Letters which they sent to King James written in Latin With whicâ— Letters they came over into England and presenâ—ed themselves to the King at Court where after courteous entertaining of them he favourably dismissed them Removing Bishop Câ—rleton to Chichester preferring Dr. Davenant to the Bishopriâ—k of Salisbury and bestowing the Mastership of the Savay upon Balâ—anqual The decisions of this Synod have been since approved applauded Joh. Goodwin in his Redemption Redeemed c. 15. parag 24. magnified by some vilified condemned by others Of such as dislike the Synod none falls heavier upon it than Mr. John Goodwin charging the Synodians to have taken a previous Oath to condemn the opposite party on what termes soever Mr. Fuller desirous to be rightly informed herein wrote a Letter to Bishop Hall who was pleased to return him this answer Whereas you desire from me a just relation of the carriage of the business of the Synod of Dort and the conditions required of our Divines there at or before their Admission to that Grave and Learned Assembly I whom God was pleased to employ as an unworthy Agent in that great work and to reserve still upon Earth after all my Reverend and Worthy Associates do as in the presence of that God to whom I am now daily expecting to yield up my account testifie to you and if you will to the World that I cannot without just indignation read that slaunderous Imputation which Mr Goodwin in his Redemption Redeemed reports to have been raised and cast upon those Divines eminent both for Learning and Piety That they suffered themselves to be bound with an Oath at or before their Admission into that Synod to vote down the Remonstrants howsoever so as they came deeply preingaged to the decision of those unhappy differences All the Oath that was required of us was this After that the Moderator Assistents and Scribes were chosen and the Synod formed and the several members allowed there was a solemn Oath required to be taken by every oâ—e of that Assembly which was publickly done in a grave manner by every person in their order standing up and laying his Hand upon his heart calling the great God of Heaven to witness that he would uâ—partially proceed in the judgement of these Controversies which should be laid before him onely out of and according to the written Word of God and no otherwise so determining of them as he should find in his Conscience most agreeable to the holy Scriptures Which Oaâ—h was punctually agreed to be thus taken by the Articles of the States concerning the Indiction and ordering of the Synod as plainly appeareth in their tenth Article and this was all the Oath that was either taken or required c. The same year died Dr. James Mountague the worthy Bishop of Winchester son to Sir Edward Mountague of Boughton in Northamptonshire highly favoured by King James preferring him to the Bishopriâ—k first of Bath and Wells then to Wincâ—ester In Bath he lies buried under a fair Tomb though the whole Church be his Monument which his Bounty repaired Anno 1619. died John Overal Bishop of Norwich accounted one of the most Learned Controversial Divines of those days Anno 1620. the Protestant States of the Upper and Lower Austria upon the approach of the Bavarian Army seeing nothing but manifest ruin renounce their Confederacy with the Bohemians and submit to the Emperor saving to themselves their Rights and Priviledges in Religion Râ—shworth Histor Collâ—ctions And the Elector of Saxony assists the Emperor and executes the Ban against the Palatine King James soon after receives the news of the Palsgrave's overthrow After the Assembly at Segenbergh the Palatine and his Princess took their journey into Holland where they found a refuge and noble entertainment with the Prince of Orange The Ambassage of Weston and Conway prevailed little More Princes of the union reconcile themselves to the Emperor The Imperial Protestant Towns Strasburgh Worms and Norembergh subscribe to conditions of Peace The reconciled Princes and States intercede for the Elector Palatine but in vain In England the Parliament petition the King for the due execution of Laws against Jesuites Seminary Priests and Popish Recusants On July 10. 1621. John Williams D. D. and Dean of Westminster was sworn Keeper of the Great Seal of England Then the King was sollicited from Spain and Rone to enlarge his favours to Popish Recusants The House of Commons presented to the King a petition and Remonstrance which laid open the distempers of those times with their Causes and Cures They Represented to Him I. The Vigilancy and Ambition of the Pope of Rome and his dearest Son the one aiming at as large a Temporal Monarchy as the other at a Spiritual Monarchy II. The devilish Doctrines whereon Popery is built and taught with Authority to their followers for advancement of their Temporal ends III. The miserable estate of the professors of true Religion in forreign parts IV. The disastrous accidents to his Majestie 's children abroad c. V. The strange confederacy of Popish Princes c. VI. The interposing of forreign Princes and their Agents in the behalf of Popish Recusants c. VII Their usual resort to the Houses and Chappels of forreign Ambassadors VIII Their more than usual concourse to the City and their frequent Conventicles and conferences there IX The education of their Children in several Seminaries and Houses of their Religion in forreign parts appropriated to the English fugitives X. The licentious Printing and dispersing of Popish and Seditious Books even in the time of Parliament XI The swarms of Priests and Jesuites dispersed in all parts of the Kingdom From these Causes they offered to his Majesty what dangerous Effects they foresaw would follow I. The Popish Religion is incompatible with ours in respect of their positions II. It draws with it an unavoidable dependancy on forreign Princes III. If once it get but a connivency it will press for a Toleration c. Then they propounded Remedies against these some whereof were That for securing the peace at home his Majesty would be pleased to review the parts of their petition formerly delivered to him and to put in execution by the eare of choice Commissioners to be thereunto appointed the Laws already and hereafter to be made for preventing of dangers by Popish Recusants That the Children of the Nobility and Gentry of this Kingdom and of others suspected in their Religion now beyond the Seas may be forthwith called home That the Children of Popish Recusants c. be brought up during their minority with Protestant School-masters That his Majesty will be pleased to revoke all former Licenses for such Children to travel beyond the Seas and not grant any such License hereafter c. The House had sufficient Cause to set forth the danger of true Religion when besides the great wound made in Germany and the cruelties of the prevailing House of Austria the Protestants in France were almost ruined
Teutonick Tongue as well as in the Modern doth signifie narrow strait or a nook And a Portugal alluding thereunto hath this verse Anglia terra ferax fertilis Angulus Orbis Insula praedives quae toto vix eget orbe A fruitful Angle England Thou Another world art said An Island rich and hast no need of other Countrie 's aid And although after this many errours in Doctrine and corruptions in Worship crept in more and more into our Church and the Pope encroaching by degrees the Churches of God in this Land did much degenerate as they did in other Nations so that in Process of time the whole world wondered after the Beast and they Worshipped the Beast saying who is like unto the Beast Revel 13. 3 4. Yet even in the darkest times when our Church suffered the greatest Ecclipse when her Silver was become Dross and her Wine was mixed with Water it pleased God then to raise up some eminent Persons to stand up for the Defence of the Truth in this Nation and to discover the impostures of the Church of Rome Yea how many were there that suffered Martyrdom for the Gospel here in England who detested Image-worship and other abominations in the dayes of King Henry the fourth King Henry the fift and others afterward long before Luther was born These and the like in other Nations may be called the forlorn Hope who did obequitare Antichristi castra ad pugnam elicere advance up to and ride round about the camp of Antichrist and provoke him to the main-fight What wonderfull deliverances hath God wrought for this Church and Nation in several ways When King Henry the eighth did renounce the Pope's Supremacy what plots were framed by diverse Princes against this Land to ruine it and how gratiously did the Lord protect his people here from such a storm though then he had but a very little flock in this place When Queen Mary matched with Philip of Spain in what apparent danger was this Land to fall into miserable servitude and bondage under the Iron-yoak of the Spainard ' s which diverse nations that have been subject to them have found intolerable The blind and bloody zeal of Queen Mary was likely to have rooted out all the plants of God's right hand in this Land and so have banished hence the true Church and Gospel of Christ and so to have shut this Kingdom out of the bounds of the Church There was great expectation of Issue by that Marriage between the Spanish Prince and Queen Mary who Her self also was a Spaniard by the Mother's side and Solemn Forms of Thanksgiving and Prayer were made for Her Conception and safe â—â—â—lvery and besides an Act passed in Parliament that if â—ueen Mary died in Child-bed King Philip should have the Government of this Land during the Child's Nonage and if these things had succeeded into what misery might this Land have fallen And besides had an Issue of that Marriage lived to Reign over England together with other Dominions of the Spaniard what had England been but an Inferiour Tributary Province to be Governed as it pleased the Spanish Nation even as was attempted in the Low-Countreys with Devilish cruelties to say nothing of their horrible Massacres in the West-Indies But here sâ—e the wonderful goodness of God who dwelt in the midst of this Church as a Refuge All this was prevented Queen Marie's supposed Conception vanished She was soon taken away by death and King Philip of Spain had no longer any Interest in England Queen Elizabeth a Noursing-mother to this Church Succeeded She was born September the seventh 1533. One calleth Her Angliae Delitias Europae Sydus Mundi Phoenicem c. the joy of England the Star of Europe the Phoenix of the World a Glass of God's Providence and the Mirrour of His Mercy And as if the Devil had presaged what a â—courâ—e She would prove to the Roman greatness and suggested it to Pope Clement the seventh he is said to have made a Perâ—mptory Decree against Her whilst She was in Her Mother's bâ—lly This Pope himself being the Bastard of Julian de Mâ—dâ—cis a Florentine he avowed to make Her illegitimate and unâ—apable of the Crown The like did Pope Paul the third attempt viz. To make that Royal Princess illegitimate when She was but two years Old But as the Lord blessed Her then so he did wonderfully preserve her all her Sister 's Râ—ign when many plots were laid to take away her life But as Seneca told Nero it was impossible for him to kill that man that must be his heir so it was impossible for the malice of hell to accomplish the death of the Lady Elizabeth whom the only-wise God had appointed to be her Sister's Heir So great a Ecclesiae Anglicanae reformationem desperasâ—â—t aetaâ— praeterita admiratur praesens obstâ—pâ—scet futura Scultet Annal. Reformation She wrought in England that one saith of it The Gospel had a swift passage here by diligent Preaching by Printing good Books by translating the holy Scriptures into the Vulgar Tongue by Catechizing youth by publick disputations by recording the Martyrs such a thing as even the former age had even despaired of the present age admireth and the future shall stand amazed at It is evident that the Almighty God who delighteth to shew his power in Weakness was pleased in this Renowed Queen and her brother King Edward to let the world see what great things he was able to effect by a Child and a Woman But what a multitude of plots were contrived for the destruction of Queen Elizabeth when the next heir to the Crown was a Papist and an enemy to the truth of Christianity and married to the Prince of France so that had these plots succeeded England in all probability had been subjected to France in point of Civil Government and to the Roman power in matters of Religion Admire again the singular goodness of God in protecting Queen Elizabeth and whilst the enemies of the Church were seeking ruine in the destruction of Her Royal Person the French King that had Married the next heir to the English Crown dieth and leaveth her a Widow without Issue and she not many years after became a prisoner So eminent was Queen Elizabeth that Thuanus a professed Roman Catholick but very ingenious said he heard the old Dutchess of Guise whose sons were of the greatest Enemies that Queen Elizabeth had to say that she was faelicissima gloriosissima faemina a most happy and a most glorious Woman We know who made her to differ and that she had not any thing which she had not received from above therefore let us give the praise of all to God who appointed her I am perswaded to build the old wast places to raise up the foundations of many generations she found the Kingdom weak she left it strong she found it poor she left it rich they that were enemies to her and the Gospel which they professed
Colony of London which some count Colchester and others Maldon in Essex Sacerdos a Priest both by his proper Name and Office Arminius a Deacon Anno 313. In the Synod of Nice held in Bithynia Anno 325. British Bishops were present being summoned to suppress Arianism and to establish an uniformity of the observation of Easter as Athanasius and Hilary Bishop of Poictiers do testify At the Council of Sardis in Thracia called by Constantius and Constans Sons to Constantine the Great were present the Bishops of Britain who concurred with the rest to condemn the Arrians and acquit Athanasius The British Bishops were also present at the Council of Ariminum assembled in Italy Theodoret tells us that he wrote an Epistle to all Churches concerning Theodoret Eccles Hist l. 1. c. 10. the Council of Nice wherein he saith there were then many Churches in Britain c. About the year 360. Hilary Bishop of Poictiers among diverse others dedicated his Book De Synodis fidei Catholicae contra Arianos Socrat. Scholast l. 2. c. 6. 7. to the Bishops of the Provinces of Britain during his exile for the Orthodox Faith commending them for their constancy in the profession of that Faith And by the testimony of Athanasius it appeareth that Sozom. l. 3. c. 11. 12. the Britains then had not onely Churches professing the Orthodox Faith but Bishops famous for their Piety and Learning summoned to forreign Councils in remote parts for debating and deciding the highest Articles of the Christian Faith In the year 383. Maximus a Christian and Orthodox Prince governed Du Moul. resp ad Card-du Perroâ— lib. 7 ca. 5. Britain for then all that part of the Island which was subject to the Romans was Christian Not long after the Empire being fallen in the West and torn by the Gothes Francs Vandals and Burgundians the Romans forsook the Isle of Britain which moved the Natives to commit the Kingdome to one Constantine a Britain as one descended from their Nation and a Christian vertuous man About the year 400. Chrysostome gives this testimony concerning the Chrysost oper tom 5. Britains Embracing of the Gospel Nam et Britaniae Insuae extra hoc mare sitae et qâ—ae in ipso oceano sunt vertutem verbi senserunt sunt etiam illic fundatae Ecclesiae c. Illius inquam verbi quod tunc dictum quod â—t in omnium animabus inque omnium labiis plantatum Which he seconded in another Sermon of the Feast of Pentecost CENT V. ABout the year 412 Pelagius born in Britain began to broach his Herefies publickly The same day wâ—â—reon Pelagius was born in Britain St. Augustine was also born in Africk divine providence so ordering it that the poison and the Antidote should be Twins in a manner in respect of the same time as Dr. Fuller well observeth In the year 446. the Pelagian Heresie spread over Britain and the British Churches being defiled thereby King Vortigern for the maintaining the truth sent for German Bishop of Auxerre and Lupus Bishop of Troys in Champagne out of France men famous for their doctrine and counsel who refuting this Heresie gained unto themselves a reverent esteem among the Britains but chiefly German who in a Chappel neer unto St. Albans did openly out of the pulpit preach God's word sincerely to the people This conference was held at St. Albans even where at this day a small Chappel is extant to the honour of St. German Gemanus having baptized multitudes of Pagan converts in the river Alen marched with an Army of them against the Pagans whom he found in the North-East of Wales Here he chose an hollow dale surrounded with Usser de Prit Eccles primâ—rd p. 333. hills near the Village called at this day by the English Mold by the British Guidcrue in Flintshire where the field at this day retains the name of Mees Garmon or German's field Here Germanus placed his men in ambush with instructions that a Signal given they should all shout Hallelujah three times with their might which all was done accordingly Hereat the Pagans without striking a stroak confusedly ran away and many were drowned for speed in the river Alen. After this victory Germanus prepared for his return After Germanus and Lupus were returned home into their native countrey Pelagianism began to sprout again in Britain and after three years Germanus came again with Severus into Britain and the Pelagian Heresie was again condemned in a second Synod having been before condemned in a Synod at London Germanus having setled Bâ—itain in good order returned to his own countrey where he presently died after his return and by God's blessing on his endeavours that Heresie was so cut down in Britain that it never generally grew up again About the year 453. Hengist Captain of the Saxons who came to help the Britans against the Scots and Picts who having married his own daughter to Vortigern had murthered his sovereign Lord Constans and invaded his Crown being called in for his help came with diverse ships of stout Saxon Souldiers who under pretence of protecting them from the Picts intended to plant themselves in the North part of Britain which when the Britans saw and fearing their own ruin they desired the King that he would drive them out of his Kingdome The Nobles also of his Realm did inveigh much against the King's marriage with a Pagan Woman Whereupon Anno 454. they utterly deserted King Vortigern and unanimously chose Vortimer his son to be their King who following their counsel began to expell the Barbarians and chasing them as far as the Derwent he slew many of them Vortigern also fled with them But in the year 460 Prince Vortimer died being poisoned by Rowen his Mother in law with whom the hope of the Britains was extinguished Hereupon Hengist returning into Britain with new forces treacherously slew most of the British Nobles at a pretended Treaty for peace between both Nations And the Saxons being enemies to Christian Religion and bent upon the possession of such a fruitful Counâ—rey exercised great cruelty upon the Inhabitants destroyed Churches and all Ecclesiastical things burnt the holy Scriptures slew the Ministers in the Churches endeavouring to supplant Christian Religion Vortigern had before caused Vodinus Henr. Huntingâ— Lib. 2 Arch-Bishop of London to be put to death because he reproved him for calling in the Saxons and marrying a Pagan Woman and now Theanus Bishop of London and Thaodiceus Bishop of York with others were Galsr 〈◊〉 lib. 12. forced to fly into remote places for the preservation of their lives Thus God sent down his heavie judgements upon the Britains for their Sins as Gildas writeth Britones propter avaritiam rapinam Principum propter iniquitatem injustitiam Judicum propter desidiam praedicationis Episcoporum propter luxuriam malos mores populi perdidisse patriam that is the Britans for the covetousness and oppression of the Princes for the
in those parts About a year after that memorable overthrow viz. Anno 879. in a Battel at Kinwich in Devon-shire Halden and some of the chief Leaders of the Danes received their death's wound and ended their lives hereupon the daunted and dispersed Danes humbly present their termes of Peace to King Alfred with Pledges and Hostages that they would either depart the Land or become Christians which was accepted by him Guthrun their new King upon the death of their other Leaders with thirty Noble-men and almost all his People received Baptism in the new Castle of Athelney where King Alfred was Godfather to him and gave him the name of Athelstane and upon a confederation between them Alfred did assign unto him the Provinces of the East-Angles and Northumberland Vt eas sub fidelitate Regis jure haereditario foveret quas pervaserat latrocinio that he might enjoy that by right which before he usurped by rapine and unto the new-baptized Nobles he gave many large and rich gifts This truce or league was about the ninth Lamb. Archaâ— fol. 49. year of his Reign and thus beginneth Faedus quod Aluredus Gythrudus Reges ex sapientum Anglorum atque eorum omnium qui orientalem incolebant Angliam consulto ferierunt in quod praeterea singuli non solum de seipsis verumetiam de natis suis ac nondum in lucem editis quotquot saltem misericordiae divinae aut Regiae velint esse participes jurarunt That is they did by a solemn Oath ratifie this League as well for themselves as for those that were then born and unborn that would be partakers of mercy from God or the King Then having set bounds to his Dominions certain Comitial Lawes and Ordinances were made between them enlarged and amplified by their Senators Before all things they proposed and preferred the strict and holy worshipping of Almighty God and abandoning all barbarous Idolatry next they took care for the Enacting Registring and Enrolling of Moral Laws for containing of Subjects in their several duties and due obedience and therefore they first decreed That the peace of the Church within her Walls as it was then delivered by the hand of King Alfred should be piously and inviolably observed They proceeded to the promotion and propagation of the Christian Faith and the abolition of all Paganism and Heathenish Rites for coertion of Clearks and Men in Holy Orders if they committed any Perjury Fornication or other Offences or were unconformable in the celebration of Festival-days times of Abstinence or other Orders and Injunctions of the Church prohibiting Merchandising and secular Negotiations upon the Lord's day In all which the Impositions of Penalties and Punishments upon an English Man and a Dane were differenced one from the other They also provided for the exilement of Witches Wizzards common Strumpets and other lewd Creatures with other good Laws for avoiding of Homicides and for preservation of Peace and Government and maintenance of each Man 's right of property in this their National commixture This adjured League quieted the Civil discords of the Danes and Saxons for the space of four years until the twelfth year of Alfred's Reign And afterwards the continual inrode of the stragling unbaptized Danes issuing out of France and other places who vexed that Eastern part of the Land molested this good King untill his Death This King divided his moveables into equal portions the one he appointed for uses Secular and divided it into three parts one for his Family another for building of new Works and a third he reserved for strangers The other half he dedicated unto uses Ecclesiastical and divided it into four portions one for relief of the Poor another to Monasteries the third to the Schools in Oxford where he had erected a School for Grammar another for Philosophy and a third for Divinity whereas before they had neither Grammar nor Sciences because Pope Gregory I. gave in command that Britain should have no Schools for fear of Heresies but onely Monasteries The Regents in the University and Readers in the Divinity-School were Neoth a worthy Divine and Grimbald well-skilled in Divinity In Grammar and Rhetorick the Learned Asserius who wrote the life of this King In Logick Musick and Arithmetick the Reader was John a Monk of St. Davids In Geometry and Astronomy read John a companion of Grimbald a Man Witty and Learned at which Lectures this famous King Alfred was present He gave many pensions to Scholars Learned Men in all Arts to instruct his Subjects in Religion and all kinds of Learning He contributed much to the relief of distressed Churches without his Realm He protected his Realm from oppression and injustice by his Sheriffs Justices and other Officers whose proceedings he frequently examined punishing them severely when they had judged or injured others contrary to Law out of Malice Corruption or Partiality He divided the Day and Night into three parts one eight hours he allowed himself for Eating Drinking Sleeping and Recreation another eight hours he spent in hearing Causes and in doing Justice and the rest of his time spent in Prayer Reading the Scriptures Meditation and other pious Exercises And for the instructing his Subjects in the Holy Scriptures he began to Translate the Psalmes of David himself into the English Tongue but being prevented by Death did not finish it He gathered Psalmes and Prayers together into a little Book which he called a Manual or Hand-book which he always caried about him He was the first lettered Bish Godwin Catal. Prince in this Kingdom since it had it's denomination of England and was disciplined under the care of Plegmundus a Man of eminent Parts and Learning who was born in Mercia and from the solitary life of an Heremite in the Isle of Chester was called to be Tutor to this Noble Prince A little after his Inauguration to the Kingdom he had the comfortable service and attendance of Werefridus who was consecrated Bishop of Worcester on Whitsunday Anno 872. for at his command he Translated the Dialogues of Gregory out of the Latin into the Saxon or English Dialect he had all the helps advice and instructions of Plegmundus his Tutor who was afterward Consecrated Archbishop of Canterbury Asserius as himself affirmeth abode with the King in his Court by the space of eight Moneths before his return into Wales in which time he constantly read divers Books unto him for it was his custom both day and night amidst all other impediments both of Mind and Body to be ever versed in reading Books himself or hearing them read by others This unparallelled King died Anno 900. after he had reigned 29 years and six moneths having fought 56 Battels with the Pagan Danes His Epitaph is the Epitome of his life which the happiness of thankful times have dedicated to him as a Monument of his eternal fame and here followeth out of the Works of a Modern Chronographer Nobilit as inimica tibi probitatis
John Colvil Mr. Thomas Brown Doctor of Laws Dean of Sarum Peter Fitz-Maurice D. D. and Mr. Nicholas David Archdeacon of Constance and Licentiate in both Laws John Bishop of Rochester here mentioned was John Langdon intruded by the Pope into that Bishoprick to the prejudice of the Archbishop of Canterbury But he was indeed a Learned man and died this year in his Ambassy at Basil This Council deposed Pope Eugenius and substituted in his room Amideus the most devout Duke of Savoy who was called Felix the Fifth and was crowned in the City of Basil Anno 1437. Henry Chichley Archbishop of Canterbury founded a Colledge in Oxford by the name of All-souls for a Warden and forty Fellows which number by Statute was never to be augmented or impaired and all void places by death or otherwise once in a year to be supplied Six years did he survive the first founding of this Colledge He founded another Colledge in Oxford called Barnard-colledge suppressed by King Henry the Eighth and renewed by Sir Thomas White who named it St. Iohn's-colledge one of the fairest of the University This Archbishop bestowed much money in repairing the Library at Canterbury Goodwin's Catal. of Bishops and then replenished the same with a number of goodly Books He gave unto his Church many rich Ornaments and Jewels of great price and built a great part of the Tower called Oxford-tower in the said Church He founded a goodly Colledge and an Hospital at Higham-ferries where he was born for eight secular Priests Fellows four Clerks and six Choristers it was so endowed as at the suppression of the same it was valued at 156 pounds per annum The Hospital was for poor people likewise liberally endowed Iohn Stafford Son unto the Earl of Stafford succeeded in the place of Henry Chichley deceased Pope Eugenius the Fourth translated him from Bath and Wells About the year 1446. King Henry the Sixth founded Eaton Colledge incorporate by the name of Praepositi Collegii Regaliis Col. Beata Maria de Eaton juxta Winsor This Colledge consisteth of one Provost Fellows a School-master and Usher besides many Oppidanes maintained there at the cost of their Friends This Eaton is a Nursery to King's-colledge in Cambridge Humfry Duke of Glocester the King's Uncle at a packt Parliament at Bury was condemned of High-treason and found dead in his Bed not without rank suspition of cruel practices upon his person He gave to the Library in Oxford many pretious voluminous Manuscripts He was buried in St. Albans to which Church he was a great Benefactor The same month with the Duke of Glocester died Henry Beanfort Bishop of Winchester and Cardinal He was a man of such Wealth that at once he lent King Henry the Fifth twenty thousand pounds who pawned his Crown to him He built the fair Hospital of St. Cross near Winchester The Clergy moved in vain against the recalling of the Statute of Praemunire About the year 1453. began the broyls to break out out between the two Houses of Lancaster and York so mutually heightened that scarce a County betwixt York and London but a set Battel hath been fought therein besides other Counties in the Marches of Wales besides many other Skirmishes Corrivals with Battels so that such who consider the blood lost therein would admire England had any left And such as observe how much it had left would wonder it had any lost In the midst of these Civil wars William Sirnamed Patin from his Parents but Wainfleet from the place of his Nativity now Bishop of Winchester founded the fair Colledge dedicated to Mary Magdalen in Oxford for one President forty Fellows thirty Demies four Chaplains eight Clerks and sixteen Choristers This William Wainfleet first founded Magdalen-hall hard by and afterwards undertook and finished this most stately piece of Architecture There is scarce a Bishoprick in England to which this Colledge hath not afforded one Prelate at the least doubling her files in some places At this day besides those forementioned there are one Schoolmaster and an Usher three Readers viz. of Divinity Natural and Moral Philosophy besides divers Officers and Servants of the foundation with other Students being in all two hundred and twenty Iohn Kemp Archbishop of Canterbury built the Divinity-School in Oxford and Paul's Cross King Henry being conquered in a fatal Battel at Touton in Nottinghamshire fled with his Queen into Scotland and to make himself the more welcome resigned Berwick to the King thereof Edward Duke of York reigned in his stead This King's Reign affordeth very little Church-story This good was done by the Civil Wars it diverted the Popish Prelates from troubling the Lollards Thomas Bourchier Son unto Henry Bourchier Earl of Essex Archbishop of Canterbury kept a Synod of his Clergy at London The Parliament sitting at the same time bestowed many priviledges on the Clergy In the time of this Archbishop Raynold Peacock Bishop of Chichester was afflicted by the Popish Prelates for his Faith and profession of the Gospel after he had laboured many years in translating the Holy Scriptures into English He was accused and convicted for holding and Sâ—r Rich. Baker's Chron. publishing certain Opinions at that time held Heretical which at last openly at Paul's Cross he revoked but was notwithstanding deprived of his Bishoprick only a certain Pension was assigned him to live on in an Abby where soon after he died About the year 1465. there was here in England one Thomas Holden Fox Acts and Monuments Luke 8. 3. a Carmelite Friar who preached in Michaelmas Term at Paul's Cross in London That our Lord Iesus-Christ was in poverty and did beg in the world A manifest untruth For great is the difference betwixt begging and taking what the bounty of others doth freely confer as our Saviour did from such who did minister unto him of their substance This Sermon caused a great stir The principal Champions on both sides whose Pens publickly appeared were For Mendicants 1. Henry Parker a Carmelite bred in Cambridge living afterward in Doncaster-Covent imprisoned for preaching 2. Iohn Milverton bred in Oxford Carmelite of Bristol being excommunicated by the Bishop of London and appealing to the Pope found no favour but was kept three years captive in St. Angelo Against Mendicants 1. Thomas Wilson Doctor of both Laws and say some Dean of S. Paul's a zealous Preacher and Disputant 2. William Ivy Canon of S. Paul's who wrote in the Defence of Richard Hill Bishop of London who Imprisoned two Mendicants for their proud Preaching But after Pope Paul the second had interposed herein concluding that this ought to be declared in all places for a dangerous Doctrine and worthy to be trodden down under all mens feet the controversie ceased At this time George Nevil brother to Richard Nevil the Great Earl of Warwick that set up and pulled down Kings at his pleasure was Archbishop of York He was famous for a prodigious feast made at his Installation unto
consequence were enacted 1. Against Usury 2. For Tithes in London 3. For an exchange of Lands betwixt the King's Majesty and Thomas Cranmer Archbishop of Canterbury Robert Holgate Archbishop of York and Edmond Bonner Bishop of London which the King annexed to the Dutchy of Lancaster 4. An Act for union of Churches not exceeding the value of six pounds 5. That Doctors of the Civil Law might exercise Ecclesiastical jurisdiction At this time also by the King's command were the Stews suppressed The Favourers of the truth among the Noblemen were the Earl of Fox Acts and Monuments Suffolk Viscount Beauchamp Viscount Lisle Lord Russel Treasurer Lord Awdley Chancellor Lord Paget and Sadler and Thomas Cranmar Archbishop of Canterbury The Patrons of Popery were the Bishop of Winchester and Durham the Duke of Norfolk and Earl of Southampton Anthony Brown William Pawlet John Baker Richard Chancellor of the Augmentation Winckfield Vice-chancellor Four and twenty were Executed for Traitors in the time of King Henry for the cause of Supremacy Adam Damlip who before had escaped and lay hid in the West-countrey teaching a School about a year or two by the miserable Inquisition of the six Articles was again taken and brought up to London where he was by Stephen Gardiner commanded to the Marshal-sea and after two years space he was Condemned and Executed for Treason One Henry was burnt at Colchester and one Kerby at Ipswich for the Testimony of the Truth In the year 1546. in June Anne Ashcough alids Kyme Daughter of Sir William Ashcough of Kelsey in Lincoln-shire of the age of 25. years whose Wit Beauty Learning and Religion procured her much esteem on the Queens side of the Court and as much hatred from the Popish Bishops was burned for the profession of the Truth in Smithfield with three men Nicholas Belevian Priest of Shrop-shire John Lacels Gentleman of the houshold of King Henry the Eighth and John Adams a poor Tailor of London Her several examinations penned by her self are extant in Mr. Fox Then began the troubles of Queen Katherine Parr whom the King had married some two years since She was one of great piety beauty and discretion next to the Bible she studied the King's disposition observing him to her utmost yet sometimes she would presume to discourse with the King about points of Religion defending the Protestant Tenets by Scripture and sometimes would hold up the King very close hard at it This displeased him who loved looseness and liberty in his Clothes Arguments and Actions and was quickly observed by Gardiner and others the Queen's enemies Hereupon Gardiner drew up Articles against her and got them subscribed with the King 's own hand to send â—her to the Tower But Chancellor Wriothesley put the paper of those Articles in his own bosom which casually fell out was taken up by one of the Queen's Servants and brought to the Queen who on her sickness and submission to the King obtained his Pardon Signed and Sealed unto her with many kisses and embraces And her enemies that came to attach her were sent back with the Taunts and Threats of the enraged King against them King Henry made his Will and died a moneth after and was buried at Windsor After the Death of King Henry succeeded King Edward his Son Sir John Haywâ—â—d's Hist of K. Edw. 6. being scarce ten years old full of as much Worth as the model of his Age could hold He attained not onely commendable Knowledge but speech in the Greek Spanish and Italian Languages having always great Judgment in measuring his Words by his Matter his Speech being alike both fluent and weighty such as best beseemed a Prince As for Natural Philosophy Logick Musick Astronomy and other Liberal Sciences his perfections were such that the great Italian Philosopher Cardan having tasted him by many Conferences seemed to be astonished between admiration and delight and divulged his abilities to be miraculous These his acquirements by industry were very much enriched and enlarged by many excellent Endowments of nature for in disposition he was mild gratious and pleasant of an heavenly wit in Body beautiful but especially in his Eyes which seemed to have a Starry liveliness and lustre in them Generally he seemed to be as Cardan reported of him A Miracle of Nature Because he was young he was committed to sixteen Governours the Lord Edward Seimour Duke of Sommerset his Unckle was assigned unto him Protector by whose endeavour the six bloody Articles forementioned were abolished This King restored the holy Scriptures in the English Tongue he abolished Masses and such as were banished were received home as John Hooper Miles Coverdale c. He changed most part of the Bishops of Diocesses and compelled dumb Priests to give place to those that would Preach he suppressed Idolatry restored the Gospel and worship of God encouraged Godly Preachers sent for Eminent Men both for Learning and Piety from beyond the Seas to Teach in both Universities viz. Peter Martyr in Oxford and Martin Bucer and Paulus Fagius in Cambridge and was a Refuge to all the Godly that fled for Religion out of other Countries and therefore is called by Melchior Adam Summae spei Princeps qui omnibus piis doctis Polanis Melch. Adam in vit Germ. Theolog. Germanis Gallis Scotis Italis Hispanis hospitium patrocinium dederat A Prince of singular hope who gave protection and entertainment to all Godly and Learned Men Polonians Germans French Scots Italians Spaniards In consideration whereof an eminent Martyr in Queen Maries days in an effectionate Speech of His before a Popish Persecutor cried out Blessed be God for King Edward This King was much enclined to Clemency especially in matters of Blood and most especially if iâ— were for Religion insomuch that albeit he was greatly affected to that Religion wherein he had been brought up yet none were executed in his time for other Religion but onely two blasphemous Hereticks Joan Butcher and George a Dutch-man And when Joan Butcher was to be burned all the Council could not procure him to set his hand to the Warrant wherefore they employed Thomas Cranmer Archbishop of Canterbury to deal privately with him for his subscription But the King remained firm in resolution affirming That he would not drive her heaalong to the Devil The Archbishop was violent both by perswasions and entreaties and when with meer importunity he had prevaled the King in subscribing his name said That he would lay all the charge thereof upon the Archbishop before God Then the Professors of the Gospel were in all places relieved and many Prisoners appointed to die were enlarged and preserved Onely Thomas Dobby Fellow of St. John's in Cambridge committed to the Counter in Bred-street and condemned for speaking against the Masse died of a natural death in Prison his speedy death prevented the pardon which the Lord Protector intended to send him The Lord Protector ordered all in Church and State The King in
without a name joyned himself to the other five in the disputation The Prolocutor would admit of no more though desired by Philpot that some of the Divines which had the passing of the Book of Articles in King Edward's time might be assembled with them in the defence thereof The main point in debate concernded the manner of Christ's presence in the Sacrament It was not denied by Philpot and his Brethren That Christ was present in the Sacrament rightly administred according to his Institution but onely that He was not present in the gross and carnal manner which They of the Popish party had before subscribed unto Six dys the disputation lasted but to little effect At length Weston put an end to the dispute saying It is not the Queen's pleasure that we should spend any longer time in these debates and yet are well enough already For you saith He have the Word and we have the Sword After the end of the Evensong on St. Katherine's day Bonner caused the Quire of St. Paul's to go about the Steeple singing with lights after the old custom And on St. Andrew's day next following he began the Procession in Latin himself with many Parsons and Curates and the whole Quire together with the Lord Mayor and divers of the Aldermen the Prebendaries of the Church attired in their old gray Amises as they used to call them in which manner they continued it for three days after on January 14. he restored the solemn Sunday's procession about the Church with the Mayor and Aldermen the Preacher taking his Benediction in the midst of the Church according to the antient custom likewise he sent out his Mandates to all Parsons and Curates within his Diocese for taking the names of all such as would not come the Lent following to Auricular Confession and receive at Easter he likewise enjoyned the blotting out of all such paintings and sentences of holy Scripture as had been pensiled on the Church-walls in King Edward's days Mr. Jewel continued some weeks in Broad-gates Hall whither his Scholars repaired unto him whom he instructed in Learning and Religion He had not long lived there but being perswaded by the Popish Fuller Church History of Q. Mary Inquisitors to subscribe he took a pen in his Hand and smiling said Have you a mind to see how well I can write and thereupon under-writ their Opinions The Papists trusted him not any whit the more for this his subscription His life being way-laid for with great difficulty he escaped into Germany But on a Sunday after his Forenoon-sermon by the advice of Dr. Edwin Sandys afterwards Archbishop of York Mr. Chambers and Mr. Sampson his bosom Friends in the Congregation of Franckfort he bitterly bewailed his fall and heartily requested pardon from God and his people whom thereby he he had offended On November 20. the Mayor of Coventry sent up to the Lords of the Council one Baldwin Cleark John Careless Thomas Wilcocks and Richard Estlin Careless and Wilcocks were committed to the Gate-house and Cleark and Estlin to the Marshalsey In the moneth of December the Parliament broke up in which there was a Communication of Marriage betwixt the Emperor's Son Philip and the Queen In the mean-while Cardinal Pool hasteneth toward England The Emperor invites him to come into Germany by his way and entertains him with great shew of Honour untill by his Ambassador Petri. Church Hist Câ—nt 1â— he had finished a Contract of Marriage between his Son Philip and Queen Mary This match was generally distasted To hinder it Sir Thomas Wyat a Kentish Knight took Armes with a great party assisting him But albeit he wanted neither Wit Wealth Learning yet all were 〈◊〉 employed about him Wyat demandeth the Person of the Queen the Tower of London to be committed unto him with power to displace evil Counsellors his demands were refused with scornâ— Queen Mary came to Guildhall and there made a long Oration which secured the affections of the Citizens unto her Wyat came up to London He was taken at Temple-bar carried thence be examined and thence to the Tower to be committed Some days after he suffered penitently and patiently on the Scaffold condemning his own Act. Of his complices were hanged fifty persons and four hundred more led through the City with halters about their necks to Westminster where they were all pardoned in the Tilt-yard by the Queen Doctor Crome for his Preaching without License on Christmas day was committed to the Fleet Thomas Wotton Esquire was for matters of Religion committed also to the Fleet. The Duke of Suffolk Father to the Lady Jane but lately pardoned of life in the midst of the Kentish tumult secretly departeth into Leicester and Warwick-shires instigating the people to withstand the Queen's Marriage agreed upon with Philip. The Duke was betrayed Speeds Chron. in Q. Mary by one Vnderwood his Servant in Ashley-park with his Brother John Lord Gray unto the Earl of Huntington whence they were by him convayed prisoners to the Tower of London This seemed to hasten the death of the Lady Jane and the Lord Guilford her Husband who were both beheaded February 12. 1554. he was beheaded on a Scaffold on Tower-hill and she upon the Green within the Tower Two days before her death Mr. Fecknam was sent unto her by the Queen to reduce her to the Popish Religion whom she constantly and with great power of God's Spirit resisted Eleven days after her death her Father the Duke of Suffolk was beheaded on Tower-hill And on April 23. his Brother the Lord Thomas Gray suffered death in the same place Now for putting the Affairs of the Church into a posture Articles are sent into every Diocese and Letters writ unto their several and respective Bishops on the third of March to see them carefully put in execution the substance whereof were 1. That the Ecclesiastical Laws of King Henry the Eighth should be put in practice being not directly against the Laws and Statutes of the Realm 2. That no Bishop do use the Clause in any of their Ecclesiastical writings Regia authoritate fulcitus 3. That no Sacramentary be admitted to Benefice 4. That all Bishops do labour to suppress Heresies especially in the Clergy 5. That they should suppress all unlawfull Books and writings 6. The next Article was against Priests Marriages and that such as would depart from their Wives should be admitted to the same function 7. That for want of Priests one Priest should serve two places 8. That Processions be used 9. That Holy-days and Fasts be frequented 10. That the Ceremonies be used and Confirmation of Children be put in practice In the same moneth of March the Lord Courtney whom the Queen at her first entry delivered out of the Tower and the Lady Elizabeth also the Queen's Sister were both by the suggestion of Stephen Gardiner Bishop of Winchester suspected to have been of Wyat's Conspiracy and for the same were apprehended and sent to the Tower
Paul's Cross on 1 Cor. 11. 23. That which I delivered to you I received of the Lord c. on March 30. 1560. There he published that memorable Challenge which so much exercised the Pens and Studies of the Romish Clergy Bishop Jewel's Chalenge If any Learned man of our Adversaries or all the Learned men that be alive be able to bring any one sufficient sentence out of any old Catholick Doctor or Father or General Council or Holy Scripture or any one Example in the Primitive Church whereby it may be clearly and plainly proved during the first six hundred years I. That there was at that time any private Mass in the World II. Or that there was then any Communion ministred unto the people in one kind III. Or that the People had their Common-Prayer in a strange Tongue IV. Or that the Bishop of Rome was then called the Head of the Vniversal Church V. Or that the People were then taught to believe that Christ's Body is really Substantially Carnally Corporally or Naturally in the Sacrament VI. Or that his Body is or may be in a thousand places or more at one time VII Or that the Priest did then hold up the Sacrament over his head VIII Or that the People did then fall down and Worship it with godly honour IX Or that the Sacrament was then and now ought to be hanged up under a Canopy X. Or that in the Sacrament after the words of Consecration there remained onely the accidents and shews without the substance of Bread and Wine XI Or that then the Priests divided the Sacrament into three parts and afterwards received Himself all alone XII Or that whosoever had said the Sacrament is a Figure a Pledge a Taken or a Remembrance of Christ's Body had therefore been judged for an Heretick XIII Or that it was lawful then to have thirty twenty c. Masses said in one day XIV Or that Images were then set up in the Churches to the intent the people should worship them XV. Or that the Lay-people were then forbid to read the Word of God in their own Tongue XVI Or that it was then lawful for the Priest to pronounce the words of Consecration closely or in private to Himself XVII Or that the Priest had then authority to offer up Christ unto his Father XVIII Or to receive the Sacrament for another as they do XIX Or to apply the vertue of Christ's death to any man by the means of the Mass XX. Or that it was then thought a sound Doctrine to teach the People that Mass Exopere operato is able to remove any part of our sin XXI Or that any Christian man called the Sacrament of the Lord his God XXII Or that the People were then taught to believe that the Body of Christ remaineth in the Sacrament as long as the Accidents of Bread and Wine remain there without corruption XXIII Or that a Mouse or any other Worm or Beast may eat the Body of Christ. XXIV Or that when Christ said Hoc est corpus meum the word Hoc pointed not the Bread but Individuum Vagum as some of them say XXV Or that the Accidents Formes or Shews of Bread and Wine be the Sacrament of Christ's Body and Blood and not rather the very Bread and Wine it self XXVI Or that the Sacrament is a Token or sign of the Body of Christ that lieth underneath it XXVII Or that Ignorance is the Mother and Cause of true devotion The Conclusion is That then I shall be content to yield and subscribe This Chalenge being published in so great an Auditory startled the English Papists both at home and abroad The business was first agitated by the exchange of friendly Letters betwixt Bishop Jewel and Dr. Henry Cole the late Dean of St. Pauls more violently followed in a Book of Rastals followed therein by Dorman and Marshal Dorman was well answered and foiled by Nowel and the other by Calfhil But the main encounter was between the Chalenger himself and Dr. John Harding who had the better of the day will easily appear to any that consults their Writings But these Discourses came not out till some years after Pope Paul the Fourth dying Pope Pius the Fourth succeedeth him who being moved to Excommunicate Queen Elizabeth by the Count of Feria takes a more moderate course by sending Vincent Parpalia Abbot of St. Saviour's with courteous Letters unto her Parpalia was instructed to offer in the Name of the Pope That the English Liturgy should be confirmed the use of the Communion in both kinds allowed of And that all sentences passed in the Court of Rome against her Mother should be rescinded upon condition she would own the Pope's Primacy and cordially unite her self to the Catholick Church yea some thousands of Crowns but all in vain were promised to the effecters thereof But for all this the Abbot came no nearer than Bruxels with his Bulls and Faculties not being suffered to set Foot on English ground Now another Enemy quarrels at the Rites and Extrinsecals of the Church Those that for Religion fled to Frankford in Queen Marie's days after her death hastened into England followed not long after by the Brethren of the Separation which retired from thence unto Geneva Some Friends they had about the Queen and Calvin make 's use of all his power and credit both with the Queen and Cecil as appears by his Letters unto both to advance their ends And he was seconded therein by Peter Martyr But the Queen resolved to keep up the Church in such outward splendor as might make it every way considerable in the eye of the World when therefore they saw the Liturgy imposed by Act of Parliament and so many Episcopal Sees supplied with able Pastors they began to revive the quarrels raised in King Edward's time about Caps and Surplices c. saith Dr. Heylin And herein they were seconded as before in King Edward's time by the same Peter Martyr as appears by his Letters to a nameless friend bearing date at Zurich November 5. 1560. to which he added his dislike in another of his Letters touching the Cap the Episcopal Habit the Churche's Patrimony the manner of proceeding to be held against Papists the Perambulation used in the Rogation week c. in which his judgement was desired But these helps being too far off another project was set on foot Gryndal the new Bishop of London was known to have a great respect to Calvin the business therefore is so ordered that by Calvin's Letters to Gryndal and the friends they had about the Queen way should be given to such of the French Nation as had repaired hither to enjoy the freedom of their own Religion to have a Church unto themselves and in that Church not onely to erect the Genevian Discipline but to set up a Form of Prayer saith Dr. Heylin which should hold no conformity with the English Liturgy This was effected And now there is another Church in London as
had put himself into the Protection of Colone Hammond then Governour of the Island Come we now to the Church part of the Treaty in the Isle of Wight Here appeared of the Divines chosen by the King James Vsher Archbishop of Armagh Brian Duppa Bishop of Sarum Dr. Sheldon Dr. Sanderson Dr. Fern. On the other side Mr. Stephen Marshall M. Richard Vines Mr. Lazarus Seaman and Mr. Joseph Caryl were there present by appointment of the Paâ—liament All things were transacted in scriptis His Majesty consulted with his Chaplains when he pleased The King's writings were publickly read before all by Mr. Philip Warwick and Mr Vines read the Papers of his Fellow-divines As for the difference between Primitive Episcopacy and present Hierarchy urged by the Parliament Divines his Majesty did not conceive that the Additions granted by the favour of His Royal Progenitors for the enlarging the power and priviledges of Bishops did make the Government substantially to differ from what it was no more than Arms and Ornaments make a Body really different from it self when it was naked and devested of the same Whereas they besought His Majesty to look rather to the Original than to the succession of Bishops he thought it needful to look at both the latter being the best Clue in such intrinsick cases to find out the former Lastly he professed hâ—mself unsatisfied in their answer concerning the perpetual and unalterable substantials of Church-government as expecting from them a more particular Resolution therein than what he had received Eleven days after the Parliament Divines put in their answer to his Majesties last paper Herein they affirmed they saw not by what warrant the Writ of Partition of the Apostles Office was taken forth that the Governing part should be in the hands of the Bishops the Teaching and Sacramentizing in the Presbyters They also said that some Fathers acknowledged that Bishops were different from Presbyters onely in matter of Ordination They also returned that His Majestie 's Definition of Episcopal Government is extracted out of the Bishops of later date than Scriptuâ—e-times The darkness of the History of the Church in the times succeeding the Apostles said they had an influence on the Catalogue makers Fuller's Chur. â—â—st who derived the Series of succession of Bishops taken much from Tradition and Reports And it is a great blemish of their evidence that the nearer they come to the Apostles times wherein this should be most clear to establish the succession at the first they are most doubtful and contradictory one to the other They granted that a succession of men to feed and govern those Churches by Ecclesiastical Writers in compliance with the Language of their own times were called Bishops but not distinct from Presbyâ—ers So that if such a succession from the Primitive times Seriatim were proved they would either be found more than Bishops as Apostles and extraordinary persons or less as meerly first Presbyters not having the three Essentials of Episcopal government insisted on by His Majesty They humbly moved His Majesty that the Regiments of Humane testimonies on both sides might be discharged the field and the point of dispute tried alone by dint of holy Scripture They affirmed also that the power of Episcopacy under Christian and Pagan Princes is one and the same though the exercise be not but acknowledging the subordination thereof to the Sovereign Power with their accountableness to the Laws of the Land They conclude with thanks to His Majestie 's Condescension in vouchsafing them the Liberty and Honour in examining his Learned Reply praying God that a Pen in the Hand of such Abilities might ever be employ'd in a subject worthy thereof Some dayes after His Majesty returned His last paper wherein he not onely acknowledgeth the great pains of these Divines to inform his judgement according to their perswasions but also took special notice of their Civilities of the Application both in the Beginning and Body of their supply However he told them they mistook his meaning about a Writ of Partition as if His Majesty had Cantoned out the Episcopal Government one part to the Bishops another to the Presbyterians alone whereas his meaning was that the Office of Teaching is common to both alike but the other of Governing peculiar to Bishops alone The Lords and Commons vote their Commissioners return from the Treaty The Commons debate of his Majesties Propositions and agree I. That he be in Honour Safety and Freedom according to the Lawes II. That he have his Revenue as before excepting the Dedications of such Forts and Garrisons as were of old accustomed to be allowed maintenance III. That he have compensation for the Court of Wards IV. That an Act of Oblivion be past The King having granted the Parliament to dispose of all great Offices for ten years they vote it satisfactory On November 26. was presented a Declaration of the Army to the House of Commons which was the day before subscribed by the General it contained twenty six sheets of paper shewing as they termed it the misgoings of King and Parliament severally also in all Treaties betwixt them especially that they are now in They desire that the Parliament would reject those demands of the King especially concerning his Restitution and coming to London with Freedom Honour and Safety and that they proceed against the King in way of Justice c. The Army on December 2. enter the lines of Communication and at Whitehall quartereth the General and the rest of the Army at the Mews St. James's York-house and divers other places about the City The King is taken from Newport convay'd to Hurst-castle on December 6. the Trained bands are discharged the Guard to the Parliament and and Pride's and Riche's Regiments take it upon them Many of the Members coming to the House are seized and kept in custody by the General 's command in the Queen's Court and Court of Wards These were removed to the King's-Head Inn near Charing-Cross and to the Swan Inn in the Strand under Guards of Souldiers The Army put forth a new Representative called The Agreement of the People The King is brought up to London arraigned before a select Committee for that purpose called An High Court of Justice indicted and upon his refusal to own their Authority finally condemned Having received the sentence of death Dr. Juxon Bishop of London Preached privately before him at St. James's on the Sunday following his Text Romans 2. 16. Nexâ— Tuâ—sday being the 〈◊〉 of â—iâ— dissolution in the morning alone he received the Commu 〈…〉 â—â—om the hands of the said Bishop At which â—ime he read for the 〈…〉 the 27th chapter of St. Matthew containing the History of the death and passion of our Saviour Sermon ended the King heartily thanked the Bishop for selecting so seasonable and comfortable a portion of Scripture seeing all Humane hope and happiness is founded on the sufferings of our Saviour The Bishop answered He had done it meerly
the City These Knights Hospitallers at their first Institution about the year 1124. and long after were so lowly all the while they continued poor that their Governor was stiled servant to the poor sâ—rvitors of the Hospital of Jerusalem like as the Master of the Templars who shortly after arose was termed The Humble Minister of the poor Knights of the Temple The Hospitallers ware a white Cross upon their upper black Garment and by solemn profession were bound to serve Pilgrims and poor people in the Hospital of St. John at Jerusalem and to secure the passages thither they charitably buried the dead they were assiduous in prayer mortified themselves with watchings and fastings they were courteous and kind to the poor whom they called their Masters and Camd. descrip of London fed with white bred while themselves lived with brown and carried themselves with great austerity whereby they purchased to themselves the love and liking of all sorts and through the bounty of good Princes and private persons admiring their piety and prowess they rose from this low degree to so high an Estate and great riches that they did after a sort wallow in wealth and riches For about the year of our Lord 1240. they had within Christendom nineteen thousand Lordships or Mannors like as the Templars nine thousand And this estate of theirs grown to so great an height made way for them to as great Honours so as their Prior in England was reputed the prime Baron of the Land called the Lord of St. Johns and able with fulness and abundance of all things to maintain an honourable Port untill that King Henry the Eighth gat their Lands and livings into his own hands like as he did of the Monasteries also They outlived all other Orders yet at last they fell into a Praemunire for they still continued their obedience to the Pope contrary to their Allegiance whose Usurped authority was banished out of the Land They were forced to resign all into the King's hands He allowed to Sir William Weston Lord Prior of the Order an annual pension weaveâ—s Monuâ— p. 114. of One thousand pounds But he never received a penny thereof but died instantly struck to the heart when he first heard of the dissolution of his Priory and lyeth buried in the Chauncel of Clarkenwell with the pourtraiture of a dead man lying on his shroud most artificially cut in Stone others had rent assigned them of two hundred pound one hundred pound sixty pound fifty pound twenty pound ten pound according to their several qualities and deserts Queen Mary sets up the Hospitallers again and Sir Thomas Tresham of Rushton in Northampton-shire was the first and last Lord Prior after their Restitution for their nests were plucked down before they were warm in them by the coming in of Queen Elizabeth Of the English Nuns I Come now to Nuns almost as numerous in England as Monks and Friers as having though not so many Orders yet more of the same Order The weaker sex hath ever equalled men in their Devotion often exceeded them in their Superstition At Liming in Kent the Daughter of King Ethelbert took the veile and became the first English Nun. There was an Hermophrodite Order as is aforesaid admitting both Men and Women under the same roof and during the life of Gilbert their first founder for seven hundred Brethren there were one thousand one hundred Sisters entred into that Order Doctor Fuller divides the Nuns into three sorts First The Antientest Secondly The Poorest Thirdly The latest Nuns in England 1. Of the first sort he accounteth the She Benedictines commonly called black Nuns Bennet the Monk after he had placed himself and his Monkish Brethren in a certain Noble and Famous Cloyster upon the Mount Cassinus raised up also an Order of Nuns and made his Sister Scholastica Abbess over them The apparrel of these black Nuns is a black coat cloak coule and veyl and least the Scripture should deceive her and hers it was commanded that none of that Order should read the Holy Scripture without consent or permission of their Superior 2. The poorest follow being the strict Order of St. Clare a Lady living at the same time and in the same Town with St. Francis she assembled and gathered together a Congregation of poor Women and gave them an Order of life like unto the rule that Frier Francis gave his Covent Their garment is gray their Order admitteth none but women-kind except it be to say Mass 3. The Nuns of St. Bridget were the latest in England first setled here in the second year of King Henry the Fifth Anno ' Domini 1415. dissolved with the rest Anno 1538. so that they continued here onely one hundred twenty three years Bridget Queen of Sweden gave them their name and Institution Men and Women living under the same roof the VVomen above the Men beneath They were seated at Sion in Middlesex which King Henry the Fifth having expelled from thence the Monks Aliens built for Religious Virgins to the Honour of our Saviour the Virgin Mary and St. Bridget of Sion In this Sion he appointed so many Nuns Priests and Lay-brethren divided apart within their several VValls as were in number forsooth equal to Christ's Apostles and Disciples viz. eighty five I. Sisters Sixty II. Pâ—â—ests Thirteen III. Deacons Four IV. Lay-brethren Eight Having bestowed sufficient maintenance upon them King Henry provided by a Law that contenting themselves therewith they should take no more of any man but what overplus soever remained of their yearly Revenue they should bestow it upon the poor Thomas Walsingham saith if afterwards the whole VVorld should proffer walsiâ—gh in 〈◊〉 them Farmes and possessions it was utterly unlawful for them to accept any thing thereof This Order had but this one Covent in England and so wealthy it was that at the dissolution it was valued yearly worth one thousand nine hundred forty four pounds eleven shillings eight pence farthing This Order constantly kept their Audit on All Saints Eve October 31. and the day after All Souls being the third of November No Covents of England more carefully kept their Records than the Priory of Clarkâ—nwel to whose credit it is registred There is a perfect 〈◊〉 Catal. of Religious Houses p. 793. Catalogue from their first foundation to their dissolution of all their Prioresses defective in all other houses Sir Thomas Chaloner not long ago built a spatious house within the close of that Priory upon the frontispiece whereof these Verses were inscribed Casta fides superest velatae tuta soroâ—es Ista relegatae deseruere licet Nam venerandus Hymen hic vota jugalia servat Vestalemque focum monte fovere studet Chast Faith still stay 's behind though hence be flown Those veiled Nuns who here before did nest For reverend Mariage wedlock-vowes doth own And sacred flames keep 's here in Loyal breast Here I shall say little of the Houses for Leprous people though indeed they deserved