but the curing of consciences I am credibly a By my own father Mr Thomas Fuller who was well acquainted with him A great instrument of the good keeping of the Lords-day informed he in some sort repented his removall from his Parish and disliked his own erratical and planetary life which made him fix himself Preacher at last at Christ-Church in London where he ended his dayes 69. He lived Sermons and was most precise in his conversation a strict observer of the Lords-day and a great advancer thereof thorough the whole Realm by that Treatise which he wrote of the Sabbath No book in that age made greater impression on peoples practice as b Mr Joseph Hall one then a great wit in the University now a grave wisdome in our Church hath ingeniously expressed On M r Greenhams book of the Sabbath While Greenham writeth on the Sabbaths rest His soule enjoyes not what his penn exprest His work enjoyes not what it self doth say For it shall never finde one resting day A thousand hands shall toss each page and line Which shall be scanned by a thousand eine That Sabbaths rest or this Sabbath's unrest Hard is to say whether's the happiest Thus godly Greenham is fallen asleep we softly draw the curtains about him and so proceed to other matter SECTION VIII To the Lady Anne Archer of Tanworth in Warwickshire Anno Regis Eliza. Anno Dom. Madam YOu beeing so good a Houswife know far better then I how much strength and handsomness good hemming addeth to the end of a cloath I therefore being now to put a period to this long and important Century as big as the whole Book besides but chiefly containing her Reign the Honour of your Sex and our nation have resolved to prevent the unraveling thereof to close and conclude it with this Dedication to your Ladiship On which account alone you are placed last in this Book though otherwise the first and freest in incouraging my weak endeavours 1. OF M r Vdals death come we now to treat The uncertain date of Mr. Vdals death thorough some defect in the a Records transposed o Searched by me and my friends in the office of the Clerk of Assise for Surrey or lost we cannot tell the certain day of M r Vdals condemnation 35. and death 1592. But this appears in the office that two years since viz. 32. of Eliz. July 23. he was indicted and arraigned at Craydon for defaming the Queen Her government in a book by him written and intituled A Demonstration of the Discipline which Christ hath prescribed in his Word for the government of his Church in all times and places untill the worlds end But the mortal words as I may terme them are found in tho preface of his book written to the supposed governors of the Church of England Arch-Bishops Bishops c. and are inserted in the body of his Indictment as followeth Who can without blushing deny you to be the cause of all ungodliness seeing your government is that which giveth leave to a man to be any thing saving a sound Christian For certainly it is more free in these dayes to be a Papist Anabaptist of the Family of love yea any most wicked whatsoever than that which we should be And I could live these twenty years any such in England yea in a Bishops house it may be and never be much molested for it so true is that which you are charged with in a Dialogue lately come forth against you and since burned by you that you care for nothing but the maintenance of your dignities be it to the damnation of your own soules and infinite millions moe To this indictment he pleaded not guilty denying himself to be the Author of the Book Next day he was cast by the Jurie and submitted himself to the mercy of the Court whereby he prevailed that judgement against him was respited till the next Assises and he remanded to the Marshalsey 2. M r. Vdal his supplication to the Lords of the Assises March following the 33 d of Queen Elizabeth he was brought again to the Bar before the Judges to whom he had privately presented a petition with all advantage but it found no entertainment Insomuch that in this moneth of March the day not appearing in the Records he at the Assises held in Southwark was there condemned to be executed for a felon 3. Vâ—rious censures on his condemnation Various were mens censures on these proceedings against him Some conceived it rigorous in the greatest which at the best is cruel in the least degree considering the worth of his person and weakness of the proof against him For he was a learned man blameless for his life powerfull in his praying and no less profitable than painfull in his preaching For as Musculus in Germany if I mistake not first brought in the plain but effectual manner of preaching by Vse and Doctrine so Vdal was the first who added reasons thereunto the strength and sinews of a Sermon His English-Hebrew-Grammar he made whilst in prison as appears by a subscription in the close thereof The proof was not pregnant and it is generally believed that he made only the preface out of which his indictment was chiefly framed and not the body of the book laid to his charge Besides it was harsh to inflict immediate and direct death for a consequential and deductory felonie it being pen-housed out beyond the foundation and intent of the Statute to build the indictment thereupon Others thought that some exemplary severity was necessary not only to pinion the wings of such pamphlets from flying abroad but even thereby to crush their eggs in the nest Surely the multitude of visits unto him during his durance no whit prolonged his life For flocking to popular prisoners in such cases is as ominous a presage of their death as the flying and fluttering of Ravens near and about the house and chamber of a sick body 4. He died peaceably in his bed But an higher Judge had formerly passed another sentence on Vdals death that his soul and body should not by shamefull violence be forced asunder but that they should take a faire farewell each of other How long he lived after his condemnation we know not there being a tradition that S r Walter Rawleigh procured a Reprieve in a fair way to his pardon this is certain that without any other sickness save heart-broken with sorrow he ended his dayes Right glad were his friends that his death prevented his death and the wisest of his foes were well contented therewith esteeming it better that his candle should goe than be put out lest the snuff should be unsavoury to the survivers and his death be charged as a cruel act on the account of the procurers thereof 5. Anno Regin Eliza. 36. Anno Dom. 1593. The Ministers of London flocked to his funeralls His solemn buriall and he was decently interred
consequence thereof which encreased the Secular Opposition against this leading case of Jurisdiction 17. He will not stand to the determination of a grave priest chosen Umpire About this time came to Wisbich an aged Priest who had given great Testimony of the Ability of his judgement and ardency of his affections to the Catholick Cause being the Generall Collector of the charitable contributions unto the Prisoners In which place he had been so diligent in gathering secret in conveying faithfull in delivering unpartiall in dispensing such sums committed unto him that deservedly he had purchased reputation to himself Who as he had been a Benefactor to both Parties so now he was made an Arbitrator betwixt them with promise of both sides to rest satisfied with his decision He condemneth the Jesuits guilty of a scandalous separation and that Weston ought to desist from his Supriority But the Jesuits would not stand to his sentence confessing their separation Scandalous but only per accidens and therefore not to be left off And whereas the aforesaid Priest had determined that that separation could not be continued without sin the Jesuits in derision demanded of him whether he meant a venial sin or a mortall and so the whole business took no effect 18. At last is forced by letters from his provincial to leave off his Agency Some moneths after two reverend Priests often sent for by both sides were by joynt consent made Judges in this Cause who resolved that Westons Agency should be abolished as the original of evill and seminary of much discord and because Weston refused to obey their order these two Priests posted up to London where Garnet the Jesuits Provincial did lodge and from him with much adoe obtained peremptory letters to Weston presently to leave off his pretended superiority A message which went to the proud Jesuits heart who was formerly heard to say that he o Declaratio motuum ac c. pag. 20. had rather throw himself headlong from the Castle wall then desist from his office But now there was no remedy but he must obey desiring only he might make a speech to his society exhorting them to unity and concord and in the midst of his Oration as if he would have surrendred his soul and place both together he fell speechless into a p Ibidem swoond and hardly recovered again so mortall a wound it is to a proud heart to part with Authority Thus ended Westons Agency the short continuance whereof was the best commendation of his command 19. The Schism notwithstanding continues and increases But this was but a palliate cure to skin the sore over which festered within the enmity still continued Seculars complaining that the Jesuits traduced them to Lay-Catholicks as cold and remiss in the cause only dull to follow beaten paths not active to invent more compendious wayes for the advance of Religion Anno Regin Eliza. 38. Anno Dom. 1595. The Jesuits also boasted much of their own merit how their order though last starting had with its speed overtook and over-run all before them Indeed they are excellent at the art of self-praising not directly but by certain consequence for though no man blazed his own praise for one to be a herauld to commend himself the same on the same is false blazon as well against the rules of modesty as prudence yet every one did praise his partner laying an obligation on him to do the like who in justice must do as much and in bounty often did more gratefully repaying the commendations lent him with interest And thus mutually arching up one another they fill'd the ears of all Papists with loud relations of the transcendent Industry Piety Learning of the men of their society to the manifest derogation of all other orders But more of these discords in the year following 20. The strickt keeping of the Sabbath first revived About this time thorowout England began the more Solemne and strickt observation of the Lords day hereafter both in writing and preaching commonly called the Sabbath occasioned by a Book this year set forth by one P. Bound Doctor of Divinity and enlarged with Additions Anno 1606. wherein these following opinions are maintained 1. That the commandement of Sanctifying every seventh Day as in the Mosaicall Decalogue is morall and perpetual 2. That whereas all other things in the a Dr Bounds BOOK of the Sabbath p. 91. Jewish Church were taken away Priesthood Sacrifices and Sacraments this Sabbath was so changed that it still remaineth 3. b pag. 247. That there is a great reason why we Christians should take our selves as streightly bound to rest upon the Lords day as the Jews were upon their Sabbath it being one of the morall Commandements where all are of equall Authority 4. c pag. 124. The rest upon upon this day must be a notable and singular rest a most carefull exact and precise rest after another manner then men are accustomed 5. d pag. 163. Schollers on that day not to study the liberall Arts nor Lawyers to consult the case nor peruse mens evidences 6. e pag. 164. Sergeants Apparitours and Sumners to be restrained from executing their offices 7. f pag. 166. Lustices not to examine Causes for the conservation of the peace 8. g pag. 102. That ringing of more bell's then one that day is not to be justified 9. h pag. 206. 209. No Solimâ— feasts nor wedding dinners to be made on that Day with permission notwithstanding of the same to i pag. 211. Lords Knights and Gentlemen of Quality which some conceive not so fair dealing with him 10. k pag. 102. All honest recreations and pleasures lawfull on other dayes as shooting fencing bowling on this day to be forborn 11. l pag. 272. 275. No man to speak or talk of pleasures or any other worldly matter It is almost incredible how taking this Doctrine was partly because of it's own Purity and partly for the eminent piety of such persons as maintained it so that the Lords Day especially in Corporations began to be precisely kept people becoming a Law to themselves forbearing such sports as yet by statute permitted yea many rejoycing at their own restraint herein On this day the stoutest fencer laid down the buckler the most skillful Archer unbent his bow counting all shooting besides the Marke Mâ—y-games and Morish-dances grew out of request and good reason that Bells should be silenced from gingling about mens leggs if their very Ringing in Steeples were adjudged unlawful some of them were ashamed of their former pleasures like children which grown bigger blushing themselves out of their rattles and whistles Others forbear them for fear of their Superiors and many left them off out of a Politick Compliance least otherwise they should be accounted licentious 21 Yet learned men were much divided in their judgements about these sabatarian Doctrines some embraced them as ancient truths consonant
is an ordinary working-day it being will-worship and superstition to make it a Sabbath by vertue of the fourth Commandement But whilest Mr. Bradborn was marching furiously and crying Victoriae to himself he fell into the ambush of the High Commission whose well tempered severity herein so prevailed upon him that submitting himself to a private conference and perceiving the unfoundnesse of his own principles he became a Convert conforming himself quietly to the Church of England 2. Francis White Bishop formerly of Norwich then of Ely Sabbatarian controversies revived was employed by his Majesty to confute Mr. Bradborn his erroneous opinion In the writing whereof some expressions fell from his pen whereat many strict people but far enough from Bradborn's conceipt took great distaste Hereupon Books begat Books and controversies on this subject were multiplied reducible to five principal heads 1. What is the fittest name to signifie the day set apart for Gods publique service 2. When that day is to begin and end 3. Upon what authority the keeping thereof is bottomed 4. Whether or no the day is alterable 5. Whether any recreations and what kindes of them be lawfull on that day And they are dinstinguishable into three severall opinions Sabbatarians Moderate men Anti-Sabbatarians I Are charged to affect the word Sabbath as a Shiboleth in their writing preaching and discoursing to distinguish the true Israelites from lisping Ephraimites as a badg of more pretended puritie As for Sunday some would not have it mentioned in Christian mouthes as resenting of Saxon Idolatry so called from and dedicated to the Sunne which they adored 2. Some make the Sabbath to begin on Saturday night The evening and the morning were the first day and others on the next day in the morning both agreeing on the extent thereof for four and twenty hours 3. They found it partly on the law and light of nature deriving some countenances for the septenary number out of heathen authours and partly on the fourth Commandement which they avouch equally moral with the rest I. Sabbath especially if Christian be premised may inoffensively be used as importing in the original only a Rest And it is strange that some who have a dearnesse yea fondness for some words of Jewish extraction Altar Temple c. should have such an antipathie against the Sabbath Sunday may not only safely be used without danger of Paganisme but with increase of piety if retaining the name we alter the notion and therewith the notion thereof because on that day The a Mal. 4. 2. Sunne of Righteousnesse did arise with healing in his wings But the most proper name is the Lords-day as ancient used in the Apostles b Revel 1. 10. time and most expressive being both an Historian and Preacher For the Lords day looking backward mindeth us what the Lord did for us thereon rising from the dead and looking forward it monisheth us what we ought to doe for him on the same spending it to his glory in the proper duties thereof 2. The question is not of so great concernment For in all circular motions it matters not so much where one beginneth so be it he continueth the same untill he return unto that point again Either of the aforesaid computations of the day may be embraced Diésque quiésque redibit in orbem 3. In the Lords-day three things are considerable 1. A day founded on the light of nature pure impure Pagans destining whole daies to their idolatrous service 2. One day in seven grounded on the moral equity of the fourth Commandement which is like the feet and toes of Nebuchad-nezzar's c Dan. 2. 41. Image part of potters clay and part of iron The clay part and ceremonial mottie of that Commandement viz. that seventh day or Jewish Sabbath is mouldred away and buried in Christ's grave The iron part thereof viz. a mixture of moralitie therein one day in seven is perpetuall and everlasting 3. This seventh day being indeed the eighth from the creation but one of the seven in the week is built Sabbatarians 1 The word Sabbath as now used containeth therein a secret Magazeen of Judaism as if the affecters thereof by spirituall Necromancy endeavoured the reviving of dead and rotten Mosaicall Ceremonies 2. They confine the observation of the day only to the few hours of publique service 3. These unhinge the day off from any Divine Right and hang it meerly on Ecclesiasticall authority first introducing it as custome and consent of the Church had since established it Sabbatarians Moderate-Men Anti-Sabbatarians Anno Dom. 1633 Anno Regis Carol. 9 4. The Church no not ex plenitudine suae potestatis may or can alter the same 5. No exercises at all walking excepted with which strictnesse it self cannot be offended are lawful on this day Insomuch as some of them have been accused of turning the day of rest into the day of torture and self-maâ—eration on Divine right in a larger sense having an analogy in the Old and insinuations in the New Testament with the continued practice of the Church 4. Would be right glad of the generall agreement of the Christian Church but withall right sorry that the same should be abused for the alteration of the Lords-day But as there is but little hope of the former so is there no fear of the latter it being utterly unexpedient to attempt the altering thereof 5. The Sabbath in some sort was Lord yea Tyrant over the Jews and they by their superstition contented vassalls under it Christ was e Matth. 12. 8. Lord of the Sabbath and struck out the teeth thereof Indeed such recreations as are unlawfull on any day are most unlawfull on that day yea recreations doubtfull on other daies are to be forborn on that day on the suspicion of unlawfulnesse So are all those which by their over violence put people past a praying capacity Add also those which though acted after Evening-Service must needs be preacted by the fancy such the volatility thereof all the day before distracting the minde though the body be at Church These recreations forbidden other innocent ones may be permitted 4. The Universall consent of the Christian Church may alter it Yea d Pocklington in his Sunday no Sabbath pag. 8. one saith that the Church of Geneva went about to translate it to Thursday but it seems it was carried in the negative 5. Mixt dancings Masques Interludes Revells c. are by them permitted in the intervalls betwixt but generally after Evening-Service ended A worthy f Dr. Paul Micklewaite Doctor who in his Sermons at the Temple no less piously than learnedly handled the point of the Lords-day worthily pressed that Gentle-folke were obliged to a stricter observation of the Lords-day than labouring people The whole have no need of the Physitian but those who are sick Such as are not annihilated with labour have no title to be recreated with liberty Let Servants whose hands are ever working whilest their
not onely to Visit Christs Sepulchre but also to behold Simon Stilita a pious man and Melanta a devout Woman both residing in Syria and at this time eminent for Sanctity Perchance Discontentment mingled with Devotion moved the Britans to so long a Journey conceiving themselves because of their present Troubles at home more safe any where else then in their own Country As for those Britans who in this Age were zealous Asserters of the Purity of Religion against the Poison of Arrianisme amongst them we find S t. Keby a principal Champion Son to Sâ—lomon Duke of Cornwall Scholar to St. Hilary Bishop of Poictiers in France with whom he lived 50 yeares and by whom being made Bishop he returned first to S t. Davids afterwards into Ireland and at last fixed himself in the Isle of Anglesey So pious a man that he might seem to have communicated Sanctity to the Place being a Promontory into the Sea called from him Holy-head but in Welsh Caer-guibyâ— as in the same Island the memory of his Master is preserved in Hilary point where both shall be remembred as long as there be either Waves to assault the Shore or Rocks to resist them THE FIFTH CENTURY Anno Dom. To Thomas Bide of London Esquire AMongst your many good Qualities I have particularly observed your judicious Delight in the Mathematicks Seeing therefore this Century hath so much of the Survey or therein being employed in the exact Dividing of the English Shires betvvixt the seven Saxon Kingdomes the Proportions herein are by me submitted to your Censure and Approbation 1. NOw the Arrian Heresy 401 by Gods Providence and good mens Diligence Pelagius a Britan by birth was in some measure suppressed when the unwearied Malice of Satan who never leaveth off though often changeth his wayes to seduce Souls brought in a worse because more plausible Heresy of Pelagianisme For every man is born a Pelagian naturally proud of his Power and needeth little Art to teach him to think well of himself This Pelagius was a Britan by Birth as we take no delight to confesse it so wee 'l tell no Lye to deny it as some say called a a Jacobus Usserius de Brit. Ecc. Prim. p. 207. Dominus Hen. Spelman in Conciliis pag. 46. Morgan that is in Welsh near the Sea and well had it been for the Christian world if he had been nearer the Sea and served therein as the Aegyptians served the Hebrew Males being to the same sense called in Latine Pelagius Let no Foreiner insult on the infelicity of our Land in bearing this Monster But consider first if his excellent natural Parts and eminent acquired Learning might be separated from his dangerous Doctrine no Nation need be ashamed to acknowledge him Secondly Britain did but breed Pelagius Pelagius himself bred his Heresy and in forein Parts where he travelled France Syria Aegypt Rome itself if not first invented much improved his pestilent Opinions Lastly as our Island is to be pittied for breeding the Person so she is to be praised for opposing the Errours of Pelagius Thus the best Father cannot forbid the worst Sonne from being his Child but may debarre him from being his Heire affording no favour to countenance his Badnesse 2. It is memorable what b Dempster Hist Scot. l. 15. num 1012. one relates Pelagius no Doctor of Cambridge but a Monk of Banchor that the same day whereon Pelagius was born in Britain S t. Augustine was also born in Africk Divine Providence so disposing it that the Poison and the Antidote should be Twins in a manner in respect of the same time To passe from the Birth to the Breeding of Pelagius c Hist Cantab. Academ lib. â— pag. 28. Iohn Cajus who observes eight solemn Destructions of Cambridge before the Conquest imputeth that which was the third in order to Pelagius who being a Student there and having his Doctrine opposed by the Orthodox Divines cruelly caused the overthrow and desolation of all the Vniversity But we hope it will be accounted no point of Pelagianisme for us thus farre to improve our Free-VVill as to refuse to give Credit hereunto till better Authority be produced And yet this sounds much to the Commendation of Cambridge that like a pure Crystall-Glass it would preferre rather to flie a pieces and be dissolved then to endure Poison put into it according to the Character Anno Dom. 401 which Iohn a In his Poem of Cambridge Lidgate a VVit of those Times gave of this University Cambrege of Heresy ne're bore the blame More true it is that Pelagius was bred in the Monastery of Banchor in that part of Flintshire which at this day is a Separatist from the rest where he lived with two thousand Monks industrious in their Callings whose Hands were the only Benefactors for their Bellies Abbey-labourers not Abbey-lubbers like their Successours in after-Ages who living in Lazinesse abused the Bounty of their Patrons to Riot and Excesse 3. Infinite are the Deductions The principal Errors of Pelagius and derived Consequences of Pelagius his Errours These are the maine 1. That a man might be saved without Gods Grace by his own Merits and Free-will 2. That Infants were born without Original Sinne and were as innocent as Adam before his Fall 3. That they were Baptized not to be freed from Sin but thereby to be adopted into the Kingdome of God 4. That Adam died not by reason of his Sinne but by the condition of Nature and that he should have died albeit he had not sinned Here to recount the learned Works of Fathers written their pious Sermons preach't passionate Epistles sent private Conferences entertained publick Disputations held Provincial Synods summoned General Councils called wholesome Canons made to confute and condemn these Opinions under the name of Pelagius or his Scholar Caelestius would amount to a Volume fitter for a Porters back to beare then a Scholars Brains to peruse I decline the Employment both as over-painfull and nothing proper to our Businesse in hand fearing to cut my Fingers if I put my Sickle into other mens Corn these things being transacted beyond the Seas and not belonging to the British History The rather because it cannot be proved that Pelag us in person ever dispersed his Poison in this Island but ranging abroad perchance because this False Prophet counted himself without honour in his own Country had his Emissaries here and principally b Beda lib. 1. cap. 17. Agricola the Sonne of Severian a Bishop 4. It is incredible French Bishops sent for to suppresse Pelagianisme in Britain how speedily and generally the Infection spread by his preaching 420 advantaged no doubt by the Ignorance and Lazinesse of the British Bishops in those dayes none of the deepest Divines or most learned Clerks as having little care and lesse comfort to study living in a distracted State and those that feel practical Discords will have little joy to
them a punishment far lighter then the offence did deserve Indeed it is most meet in matters meerly Ecclesiastical touching the Word and Sacraments Clergy-men be onely answerable for their faults to their spiritual superiors as most proper and best able to discern and censure the same And in cases criminal it is unfit that Ministers should be summoned before each proud pettish petulant pragmatical secular under-officer However in such causes to be wholly exempted from civil power is a priviledge which with reason cannot be desired of them nor with justice indulged unto them Sure I am Abiathar though High-Priest was convented before and deposed by Solomon for his practising of treason And S t Paul saith Rom. 13. 1. Let every soul be subject to the higher powers 60. To retrench these enormities of the Clergy 1164. the King called a Parliament at Clarendon 10. near Sarisbury and not in Normandy He incurs the Kings displeasure as Mr Fox will have it intending with the consent of his great Councel to confirm some severe Laws of his Grand-father King Henry the first To these Laws See them at large in Mat. Paris sixteen in number Becket with the rest of the Bishops consented and subscribed them But afterwards recanting his own act Anno Regis Hen. 2 10. renounced the same Anno Dom. 1164 Let not therefore the crime of inconstancy be laid too heavily to the charge of Arch-Bishop Cranmer first subscribing then revoking popish articles presented unto him seeing this his name-sake Thomas and predecessor Becket without any stain to his Saintship retracted his own act upon pretence of better information But so highly was Becket offended with himself for his subscription that in revenge for some moneths he suspended himself from all Divine Service his pride and laziness both before and after suspended him from ever preaching and would not be present thereat Hereafter let none hope for more favour from this Arch-Bishop then their fact may deserve seeing he cannot rationally be expected to be courteous to others who was so severe unto himself The best was in this his suspension the knot was not tied so hard as to hurt him who in case of necessity as he had bound so he could loose himself though for the more state of the matter Pope Alexander * Fox his Mon. see the letter at large pag. 269. himself was pleased solemnly to assoil him from his suspension Mean time Becket both in his suspension and absolution most highly offended King Henry who every day the more was alienated from and incensed against him 61. During Beckets abode about Clarendon The vanity of Beckets path he is reported every morning to have walk'd from his lodging some miles to the Kings Palace Where the ground say they called Beckets path at this day presenteth it self to the eyes of the beholders but most quick-sighted if looking through Popish spectacles with the grass and grain growing thereon in a different hew and colour from the rest A thing having in it more of report then truth yet more of truth then wonder the discolourations of such veins of earth being common in grounds elsewhere which never had the happiness of Becket his feet to go upon them 62. But oh He flieth beyond Sea without the Kings consent If Becket's feet had left but the like impression in all the wayes he went how easie had it been for all mens eyes and particularly for our pen to have track'd him in all his travels Who not long after without the consent of the King took Ship sail'd into Flanders thence travelled into the Southern parts of France thence to Pontiniack thence to Senes abiding seven years in banishment But though he served an apprentiship in exile he learned little humility thereby onely altering his name for his more safety from Becket to Derman but retaining all his old nature remitting nothing of his rigid resolutions 63. Now to avoid idleness How employed in his banishment Becket in his banishment variously employed himself First in making and widening breaches between Henry his native Soveraign 11. and Lewis the French King 1165. Secondly in writing many voluminous a See them exemplified at large in Stapleton De Tribus Thomis letters of expostulation to Princes and Prelates Thirdly in letting flie his heavy excommunications against the English Clergie namely against Roger Arch-Bishop of York Gilbert Foliot Bishop of London a learneder man them himself Joceline Bishop of Sarisbury and others His chief quarrel with them was their adherence to the King and particularly because the Arch-Bishop presumed to Crown Henry the King's Son made joynt-King in the life of his Father a priviledge which Becket claimed as proper to himself alone Fourthly in receiving comfort from and returning it to Pope Alexander at Beneventum in Italy 13. Sameness of affliction bred sympathy of affection betwixt them 1167. both being banished the Pope by Frederick Barbarossa the Emperour for his pride and insolency as our Becket smarted for the same fault from King Henry Here also Becket solemnly resigned his Arch-Bishoprick to the Pope as troubled in conscience that he had formerly took it as illegally from the King and the Pope again restored it to him whereby all scruples in his minde were fully satisfied 64. But afterwards by mediation of friends Is reconciled to the King Becket's reconciliation was wrought and leave given him to return into England However the King still retained his temporals in his hand Anno Dom 1167. on weighty considerations Anno Regis Hen. 2. 13. Namely to show their distinct nature from the spirituals of the Arch-Bishoprick to which alone the Pope could restore him Lay-lands being separable from the same as the favour of secular Princes and Becket's bowed knee must own the Kings bountiful hand before he could receive them Besides it would be a caution for his good behaviour 65. Caelum non animum Returns as obstinate as he went over Travellers change climates 1170. not conditions 16. Witness our Becket stubborn he went over stubborn he staied stubborn he return'd Amongst many things which the King desired and he denied he refused to restore the Excommunicated Bishops pretending he had no power indeed he had no will and that they were Excommunicate by his Holiness Yea he instead of recalling his old added new Excommunications and that thunder which long before rumbled in his threatnings now gave the crack upon all those that detained his temporal revenues a Parte posteriâ—â—i Henrici secundi pag. 521. Roger Hoveden reports that upon Christmas-day the better day the better deed he Excommunicated Robert de Broc because the day before he had cut off one of his horses tailes Yea he continued and encreased his insolence against the King and all his subjects 66. Here the King let fall some discontented words Is slain by four Knights in his own Church which
PRELATES 1 2 2 16 11. That from the words and works and a Ex verbo opere taciturnitate Praelatorum silence of Prelates in Preaching it seemeth probable that they are Devils incarnate 1 2 3 57 12. That Bishops Benedictions Confirmations Consecrations of Churches Chalices c. be but tricks to get money     OF PRIESTS 1 2 3 71 13. That plain Deacons and Priests may preach without licence of Pope or Bishop 1 2 3 60 14. That in the time of the Apostles there were onely two Orders namely Priests and Deacons and that a Bishop doth not differ from a Priest 3   68 15. That it is lawful for Lay-men to absolve no less then for the Priests 2   128 16. That it is lawful for Clergy-men to marry    61 17. That Priests of bad life cease any longer to be b Waldensis in several places of his book Priests     OFF THE CHURCH 1 2  8 18. That he defined the Church to consist onely of persons predestinated 1 2 1 12 19. That he divideth the Church into these three members Clergy-men Souldiers and Labourers 1 4 3 37 20. That the Church was not endowed with any immoveable possessions before Constantine the great 1 4 3 16 41 21. That it is no Sacriledg to take away things consecrated to the Church 3   143 22. That all beautiful building of Churches is blame-worthy and savours of hypocrisie     OF TYTHES 1 2 3 65 23. That Parishioners by him were exhorted not to pay Tythes to Priests of dissolute life 1 2 3 64 24. That Tythes are pure almes and that Pastours ought not to exact them by Ecclesiastical censures     OF THE SCRIPTURE 1 2 2 23 25. That wise men leave that as Impertinent which is not plainly expressed in Scripture 1 2 2 26 26. That he slighted the authority of General Councels     OF HERETICKS 2   81 27. That he called all Writers since the thousandth year of Christ Hereticks     OF PRAYER 3   23     25 28. That men are not bound to the observation of Vigils or Canonical houres 3   11 29. That it is vain for Lay-men to bargain with Priests for their prayers 3   21 30. That to binde men to set and prescript forms of Prayers doth derogate from that liberty God hath given them 3   8 31. That to depress the benefit of other mens purchased Prayers he recommended all men to hope and trust in their own righteousness     OF ALMES 1 2 3 71 32. That we ought not to do any Alms to a sinner whilest we know him to be so     OF THE SACRAMENTS 3   45     46 33. That Chrisme and other such ceremonies are not to be used in Baptisme 2   99 34. That those are fools and presumptuous which affirm such infants not to be saved which dye without Baptisme and also That he denied that all sins are abolished in Baptisme 2   108 2   98 35. That Baptisme doth not confer but onely signifie grace which was given before 2   26 36. That in the Sacrament of the Alter the Host is not to be worshipped and such as adore it are Idolaters     37. That the substance of bread and wine still remain a This is scattered in several places of his book in the Sacrament 2   55 38. That God could not though he would make his body to be at the same time in several places 1   109 39. That the Sacrament of Confirmation is not much necessary to salvation 3   147 40. That Confession to a man truly contrite is superfluous used by Antichrist to know the secrets and gain the wealth of others 2   130 41. That that is no due Marriage which is contracted without hope of having children 2   163 42. That extreme Unction is needless and no Sacrament     OF ORDERS 2 2 2 15 43. That Religious Sects confound the unity of Christs Church who instituted but one order of serving him 2   109 44. That he denied all sacred initiations into Orders as leaving no character behinde them 3   91 45. That Vowing of Virginity is a Doctrine of Devils     OF SAINTS 3   130 46. That such Christians who do worship Saints border on Idolatry 3   133 47. That it is needless to adorn the shrines of Saints or to go in Pilgrimage to them 3   124 48. That miracles conceived done at Saints shrines may be delusions of the Devil 125 3   115 49. That Saints prayers either here or in heaven are onely effectual for such as are good     OF THE KING 1 2 3 79 50. That it is lawful in Causes Ecclesiastical and matters of faith after the Bishops sentence to appeal to the secular Prince 1 3 1 81 51. That Dominion over the creature is founded in grace 1 3 3 83 52. That God devesteth him of all right who abuseth his power     OF CHRIST 1 2 3 43 53. That Christ was a man even in those three dayes wherein his body did lie in the grave 1 2 3 44 54. That the Humanity of Christ being separated is to be worshipped with that adoration which is called LATRIA 1 1 3 44 55. That Christ is the Humanity by him assumed     OF GOD. 2   160 56. That God loved David and Peter as dearly when they grievously sinned as he doth now when they are possessed of glory 1 2 3 82 57. That God giveth no good things to his enemies 2   135 58. That God is not more willing to reward the good then to punish the wicked     59. That all things a Waldensis in several places laieth this to his charge come to pass by fatal necessity 1 1 1 13 60. That God could not make the world otherwise then it is made 1 1 1 10 61. That God cannot do any thing which he doth not do     62. That God cannot make that something should return into nothing 7. Here the ingenuous Reader must acknowledg Much pitty that Wicliffs own books are lost that many of these opinions are truths at this day publickly professed in the Protestant Church For the rest what pitty is it that we want Wicliffe's works to hear him speak in his own behalf Were they all extant therein we might read the occasion intention and connexion of what he spake together with the limitations restrictions distinctions qualifications of what he maintained There we might see what was the overplus of his passion
merits of the blood and passion of our Saviour JESU CHRIST Item That this certain faith and hope is gotten and also confirmed and made more strong by the applying of Christs words and promises of his grace and favour contained in his Gospel the Sacraments instituted by him in the New Testament And therefore to attain this certain faith the second part of Penance is necessary that is to say Confession to a Priest if it may be had for the asolution given by the Priest was institute of Christ to apply the promises of God's grace and favour to the penitent Wherefore as touching Confession We will that all Bishops and Preachers shall instruct and teach Our people committed by Us to their spiritual charge that they ought and must certainly believe that the words of absolution pronounced by the Priest be spoken by the authority given to him by Christ in the Gospel Item That they ought and must give no lesse faith and credence to the same words of absolution so pronounced by the Ministers of the Church than they would give unto the very words and voice of God himself if he should speak unto us out of heaven according to the saying of Christ i i Iohn 20. 23. Whose sins soever ya doe forgive shall be forgiven whose sins soever ye doe retain shall be retained And again in another place Christ saith k k Luke 10. 16. Whosoever heareth you heareth me Item That in no wise they doe contemn this Auricular Confession which is made unto the Ministers of the Church but that they ought to repute the same as a very expedient and necessary mean whereby they may require and ask this absolution at the Priest's hands at such time as they shall finde their conscience grieved with mortal sin and have occasion so to doe to the intent they may thereby attain certain comfort and consolation of their consciences As touching to the third part of Penance We will that all Bishops and Preachers shall instruct and teach Our people committed by Us to their spiritual charge that although Christ his death be the sufficient oblation sacrifice satisfaction and recompense for the which God the Father forgive and remitteth to all sinners not only their sin but also eternal pain one for the same yet all men truly penitent contrite and confessed must needs also bring forth the fruits of penance that is to say Prayer Fasting Alms deeds and must make restitution or satisfaction in will and deed to their neighbours in such things as they have done them wrong and injury in and also must doe all other good works of mercy and charity and expresse their obedient will in the executing and fulfilling of Gods commandements outwardly when time power and occasion shall be ministred unto them or else they shall never be saved For this is the expresse precept and commandement of God l l Luke 3. 8. Doe you the worthy fruits of penance And S. Paul saith m m Rom. 6. 19. Like as in times past you have given and applied your selves and all the members of your body to all filthy living and wickednesse continually excreasing the same in like manner now you must give and apply your selves wholly to justice excreasing continuoslly in purity and cleannesse of life And in another place he saith n n 1 Cor. 9. 27. I chastise and subdâ—e my carnal body and the affections of the same and make them obedient unto the spirit Item That these precepts and works of charity be necessary works to our salvation and God necessarily requireth that every penitent man shall perform the same whensoever time power and occasion shall be ministred unto them so to doe Item That by penance and such good works of the same we shall not onely obtain everlasting life but also we shall deserve remission or mitigation of these present pains and afflictions in this world according to the saying of Saint Paul o o 1 Cor. 11. 31. if we would correct and take punishment of our selves we should not be so grievously corrected of God And Zecharias the Prophet saith p p Zech. 1. 3. Turn your selves unto me and I will turn again unto you And the Prophet Esay saith q q Isa 58. 7 8 9 c. Break and deal thy bread unto the hungry bring into they house the poor man and such as want harbour When thou seest a naked man give him clothes to cover him with and refuse not succour and help the poor and needy for he is thine own flesh And if thou wilt thus doe then shall thy light glister out as bright as the sun in the morning and thy health shall sooner arise unto thee and thy justice shall goe before thy face and the glory of God shall gather thee up that thou shalt not fall And whensoever thou shalt call upon God God shall hear thee and whensoever thou shalt crie unto God God shall say Loe here I am ready to help thee then shall thy light overcome all darknesse and thy darknesse shall be as bright as the sun at noon-noon-daies and then God shall give unto thee continuall rest and shall fulfill thy soul with brightnesse and shall deliver thy body from adversity and then thou shalt be like a garden that most plentifully bringeth forth all kinde of fruits and like the well-spring that never shall want water These things and such other should be continually taught and inculked into the ears of Our people to the intent to stirre and provoke them unto good works and by the self-same good works to exercise and confirm their faith and hope and look for to receive at God's hand mitigation and remission of the miseries calamities and grievous punishments which God sendeth to men in this world for their sins The Sacrament of the Altar Fourthly As touching the Sacrament of the Altar We will that all Bishops Preachers shall instruct and teach Our people committed by Us unto their spiritual charge that they ought and must constantly believe that under the form figure of bread wine which We there presently do see perceive by outwards senses is verily substantially really contained and comprehended the very self-same body and blood of our Saviour Jesus Christ which was born of the Virgin Mary and suffered upon the Crosse for our redemption And that under the same form and figure of Bread and Wine the very self-same body and blood of Christ is corporally really and in the very substance exhibited distributed and received unto and of all them which receive the said Sacrament And that therefore the said Sacrament is to be used with all due reverence and honour and that every man ought first to prove and examine himself and religiously to trie and search his own conscience before he shall receive the same according to the saying of S. Paul Whosoever eateth r r 1 Cor. 11. 27. this body of Christ unworthily or drinketh of this
to return to bed was accounted a petty apostacie 2. Let all at the sign given leave off their work and repair presently to prayers Sign This in England commonly called the ringing Island was done with tolling a bell but in other Countreys with loud stroaks as Noblemens Cooks knock to the dresser at which time none might continue their work Yea the Canon was so strict that it provided scriptores literam non integrent That writers a great trade in Monasteries having begun to frame and flourish a Text letter were not to finish it but to break off in the middle thereof 3. Let those who are absent in publick imployment be reputed present in prayers Absent Hence it was that antiently at the end of prayers there was a particular commemoration made of them and they by name recommended to Divine protection 4. Let no Monk go alone but alwaies two together Two That so they might mutually have both testem honestatis and monitorem pietatis And this was done in some imitation of Christs sending his Disciples to preach f Luke 10. 1. Two and two before his face that so they might alternately ease one another 5. From Easter to Whitsunday let them dine alwaies at twelve and sup at six of the clock Dine The Primitive Church forbade fasting for those fifty daies that Christians might be cheerfull for the memory g Tertullian Libro de corons militis of Christs resurrection Immunitate Jejunandi à die Paschae Pentecosten usque gaudemus and therefore more modern is the custome of fasting on Ascension Eve 6. Let them at other times fast on Wednesdaies and Fridaies till three a clock in the afternoon Three of the clock So making but one meal a day but know that the twelve daies in Christmas were in this Canon excepted 7. Let them fast every day in Lent till six of the clock at night Six a clock Stamping a character of more abstinence on that time For though all a Monk's life ought to be a LENT yet this most especially wherein they were to abate of their wonted sleep and diet and adde to their daily devotion Yet so that they might not lessen their daily fare without leave from the Abbot all things done without whose consent will be accounted presumption and not redound to reward so that in such cases obedience to their Superiours was better than the sacrifice of their own free abstinence 8. Let no Monk speak a word in the Refectory when they are at their meals Speak a word Whilst their mouthes are open to eat their lips must be lockt to speak For proof whereof they corruptly cite the Apostles words to h 2 Thes 3. 12. eat their own bread with silence whereas indeed it is work with quietness and therein a contented minde injoyned Such might also remember Solomon's rule Eat thy bread with joy 9. Let them listen to the Lecturer reading Scripture to them whilst they feed themselves Listen This was i In regula Capite quinto S. Austine ' s rule Ne solae fauces sumant cibum sed aures percipiant Dei verbum 10. Let the Septimarians dine by themselves after the rest Septimarians These were weekly Officers not as the Abbot Porter c. for term of life as the Lecturer Servitors at the table Cook who could not be present at the publick refection as the Bible-Clerks in Queens-Coll in Cambrige waiting on the Fellows at dinner have a Table by themselves their stomacks being set to go an hour after all the rest 11. Let such who are absent about businesse observe the same hours of prayer Absent Be it by sea or land on ship in house or field they were to fall down on their knees and though at distance and very briefly yet in some sort to keep time and tune with the Covent in their devotions 12. Let none being from home about businesse and hoping to return at night presume foris mandicare to eat abroad Eat abroad This Canon was afterwards so dispensed with by the Abbot on severall occasions that it was frustrate in effect when Monks became common guests at Lay-mens tables 13. Let the COMPLETORIE be solemnly sung about seven a clock at night COMPLETORIE Because it compleated the duties of the day This service was concluded with that Verticle of the Psalmist k Psal 141. 3. Set a watch O Lord before my mouth and keep the door of my lips 14. Let none speak a word after the Completorie ended but hasten to their beds Speak a word For they might expresse themselves by signes and in some cases whisper but so softly that a third might not overhear it This silence was so obstinately observed by some that they would not speak though assaulted with thieves to make discovery in their own defence 15. Let the Monks sleep in beds singly by themselves but all if possible in one room Singly by themselves To prevent that sin of Sodomie whereof many were detected and more suspected in after-Ages One room For the comfort of their mutuall society 16. Let them sleep in their cloathes girt with their girdles but not having their knives by their sides for fear of hurting themselves in their sleeps In their clothes Is slovenness any advantage to sanctity This was the way not to make the Monks to lie alone but to carry much company about them 17. Let not the youth lie by themselves but mingled with their seniours Seniours That their gravity may awe them into good behaviour Thus husbandmen couple young colts with staid horses that both together may draw the better 18. Let not the candle in the Dormitory go out all the night Candle In case some should fall soddainly sick and that this standing candle might be a stock of light to recruit the rest on occasion 19. Let Infants incapable of excommunication be corrected with rods Infants Such all were accounted under the age of fifteen years of whom many in Monasteries whose minorities were beneath the censures of the Church 20. Let the offenders in small faults whereof the Abbot is sole Judge be onely sequestred from the table Small faults As coming after grace to dinner breaking though casually the earthen ewer wherein they wash their hands being out of tune in setting the Psalm taking any by the hand as a preface forsooth to wantonnesse receiving Letters from or talking with a friend without leave from the Abbot c. From the table Such were to eat by themselves and three hours after the rest until they had made satisfaction 21. Let the offenders in greater faults be suspended from table and prayers Greater faults viz Thest adultery c. And Prayers This in effect amounted to the greater Excommunication and had all the penalties thereof 22. Let none converse with any excommunicated under the pain of excommunication None Yet herein his Keeper deputed by the Abot was excepted Converse Either to car or speak with him He might not so much as blesse him
wherein His owne Dignity was so neerly concern'd I conceive it the Oath of Canonical obedience to the Archbishop which consequentially commanded such ceremonies which Hooper was willing to decline For in the Kings next Letter wrote thirteen daies after to the same purpose there is mention onely of offensive Rites and Ceremonies and of no Oath at all as coincident with the former and obligatory to such Canonical observances But see the Letter RIght Reverend Father and right trusty and well-beloved We greet you well Whereas We by the advice of Our Councel have called chosen Our right well-beloved and well-worthy Mr. John Hooper Professor of Divinity to be Our Bishop of Glocester as well for his great learning deep judgment and long study both in the Scriptures and other profound learning as also for his good discretion ready utterance and honest life for that kinde of vocation c. From consecrating of whom We understand you doe stay because he would have you omit and let passe certain Rites and Ceremonies offensive to his conscience whereby ye thinke you should fall in Praemunire of Laws We have thought good by advise aforesaid to dispense and discharge you of all manner of dangers penalties and forfeitures you should run into and be in any manner of way by omitting any of the same And these Our Letters shall be your sufficient warrant and discharge therefore ¶ Given under Our Signet at our Castle of Windsor Aug. 5. the fourth year of Our Reign All would not doe Resolute Ridley stood stifly to his tackling and here was old bandying of the businesse betwixt them and Arguments urged on both sides Pro. 1. The Ornaments were indifferent of themselves and of antient use in the Church 2. Being enjoyned by lawfull authority they became necessary not to salvation but to Church-unity and it was scandalous to decline them 3. It would bring the Papist over to our Church beholding all things by them used not totally abolished by a spirit of contradiction but some decent correspondencies still moderately continued 4. It would cast a slurre on the credit of such Bishops who formerly had used those Ornaments as more remisse in Religion than such as refused them 5. Those that have stubborn wills pretend too often to tender consciences nor ought a private person to be indulged with the disturbance of the publick uniformity of the Church Con. 1. The best thing that could be said of them was that they were uselesse being otherwise ridiculous and superstitious 2. Cursed be he that removes the bound-marks Grant them indifferent in themselves and left so by Divine Wisdome it was presumption in man to stamp necessity upon them 3. Too much of the Serpent nothing of the Dove herein to offend those within to invite those without to the Church driving Protestants thence to draw Papists thither 4. The credits of some good men were not to be preserved by destroying the consciences of others 5. Hooper put himself upon the triall of the Searcher of hearts that no obstinacie but meer conscience made him refuse those Ornaments In a word all those Arguments which later Ages have more amply enlarged more clearly explained more cunningly improved more violently enforced were then and there first solidly propounded and solemnly set down on both sides Posterity in this matter having discovered no new Mine but onely refined what formerly was found out in this Controversie 26. At last the great Earl of Warwick deserted his Chaplain in open field But is forced at last to shift for himself Indeed he had higher things in his head than to attend such trifles not so much to procure a Mitre for his Chaplain as a Crown for himself even then secretly laying a design to derive the Scepter into his own family Yea Hooper was sent to prison and kept some daies in * His imprisonment not mention'd in Mâ— Fox but in the Tâ—oubles of Frankford pag. 35. durance till at last he condescended to conform himselfe in his habit to the rest of his brethren and so was consecrated Bishop of Glocester 27. But that which most opens the mouthes of Papists Defended for keepiâ—g Worcester in Commendam and other adversaries against Hooper is because he who scrupled the poor Bishoprick of Glocester afterward held the wealthy Bishoprick of Worcester in Commendam with it We read of a b Jos 7. 21. wedge of gold and little wedges say they widen mens consciences for the receiving of greater yea thus the haters of marriage first become guilty of bigamie But let such know First that the Dioceses of Glocester and Worcester lie both contiguous together Secondly many single Bishopricks in England are larger than both for extent in Land and number of Parishes Thirdly no worse a man than S. Dunstan himself had the Bishoprick of Worcester and London with it at the same time being farre more distant and remote Fourthly it is not the having of two Bishopricks together but the neglecting of one is the sin whereas Hooper in preaching and visiting afforded double diligence in his double Diocess 28. The mention of Hooper his holding of the Bishoprick of Worcester in Commendam Why Caâ—imer was not restored to the Bishoprick of Worsester mindes me of a difficulty which though I cannot answer I must not omit It is this Seeing that Latimer was outed of that Bishoprick in the daies of King Henry the eighth on the account of the Six Articles why was he not restored to the same under King Edward the sixt especailly seeing Nicholas Heath his successour was legally deprived and the place actually void Whereas on the contrary Hugh Latimer continued Hugh Latimer without any addition of preferment Here first we must largely trade in negatives It was not for any want of favour from the King seeing he stood rectus in Curia in relation to His Majesty Nor was it because his down-right Sermons disobliged the Courtiers who generally delight in soft preaching as in c Mat 11. â— soft cloathing Nor was it out of sullennesse because he would not be bedded again with that wife which though unwillingly had in his absence embraced another Nor have we any cause to suspect Latimer of Hoopers opinion as distasting Ceremonies and so obstructing his advancement But we impute it either to his conscience oft-times sharpest in the bluntest men because he would not be built on the ruines of another especially knowing Heath one of a meek and moderate nature Or to his age who Barzillai d 2 Sam. 19. 35. like was superannuated for earthly honour Alas what needed a square cap over the many night-caps which age had multiplied on his Reverend head Or because he found himself not so fit for government better for preaching than ordering Ecclesiastical affairs Or lastly because he propherically foresaw that the ingratitude of the English Nation would shorten their happinesse and King Edwards life and he was loth to come into a place onely to
of his own accord Anno Dom. 1557. or by the secret solicitation of others in uncertain Anno Regin Mar. 4. Feb. 28. Sure it is both parties solemnly disavowed any secret practise to procure the same The Magistrate interposed his counsels rather then commands appearing very upright and unbiased to either party For though at the first He seemed to favour Horne and his Complices out of that general Sympathy which a Magistrate beareth to all publick Officers yet afterwards quitting their Cause he bent all his endeauours to make a Reconciliation By this Edict it was ordered that the former Pastors were put out of the functions and made private men That new ones or the same again if the Church so pleased were to be chosen in their roomes That the treasure of the Congregation should be kept joyntly and distributed by the Deacons who at an appointed Time should account for the same to the Minister and â—ldâ—rs And the day after leave was given them to devise a new Discipline with convenient speed amongst themselves March 1. and tender the same when drawn up to the Magistrate for his Ratification In fine all seemingly were made friends in token whereof they both Parties joyned hands together 18. Soon after fifteen were appointed New discipline â—akes new distractions to draw up a forme of new discipline But this new discipline occasioned new grudges or rather revived the old ones Though short the Book it was long before fully finished because such as were concerned therein drew the Sheets thereof severall wayes Some would have the old discipline stand still in full force others would have it only altered others totally abolished When the Discipline was new drawn up some required moneths and the most moderate more dayes of deliberation before they would subscribe it In conclusion whereas the whole Congregation of Frankford 30. consisted then but of Sixty two understand them masters of families besides women children and servants forty two subscribed this new Discipline and the rest refused 19. Presently they proceeded to the Election of new Pastors and ministers Mr. Horne and his party protest against it when M r. Horne issuing into the Church with his party cast a bundle of Paper-bills on the Table standing in the middle of the Church A Table surely set there not for the inflaming of discords but the celebration of that Sacrament which should cement them all in a comfortable communion Those Bils contained their refusals to concur in this Election because they could not in their consciences allow the Discipline whereby it was made However the rest went on with their Choice and no one saving M r. Wilford beeing formerly of the Ministry was now again elected Whereof this reason was rendred because they with M r. Horne had willingly relinquished their functions and it was but just to take that from them which they cast away from themselves Besides it is said that some of them gave it out that if they should be re-elected they would not accept thereof 20. Hitherto we have had no mention for a long time of D r. Cox The matters put to moderators and it may seem much that the activity of his Spirit should be so long concealed which makes some presume him absent all the while But let such know that Dr. Cox engaged in the former controversie in defence of the liturgy set forth in K. Edwards Raigne as concerning his Soveraigns Honour and generall Interest of the English Church concerned therein Whereas he hitherto stood neuter in this difference of M r. Horns and his complices as beholding it of narrower extent and less consequence betwixt particular persons Whereupon the Magistrate of Frankford not a leasure himself because of the business of the Mart to examine the matter appointed Him with D r. Sandys and Richard Berty Esq as men of estimation with both parties to hear and determine the difference betwixt them 21. By the powerful mediation of which Vmpires A kinde of Agreement made they were perswaded into some tolerable agreement though it was no better than a Palliatecure But I am weary of their dissentions and therefore proceed to some more acceptable subject Only let me add that this whole story of their discords with the causes and circumstances thereof is taken out of the Troubles of Frankford a book composed in favour of the opposers of the English Discipline And when the Writer is all for the Plantif the discreet Reader will not only be an unpartial Judge but also somewhat of an Advocate for the Defendant 22. It is no less pleasant to consider The wonderful providence in the maintenance of these poor Exiles then admirable to conceive how these exiles subsisted so long and so far from their native country in so comfortable a condition Especially seeing Gardiner Bp. of Winchester solemnly vowed so to stop the sending of all supplies unto them that for very hunger they should eat their own nailes and then feed on their fingers ends But threatned folke live long and before these banished men were brought to that short Bil of fare the Bishop was first all eaten up of wormes himself To reduce their subsistence within compass of belief let the following particulars be put together 23. Most of these Clergy-Exiles Yet some thing they carried over with them were men well preferred in King Edwards raigne These as they were disswaded by the due consideration of their ever-living God from being solicitously over-carking for the future so were they advised by their daily beholding of their consumptionish and ever-dying King to be providentially careful for the time to come This made them make hay in the Sun-shine and then got they good feathers wherewith afterwards they did flye beyond the Seas 24. Some persons of much worship and wealth were amongst them The bounty of the banished Gentry to their fellow-Sufferers who bountifully communicated to the necessities of others Of these the principall Sir John a Humphery in His large latin life of Jewel pag. 88. Cheeke of whom largely hereafter Richard Morisin of Caishobury in Hertford-shire Francis Knollys afterward-privy-counscelour to Q. Elizabith Sir Anthony Cook father in Law to Cecil after L rd Burgeley and famous for his learned daughters Peter Carew renowned for his valour in Ireland where He died Anno 1576. Thomas Wroth richly landed at and nigh Durance in Middlesex Dame Dorothy Stafford afterwards of the Bed-Chamber to Queen Elizabeth Dame Elizabeth Berkley These accounting all their fellow-sufferers their fellows forgot themselves to remember the afflictions of Joseph being advanced so much the higher in the esteem of all who were wise and virtuous by how much they degraded themselves in their helpefull condescention to their inferiours 25. Many Pious Persons residing in England And of the Londoners unto them but chiefly in London which commonly counter-poiseth the charity of all the land besides were very free towards their relief Some of these
them leâ—s heat or more light forgetting themselves to be carefull for us Something happened in those dayes by Gods will which I did not so much as hope for I had articulatly set down in writing our points and certain most equal demands confessing my self to be a Priest of the Society coming with an intent to amplifie the Catholick faith teach the Gospel administer Sacraments I requested audience of the Queen and the Peers of the Realm and d d Bart challenging They that long most for duells first surleit of them challenged my adversaries to the combate I resolved to keep one copy to my self that it might be carried to the Judges with me another I had committed to my friend with this intent that if they took me and my copy the other should presently be spread abroad My friend did not conceal it he published it it is worne in every mans hand Our adversaries are stark mad Out of their Pulpits their Preachers answer that they indeed desire it but the Queen is not willing that matters now being setled there should be any farther disputation They rend us with their railings call us Seditious Hypocrites yea and Hereticks also which is most laughed at The people in this point are altogether ours This Errour hath made marvelously for our advantage If we be commanded on the Publick Faith e e So my printed copie wherein I suspect some mistake daâ—im is non curiam But they intend nothing less All our Prisons are filled with Catholicks new ones are preparing Now at last they openly maintain that it is better to deliver a few Traitors over to death then to betray the souls of so many men Now they say nothing of their own Martyrs for we conquer in Cause Number Dignity and the Opinion of all men We produce for a few Apostates or Coblers burnt Bishops a a Not one Popish Bishop put to death nor Peer of the Realm five for actuall rebellion in all the Queens Reign Whereas in the Marian dayes we had an Arch-Bishop and foure Bishops burnt for meer matters of conscience Regulos petty Princes Knights and most eminent of the Gentry mirrors of learning honesty and wisdome the choisest youth illustrious Matrons The rest of middle estate almost innumerable all of them at once or every day consumed Whilst I write these things a most cruel persecution rageth The house is sad for they presage either the death of their friends or that to save their lives they must hide be in prison or suffer the loss of all their goods yet they go on couragiously Very many even now are reconciled to our Church New Souldiers inlist their names and old ones freely shed their blood Herewith and with these holy sacrifices God will be merited and out of doubt in short time we shall overcome You see therefore Reverend Father how much we need your sacrifices prayers and heavenly assistance There will be some in England who may provide for their own safety and there will be those who may promote the good of others Man may be angry and the Devill mad so long the Church here will stand whilest the shepheards are not wanting to their sheep I am hindred with a report of a most present danger that I can write no more at this time Let God arise and let his enemies be scattered Farewell Edmond Campian * Campian catcht by Walsinghams setters Secretary Walsingham one of a steadie head no more than needfull for him who was to dive into such whirle-pools of State laid out for Campians apprehension Many were his lime-twigs to this purpose Some of his Emissaries were bred in Rome it self It seems his Holiness was not infallible in every thing who pai'd pensions to some of Walsinghams spies sent thither to detect Catholicks Of these Sled and Eliot were the principal Surely these Setters could not accomplish their ends but with deep dissembling and damnable lying If any account such officers evils I deny it not but adde them to be necessary evils in such a dangerous juncture of time Alwayes set a to catch a and the greatest dear-stealers make the best Parke-keepers Indeed these spies were so cunning they could trace a labyrinth without the guidance of a clew of thread and knew all by-corners at home and abroad At last Eliot snapt Campian in his own lodging and in great triumph he was carried to the Tower 42. The Papists tell us of seven deadly racks in the Tower Pretended cruelty in racking Papists all of them exercised on some or other their prisoners therein One rack called the Duke of Exeters the other the Scavengers daughter and these haply had their grand-children God keep all good men in the joyfull ignorance of them and their issue Campian is said * Sanders De Schis Anglicano pag. 409. thrice or four times to have been tortured on them ad lâ—xationem ac quassationem omnium membrorum if the report thereof be not rackt beyond the proportion of truth However we request the ingenuous 43. First Excused in some degree to consider there scarce passed a leap-year wherein the Papists did not lay their eggs or hatch some treason against the Queen which excuseth such severity used to detect conspiracies Secondly I finde when Father Briâ—nt a Priest was a Ribadeneira his continuation of Sanders de Schis Ang. in his Diarie An. 1581 Moneth of March. rack'd most cruelly he confesseth Se nihil quicquam doloris sensisse That he felt no pain at all Were this false I wonder so religious a man would report it were it true I wonder that Campian every inch as religious as Briant had not the same miraculous favour indulged to him Thirdly Campian presently after his racking wrote letters with his own b Camb. Eliz. in this year hand which shews he was not so disioynted with such cruelty as is pretended Lastly those who complain of Campians usage have forgotten or will not remember how Anne Askue and Cuth'ert Simpson on whom no shaddow of treason could be charged were most cruelly and causelessly rack'd by Popish persecutors as a preface to their ensuing martyrdome 44. We leave Campian for a time in a safe place Persons his three wonderfull escapes where we are sure to finde him at our return to behold how it fared with Father Persons diligently sought for by Walsinghams setters and therefore as eminent for making his three escapes as writing his three conversions 1. By hiding himself in a stack of hay hard by a publick Inne whither messengers were sent to attach him 2. Being amused with grief and fear and fright he could not finde an c Continuatio Sanderi De Schis Ang. pag. 404. house in London otherwise well known unto him whither he intended to go and by losing his way saved his life that place being beset with souldiers to apprehend him 3. When scarce gone out of an house on the Thames side but the same was
as did creep in to the said Book through private mens affections without authority Therefore that argument is against them and only used by them as it seemeth in contempt the rest is frivolous and argueth their presumption in writing this to so honourable a Board of so worthy and godly a Book which hath an hundred learned men to justifie it for one that will impugne it And thus much concerning them which I have written rather to satisfie your Lordships then that I thought the matter worthy my labour The complaint which those of Kent being of my own Diocess and by oath bound to me in Canonicall obedience have exhibited unto your Lordships doth make me more to wonder that they most of them being unlearned and young such as I would be loath to admit into the Ministry if they were not already admitted thereunto much less to allow as Preachers dare presume to bring my doings against them into question before your Lordships seeing I have done nothing but that which God the Law her Majesty and my duty forceth me unto dealing with them not as an Arch-Bishop with the Inferiour sort of the Clergy nor as a master of a Colledge with his fellows nor as a Magistrate with his inferiours but as a Friend and a Brother which as I think hath so puffed them up and caused them to be so presumptuous They came to me unsent for in a multitude which I reproved because it imported a conspiracy and had the shew of a Tumult or unlawfull Assembly Notwithstanding I was content to hear their complaint I spent with them the whole afternoon from two of the clock till seven and heard their Reasons whereof some were frivolous and childish some irreligious and all of them such as gave me occasion to think that they rather sought quarrel against the Book then to be satisfied which indeed is true as appeareth by some of their own confessions which I am able to shew when I shall be thereunto urged The two whole dayes following I spent likewise for the most part in dealing severally with them requiring them to give unto me the Chief and principal of their Reasons which moved them not to subscribe meaning to hear them in the rest if I could have satisfied them in it or else not to spend any further time which reasons if I may so term them they gave unto me and I have and mean to make known when occasion shall serve Whereas they say in their bill that the publick administration of the Sacraments in this Land is as touching the substance of it lawfull c. They say no more then the Papists themselves do confess and in truth they say nothing in effect to that wherewith they are charged And yet therein they are contrary to themselves for they have pretended matter of substance against the Book But of what spirit cometh it that they being no otherwise then they are dare to the greatest Authority in this land next to her Majesty so boldly offer themselves thus to reason and dispute as in their bill they vaunt against the State established in matters of Religion and against the book so learnedly and painfully penned and by so great Authority from time to time confirmed It is not for me to sit in this place if every Curate within my Diocess or Province may be permitted so to use me neither is it possible for me to performe forme the duty which her Majesty looketh for at my hands if I may not without interruption proceed in execution of that which her Highness hath especially committed unto me The Gospell can take no success neither the number of Papists be diminished if unity be not procured which I am not in doubt in short time to bring to pass without any great adoe or inconvenience at all if it be not hindred The number of those which refuse to subscribe is not great in most parts of my Province not one in some very few and in some none whereof many also and the greater part are unlearned and unwornthy the Ministry In mine own little Diocess in Canterbury threescore Preachers and above have subscribed whereas there are not ten worthy the name of Preachers which have as yet refused and most of them also not allowed Preachers by lawfull Authority and so I know it to be in all other Diocesses within my Province the Diocess of Norwich only excepted Wherein nevertheless the number of disordered is far less then the number of such as are obedient and quietly disposed Now if these few disordered which the Church may well spare having meeter men to place in their rooms shall be countenanced against the best the wisest in all respects the worthiest and in effect the whole state of the Clergy it will not only discourage the dutifull and obedient persons but so encrease the schism that there will never hereafter be hope of appeasing the same This disordered flocking together of them at this time from divers places and gadding from one to another argueth a Conspiracy amongst them and some hope of incouragement and of prevailing which I am perswaded is not meant nor shall ever be by me willingly consented unto Some of them have already as I am informed bruted abroad that your Lordships have sent for me to answer their complaints and that they hope to be delivered wherein I know they report untruly as the manner is for I cannot be perswaded that your Lordships have any such intent as to make me a party or to call my doings into question which from her Majesty are immediately committed unto me and wherein as I suppose I have no other Judge but her self And for as much as I am by God and her Majesty lawfully without any ordinary or extraordinary or unlawfull means called to this place and function and appointed to be your Pastor and to have the greatest charge over you in matters pertaining to the soul I am the more bold to move and desire you to aid and affist me in matters belonging to my office namely such as appertain to the quietness of the Church the credit of religion established and the maintenance of the laws made for the same And here I do protest and testifie unto your Lordships that the three Articles whereunto they are moved to subscribe are such as I am ready by learning to defend in manner and form as they are set down against all mislikers thereof in England or elsewhere And thus desiring your Lordships to take this my answer in good part and to forbear my comming thither in respect of this advantage that may be taken thereof by these wayward persons I beseech Almighty God long to prosper you Your good Lordships in Christ John Cantuar. Who this M r. Beal was who brought these letters is worthy our inquiry I finde his Christian name Robert his office Clark of the Councell his abilities very great The character of Mr. Beal who brought the Bills as may appear by the publick
a voluntary or free motion one giving another Intelligence as occasion served sometimes by letters and sometimes by word of mouth 3 Interrog Who were Moderators in them and what their Office Answer That he remembred not who where Moderators in any meeting particularly saving once at Northampton when M r Johnsâ—n was admonished and that was either himself or M r Snapes he knew not well whether 4 Interrog What things were debated in those meetings or Assemblies Answer That the things Chiefly and most often considered of in those Assemblies were these First The subscription to the Book of Common-Prayer how farr it might be yielded unto rather then any should forgoe his Ministery Secondly The Book of Discipline was often perused discussed c. Thirdly Three petitions or supplications were agreed upon to be drawn First to her Majesty Secondly to the Lords of the Councell Thirdly to the Bishops The things debated of in particular he remembred not more then these First the pâ—rfecting of the Book of Discipline and purpose to subscribe to it at Cambridge Secondly this question disputed whether it were convenient for M r Cartwright to reveal the Circumstances of the Conference a little before he was committed Thirdly The admonishing of M r Johnson once at Northampton Fourthly The debating of this question whether the Books called Apocrypha were warrantable to be read publickly in the Church as the Canonical Scriptures 5 Interrog Whether any Censures were exercised what kinds when where upon whom by whom for what cause Answer That he never saw any Censure exercised saving admonition once upon M r Johnson of Northampton for miscarrying himself in his conversation to the Scandall of his Calling neither was that used with any kinde of Authority but by a voluntary yielding unto it and approving of it as well in him that was admonished as in him which did admonish 6 Interrog Whether any of the said Defendents had moved or perswaded any to refuse an Oath and in what case c Answer That he never knew any of the Defendents to use words of perswasion to any to refuse an Oath only M r Snape sent him down in writing certain reasons drawn out of the Scripture which moved him to refuse the generall Oath ex officio which I stood perswaded that he sent to none other end but to declare that he refused not to swear upon any contempt but only for Conscience sake I have insisted the longer on this Deposition because the first and fullest that I finde in the kinde thereof conteining their Classes more formally setled in Northampton-shire then any where else in England For as the west part of that shire is observed to be the highest place of England as appeareth by the Rivers rising there and running thence to the four winds so was that County a probable place as the middest of the land for the Presbyterian Discipline there erected to derive it self into all the quarters of the kingdom 40. The reasons why Mr. Stone made this confession againâ— the hope and expectation of the Breth But when the news of Mr. Stones answer was brought abroad he was generally censured by those of his party as well such as were yet at liberty conceiving themselves endangered by his discovery as by those already in prison complaining that he added affliction to their bonds Yea his embracing a different course from the rest cast an Aspersion on others of his side as less sound in Judgement or tender in conscience because peremptorily concealing what he thought fitting to confess Many that highly esteemed him before hereafter accounted him no pretious but a counterfet stone So that he found it necessary in his own vindication to impart the reasons of his Confession to such as condemned him if not for a Traytor at least for a Coward in the Cause 1. a Carefully by me transcribed out of his own Letters to his friends He judged it unlawfull to refuse an oath limitted and bounded within the compass of the conferences being required before a lawfull Magistrate in a Plea for the Prince to a lawfull end 1. to trie out the truth in a doubtfull fact suspected and feared to be dangerous both to Church and Common-Weal but such was that oath which was tendered to him ergo 2. He being lawfully sworn judged it unlawfull to be mute much more to speak any untruth 3. If he had not been urged by oath to reveal yet did he judge that silence unlawfull which justly causeth suspition of evill as of Treason Rebellion Sedition c. 4. He judged that concealment unlawfull which was not only scandalous but also dangerous as this that might occasion and incourage wicked persons to hide their Complices in their worst attempts 5. He judged that the clearing of a doubtfull fact requireth the clearing of the Circumstances which cannot be cleared till they be known 6. He judged that silence unlawfull which leaveth the truth friendless or few friends when she hath need of many 7. He judged it a point or note of Puritanisme for any to stand so upon the integrity of their own Actions as that they should not be doubted of suspected examined censured c. 8. He saw no probability nor possibility in reason to have the circumstances longer concealed 1. Because many of them are already made known partly by the letters and writings of the B. in Bonds which have been intercepted partly also by certain false brethren and lastly by certain faithfull but weak brethren whose confessions are to be seen under their own hands 2. Because the Magistrate is resolutely set to search them out and lastly because divers are to be called and to answer upon Oath which approve not the concealing of them 9. He judged the inconveniences which come by the concealing to be if not moe in number yet greater in weight and nore inevitable then those that come by revealings which as it may appear in some of the former Reasons alledged to prove the unlawfulness of concealing so may it further appear in these that follow 10. The good name and credit of any of a Minister much more ought to be dearer to him and to all those that love him then his liberty c. but by this concealing the credit of many good Ministers is eclipsed 11. This concealing hath caused the continuance of some in bonds and imprisonment hitherto would cause others to be committed and withall causeth suspition of evills Treason Rebellion Sedition c. and thereby also evill report slander c. 12. As by concealing the aforesaid suspition and slander lieth still upon us all which have been in these actions so doth the same grow every day more grievous by the wicked attempts of hypocrites and prophane persons which carry the name of Puritans Precisians c. as those of late in Cheap-side 13. Although it be very like that the revealing will bring punishment upon the rest yet is it not certain nor necessary but the concealing doth
time may be limited within the compasse whereof they shall conforme His Majesty I assent thereunto and let the Bishop of the Diocesse set downe the time Mr. Knewst I request * Here he fell down on his knees the like favour of forbearance to some honest Ministers in Suffolk For it will make much against their credits in the Countrey to be now forced to the Surplice and Crosse in Baptisime Arch-b of Cant. Nay Sir His Majesty Let me alone to answer him Sir you shew your self an uncharitable man We have here taken paines and in the end have concluded on Unity and Uniformity and you forsooth must prefer the credits of a few Private Men before the Peace of the Church This is just the Scotch Argument when any thing was concluded which disliked some humours Let them either conform themselves shortly or they shall hear of it L d. Cecil The indecencie of ambuling Communions is very offensive and hath driven many from the Church BP of Lond. And Mr. Chaderton I could tell you of sitting Communions in Emanuel Colledge Mr. Chad. It is so because of the seats so placed as they be and yet we have some kneeling also in our Chappell His Majesty No more hereof for the present seeing they have joyntly promised hereafter to be quiet and obedient Whereat He rose up to depart into an inner Chamber BP of Lond. Gods goodnesse be blessed for your Majesty and give health and prosperity to Your Highnesse your Gracious Queene the young Prince and all the Royall Issue Thus ended the three dayes Conference The generall censure of the Conferencers wherein how discreetly the King carried himself Posterity out of the reach of Flatterie is the most competent Judg such matters being most truly discerned at distance It is generally said that herein he went above himselfe that the Bishop of London appeared even with himselfe and Dr. Reinolds fell much beneath himselfe Others observed that Archbishop Whitgift spake most gravely Bancroft when out of passion most politickly Bilson most learnedly And of the Divines Mr. Reynolds most largely Knewstubs most affectionately Chaderton most sparingly In this Scene onely Dr. Sparks was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 making use of his hearing not speech converted it seemes to the truth of what was spoken and soon after setting forth a Treatise of Unity and Uniformity But the Nonconformists complained The Non-conformists Complaint that the King sent for their Divines not to have their Scruples satisfied but his Pleasure propounded not that he might know what they could say but they what he would do in the matter Besides no wonder if Dr. Reynolds a little lost himself whose eyes were partly dazled with the light of the Kings Majesty partly daunted with the heat of his displeasure Others complaine that this Conference is partially set forth onely by Dr. Barlow Dean of Chester their professed Adversary to the great disadvantage of their Divines And when the Israelites go down to the Philistines to whet all their Iron Tooles no wonder if they set a sharp edge on their owne and a blunt one on their Enemies weapons This Conference produced some alterations in the Lyturgie The Product of this Conference Womens baptising of Infants formerly frequent hereafter forbidden in the Rubrick of Absolution Remission of Sinnes inserted Confirmation termed also an Examination of Children and some words altered in the Dominicall Gospels with a resolution for a new Translation of the Bible But whereas it was hitherto disputable whether the North where he long lived or the South whither he lately came should prevaile most on the Kings judgement in Church-government this doubt was now clearly decided Hence forward many cripples in conformitie were cured of their former halting therein and such who knew not their owne till they knew the Kings minde in this matter for the future quietly digested the Ceremonies of the Church We have formerly made mention of the Millemanus Petition for Reformation The Copy of the Milenary Petition which about this time was solemnly presented to His Majesty and which here we have truly exemplified The humble Petition of the Ministers of the Church of England desiring Reformation of certaine Ceremonies and abuses of the Church To the most Christian and excellent Prince our Gracious and dread Soveraigne James by the grace of God c. We the Ministers of the Church of England that desire Reformation wish a long prosperous and happy Raigne over us in this Life and in the next everlasting Salvation MOst gracious and dread Soveraigne Seeing it hath pleased the Divine Majesty to the great comfort of all good Christians to advance Your Highnesse according to Your just Title to the peaceable Government of this Church and Common-wealth of ENGLAND We the Ministers of the Gospel in this Land neither as factious men affecting a popular Parity in the Church nor as Schismatikes aiming at the dissolution of the State Ecclesiasticall but as the faithfull servants of Christ and Loyall Subjects to Your Majesty desiring and longing for the redresse of divers abuses of the Church could doe no lesse in our obedience to God service to Your Majesty love to his Church than acquaint Your Princely Majesty with our particular griefs For as Your Princely Pen writeth The King as a good Physitian must first know what peccant humours his Patient naturally is most subject unto before he can begin his cure And although divers of us that sue for Reformation have formerly in respect of the times subscribed to the Book some upon Protestation some upon Exposition given them some with Condition rather than the Church should have been deprived of their labour and ministerie Yet now we to the number of moe than a thousand of Your Majesties Subjects and Ministers all groaning as under a common burden of Humane Rites and Ceremonies doe with one joynt consent humble our selves at Your Majesties Feet to be eased and relieved in this behalf Our humble suit then unto Your Majesty is that these offences following some may be removed some amended some qualified I. In the Church-Service That the Crosse in Baptisme Interrogatories ministred to Infants Confirmation as superfluous may be taken away Baptisme not to be ministred by Women and so explained The Cap and Surplice not urged That Examination may goe before the Communion That it be ministred with a Sermon That divers termes of Priests and Absolution and some other used with the Ring in Marriage and other such like in the Book may be corrected The long-somenesse of Service abridged Church-songs and Musick moderated to better edification That the Lords day be not profaned The Rest upon Holy-dayes not so strictly urged That there may be an Uniformity of Doctrine prescribed No Popish Opinion to be any more taught or defended No Ministers charged to teach their people to bow at the name of JESUS That the Canonicall Scriptures onely be read in the Church II. Concerning Church-Ministers That none hereafter
Apocrypha was read in Churches viz. about sixty Chapters for the first lesson from the 28. of September till the 24. of November Canonicall Scripture is alone appointed to be read in the Scotch Liturgy one day alone excepted viz. All Saints day when Wisdome the 3 and Ecclesiasticus the 14 are ordered for Morning and Evening Praier on the same token there wanted not such who said that those two Chapters were left there to keep possession that all the rest might in due time be reintroduced Secondly The word Priest therein declined The word Priest often used in the English Liturgy gave offence to many in so much that c Cartwright in his Admonition 3. cap. 1. division one writeth To call us Priests as touching our office is either to call back again the old Priesthood of the Law which is to deny Christ to be come or else to keep a memory of the Popish Priesthood of abomination still amongst us besides we never read in the New-Testament that the word Priest as touching office is used in the good part Whereupon to prevent exception it was mollified into Presbyter in the Scotch Rubrick 97. The names of sundry Saints omitted in the English Scotch Saints inserted into the Kalender are inserted into the Scotch Kalender but only in black letters on their severall daies according to the form following January February March 11 David King 13 Mungo Bishop in Latin Kentigernus 18 Colman 11 Constantine the 3. King 17 Patrick 20 Cutbert April May. June 1 Gilbert Bishop 20 Serfe Bishop  9 Columba July August September 6 Palladius  18 Ninian Bishop 25 Adaman Bishop October November December  16 Margaret Queen 27 Ode Virgin 4 Droftane Some of these were Kings all of them Natives of that Countrey Scotch and Irish in former ages being effectually the same and which in probability might render them to the favor of their countrey-men some of them as Coleman c. zealous opposites to the Church of Rome in the celebration of Easter 98. But these Scotch Saints were so farr from making the English Laturgy acceptable Alterations of Addition in the Scotch Liturgie that the English Liturgy rather made the Saints odious unto them Such the Distasting alterations in the Book reduceable to 1. Additions 2. Omissions 3. Variations 4. and Transpositions To instance in the most materiall of the first kinde 1. In the Baptisme these words are inserted d Fol. 106. pag. 2. Sanctifie this fountain of water thou which art the Sanctifier of all things Which words are enjoyned to be spoken by the Minister so often as the water in the Fount is changed which must be at least twice a moneth 2. In the Praier after the Doxologie and before the Communion this Passage expunged by the English Reformers out of our Liturgy is out of the Ordinary of Sarum inserted in the Scotch Praier Book And of thy almighty c fol. 102. pagina 1. goodnesse vouchsafe so to blesse and sanctify with thy word and holy word these thy gifts and Creatures of Bread and Wine that they may be unto us the body and blood of thy most dearly beloved Sonne from which words saith the Scotch Author all f Bayly in his Canterburians Self-conviction pag. Papists use to draw the truth of the Transubstantiation 3. He that Celebrateth is injoyned to cover that which remaineth of the consecrated Eleents with a faire linen Cloth or Corporall g fol. 103. pag. 2. a word unknown to vulgar Eares of either Nations in other sense then to signify an under-officer in a foot Company and complained of to be purposely placed here to wrap up therein all Romish superstition of Christs Carnall Corporall presence in the Sacrament 4. In the Praier for the State of Christs Church Militant these words are added And h folio 98. pagina 1. we also blesse thy holy name for all those thy servants who having finished their course in faith doe now rest from their labours And we yeeld unto thee most high praise and hearty thanks for the wonderfull grace and vertue declared in all thy Saints who have been the choice vessells of thy grace and the lights of the world in their severall generations most humbly beseeching thee that we may have grace to follow the example of their stedfastnesse in thy faith and obedience to thy holy commandements that at the day of the generall Resurrection we and all they which are of the mysticall body of thy Sonne may be set on his right hand and hear that his most joyfull voice Come yee blessed c. 99. Amongst the Omissions none more complained of than the deleting these words The most materiall omission in the delivery of the bread at the Sacrament Take i fol. 103. pag. 2. and eat this in remembrance that Christ dyed for thee and feed on him in thine heart by faith with thanksgiving A passage destructive to Transubstantiation as diverting Communicants from Carnall Munducation and directing their Soules to a spirituall repast on their Saviour All which in the Scotch Liturgy is cut off with an Amen from the Receiver The Variations and Transpositions are of lesse moment as where the money gathered at the offer ory distributable by the English Liturgy to the poor alone hath a moyety thereof assigned the Minister therewith to buy him books of holy Divinity and some praiers are transposed from their place and ordered elsewhere whereat some doe take no small exception Other smaller differences if worth the while will quickly appear to the curious perusers of both Liturgies 100. Pass we now from the constitution of the book The discontented condition of the Scorch Nation when the Liturgy was first brought unto them to the condition of the Scotch Nation in this unhappy juncture of time when it was imposed upon him For it found them in a discontented posture and high Royalists will maintain that murmuring and muting against Princes differ only in degree nor in kinde occasioned on severall accounts 1. Some years since the King had passed an Act of revocation of Crown Lands aliened in the minority of his Ancesters whereby much land of the Nobility became obnoxious to forfeiture k The Kings declaration at large pag. 6. And though all was forgiven again by the Kings clemency and nothing acted hereby to the prejudice of any yet it vexed some to hold that as remitted by the Kings bounty wherein they conceived themselves to be before unquestionably estated 2. Whereas many formerly in Scotland were rather Subjects than Tenants rather Vassalls than Subjects Such the Land-lords Princely not to say Tyranniolly power over them the King had lately freed many from such dangerous dependence Especially in point of payment of Tythes to the Lords of the Erection equivalent to our English lay Impropriators but allowing the Land lords a valuable consideration according to the purchases l Idem pag. 9. of that Countrey whereby the
degrees whereby the Bishops declined in Parliament some whereof we will recount that posterity may perceive by what degrees they did lessen in the House before they lost their Votes therein First whereas it was customary that in all Commissions such a number of Bishops should be joyned with the temporall Lords of late their due proportions were not observed The Clark of the Parliament applying himselfe to the prevalent party in the reading of Bills turned his back to the Bishops who could not and it seems he intended they should not distinctly hear any thing as if their consent or dissent were little concerned therein When a Bill passed for exchange of Lands betwixt the Bishop of London and Sir Nicolas Crispe the temporall Lords were offended that the Bishop was styled Right Honourable therein which at last was expung'd and he intitled one of his Majesties most Honourable Privy Councell the honour being fixed upon his State imployment not Episcopall function On a solemn Fast in their going to Church the temporall Lords first took precedency of the Bishops who quietly submitted themselves to come behind on the same token that a The young Lord Spencer afterwards E. of Sunderland one of the Lay-Lords said Is this a day Humiliation wherein we shew so much pride in taking place of those to whom our ancestors ever allow'd it But the main matter was that the Bishops were denied all medling even in the Commission of preparatory examinations concerning the Earl of Strafford as causa sanguinis and they as men of mercy not to deal in the condemnation of any person The Bishops pleaded though it was not proper for them to condemn the guilty yet they might acquit the innocent and such an one as yet that Earl was charitably presumed to be untill legally convicted to be otherwise They alledged also in their own behalf that a Commission was granted in the reign of Queen Elizabeth to certain Privy-Counsellors for the examination of the Queen of Scots Anno Dom. 1640 even to her condemnation if just cause appear'd b Camdens Eliz in An. 15â—6 and John Whitgift Archbishop of Canterbury first named therein All would not prevaile the Bishops being forbidden any interposing in that matter 11. It must not be forgotten Bishops refus willingly to resigne their Votes how about this time the Lord Kimbolton made a motion to perswade the Bishops willingly to depart with their Votes in Parliament adding that if the same would surrender their suffrages the temporall Lords who remained in the House were obliged in honour to be more tender of and carefull for the Bishops preservation in their Jurisdictions and Revenues An instrument was imployed by the Earl of Essex or else he imployed himself conceiving the service acceptable who dealt privately with severall Bishops to secure themselves by prevention to surrender that which would be taken away from them But the Bishops persisted in the negative refusing by any voluntary act to be accessarie to their own injury resolving to keep possession of their Votes till a prevalent power outed them thereof 12. Now no day passed Multitudes of petitions against Bishops wherein some petition was not presented to the Lords or Commons from severall persons against the Bishops as grand grievancers causing the generall decay of trade obstructing the proceedings in Parliament and what not In so much that the very Porters as they said were able no longer to undergoe the burden of Episcopall tyranny and petitioned against it But hitherto these were but blunt petitions the last was a sharp one with point and edg brought up for the same purpose by the armed Apprentices 13. Now A land-tide of Apprentices flow to Westminster seeing mens judgments are at such a distance about the nature of this their practice some terming it a tumult Anno Dom. 1441. mutiny riot others calling it courage zeal and industry some admiring them as acted with a publique spirit above their age and education others condemning them much their countenancers more their secret abetters and contrivers most of all I say when men are thus divided in point of judgement it will be safest for us to confine our selves meerly to matter of fact Wherein also we meet with much diversity of relation though surely what a c John Vicars in his God in the Mount or Parliamentarie Chronicle lib. 1. pag. 58. Parliatary Chronicler writes thereof must be believed Now Decem. 26. see how it pleased the Lord it should come to passe some of the Apprentices and Citizens were again affronted about Westminster-Abbey and a great noise and hubbub fell out thereabouts Others some of them watched as it seems by the sequell the Bishops coming to the Parliament who considering the disquiet and great noise by land all about Westminster durst not come to Parliament that way for fear of the Apprentices and therefore intended to have come to Parliament by water in Barges But the Apprentices watched them that way also and as they thought to come to land they were so pelted with stones and frighted at the sight of such a company of them that they durst not land but were rowed back and went away to their places Thus the Bishops were fain to shelter themselves from the showre of stones ready to fall upon them and with great difficulty made their escape Who otherwise on St. Stephans day had gone St. Stephans way to their graves 14. As for the hubbub at Westminster Abbey lately mentioned The manner of the tumult at Westminster Abby and White-Hall belongs to the pens of State Historians eye-witnesses have thus informed me of the manner thereof Of thoses Apprences who coming up to the Parliament cryed No Bishops no Bishops some rudely rushing into the Abby Church were reproved by a Virger for their irreverent behaviour therein Afterwards quitting the Church the doors thereof by command from the Dean were shut up to secure the Organs and Monuments therein against the return of Apprentices For though others could not foretell the intentions of such a tumult who could not certainly tell their own yet the suspicion was probable by what was uttered amongst them The multitude presently assault the Church under pretence that some of their party were detained therein and force a pane out of the North door but are beaten back by the officers Scholars of the Colledge Here an unhappy tile was cast by an unknown hand from the leads or battlements of the Church which so bruised Sir Richard Wiseman conductor of the Apprentices that he died thereof and so ended that dayes distemper 15. To return to the Bishops Why no more then 12 of the Bishops present at the Protest the next day twelve of them repaired to Jerusalem-Chamber in the Deans lodgings and if any demand where were the rest of them to make up twenty six take this account of their absence 13 Dr. Laud Archbishop of Cant. was in the Tower 14 Dr. Juxon Bishop
pounds for two Fellowships Nor to the memorie of Dr. Watts in particular whose poor kindred he afterward sought after found out and relieved shall I say or rewarded 58. Nor must Reynere de Aubeney and Robert de Stanton Benefactors in losing their lives both first fellows of this Colledge be forgotten amongst the Benefactors being employed as Procurators at Rome to Pope Innocent the sixth to obtain the Appropriation of some Rectorles the Patronage whereof the Foundress had conferred on the Colledge In which service well forwarded but not finished by them they there ended their lives and in gratitude to their memories a Statute was made in the Colledge that their obsequies should yearly be kept in the moneth of July And now we take our farewell of this Hall when we have remembred how Queen Elizabeth passing by the same in her progress to Cambridge 1566 saluted it with this expression O Domus antiquâ— religiosâ— O ancient and religious House SECTION III. DOMINO GULIELMO PASTON de PASTON in Com. NORF. Equiti Aurato Patrono meo Colendissimo NVmerantur anni plus minus triginta ex quo tu Cantabrigiae invidendum decus Collegii Corporis Christi literis operam navasti Effluxit jam decennium a quo Europam Asiam Africam peragrasti Nullo pignore cum tuis oculis meus calamus certabit cùm tibi perlustranti quà m mihi describenti plures regiones objectae fuerint Te olim Alumnum nunc Judicem statuit Cantabrigia an orbis Christianus Oxonio sorore exceptâ aliquid ei aut aequum aut aemulum exhibeat Omnia eveniant ex votis tibi sobolÃque tuae de quâ hoc addam unicum Si domus tua Antiqua tot visura sit Dominos Cognomines Posteros quot videt Majores Mundus jam senescens planè bis puer prorsus delirabit 1. HEre at this time were two eminent Guilds or Fraternities of Town-folk in Cambridge Anno Regis Edw 3. 18 consisting of Brothers and Sisters Anno Dom. 1344 under a CHIEFE annually chosen The two Cambridge Guilds united called an Alderman The Guild of Corpus Christi keeping their Praiers in St. Benedict Church The Guild of the blessed VIRGIN observing their Offices in St. Mary's Church Betwixt these there was a zealous emulation which of them should amortize and settle best maintenance for such Chaplains to pray for the Souls of those of their Brotherhood Now though generally in those dayes the Stars out-shin'd the Sun I mean more honor and consequently more wealth was given to Saints than to Christ himself yet here the Guild of Corpus Christi so out-stript that of the Virgin Mary in endowments that the latter leaving off any farther thoughts of contesting desired an union which being embraced they both were incorporated together 2. Thus being happily married Corpus Christi or Bennet Colledge buile they were not long issue-less but a small Colledge was erected by their united interest which bearing the name of both Parents was called the Colledge of Corpus Christi and the blessed Mary However it hath another working-day name commonly called from the adjoined Church Bennet Colledge yet so that on festival Solemnities when written in Latin in publique Instruments it is termed by the foundation-name thereof 3. Some years after Hen Duke of Lancaster the honorary founder the Guild made their addresses to Henry Duke of Lancaster a kinde of Guardian to the King in his minority and politiquely chose him Alderman of their Society They knew a friend in the Court is as good as money in the purse and because the Procurer is a giver at the second hand they conceived his countenance very advantagious to obtain their MORTMAINE as indeed this Lord did them Dukes-service therein and the Mannor of Barton was partly the fruit of his bounty incouraging also many by his example to the same work But chiefly 1. Sir John Cambridge Knight and Thomas his son Esquire who gave to the Colledge 35 or 36 tenements besides his capital messuage called the Stone-house and a hundred acres of ground wanting one rood in Cambridge and Nuneham 2. Henry Tangmeere Towns-man of Cambridge and in his turn Alderman of the Guild gave by his Will 18 or 19 houses in Cambridge and Nuneham and in lands at both ends of the Town 85 acres 3. Thomas de Eltisley chosen first Master of the Colledge not that the place might maintain him but he the place being richly beneficed and well seen in secular affairs gave much to this House and intended more had not Robert de Eltisley Clerk his younger brother Executor and Feoffee for the Colledge defeated the same Thus was the foundation soon inlarged into a Master and eight Fellows three bible Clerks and six Scholars their chief maintenance arising from candle-rents in Cambridge being so well stored with houses therein that every Scholar had two every Fellow five and the Master more then ten for his proportion though at this day they can hardly produce half the number the rest being either sold exchanged or lost by continuance of time and carelesness of their Officers 4. Be it here remembred that John Stow Stows mistake with the ground thereof in the abridgement of his Annals set out 1566 by one mistake doth a double injury to this Colledge by referring it to a false founder and assigning a wrong much later age thereof when affirming that JOHN of GAUNT built the same about the year 1357. But his error is grounded herein because JOHN-A-GAUNT married Blanch the daughter and heir of the aforesaid Duke of Lancaster and was an especial friend and favorer to this foundation For when a flaw was found in their MORT-MAIN for want of some legall punctuality and when it was certified by inquisition into the Chancery by John Repingale the Kings Exchetor that the lands of this Guild were forfeited to the Crown JOHN of GAUNT procured their confirmation to the Colledge 5. A grand solemnity was observed by this Guild every Corpus Christi day being alwaies the thursday after Trinity Sunday according to this equipage The superstitious Precession on Corpus Christi day 1. The Alderman of the Guild for that year as Master of the Ceremonies went first in procession 2. Then the ELDERS THEREOF who had been Aldermen or were neer the office carrying Silver Shields * Scuta argentea obrtzo circumducta inamelled in their hands bestowed on the Brotherhood some by Henry D r. of Lancaster some by Henry Tongmere aforementioned 3. There the Master of this Colledge in a Silke-Cope under a Canopy carrying the Host in the Pixe or rich Boxe of Silver gilt having two for the purpose 1. One called the GRIPES eye given by H. Tanguer 2. Another weighing Seventy eight Ounces bestowed by S r. John Cambridge 4. Then the Vice-Chancellor with the University-men in their Seniorities 5. Lastly the Maior of the Town and Burgesses thereof Thus from Bennet Church they advanced to the great
afterwards sold for seven pounds Anno 1544. the 36. of HENRY the 8 th Imprimis Received of Adam Tanner the overplus of the money which was gathered for the purchase of the Bells two pound four shillings and eleven pence It seems the Kings Officers sold and the Parish then purchased the five Bells being great and tunable who as they gave bountifully so I presume they bought reasonably and the surplusage of the money was delivered Item Received of Richard Tanner for eight Stoles three shillings A Stole was a vestment which the Priest used Surely these were much worn and very rags of Popery as sold for four pence half penny a piece It seems the Church-wardens were not so charitable to give away nor so superstitious to burn but so thrifty as to make profit by sale of these decayed vestments Item Paid for mending the hand-bell two pence This was not fixed as the rest in any place of Church or Steeple but being a Diminutive of the Saints-bell was carried in the Sextons hands at the circumgestation of the Sacrament the visitation of the sick and such like occasions Item Paid to Philip wright Carpenter for making a frame in the Bell-frey eighteen shillings four pence The Bels being bought by the Parishioners were taken down out of the decayed Steeple and we shall afterwards see what became thereof Mean time a timber-frame was made which the aged of the last generation easily remembred in the South-East end of the Church-yard where now two Yew-trees stand and a shift made for some years to hang the Bells thereon Anno 1546. the 38. of HENRY the 8 th Item For clasps to hold up the Banners in the body of the Church eight pence By these I understand not Pennons with Arms hanging over the Graves of interred Gentlemen but rather some superstitious Streamers usually carried about in Procession Item Paid to John Boston for mending the Organs twentie pence The state of Waltham Church during the Reign of King EDWARD the Sixth OLd things are passed away behold all things now are become new Superstition by degrees being banished out of the Church we hear no more of prayers and Masses for the dead Every Obit now had its own Obit and fully expired the Lands formerly given thereunto being imployed to more charitable uses But let us select some particulars of the Church-wardens accounts in this Kings dayes Anno 1549. the 3 d. of EDWARD the Sixth Imprimis Sold the Silver plate which was on the desk in the Charnel weighing five ounces for twenty five shillings Guess the gallantry of our Church by this presuming all the rest in proportionable equipage when the desk Anno Dom. whereon the Priest read was inlaid with plate of silver Item Sold a rod of iron which the curtain run upon before the Rood Anno Regis nine pence The Rood was an Image of Christ on the Corss made generally of wood and erected in a loft for that purpose just over the passage out of the Church into the Chancel And wot you what spiritual mysterie was couched in this position thereof The Church forsooth typified the Church Militant the Chancel represents the Church Triumphant and all who will pass out ot the sormer into the latter must go under the Rood-lost that is carry the cross and be acquainted with affliction I add this the rather because a Fox Acts Mon. in the examination of Tho. Hawks pag. 1590. Harpsfield that great Scholar who might be presumed knowing in his own art of Superstition confesseth himself ignorant ot the reason of the Rood-scituation Item Sold so much Wax as amounted to twenty six shillings So thristy the Wardens at that they bought not candles and tapers ready made but bought the wax at the best hand and payed poor people for the making of them Now they sold their Magazine of wax as useless Under the Reformation more light and fewer candles Item Paid for half of the Book called Paraphrase five shillings By the seventh Injunction of King Edward each Parish was to procure the Paraphrase of Erasmus namely the first part thereof on the Gospels and the same to be let up in some convenient place in the Church Item Spent in the Visitation at Chelmsford amongst the Wardens and other honest men fourteen-shillings four pence A round summe I assure you in those dayes This was the first Visitation kept by Nicholas Ridley newly Bishop of London whereat Waltham-Wardens ever appeared out of their own Town whole Abbot formerly had Episcopal Jurisdiction Anno 1551 the 5 th of EDWARD the 6 th Imprimis Received for a Knell of a servant to the Lady Mary her Grace ten pence Cept-Hall in this Parish being then in the Crown the Lady afterwards Queen Mary came thither sometimes to take the air probably during whose residence there this her servant died Item Lost fourty six shillings by reason of the fall of money by Proclamation King Henry much debased the English Coyn to his own gain and the Lands loss if Soveraigns may be said to get by the damage of their Subjects yet all would not do to pay his debts His Son Edward endeavoured to reduce the Coyn to its true standard decrying bad money by his Proclamation to the intrinsick value thereof But prevented by death he effected not this difficult design Adultery in Men and Adulterateness in Money both hardly reclaimed which was afterwards compleated by the care of Queen Elizabeth Item Received for two hundred seventy one ounces of Plate sold at several times for the best advantage sixtie seven pound fourteen shillings and nine pence Now was the Brotherhood in the Church dissolved consisting as formerly of three Priests three Choristers and two Sextons and the rich plate belonging to them was sold for the good of the Parish It may seem strange the Kings Commissioners deputed for that purpose seised not on it from whose hands Waltham found some favour befriended by the Lord Rich their Countrey-man the rather because of their intentions to build their decaied Steeple Church-alterations in the Reign of Queen MARY NEw Lady new Laws Now strange the Metamorphosis in Waltham Condemn not this our Como-graphie or description of a Country-Town as too low and narrow a subject seeing in some sort the Historie of Waltham-Church is the Church-History of England all Parishes in that age being infected alike with superstition Nor intend I hereby to renew the memorie of Idolatrie but to revive our gratitude to God for the abolishing thereof whose numerous trinkets here ensue Anno 1554. Mariae primo Imprimis For a Cross with a foot cooper and gilt twentie five shillings Item For a Cross-staff copper and gilt nine shillings and four pence Item For a Pax copper and gilt five shillings Greet one another saith S t a 1 Cor 16. 20. Paul with an holy kiss on which words of the Apostle the Pax had its original This Ceremony performed in the Primitive times and Eastern Countries