party 15. A Party much advantaged by M r. Chambers siding therewith Mr. Chambers accused of injustice because He was keeper of the charity conferred on and contributions collected for the Congregation Now where goeth the Purse there goeth the Poor most in want were of Hornes side in hope of the larger relief This made others complain of Chambers as an unjust Steward of the Churches treasure too free to such as He affected and bountifull only of Taunts and ill Terms to those of a different Judgement making neither Mens Need or Deserts but only his own fancy the direction of his Distributions 16. Now began their brawls to grow so loud The scandal of this dissention that their next neighbours over-heard them I mean the State of Frankford took notice thereof to the shame of all and grief of all good in the English Nation For how scandalous was it that exiles of the same Country for the same Cause could not agree together But man in misery as well as man in honour hath no understanding Yea they began to fear lest many Dutch-men hitherto their bountifull Benefactours should for the future withdraw their benevolences conceiving these exiles wanted no mony who had such store of animosities and probably poverty would make them more peaceable amongst themselves Their discords were the worse because the Vernali mart at Frankford did approach and it would be welcome ware and an usefull commodity for Popish Merchants meeting there to carry over into England and all the world over the news of their distractions 17. Hereupon the Magistrate of Frankford interposed to arbitrate their differences 〈…〉 short friends but whether
in her Religion And yet some not more knowing of Councells but more daring in Conjectures than others who love to feiga what they cannot finde that they may never appear to be at a loss avouch that the Pope promised to revoke the Sentence against her mother Anne Bollens marriage to confirme our English Lithurgie by his authority to permit the English the Communion under both kinds provided she would own the Popes Primacy and cordially unite her self to the Catholike Church Yea some thousands of Crowns but all in vain were promised to the effectors thereof wherein his holinesse seemingly liberal was really thrifty as knowing such his Sums if accepted would within one year return with an hundred fold increase 41. Scipio a Gentleman of Venice The contents of Scipio his Letter to Mr. Iewell formerly familiar with M r. Jewel whilst he was a student in Padua wrot now an expostulating letter unto Him being lately made Bishop of Sarisbury Wherein he much admired that England should send no Embassadour nor message or letter to excuse their Nations absence from the general appearance of Christianity in the Sacred Councell of Trent He highly extolled the antiquity and use of General Councels as the only means to decide controversies in Religion and compose the distractions in the Church concluding it a Superlative Sin for any to decline the authority thereof 42. To this M r. Jewel returned a large and solemn answer Anno Dom. 1563. Now although he wrote it as a private person Anno Regin Eliza. 5. yet because the subject thereof was of publick concernment The sum of Mr. Jewels answer take the principall Heads thereof a See it at large at the end of the History of the Councell of Trent First That a great part of the world professing the name of Christ as Greeks Armenians Abessines c. with all the Eastern Church were neither sent to nor summoned to this Councell Secondly That Englands absence was not so great a wonder seeing many other kingdoms and free-states as Denmarke Sweden Scotland Princes of Germany and Hanse-Towns were not represented in this Councel by any of their Embassadors Thirdly That this pretended Councell was not called according to the ancient custome of the Church by the Imperiall Authority but by Papall usurpation Fourthly That Trent was a petty place not of sufficient receit for such multitudes as necessarily should repair to a generall Councell Fifthly That Pope Pius the fourth by whose command the Councel was re-assembled purchased his place by the unjust practises of Simony and bribery and managed it with murder and Cruelty Sixthly That repairing to Councells was a free-act and none ought to be condemned of Contumacy if it stood more with their conveniency to stay at home Seventhly That anciently it was accepted as a reasonable excuse of holy Bishops absenting or withdrawing themselves from any Councell if they vehemently suspected ought would be acted therein prejudiciall to the Truth lest their though not active included concurrence might be interpreted a countenancing thereof Eightly Our English Bishops were imployed in feeding their flocks and governing their Churches and could not be spared from their charge without prejudice to their consciences Ninthly The members of the Councell of Trent both Bishops and Abbots were by oath pregaged to the Pope to defend and maintain his authority against all the world Lastly in what capacity should the English Clergy appear in this Councell They could not as free-persons to debate matters therein beeing pre-condemned for Hereticks by Pope Julius They would not come as Offendors to hear the Sentence pronounced against themselves which they had heard of before What effect this Letter produced I finde not sure I am no Papists as yet have made an effectuall refutation of the reasons rendered therein 43. The Bells of S t. Peters in Westminster had strangely rung the changes these last thirty yeers Westminster Col. Church re-sounded by Q Eliz. Within which time first it was a stately and rich Covent of Benedictine Monks Secondly it was made a Collegiate Church of Dean and Prebendaries by King Henry the eighth Thirdly by the same King is was made an Episcopall See and Thomas Thirby who having roasted the Churches Patrimony surrendred it to the spoile of Courtiers the first and last Bishop thereof Fourthly Queen Mary re-seated the Abbot and Monks in the possession thereof who were outed after her Death Lastly this yeer Queen Elizabeth converted it again into a Collegiate Church founding therein maintenance for one Dean twelve Prebendaries as many old souldiers past service for Almsmen and fourty Scholars who in due time are preferred to the Universities so that it hath proved one of the most renowned Seminaries of Religion and learning in the whole nation 44. Pope Pius though unsuccessfull in his addresses last yeer to the Queen 1561 yet was not so disheartened The Pope trieth again in â—am to reduce the Queen but that once more he would try what might be effected therein To which purpose he imployed the Abbot of Martinegi with most loving letters unto her desiring leave to come over into England But the Queen knowing it less difficulty and danger to keep him Anno Dom. 1562. then to cast him out of her Dominions forbad his entrance into the Realme as against the Laws of the Land So that he was fain to deliver his Errand and receive his answer and that a deniall at distance in the Low-Countries As little successe had the Bishop of Viterbo the Popes Nuncio to the King of France secretly dealing with S r. N. Throgmorton the Queens Agent there to perswade her to send Embassadors to the Councell of Trent which for the reasons afore mentioned was justly refused 45. S r. Edward Carne the Queens Leger at Rome The death of Sr. Edward Carne Doctor of Civill Law Knighted by the Emperour Charles the fifth pretended that as the Queen would not suffer the Popes Nuncio to come into England so the Pope would not permit him to depart Rome Whereas indeed the cunning old man was not detained but detained himself so well pleased was he with the place and his office therein Where soon after he died the last Leger of the English Nation to Rome publickly avowed in that imployment 46. This yeer the Spire of Pauls-Steeple covered with lead strangely fell on fire Pauls Steeple burnt down attributed by severall Persons to sundry Causes Some that it was casually blasted with lightning others that it was mischevously done by Art Magick And others and they the truest done by the negligence of a Plummer carelessly leaving his coals therein The fire burnt for five full hours in which time it melted all the lead of the Church only the stone Arches escaping the fury thereof but by the Queens bounty and a Collection from the Clergy it was afterwards repaired only the blunt Tower had not the top thereof sharpned into a Spire as before 47.
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
ratio Videor enim suboriri quoddam hontinum genus qui si invalescant viresque in hoc Regno colligant piget hîc referre quid futurae perturbationis praesagit mihi animus Olim sub Monachorum fucata hypocrisi quanta sit nata lues Religioni Christianae minimè ignorat prudentia tua Nunc in istis nescio quod novum Monachorum genus reviviscere videtur tantò illis perniciosius quantò calidiore fallendi artificio sub praetextu perfectionis personati isti Histriones gravius occultant venenum qui dum omnia exigunt ad strictissimae suae disciplinae conscientiae gnomones haud videntur prius desituri donec omnia in Judaicam redigant servitutem Sed de ijs alius sortassis pleniore manu 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Interim celeberimae tuae dignitati Vir honorande cum publico ecclesiae nomine animum istum sedem quam tenes meritò gratulor tum mea privatim causa ob singulare tuum in me studium gratias habeo permaximas Precorque Dominum omnium gratiarum fontem cumulatissimum ut ecclesiam suam periculosissimis ijs temporibus propugnet ac tueatur ut Pastores se dignos foveat provehatque tum intra istos Te inprimis sacris ipsius bonis donisque indies magis magisque locupletet 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Amplissime juxta ac ornatissime Praesul Tuus in Christo 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Joannes Foxus If this good man appeareth too passionate herein score it neither on his old age nor on his affection to his Son but on the unjust affront offered unto him who at last was restored Fellow by the Queen her Mandate and he privately cast out by a Faction to his great disgrace was publickly brought in again by authority to his greater reputation 16. We may plainly perceive by this letter The violence of rigid Nonconformists how powerfull the Party of Non-conformists was grown at this time and to what violences and extravagancies some went in their practices insomuch that D r. Humphred then President of Mandlins and M r. Fox himself both which scrupled subscription in some particulars were deserted by them as Luke-warme and remiss in the Cause Yea even of those who were Duriores Puritani all were not equally rigid but Coleman Burton Hallingham and Benson out-did all of their own opinions Thus those loaves which are ejusdem farinae of the same meale yea of one Batch out of the same Oven are not all hard and crustie alike 17. The death of Matthew Parker The death and praise of Matth. Parker Arch-Bishop of Canterbury May 17. added much to their increase He was a Parker indeed carefull to keep the fences and shut the gates of Discipline against all such Night-Stealers as would invade the same No wonder then if the tongues and pens of many were whetted against Him whose complaints are beheld by discreet men like the exclamations of Truantly-Schollers against their Masters severity correcting them for their faults This Arch-Bishop was an excellent Antiquarie without any Anticknesse a great Benefactour to Bennet Colledge in Cambridge on which he bestowed many Manuscripts so that that Librarie for a private one was the Sun of English Antiquity in those dayes though now no more then the Moon since that of S r. Robert Cottons is risen up 18. But a large Authour His memory causelesly aspersed though not daring to deny due praises to his memory causelessly taxed him for being too Ponteficall in his Buildings and Feastings Particularly he charged him that whereas the Pope thundred out an Excommunication against Queen Elizabeth a Mr. Prince in his book of the treason of Prelites pag. 149. yet saith he I read of no refutation made of it by this Arch-Prelate as if this were such a sin of omission in him and he bound by his place to answer every Romish railing Rabshhekah But let him know that in his learned Book of Antiquitates Britanicae he hath laid down those Historicall grounds which may be improved to the baiting of the whole Herd of Popish Bulls or if you will to make all those Bubbles sinke to nothing A worke out of which his Accuser hath taken so much that he cannot pretend to the commendation of Industrie the poorest praise of a Writer being no better then a lazie Translatour And as the Spleen is subservient to the Lever to take from it only the most putrid and feculent blood so hath he solely transcribed thence and from BP Godwins Catalogue the faults and failings of all the English Prelacie passing over in silence their due and just commendation Ed. Grindall succeeded him in his place a Prelate most PRIMITIVE in all his conversation 19. We must not forget Margaret the Wife of Arch-Bishop Parker His exemplarie wise a patern for all Presates Wives In the reign of King Henry the eighth though seven years contracted by mutuall consent forbearing marriage then unlawfull for Clergie-men such her fidelity that she was deaf to richer proffers b In D Parkers life extant in Trin Hall Library in Cambridge When married under Edward the sixth so modest that BP Ridley asked whether Ms. Parker had a sister intimating that such a Consort would make him recede from his resolution of a single life In Queen Maries dayes not only great her patience to partake of but industry to relieve her Husbands wants In Queen Elizabeths time so admirable her humility as no whit elated with prosperity 20. Priviledges obtained by Sr F. E. for English Catholicks S r. Francis Englefield 18. of whom formerly in the Colledge of Valladolt 1576 to leave a Monument to posterity of his industry and good will to the Catholick-Cause He with William Allen obtained of Pope Gregory the thirtieth thirteen Indulgencies for the English Nation and the will-wishers of their Conversion Whereof this the first That whosoever should carry about him such consecrated Beads fast on Wednesday forbear one meal on Saturday pray for the Holy Father the Pope the peace of the Church and chiefly for the reconciling of England Scotland and Ireland to the Church of Rome should have an hundred years pardon But if this fast be observed with bread and water a thousand years pardon It may seem in some sort an argument for the Antiquity of those Indulgences Anno Regin Eliza. 19. that the resent of the vivacity of the ancient Patriarks before the Flood in pardoning so many years above the possibility of our age Anno Dom. 1576. Now what becommeth of the Surplus-age of these Pardons after the Parties life let others dispute Namely whether Indulgentia moritur cum persona or whether they be bequeathable by will and in case the person dies Intestate fall like goods and Chattells to his next heir Sure I am S r. Francis is beheld by Catholicks as a Benefactour Generall to our Nation and these Grants were solemnly passed sub annulo Piscatoris June 6. and Glorierius
exposition 38. Yea in process of time His â—â—ck Apostolick stile he grew so bad that charity it self would blush to have a favourable thought of his Opinions Not content to confine his Errours to his own Country over he comes into England and in the later end of the reign of King Edward the sixth joyned himself to the Dutch Congregation in London where he seduced a number of Artificers and silly women amongst whom two daughters of one Warwick to whom he dedicated an epistle were his principall Perverts M r. Martin Micronius and M r. Nicholaus Charineus then the ministers of the Dutch Congregation zealously confuted his errours but it seems their Antidotes pierced not so deep as his poisons Many of our English Nation were by him deceived and may the Reader but peruse this his mock-Apostolick Stile his charm to delude silly people therewith and let him tell me whether the Ape did not well deserve a whip for his over-imitation therein H. Nicholas through the grace and mercy of God d In his Evangelium Regni or the joyfull message of the kingdom through the Holy Spirit of the love of Jesus Christ Raised up by the highest God from the death according to the providence of God and his promises Anointed with the Holy Ghost in the old age of the holy understanding of Jesus Christ Godded with God in the Spirit of his love Illuminated in the Spirit with the heavenly truth the true light of perfect being Made heir with Christ in the Heavenly goods of the riches of God Elected to be a minister of the gracious word which is now in the last times raised up by God according to his promises in the most holy service of God under the obedience of his love The followers of this Nicholas assumed to themselves the Title of the family of Love Family a Gal. 6. 10. of faith we finde in Scripture but this new-name was one first invented by and falsely applied unto this Faction who might more fitly from Nicholas their father and founder be stiled Nicolaitans as their name-sakes hated by b Rev. 2. 6. God for thir filthinesse were called so from c Acts 6. 5. Nicolas the proselyte of Antioch These Familists besides many monstrosities they maintained about their Communion with God attenuated all Scriptures into Allegories and under pretence to turn it into Spirit made them aery empty nothing They counterfeited Revelations and those not explicatory or applicatory of Scripture such may and must be allowed to Gods Servants in all ages but additionall thereunto and of equal necessity and infallibility to be believed therewith In a word as in the small pox pardon my plain and homely but true and proper comparison when at first they kindly come forth every one of them may severally and distinctly be discerned but when once they run and matter they break one into another and can no longer be dividedly discovered so though at first there was a reall difference betwixt Familists Enthusiasts Antinomians not to adde highflown Anabaptists in their opinions yet process of time plucking up the Pales betwixt them afterwards they did so interfere amongst themselves that it is almost impossible to banke and bound their severall absurdities 39. The practises of these Familists were worse than their opinions The Familists worse in practice than opinion They grieved the Comforter charging all their sins on Gods Spirit for not effectually assisting them against the same accounting themselves as innocent as the d Deut. 22. 27. maid forced in the field crying out and having none to help her Yea S t. Pauls e Rom. 6. 1. supposition Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound was their position What he started from they embraced what he branded with a God forbid they welcomed with a well done good and faithfull servant sinning on designe that their wickednesse might be a foile to Gods mercy to set it off the brighter 40. The Privie Councell therefore took them into consideration Octo. 10. and tendred unto them this following abjuration Their abjuration Whosoever teacheth that the dead which are fallen asleep in the Lord rise up in this day of his judgement and appear unto us in godly glory which shall henceforth live in us everlastingly with Christ and reign upon the earth is a detestable heretick Whosoever teacheth that to be born of the Virgin Mary out of the seed of David after the flesh is to be expounded of the pure doctrine out of the seed of love is a detestable Heretick Whosoever teacheth that Jesus Christ is come again unto us according to his promise to the end that they all which love God and his righteousness and Christ and perfect being might presently enter into the true rest which God hath prepared from the beginning for his elect and inherit the everlasting life is a detestable heretick No fewer than ten of the Privy Councell tendered this abjuration to each Familist but with what success I finde not If any of these Familists were of their opinion in Higher Germany who were called a See Rutherfords survey of the Spirituall Antichrist pag. 11. Liberi Fratres Free Brethren who maintain'd themselves delivered by Christ from all covenants vows and debts if from prison too on deniall of payment it were excellent all was to little purpose seeing a bird may as soon be impounded as these spirits confin'd by any oaths or carnall obligation Pass we from them to others more dangerous because more learned even the Jesuits hoping at last to light on the temperate zone when we have done with these dull frozen ignorant Sectaries and fiery torrid overactive Papists whereof two principall ones Persons and Campian living at Româ— importun'd his Holiness for license to come over into England 41. Having obtained this gracious faculty Persons and Campian come into England Their severall characters over they come into England and distill superstition and disloyalty into the Queens Subjects This Persons was a Summerset-shire man formerly of Baliol Colledge in Oxford till for his b Camdens Eliz. Anno 1580. dishonesty he was expelled with disgrace But what Oxford cast away for dross Rome received for gold entertaining and rewarding him as a man of a daring and undertaking spirit and of a nature turbulent and seditious Campian born in London and bred in S t. Johns Colledge of the same University whereof he was Proctor Anno 1568. was one of a sweet nature constantly carrying about him the charms of a plausible behaviour of a fluent tongue and good parts which he knew how to shew to the best advantage These two effectually advanced the Roman cause appearing in moe severall shapes than Proteus himself in the disguised habits of Souldiers Courtiers Ministers of the word Apparitours as they were advised by their profit and safety and as if his Holiness had infused an ubiquitariness into them they acted in city court and country Persons was
done Well because I would be loath to omit any thing whereby your Lordship might be satisfied I have sent unto you herein inclosed certain reasons to justifie the manner of my proceedings which I marvel should be so misliked in this cause having been so long practised in the same and never before this time found fault with Truly my Lord I must proceed this way or not at all the reasons I have set down in this paper And I heartily pray your Lordship not to be carried away either from the cause or from my self upon unjust surmises and clamours lest you be the occasion of that confusion which hereafter you would be sorry for For mine own part I desire no further defence in these occasions neither of your Lordship nor any other then Justice and Law will yield unto me In my own private affairs I know I shall stand in need of friends especially of your Lordship of whom I have made alwayes an assuâ—ed account but in these publick actions I see no cause why I should seek for friends seeing they to whom the care of the Commonwealth is committed ought of duty therein to joyne with me To conclude I am your Lordships assured neither will I ever be perswaded but you do all even of hearty good will towards me John Cantuar Now amongst all the favourers of the Presbyterians surely honesty Sr. Fra. Walsingham a good friend to nonconformists and wisdom never met more in any then in S r. Francis Walsingham of whom it may be said abate for the disproportion as of S t. Paul though poore yet making many rich Having but one only Daughter whole extraordinary handsomnesse with a moderate portion would considerably prefer her in marriage He neglected wealth in himself though I may say he enriched many not only his dependants but even the English Nation by his prudent steering of State affairs How he interceded to qualifie the Arch-Bishop for a Semi-non conformist we learn from his following Letter IT may please your Grace to understand St. Francis Walsinghams Letter to the Arch. Bishop in favour of non-conformists that this bearer M r. Leverwood of whom I wrote unto your Grace Anno Dom. 1583. Anno Regiâ— Eliza. 26. hath been here with me and finding him very conformable and willing to observe such orders as are appointed to be used in the Church as your Grace shall partly perceive by certain Articles subscribed with his own hand and herein inclosed I willed him to repair unto your Grace And in case these Articles may be allowed then I pray your Grace to be his good Lord and that with your good will and favour he may proceed in his suit upon knowledge whereof I do mean to deal further therein with her Majesty thereof for him as I have already begun to do upon the good report I heard of the man before your Graces message sent to M r. Nicasius for the stay thereof And so I humbly take my leave Your Graces at command Francis Walsingham What this Letter effected the next will informe us Right Honourable I thank you heartily for your letter The Arch-Bishops answer to secretary Walsingâ—aâ—s Letter written unto me in the behalf of Leverwood wherein I perceive the performance of your honorable speeches to my self in promising to joyne with me against such as shall be breakers of the orders of the Church established and movers of contentions therein upon that and other like speeches of yours with me at your last being at Lambeth I have forborn to suspend or deprive any man already placed in any cure or charge for not subscribing only if hereafter he would promise unto me in writing the observing of the Book of Common-Prayer and the orders of the Church by law setâ—down and I do now require subscription to the said Articles of such only as are to be admitted to the Ministry and to Ecclesiasticall livings wherein I finde my self something eased of my former troubles and as yet none or very few of the last named persons to refuse to subscribe to the said Articles though some of them have been accounted heretofore very precise I also very well remember that it was her own wish and desire that such as hereafter should be admitted to any living should in like manner be tied to the observing the orders which as it hath already wrought some quietness in the Church so I doubt not but that it will in time perfect the same And I cannot break that order in one but other will look for the like favour to the renewing and increasing of the former Atheisme not yet already extinguished Wherefore I heartily pray you to joyn with me herein Touching the Articles inclosed in your letter whereunto Leverwood hath subscribed they are of no moment but such as may easily be deluded For whereas he first saith that he will willingly subscribe as far as the law requireth at his hand his meaning is that the law requireth no such subscription for so I am informed that some Lawyers therein deceived have perswaded him and others and in saying that he will alwayes in the Ministry use the Book of Common-Prayer and none else his meaning is that he will use but so much of the Book as pleaseth him and not that he will use all things in the Book required of him I have dealt with him in some particularities which he denieth to use and therefore his subscription is to small purpose I would as neer as I can promise that none should hereafter come into the Church to breed new troubles I can be better occupied otherwise And God would bless our labours more amply and give better success to the word so commonly and diligently preached if we could be at peace and quietness among our selves which I most hartily wish and doubt not to bring to pass by Gods grace the rather through your good help and assistance whereof I assure my self and so with my hearty prayers c. John Cantuar. Thus have we presented to the Reader some select Letters out of many in my hand A transition to other matter passing betwixt the highest persons in Church matters I count it a blessing that providence hath preserved such a treasure unplundred esteem it a favour in such friends as imparted them unto me and conceive it no ungratefull act in our communicating the same to the Reader And now we who hitherto according to good manners have held our peace while such who were farr our betters by their pens spake one to another begin to resume our voice and express our selves as well as we may in the following History 10. By the changing of Edmond into John Cantuar. Good Grindal his death It plainly appears that as all these letters were written this year so they were indited after the sixth of July and probably about December when BP Grindal deceased Our English Eli for office highest in spirituall promotion age whereby both were blinde and
manner of his death thus far forth as heart-broken with sorrow Grindals grief proceeded from the Queens displeasure undeservedly procured by the practises of his malicious enemies There want not those who will strain the paralel betwixt Eli and Grindal in a fourth respect both being guilty of dangerous indulgence and lenity to offenders Indeed Grindal living and dying sole and single could not be cockering to his own children but as a Father of the Church he is accused for too much conniving at the factious disturbers thereof Sure I am he was an impartial correcter of mens vicious conversations witness his sharp reproving of Julio the Italian Physician for marrying another mans wife Which bitter but wholsome pill the Physician himself not being able to disgest incensed the Earl of Leicester and he the Queens Majesty against the good Arch-bishop But all was put on the account of Grindals non-conformity for favouring the factious meetings called Prophesyings Grindal sensible of the Queens displeasure desired to resigne his place and confine himself to a yearly pension not as some may pretend that it was against his conscience to keep it but because above his impotent age to mannage so great a charge The place was proffered to Whitgift but he in the presence of the Queen utterly refused it yet what he would not snatch soon after fell into his hands by Grindals death 11. Who so beholds the large revenues conser'd on Grindal 〈…〉 the long time he enjoyed them Bishop of London Arch-Bishop of York and Canterbury above eighteen years the little charge incumbring him dying a single man will admire at the mean estate he left behind him Yea perchance they will erroneously impute this to his prodigality which more truly is to be ascribed to his contempt of the world unwilling to die guilty of much wealth not to speak of fat Servants made under a lean Master The little he had as it was well gotten was well bestowed in pious uses on Cambridge and Oxford with the building and endowing of a School at S t. Bees in Cumberland where he was born Yea he may be beheld as a benefactour to the English nation for bringing TamarÃx first over into England As the inventers of evill things are justly taxed by the a â— Rom. 1. 13. Apostle so the first importers of good things deserve due commendation That plant being so soveraign to mollifie the hardness of the spleen a malady whereof Students betrayed thereunto by their sedentarie lives too generally do complain SECTION VI. To the Master Wardens and all the Members of the Honorable Company of Mercers of London As it would be a sin of omission in me so much obliged to your society should no share in my History be allowed unto you so I should commit a great incongruity if assigning it any where else then in the Reign of Queen Elizabeth Whose great Grandfather Sr. Godfrey Bollen 1458. Major of London is generally believed one of your Company so that the Crowned Maidenhead in your Arms may in some sort seem Propheticall Presaging such a Queen-Virgin should be extracted from one of your Society as the Christian-World could not paralel in all particulars Indeed much of credit is imported in your very Name For seeing all Buyers and Sellers are Mercers à Mercando Custom hath confined and fixed the term Eminently on your Corporation as alwayes the prime Chapmen of our Nation in which respect you have the precedency of all other Companies I will detain you no longer from better Customers wishing you sound wares quick vent good prizes sure payment One Commodity alone excepted I mean the Truth it self * * Pro. 23. 23. this buy and sell it not Purchase it on any terms but part with it on no Conditions ABout four a clock in the afternoone on the Lords day Warning to Sabbath-breakers a sad accident hapâ—ned in Paris-gardâ—n on the south-side of Thames Jan. 13. 1583. over against London Whilest multitudes were beholding the baiting of the bear the old under-propped Scaffolds overladen with people suddenly fell down killed a Holinshed pag. 1â—53 eight outright hurt and bruised many moe to the shortning of their lives The b Dr. Bound assertors of the strict observation of the Sabbath vigorously improve this as well they may against them who prophane the Lords-day which afterwards the joyfull effect of a dolefull cause was generally kept with more carefulness 2. Robert Brown began at this time to broach his opinions Robert Brown first appears he was born in Rutland-shire of an ancient and worshipfull family one whereof founded a fair Hospital in a Camdens Brit. in Lincoln-shire Stamford nearly allied to the Lord Treasurer Cicel He was bred for a time in Cambridge I conceive in Corpus Christi Colledge but question whether ever a Graduate therein He used some time to preach at Bennet-Church where the vehemency of his utterance passed for zeal among the Common people and made the vulgar to admire the wise to suspect him D r. Still afterwards Master of Trinity out of curiosity or casually present at his preaching discovered in him something extraordinary which he presaged would prove the disturbance of the Church if not seasonaly prevented Some years after Brown went over into Zealand to purchase himself more reputation from forraign parts For a smack of travail gives an high taste to strange opinions making them better relished to the licourish lovers of novelty Home he returne with a full crie against the Church of England as having so much of Rome she had nothing of Christ in her discipline Norfolke was the first place whereon Brown new flown home out of the Low-Countries pearched himself and therein in the City of Norwich A place which then spake little more then medietatem linguae having almost as many dutch strangers as English natives inhabiting therein Brown beginning with the Dutch soon proceeded to infect his own Country-men for which he was confined as the following letter of the Lord Treasurer Burghly to BP 〈…〉 Phrcke of Norwich will informe us AFter my very hearty commendations to your Lordship whereas I understand that one Brown a Preacher is by your Lordship and others of the Ecclesiasticall Commission committed to the custody of the Sheriff of Norfolk where he remains a prisoner for some matters of offence uttered by him by way of preaching wherein I perceive by sight of some letters written by certain godly preachers in your Lordships Diocess he hath been dealt with and by them disswaded from that course he hath taken Forasmuch as he is my kinsman if he be son to him whom I take him to be and that his errour seemeth to proceed of zeal rather then of malice I do therefore wish he were charitably conferred with and reformed which course I pray your Lordship may be taken with him either by your Lordship or such as your Lordship shall assigne for that purpose And in case there shall not
winding but burning sheet as expecting at last he should be brought to the stake for his religion But men may make cloaths either for mirth or for mourning whilst God alone orders whether or no they shall wear them 13. After the coming of Queen Elizabeth to the Crown A single man yet a true father he with more earnestnes refused a Bishoprick then others affected it His parsonage at Haughton as it might seem a Bishops Palace for building so was it no less for hospitality Fourteen Villages belonging to that mother Church the poor whereof besides many others were daily relieved at his door twenty Scholars he commonly boarded in his house which seemed a little Colledge In a word he was commonly called Father Gilpin and well deserved it for his paternall affections to all Making his yearly progress into Rheadsdale and Tinsdale in Northumberland where people sat in darkness of ignorance and shaddow of death and instructing them by his heavenly preaching 14. Now began that fatall yearl generally foretold that it would be wonderfull as it proved no less The brave coming forth of the Spanish Armado Whence the Astrologers fetcht their intelligence hereof 1588 whether from Heaven 31. or Hell from other Stars or from Lucifer alone is uncertain this is most sure that this prediction though hitting the mark yet miss'd their meaning who both first reported and most believed it Out comes their invincible Navie and Army perfectly appointed for both Elements Water and Land to Sail and March compleat in all warlike Equipage so that formerly with far less provision they had conquered another new world Mighty was the bulk of their ships the sea seeming to groan under them being a burden to it as they went and to themselves before they returned with all manner of artillery prodigious in number and greatness so that the report of their guns do stil and ought ever to sound in the ears of the English not to fright them with any terrour but to fill them with deserved thankfulness 15. It is said of Senacherib The shameful sight and return thereof coming against Hierusalem with his numerous army by a 1 Kings 19. 33. the way that he came shall he return and shall not come into this City saith the Lord as the later part of his threatning was verified here no Spantard setting foot on English ground under other notion then a prisoner so God did not them the honour to return the same way who coming by South-East a way they knew went back by South-West a way they sought chased by our ships past the 57 th Degree of Northen Latitude then and there left to be pursued after by hunger and cold Thus having tasted the English valour in conquering them the Scotch constancy in not relieving them the Irish cruelty in barbarous butchering them the small reversion of this great navie which came home might be look'd upon by religious eyes as reliques not for the adoration but instruction of their nation hereafter not to account any thing invincible which is less then infinite 16. Such as lose themselves by looking on second causes impute the Spanish ill success This deliverance principally wrought by Gods arm partly to the Prince of Parma who either mind-bound or wind-bound staying himself or stopt by the Hollander would or could not come to their seasonable succour and partly to the Duke of Medina's want of commission to fight with the English save on the defensive till joyned with Parma Anno Regin Eliza. 31. Thus when God will have a designe defeated Anno Dom. 1588. amidst the plenty yea superfluity of all imaginable necessaries some unsuspected one shall be wanting to frustrate all the rest We will not mention save in due distance of helps the industry and loyalty of the Lord Hâ—ward Admirall the valour of our captains the skill of our pilots the activity of our ships but assigne all to the goodness of God as Queen Elizabeth did Leave we her in the Quire of Pauls church devoutly on her knees with the rest of her Nobles in the same humble posture returning their unseigned thanks to the God and giver of all victory whilst going abroad we shall finde some of her subjects worse employed in implacable enmity about Ecclesiasticall discipline one against another And let not the mentioning of this deliverance be censured as a deviation from the Church-History of Britain Silence thereof being a sin for had the designe took effect neither Protestant Church in Britain had remained nor History thereof been made at this present 17. But bullets did not fly about so much at sea Scurrilous Pamphlets dispersed as bastardly Libels by land so fitly call'd because none durst father them for their issue They are known though not by their Parents by their names 1 The Epitome 2 The demonstration of discipline 3 The Supplication 4 Diotrephes 5 The Minerals 6 Have you any work for the Cooper 7 Martin Seignior 8 Martin Junior Marprelate 9 More work for the Cooper c. The main drift and scope of these pamphlets for know one and know all these foule mouth'd papers like Blackmoors did all look alike was to defame and disgrace the English Prelates scoffing at them for their garb gate apparel vanities of their youth naturall defects and personall infirmities it is strange how secretly they were printed how speedily dispers'd how generally bought how greedily read yea and how firmly beleeved especially of the common sort to whom no better musick then to hear their betters upbraided 18. Some precise men of that side thought these jeering pens well employed Their reasons for the lawfulness of such pamphlets For having formerly as they say tried all serious and sober means to reclaim the Bishops which hitherto proved uneffectuall they thought it not amiss to try this new way that whom they could not in earnest make odious in sport they might render ridiculous Wits will be working and such as have a Satyricall vein cannot better vent it then in lashing of sin Besides they wanted not a warrant as they conceived in Holy Writ where it was no soloecisme to the gravity of Eliah to mock a 1 Kings 18 27. Baals priests out of their superstition chiefly this was conceived would drive on their designe strengthen their party by working on the peoples affections which were marvelously taken with the reading thereof 19. But the more discreet and devout sort of men These Books disclaimed by the discreet sort and why even of such as were no great friends to the Hierarchy upon solemn debate then resolved I speak on certain knowledge from the mouths of such whom I must believe that for many foul falsehoods therein suggested such Books were altogether unbeseeming a pious spirit to print publish or with pleasure peruse which supposed true both in matter and measure charity would rather conceal then discover The best of men being so conscious of their own badness
muster their hitherto invisible forces to storm the Fleet and rescue their friends therein A third sort beheld Wigington the writer of these words as one but of the soberer sort of distracted men and therefore in vain do stai'd heads make serious comments on light mens random-expressions where the knot is neither to be untied nor cut but east away 30. The king of Scots writs in favour of the Non-conformists Now the principall pillars of the Presbyterian party being some in restraint more in trouble all in fear applied themselves by their secret solicitors to James King of Scotland and procured his letter to the Queen in their behalf seconded with another to the same effect They conceived so potent a Petitioner must needs prevail especially in this juncture of time the Queen having lately since she put his mother to death Adulced him with fair language and kind carriage This Letter was sent to one M r. Johnson a Scotch Merchant in London by him presented to the Queen perused by her Majesty and remitted to her Privie-Councell but behold the Tenour thereof RIght Excellent 34. 1591. high and mighty Princess our dearest Sister and Cousin in our heartiest manner We recommend us unto you Hearing of the apprehension of M r. Vdall and M r. Cartwright and certain other Ministers of the Evangel within your Realm Of whose good erudition and faithfull travels in the Church we hear a very credible commendation howsoever that their diversity from the Bishops and others of your Clergy in matters touching them in conscience hath been a mean by their dilation to work them your misliking at this present we cannot weighing the duty which we owe to such as are afflicted for their conscience in that profession but by our most effectuous and earnest Letter interpone us at your hands to stay any harder usage of them for that cause Requesting your most earnestly that for our cause and intercession it may please you to let them be relieved of their present strait Anno Dom. 1591. Anno Regin Eliza. 34. and whatsoever further accusation or pursuit depending on that ground respecting both their former merit in setting forth the Evangell the simplicity of their conscience in this defence which cannot well be their let by compulsion and the great slander which could not fail to fall out upon their further streighting for any such occasion Which we assure us your zeal to Religion besides the expectation we have of your good will to pleasure us will willingly accord to our request havâ—ng such proofs from time to time of or like disposition to you in any matters which you recommend unto us and thus right excellent right high and mighty Princes our dear sister and Cousin we commit you to Gods protection Edenburgh June 12. 1591. This letter prevailed little with the Queen nor do I finde that the king of Scotland was discontented thereat Princes politickly understanding their mutual secret language not to say silent signs whose desires to for raign Princes for private persons carry this tacite reservation if it may stand with the conveniency and pleasure of him to whom it is written Besides they know by their own experience that often there is the least of themselves in their own letters as granted meerly for quietness sake to satisfie the importunity of others 31. Mr. Cartwright discharged the Star-Chamber by the intercession of Arch Bishop Whitgift One word from Arch. BP Whitgift befriended M r. Cartwright more then both the letters from the King of Scotland This Prelate reflecting on his abilities and their ancient acquaintance in Trinity College and remembring as an honorable Adversary they had brandished pens one against another and considering that both of them now were well stricken in years and some will say fearing the success in so tough a conflict on M r. Cartwrights generall promise to be quiet procured his dismission out of the Starr-Chamber and prison wherein he was confined Henceforward M t. Cartwright became very peaceable not that he began to desert the cause but the cause him The Original state of the point of Non-conformity being much altered and disguised from its self and many state businesses which M r. Cartwright disclaimed by turbulent spirits shuffled into it 32. A preface to the ensuing discourse Next followeth the just death of Hacket for his damnable Blasphemy and I am sensible of a sad dilemma concerning the same For not relating the story will be interpreted favouring of him and wronging the truth Relating it may be accounted gracing his impieties by recording them And seeing it hard for one soul to attend two things at once some will say no Author can write and detest nor Reader peruse and detest these his blasphemies so at the same instant but that there will be a short intervall betwixt them yet long enough to have Piety wounded therein However arming our selves and others with caution premised we enter on this sorrowfull subject The rather because the best may be bettered by the worst of men When considering that naturall corruption in their hearts is not less headâ—rong but more bridled Think not that Hacket and his two Companions were worse by nature then all others of the English nation I tell you nay for if Gods restraining grace be taken from us we shall all runn unto the same excess of riot 33. The Character of Hacket This William Hacket was born it Oundale in Northampton-shire of so cruel and fierce a nature that he is reported to have bit off and eat down the nose of his Schoolmaster A Maulster by trade which calling being too narrow for his active soul He undertook to be a Discoveror of Informer against Recusants An imployment which often procured his admittance into the presence of great persons when his betters were excluded One of a bold and confident nature who though but an invited guest where many Clergie men were present would allwayes presume to say grace and pray before them A great stickler for the Geneva discipline being very great with Wigginton and other the most violent of that faction Always inculcating that some extraordinary course must be presently taken with the obstructors thereof Once he desperately took his dagger and violently struck the same into the picture of the Queen aiming at her heart therein by proportion He pretended also to revelations Immediate Raptures and discourses with God as also to buffetings of Satan attesting the truth thereof with most direfull oaths and execrations 34. One Argument Hacket used to alledge to prove his own Invulnerability His monstrous opinions and practises Because he profered leave to any one to kill him that would The cunning Imposter knowing full well that it was death for any to do it being secured from such violence not by any secret quality in himself but by the good laws of the Queen against whom he so bitterly enveighed He railed also against the Arch-Bishop Whitgift
Queens officers as they had just cause more strick in searching as her Judges more severe in punishing the Papists Hereupon the Seculars complained that such proceedings against them tearmed persecution by them and justice by our State was caused by the Jesuits and that Parsons especially though he had kindled the fire left others to bear the heat thereof Yea which was more he was not himself contented to sleep in a whole skinn at Rome but lashed others of his own Religion and having got his neck out of the collar accused others for not drawing weight enough taxing the Seculars as dull and remiss in the cause of Religion and to speak plainly they differed as hot and cold poison the Jesuits more active and pragmatical the Seculars more slow and heavie but both maintaining treacherous principles destructive to the common-Wealth 31. If we look now on the Non-Conformists A general calm we shall finde them all still and quiet After a storm comes a calm wearied with a former blustering they began now to repose themselves in a sad silence especially since the executions of Vdal and Penry had so terrified them that though they might have secret designes we meet not their open and publick motions so that this Century affordeth little more then the mortalities of some eminent men 32. We begin with Richard Fletcher Bishop of London The death of Bp Fletcher and Bishop Coldwell bred in Bennet Colledge in Cambridg one of a comly person and goodly presence qualities not to be cast away in a Bishop though a Bishop not to be chosen for them he lov'd to ride the great horse and had much skill in managing thereof condemned for very proud such his natural stately garb by such as knew him not and commended for humility by those acquainted with him he lost the Queens favour because of his second unhappy match and died suddainly more of grief then any other disease with him let me couple another heart-broken Bishop John Coldwell of Salisbury D r of Physick S t Luke we know was both an Evangelist and Physician who never enjoyed himself after he had consented though little better then surprised thereunto to the alienation of Sherborn Manor from the Bishoprick 33. Here I am at a loss for the date of the death of Laurence Humphry The death of Laurence Humfry but confident I hit the but though miss the mark as about this time He was a consciencious and moderate Non-conformist condemned for luke-warm by such as were scalding-hot Dean of Winchester and Master of Magdalen Colledge in Oxford to which he bequeathed a considerable Summ of Gold left in a chest not to be opened except some great necessity urged thereunto But lately whilst D r John Wilkinson was President of the Colledge this Gold was shar'd between him and the fellows And though one must charitably beleeve the matter not so bad as it is reported yet the most favourable relation thereof gave a general distast 34. Sure I am A great Antiquaries good intention discouraged a great Antiquarie lately deceased rich as well in his state as learning at the hearing hereof quitted all his intentions of benefaction to Oxford or any place else on suspition it would be diverted to other uses On the same token that he merrily said I think the bestway for a man to perpetuate his memory is to procure the Pope to Canâ—nize him for a Saint for then he shall be sure to be remembred in their Calender Whereas otherwise I see all Protestant charity subject to the covetousness of posterity to devour it and bury the donor thereof in oblivion 35. M r Baltazer Zanches a Spaniard The charity of a Spanish Protestant born in Sherez in Estremadura founded an alms-house at Totnam high-cross in Middlesex for eight single people allowing them competent maintenance Now seeing Protestant Founders are rare Spanish Protestants rarer Spanish Protestant Founders in England rarest I could not pass this over with silence nor must we forget that he was the first confectioner or comfit-maker in England bringing that mystery to London and as I am informed the exactness thereof continues still in his family in which respect they have successively been the Queens and Kings confectioners 36. A Parliament held at Westminster The acts in the Parliament 1597. 40. wherein the deprivation of Popish Bishops in the first of this Queens Reign was declared legall Some will wonder what need is of this Statute at so many years distance but the Preface intimates the necessity thereof The Legality also of our Bishops and their Officers were again by act of Parliament confirmed And whereas there was a pretended concealment of some lands of the Bishoprick of Norwich the same by act of Parliament were setled on that See and the Exchange of Lands ratified made in the Reign of King Henry the Eight The contemporary convocation did nothing of moment 37. Thomas Stapleton this year ended his life The death of Tho. Stapleton 1598. 41. and was buried at S t Peters Church in Lovain it is written in his Epitaph qui Cicestriae in Anglià nobili loco natus where Cicestriae is taken not for the City but Diocess of Chicester having otherwise good assurance that he was born at Hemfield in Sussex the same year and moneth wherein * See Pitzaeus in his life S r Thomas Moore was beheaded observed by the Catholicks as a grand providence he was a most learned assertor of the Romish Religion wanting nothing but a true cause to defend On one account I am beholding unto him viz. for disswading * Idemibidem Pitzaeus from being a Souldier to be a Scholler whose History of our English writers hath so often been usefull unto me 38. Richard Cosine D r of the Law and Dean of Archeys this year ended his life The death of Dr Cosine One of the greatest Civilians which our Age or Nation hath produced a most moderate man in his own nature but most earnest assertor of the Ecclesiastical discipline as by his printed works doth appear 39. Robert Turner his death was now much bemoaned by the Papists The death of Rob. Turner 1599. 42. he was born at Barstable in Devon bred for a while in Oxford whence flying beyond the Seas he became Canon of Breslaw in Silesia and at the same time Privie Councellor to the Duke of Bavaria falling afterward into his displeasure probably because more pragmatical then became a forrainer however Ferdinand of Gratz afterwards Emperor took him from the Duke to be his own Secretary for the Latine tongue wherein he excelled as by his printed Orations doth appear he lieth buried at Gratz under a handsom Monument 40. Great was the grief of Protestants for the decease of Richard Hooker Anno Regin Eliza. 42. Anno Dom. 1599. The death of Rich. Hooker Turners Country-man as born also in Devon-shire and bred in Corpus-Christi
shine on Earth as long as the Sun that faithful Witness endureth in Heaven Being more confident that my desire herein will take effect considering the Honourable Governous of this Hospital are Persons so Good they will not abuse it themselves and so Great they will not suffer it to be abuâ—ed by others 22. England at this time enjoying abundance of Peace Nov. 6. The death and prayâ— of Pr. HENRY Plenty and Prosperity in full speed of her Happiness was checkt on a soddain with the sad News of the death of Prince HENRY in the rage of a malitious extraordinary burning-Feaver He was generally lamented of the whole Land both Universities publishing their Verses in print and give me leave to remember four made by Giles Fletcher of Trinity-Colledge in Cambridge on this PRINCES plain Grave because wanting an Inscription and it will be Honour enough to me if I can make thereof a Translation Si sapis attonitus sacro decede Sepulchro Nec cineri quae sunt nomina quaere novo Prudens celavit Sculptor nam quisque rescivit Protinus in lachrymas solvitur moritur If wise amaz'd depart this holy Grave Nor these New-ashes ask what Names they have The Graver in concealing them was wise For who so knows strait melts in tears and dies Give me leave to adde one g Made by Mr. George Herbert more untranslatable for its Elegancy and Expressivenesse Vlteriora timens cum morte paciscitur Orbis And thus we take our leave of the Memory of so Worthy a PRINCE never heard by any alive to swear an Oath for which Archbishop Abbot commended Him in his Funerall Sermon the PRINCE being wont to say That He knew no Game or Value to be won or lost that could be worth an Oath 23. One generation goeth and another generation cometh Feb. 14. The Marriage of the Palatine but the earth remaineth for ever the Stage stands the Actors alter Prince HENRY's Funerals are followed with the Prince PALATINE's Nuptials solemnized with great State in hopes of happiness to both Persons though sad in the event thereof and occasioning great revolutions in Christendome 24. Expect not of me an account of the Divorce of the Lady Fra Howard from the Earl of Essex 11. 1613. Essex his Divorce discussed and of her re-marriage to Robert Carre Earl of Somerset which Divorce divided the Bishops of the Land in their judgments Against it George Abbot Archbishop of Canterbury John King Bishop of London Alledging the common same of Incontinency betwixt Her and the Earl of Somerset For it Thomas Bilson Bishop of Winchester Lancelot Andrews Bishop of Elie. Rich Neale BP of Coventry and Litchfield These proceeded secundùm allegata probata of the Earls inability quoad hanc and the Ladies untainted Virginity 25. Onely I will insert one passage A memorable Speech of Bishop King Bishop Overall discoursing with Bishop King about the Divorce the later expressed himself to this effect I should never have been so earnest against the Divorce Ann. Dom. 1613. Ann. Reg. Jac. 11 save that because perswaded in my conscience of falshood in some of the depositions of the Witnesses on the Ladies behalf This sure I am from her second Marriage is extracted as chaste and virtuous * Anne Countess of Bedford a Lady as any of the English Nation 29. Nicholas Wadham Wadham-Colledge sounded Esquire of Merryfield in the County of Somerset did by his last Will bequeath Four hundred pounds per annum and Six thousand pounds in money to the building of a Colledge in Oxford leaving the care and trust of the whole to Dorothy his Wife One of no lesse learned and liberall than Noble extraction A Sister to John Lord Peters and Daughter to Sir William Peters Secretary to four Kings and a worthy Benefactour to All-Souls Colledge In her life-time she added almost double to what her Husband bequeathed whereby at this day it is become one of the most Uniform buildings in England as no additionall result at severall times of sundry fancies and Founders but the entire product all at once of the same Architect 30. This year the same was finished Where formerly a Monastery of Augustineâ—s built in a place where formerly stood a Monastery of the Augustine Friers who were so eminent for their abilities in disputing that the University did by a particular Statute impose it as an Exercise upon all those that were to proceed Masters of Art that they should first be disputed upon by the Augustine Fryers which old Statute is still in force produced at this day for an Equivalent exercise yet styled Answering Augustines The Colledge hath from its beginning still retained something of its old Genius having been continually eminent for some that were acute Philosophers and good Disputants Wardens Bishops Benefactors Learned Writers Doctor Wright admitted 1613. Dr. Flemming admitted 1613. Dr. Smith 1616. Dr. Escott 1635. Dr. Pitt 1644. Dr. Joh. Wilkins 1648. Robert Wright Bishop of Bristoll then Coventrie and Lichfield Philip Bisse Doctor of Divinity Canon of Wells and Arch-deacon of Taunton gave 1849 Books for their Librarie valued at 1200 pounds Humphrey Sydenham a very eloquent Preacher So that very lately r viz. An. 1634. there were in this Colledge one Warden fifteen Fellows fifteen Scholars two Chaplains two Clerks besides Officers and Servants of the Foundation with many other Students the whole number 120. As for Dr. John Wilkins the present Warden thereof my worthily respected friend he hath courteously furnished me with my best intelligence from that University 31. A Parliament was called A Parliament suddenly called soon dissolved wherein many things were transacted nothing concluded In this Parlament Dr. Harsenet Bishop of Chichester gave offence in a Sermon preacht at Court pressing the word Reddite Caesari quae sunt Caesaris as if all that was leavied by Subsidies or paid by Custome to the Crown was but a redditum of what was the Kings before Likewise Doctor Neale Bishop of Rochester uttered words in the House of the Lords interpreted to the disparagement of some reputed Zealous Patriot in the House of Commons both these Bishops were questioned upon it and to save them from the storm this was the occasion chiefly as was supposed of the abrupt breaking up of the Parliament 32. Anthony Rudde The death of Bishop Rudde Bishop of S. Davids ended his life He was born in Yorkshire bred in Trinity-Colledge in Cambridge where he became Fellow A most excellent Preacher whose Sermons were very acceptable to Qu. ELIZABETH Hereon dependeth a memorable Story which because but defectively delivered by Sir John Harrington I request the Readers Patience and require his Belief to this large and true Relation thereof 33. Bishop Rudde preaching in his course before Queen ELIZABETH at White-hall Ann. Reg. Jac. 12 Ann. Dom. 1614. A remarkable 〈◊〉 Her Majesty was highly affected with his Sermon in so
to be improved 3. The necessity of hâ—s friendship at this time was onely fancied â—y such as desired it Besides the King of heaven must not be offended that the King of Spain may be pleased 4. Though Truth it selfe be stronger than falsehood yet generally the Promoters of falsehood are more active and sedulous than the Advancers of Truth Besides it is just with God upon the granting of such an unlawfull Toleration to weaken the converting power of Truth and strengthen the perverting power of Falsehood giving the English over to be deluded thereby 5. The world hath ever consisted of more fools than wise people such who carry their judgment more in their eyes than in their brains Popery being made Inscious to peoples senses too probably would court many to the imbracing thereof 6. It is no policie to let in the Wolfe meerly on designe to make the Shepherds more watchfull Rather on the contrary Protestant Ministers would be utterly disheartned in the performance of their place when the Parishioners were countenanced to desert them without any punishment 7. If the Papists already have what they would have let them be contented therewith Why desire they any more but indeed there is a grand difference betwixt a States winking at their wickednesse for a time and a formall and finall tolerating thereof During the former Catholicks sin on their own account and at their own peril the Laws though not executed standing in full force against them but a publick Toleration of their Superstition adopts the same to become the Act of the English Nation Here it would be tedious to recite the Texts of Scripture some more The Pulpit is loud against the Toleration some lesse proper to the purpose alledged by severall persons against the Toleration Ann. Dom. 1623. Ann. Regis Ja 21. some Typicall Thou a Deht 22. 10. shalt not plow with an Oxe and an Asse Some Historicall Gods Children must not speak two tongues Ashdod and b Neh. 13. 24. Hebrew Some Doctrinall We must not doe evil that good c Rom. 3. 8. may come thereof The best was the Toleration bare date with the Spanish Match with which it was propounded and agitated advanced expected desired by some opposed suspected detested by others and at last both together finally frustrated and defeated 3. Now was His Majestie informed His Majesties care to regulate Preaching that it was high time to apply some cure to the Pulpits as sick of a Sermon-surfeit and other exorbitances Some medled with State-matters and generally by an improper Transposition the Peoples duty was preached to the King at Court the Kings to the People in the Countrey Many shallow Preachers handled the profound points of Predestination wherein pretending to guide their flocks they lost themselves Sermons were turned into Satyrs against Papists or Non Conformists 4. To represse the present and prevent future mischiefs in this kinde His Majestie issued out His Directions to be written fair in every Registers Office whence any Preacher if so pleased might with his own hand take out Copies gratis paying nothing for d Cabala part 2. pag. 191. expedition Herein the King revived the primitive and profitable order of Catechizing in the afternoon better observed in all other Reformed Churches than of late in England according to the tenour ensuing Most Reverend Father in God His Directions right trusty and entirely beloved Counsellour We greet you well FOrasmuch as the abuses and extravagancies of Preachers in the Pulpit have been in all times repressed in this Realm by some Act of Councill or State with the advice and resolution of grave and learned Prelates Insomuch that the very licensing of Preachers had beginning by an Order of Star Chamber the eighth day of July in the 19 th year of the Reign of King Henry the eighth our Noble Predecessour And whereas at this present divers young Students by reading of late Writers and ungrounded Divines doe broach many times unprofitable unsound seditions and dangerous Doctrines to the scandall of the Church and disquiet of the State and present Government We upon humble representations unto Us of these inconveniencies by your selfe and sundry other grave and reverend Prelates of this Church as also of our Princely care and Zeal for the extirpation of Schisme and dissention growing from these seeds and for the setling of a religious and peaceable Government both in Church and Common wealth doe by these Our speciall Letters straitly charge and command you to use all possible care and diligence that these Limitations and Cautions herewith sent unto you concerning Preachers be duly and strictly from henceforth put in practice and observed by the several Bishops within your Jurisdiction And to this end Our pleasure is that you send them forthwith Copies of these Directions to be by them speedily sent and communicated unto every Parson Vicar Curate Lecturer and Minister in every Cathedrall or Parish Church within their severall Diocese and that you earnestly require them to employ their utmost endeavours in the performance of this so important a businesse letting them know that We have a speciall eye unto their proceedings and expect a strict account thereof both of you and every one of them and these Our Letters shall be your sufficient Warrant and discharge in that behalf Give under our Signet at Our Castle of Windsor the 4 th of August in the twentieth year of Our Reign Directions concerning Preachers sent with the Letter 1. THat no Preacher under the degree and calling of a Bishop or Dean of a Cathedral or Collegiate Church and they upon the Kings dayes and set Festivals doe take occasion by the expounding of any Text of Scripture whatsoever to fall into any set Discourse or Common place otherwise than by the opening the Cohaerence and Division of the Text which shall not be comprehended and warranted in essence substance effect or naturall in ference within some one of the Articles of Religion set forth 1562. or in some of the Homilies set forth by authority of the Church of England not onely for the help of the Non-Preaching but withall for a Pattern and Boundary as it were for the Preaching Ministers And for their further instructions for the performance hereof that they forthwith reade over and peruse diligently the said Book of Articles and the two Books of Homilies 2. That no Parson Vicar Curate or Lecturer shall preach any Sermons or Collation hereafter upon Sundaies and Holidaies in the afternoon in any Cathedrall or Parish Church throughout the Kingdome but upon some pare of the Catechisme or some Text taken out of the Creed ten Commandments or the Lords Prayer Funeral Sermons onely excepted and that those Preachers be most encouraged and approved of who spend the Afternoons exercise in the examination of Children in their Catechisme which is the most antient and laudable custome of teaching in the Church of England 3. That no Preacher of what title
Cathedrals and Colledges Impropriated as Lay-fees to private persons as formerly belonging to Abbies The redeeming and restoring of the latter was these Feoffees designe and it was verily believed if not obstructed in their end â—â—vours within fifty yeers rather Purchases then Money would have been wanting unto them buying them generally as Candle-rents at or under twelve yeers valuation My Pen passing by them at the present may safely salute them with a God speed as neither seeing nor suspecting any danger in the Designe 7. Richard Smith titulary Bishop of Calcedon taking his honor from Greece The Bishop of Calcedon his hyiscopizing in England his profit from England where he Bishoped it over all the Romtsh Catholiques was now very busie in his imployment But when where and how oft he acted here is past our discoverie it being never known when Men of his profession come hither till they be caught here Now if any demand why the Pope did not intitle him to some English rather then this Grecian Bishoprick the grant of both being but of the same price of his Holyness his breath and the confirmation equally cheap in wax and parchment especially seeing that in Ireland he had made Anti-Bishops to all Sees it is easie for one though none of his Comclave to conjecture For in Ireland he had in every Diocesse and Parish a Counter-Part of People for number and quality which he had not in England and therefore to intitle Bishops here had but rendered it the more ridiculous in the granter and dangerous in the accepter thereof 8. Nicholas Smith a Regular June 1 Opposed by Nicholas Smith and perchance a Jesuit much stomacked the advancement and activitie of Richard Smith Bishop of Calcedon and wrote bitterly against him the hammer of one Smith clashing against another He fell foul also on Dr. Kellison President of the Colledge of Dowag who lately set forth a Treatise of the Dignitie and necessity of Bishop and Secular Clergy generally opposing his Doctrine and particularly in relation to the English Bishops instancing in the following exceptions 9. First a Bishop over the English was uselesse Alleadging a Bishop over English Catholiques uselesse in persecutiou and might well be spared in times of persecution there being but two pecuâ—iar performances of a Bishop viz. Ordination and Confirmation For the former it might be supplyed by Forreigne Bishops the Priests of our English nation being generally bred beyond the Seas As for confirmation of the Children of English Catholiques he much decryed the necessity thereof though not so far as to un-seven the Sacraments of the Church of Rome affirming it out of St. * 3. p. q. 79. art 21. ad 1. Thomas of Aquin and other Divines that by commission from the Pope a Priest though no Bishop might confirme To this Dr. Kellison his Scholar or himselfe under the vizard replyed that in the definition of St. Ciprian A Church was a people united to its Bishop and therefore an absolutenecessity of that function 10. Secondly he was burthensome to the Church And burthensome considering the present pressures of poor English Catholiques needing now no unnecessary exspences for the maintenance of the Bishop and his Agents To this it was answered that Mr. Nicholas Smith and his Bretheren Regulars dayly put the Catholiques to farre greater charges Reply to Mr. N. Smith pag. 294. as * Gen. 49. appeareth by the stately Houses Purchases c. Indeed generally the little finger of a Jesuit was conceived in his entertainment heavier than the Loines of a Secular Mean time in what care were our English Lay Catholiques with Issachar couching down between two burthens bearing the weight of both Regulars and Seculars But who need pity them who will not pity themselves 11. Thirdly And this Bishop no Ordinary he took exceptions at the person of this Bishop of Chalcedon as not lawfully called in Canonical Criticisme First because not estated in his Episcopall inspection over England during his life as a Bishop ought to be but onely constituted ad beneplacitum Papae at the pleasure of the Pope which restriction destroyeth his being a Lawfull Ordinary Secondly he carpeth at him as made by Delegation and Commission and therefore a Delegate not an Ordinarie To which the other replyed that even Legates have that clause in their Commission limited to the Popes pleasure and yet no Catholique will question them to be Lawfull Ordinaries As to the second exception the same saith he doth not destâ—â—â—y his Ordinary-ship but onely sheweth he was made an Ordinary in an extraordinary manner which distinction how farre it will hold good in the Canon Law let those enquire who are concerned therein 12. Notwithstanding Dr. Kellison his confutation Regulars pride proposition condemned the insolency of the Regulars daily increased in England so that they themselves may seem the most seculars so fixed were they to the wealth and vanity of this world The Irish Regulars exceeded the English in pride maintaining amongst other printed propositions that the Superiours of Regulars are more worthy than Bishops themselves because the honor of the Pastor is to be measured from the condition of the Flock quemadmodum Opilio dignior est subulco as a Shepheard is of more esteem than a Hoggard In application of the first to themselves the last to the Seculars it is hard to say whether their pride was more in their owne praise or charity lesse in condemning of others It was therefore high time for the Doctors of Sorbone in Paris who for many ages have maintained in their Colledge 1630-31 January 15 30. the hereditarie reputation of learning to take these Regulars to taske Sixty of the Sorbone Doctors censured the aforesaid proposition and the Archbishop of Paris condemned the Booke of Nicholas Smith as also another tending to the same subject made by one Daniel a Jesuit 13. On what tearms the Regulars and Seculars stand in England at this day Quere whether now reconciled I neither know nor list to enquire Probably they have learned wit from our woes and our late sad differences have occasioned their reconcilement Only I learn this distinction from them the Catholiques * Reply to Mr. N. Smith preface p. 20. as Catholiques agree alwayes in matters of faith but the best Catholiques as men may varie in their opinions I hope they will allow to us what liberty they assume to themselves March 14. Dr. Bishop Davenant his Sermon at Court John Davenant Bishop of Salisburie preached his course on a Sunday in Lent at White-Hall before the King and Court finishing a Text Rom. 6. 23. the former part whereof he had handled the yeer before In prosecution whereof it seems he was conceived to fall on some forbidden points in so much that his Majestie whether at first by his own inclination or others instigation is uncertain manifested much displeasure there at Sermon ending his Adversaries at
concessions so that such yeelding unto them would not satisfie their hunger but quicken their Appetites to demand the more hereafter 30. The importunity of others pressed upon him Febr. that to prune off their Baronies But is importuned thereunto was the way to preserve their Bishopricks that his Majesty lately obnoxious to the Parliament for demanding the five Members would now make plenary satisfaction and give such assurance of his affections for the future that all things would answer his desired expectation This was set home unto him by some not the farthest relations insomuch that at last he signed the Bill as he was in St. Augustines in Canterbury passing with the Queen towards Dover then undertaking her voyage into the Low-Countries 31. Many expected Keep in thy calling and more desired that the Kings condescension herein should put a period unto all differences 18 1642 But their expectations were frustrate and not long after the King apprehending himself in danger by tumults deserted Whitehall went into the North erected his Standard at Nottingham Edge-Hill-field was fought and much English blood on both sides shed in severall battles But I seasonably remember that the Church is my Castle viz. that the writing thereof is my House and Home wherein I may stand on my own defence against all who assault me It was good counsell King Joash gave to King Amaziah * 2. Kings 14. 10. Tarry at home The practise whereof shall I hope secure me from many mischiefs 32. About this time the word Malignant Malignant first coyned was first born as to the Common use in England the deduction thereof being disputable whether from malus ignis bad fire or malum lignum bad fewell but this is sure betwixt both Anno Dom. 1642 Anno Regis Caroli 18 the name made a combustion all over England It was fixed as a note of disgrace on those of the Kings party and because one had as good be dumb as not speak with the Volge possibly in that sense it may occur in our ensuing Historie However the Royalists plead for themselves that Malignity a * Rom. 1. 29. Scripture word properly denoteth activity in doing evill whereas they being ever since on the suffring side in their Persons Credits and Estates conceive the name improperly applied unto them Which plea the Parliamentary-party smile at in stead of answering taking notice of the affections of the Royalists how Malignant they would have appeared if successe had befriended them 33. Contemporary with Malignant And the word Plunder was the word Plunder which some make of Latine originall from planum dare to levell or plane all to nothing Others make it of Duch extraction as if it were to plume or pluck the feathers of a Bird to the bare skin Sure I am we first heard thereof in the Swedish wars and if the name and thing be sent back from whence it came few English eyes would weep thereat 34. By this time ten of the eleven Bishops The Bishops in the Tower released formerly subscribing their protestation to the Parliament were after some moneths durance upon good bale given released two of them finding great favour in their fees from the Lieutenant of the Tower in respect of their great charge and small estate These now at liberty severally disposed themselves some went home to their own Diocesse as the Bishops of Norwich Oxford c. Some continued in London as the Bishop of Durham not so rich in Age as in all commendable Episcopall qualities Some withdrew themselves into the Kings quarters as Archbishop Williams c. Only Bishop Wren was still detained in the Tower where his long imprisonment being never brought in to a publick answer hath converted many of his adversaries into a more charitable opinion of him 35. The Bishops Votes in Parliament A query worth enquiring being dead and departed neither to be helpt with flatterie nor hurt with malice one word of enquiry in what notion they formerly voted in Parliament Whether as a distinct third Estate of the Clergy or Whether as so many single Barons in their temporall capacity This was formerly received for a trueth countenanced with some passages in the old Statutes reckoning the Lords spirituall and Lords temporall and the Commons to be the three Estates the King as Paramount of all not comprehended therein This is maintained by those who account the King the Lords and Commons the three Estates amongst which Lords the Bishops though spirituall persons appeared as so many temporall Barons Whose absence is no whit prejudiciall to the Acts past in Parliament Some of the Aged Bishops had their Tongues so used to the language of a third Estate that more then once they ran on that reputed Rock in their Speeches for which they were publickly shent and enjoyned an acknowledgement of their mistake 36. The Convocation now not sitting Divines consulted with in Parliament 1643 19 and matters of Religion many being brought under the Cognizance of the Parliament their Wisdomes adjudged it not only convenient but necessary that some prime Clergy-man might be consulted with In order whereunto they resolved to select some out of all Counties whom they conceived best qualified for their designe herein and the first of July was the day appointed for their meeting SECTION IX To Mr Giles Vandepit Clegat Peter Matthewes of London Merchants A Threefold Cable is not easily broken and a Triplicate of Friends may be presumed effectual to protect my endeavours Of whom two are of Dutch the third in the midst of English Extraction not falling there by casual confusion but placed by designed Conjunction Me thinks it is a good sight to behold the Dutch embracing the English and this Dedication may pass for the Emblem of the late Agreement which God long continue if for the mutual good of both Nations 1. WHen on this day the Assembly of Divines Anno Regis Caroli 19. Anno Dom. 1643. The first meeting of the Assembly to consult about matters of Religion met at Westminster in the Chappel of King Henry the Seventh Then the constitution of this Assembly July 1. Satur. as first elected and designed was to consist of about one hundred and twenty persons chosen by the Parliament without respect of Diocesses in relation to Shires two or more of a County They thought it not safe to entrust the Clergie with their own choice of whose generall corruption they constantly complained and therefore adjudged it unfit that the Distempered Patients should be or choose their own Physicians 2. These Elects were of foure severall natures The foure English quarters of the Assembly as the quarters of the same body easily distinguishable by these conditions or opinions First men of Episcopal perswasion as the Right Reverend James Vsher Arch-Bishop of Armagh Doctor Browmrig Bishop of Exeter Doctor Westfield Bishop of Bristol D r Daniel Featly D r Richard
l. 5 s. 5 d. 5 Toft Monachorum Rectory in the Diocess of Norwich valued at 8 l. 6 Leisingham Vicaridgâ— in the Diocess of Norwich valued at 6 li. 7 Harsted Rectory in the Diocess of Norwich valued at 6 li. 10 s. 8 West-Rutham Vicaridge in the Diocess of Norwich valued at 7 li. 6 s. 8 d. 9 Prestcott Vicaridge in the Diocess of Chester valued at 24 li. 9 s. 10 Wotton Wowen Vicaridge in the Diocess of Coventry and Lichfield valued at 11 l. 9 s. 7 d. 11 Dowton Wallat Rectory in the Diocess of London valued at 16 l. Behold here the fruitfulness of one Vineyard a single Colledge and yet we have onely gathered the top-grapes such as were ripest in parts and highest in preferment How many moe grew on the under-boughs which were serviceable in Church and State Not to speak of many eminent persons still surviving amongst whom Mr. William Oughtred beneficed at Alberie in Surrey Prince of the Mathematicians in our age whose modestie will be better pleased with my praying for them than praising of them 16. Wonder not Why so few have been Benefactours to this House Reader that Benefactors are so few and benefaction so small to this royall foundation caused partly from the commpleteness thereof at its first erection partly from mens modestie that their meanness might not mingle it self with Princely magnificence Solomon f Eccles 2. 12 saith What can the man doe that cometh after the King It is petty Presumption to make addition to Kings workes and to hold benefaction in Coparcenarie with them 17. We read in John Rouse The instrumental advancers of so worthy a work how King Henry the fifth had a designe to build a Colledge in the Castle of Oxford the intended model whereof with the endowments to the same he affirmeth himself to have seen but prevented by death his son Henry performed his fathers will as to his general end of advancing Learning and Religion though exchanging the place from Oxford to Cambridge We read also in the Oxford g Brian Twine Antiq. Academ Oxon. pag. 318. Antiquarie how Henry Beaufort that pompous Prelate and Bishop of Winchester gave two thousand pounds to Henry the sixth for the advancing of this Colledge and how John Summerset Doctor of Physick to King Henry the sixth Sophister first in Oxford but afterwards graduated in Cambridge and twice Proctor thereof though not expressed in our Cambridge-Catalogue so imperfect is it was very active with his perswasions to King Henry and concurred much instrumentally to the foundation of this Colledge 18. He proceedeth to tell us Dr Sommerset said to be ingratefully used by Cambridge how the same Sommerset when aged fell into want and disgrace and coming to Cambridge for succour and support found not entertainment proportionable to his deserts Whereupon he publiquely complained thereof in eighty h Extraâ—t in Guil worcestr and cited by Brian Twine pag. 313. satyrical verses thus beginning Quid tibi Cantabriga dudum dulcissima feci Vultum divertis oh mihi dura nimis For mine own part I hate ingratitude be it in mine own mother but dare not here condemn her because ignorant of the cause of Sommerset's poverty Probably it might relate to the difference of the Crown and Lancaster interest so that in those dangerous days Cambridge her charity could not consist with her safety not daring to relieve him for fear of damnifyinging her self 19. How ticklish those dayes were King Edward the fourth a malefactour to this Colledge and with how evill an eye this Foundation from the line of Lancaster was looked upon by the House of York is too plaine in the practise of King Edward the fourth one whose love to learning and religion were much alike who at once took away from Kings Colledge a thousand pound land a year amongst which the fee-farme of the Manours of Chesterton and Cambridge Whereupon no fewer than i â—aius Hist Ac. Cant. pag. 68. fourty of the Fellowes and Scholars besides Conducts Clerkes Choristers and other Colledge-officers were in one day forced to depart the House for want of maintenance Indeed I have read that King Edward afterwards restored five hundred Marks of yearly revenue on condition they should acknowledge him for their Founder and write all their Deeds in his name which perchance for the present they were contented to performe However his restitution was nothing adequate to the injurie offered this Foundation insomuch that Leland complaines Grantam suam hanc jacturam semper sensuram That his Cambridge will for ever be sensible of this losse 20. One k Brian Twine Antiq. Acad. Ox. pag. 317. tells us An old debt well paâ—d that as Kings Colledge was first furnished from Eaton so Eaton was first planted from Winchester-School whence Henry the sixth fetcht five Fellows and thirty five eminenâ— Scholars to furnish his first foundation But let our Aunt know that this debt hath been honestly satisfied with plentifull consideration for the forbearance thereof For in the yeer of our Lord 1524. when Robert Shirton Master of Pembrooke-Hall was employed by Cardinal Wolsey to invite Cambridge-men some full blown in learning others but in the bud and dawning of their pregnancie to plant his foundation at Christ-Church Kings-Colledge afforded them many eminent Scholars then removed thither amongst whom were Rich. Cox afterwards School-master to King Edward the sixth John Frith afterward martyred for the truth John Frier a famous Physician of that age Hen. * MS. Hatcher of K. Coll. Anno 1518. Sumptner who at Christ-Church for his religion being hardly used died soon after with may moe eminent persons which l Vide infâ—â— Anno 1524. hereafter God willing shall be observed Thus Christ-Church in Oxford was first a Cambridge-Colonie Be this remembred partly that Cambridge may continue her original title to such worthy men and partly to evidence her return to her Sister of what formerly she had borrowed Otherwise it matters not on which of the two Branches learned men doe grow seeing all spring from one and the same root of the English Nation 21. I have done with this Foundation The Armes of Kings Colledge when I have told the Reader that King Henry the sixth under his great Seal by Act of Parliament confirmed a coat of Armes to this Colledge bearing in chief a flower of France and a Lion of England that it may appear to be the work of a King For my instructions herein I must direct my thankfulness partly to the memory of Mr. Thomas Hatcher who some seventy yeers since collected an exact catalogue of the Scholars Fellowes and Provosts of this house partly to Mr. Tho. Page of this house and Vice-Oratour of Cambridge who as he went over beyond the seas the credit of his Coll. and this University so God lending him life after his accomplishment in his travails is likely to return one of the honours of our Countrey 22. My Pen