Watsons Quodâ—â—bets pag 97. Venitè â—ratres mei Ostendam vobis Alanum which the Author thus translates or rather Comments on Come my brethren and I will shew you a man in England born to whom all Europe may give place for his high prudence reverend Countenance and purport of Government His loss was much lamented by the Catholicks not without cause whose Gravity and Authority had done many good offices in composing the Grudgings which began to grow betwixt Secular Priests and Jesuits which private heart-burnings soon after his death blazed out in the prison of Wisbich into an open Scandal as now we come to Report 13. A sad subject to write of Christian discords Here I protest though uncertain how far to finde belief 1595. 38. that I take no delight in relating these discontents much less shall my pen widen the wound betwixt them for though I approve the opinions of neither yet am I so much friend to the persons of both parties as not to make much to my self of their Discords The rather because no Christian can heartily laugh at the factions of his fiercest enemies because that sight at the same time pincheth him with the sad remembrance that such divisions that have formerly do at the present or may hereafter be found amongst those of his own profession such is the frailty of humane Nature in what side soever However hereafter let not Papists without cause or measure vaunt of their unity seeing their pretended Ship of S t Peter is not so solidly compacted but that it may spring a Leake Nor let them boast so confidently of their sufferings and blame our severity unto them as if enduring such hard usage in their imprisonment Surely like f Psal 105. 18. Joseph their feet were not hurt in the Stocks the Iron did not enter into their Soul neither with g Ier. 38. 6. Jeremy were they cast into a dirty dungeon where they sunk in mire nor with h Acts â—2 6. Peter were they bound with two Chains nor with i Acts 16. 24. Paul and Silas were they thrust into the inner prison and made fast but had in their Durance Liberty List and Leasure to begin foment and prosecute this violent Schisme betwixt themselves 14. The beginning of the Schism betwixt the Seculars and the Iesuits Untill this time the prime Catholicks in Wisbich Castle had lived there in restraint with great Unity and Concord And the Papists do brag that then and there the English Church was most visible until one Father Weston alias Edmonds a Jesuite coming thither erected a government amongst them making certain Sanctions and Orders which all were bound to observe secretly procuring subjects to himself and claiming a Superiority over all the Catholicks there Yet so cunningly he contrived the matter that he seemed not ambitiously to affect but religiously to accept this Authority profered unto yea seemingly forced upon him For one of his friends writes to Father Henry Garnet Provincial then living in England to this effect Good Father Weston in the humility of his heart lies on his bed like the man sick of the Palsie in the Gospel Nor will he walk confidently before others in the way of the Righteous except first he be let down through the Tiles and it be said unto him from the Provinciall arise take up thy Bed and walke Yet if the Seculars may be beleeved he did not only arise but run before that word of Command given him by Garnet and put his Jurisdiction in execution Besides those of his own society many of the Secular Priests submitted themselves unto him seduced say k Declaratio moâ—uum ac turbationum c. ad Clem. octavum exhibita pag. 12. some by the seeming sanctity of the Jesuits and having their Judgements bribed to that side by unequal proportions of mony received besides promising themselves that in case the land was invaded by the activity of the Jesuits all power and preferment would be at their dispose and so they should be sooner and higher advanced 15. The Seculars refuse to obey Weston and why But the greatest number and learned sort of the Secular Priests stoutly resisted his superiority affirming how formerly it had been offered to Thomas Watson Bishop of Lincolne late prisoner amongst them and he refused it as inconsistent with their present Condition affliction making them equalls and a Prison putting a parity betwixt them if any order might pretend to this Priority it was most proper for the Benedictines extant in England above a thousand years agoe that the Jesuits were Punies and if all Orders should sit down as Jacobs children at the Table of Joseph l Gen. 34. 33. the eldest according to his Age and the yongest according to his Youth the last and least place of honour was due unto them That the Secular Priests had borne the heat of the day in preaching and persecution some of them having endured above twenty years imprisonment for conscience sake as M r Bluet for m Watsons Quodlibets pag. 4. one before some of the Jesuits knew what durance meant That Weston was not eminent for Learning Religion or any prime quality save only the affecting that place which his betters had declined That it was monstrous that he being a Jesuite and so a member of another society should be made a head of their body The Lay-Catholicks were much offended with the Schisme some withheld others threatning to withhold their charity from both parties conceiving it the ready means when maintenance was detained from both sides to starve them into agreement 16. Weston imployed but as a Scout to discover the temper of the secular priests One might admire why father Weston should so earnestly desire so silly a dominion having his power as well as his own person confin'd within the walls of Wisbich Castle a narrow Diocess only to dominere over a few Prisoners The Goaler yea the very Turnkey being his superior to controll him if offering to exceed that compass But Oh the sweetness of Superemacy though in never so small a Circuit It pleased his pride to be Prior of a Prison but n Declaratio motuum c. pag. 17. Agent was the Title wherewith he stiled himself Indeed the English Jesuits both abroad in England and beyond the Seas made use of Westons forwardness to trie the temper of the Secular Priests and to make this bold Jesuite to back and break a Skittish Colt for further designes If Weston were unhors'd his fall would be little lamented and he might thank his own boldness in adventuring and the ill managing of his place if he sat the beast and it proved tame then others would up and ride and Father Garnet Provincial of the Jesuits intended in like manner to procure from the Pope a Superiority over all the Secular Priests in England Wisbich Prison would be enlarged all over the kingdom and the Precedent would reach farr in the
Monks therein were it so their soyl being so fruitfull and pleasant it would merit more wonder than that Ireland hath no Venemous creatures therein Quare what meant by four Abbots peculiarly exempt But their brag hath more of Mirth than Truth in it seeing the Priorie at Caris-brook and Nunnery at Quarre evidence them sufficiently stockt with such Cattell 17. I have done with this subject of Mitred Abbeys when we have observed that they were called ABBOTS GENERALL aliàs ABBOTS n Sir H. Spelman in Glossario verbo Abbas SOVEREIGNE as acknowledging in a sort no Superiour because exempted from the Jurisdiction of any Diocezan having Episcopall power in themselves And here I would be thankfull to any who would inform me that seeing all these Abbots were thus priviledged how it came to passe that Four of them were especially termed ABBOTS o Titles of honour pag. 727. EXEMPTI viz Bury Waltham S. Albans and Evesham I say seeing these were so called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 EXEMPT as it were out of the EXEMPTED I would willingly be satisfied what extraordinary Priviledges these enjoyed by themselves above others of their own Order Of the Civill benefits and Temporall conveniences accruing to the State by the continuance of Abbies SO much of the greatnesse Give Abbies their due somewhat of the goodnesse of Abbeys if possibly it may be done without prejudice to truth Surely some pretences plausible at least did ingratiate them with the Politicians of that Age otherwise Prince and people in those daies though blinded with ignorant zeal yet worldly-wise would never have been gulled into so long a toleration yea veneration of them 2. They were an easie and cheap outlet for the Nobility and Gentry of the land They convenient to dispose youngest children in therein to dispose their younger children That younger son who had not mettal enough to manage a sword might have meeknesse to become a coule Which coule in short time might grow up to be a Mitre when his merits presented him to be Abbot of his Covent Clap a vail on the head of a younger daughter especially if she were superannuated not over-handsome melancholy c. and instantly she was provided for in a Nunnery where without cost or care of her parents she lived in all outward happinesse wanting nothing except perhaps it were an husband This was a great cause of the long continuance of the English Nobility in such pomp and power as having then no temptation to torture their Tenants with racking of rents to make provision for their younger children Indeed sometimes Noblemen gave small portions with their children to the Covent not such as would preferre them in marriage to one of their own quality but generally Abbeys were glad to accept them with nothing thereby to engage the Parents and Brothers of such young men and maidens to be the constant friends to their Covent on all occasion at Court and chiefly in all Parliaments 3. One eminent instance hereof we have in Ralph Nevil An eminent instance thereof first Earl of Westmerland of that Family whom I behold as the happiest Subject of England since the Conquest if either we count the number of his Children or measure the height of the Honour they attained He had by Margaret his first Wife Joan his second Wife 1. John his eldest son Lord Nevil c. 2. Ralph in the right of Mary his wife Lord Ferrars of Ously 3. Maud married to Peter Lord Mauley 4. Alice married to Sir Thomas Gray 5. Philip married to Thomas Lord Dacres of Gilsland 6. Margaret married to the Lord Scroop of Bolton 7. Anne married to Sir Gilbert Umfrevil 8. Margerie Abbesse of Bearking 9. Elizabeth a Nun. 1. Richard Earl of Sarisbury 2. William in the right of Joan his wife Lord Faulconbridge 3. George Lord Latimer 4. Edward Lord Abergavennie 5. Robert Bishop of Durham 6. Thomas in right of his wife Lord a Mills p. 393. Seymour 7. Katharine married to Thomas Duke of Norfolke 8. Elianour to Henry Earl of Northhumberland 9. Anne to Humphrey Duke of Buckingham 10. Jane a Nun. 11. Cicilie to Richard Duke of York and Mother to King Edward the fourth See we here the policie of that age in disposing of their numerous issue More than the tithe of them was given to the Church and I trow the Nuns and Abbesse especially were as good Madams as the rest and conceived themselves to go in equipage with their other Lady-Sisters And no wonder if an Earl preferred his daughters to be Nuns seeing no King of England since the Conquest had four Daughters living to womans estate but He disposed one of them to be a Votarie And Bridget the fourth Daughter to King Edward the fourth a Nun at Dartford in Kent was the last Princesse who entered into a Religious Order 4. They were tolerable Tutours for the education of youth there being a great penurie of other Grammar-schools in that Age and every Covent had one Children taught therein or moe therein who generally gratis taught the children thereabouts Yea they who were loose enough in their own lives were sufficiently severe in their discipline over others Grammar was here taught and Musick which in some sort sung her own Dirige as to the generall use thereof at the dissolution of Abbies 5. Nunneries also were good Shee-schools Conveniency of Shee-Colledges wherein the Girles and Maids of the Neighbourhood were taught to read and work and sometimes a little Latine was taught them therein Yea give me leave to say if such Feminine Foundations had still continued provided no vow were obtruded upon them virginity is least kept where it is most constrained haply the weaker sex besides the avoiding modern inconveniences might be heightned to an higher perfection than hitherto hath been attained That sharpnesse of their wits and suddenness of their conceits which their enemies must allow unto them might by education be improved into a judicious solidity and that adorned with Arts which now they want not because they cannot learn but are not taught them I say if such Feminine Foundations were extant now of dayes haply some Virgins of highest birth would be glad of such places and I am sure their Fathers and elder Brothers would not be sorry for the same 6. They were the sole Historians Monks the sole Historians and why in writing to preserve the remarkable passages of Church and Common-wealth I confesse I had rather any than Monks had written the Histories of our Land yet rather than the same should be unwritten I am heartily glad the Monks undertook the performance thereof Indeed in all their Chronicles one may feel a rag of a Monks coule I mean they are partial to their own interest But in that Age there was a choicelesse choice that Monks or none at all should write our English Histories Sword-men lacked learning States-men leasure to doe it it was therefore devolved to Monks and Friers who
born in the Kingdome of Northumberland at a Camden's Brit. pag. 743. Girwy now Yarrow in the Bishoprick of Durham brought up by S t. Cuthbert and was the profoundest Scholar in his Age for Latine Greek Philosophy History Divinity Mathematicks Musick and what not Homilies of his making were read in his Life-time in the Christian Churches a Dignity afforded to him alone We are much beholding to his Ecclesiasticall History written by him and dedicated to Ceolwoolfus King of Northumberland A worthy Work indeed though in some respect we could heartily wish that his Faith had been lesse and his Charity more Faith lesse in believing and reporting so many prodigious Miracles of the Saxons except any will say that this in him was not so much Vitium Hominis as Seculi Charity more I mean to the Britans being no Friend to them and over-partial to his own Country-men slightly and slenderly touching British matters onely thereof to make a Pedestall the more fairly to reare and advance his Saxon History thereupon 16. Some report that Bede never went out of his Cell Bede probably went out of his Cell but lived and died therein If so the Scholars of Cambridge will be very sory because thereby deprived of their Honour by Bede's living once in their University whose House they still shew betwixt S t. Iohn's Colledge and Round-Church or S t. Sepulchres Surely Bede was not fixed to his Cell as the Cockle to his Shel seeing no Observance of his Benedictine Order imposed such a Penance upon him Indeed his own words in the end of his Book give some Countenance to their Conjecture of his voluntary Confinement speaking of himself Cunctum tempus vitae in ejusdem Monasterii habitatione peragens But his Expression imports onely his generall Residence therein that he was no Gadder abroad or Discontinuer from his Convent for a long time though he might for some short space make his Abode elsewhere Thus when of the Prophetesse it is said b Luke 2. 37. that she departed not from the Temple we understand it not so as if she never went out thereof but that for the main she spent the most of her time therein 17. He is generally surnamed Venerable Bede why surnamed Venerabilis but why Authours differ therein Some say a Dunce-Monk being to make his Epitaph was non-pluss'd to make that Dactyle which is onely of the Quorum in the Hexameter and therefore at Night left the Verse thus gaping Hic sunt in fossa Bedae ossa till he had consulted with his Pillow to fill up the Hiatus But returning in the morning an Angel we have often heard of their Singing see now of their Poetry Anno Dom. 730 had filled up the Chasma with Venerabilis Others disclaiming this Conceit assign this Reason Because Bede's Homilies were as aforesaid read in all a Flores Sanctorum in the life of Bede pag. 528. Churches in his Life-time plain Bede was conceived too little and S t. Bede too much because according to Popish but not S t. Paul's Principles Saint is too much Flattery to be given to any whilest alive Solon allowing none happy and this mine Authour none in this degree holy before their Death Wherefore Venerable was found out as an Expedient to accommodate the Difference luckily hitting the Mark as a Title neither too high nor too low just even to so good a man and great a Scholar whilest alive This is observable in all those who have written the Life of Bede that whereas such Saxon-Saints as had not the tenth of his Sanctity nor hundredth part of his Learning are said to have wrought Miracles ad Lectoris nauseam not one single Miracle is reported to have been done by Bede Whereof under favour I conceive this the Reason Monks who wrote the Lives of many of their Saints knew little more of many of them then their bare Names and Times wherein they lived which made them Historiae vacua miraculis supplere to plump up the Hollownesse of their History with improbable Miracles swelling the Bowells of their Books with empty Wind in default of sufficient solid Food to fill them Whereas Bede's Life affording plenty and variety of reall and effectuall Matter the Writer thereof why should a Rich man be a Thief or Lyar had no Temptation I am sure no Need to farse his book with fond Miracles who might rather leave then lack of materiall Passages therein 18. One of the last things he did 734 was the translating of the Gospel of S t. Iohn into English Bede's last blaze and the going out of the candle of his life When Death seised on him one of his devout Scholars whom he used for his Secretary or Amanuensis complained My beloved Master there remains yet one Sentence unwritten Write it then quickly replied Bede and summoning all his spirits together like the last Blaze of a Candle going out he indited it and expired Thus Gods Children are immortall whiles their Father hath any thing for them to do on Earth and Death that Beast cannot overcome and kill them till first they have b Revel 11. 7. finished their Testimony which done like Silk-worms they willingly die when their Web is ended and are comfortably entombed in their own Endeavours Nor have I ought else to observe of Bede save onely this A forreign Embassadour some two hundred yeares since coming to Durham addressed himself first to the high and sumptuous Shrine of S t. Cuthbert If thou beest a Saint pray for me then coming to the plain low and little Tombe of Bede Because said he thou art a Saint good Bede pray for me 19. Now began the Saxons to be infected with an universall Vitiousnesse 735 The cause whereof was The general viciousnesse of the Saxons how occasioned Ethelbald King of Mercia contemned Marriage and though Abstinence from it in some cases may be commendable the Contempt thereof alwayes is dangerous yea damnable as it proved in him For his unlawfull Lust made no difference of Places or Persons Castles or Cloisters common-Kerchief or Nuns-vaile all came alike to him But oh the legislative power which is in a great Prince his Example His Subjects presumed they might not onely impune but legitime follow his Precedent which made the Land swarm with Wickednesse 20. This caused the Letter of Boniface Arch-bishop of Ments an English-man born The effect of Boniface his letter to the King of Mercia and lately very eminent for converting the Germans to Christianity to King Ethelbald wherein he observed the prudent method of S t. Paul to the c 1 Cor. 11. 2. and 22. Corinthians As the Apostle first commended them I praise you Brethren that you remember me in all things c. so he began with a large Encomium of King Ethelbald his Charity and bountifull Almes-giving Hence seasonably he descended to his Faults shall I praise you in this I praise you not and soundly and
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
maintain that Dominion is so sounded in grace in the Pope that a King by him excommunicate may lawfully be deposed and murdered 24. William Courtney Arch-Bishop Courtney persecutes the Wicliffians Arch-Bishop of Canterbury 1382 in the place of Simon Sudbury lately slain made cruel Canons in a Synod at London 6. against the maintainers of Wicliffe his opinions And I wonder that in Linwoods Constitutions no mention at all of any Canons made by this Arch-Bishop who sate above ten years in the See As for the heavy persecution which soon after he raised against Robert Rug Thomas Britwell Nicholas Herford Philip Ripiagton c. nothing can be added to what M r Fox hath related 25. In my minde it amounteth to little less then a Miracle Wicliff his miraculous deliverance that during this storme on his Disciples Wicliffe their Master should live in quiet Strange that he was not drowned in so strong a stream as ran against him whose safety under Gods providence is not so much to be ascribed to his own strength in swimming as to such as held him up by the Chin the greatness of his Noble supporters About this time he ended his Translation of the Bible into English a fair Copy whereof in Queens Colledg in Oxford and two more in the University Library done no doubt in the most Expressive language of those dayes though sounding uncouth to our ears The Knabe of Jesus Christ for Servant Acts 8. And Philip Baptized the Gelding for Eunuch so much our tongue is improved in our age As for the report of Polydor Virgil making him to flye out of England in the time of Edward the third Et in magno pretio apud Bohemos fuisse and to have been of high esteem amongst the Bahemians It is true of Wicliffe's Writings but not of his Person who never departed his Native Countrey 26. Not long after His quiet death therein he ended his life 1384 at his cure at Lutterworth in Leicester-shire 8. of the Palsey a Leland excrenico tenerisis Monisteria Admirable that a Hare so often hunted with so many Packs of Doggs should die at last quietly sitting in his form Parsons the Jesuite snarles at M r Fox for counting Wicliffe a Martyr in his Calender as so far from suffering violent death that he was never so much as imprisoned for the opinion he maintained But the phrase may be justified in the large acception of the word for a witness of the truth Besides the body of Wicliffe was Martyred as to shame though not to pain as far as his adversaries cruelty could extend being taken up and burnt many years after his death as God willing we shall shew hereafter 27. William Wickam New Colledg built by Bish Wickam about this time b It was begun Anno 1375. finished his beautiful Colledg in Oxford 1386 some have raised a Scandal of him 10. that he was no scholar at all from which the very meanest scholar in his foundation can acquit him by that rule in Logick Quod efficit tale magis est tale what maketh the same is more the same Anno Regis Ric. 2 10. By which his learning must be inferred whose bounty caused so many learned men Anno Dom. 1386 Now because the maxim runneth with a limitation Si sit tale if it be the same the truth hereof also appears from the learned a Doct. Martin who wrote a book in vindication of his learning pen who writing Wickams life have proved him to have been a sufficient Scholar skilled in other Arts as well as in practical Mathematicks and Architecture 28. Now as Solomon Industry and judgment in Architecture the cause of his advancement when about to build his house at Millo b 1 Kings seeing Jeroboam to be an industrious man made him Master of his Fabrick So Edward the third discovering the like sufficiency in this great Clerk imployed him in all his stately structures witness this in Motto at Windsor Castle This made Wicham meaning that the building of that Castle gave occasion to his wealth and honour whereas on this Colledg he might write This wickam made The building and endowing thereof being the effect of his bounty alone hence it is that this Colledg giveth the Armes of Wickam viz. two Cheverons betwixt three Roses each Cheveron alluding c Rex Platonicus p. 144. to two beams fastned together called couples in building to speak his skill in Architecture 29. This Colledg he built very strong A Castle Colledg designed for defence out of a design d So say the Statutes of this Colledg that it should be able to hold out a Siege of it self if need so required it though may it never have a temptation in that kinde to trie the strength of the walls thereof Indeed this Colledg with Bourges in France may lay claim to the name of Bituris Turribus abinis inde vocor Bituris So called from two Towers therein as this hath the like one over the Gate the other over the Porch in the entrance into the Hall so that it may seem a Castle-Colledg and made as well for defence as habitation So that at this present is maintained therein a Warden Seventy Fellows and Scholars Ten Chaplains Three Clerks One Organist Sixteen Choristers besides Officers and servants of the Foundation with other Students being in all One Hundred Thirty Five 30. Pass we now from his Orchard of grown Trees 1392. to his Nursery of Grafts 16. the Colledge at Winchester A Colledg at Winchester built also by Bish Wickam which few years after the same Bishop finished not much inferiour to the former for building and endowments as wherein he established One Warden Ten Fellows Two School-masters and Seventy Scholars with Officers and Servants which are all maintained at his charge out of which School he ordained should be chosen the best Scholars alwayes to supply the vacant places of the Fellows of this Colledg 31. As his Charity His care for his kinred so his Faith he that provideth not for his house is worse then an Infidel appeared in this his Foundation ordering that his own Kinsmen should be preferred before others Let their parents therefore but provide for their Nursing when Infants their breeding when Children and he hath took order for their careful teaching at Winchester when youth liberal living at Oxford when men and comfortable subsistance in their reduced age in those many and good patronages he hath conferred on the Colledg And truly as these his Kindred have been happy in him so Wickam hath been happy in his Kindred many of them meriting the best preferment without any advantage of his relation And as this Wickam was the first in that kinde so provident for his Kindred his practice hath since been precedential to some other Colledges as the Statutes of this house are generally a direction to other later foundations To take
of Christ 5. Item That he is bound rather to worship a man that is predestinate then an Angel of God 6. Item That if any man would visit the Monuments of Peter and Paul or go on Pilgrimage to the Tomb of S t Thomas or any whither else for the obtaining of any temporal benefit he is not bound to keep his vow but may distribute the expences of his vow upon the almes of the poor 7. Item That every Priest and Deacon is more bound to preach the word of God then to say the Canonical houres 8. Item That after the pronouncing of the Sacramental words of the body of Christ the bread remaineth of the same nature that it was before neither doth it cease to be bread 3. These were the opinions Thomas Arundel Arch-Bishop of Canterbury solemnly pronounceth Sautre an heretick convicted wherewith Sautre is charged in their own Registers which if read with that favour which not charity but justice allows of course to humane frailty will be found not so hainous as to deserve Fire and Fagot seeing his expressions are rather indiscreet then his positions damnable But Thomas Arundel Arch-Bishop of Canterbury before whom Sautre was convented in the Convocation at S t Pauls in London principally pinched him with the last about Transubstantiation in the Sacrament Thus their cruelty made Gods Table a Snare to his servants when their other Nets broke this held what they pretended a Sacrifice for the living and dead proved indeed the cause of the sacrificing of many innocents and cavils about the corporal presence was the most compendious way to dispatch them for the denial whereof the aforesaid Arch-Bishop solemnly pronounced Sautre an Heretick convicted 4. Here happened a passage in Sautre Sautres indiscreet denying of himself which I must not omit which either I do not understand or cannot approve in him For being demanded whether or no he had formerly abjured these opinions he denied the same whereas his formal abjuration of them the last year before the Bishop of Norwich was produced in presence an action utterly inconsistent with Christian sincerity to deny his own deed except any will say that he was not bound to accuse himself and to confess in that Court what he had done elsewhere to his own prejudice Thus offenders which formerly have confessed their fact in their private examinations before a Justice of Peace yet plead not Guilty when they are brought before the Assizes accounting themselves innocent in that Court till by the verdict of the Jury they are proved otherwise However I am rather inclined to suspect my ignorance then condemn his innocence conceiving there is more on his side then appeareth in his behalf 5. The Reader Sautre by a second sentence is adjudged to be degraded and deposed I presume will pardon our largeness which we will recompence with brevity in the rest in relating the proceedings against this first Martyr who being as I may say the eldest and the Heir in our History may justly challenge a double portion thereof Yea the Arch-Bishop who in his condemnation did not follow but make a president therein was very punctual and ceremonious in his proceedings that he might set the fairer copie for the direction of posterity and that the formality of his exemplary justice might for the terrour of others take the deeper impression in all that did see it or should hear thereof And now his former abjuration plainly appearing Arundel by a second sentence adjudged him refallen into Heresie and incorrigible and therefore to be degraded and deposed 6. For lest Priest-hood should suffer in the person of Sautre The order of his degradation and all the Clergie present out of a religious sympathie were tender of the honour of their own profession he was there solemnly degraded in order as followeth From the order of 1. Priest 2. Deacon 3. Sub-Deacon 4. Acolyte 5. Exorcist 6. Reader 7. Sexton By taking from him 1. The Patin Chalice and plucking the Chasule from his back 2. The New Testament and the Stole 3. The Alb and the Maniple 4. The Candlestick Taper Urceolum 5. The Book of Conjurations 6. The Book of Church-Legends 7. The Key of the Church door and Surphee How many steps are required to climb up to the top of Popish Priest-hood but as when a building is taken down one would little think so much timber and stone had concurred thereunto until he sees the several parcels thereof lie in ruinous heaps so it is almost incredible how many trinkets must be had to compleat a Priest but that here we behold them solemnly taken asunder in Sautres degradation And now he no longer Priest but plain Lay-man with the tonsure on his crown rased away was delivered to the Secular power with this complement worth the nothing Beseeching the Secular Court that they would receive favourably the said William unto them thus recommitted Anno Dom. 1408. But who can excuse their double-dealing herein from deep hypocrisie Anno Regis Hen. 4 10. seeing the Bishops at the same time for all their fair language ceased not to call upon the King to bring him to speedy execution 7. Hereupon the King in Parliament issued our his Warrant to the Major and Sheriffs of London The Kings warrant for the burning of Sautre that the said William being in their custody should be brought forth into some publick or open place within the liberty of the City and there really to be a Fox Martyr pag. 477. out of whom the effect of this story is taken burned to the great horrour of his offence and manifest example of other Christians which was performed accordingly Thus died this worthy man and though we be as far from adoring his Reliques as such adoration is from true Religion yet we cannot but be sensible of the value of such a Saint Nor can we mention his memory without paying an honourable respect thereunto His death strook a terrour into those of his party who hereafter were glad to enjoy their conscience in private without publick professing the same So that now the ship of Christ toss'd with the tempest of persecution had all her sailes took down yea her mast cut close to the deck and without making any visible shew was fain to lie poor and private till this storm was over-pass'd the Arch-Bishop Arundel being most furious and cruel in detecting and suppressing all suspected of piety 8. Synods of the Clergie were never so frequent before or since A surfeit of Synods in Arch Bishop Arundels time as in his time when scarce a year escapted without a Synod called or continued therein Most of these were but Ecclesiastical meetings for secular money Hereupon a covetous ignorant Priest guilty of no Greek made this derivation of the word Synodus far fatch'd in it self but coming close to him from Crumena sine nodo because at such assemblies the purse ought ever to be open
except solemnly designed for the place 19. At distance stood the Stables The Stables where the Stallarius or Master of the Horse did command and under him o In Vâ—tis c. pag. 97. the Provendarius who as his name imports provided Provender for the Horses These were divided into foure ranks and it would puzzle all the Jockies in Smithfield to understand the meaning of their names 1. Manni being Geldings for the Saddle of the larger size 2. Runcini Runts p Wats in Glossar at the end of Mat. Paris small Pad-Nags like those of Galloway or Goonehely 3. Summarii Sumpter-horses 4. Averii Cart or Plough-horses This was the quadripartite division of the Horses of William the two and twentieth Abbot of S. Albans on the token that he lost an hundred Horses in one yeer 20. One roome remaines The Gaâ—le last named because least loved even a Prison for the punishment of incorrigible Monkes who otherwise would not be ordered into obedience It was a grand penance imposed on the q In Vitis pag. 52. Delinquents to carry about the Lanthorn though light an heavy burden but such contumacious Monks as would not be amended therewith the Abbot had tetrum fortem carcerem a strong and hideous Prison where their Obstinacie was corrected into Reformation 21. We omit other roomes The Grange as Vaccisterium the Cow-house Porcarium the Swine-stie as having nothing peculiar therein but concurrent with those offices in other houses As for Granges being Farms at distance kept and stocked by the Abbey and so called as it seemeth à grana gerendo the Overseer whereof was commonly called the Prior of the Grange because sometimes many miles from the Monasterie they come not within the reach of our present discourse Onely I adde in Female Foundations of Nunneries there was a correspondencie of all the same essential Officers and Offices 22. Expect not of me a List of those mean Officers in the Abbey Barbarous names and Offices whose employment was not so base as their names barbarous and of English extraction Such were 1. Coltonarius Cutler 2. Cupparius 3. Potagiarius 4. Scutellarius Aulae 5. Salsarius 6. Portarius 7. Carectarius Cellerarii 8. Pelliparius Parchment-Provider 9. Brasinarius Maltster All these appeared at the Hali-mote or Holy Court of the Cellarer and it is the degrading the soul of a Scholar best pleased in a progressive motion to attain elegancy to stoop to the understanding of such base and unlearned Etymologies 23. Note that the Offices aforesaid in the smaller Abbeys were but one fair intire room Rooms in small houses in great Abbeys which in greater Monasteries were a distinct structure with all under-Offices attendant thereupon Thus the Firmorie in the Priorie of Canterbury had a Refectorie thereto belonging a Kitchin a Dortour distributed into several Chambers that one might not disturb another and a private Chappel for the devotions of the diseased Their Almerie also was accommodated with all the aforesaid appurtenances and had many distinct Manours consigned onely to their maintenance 24. It were aliene from our present purpose to speak of Cells The use of Cells which were aut pars aut proles of all great Abbeys sometime so farre off that the Mother-Abbey was in England the Childe-Cell beyond the Seas and so reciprocally Some of these were richly endowed as that of Windham in Norfolke which though but a Cell annexed to S. Albans yet was able at the Dissolution to expend of its own Revenues seventy two pounds per annum These were Colonies into which the Abbeys discharged their superfluous numbers and whither the rest retired when Infections were feared at home 25. Thus have we run through the main Rooms in all great Abbeys The Honours in Canterbury Priorie though besides the same particular Abbeys had particular Houses known to those of their own Covent by peculiar denominations It were endlesse for one to instance in all these and impossible to render a reason of their names except he were privie to the fancies of the Founders Thus we meet with a pile of building in the Priorie of Canterbury called the Honours but why so termed my good friend and great r Mr. William Somner in his Antiquit. of Canterbury pag. 196. Antiquarie is fain to confesse his own ignorance Some generall Conformities observed in all Covents SUndry Orders were bound to observe severall Canonicall Constitutions Rules calculated for the Benedictines without any grand errour will serve all Orders However the rule of the antient Benedictines with some small variations according to time and place hold true thorough most Monasteries Some generall heads whereof the under-branches being infinite we will here insert it being hard if amongst much drosse some gold be not found to repair the pains of the Reader We will contrive them into Canons collected out of Authors before or in the daies of Dunston 1. Let Monks after the example of a Psal 119. 164. David praise God seven times a day Seven times Some difference in reckoning them up but the following computation is generally imbraced 1. At Cock-crowing Because the b Psal 119. 62. Psalmist saith At midnight will I praise the Lord and most conceive that Christ rose from the dead about that time 2. Matutines At the first hour or six of the clock when the Jewish morning sacrifice was offered And at what time Christ's resurrection was by the Angels first notified to the women 3. At the third hour or nine of the clock before none When according to S. Marke Christ was condemned and scourged by Pilate 4. At the sixt hour or twelve of the clock at high noon When Christ was crucified and darknesse over all the earth 5. At the ninth hour or three of the clock in the afternoon When Christ gave up the ghost and which was an hour of publick prayer in the c Acts 3. 1. Temple and privately in his closet with d Acts 10. 30. Cornelius 6. Vespers At the twelfth hour or six a clock in the afternoon When the Evening-sacrifice was offered in the Temple and when Christ is supposed taken down from the Crosse 7. At seven of the clock at night or the firâ—t hour beginning the nocturnall twelve When Christ's agonie in the garden was conceived began The fift e This whole Chapter is the abridgment of CONGORDIA REGULARUM collected by S. Bennet the Anian Abbot but printed with a Comment An. 1638. set forth by Frier Aeâ—ard of these was performed at two of the clock in the morning When the Monks who went to bed at eight at night had slept six hours which were judged sufficient for nature It was no fault for the greater haste to come without shooes or with unwashen hands provided sprinkled at their entrance with holy-water to this nights service And I finde no expresse to the contrary but that they might go to bed again But a flat prohibition after Matutines when
net of Reformation as slipping through the holes thereof and therefore no way to represse their faults except by suppressing their foundation All I will adde is God first punished great Sodome and spared little Zoar though probably also in fault here Zoar was first punished let great Sodome beware and the larger Monasteries look to themselves 5. And now adieu all religious Houses in England that could not cleerly spend above Two hundred pounds per annum Exact measuring to the standard of dissolution and we must not believe any finister dealing was used by favour to wrack the revenues of some above and out of dislike to shrink the rents of others beneath the standard of dissolution when Twenty shillings a year under or over the aforesaid summe might save or destroy a small Monastery As for such if any in that posture who had just Two hundred pounds and no more they were obnoxious to the Statute whilst Five shillings more saved all as that is a fair ball in the Tennis-Court which toucheth the line yet goeth over it 6. Ten thousand persons were by this dissolution sent to seek their fortunes in the wide world Many aged persons at a losse for livelihood some indeed had Fathers or Friends to receive them others none at all some had Twenty shillings given them at their Ejection and a new Gown which needed to be of strong cloath to last so long till they got another Most were exposed to want I see no such certainty for a comfortable livelihood as a lawfull calling for Monkish profession was no possession and many a young Nun proved an old Beggar I pity not those who had hands and health to work but surely the gray hairs of some impotent persons deserved compassion and I am confident such had they come to the doors of the charitable Reader hereof should have had a meals meat and a nights lodging given unto them 7. A clear Revenue of Thirty thousand pounds per annum Abbey-lands politickly scattered among many puâ—chasers was here advanced to the Crown besides Ten thousand pounds in plate and moveables though the King enjoyed it but a short time as passing it away by grant sale and exchange to His Subjects This was done by the politick counsell of the wise Lord Cromwell not hoping that these small morsels to so many mouthes should satisfie their hunger but onely intending to give them a taste of the sweetnesse of Abbey-lands And here Papists plentifully rail upon him in scattering these Lands all abroad that if any should be so scrupulous as to finde fault with the fact a general guiltinesse should amount unto innocence Thus say they there is no fear that a man shall be condemned for felony who hath so many receivers in the County that scarcely a Judge can sit and surely no Jury can be impanelled upon him saving such who had been parties with him 8. No fewer than Three hundred seventy five Covents as Sanders doth account them were dissolved at this time sure I am The number of the lesser Monasteries none was left standing in the whole Diocesse of Bangor where no Foundation was valued c See Speed his Catalogue of Valuations at full seventy pounds per annum 9. We must not forget how in the foresaid Preamble Why the King cajoleth the great Monasteries the King fairly claweth the great Monasteries wherein saith He Religion thanks be to God is right well kept and observed though He clawed them soon after in another acceptation The truth is King Henry could not suppresse the lesser Abbeys but by the consent of the greater Abbots whereof twenty six as Barons voted in the Parliament who mollified them by this Commendation into a Concurrence with His desire 10. However Specious uses pretended on heavy penalties most specious uses were pretended though few perchance had faith firm enough to believe their full performance That all should be done to the pleasure of Almighty God and for the honour of the Realm And particular care is taken in the Statute as it is printed for the reservation of many Rents and Services Corrodice and Pensions to Founders Donours and Benefactors Order also was taken that those to whom Abbey-lands were passed should keep or cause to be kept a continual House and Houshold in the same Site or Precinct They were also to occupy yearly as much of the demeans in Tilledge as the Abbots did or their Farmers under them within the time of twenty years next before this Act otherwise forfeiting to the King's Highnesse for every Moneth so offending 6 lib. 13s 4 d. to be recovered to His use in any of His Courts of Record The arrears whereof if rigoroussly exacted would amount to a vast summe from such Offenders whose hospitality was contracted to a Shepheard and his Dog neither relieving those that would work by industry nor such who could not work by their charity 11. These penalties stood in full force above eighty years Such penalties graciously repealed by King Iames. viz untill the 21 of King Iames when by Act of Parliament they were repealed Indeed such who are obnoxious to penall Statutes are onely innocent by courtesie and may be made guilty at their Princes pleasure And though such Statutes may be dormant as disused they are never dead till revoked seeing commonly Princes call on such Statutes when themselves are called on by their necessities Many of the English Gentry knew themselves subject to such penalties when instead of maintaining Tillage had converted the Granges of Abbeys into inclosures And therefore provided for their own safety when they * See the Statutes the 21 of K. James c. 28. wrought the King to a revocation of those Statutes 12. But the Courtiers grudged at this Grant and great Indulgence given by the King without any valuable compensation some sticking not to say Some grudge at so great a grant That hereby the King at once gave His Subjects more than ever they gave Him in Subsidies Benevolences Contributions or any other way whatsoever all the time of His Reign Which if so Let no mans eye be evil because the King 's was so good to His Subjects The Northern Rebellion occasioned by this dissolution WHen all in the School are equally guilty Northern Rebellion and the Master beginneth at the bottome to correct the least boyes first no wonder if those in the highest form begin to shake as here no doubt the bigger Abbeys did except some few who to follow the Metaphor like sturdy striplings counting themselves above correction began to prepare themselves to make resistance hence presently arose the Northern Rebellion wherein all the open Undertakers were North of Trent though no doubt many secret Compliers South of Thames were ingaged 2. This Commotion began first in Lincoln shire begun suppressed punished where the Rebels presented six Articles to the King in the last whereof they complained That divers Bishops of England of
but onely regulate and remove it from the Strand to Fleet street or rather took away with one hand what was abused and restored it with the other to such as would better employ the same Queen Mary on her own cost restoreth some Convents Queen Mary Qu. Mary imparts Her intents to four Counsellors a Princesse more Zealous according to her devotion than politick resolved by way of Essay and Triall to restore certain dissolved Convents and endow them with competent maintenance in order hereunto She called four of Her principall Counsellours most interested in money-matters viz William Marquesse of Winchester Lord Treasurer Sir Robert Rochester Controller of Her House Sir William Peter Secretary and Sir Francis Inglefield Master of the Wards and by a long Speech acquainted them with Her intentions therein Now though the Lord Pawlet as Treasurer much being the want of money of this present might dislike the motion yet as Courtier he complied with the Queens desires the rather because it was in vain to withstand them so really strong were Her resolutions but it is worth our attention to hear Her Oration YOV a Hollinshed in Q Mary Anno Dom. 1555. pag. 1127. are here of Our Councell and We have willed you to be called to Vs to the intent ye might hear of Me my Conscience and the resolution of My minde concerning the Lands and Possessions as well of Monasteries as other Churches whatsoever being now presently in My possession First I doe consider that the said Lands were taken away from the Churches aforesaid in time of Schisme and that by unlawfull means such as are contrary both to the law of God and of the Church For the which cause My Conscience doth not suffer Me to detain them and therefore I here expresly refuse either to claim or to retain the said Lands for Mine but with all My heart freely and willingly without all paction or condition here and before God I doe surrender and relinquish the said Lands and Possessions or Inheritances whatsoever and doe renounce the same with this minde and purpose that order and disposition thereof may be taken as shall seem best liking to our most holy Lord the Pope or else his Legate the Lord Cardinall to the honour of God and wealth of this Our Realm And albeit you may object to Me again that considering the state of My Kingdome the Dignity thereof and My Crown Imperiall cannot be Honourably maintained and furnished without the Possessions aforesaid yet notwithstanding I set more by the salvation of My soul than by ten Kingdomes and therefore the said Possessions I utterly refuse here to hold after that sort and title and give most hearty thanks to Almighty God which hath given Me an Husband likewise minded with no lesse good affection in this behalf than I am my self Wherefore I charge and command that My Chancellour with whom I have conferred My minde in this matter before and you four to morrow doe resort together to the most reverend Lord Legate and doe signifie to him the premises in My name and give your attendance upon him for the more full declaration of the state of My Kingdome and of the aforesaid Possessions accordingly as you your selves doe understand the matter and can inform him in the same 2. In this matter the words of b Desâ—his Ang. lib. 2 pag. 309. Sanders ought to be observed Several Orders re erected by Her presuming him best knowing in these Acts of restitution then performed by Her Majesty and that he would lose nothing for the measuring which might tend to the Queens credit Collegia nova amplissimâ dote fundantur Coenobia Benedictinorum Carthusianorum Brigitensium Dominicanorum Observantium ac aliorum Ordinum à devotis personis re-adificantur Catholicis Regibus in hoc genere pietatis subditis omnibus pralucentibus New Colledges are founded with a most ample endowment Convents of Benedictines Carthusians Brigitteans Dominicans Observants and other Orders are re-edified by devout persons The Catholick Princes out-shining all their Subjects in this kinde of piety Now seeing this passage is the best torch we meet with to direct us in this dark subject we will severally weigh his words and impartially comment upon them 1. Benedictines When Westminster Church was turned into an Abbey and John Feckenham made Abbot thereof installed therein on the 21 November 1557. But this was done without any cost to the Crown onely by altering the property of the place from a late made Cathedrall to an Abbey and turning the Prebendaries into sixteen black Monks which were all at the present could be found having that Order and willing to wear that Habit upon them 2. Carthusians These were fixed at Shene nigh Richmond in Surrey over against Sion 3. Brigitteans At Sion in Middlesex This indeed with the former cut two good collaps out of the Crown land though farre short this second endowment of what formerly they possessed It was some difficulty to stock it with such who had been veyled before it being now thirty years since their dissolution in which time most of the elder Nuns were in their graves and the younger in the arms of their husbands as afterwards imbracing a married life However with much adoe joyning some new ones with the old they made up a competent number 4. Dominicans These were seated in Smith field in London The best was they being Mendicants little stock would serve to set up Beggars their restoring could not be very expensive to the Queen besides the site of an house for their dwelling and some other necessary accommodations 5. Observants These were Fryers like the former being Franciscans reformed and therefore not over-costly their restitution Their house was at Greenwich founded by King Henry the seventh plucked down by King Henry the eighth as largely before one of the first of all other Convents because the Fryers therein were so obstinate against the King and such sticklers for the legality of Queen Katherine's marriage In gratitude whereunto and honour of Her own extraction Queen Mary re-seated them in their habitations 6. And other Orders Sanders for the more credit of the matter politickly winds up all these indefinite words though in the remaining Orders were not so many as to make up a number Of which the most eminent were the Hospitallers of St. John's of Jerusalem in Clerkenwell a place in a pitifull plight when now they were first restored for the Bell-Tower of the Church was undermined and blowne up with Gun-powder that the stones thereof might build Somerset-house in the Strand Now where the Steeple was shattered the Church must needs be shaken as here the body and c Stowes Surv. of London pag. 483. side-Iles thereof were by that fatall blow finally confounded onely part of the Quire remaining with some side Chappels which Cardinall Poole caused to be closed up on the West-end and repaired And this served the Hospitallers for their devotions the short time they continued therein
the Lord Protectour or by the Archbishop of Canterbury should take upon him to preach in any open audience upon pain in the said Proclamation contained and that upon hope and assurance that those being chosen and elect men should preach and set forth onely to the people such things as should be to Gods honour and the benefit of the Kinges Majesties subjects Yet neverthelesse His Highnesse is advertised that certain of the said preachers so licenced not regarding such good admonitions as hath been by the said Lord Protectour and the rest of the Councell on His Majesties behalf by Letters Ann. Dom. 1548 or otherwise given unto them Ann. Reg. Ed. 6. 2. hath abused the said authority of preaching and behaved themselves irreverently and without good order in the said preachings contrary to such good instructions and advertisements as was given unto them whereby much contention and disorder might rise and insue in this his Majesties Realm wherefore his Highnesse minding to see very shortly one uniforme order throughout this his Realm and to put an end to all controversies in Religion so farre as God shall give grace for which cause at this time certain Bishops and notable learned men by his hignesse commandement are congregate hath by th' advise aforesaid thought good although certain and many of the said preachers so before licenced have behaved themself very discretly and wisely and to the honor of God and his highnesse contentation yet at this present and untill such time that the said Order shall be set forth generally throughout this His Majesties Realme to inhibit and by these presents doth inhibit generally as well the said Preachers so before licenced as all manner of persons whosoever they be to preach in open audience in the pulpit or otherwise by any sought colour or fraud to the disobeying of this commandement to the intent that the whole Clergie in this mean space might apply themself to prayer to Almighty God for the better atchieving of the same most Godly intent and purpose not doubting but that also His loving Subjects in the mean time will occupie themself to Gods honour with due prayer in the Church and patient hearing of the Godly Homelies heretofore set forth by His Highnesse Injunctions unto them and so endevour themself that they may be the more ready with thankefull obedience to receive a most quiet Ann. Reg. Ed. 6. 2. godly Ann. Dom. 1548. and uniform order to be had throughout all His said Realms and Dominions And therefore hath willed all His loving Officers and Ministers as well Justices of peace as Majors Sheriffs Bailiffs Constables or any other His Officers of what estate degree or condition soever they be to be attendant upon this Proclamation and commandement and to see the infringers or breakers thereof to be imprisoned and His Highnesse or the Lord Protectors grace or His Majesties Councell to be certified thereof immediately as they tender His Majesties pleasure and will answer to the contrary at their perill 16. Some Preachers perusing the aforesaid Proclamation A Pannick silence of Pulpits will complain of persecution that all the Pulpits in England should be universally silenced at once and will conclude it summum jus That the Righteous should be condemned with the Wicked the mouthes of good Ministers stopt with Railers Well might the souls of weak Christians be faint and feeble having no warm meat but the cold Homilies allowed them But Statesmen easily excuse the matter finding the juncture of time falling out when many Popish Pulpits sounded the Alarum to Ket his Rebellion and the Devon-shire Commotion whereof hereafter Besides this prohibition of preaching lasted but for few weeks and we read of a silence for about * Revel 8. 1. the space of half an hour even in heaven it self 7. A Proclamation for the payment of the late Incumbents of Colledges 3. and Chanteries 1549. lately dissolved Anno 3 o Edvardi sexti Octob. 31. 17. The Pulpit thus shut and silent by Proclamation A Proclamation against Stage-plaies the Stage was the more open and vocall for the same the Popish Priests which though unseen stood behinde the hanging or lurked in the tyring-bouse removed their invectives from Sermons to Playes and a more proper place indeed for the venting thereof Here it made old sport to see the New Religion as they term it made ridiculous with the prime Patrons thereof which caused the insuing Proclamation for the prohibition 8. A Proclamation for the inhibition of Players Ann. Dom. 1549. Anno 3 Edvardi 6. Aug 6. And some perchance will not grudge the time to read the form thereof Ann. Reg. Ed. 6. 3. FOrasmuch as a great number of those that be common Players of Enterludes and Plaies as well within the City of London or elsewhere within the Realm doe for the most part play such Interludes as contain matter tending to sedition and contemning of sundry good orders and laws whereupon are grown and daily are like to grow and ensue much disquiet division tumults and uprores in this Realm the Kings Majestie by the advise and consent of his dearest Uncle EDWARD Duke of Somerset Governour of His Person and Protectour of His Realms Dominions and Subjects and the rest of His Highnesse privie Councell straitly chargeth and commandeth all and every His Majesties subjects of whatsoever state order or degree they be that from the ninth day of this present Month of August untill the Feast of All-Saints next comming they nor any of them openly or secretly play in the English Tongue any kinde of Interlude Play Dialogue or other matter set forth in form of play in any place publick or private within this Realm upon pain that whosoever shall play in English any such Play Interlude Dialogue or other matter shall suffer imprisonment and further punishment at the pleasure of His Majestie For the better execution whereof His Majesty by the said advise and consent straitly chargeth and commandeth all and singular Majors Sheriffs Bailiffs Constables Headboroughs Tythingmen Justices of Peace and all other His Majesties head Officers in all the parts throughout the Realm to give order and speciall heed that this Proclamation be in all behalfs well and truly kept and observed as they and every of them tender His Highnesse pleasure and will avoid His indignation 18. The Proclamation being but temporary did not take down but only clear the stage for a time reformed Enterludes as they term them being afterward permitted yea in the first of Queen Elizabeth Scripture-plaies were acted even in the Church it self which in my opinion the more pious the more profane stooping faith to fancy and abating the majestie of Gods Word Such Pageants might inform not edifie though indulged the ignorance of that Age For though children may be played into Learning all must be wrought into Religion by Ordinances of Divine institutions and the means ought to be as serious as the end is
and his judgement may according to the credit or reference of the Author alledged believe or abate from the reputation of the report Let me add that though it be a lie in the Clock it 's but a falsehood in the Hand of the Diall when pointing at a wrong hour if rightly following the direction of the wheele which moveth it And the fault is not mine if â—truly cite what is false on the credit of another The best certainty in this kinde we are capable of is what we finde in the confessions of the parties themselves The success of the solemn humiliation of the ministers at Northampton deposed on oath taken by publick notaries and recorded in court for such who herein will flie higher for true intelligence then the Starr-Chamber must fetch it from heaven himself 23. In that Court we finde confessed by one M r. b See Englands Scoâ—tizing for discipline 3. Cap. 6. pag. 88. Johnson formerly a great Presbyterian but afterwards it seems falling from that side he discovered many passages to their disadvantage how that when the Book of Discipline came to Northampton to be subscribed unto there was a generall censuring used amongst the brethren there as it were to sanctifie themselves partly by sustaining a kinde of pennance and reproof for their former conformity to the Orders of the Church and partly to prepare their mindes for the devout accepting of the aforesaid Book In which course of censuring used at that time there was such a ripping up one of anothers life even from their youth as that they came to bitterness and reviling tearms amongst themselves one growing thereby odious to another and some did thereupon utterly forsake those kinds of Assemblies O how wofull the 〈◊〉 of the English Church whilst her 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 her ministers and under-â—owers some tugged it one way and others towing it another enough almost to split her in pieces with the violence of their contrary Discipline 24. Leave we them for a while The Contents of the 〈◊〉 to the Catholicks of England to behold how the Popish Clergy were employed who in the beginning of this year were as busie as Bees newly ready to swarme A Book was set forth called the admonition dispersed amongst Catholicks and highly cried up consisting of severall Parts not unfit to be here recited 1. The Authors make their entrance into the discourse with a most odious and shamefull declamation against her Majesty stirring up her subjects hearts to contempt of her highness as being one odious to God and man They threaten the Nobility Gentry c. with loss of all their goods their Lands their Lives and with damnation besides except that presently upon the landing of the Spaniards they joyned themselves and all their forces men munition victuals and whatsoever else they could make with their Catholick Army forsooth for the words be these If you will avoid say they the Popes the Kings and other Princes high indignation let no man of what degree soever abet aid defend or acknowledge her c. adding that otherwise they should incurr the Angels Curse and Malediction and be as deeply excommunicated as any because that in taking her Majesties part they should fight against God against their lawfull King against their Countrey and that notwithstanding all they should do they should but defend her highness bootless to their own present destruction and eternall shame 2. After all those and many other such threats in a high and military stile to scarr fools with then they come to some more milde perswasions and promise the noble men that so they joyn with the duke of PARMA upon the receipt of their Admonition they will intreat that their whole houses shall not perish For Persons did instigate the English Cardinall to swear by his Honour and in the word of a Cardinall that in the fury of their intended Massacre their should as great care be taken of every Catholick and penitent person as possibly could be and that he was made a Cardinall of purpose to be sent then into England for the sweet managing of those Affairs 3. Other arguments they used drawn from the certainty of the victory as that all the Protestants would either turn their Coats Copies arms or fly away in fear and torment of the Angel of God prosecuting them that although none of her Majesties subjects should assist the Spaniards yet their own forces which they brought with them were strong enough their provision sufficient their appointment so surpassing that they had more expert Captains then her Majesty had good souldiers all resolute to be in the Cause which they had undertaken that the Blood of all the blessed Bishops shed in this Land and all the saints in heaven prayed for the Spaniards victory that all the vertuous Priests of our Country both at Home and Abroad had stretched forth their sacred hands to the same end that many priests were in the Camp to serve every spiritual mans necessity that their forces were guarded with all Gods Holy Angels with Christ himself in the soveraign Sacrament and with the daily most holy oblation of Christs own dear body and blood that the Spaniards being thus assisted with so many helps though they had been never so few they could not lose and that her Majesty and her Assistants wanting these helps although they were never so fierce never so proud never so many never so well appointed yet they could not prevail Fear you not say they to such as would take their part they cannot And thus far out of their said Jesuiticall Admonition The Book goes under the name of Cardinall Allen though the secular Priests say he was but the Cloak-father thereof and that a Watsons Quodlibets pag. 240. Parsons the Jesuite made it Others conceive it equivocally begotten as the result and extract of severall brains No doubt had the Spanish Invasion succeeded happy he who could have laid claim to so prophetical a piece and they would have fallen out as the two * 1 Kings 3. Harlots about the living Child who should have been Parent thereof Whereas now on the miscarriage of their great Navie all disclaimed the Book and Parsons procured the whole impression to be burnt save some b Watson ut prius few sent abroad before hand to his friends that it might not remain a monument of their falsehood And now the Popish Priests some lurk't here in holes other fled into forraign parts their confusion being the greater for their former confidence Thus * Judg. 5. 30. Sisera comes off the more coldly when stript out of the garment of divers colours wherewith his mother had arrayed him in her fancy running faster then the wheels of her sons Charriot to his imaginary conquest 25. This year died Edwin Sands Arch-Bishop of Yorke Aug. 8. born in Lancashire of worshipfull Parentage The death of Edw. Sands Arch-Bishop of York bred in Cambridge banished to Germany after
on the first day were called in Chappel Christ-Church Worcester Westminster Andrewes S. Pauls Overall Chester Barlow Sarisbury Bridges Winsor D. Field King KING JAMES Spectators All the Lords of the Privy Council whereas some at times interposed a few words Place A withdrawing Room within the Privy chamber Dr. Reynolds Sparks Mr. Knewstubs Chaderton These remaining in a Room without were not called in the first day To omit all gratulatory Preambles as necessary when spoken as needlesse if now repeated we will present onely the Substance of this Dayes Conference his Majesty thus beginning it It is no novel device but according to the example of all Christian Princes for Kings to take the first course for the establishing of the Church both in Doctrine and Policy To this the very Heathen related in their Proverb A Jove principium particularly in this Land King Henry the 8. towards the end of his Reign altered much King Edward the 6. more Queen Mary reversed all and lastly Queen Elizabeth of b Note his Majesty never remembred her but with some honourable Addition famous memory setled Religion as now it standeth Herein I am happier than they because they were faine to alter all things they found established Ann. Dom. 160 3 4 whereas I see yet no suchcause to change Ann. Reg. Jac. 1 as confirm what I finde well setled already For blessed be Gods gracious Goodnesse who hath brought me into the Promised Land where Religion is purely professed where I sit amongst Grave Learned and Reverend Men not as before elsewhere a King without State without Honour without Order where Beardlesse Boyes would brave us to the Face And I assure you we have not called this Assembly for any Innovation for we acknowledge the Government Ecclesiasticall as now it is to have been approved by manifold blessings from God himself both for the increase of the Gospel and with a most happy and glorious Peace Yet because nothing can be to absolutely ordered but that something may be added thereunto and corruption in any State as in the Body of Man will insensibly grow either thorough Time or Persons and because we have received many complaints since our first entrance into this Kingdome of many disorders and much disobedience to the Lawes with a great falling away to Popery Our purpose therefore is like a good Physitian to examine and try the Complaints and fully to remove the occasions thereof if scandalous cure them if dangerous and take knowledge of them if but frivolous thereby to cast a Sop into Cerberus his Mouth that he bark no more For this cause we have called you Bishops and Deans in severally by your selves not to be confronted by the contrary Opponents that if any thing should be found meet to be redressed it might be done without any visible Alteration Particularly there be some speciall Points wherein I desire to be satisfied and which may be renduced to three Heads 1. Concerning the Book of Common Prayer and Divine Service used in the Church 2. Excommunication in Ecclesiasticall Courts 3. The providing of fit and able Ministers for Ireland In the Common Prayer-book I require satisfaction about three things First about Coâ—firmation For the very name thereof if arguing a Confirming of Baptâ—sme as if this Sacrament without it were of no validity is plainly blasphemous For though at the first use thereof in the Church it was thought necessary that baptised Infants who formerly had answered by their Patrins should when come to yeares of discretion after their Profession made by themselves be confirmed with the blessing of the Bishop I abhorre the Abuâ—e wherein it is made a Sacrament or Corroboration to Baptisme As for Absolution I know not how it is used in our Church but have heard it likened to the Popes Pardons There be indeed two kindes thereof from God One generall all Prayers and Preaching importing an Absolution The other particular to speciall Parties having committed a Scandall and repenting Otherwise where Excommunication precedes not in my judgement there needs no Absolution Private Baptisme is the third thing wherein I would be satisfied in the Common Prayer If called Private from the Place I think it agreeable with the use of the Primitive Church but if termed private that any besides a lawfull Minister may baptise I utterly dislike it And here his Majesty grew somewhat earnest in his Expressions against the baptising by Women and Laicks In the second Head of Excommunication I offer two things to be considered of First the Matter Secondly the Persons For the first I would be satisfied whether it be executed as it is complainmed of to me in light Causes and that too commonly which causeth the undervaluing thereof For the Persons I would be resolved why Chancellours and Commissaries being Lay-men should do it and not rather the Bishops themselves or some Minister of Gravity and account deputed by them for the more dignity to so high and weighty a Censure As for providing Ministers for Ireland I shall refer it in the last daies Conference to a Consultation c He addressed himselfe to the King on his knee Ar-Bp of CaÌ„t. Confirmation hath been used in the Catholick Church ever since the Apostles and it is a very untrue suggestion if any have informed your Highnesse that the Church of England holds Baptisme imperfect without it as adding to the vertue and strength thereof BP of Lon. The Authority of Confirmation depends not onely on d Citing Cypr. Ep. 73. and Jer. Adversus Luciferiam Antiquity and the Practise of the Primitive Church but is an Apostolical Institution named in expresse words Heb. 6. 2. and so did Mr. Calvin expound the very place earnestly wishing the restitution thereof in the reformed Churches The Bishop of Carlile is said gravely and learnedly to have urged the same and the Bishop of Durham noted something out of S. Matthew for the Imposition of hands on Children The Conclusion was this For the fuller Explanation that we make Confirmation neither a Sacrament nor a Corroboration thereof their Lordships should consider whether it might not without Alteration whereof his Majesty was still very wary be intitled an Examination with a Confirmation Ar-B of CaÌ„t. As for the point of Absolution wherein your Majesty desires satisfaction it is clear from all abuse or superstition as it is used in our Church of England as will appear on the reading both of the Confession and Absolution following it in the beginning of the Communion Book Here the King perused both and returned His Majesty I like and approve them finding it to be very true what you say BP of Lond. It becometh us to deal plainly with your Majesty There is also in the Book a more particular and personall absolution in t he Visitation of the Sick Here the Dean of the Chappel turned unto it and read it These be severally cited BP of Lond. Not onely the Confessions of Augusts Boheme and Saxon
his own possession 24. And now Meruit sub Parliamento in Wallia is the wonder of all men Condemned by all Royalists I confess he told his kinsman who related it to me that if he might have the convenience to speak with his Majesty but one half-houre a small time for so great a task he doubted not but to give him full satisfaction for his behaviour Sure it is those of the Royall Party and his own Order which could not mine into his invisible motives but surveyed only the sad surface of his actions condemn the same as irreconcileable with the principles he professed And though hereby he escaped a Composition for his estate in Goldsmiths-Hall yet his memory is still to compound and at what rate know not with many mouths before a good word can be afforded unto it But these perchance have never read the well latined Apologie in his behalf And although some will say that they that need an Apologie come too near to fault the word as commonly taken sounding more of excuse then defence yet surely in its genuine notation it speaks not guilt but allwayes greatness of enemies and opposers 25. Of all English Divines since the Reformation Humane inconstancy he might make the most experimental Sermon on the Apostles words By honour and dishonour by ill report and good report though the method not so applyable as the matter unto him who did not close and conclude with the general good esteem losing by his last compliance his old friends at Oxford and in lieu of them finding few new ones at London 26. Envie it self cannot deny His acts of charity but that whithersoever he went he might be traced by the footsteps of his benefaction Much he expended on the repair of Westminster-Abby-Church and his answer is generally known when pressed by Bishop Land to a larger contribution to S. Pauls that he would not rob Peter to pay Paul The Library of Westminster was the effect of his bounty and so was a Chappel in Lincoln-Colledge in Oxford having no other relation thereunto than as the name-sake * I believe He also was Visitor thereof of his Bishoprick so small an invitation will serve to call a coming charity At S. Johns in Cambridge he founded two Fellowships built a fair Library and furnished it with books intending more had his bounty then met with proportionable entertainment But Benefactors may give money but not gratefull minds to such as receive it 27. He was very chast in his conversation Purged from unjust aspersion whatsoever a nameless author hath written on the contrary Whom his Confuter hath stiled Aulicus è Coquinariâ or The Courtier out of the kitchin and that deservedly for his unworthy writings out of what Dripping-pan soever he licked this his sluttish intelligence For most true it is as I am certainly informed from such who knew the privacies and casualties of his infancy this Arch-Bishop was but one degree removed from a Misogynist yet to palliate his infirmity to noble females he was most compleat in his courtly addresses 28. He hated Popery with a perfect hatred A perfect Anti-Papist and though oft declaring freedom and favour to imprisoned Papists as a Minister of state in obedience to his office yet he never procured them any courtesies out of his proper inclinations Yea when D r 〈…〉 the new Bishop of Calcedon at the end of King James His Reign first arrived in England he gave the Duke of Buckangham * Cabala part 1. pag. 81. advice in case other circumstances conveniently concurred that the Judges should presently proceed against him and hang him out of the way and the King cast the blame on Arch-Bishop Abbots or himself prepared it seemeth to undergo his Royal displeasure therein 29. Not out of Sympathy to Non-conformists Favour of some Nonconformists but Antipathy to Bishop Laud he was favourable to some select persons of that opinion Most sure it is that in his greatness he procured for M r Cotton of Boston a toleration under the Broad Seal for the free exercise of his Ministry not withstanding his dissenting in Ceremonies so long as done without disturbance to the Church But as for this Bishop himself he was so great an honourer of the English Liturgie that of his own cost he caused the same to be translated into Spanish and fairely printed to confute their false conceit of our * Cabala part 1. pag. 79. Church who would not beleeve that we used any Book of Common-Prayer amongst us 30. He was of a proper persons The character of his person comely countenance and amiable complexion having a stately garbe and gate by nature which suppose him prouder then he should be made him mistaken prouder then he was His head was a well filled Treasury and his tongue the faire key to unlock it He had as great a memory as could be reconciled with so good a judgement so quick his parts that his extempore-performances equalized the premeditations of others of his profession He was very open and too free in discourse disdaining to lie at a close guard so confident of the length and strength of his weapon 31. Thus take we our farewell of his memory His savoury speech concluding it with one of his speeches as savourie I beleeve as ever any he uttered wherein he expressed himself to a grave Minister coming to him for Institution in a living I have saith he passed thorough many places of honour and trust both in Church and State more then any of my Order in England this seaventy years before But were I but assured that by my preaching I had converted but one soule unto God I should take therein more spiritual joy and comfort than in all the honours and offices which have been bestowed upon me 32. He died as I take it His death on our Lady-day Anno 1649. Sure I am on the 25. of March leaving a leading case not as yet decided in our Law whether his halfe years rents due after Sunrise should goe with his Goods and Chattels unto his Executor or fall to his Heir The best was such the Providence of the Parties concerned therein that before it came to a Suite they seasonably compounded it amongst themselves 33. Come we now to present the Reader with a List of the principal Ordinances of the Lords and Commons A list of Parliament Ordinances touching Religion which respected Church-matters 1646. I say principal 22. otherwise to recite all which wear the Countenance of an Ecclesiastical Tendency some of them being mingled with civil affairs would be over-voluminous Yea I have heard that a great * Sr. Simons D'ewes Antiquary should say that the Orders and Ordinances of this Parliament in bulke and number did not only equall but exceed all the Laws and Statutes made since the Conquest it will be sufficient therefore to recite Titles of those most material going a little
fareth the worse for the Towns over-fond Embracing thereof so surrounding it on all sides that it wanteth those Walks other Colledges do enjoy 29. This House was afterwards honoured with Students of the highest Extraction Two noble Students amongst whom of chiefest Remark Humphrey and Edward Sons to Iohn de la Poole Duke of Suffolk whose elder Brother having undone himself and his Family these betook themselves to their Books preferring to claim Learning as their own Right rather then to be called Lords by the Courtesie of others However though both in Orders they attained to considerable Church-preferment Edward onely getting the Arch-deaconry of Richmond not for want of Worth but probably because overlooked by the jealous eie of King Henry the seventh So impossible it was any Plant should grow great under such a malignant Influence 30. We must not forget how William Fishwick Fishwick's Hostle given to this Hall Esq Bedle of the University bestowed his Dwelling-house on this Hall turned afterwards into an Hostle and beautified with fair Buildings not intire in it self but retaining to Gonvil-Hall This Fishwick's Hostle though worse then a Cambridge was better then any Oxford-Hall as partly endowed by the Bounty of William Revell Rectour of Tichwell in Norfolk who in his own Benefice built severall Chambers and Lodgings whither the Fishwickians might retire either for Pleasure in Summer or Safety in Sicknesse Above fourscore Commoners have lived at once in this Hostle Anno Dom. 1348 repairing for Prayers to Gonvil-Chappell Anno Regis Edvardi 3. 23 and ifdying interred therein Since it is assumed into Trinity-Colledge 31. As for Gonvil-Hall Papal Indulgences it flourished by the Bounty of severall Benefactours yea it found some Popes much befriending it As Sixtus the fourth who notwithstanding the Decree of Benedict the eleventh injoyning all Benedictine Monks to study in Vniversity-Hall dispensed with those of Norwich to reside in Gonvil-Hall Also Alexander the sixth gave them leave yearly to send two to preach in any part of England without Controll 32. Masters Benefactours Bishops Learned Writers Livings in Col. gift Iohn Colton VVilliam Rougham Richard Pulham VVilliam Somersham Iohn Rickingpale Thomas Atwood Thomas Bolken Edmond Sheriffe Henry Costesey Iohn Barly Edmond Stubbs William Buckenham Iohn Skippe Iohn Sturmin Thomas Bacon Iohn Cajus Lady Mary Pakenham Anne Scroop Elizabeth Cleere D r. Balie Stephen Smith Rich. VVillison Thomas Atkins Peter Hewit VVilliam Gale Thomas Willows VVilliam Sigo D r. Knight Iohn VVhitacre 1 Iohn Colton Archbishop of Armagh 2 Iohn Rickingpale Bishop of Chichester 3 William Linwood Bishop of S t. Davids 4 Nicolas Shaxton Bishop of Sarum 5 VVilliam Repps Bishop of Norwich 6 Iohn Skippe Bishop of Hereford William Linwood Iohn Cajus vide infra in Cajus Colledge How this Hall came afterward to be improved into a Colledge shall God willing in due time and place be related Richard de Herling 26 Chancellour 1351 William Tynkel 27 Chancellour 1352 Thomas de Sutton 34 Chancellour 1359 Richard de Wetherset 35 aliàs Cambridge 1360 Chancellour He was by way of Eminencie called Richard of Cambridge and had many Contests with the Monks He was well skilled in School-Divinity a Racemation of which Studies was now in Cambridge but not comparable to the Vintage thereof in Oxford 33. Edmond de Langley fifth Son to King Edward the third was by his Father created Earle of Cambridge And now that Title which formerly had travelled beyond the Seas residing for a time with Germane Princes came home and quietly reposed it self in the British Bloud-Royall wherein it continued untill the death of the last Duke of Hamilton Michael de Haynton 36 Chancellour 1361 Michael de Causton 37 Chancellour 1362 34. An Anti-Chancellour was chosen against him by an active Faction in the University A Contest about chusing of Chancellour one Iohn de Donewick wanting nothing for that place save a legal Election However his Party presented him to I. Barnet Bishop of Ely who confirmed him Chancellour Whereupon M r. Iohn Ufford and M r. William Rawby in the name of the University appealed to the Officiall of the Court of Canterbury The Officiall sent Iohn Tinmouth Will. Teofle and Tho. Ely Masters of Arts to the Bishop of Ely inhibiting to intermeddle any more about Donewick Anno Dom. 1362 because chosen against Statute Anno Regis Edv. 3. 37. Thus was this Donewick cast out of the House for the present for coming in by the Window who some years after entred in by the Door of an undoubted Election and excellently discharged his Office therein William de Gotham 1366 Chancellour 41 Thomas de Stukely 1369 Chancellour 44 35. This year a tough Controversie happened betwixt the Dominicans Discords betwixt Dominicans and Carmelites Plaintiffs and the Carmelites Defendants reducible to three principal Heads 1. Which of the two Orders had the best name The Dominicans urging it more Honour to be called from a Man then a Mountain an holy Saint then an high Heap of Earth The others rejoyned that the Mountain of Carmel was more then a Mountain as sanctified by Elijah chief of their Order so conversant thereon 2. Which was most ancient Wherein the Dominicans pleaded seven years Seniority And though this may seem but a small matter yet a Race is as fairly won by an Horses-Head as by a Furlong distance before 3. Who had most and strongest Papal Priviledges Which being a matter of Fact depended on the producing and proving their severall Instruments Mean time the Quarrels of Friers bred the Quiet of Students the Gremials in the University formerly troubled with Friers contesting with them had now Leave and Leisure peaceably to follow their Studies Iohn de Donewick 1371 Chancellour 46 36. Iohn Stokes a Dominican The Dominican chargeth born at Sudbury in Suffolk but studying in Cambridge as Champion of his Order fell foul on the Carmelites chiefly for calling themselves The Brothers of the Blessed Virgin and then by consequence all know whose Uncles they pretend themselves He put them to prove their Pedigree by Scripture how the Kinred came in In brief Bale saith he left red Notes in the white Coates of the Carmelites he so belaboured them with his lashing Language 37. But Iohn Hornbey a Carmelite born at Boston in Lincolnshire undertook him The Carmelite receiveth the charge and conquereth called by Bale Cornutus by others Hornet-bee so stinging his Stile He proved the Brothership of his Order to the Virgin Mary by Visions allowed true by the infallible Popes so that no good Christian durst deny it and prevailed with the Chancellour of Cambridge in a publick Writing to signifie the Superiority of their Order in this doughty Difference wherein not an Hair of any important truth was concerned Adam Lakingheth 1373 Chancellour 48 38. About this time GEFFREY CHAUCER studied in Cambridge Chaucer
Wares and Weights at Sturbridge Fair. Thirdly That no Action be brought by any Townsman against Scholar or Scholars Servant save onely in the Court of the Chancellour Fourthly That the University have power to punish and amerce all Fore-stallers Regrators c. paying a Rent of ten pounds a year for that Priviledge into the Exchequer This their Power extending to the Town and Suburbs thereof from which Clause of Suburbs the Lord b Vide ut supra Coke collects and concludes Cambridge then to be a City in Reputation 45. We must not forget that at the same time Focalia Focalia prized by the Chancellour that is all kind of Fewell Wood Coales Turf c. was then subjected to the Chancellour as to set the Price thereof Seeing the Townsmen had so little Wit and Honesty as to make Fewell of Kings Charters hereafter they should meddle no more with Materialls for Fire Thus ill Manners occasion good Laws as the Handsome Children of Ugly Parents Iohn Nekton Chancellour 1384 46. The University now began to grow sensible of a great Grievance 8 caused by the Minors or Franciscan Friars An Order that no Scholar is to be admitted under 18 yeares of Age. For they surprized many when Children into their Order before they could well distinguish betwixt a Cap and a Coule whose time in the University ran on from their Admission therein and so they became Masters of Arts before they were Masters of themselves These Vniversity-Boyes for Men they were not wanting Wit to manage their Degrees insolently domineered over such who were their Iuniors yet their Elders To prevent future Inconveniences in this kind the Chancellour and University made an Order that hereafter none should be admitted Gremialls under eighteen years of Age. 47. The Minors or Franciscans were much netled hereat Anno Regis Rich. 2. 8 who traded much in such tender Youth Anno Dom. 1384 Minors and Children agree well together The Franciscans oppose this Order and a Pitz de Script Ang. in An. 1384. William Folvil a Franciscan wrote an Invective against the Act of the University as injurious to the Priviledges of this Order it being against Monasticall Liberty to be stinted to any Age for the Entrance therein 48. I find not what was the Issue of this Contest The Issue uncertain but believe that the University never retracted their Order though it stands not in Force this day wherein many of yonger Age are daily admitted And seeing mans Life is now shortened it is but reason that what we want of our Ancestours in long Running we should supply in soon Starting Let the Water-men of London whose violent Work requires robustious Bodies make an Order in their Hall that none under the Age of eighteen should be bound Apprentice in their Company Ability is more to be respected then Age in the Sonnes of the Muses in whom often Eruditio supplet Aetatem Nor is there to my knowledge any Prohibition in this kinde observed save that they fright Scholars of a low Stature with a jocularie Tradition That none are to commence which are not higher then the Bedles Staff 49. A great Schisme hapned this year in the Regent-house about the Choice of a new Chancellour I find not who carried the Place and therefore probably the old one still continued Thomas de Hetherset 10 Chancellour Richard Maycent 1386 Proctour 50. Pope Urbane the sixth gave licence to Beneficed men to be Non-residents for five years and follow their Studies in the University if allowed by the Chancellour for the same William Colvil 12 Chancellour 1388 Iohn Wace Rich. Baston Proctours 51. A Parliament was called at Cambridge A Parliament kept at Cambridge a Place at this time very convenient for that purpose For he that will hinder the Hide from rising up on either side must fix his Foot on the Middle thereof Cambridge was well nigh the Centre of those Eastern Counties lately mutinous with Popular Commotions The King for his Privacy was pleased to prefer Barnwell Priory for the place of his Repose though otherwise Kings-Hall founded by his Grandfather was prepared for his Entertainment where all things were so conveniently contrived that the Courtiers had all Lodgings and Offices by themselves without meeting with the Scholars save onely in the passage towards the Kitchin William Courtney Arch-bishop of Canterbury and Edmond Langly Earle of Cambridge lodged in the Convents of the Carmelites being of the largest Receit of any Religious House in Cambridge A sad Accident happened as the King rode in State to the House One S r. Thomas Trivet attended his Majestie which Knight being mounted on an unruly Horse was cast off brake his Entrails and died the next day 52. By the way Canterbury misprinted for Cambridge in the Statute-book me thinks Cambridge might bring an Action of Trespasse against all our printed Statute-books for depriving her of the Honour of this Parliament and rendering the place Canterbury in stead of Cambridge in the Preface to the Acts thereof This Inconvenience cometh from contracting long words in writing when there be two Names whose Faces as I may say I mean their Beginnings are the same and whose lower parts though much differing being cut off with a Dash causeth a Confusion betwixt them And although by the Tower Rolls and other excellent b Thomas Walsingham and Henry Knighton in their lives of Richard the second The excellent statutes of Cambridge Parliament Authours this Parliament appeareth kept at Cambridge not Canterbury yet as if Prescription turned Usurpation into lawfull Possession the Lawyers will not amend this Mistake The best is it matters not where good Statutes be made so they be made the Place being not essentiall unto them 53. Many and good were the Laws enacted in this Parliament besides the Confirmation of those made in the Reign of King Edward the third Anno Dom. 1388 viz. Anno Regis Richardi 2. 12 That the manly and Martiall Exercise of Archery should be generally used Secondly a Statute was made against the multitude of Servants great Lords keeping then little Armies in their Families which soon after occasioned the Wars betwixt the Houses of York and Lancaster And whereas it was the generall Complaint that men were grown so vain and expensive in their Cloaths that Servants were not to be known from their Masters the Clergy from the Laiety something was ordered for the Regulating of Apparell the Wages of Labourers and removing the Staple 54. We must not forget that in this Parliament a Statute was made also against Wanderers Against wandring Scholars and particularly against Scholars of both the Universities that they should not go about without Licence from the Chancellour Indeed I have ever beheld begging Scholars as the most improper Object of Charity who must be vicious or else cannot be necessitous to a Mendicant condition But since I have revoked my