space as possible they may after Our departure out of this transitory life One thousand marks of lawfull money of England part in the same place and thereabout where it shall please Almighty God to call us to his mercy partly by the way and part in the same place of Our buriall after their discretions And to move the poor people that shall have Our alms to pray heartily unto God for the remission of Our offense and the wealth of Our soule And We will that with as convenient speed as may be done after Our departure out of this world if it be not done in Our life that the Dean and Canons of Our Free Chappell of Saint George within Our Castle of Windesor shall have Manours Lands Tenements and Spiritual promotions to the yearly value of vj C. pounds over all charges made sure to them and to their successours for ever upon these conditions hereafter ensuing and for the due accomplishment and full performance of all other things contained with the same in the form of an Indenture signed with Our own hand which shall be passed by way of Covenant for that purpose between the said Dean and Canons and Our Executors if it passe not between Us and the said Dean and Canons in Our life That is to say the said Dean and Canons and their successors forever shall finde two Priests to say Masses at the said Altar to be made where We have before appointed our Tomb to be made and stand And also after Our decease keep yearly Four solemn Obits for us within the said Colledge of Windesor and at every of the same Obits to cause a solemn Sermon to be made and also at every of the said Obits to give to poor people in alms Ten pounds and also to give for ever yearly to thirteen poor men which shall be called Poor Knights to every of them Twelve pence a day and once in the year yearly for ever a long Gown of white cloth with the Gatter upon the breast imbroydered with a Shield and Crosse of Saint George within the garter and a mantle of red cloath and to such one of the thirteen poor Knights Ann. Dom. 1546. as shall be appointed to be head and governour over them iij li. vjs viij d. yearly for ever over and beside the said xij d. by the day And also to cause every Sunday in the year for ever a Sermon to be made at Windesor aforesaid Ann. Reg. HeÌ„ 8.38 as in the said Indenture and Covenant shall be more fully and particularly expressed willing charging and requiring Our Son Prince EDWARD all Our Executors and Counsellors which shall be named hereafter and all other Our Heirs and Successours which shall be Kings of this Realm as they will answer before God Almighty at the dreadfull day of judgment that they and every of them doe see that the said Indenture and Assurance to be made between Us and the said Dean Canons or between them and Our executors and all things therein contained may be duly put in execution and observed and kept for ever perpetually according to this Our last Will and Testament And as concerning the order and dispostion of the Imperiall Crown of this Realm of England and Ireland with Our Title of France and all dignities honours preheminences prerogatives authorities and jurisdictions to the same annexed or belonging and for the sure establishment of the succession of the same And also for a full and plain gift disposition assignment declaration limitation and appointment with what conditions Our Daughters MARY and ELIZAsBETH shall severally have hold and enjoy the said Imperiall Crown and other the premises after Our decease and for default of Issue and Heires of the severall bodies of Us and of Our Son Prince EDWARD lawfully begotten and His Heirs And also for a full gift disposition assignment declaration limitation and appointment to Whom and of what estate and in what manner form and condition the said Imperiall Crown and other the premises shall remain and come after Our decease And for default of Issue and Heirs of the severall bodies of Us and of the said Son Prince EDWARD and of Our said Daughters MARY and ELIZABETH lawfully begotten We by these presents doe make and declare Our last Will and Testament concerning the said Imperiall Crown and all other the premises in manner and form following That is to say We will by these presents that immediately after Our departure out of this present life Our said Son Prince EDWARD shall have and enjoy the said Imperiall Crown and Realm of England and Ireland Our Title of France with all dignities honours preheminences prerogatives authorities and jurisdictions lands and possessions to the same annexed or belonging unto Him and to His Heirs of His body lawfully begotten And for default of such Issue of Our said Son Prince EDWARD's body lawfully begotten We will the same Imperiall Crown and other the premises after Our two deceases shall wholly remain and come to the Heirs of our body lawfully begotten of the body of Our entirely beloved Wife Queen Katharine that now is or of any other Our lawfull Wife that We shall hereafter marry and for lack of such Issue and Heirs We will also that after Our decease and for default of Heirs of the severall bodies of Us and of our said Son Prince EDWARD's lawfully begotten the said Imperial Crown and all other the premises shall wholly remain and come to Our said Daughter MARY and the Heris of Her body lawfully begotten upon condition that Our said Daughter MARY after Our decease shall not marry not take any Person to Her Huband without the assent and consent of the Privy Counsellours and others appointed by Us to Our dearest Son Prince EDWARD aforesaid to be of Counsell or of the most part of them or the most of such as shall then be alive thereunto before the said marriage had in writing sealed with their seals All which conditions We declare limit appoint and will by these presents Ann. Reg. HeÌ„ 8.38 shall be knit and invested to the said estate of our Daughter MARY in the said Imperiall Crown Ann. Dom. 1546. and other the premises And if it fortune Our said Daughter MARY to die without Issue of Her body lawfully begotten We will that after Our decease and for default of Issue of the severall bodies of Us and of Our said Son Prince EDWARD lawfully begotten and of Our Daughter MARY the said Imperiall Crown and other the premises shall wholly remain to come to Our said Daughter ELIZABETH and to the Heirs of Her body lawfully begotten upon condition that our said Daughter ELIZABETH after Our decease shall not marry nor taken any Person to Her Husband without the assent and consent of the Privy Counsellors and others appointed by â—â—s to be of Counsell with Our said dearest Son Prince EDWARD or the most part of them or the most part of such of them as shall
be then alive thereunto before the marriage had in writing sealed with their seals which Condition We declare limit and appoint and will by these presents shall be to the said estate of Our said Daughter ELIZABETH in the said Imperiall Crown and other the premises knit and invested And if it shall fortune Our said Daughter ELIZABETH to die without Issue of Her body lawfully begotten We will that after Our decease and for default of Issue of the several bodies of Us and of our said Son Prince EDWARD and of Our said Daughters MARY and ELIZABETH and said Imperiall Crown and other the premises after Our decesse shall wholly remain and come to the Heires of the body of the Lady FRANCES Our Niece eldest Daughter to Our late Sister the French Queen lawfully begotten and for default of such Issue of the body of the said Lady FRANCES We will that the said Imperiall Crown and other the premises after Our decease and for default of Issue of the severall bodies of Us and of Our Son Prince EDWARD and of Our Daughters MARY and ELIZABETH and of the Lady FRANCES lawfully begotten shall wholly remain and come to the Heirs of the body of the Lady ELANOR Our Niece second Daughter to Our said Sister the French Queen lawfully begotten And if it happen the said Lady ELANOR to die without Issue of Her body lawfully begotten We will that after our decease and for default of Issue of the severall bodies of Us and of Our said Son Prince EDWARD and of Our said Daughters MARY and ELIZABETH and of the said Lady FRANCES and of the said Lady ELANOR lawfully begotten the said Imperiall Crown and other the premises shall wholly remain and come to the next rightfull Heirs And we sill that if Our said Daughter MARY doe marry without the consent and assent of the Privy Counsellours and others appointed by Us to be of Counsell to Our said Son Prince EDWARD or the most part of them as shall then be alive thereunto before the said marriage had in writing sealed with their seals as is aforesaid that then and from thenceforth for lack of Heirs of the severall bodies of Us and of Our said Son Prince EDWARD lawfully begotten the said Imperial Crown shall wholly remain be and come to Our said Daughter ELIZABETH and to the Heirs of Her body lawfully begotten in such manner and form as though Our said Daughter MARY were then dead without any Issue of the body of Our said Daughter MARY lawfully begotten Any thing contained in this Our Will or any Act of Parliament or Statute to the contrary in any wise notwithstanding And in case Our said Daughter the Lady MARY doe keep and perform the said Condition expressed declared and limited to Her estate in the said Imperiall Crown and other the premises in this Our last will declared And that Our said Daughter ELIZABETH doe not keep and perform for Her part the said condition declared and limited by this Our last Will to the estate of the said Lady ELIZABETH in the said Imperiall Crown of this Realm of England and Ireland Ann. Dom. 1546 and other the premises Ann. Regis HeÌ„ 8. 38. We will that then â—and from thencesorth after Our decease and for lack of Heirs of the several bodies of Us and of Our said Son Prince EDWARD and of Our said Daughter MARY lawfull begotten the said Imperiall Crown and other the premises shall wholly remain and come to the next Heirs lawfully begotten of the body of the said Lady FRANCES in such manner and form as though the said Lady ELIZABETH were then dead without any Heir of Her body lawfully begotten Any thing contained in this Will or in any Act or Statute to the contrary not withstanding the remainders over for lack of Issue of the said Lady FRANCES lawfully begotten to be an continue to such persons like remainders and estates as is before limited and declared And We being now at this time thanks to Almighty God of perfect memory Names of the Executo s. doe constitute and ordain these personages following Our Executors and Performers of this Our last Will and Testament willing commanding and praying them to take upon them the occupation and performance of the same as Executors Tho Cranmer that is to say the Archbishop of Canterbury the Lord Wriothesly Chancellour of England the Lord St. John greater Master of Our House Edw. Seymour John Dudley the Earl of Hartford great Chamberlain the Lord Russell Lord Privie Seal the Viscount Lisle high Admirall of England the Bishop Tonstall of Duresme Sir Anthony Browne Knight Master of our Horses Sir Edward Montague Knight chiefe Judge of the Common Pleas Justice Bromley Sir Edward North Knight Chancellour of the Augmentations Sir William Pagett Knight Our chief Secretary Sir Anthony Denny Sir William Herbert Knights chief Gentlemen of Our Privy Chamber Sir Edward Wotton Knight and Mr. Doctor Wotton his brother and all these We will to be Our Executors and Counsellors of the Privie Counsell with Our said Son Prince EDWARD in all matters concerning both his private affairs and publick affairs of the Realm willing and charging them and every of them as they must and shall answer at the day of judgment wholly and fully to see this my last Will and Testament performed in all things with as much speed an diligence as may be and that none of them presume to meddle with any of Our treasure or to do any thing appointed by Our said Will alone unlesse the most part of the whole number of these Co-executors doe consent and by writing agree to the same And will that Our said Executors or the most part of them may lawfully doe what they shall think most convenient for the execution of this Our Will without being troubled by Our said Son or any other for the same Willing further by Our said last Will and Testament that Sir Ed mund Peckham Our trusty servant and yet Cofferer of Our house shall be Treasurer and have the receipt and laying out of all such treasure and money as shll be defrayed by Our Executors for the performance of this Our last Will straightly charging and commanding the said Sir Edmund that he pay no great summe of money but he have first the hands of Our said Executors or of the most part of them for his discharge touching the same charging him further upon his allegiance to make a true account of all such summes as shall be delivered to his hands for this purpose And sithence We have now named and constituted Our Executors We will and charge them that first and above all things as they will answer before God and as We put Our singular trust and confidence in them that they cause all Our due Debts that can be reasonably shewed and proved before them to be fully contented and payed as soon as they conveniently can or may after Our decease without longer delay and that they doe
THE KNIGHTS â—oined with y e MONKES of Eâ—Y by WILIIAÌ„ y e CONQVEROVR SIMONI ARCHER Equiti Aurato Antiquitatis cultori et in DIGMATOGRAPHIA exercitatissimo nec non lectissima D nae Annae T. F. The Brother to William Erle of Warren with Monke Leofricke William the Conquerer S t Ethelburge S t Ethelwarde Bishope Robert Oâ—fford the xiiij th Bishope of Elye Opsal Captaine of the Câ—osbowe-men w th Henke Godfryde Belase geâ—erall of the soldiours against Eley with Nonâ—â—e vtwalde Picot Bridge Moister with Monke Huskettle Arg entine Surgeon generall with Monke Elfritcke Gerard de longo Campo with Monke William Talbote sent ostentynes Embassadour with Monke Duffe Adam cheife Marshall of the Armie with Monke Seda Guido de S t Leodigara with the holy Monke Adelmere Hastings a souldior skilfull in Nauigasion with Monke Nigell Walter Lacy sheild bearer to y e Conquerour with Monke Occam Pamell Captaine of 300 foolemen with Monke Ednode Ahmude sonne of Alan with Monke Burthrede Abraham Pechy with monke Etholbert y e Elder Bardolphe maister of the workemen with Monke Recke Sewarde on englishman Vitualer of y e Campe with Monke Reoffine Fides de furnivall a lumbard with Monke OSulp Blounte Captayne generall of y e foote men w th Monkewillnete Brian Clare an old Souldior with Monke Cliton Hugh Mounteforti Captayne of y e Horsemen with Monke Odon Pagan Standerd bearer of the Horsemen w th monke Athelâ—ale Bigotte Captaine of 300 horsemen with Monke Condulphe Dunstan le Grosmaneus with Munke Egberte Richard deponteful Conis with Monke leo fricke the younger Eucas de Novo Burgo with Olane the holye Monke of the Monastery Tuchet Captayne of the Bowmen with Monke Osburn e Nigellus Hamtaindote with Monke Donalde Eustalias the Blacke with Monke Edwin Eustalias the white Maister of the Scoutmen with monke Swan Bigotte third sonne of Bigotte with Monke Edmund Robert Marshall with Monke Renulphe Beamunde master of the Conâ—uerors horse with Monke Gurthe Kenulphus a German Soldiour with monke â—skettle John of yorke an Englishman with monke Felix John Malmaine Standerd bearer of the footemen w th monke Otho Anthoni longe sword with Monke Alfrede Lucy a Norman Admirall to y e Conqueror with Monke Constantine Alexander demonte Vignite with Monke Dauid Lucaâ—nalsus Captayne of y e Billmen with Monke oswalde Nasâ— Captayne of 200 footemen with Monke Orme LICHFIELDENSIS ECCLESIA CATHEDRALIS IN AGRO STAFFORDIENSI IN ANGLIA FACIES OCCIDENTALIS RESVRGAM LEX VNO OMNIA Eliae Ashmole Arm Mercurio phylo Angla 〈…〉 Accepta refundit T. F. Sam Purk pinxit W. Holl 〈…〉 sculp THE CHURCH-HISTORY OF BRITAIN From the Birth of JESUS CHRIST Untill the YEAR M.DC.XLVIII ENDEAVOURED By THOMAS FVLLER LONDON Printed for IOHN WILLIAMS at the signe of the Crown in St. Paul's Church-yard Anno 1655. TO THE ILLUSTRIOUS ESME STUART DVKE OF RICHMOND I Have sometimes solitarily pleased my self with the perusing and comparing of two places of Scripture Acts 22. 22. The wicked Iews said of S t. Paul Avvay vvith such a Fellovv from the Earth for it is not fit that he should live Hebrews 11. 38. S t. Paul said of the Godly Iews Of vvhom the vvorld vvas not vvorthy Here I perceive Heaven and Hell Mercy and Malice Gods Spirit and mans Spite resolved on the Question that it is not fit that good men should live long on Earth However though the Building be the same yet the Bottome is different the same Conclusion being inferred from opposite yea contrary Premisses Wicked men think this world too good God knows it too bad for his Servants to live in Henceforward I shall not wonder that Good men die so soon but that they live so long seeing wicked men desire their Room here on Earth and God their Company in Heaven No wonder then if your Good Father was so soon translated to Happinesse and his GRACE advanced into GLORY He was pleased to give me a Text some weeks before his Death of the words of our Saviour to the Probationer Convert Thou a Mark 12. 34. art not far from the Kingdome of Heaven that is as the words there import from the state of Salvation But before my Sermon could be his life was finished and he in the reall acception thereof possessed of Heaven and Happinesse Thus was I disappointed O that this were the greatest Losse by the Death of so worthy Person of a Patron to whom I intended the Dedication of this first part of my History I after was entred on a Resolution to dedicate it to his Memory presuming to defend the Innocency and Harmlesnesse of such a Dedication by Precedents of unquestioned Antiquity But I intended also to surround the Pages of the Dedication with black not improper as to his relation so expressive of the present sad Condition of our distracted Church But scasonably remembring how the Altar ED a Ioshua 22. 11. onely erected for Commemoration was misinterpreted by the other Tribes for Superstition I conceived it best to cut off all occasions of Cavill from captious persons and dedicate it to You his Son and Heir Let not your Grace be offended that I make you a Patron at the second hand for though I confesse you are my Refuge in relation to your deceased Father you are my Choise in reference to the surviving Nobility God sanctifie your tender yeares with true Grace that in time you may be a Comfort to your Mother Credit to your Kindred and Honour to your Nation Your Graces most bounden ORATOVR THOMAS FULLER TO THE READER AN Ingenious Gentleman some Moneths since in Iest-earnest advised me to make hast with my History of the Church of England for fear said he lest the Church of England be ended before the History thereof This History is now though late all Church-work is slow brought with much difficulty to an end And blessed be God the Church of England is still and long may it be in being though disturb'd distempered distracted God help and heal her most sad condition The three first Books of this Volumn were for the main written in the Reign of the late King as appeareth by the passages then proper for the Government The other nine Books were made since Monarchy was turned into a State May God alone have the Glory and the ingenuous Reader the Benefit of my endeavours which is the hearty desire of Thy Servant in Iesus Christ THOMAS FULLER From my chamber in Sion Colledge THE CHURCH-HISTORY OF BRITAIN Anno Dom. I. CENTURIE THat we may the more freely and fully pay the tribute of our thanks to Gods goodnesse The dolefull case of the Pagan Britans for the Gospel which we now enjoy let us recount the sad Condition of the Britans our Predecessours before the Christian Faith was preached unto them At that time they were without Christ being Aliens from the Common-wealth of Israel and strangers from the Covenants of promise having no hope and without God in the World They were foul
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
Miracles which the Papists confidently report to be done by him after his Death in curing Sick people of their severall Maladies For such Souls which they fancy in Purgatory are so farre from healing others that they cannot help themselves Yea f Eccles Hist lib. 3. cap. 12. Bede calleth this Oswald jam cum Domino regnantem now reigning with the Lord. Yet the same g Lib. 3. cap. 2 Authour attesteth that even in his time it was the anniversary Custome of the Monks of Hexam to repair to Heofen-feld a place hard by where Oswald as aforesaid obtained his miraculous Victory and there to observe Vigils for the Salvation of his Soul plurimaque Psalmorum laude celebrata victimam pro eo mane sacrae oblationis offerre A Mongrel Action betwixt Good-will and VVill-worship though the eyes of their Souls in those Prayers looked not forward to the future petitioning for Oswald's Happinesse but backward to what was past gratulatory to the Blisse he had received Purgatory therefore cannot properly be founded on such Suffrages for the dead However such over-Officiousnesse though at first it was like the Herb in the Pot which doth neither good nor ill in after-Ages became like that wild a 2 King 4. 40 Gourd Anno Dom. poysoning mens Souls with Superstition 644 when they fell to down-right Praying for the departed 79. This year Paulinus The death of Paulinus late Arch-Bishop of York since Bishop of Rochester ended his Life and one Ithamar succeeded him born in Kent and the first English-man Bishop all being Forrainers before him As he was the first of his Nation I believe him the second of his Name meeting with no moe save onely b Exod. 6. 23. Ithamar the youngest Son of Aaron High-Priest of Israel 80. After King Oswald his Death 645 four Christian contemporary Kings flourished in England Most Christian King Oswy First Oswy King of Northumberland more commendable for the Managing then the Gaining of his Kingdome except any will say that no good Keeping can make amends for the ill Getting of a Crown seeing he defeated Ethelwald Oswald's Son and the true Heire thereof Bede c Lib. 3. c. 21. termeth him Regem Christianissimum The most Christian King a Stile wherewith the present Majesty of France will not be offended as which many years after was settled on his Ancestours Long had this Oswy endeavoured in vain by Presents to purchase Peace from Penda the Pagan King of Mercia who miserably harassed his Country and refused any Gifts though never so rich and great which were tendered unto him At last saith my d Idem Authour Oswy resolved VVe will offer our Presents to such a King who is higher in Command and humbler in his Courtesie as who will not disdain to accept them Whereupon he devoted his Daughter to God in her perpetuall Virginity and soon after obtained a memorable Conquest over his Enemies and cleared the Country from his Cruelty 81. Secondly Sigebert the too good Sigebert King of Essex and the Restorer of Religion in his Kingdome which formerly had apostatized after the Departure of Mellitus valiant and pious though taxed for his contumacious Company-keeping contrary to his Confessours command with an Excommunicated Count in whose House he was afterward murdered by two Villains Who being demanded the Cause of their Cruelty why they killed so harmlesse and innocent a Prince had nothing to say for themselves but they did it because his e Beda lib. 3. cap. 22. Goodnesse had done the Kingdome hurt such his pronenesse to pardon Offenders on their though but seeming Submission that his Meeknesse made many Malefactours But I hope and believe that the Heirs of Sigebert though the Story be silent herein finding his Fault amended it in themselves and exercised just Severity in the Execution of these two damnable Traitours 82. Anna may be accounted the third Successour to Sigebert 654 and happy in a numerous and holy Off-spring Anna happy in an holy issue Yea all his Children save Firminus the eldest slain with his Father in a Fight against Pagan Penda were either Mitred or Vailed when Living Sainted and Shrined when Dead as Erkenwald Bishop of London Ethelred or Audrey and Sexburga successively Foundresses and Abbesses of Elie VVithgith a Nun therein and Ethilburg Abbesse of Beorking nigh London 83. Peada 656 Prince of Mercia The conversion of the Mercians to Christianity under Prince Peada may make up the Quaternion who married Alfrede Daughter of Oswy King of Northumberland and thereupon renouncing Paganisme embraced Christianity and propagated it in his Dominions Indeed Penda his Father that Persecuter of Piety was still alive and survived two yeares after persisting an Heathen till Death but mollified to permit a Toleration of Christianity in his Subjects Yea Penda in his Old-age used an expression which might have beseemed the Mouth of a better man namely That he hated not Christians but onely such who f Beda lib. 3. cap. 21. professed Christ's Faith without his VVorks accounting them contemptible who pretended to Believe in God without Obeying him 84. A brace of Brethren St. Cedde and St. Chad. both Bishops both eminent for Learning and Religion now appeared in the Church so like in Name they are oft mistaken in Authours one for another Now though it be pleasant for Brethren to live together in Vnity Anno Dom. 656 yet it is not fit by Errour they should be jumbled together in Confusion Observe their Difference therefore S t. Cedde in Latine Ceddus I believe the elder born at a Flores Sanctorum pag. 35. London where afterward he was Bishop bred in Holy Island an active promoter in making the East-Saxons Converts or rather Reverts to the Faith He is remembred in the Romish Kalendar Ianuary the seventh S t. Chad in Latine Cedda born in b Idem p. 224. Northumberland bred likewise in Holy Island and Scholar to Aidanus He was Bishop of Lichfield a milde and modest man of whom more hereafter His death is celebrated in the Kalender March the second and the Dust of his Tombe is by Papists reported to cure all Diseases alike in Man and Beast I believe it might make the dumb to see and the lame to speak The later of these was as the Longest Liver so the most eminent in his Life who made many Christians and amongst the rest VVulfade and Rufine Sons to Wulphere King of Mercia succeeding Peada therein who was suddenly slain and his untimely Death was a great Loss to Religion 85. Look we now on the See of Canterbury Fridona first English Arch-bishop where to our comfort we have gotten one of our own Country-men into the place Fridona a Saxon. Yet for the more State of the businesse he assumed the name of Deus-dedit We know Arch-Bishops of his See are termed Alterius orbis Papae and such changing of Names was fashionable with the Popes He was
or measure No author need to be alledged for the avouching thereof the thing being author for it self being so notoriously known and generally believed Others make him to quit his title by Conquest and hold the Crown partly by Bequest from King Edward the Confessor whose good laws he is said to confirm Leges boni Regis Edvardi quas Gulielmus bastardus postea e See Mr Selden ut suprd confirmavit and partly by compact with his people Yea the Chronicles of Lichfield make him to call a Parliament in effect I mean a Meeting of his Clergie and Nobility in a great Councel where as if he had turn'd perfect English-man he conformed his practice to their ancient constitutions 14. Should I interpose between these opposite parties to reconcile them Our endeavours to compass the difference probably the blows from both sides would fall heavy on my charitable indiscretion Yet thus far I will be bold to say such confirmation of King Edward's law if made by King William probably was rather oral and verbal then real and effectual But if real certainly it was not general but limited to some particular place as the Province of Kent the English land of Goshen which alone enjoyed the light of liberty though rather gotten by them then given unto them But if any will contend that this confirmation was general they must confess it done in the later end of his Reign King William when yong lov'd honor when old ease when yong to conquer when old to enjoy Age will make all to stoop as here it bowed him to a better compliance with his people However this his confirmation of King Edward's Laws was not such as either gave general content to or begat assured confidence in the English perchance because but a personal act and but partially done and no whit obligatory of his posterity This made the English press so importunately though in vain to William Rufus the King's son and successor for a re-confirmation of King Edward's Laws which had been needless as being the same with actum agere or rather dacum petere had the former grant from King William his father been conceived sufficient for their security 15. As for King William's particular bounty to Battle-Abby in Sussex King William his bounty to Battle-Abby which he founded it bare better proportion to the dignity of the giver 15. then to the deserts of the receivers 1081. For besides those priviledges formerly a In the first paragr of this book mentioned he gave it all the land within a league of the site thereof He ordered that no forreiner should be obtruded on their Abbey but in every vacancy one of their own Covent should be elected Abbot thereof except which heavens forbid no fit person should be found therein for that preferment Nor should the Abbot be forced to appear at any Synod or meeting except pleased of himself so to do These and many moe immunities he confirmed to that foundation in such an imperious stile as if therewith he meant to bluster all future Princes and King Henry the eighth among the rest into a perfect obedience unto his commands Especially with that clause in his Charter Nullus Successorum meorum violare praesumat But dead King's Charters though they have tongues to threaten yet have no teeth to bite especially when meeting with an equal after-power to rescind them 16. The more the pitty His hard dealing with the Students at Oxford that such drones lazy Abby-lubbers went away with the honey whilest the industrious Bees were almost starved I mean the Scholars of Oxford For at the coming in of the Conqueror the Students in Vniversity-Colledg formerly founded by King Alfred were maintained by pensions yearly paid them out of the King's Exchequer which provision was then conceived both most honourable as immediately depending on the Crown and less troublesome issuing out in ready coine free from vexatious suits casualties of Tenants and other incumbrances But now King William who loved that the tide of wealth should flow into but not ebb out of his coffers detained and denied their b Ex monumentis Gollegii Vniversitatis exhibitions Yea the King pick'd a quarrel with them because they sought to preserve and propagate the English tongue which the King designed to suppress and to reduce all to the French Language And yet the French speech was so far from final prevailing in this Kingdom that it was fain at last to come to a composition with the English tongue mixed together as they remain at this day Save that in termes of Law Venarie and Blazon the French seemeth foly to command The Scholars thus deprived of their pensions liv'd on the charity of c Br. Twine in Antiq Academ Oxon. pag. 215. such as lov'd the continuance of their native tongue Their Latin was then maintained by their English though surely it was no small disturbance to their studies meerly to depend for their subsistence on the arbitrary alms of others 17. Pass we now from King William unto Lanckfranck Arch-Bishop of Canterbury Lanckfranck most kindley treated by the Pope next the King then the most considerable person in our Ecclesiastical History To Rome he went with Thomas elect of York and Remigius of Lincoln all three for confirmation from the Pope in their preferment Pope Alexander treated Lanckfranck so civilly that a stranger if beholding the passages betwixt them haply might have mistook Lanckfranck for the Pope and the Pope for the Petitioner His Highness honoured him as his Master cujus studio sumus in illis quae scimus imbuti by whose care said he we have been instructed in those things whereof we have knowledg 18. Then Lanckfranck charged Thomas in the presence of the Pope His charge against Thomas elect of York as canonically uncapable of that Arch-Bishoprick because the son of a Priest And yet by Lanckfrancks leave no Canon can be produced then in force to debar Priests sons from preferment though some few years after in the Councel of Clermont such a prohibition was made And therefore a Novorum lib. 1. pag. 7. Eadmerus speaking of Lanckfranck calumniatus est Thomam coram Papâ in the proper acception of his words speaks more truth then he was aware of or probably did intend But Lanckfranck being a Privado to the Popes projects and as well to the intentions as the actions of the Church of Rome might by a Prolepsis antedate this objection against Thomas using it for the present as a rub to retard him which some years after was constituted a legal obstacle to exclude any Priests son from promotion But even when that Canon some years after was made the Pope was not so cruel as thereby fully and finally to exclude all Priests sons from Church dignity but onely to shut them out for a time that they might stand at the door and knock I mean with the chink of their money and at
they have honest persons witnesses of their Conversation 3. That no Arch-Deaconries be let out to farm 4. That all Arch-Deacons be Deacons 5. That no Arch-Deacon Priest Deacon or * Aliâ—er being Canonical Canon marry a wife or retain one being married unto him and that every sub-Deacon who is not a Canon if he have married after his Profession made of Chastity be bound by the same Rule Here what a grave Author Anno Regis Hen. 1 3. almost of the same Age Anno Dom. 1102. saith of this Constitution a Henricus Huntingdon Historiaâ—um lib. 7. pag. 217. Hoc quibusdam mundissimum visum est quibusdam periculosum nè dum munditias viribus majores Sacerdotes appeterent in immunditias horribiles ad Christiani nominis summum dedecus inciderent And as Jordan wanting a Vent or Influx like other Rivers into the Ocean loseth its Current at last in a filthy lake or dead sea of its own making So it was to be feared that these men now debarr'd that remedy for their weakness which God who best knew the Constitution of his own Creatures hath Provided setled themselves in some unclean wayes and most mortal filthiness occasion by this prohibition 6. That a Priest so long as he keeps unlawful Conversation with a Woman understand his own Wife is not legal nor rightly celebrateth the Mass nor is his Mass to be heard if he celebrate it 7. That none be admitted to the Order of Sub-Deacon or upwards without the profession of Chastity 8. That the Sons of Priests be not made heirs to the Church of their Fathers 9. That no Clerks be Provosts or Proctors of Secular matters or JUDGES IN BLOUD This is the reason saith the Appendix to b Pag. 746. in Catalogo Religiosarum Aedium Harpsfield reporting is no approving of his judgment why Bishops being arraigned for their Lives are not to be tried by their Peers but by a jury of ordinary men because debarred by their Canons to be Judges of Lay-Peers in like cases and therefore it was conceiv'd unfitting that they should receive that honour which they could not return 10. That Priests should not go to Publick Drinkings nec ad * Hence probably the Proverb He is in a merry Pin. pinnas bibant not drink at Pins This was a Dutch trick but now used in England of Artificial Drunkenness out of a Cup marked with certain Pins and he accounted the Man who could nick the Pin drinking even unto it whereas to go above or beneath it was a forfeiture 11. That the Garments of Clergie-men be of one colour and their Shooes according to order 12. That Monks and Clerks that have cast off their Order either return thereto or be excommunicated 13. That Clerks have CROWNS PATENT so that their shaving be conspicuous to the beholder 14. That Tythes be given to none but to Churches 15. That Churches or Prebends be not bought 16. That new Chappels be not made without the consent of the Bishop 17. That no Church be Consecrated until necessaries be provided for the Priest and Church 18. That Abbots make no Knights and that they eat and sleep in the same house with their Monks except some necessity forbid It appeareth it was the Ancient Custom of Abbots in this Age to make Knights Thus c Ingulsus pag. 512. Edict Londin Brando the Abbot of S t Edmunds-bury Knighted Heward his Nephew having first confessed his sins and received absolution Indeed in those dayes mens mindes were so possessed that they thought nothing well and fortunately done but what came from Church-men Whereupon he that was to be made a Knight first offered his sword upon the Altar and after the Gospel read the Priest put the sword first hallowed upon the Knights neck with his d Camdens Brit. pag. 173. Benedictum and so having heard Mass again and received the Sacrament he became a lawful Knight And seeing the HOLY WAR now was begun Anno Dom. 1105 no wonder if Church-men made Knights Anno Regis Hen. 16. And that Age conceived that a Knights Sword dipt in Holy water was well tempered and became true metal indeed Why Abbots were now prohibited to confer this honor the cause is not rendred Whether because it made KNIGHTWOOD too common or that this Priviledg was reserved onely for higher Prelates such as Bishop and Arch-Bishop were or that it was an incroachment upon the Royal dignity it being as proper for Kings to ordain Priests as for Abbots to dub Knights This is most sure that notwithstanding this Canon a J. Selden ad Eadmer specilegium pag. 207. King Henry the first some years after granted and King John confirmed to the Abbot of Reading the power of Knighting persons with some cautions of their behaviour therein 19. That Monks enjoyn no Pennance to any without permission of their Abbot and that onely to such persons whereof they have cure of Souls 20. That Monks and Nuns be not God-fathers or God-mothers 21. That Monks hold no Lands in Farm 22. That Monks take no Churches by the Bishops and that they spoyl not such as are given unto them of the Revenues but so that the Priests serving in those Cures and the Churches might be provided with necessaries 23. That Faith in way of marriage pledged secretly and without witness betwixt man and woman be of no effect if either party do deny it 24. That Criniti such as wear long hair be so shaven that part of their Ears may appear and their Eyes not be covered Criniti are opposed to Tonsi extended to all Lay-persons If any demand how it came within the cognizance of the Church to provide about their trimming which might well have been left to the parties pleasure and his Barbars skill know this Canon was built on the Apostles Words b 1 Cor. 11. 14. doth not even nature it self teach you that if a man have long hair it is a shame unto him And the Church forbad whatsoever was a Trespass against Christian decency c De excid Britan. fo1 6. Gildas giveth this Character of the Picts Furciferos magis vultus pilos quam Corporum pudenda vestibus tegentes that they covered rather their Thievish Eyes with their hair then their shame with Cloaths which Ruffin-like custom of long hair now used by the Normans was here justly restrained 25. That parties akin to the Seventh Generation be not coupled in marriage and that persons so coupled remain not in Marriage and if any be privy to this Incest and not declare it let him know himself to be guilty of the same crime This brought much Grist to the Popes Mill for Dispensations As secular Princes used to stop travellers on common Bridges or at the entrance of Gates not with intent finally to forbid their going further but ot receive Tole or Custom for their passing by So the Pope prohibited these degrees in marriage not absolutely ot hinder such matches but
for the future pernicious and damnable And here we will a little enlarge our selves on this subject of so high concernment 8. It is confessed on all sides Onely by a Church Constitution that there is no express in Scripture to prohibit Priests Marriage a In. 2. ◠q all 88. art 11. Thomas and b Lib 7. de Justitia quaest 5. aru◠2. Scotus commonly cross as if reason enough for the later to deny because the former affirmed it do both such the strength of truth agree herein Onely Ecclesiastical Constitutions forbid them Marriage And though many Popes tampered hereat none effectually did drive the nail to the head till Hildebrand alias Gregory the seventh the better man the better deed finally interdicted Priests Marriage However his Constitutions though observed in Italy and France were not generally obeyed in England till Anselme at last forbad Married Priests to officiate or any Lay-people under pain of censure to be present at their Church-service 9. Herein he proceeded on two erroneous principles Grounded on double error One that all men have or may have if using the means the gift of Continencie Wherein they do not distinguish betwixt 1. Common gifis which God bestoweth on all his servants Jude v. 3. Common salvation 2. Proper gifts thus the c 1 Cor. 7. 7. Apostle when he had wished al like himself that is able to contain he immediately addeth Anno Regis Hen. 18. But every man hath his proper gift of God one after this manner and another after that His other false supposition is That Marriage is either inconfistent with or at least impeditive to the purity of Priestly profession 10. The falsnefs whereof appeareth by the precedent of Henoch Paramount holiness in a married person in whom met the threefold capacity of King Priest and Prophet Yet his Marriage remitted not the reins of his Princely power hindered not the performance of his Sacerdotal function rebated not the edg of his Prophetical spirit for a Gen. 5. 22. He walked with God and begat sons and daughters He made not a prayer the less for having a childe the more and let us be but alike holy with Enoch and let others be more holy with Anselme 11. Wherefore when the b Cor. 7. 33. Apostle saith He that is married careth for the things which are of this world how he may please his wife St Paul expounded therein he describeth not that height of God-pleasing which Marriage ought and in it self may and by Enoch was improved but expresseth such faults which through humane corruption too commonly come to pass Which are vita mariti non matrimonii uxoris non uxoratus flowing neither from the essence nor from the exercise of Marriage but onely from the depraved use thereof which by Gods assistance and mans best endeavours may be rectified and amended 12. It is therefore falsly charged on Marriage quà Marriage And marriage defended that it is an hinderance to Hospitality starving the poor to feed a family It is confessed it would break Marriage if caeteris paribus she should offer to vie bounty with Virginity onely she may equal Virginity in cheerfulness of her giving and in the discreet choise of fit objects whereon to bestow it Yet give me leave to say in a married family there be commonly most mouthes and where most mouthes there probably most bread is eaten and where most bread is eaten there certainly most crums fall beneath the table so that the poor are feasted by those fragments If any rejoyn that single folke bestow their almes not by crums but whole loaves the worst I wish is that poor people may finde the truth thereof Nor doth the having of children quà children make men covetous seeing Solómon saw a man c Eccles 4. 8. who had neither childe nor brother yet his eye was not satisfied with riches On the other side I finde two in one and the same d Gen. 33. 9. 11. Chapter professing they had enough viz. Esau and Jacob both of them married both of them parents of many children 13. And here well may we wonder at the partiality of the Papists over-exalting Marriage in the Laity A Monks verses as bald as his crown to a Sacrament and too much depressing the same in Priests as no better then refined fornication Yea some have made Virginity the corn and Marriage the cockle which is a wonder that they should be of several kindes seeing Virginity is but the fruit and Marriage the root thereof But amongst all the foul mouthes belibelling Marriage one rayling Rythmer of Anselmes age bore away the bell drinking surely of styx instead of Helicon and I am confident my translation is good enough for his bald verses e Found in Ramsey Abbey in a Treatise De Monicatu cited by John Bale O malè viventes versus audite sequentes Vxores vestras quas odit summa potestas Linquite propter eum tenuit quit morte trophaeum Quod si non facitis inferni claustra petetis Christi Sponsa jubet nè Presbyter ille ministret Qui tenet uxorem Domini quia perdit amorem Contradicentes fore dicimus insipientes Non ex rancore loquor haec potius sed amore O ye that ill live attention give unto my following rhythmes Your wives those dear mates whom the highest power hates see that ye leave them betimes Leave them for his sake who a conquest did make and a crown and a cross did acquire If any sayno I give them to know they must all unto Hell for their hire The Spouse of Christ forbids that Priest his ministerial function Because he did part with Christ in his heart at his marriage-conjunction We count them all mad if any so bad as daring herein to contest Nor is it of spight that this I indite but out of pure love I protest Where did this rayling Monk ever read that God hated the wives of Priests And did not the Church of Rome at this time come under the character of that defection describbed by the a 1 Tim. 4. 1. Apostle That in the latter times some should depart from the fatih sorbidding to marry c. 14. These endeavour as they are deeply concerned to wipe off from themselves this badge of Antichrist by pleading that 1. They forbid Marriage to 2. They force Priesthood on no man Onely they require of those who freely will enter into the Priesthood to vow virginity and command such to part with their wives who were formerly entered into Orders 15. All which is alledged by them but in vain Well stopped up seeing marriage may be forbidden either directly or consequentially For the first none well in their wits consulting their credit did ever point-blank forbid marriage to all people Such would be held as hostes humani generis enemies of man-kinde in their destructive doctrines Nor did any ever absolutely as it followeth in the same text
was the first Norman made Bsyhop of S t Davids St Davids contest with Canterbury Presuming on his masters favour and his own merit he denyed subjection to Canterbury and would be as anciently had been an absolute Arch-Bishop of himself Indeed S t Davids was Christian some hundred of years whilest Canterbury was yet Pagan and could shew good Cards if but permitted fairly to play them for Archiepiscopal Jurisdiction even in some respect Equal to Rome it self Witness the ancient riming verse about the proportions of Pardons given to Pilgrims for their visiting Religious places Roma semel quantum bis dat Menevia tantum Not the S t Davids gives a peck of Pardons where Rome gives but a gallon as the words at the first blush may seen of import but that two Pilgrimages to S t Davids should be equal in merit to one Pilgrimage to Rome such was the conceived Holiness of that place 26. Giraldus Cambrensis states the Case truly and briefly Impar Congressus That Canterbury hath long prescription plenty of Lawyers to plead her Title and store of money to pay them Whereas S t Davids is poor remote out of the road of preferment intimating no less that if equally accommodated she could set on foot as food an Archiepiscopal Title as Canterbury it self But he addeth that except some great alteration happeneth understand him except Wales recover again into an absolute Principality S t Davids is not likely to regain her ancient Dignity William Arch-Bishop of Canterbury aided by the Pope at last humbled the Bishop of S r Davids into a submission Who vexed hereat wreckt his spleen on the welsh Clergie furiously forcing them to sorgo their Wives The successors of this Bishop would have been more Thankful to his Memory had he laboured less for the honor and more preserved the profits of his See whose lands he dilapidated with this his expensive suit and on other designs for his own preferment 27. King Henry died in Normandy of a surfeit by eating a Mat. Paris pag. 73. Lampreys King Henry his death An unwholsom fish insomuch that Galen speaking of Eels in general whereto Lampreys may be reduced expostulates with the gods for giving them so delicious a taste good so malignant and dangerous an operation But grant them never so good excess is venemous string in the most wholsome flesh fish and sowl and it was too great a quantity caused his surfeit I finde him generally commended for temperance in his diet onely his palat his servant in all other meats was commonly his master in this dish He was buried at Reading leaving but one daughter the Sea having swallowed his Sons surviving him 28. Stephen Earl of Bologn Stephen usurpeth the Crown on a fully title hearing of Henry his death Steph. 1. hasteth over into England Dece 2. and seizeth on the Crown All his title unto it was this First Maud the true heir thereof was a female Secondly absent beyond the Seas Thirdly married to a forreiner Fourthly no very potent Prince viz. Geffery Plantagenet Earl of Angeou whose land-lock-situation rendred him less formidable for any effectual impression on this Island Lastly he was Son to Adela Daughter to King William the Conqueror though a Male deriving his title from a Female conceiving himself the Daughters Son to be preferr'd before Maud the Sons Daughter Indeed Stephen had an elder Brother Theobald Earl of Blois but he chose a quiet County before a cumbersom Kingdom the enjoyment of his own rather then invasion of anothers inheritance seeing Maud was the undoubted heir of the English Crown 28. This Maud Anno Regis Hen. 1 â—â— I may call Anno Dom. 1135. Maud the fourth Maud the south yea England had no Queen of another name since the Conquest 1. Maud the first Wise to King William the Conqueror 2. Maud the second Daughter to Malcolme King of Scots Wife to King Henry the first 3. Maud the third Wife to King Stephen 4. Maud the fourth Daughter to King Henry the first and in right Queen of England This last Maud was first married to Henry the fourth Emperor of Germany and after his death was constantly called The Empress by the courtesie of Christendom though married to Earl Geffery her second husband To her all the Clergie and Nobility had sworn fealty in her father's life time 29. William Arch-Bishop of Canterbury The perjury of the Clergy notwithstanding his oath to Maud Dece 26. solemnly crowned Stephen and in the same act shewed himself perjured to his God disloyal to his Princess and ingrateful to his Patroness by whose special favour he had been preferred The rest of the Bishops to their shame followed his example dealing with oaths as sea-men with the points in the Compass saying them forwards and backwards Indeed covetousness and pride prompted this disloyalty unto them hoping to obtain of an Usurper what they despaired to get from a lawful King For their modestie and that little enough in asking was all Stephens measure in giving resolving with himself for the present to grant what should please them and at leasure to perform what should please himself Let him now get but the stump of a Crown and with wise watering thereof it would sprout afterwards Hence was it that he granted the Bishops liberty to build and hold many Castles freedom in forests investiture from the Pope with many other immunities which hitherto the Clergy never obtained All things thus seemingly setled yet great was the difference of judgments in the English concerning King Stephen which afterwards discovered themselves in the variety of mens practices 30. Some acted vigorously for Stephen Variety of peoples opinions conceiving possession of a Crown createth a right unto it Where shall private persons unable of themselves to trace the intricacies of Princes titles fix their loyalty more safely then on him whom success tendereth unto them for their Soveraign God doth not now as anciently visibly or audibly discover himself we must therefore now only look and listen to what he sheweth and faith by his voice in the success of things whereby alone he expresseth his pleasure what he owneth or disclaimeth This their judgment was crossed by others who distinguished betwixt Heavens permission and consent God sometimes suffering them to have power to compel to whom he never gave authority to command 31. But some urged that Stephen was declared lawful King by popular consent Pro and Con for King Stephen which at this time could alone forme a Legal right to any in this Island For Maud Stephen's corrival in vain pretended succession seeing the Crown since the Conquest never observed a regular but an uncertain and desultory motion Nor was it directed to go on by the straight line of primogeniture which leapt over the Conquerors eldest to his second Son Then taking a new rise from the eldest still surviving to Henry his third Son Here no chain
Sons having much of the Mother in them grew up as in Age in obstinacy against him His Subjects but especially the Bishops being the greatest Castle mongers in that Age very stubborn and not easily to be ordered 54. Mean time one may justly admire What became of Maud the Empress than no mention in Authors is made of nor provisions for Maud the Kings Mother surviving some years after her Son's Coronation in whom during her life 〈◊〉 lay the real right to the Crown 〈◊〉 Yet say not King Henries policy was little in preferring to take his Title from an Usurper by adoption rather then from his own Mother the rightful heir by succession and his piety less in not attending his Mothers death but snatching the Scepter out of her hand seeing no Writer ever chargeth him with the least degree of undutifulness unto her Which leadeth us to believe that this Maud worn out with age and afflictions willingly waved the Crown and reigned in her own contentment in seeing her Son reign before her 55. Those who were most able to advise themselves 1. are most willing to be advised by others 1155. as appeared by this politick Prince The body of the Common-Law compiled Presently he chuseth a Privy Councel of Clergie and Temporalty and refineth the Common Laws Yea towards the end of his Reign began the use of our Itiâ—erant Judges The platform hereof he fetch'd from France where he had his education and where Charles the Bald some hundred of years before had divided his Land into twelve parts assigning several Judges for administration of Justice therein Our Henry parcelled England into six Divisions and appointed three Judges to every Circuit annually to visit the same Succeeding Kings though changing the limits have kept the same number of Circuits and let the skilful in Arithmetick cast it up whether our Nation receiveth any loss by the change of three Judges every year according to Henry the second 's Institution into two Judges twice a year as long since hath been accustomed 56. The Laws thus setled King Henry cast his eye on the numerous Castles in England 2. As a good reason of State formerly perswaded the building 1156. so a better pleaded now for the demolishing of them Castles demolished William the Conqueror built most of them and then put them into the custody of his Norman Lords thereby to awe the English into obedience But these Norman Lords in the next generation by breathing in English ayre and wedding with English wives became so perfectly Anglized and lovers of Liberty that they would stand on their guard against the King on any petty discontentment If their Castles which were of proof against Bowes and Arrows the Artillery of that Age could but bear the brunt of a sudden assault they were priviledged from any solemn Siege by their meanness and multitude as whose several beleguerings would not compensate the cost thereof Thus as in foul bodies the Physick in process of time groweth so friendly and familiar with the disease that they at last side together and both take part against Nature in the Patient so here it came to pass that these Castles intended for the quenching in continuance of time occasioned the kindling of Rebellion To prevent farther mischief King Henry razed most of them to the ground and secured the rest of greater consequence into the hands of his Confidents if any ask how these Castles belong to our Church-History know that Bishops of all in that Age were the greatest Traders in such Fortifications 57. Thomas Becket Thomas Becket L. Chancellor of England born in London and though as yet but a Deacon Arch-Deacon of Canterbury Doctor of Canon-Law bred in the Universities of Oxford Paris Bononia was by the King made Lord Chancellor of England During which his office who braver then Becket None in the Court wore more costly clothes Anno Dom. 1158. mounted more stately steeds made more sumptuous feasts kept more jovial company brake more merry jests used more pleasant pastimes In a word he was so perfect a Lay-man that his Parsonages of Bromfield and S t Mary-hill in London with other Ecclesiastical Cures whereof he was Pastor might even look all to themselves he taking no care to discharge them This is that Becket whose mention is so much in English and miracles so many in Popish writers We will contract his acts in proportion to our History remitting the Reader to be satisfied in the rest from other Authors 58. Four years after His great reformation being made Arch-Bishop of Canterbury upon the death of Theobald 1162 Becket was made by the King 8. Arch-Bishop of Canterbury The first Englishman since the Conquest and he but a mongrel for his mother was a Syrian the intercourse of the Holy-War in that age making matches betwixt many strangers who was preferred to that place And now if the Monks their writing his life may be believed followed in him a great and strange Metamorphosis Instantly his cloaths were reformed to gravity his diet reduced to necessity his company confined to the Clergie his expences contracted to frugality his mirth retrenched to austerity all his pastimes so devoured by his piety that none could see the former Chancellor Becket in the present Arch-Bishop Becket Yea they report that his clothes were built three stories high next his skin he was a Hermite and wore sack-cloth in the midd he had the habit of a Monk and above all wore the garments of an Arch-Bishop Now that he might the more effectually attend his Archiepiscopal charge he resigned his Chancellors place whereat the King was not a little offended It added to his anger that his patience was daylie pressed with the importunate petitions of people complaining that Becket injured them Though generally he did but recover to his Church such possessions as by their covetousness and his predecessors connivence had formerly been detained from it 59. But A stubborn defender of the vicious Clergy against secular Magistrates the main matter incensing the King against him was his stubborn defending the Clergie from the secular power and particularly what a great fire doth a small spark kindle that a Clerk having killed and stolen a Deer ought not to be brought before the Civil Magistrate for his punishment Such impunities breeding impieties turned the house of God into a den of thieves many rapes riots robberies murders were then committed by the Clergie If it be rendered as a reason of the viciousness of Adonijah that his father never said unto him a 1 King 1. 6. Why doest thou so No wonder if the Clergy of this age were guilty of great crimes whom neither the King nor his Judges durst call to an account And seeing Ecclesiastical censures extend not to the taking away of life or lim such Clerks as were guilty of capital faults were either altogether acquitted or had onely penance inflicted upon
cc. xlix o. in Crastino Exaltationis Sanctae Crucis The substance is this That the Dean and Chapter promise to depend wholy on the Kings pleasure in the choice of the next Elect so that now Cathedralls began to learn good manners Notwithstanding the Pope usually obtruded whom he pleased upon them Say not that S t. Asaph was an inconsiderable Cathedrall being at great Distance of small Revenue which might make them more officious to comply with the King seeing the poorest oft times prove the proudest and peevishest to their Superiours But although this qualm of Loyalty took this Church for the present we must confesse that generally Chapters ask the Kings leave as Widows do their Fathers to marry as a Complement not requisite thereunto as conceiving it Civility to ask but no Necessity to have his Approbation 56. Two eminent Arch-bishops of Canterbury successively filled that See Edmond Archbishop of Cant. during the most part of this Kings Reign First Edmond Treasurer of Salisbury born say some in London and Christened in the same Font with Thomas Becket My a Godwine in Catalogue of Bishops pag. 130. Authour makes him educated in Vniversity Colledge in Oxford a great Scholar and lover of learned men refusing to consecrate Richard VVendover Bishop of Rochester because of his want of Sufficiency for such a Function hereupon he incurred the displeasure of Otho the Popes Legate siding with VVendover requiring no other Qualification save Money to make a Bishop was inforced to undertake a dangerous and expensive journey to Rome to his great Damage and greater Disgrace being cast in his Cause after the spending of a thousand Marks therein 57. He took the boldnesse to tell the Pope of his Extortion Sainted after his death though little thereby was amended After his return he fell into the Kings displeasure so that overpowered with his Adversaries and circumvented with their malice weary of his Native Country the miseries whereof he much bemoaned he went into voluntary Banishment He died and was buried in France and six years after which I assure you was very soon and contrary to the modern Custome was Sainted by Pope Innocent the fourth Whose Body Lewes the fourth King of France solemnly removed and sumptuously inshrined 58. The other Boniface a worthlesse Arch-bishop Boniface by name was onely eminent on the account of his high Extraction as Uncle to the Queen and son of Peter Earle of Savoy a horrible scraper of money generally hated insomuch that he went his Visitation having a Corslet on under his Episcopall habit which it seems was no more then needs the Londoners being so exasperated against him that they threarned his Death had not he secured himself by Flight Only he is memorable to Posterity for paying two and twenty thousand Marks debt of his See which his Predecessours had contracted for building a fair Hall at Canterbury and a stately Hospitall at Maidstone which it seems was indited and found guilty of and executed for Superstition at the dissolution of Abbeys when it was valued at above a hundred and fifty pounds of yearly Revenue being aliened now to other uses SECT Anno. Regis III. Anno Dom. TO WILLIAM ROBINSON OF The Inward-Temple Esq SIR Edward Coke was wont to say that he never knew a Divine meddle with a matter of Law but that therein he committed some great errour and discovered gross ignorance I presume you Lawyers are better Divines then we Divines are Lawyers because indeed greater your concernment in your pretious soules then ours in our poor estates Having therefore just cause to suspect my own judgement in this Section wherein so much of Law I submit all to your Judgment to add alter expunge at pleasure that if my weak endeavours shall appear worthy of a second Impression they may come forth corrected with your Emendations 1. QUiet King Henry the third Hen. 3 57. our English Nestor not for depth of brains 1272. but lenghth of life as who Reigned fifty six years The vivacity of King Henry the third and the variety of his life in which terme he buried all his Contemporary Princes in Christendom twice over All the moneths in a year may in a manner be carved out of an April-day Hot cold dry moist fair soule weather being oft presented therein Such the character of this Kings life certain onely in uncertainty Sorrowful successful in plenty in penury in wealth in want Conquered Conquerour 2. Yet the Sun of his life did not set in a Cloud The serenity of his death and solemnity of his Burial but went down in full lustre a good token that the next day would be fair and his Successor prove fortunate He died at S t Edmunds-Bury and though a merciful Prince ended his dayes in a necessary act of justice Anno Dom. 1272. severely punishing some Citizens of Norwich Anno Regis Hen. 3. 57. for burning and pillaging the Priory therein His corps were buried at Westminster Church founded and almost finished by him with great solemnity though Prince Edward his Son as beyond the Seas was not present there at Ed. 1. 1. 3. There cannot be a greater Temptation to Ambition to usurpe a Crown The advantages of absent Prince Edward then when it findeth a vacancy on the Throne and the true heir thereof absent at a great distance Such an advantage at this instant had the Adversaries of Prince Edward not as yet returned from Palestine to put in if so minded for the Kingdom of England And strange it was that no Arrears of the former Rebellion were left but all the reckonings thereof so fully discharged that no Corrival did appear for the Crown But a general concurrence of many things befriended Prince Edward herein 1. His Father on his death-bed secured his Sons succession as much as might be by swearing the Principal Peers unto him in his absence 2. The most active and dangerous Military men the Prince had politickly carried away with him into Palestine 3. Prince Edward his same present here in the absence of his person preserved the Crown for him as due to him no less by desert then descent The premisses meeting with the love and Loyalty of many English hearts paved the way to Prince Edward his peaceable entrance without any opposition 4. King Edward was a most worthy Prince His atchievements against the Turks coming off with honour in all his atchievements against Turke and Pope and Jews and Scots and against whomsoever he encountred For the Turks he had lately made a voyage against them which being largely related in our Holy War we intend not here to repeat Onely I will add that this Forein expedition was politickly undertaken to rid the Land of many Martialists wherewith the late Barons Wars had made it to abound These Spirits thus raised though they could not presently be conjured down were safely removed into another room The fiercest Mastiff-Dogs never
hand thought fit to insert this his following account thereof though not knowing whether the same will give the Reader satisfaction 45. A match was made Her plea for leaving her husband by the power of their Parents betwixt Mr. Kyme his Son in Lincoln shire and Sir William Ashcough his eldest Daughter who chanced to die before the completing thereof Sir William loth to lose so rich an Heir and having payed part of her Potion for lucrâ—s sake compelled this Anne his second Daughter to supply her Sisters place and to marry him against her own will and consent notwithstanding the marriage once past she demanded her self like a Christian Wife l Bales Manuscript p 91 92. and bare him two Children In processe of time by oft reading of the sacred Bible she cleerly fell from all Papistrie to a perfect belief in Jesus Christ Whereupon her Husband was so offended that by suggestion of the Priests he violently drove her out of his house And she on this occasion sought from the Law a Divorce and because of his cruell usage would not return unto him again thinking her self free from that uncomely kinde of coacted marriage by the doctrine of Saint Paul m 1 Cor. 7.15 But if the unbelieving depart let him depart A brother or sister is not under bondage in such cases But God hath called us to peace This is the effect of what our Authour speaketh in moe words Now whether this rule laid down by Saint Paul betwixt Christian and Heathen be also commensurate betwixt Protestant and Papist is not my work to decide Perchance she would only answer to the King for her behaviour towards her Husband as hoping for some tendernesse from His Highnesse because of some general conformity in the first part of her Case with the Kings as Who for by respects was first married to then divorced from His Brothers Wife 46. Her several examinations are largely penned by her self extant in Mr. Fox She is first rached and then burnâ— where the Reader may finde them But be it remembred that whereas heresie onely was charged upon her without the least suspition of Treason yet was she rackt to detect some Court Ladies of her opinion by the Lord Wriothisly the then and Sir Robert Rich the n Fox p. 1239 next Lord Chancellour But whether it was noble in these Lords or legall in these Lawyers or conscientious in these Chancellours to rack one already condemned to death belongeth to others to determine Their cruelty extorted no discovery from her whose constancy now made recompense for her former infirmities If it be true what is charged upon her that before she had twice subscribed the Real Presence in the Sacrament of the Altar but zealously died at last in the earnest deniall thereof being amongst those who according to the precept in the o Isa 24.15 Prophet glorified the Lord in the sires Her suffering in Smithfield was most solemnly performed where three men Nicolas Belevian Priest of Shropshire John Lacells Gentleman of the Houshold of King Henry the eighth and John Adams a poor Taylor of London were all burnt together Three couple of qualities meeting together in four persons Clergy and Laity Male and Female Gentle and Simple made the fewell of the same fire 47. John Bale registers this Anne Ashcough Her Prose and Poâ—â—â—y amongst the number of his English learned Writers for her Examinations Letters and Poems wrote with her own hand though the p Parsons utpriùs Jesuite jeers him for his pains as if no works save those of the needle became her sex I have seen a Manuscript of her Verses afterwards printed at Marpurge in Germany and must confesse I better approve her Charity in the four last than her Poetry in all rest Yet Lord I thee desire Ann. Reg. HeÌ„ 8.38 Let them not taste the hire For that they doe to me Of their iniquity However those that have drunk deeper than she of Helicon Ann. Dom. 1546. would be loth to pledge her in the bitter cup of Martyrdome So I take my leave of her memory 48. Now began the troubles of Queen Katharine Parr The King marrieth KatbarineParr whom the King married some two years since For He either being or believing Himself wronged by His last Wife whom He married for a Maid resolved now to take a Widow to Wife who had given proof of her chastity and loyalty to her former Husband and thereupon married this Katharine the Daughter of Sir Thomas Parr of Kendall the Relict of John Nevill Lord Latimer one of great piety beauty discretion Next to the Bible She studied the Kings disposition observing Him to Her utmost And need She had of a nimble soul to attend at all times on His humour whose Fury had now got the addition of Frowardness thereunto She was rather Nurse than Wife unto Him who was more decayed by sickness intemperance than old age 49. Yet sometimes She would presume to discourse with the King about points of Religion The conspiracy of Her enemies against Her defending the Protestant-Tenents by Scripture and reason and sometimes would hold up the King very close hard at it This displeased Him who loved loosness and liberty in His clothes arguments and actions and was quickly observed by Gardiner and others who were the Queens enemies Hereupon taking advantage of an unhappy juncture of time Gardiner drew up Articles against Her and had got them subscribbed with the Kings own hand to remove Her to the Tower Whither had She been sent Vestigia nulla retrorsum without doubt She had followed the way of His former Wives in that place 50. But Divine Providence ordereth all things to fall out for the good of Gods children Chancellour Wriothesly put the paper of those Articles pretious jewels in no worse cabinet than his own bosome Hence it casually fell out By Gods Providence defeated was taken up by one of the Queens servants and brought to Her Grace who on Her sicknesse and submission to the King obtained His pardon signed ad sealed unto Her with may kisses and embraces As for such Her enemies who came at the present to attach Her intending by virtue of the Kings Warrant to send Her the shortest way to Her long home they were sent back with what made worse rumbling than a flea in the eare even the taunts and threats of the enraged King against them 51. And yet Pasons tell q In his Exam. of Fox his Martyrs in June c. 10 p. 433 us that not with standing the King purposed to have burned Her if He had lived Parsons his wild intelligence I know not whence he derived this his strange intelligence and therefore justly suspect the truth hereof The rather because I finde Her in great grace with the King as appeareth by the good language and great Legacie He gave Her in His Will which here we thought fit to transcribe both for the
execute these points first that is to say the payment of Our debts with redresse of injuries if any such can be duly proved though to Us they be unknown before any other part of this Our Will and Testament Our Buriall Exequies and Funerals onely except Furthermore We will that all such Grants and Gifts as We have made given or promised to any which be not yet perfected under Our singe or any Our seals as they ought to be and all such recompense for exchanges sales or any other thing or things as ought to have been made by Us and be not yet accomplished shall be perfected in every point towards all manner of men for discharge of Our conscience charging Our Executors and all the rest of Our Counsellours to see the same done performed finished and accomplished in every point foreseeing that the said Gifts Grants and Promises and Recompense shall appear to Our said Executors or the most part of them to have been granted made accorded or promised in any manner of wise Further according to the laws of Almighty God and for the fatherly love which We bear to Our Son Prince EDWARD and to this Our Realm We declare Him according to justice equity and conscience to be Our lawfull Heir and doe give and bequeath unto Him the succession of Our Realms of England and Ireland with Our Title of France and all Our Dominions both on this side the seas and beyond a convenient portion for Our Will and Testament to be reserved Also We give unto Him all Our plate stuffe of houshold artillery ordnance ammunition ships cables and all other things and implements to them belonging And money also and jewels saving such portions as shall satisfie this Our last Will and Testament charging and commanding Him on pain of Our curse seeing He hath so loving a Father of Us and that Our chief labour and study in this world is to establish Him in the Crown Imperial of this Realm after Our decease in such sort as may be pleasing to God and to the wealth of this Realm and to His own honour and quiet that He be ordered and ruled both in His marriage and also in ordering the affairs of the Realm as well outward as inward And also in all His own private affairs and in giving of Offices of charge by the advise and counsell of Our right entirely beloved Counsellours the Archbishop of Canterbury the Lord Wriothesly Chancellour of England the Lord St. John great Master of Our house the Lord Russell Lord Privie Seal the Earl of Hertford great Chamberlain of England the Viscount Lisle high Admirall of England the Bishop Tonstall of Duresme Sir Anthony Browne Knight Master of Our horses Sir William Pagett Our chief Secretary Sir Anthony Denny Sir William Herbert Justice Montague and Bromley Sir Edward Wotton Mr. Doctor Wotton and Sir Edward North whom We ordain name and appoint and by these presents signed with Our hand doe make and constitute Our Privie Counsell with Our said Son and will that they have the governance of Our most dear Son Prince EDWARD and of all Our Realms Dominions and Subjects and of all the Affairs publick and private untill he shall have fully compleated the xviij th year of his age And for because the variety and number of things affairs and matters are and may be such as we not knowing the certainty of them before cannot conveniently prescribe a certain order or rule unto Our said Counsellours for their behaviours and proceedings in this charge which We have now and doe appoint unto them about Our said Son during the time of his minority aforesaid We therefore for the speciall trust and confidence which We have in them will and by these presents doe give and grant full power and authority unto Our said Counsellours that they all or the most part of them being assembled together in Counsell or if any of them fortune to die the more part of them which shall be for the time living being assembled in Counsel together Ann. Dom. 1546. shall Ann. Reg. Hē 8. 38. and may make devise and ordain what things soever they or the more part of them as aforesaid shall during the minority of Our said Son think meet necessary and convenient for the benefit honour and surety of the weal profit and commodity of Our said Son His Realms Dominions or Subjects or the discharge of Our conscience And the same things devised made or ordained by them or the more part of them aforesaid shall and may lawfully doe execute and accomplish or cause to be done executed and accomplished by their discretions or the discretions of the more part of them as aforesaid in as large and ample manner as if We had or did expresse unto them by a more speciall Commission under Our Great Seal of England every particular cause that may chance or occurre during the time of Our said Sons minority and the self-same manner of proceeding which they shall for the time think meet to use and follow Willing and charging our said Son and all others which shall hereafter be Counsellours to Our said Son that they never charge molest trouble or disquiet Our aforesaid Counsellours nor any of them for the devising or doing nor any other person for the doing of that they shall devise or the more part of them devise or doe assembled as is aforesaid And We doe charge expresly the same Our entirely beloved Counsellours and Executors that they shall take upon them the rule and charge of Our said Son and Heir in all His causes and affairs and of the whole Realm doing neverthelesse all things as under Him and in His name untill Our said Son and Heir shall be bestowed and married by their advise and that the xviij th year be expired willing and desiring furthermore Our said trusty Counsellours and then all Our trusty and assured Servants and thirdly all other Our loving Subjects to aid and assist Our forenamed Counsellors in the execution of the premises during the aforesaid time Not doubting but they will in all things deal so truly and uprightly as they shall have cause to think them well chosen for the charge committed unto them straightly charging our said Counsellours and Executors and in Gods name exhorting them for the singular trust and speciall confidence which We have and ever had in them to have a due and diligent eye perfect zeal love and affection to the honour surety estate and dignity of Our said Son and the good state and prosperity of this Our Realm And that all delaies set apart they well aid and assist Our said Counsellours and Executors to the performance of this Our present Testament and last Will in every part as they will answer before God at the day of judgment Cum venerit judicare vivos mortuos and furthermore for the speciall trust and confidence which we have in the Earls of Arundell and Essex that now be Sir Thomas Cheny Knight
none should speak any thing of the King's death Which Act though onely intended to retrench the Predictions and mock-Prophesies of Southsayers yet now all the Courtiers glad of so legall a covert for their cowardise alledged it to excuse themselves to inform the King of Nis approaching end At last Sir Anthony Denny went boldly unto Him and plainly acquainted Him of His dying condition whereupon Archbishop Cranmer was by the King his desire sent for to give him some ghostly counsell and comfort 62. But before Cranmer then being at Croidon could come to Him His hope expressed by speechlesse gesture He was altogether speechlesse but not senslesse The Archbishop exhorted Him to place all His trust in Gods mercies thorough Christ and besought Him that if He could not in words He would by some signe or other testifie this His hope Who then wringed the Archbishops hand as hard as He could and shortly after expired having lived fifty five years and seven moneths Jan. 28. and thereof reigned thirty seven years nine moneths and six daies 63. As for the report of Sanders Lying Slanders that King Henry perceiving the pangs of approaching Death called for a great bowle of white wine and drinking it off should say to the company We have lost all it is enough to say it is a report of Sanders As loud a lie is it what he affirmeth that the last words heard from His mouth were The Monks the Monks and so gave up the ghost This may goe hand in hand with what another Gatholick * Rich. Hall in his Manuscript-Life of Bishop Fisher relates that a black Dog he might as truly have said a blew one lickt up His blood whilest the stench of His corps could be charmed with no embalming though indeed there was no other noysomnesse than what necessarily attendeth on any dead body of equall corpulency 64. Vices most commonly charged on His memory are His Vices and Virtues 1. Covetousness He was an eminent Instance to verifie the Observation Omnis prodigus est avarus vast His profusiveness coming a fork after a rake not only spending the great Treasure left Him by His Father but also vast wealth beside and yet ever in want and rapacious to supply the same Secondly Cruelty being scarce ever observed to pardon any Noble person whom He condemned to death I finde but two black swannes in all the currant of His Reign that tasted of His favour herein And therefore when Arthur * Godwin in Hen. 8. p. 181. Lord Lisle imprisoned and daily expecting death in the Tower was unexpectedly set free he instantly died of soddain joy so that it seems King Henry's pity proved as mortal as His cruelty Thirdly Wantonness which cannot be excused But these faults were if not over even poised with His virtues of Valour Bounty Wisdome Learning and love of Learned men scarce one Dunce wearing a Miter all His daies 65. The Monument mentioned in His Will Why K. Henry's Monument never perfected as almost made was never all made but left imperfect whereof many reasons are rendred Some impure it to the very want of workmen unable to finish it according to the exactnesse wherewith it was begun a conceit in my minde little better than scandalum seculi and very derogatory to the Art and Ingenuity of our Age. * Godwin in Hen. 8. p. 113. Others more truly ascribe it to the costlinesse thereof which deterred His Successours from finishing of it Indeed King Henry the seventh in erecting His own Monument in His Chappell at Westminster did therein set a Pattern of despair for all Posterity to imitate And yet Sanders * De schis Angl. pag. 216. tells us That Queen Mary had a great minde to make up His Tomb but durst not for fear a Catholick should seem to countenance the memory of one dying in open schism with the Church of Rome As for His imperfect Monument it was beheld like the barren Fig-tree bearing no fruit and cumbring the * Luke 13. 7. ground I mean the Chappell wherein it stood and therefore it was since these Civill Warres took down and sold by order of Parliament 66. In the Reign of Queen Mary Card. Poole his project it was reported that Cardinal Poole whose spleen generally vented it self against dead-mens bodies had a designe with the principall Clergie of England to take up and burn the body of King Henry the eighth This plot is said to be discovered by Doctor Weston * Fox Acts and Mon. p. 2102. Dean of Westminster But because Weston was justly obnoxious for his scandalous living for which at that time he stood committed to the Tower and bare a personal grudge to the Cardinal his report was the lesse credited as proceeding from revenge and desire to procure his own enlargement 67. Indeed when a Vault The bones of K. Hen. abused seven years since was pierced in the midst of the Quire at Windesor therein to interre the corps of King CHARLES they lighted on two Coffins therein Now though no memory alive could reach the same yet constant tradition seconded with a * See more hereof at the buriall of K. Charles coincidency of all signs and circumstances concluded these Coffins to contain the bones of King HENRY the eighth and His dear Queen JANE SEYMOUR And yet the bignesse of the Coffin though very great did not altogether answer that Giant-like proportion which posterity hath fancied of Him The end of the Fift Book THE Church-History OF BRITAIN THE SIXT BOOK BEING The History of Abbeys in ENGLAND Of their Originall Increase Greatnesse Decay and Dissolution To the Right Honourable WILLIAM COMPTON Sonne and Heire to the Right Honourable JAMES Baron COMPTON of COMPTON AND Earle of NORTHAMPTON HAving formerly proved at a In severall Dedicatory Epistles in my Pisgah Sight large That it is lawfull for any and expedient for me to have Infant-Patrons for my Books let me give an account why this parcell of my History was set apart for your Honour not being cast by chance but led by choice to this my Dedication First I resolved with my self to select such a Patron for this my History of Abbies whose Ancestour was not onely of credit and repute in the Reîgn but also of favour and esteem in the affection of King HENRY the Eighth Secondly he should be such if possible to be found who had no partage at all in Abbey-Lands at their dissolution that so his judgement might be unbiased in the reading hereof Both my Requisits have happily met in your Honour whose direct Ancestour Sir WILLIAM COMPTON was not onely chief Gentleman of the Bed-Chamber to the aforesaid KING but also as a noble b The Lord Herbert in his History page 8. pen writing his Life informeth us the third man in His favour in the beginning of His Reign yet had he not a shooe-latchet of Abbey-Land though nothing surely debarred him save his
sides these what beautifull Bibles rare Fathers subtile School-men usefull Historians antient middle modern what painfull Comments were here amongst them what monuments of Mathematicks all massacred together seeing every book with a crosse was condemned for Popish with circles for conjuring Yea I may say that then holy Divinity was prophaned Physick it self hurt and a trespasse yea a riot committed on the Law it self And more particularly the History of former times then and there received a dangerous wound whereof it halts at this day and without hope of a perfect cure must go a cripple to the grave 5. Some would perswade us N Anabaptisticall humour but down-right ignoâ—ancâ— the cause thereof that in all this there was a smack or tast of Anabaptistical fury which about this time began in Germany where they destroyed the stately Libraries of Munster and Osnabrude Indeed as the wicked tenants in the Gospel thought themselves not safe in and sure of the vineyard till they had killed the heire that so the inheritance might be their own so the Anabaptists conceived themselves not in quiet possession of their Anarchie and sufficiently established therein whilst any learning did survive which in processe of time might recover its right against them and therefore they bent their brains to the final extirpation thereof But I am more charitably inclined to conceive that simple ignorance not fretted embossed with malice or affected hatred to learning caused that desolation of Libraries in England though perchance some there were who conceived these books as the c Jude v. 23. garment spotted with sin had contracted such a guilt being so long in the possession of superstitious-owners that they deserved as an anathema to be consigned to a perpetual destruction 6. Some will say â—ullen dispositions câ—uslesly agrieved that herein I discover an hankering after the onions and flesh-pots of Egypt and that the bemoaning the losse of these monuments is no better than Lot's wives looking back with a farewell-glance to the filthy City of Sodome To such I protest my self not to have the least inclination to the favour of Monkery But enough For I know some back-friends of learning there be that take it ill that we have jogg'd them in this discourse and therefore we will let them alone to be setled quietly on the lees of their own ignorance praying to God that never good Librarie may lie at the mercy of their disposal lest having the same advantage they play the like prank to the prejudice of Learning and Religion Many good bargains or rather cheap penny-worths bought of Abbey-lands IF ever the Poets fiction of a golden shoure rained into Danae her lap The profuse gifts grants of K. Henry found a morall or reall performance it was now at the diffipation of Abbey-lands And though we will not give hearing or belief in full latitude of his slanderous pen that reports how King Henry when antient and diseased cholerick and curious in trifles was wont to rewards such as d Sanders de Scbis Angl. ordered His skrine or chaire in a convenient distance from the fire so as to please Him with the Church of some Abbey or lead of some Church Yet it is certain that in this Age small merits of Courtiers met with a prodigious recompense for their service Not onely all the cooks but the meanest turn-broach in the King's kitchin did lick his fingers Yea the King's servants to the third and fourth degree tasted of His liberality it being but proportionable that where the Master got the Manour in fee his man under him should obtain some long Lease of a Farme of considerable value 2. Indeed K. Henry besides His own disposition to munificence was doubly concerned to be bountifull herein King Henry his engagement to liberality First in honour for seeing the Parliament with one breath had blown so much profit unto Him and had with their suffrage conferr'd the harvest of Abbey-lands on the Crown it was fitting that some especially the principal Advancers of the business should with e Ruth 2. 16. Ruth glean amongst the sheaves Secondly in policie to make many and great men effectually sensible of the profit of this dissolution and so ingaged to defend it Wherefore as He took the greater flowers to garnish His own Crown so He bestowed the lesse buds to beautifie His Noble-mens Coronets But besides these He passed Abbey lands in a fourfold nature to persons of meaner quality 3. First How Mr. Champernoun got the Priorie of Saiâ— Germanes by free Gift Herein take one story of many Master * Cary's Survey of Cornwall 〈◊〉 10â— John Champernoun Sonne and Heire apparent of Sir Philip Champernoun of Modbery in Devon followed the Court and by his pleasant conceits wan good grace with the King It hapned two or three Gentlemen the King's servants and Mr. Champernoun's acquaintance waited at a door where the King was to passe forth with purpose to beg of His Highnesse a large parcell of Abbey-lands specified in their Petition Champernoun was very inquisitive to know their suit but they would not impart the nature thereof This while our comes the King they kneel down so doth Mr. Champernoun being assured by an implicit faith that Courtiers would beg nothing hurtfull to themselves they preferre their Petition the King grants it they render Him humble thanks and so doth Mr. Champernoun Afterwards he requires his share they deny it he appeals to the King the King avows His equall meaning in the Largesse Whereupon his companions were fain to allot this Gentleman the Priorie of S. German in Cornwall valued at g Speed But quaere whether he had all the land or onely the site of the Priory two hundred fourty three pound and eight shillings of yearly rent since by him or his heirs sold to Mr. Eliot for his partage Here a dumb beggar met with a blinde giver the one as little knowing what he asked as the other what He granted Thus King Henry made cursorie Charters and in transitu transacted Abbey-lands I could adde how He gave a Religious house of some value to Mistresse for presenting Him with a dish of Puddings which pleased His palate 4. Secondly How Sir Miles Patridge got Jesus bells by Play Whereat He lost many a thousand pound per annum Once being at dice He played with Sir Miles Patridge staking an hundred pounds against them for h Stows Survey of London in Farington ward within 〈◊〉 Jesus Bells hanging in a Steeple not farre from S. Paul's in London and as great and tuneable as any in the City and lost them at a cast I will not with some heighten the guilt of this act equal to that which cast lots on Christ's garments but sure it is no sin to say that such things deserv'd more serious and deliberate disposall 5. Thirdly Glauâ—us and Diomodes his exchange by Exchange To make these chops none were frighted with
in as well by the Duke of Northumberland on the one day as by the King on the other day Also it is to be considered the Kings commandment upon their allegiance by His own mouth and the Articles signed with His Highnesse own hand and also His Commission license and commandment under His Great Seal to the said Sr. Edward and others for the making of the said Booke Also the Kings pardon signed with His Highnesse hand Also it is to be considered that the said Books were made in the Kings life seaven or eight dayes before His death and the Queens Highnesse being Successour by Act of Parliament to the Crown and having the same as a Purchaser may not lawfully by the Laws of the Realme punish the said offence done in the Kings time Also the said Sr. Edward hath humbly submitted himself to the Queen Highnesse and to the order of the Commissioners Which Commissioners have ordered the said Sr. Edward to pay to Her Highnesse a thousand pounds who hath already paid thereof five hundred pounds and the other five hundred pounds are to be paid at the Feast of All-Saints come Twelve-moneth And also to surrender his letters Patents of lands to the yeerly value of fifty pounds called Eltyngton which he had of the gift of King Edward the Sixth which was all the reward he had of the said King Edward for his service costs and expences Also it is to be considered that the said Sr. Edward is put from his office of the Chief Justice-ship of the Common-Pleas being of the yeerly value of six hundred marks which office the most noble King of famous memorie King Henry the Eighth gave him in consideration of his long service and also had six weeks imprisonment Also it is to be considered that the same Sr. Edward hath seaventeen children viz. eleven Daughters and six Sons whereof one of the said Sons had his legge striken off by the knee in Scotland at Muscleborough-field the Duke of Sommerset being there And his Son and Heire by his commandment served the Queens Highnesse with twenty men to the cost of the said Sr. Edward of one hundred pounds as the Gentlemen of Buckingham-shire can report SO far the late Judge with his own hand Wherein he affirmeth that he medled not with the Councell in any thing afterward as may appear by his not subscribing the letter of the Lords to Queen Mary enjoying shall I say or advising Her to desist from claiming the Crown whereto all the Privie * See them exant in Mr. Fox Act. Mon-Anno 1553. Councellours subscribed onely the hand of Sr. Edward Mountagu is wanting And seeing in the whole transaction of this matter the obedience rather then invention of Judge Mountagu was required not to devise but draw things up according to Articles tendred unto him I cannot believe his * Sr. John Heywood in his Edward 6 report report relating that the King used the advise of Justice Mountagu in drawing up the Letters Patents to furnish the same with reasons of Law as Secretary Cicil with arguments from Policie 3. Some will wonder that no mention herein of Sr. Roger Cholmley Sr. R. Chomley comes off with losse Lord Chief Justice of the Kings Bench and in dignity above Sr. Edward Mountagu at this time but Judge of the Common-Pleas that he was not employed to draw up the Book But it seems Judge Mountagu his judgement was more relied on who had been formerly Lord Chief Justice of the Kings-Bench and deserted it Yet the said Sr. Roger Cholmley was imprisoned for bare subscribing this Will and as it seems lost his place for the same For Justice Bromley though equally guilty with the rest so far favour extends in matters of this nature was not onely pardoned but from an inferiour Judge * See Sr. H. Spelman Glossary in Justiciarius p. 417. Sr. Jam's Hales his honesty advanced to be successour to Sr. Roger Cholmly and made Judge of the Kings-Bench 4. Whereas Sr. Edward saith that all the Judges were sent for and that many put their hands to the Book it intimateth that all did not but that some refused the same it being eminently known to the everlasting honour of Sr. James Hales that no importunity could prevail with him to underwrite this will as against both law and conscience 5. Eight weeks and upwards passed between the proclaiming of Mary Queen Contest betwixt two Religions and the Parliament by her assembled during which time two religions were together set on foot Protestantisme and Poperie the former hoping to be continued the later labouring to be restored And as the Jews Children a Neh. 13. 24. after the captivity spake a middle language betwixt Hebrew and Ashdod so during the aforesaid interim the Churches and Chappels in England had mongrell celebration of their Divine services betwixt Reformation and Superstition For the Obsequies for King Edward were held by the Queen in the Tower August the seaventh Aug. 7. with the Dirige sung in Latin and on the morrow a masse of Requiem and on the same day his Corps were buried at Westminster with a sermon service and Communion in English No small iustling was there betwixt the zealous Promoters of these contrary Religions The Protestants had possession on their side and the Protection of the Laws lately made by King Edward and still standing in free and full force unrepealed Besides seeing by the fidelity of the Suffolk and Norfolke Protestant Gentry the Queen was much advantaged for the speedy recovering of her Right they conceived it but reason that as she by them had regained the Crown so they under her should enjoy their Consciences The Papists put their Ceremonies in Execution presuming on the Queen her private practice and publique countenance especially after she had imprisoned some Protestant and enlarged some Popish Bishops advancing Stephen Gardiner to be Lord Chancelour Many which were Newters before conceiving which side the Queen inclined would not expect but prevent her authority in Alteration So that Superstition generally got ground in the Kingdome Thus it is in the Evening Twi-light wherein light and darknesse at first may seem very equally matcht but the later within little time doth solely prevail 6. What impressions the Comming in of Queen Mary made on Cambridge Mr. Jewell pens the first Congratulatory letter to the Queen shall God willing be presented in our particular History thereof The sad and sudden alterations in Oxford thereby are now to be handled Ma. John Jewel was chosen to pen the first Gratulatorie Letter to the Queen in the Name of the Vniversity an office imposed on him by his enemies that either the refusall thereof should make him incurre danger from his foes or the performance expose him to the displeasure of his friends Yet he so warily penned the same in Generall termes that his Adversaries missed their marke Indeed all as yet were confident that the Queen would maintain the Protestant
contrivances of their neighbours houses as intending therein some designe for themselves Colledge Founder Benefactors Means I. Doway Colledge in Flanders founded 1569. Thence for fear of the wars removed to Rhems in France about 1508. where Henry the third King of France did patronize and protect them And some twenty years after brought back hither again Philip the Second King of Spaine All the Recusants in England A pension out of the King of Spains Treasury which being sometimes but badly paid the Scholars are fain to feed on patience 2. A yearly collection from the Catholicks of England 3. Sale of Masses Rich mens mortuaries which also are the staple maintenance of all other Colledges Number Rectour Eminent Schollars Uncertain but numerous For here they do not pick and choose for wit or wealth as in other Colledges but they receive all that come unto them 1. William Allen afterwards Cardinal a principal procurer and advancer of this foundation He died 1594. 2. Tho. Worthing'on of an ancient family in Lancashire Rectour 1609. 3. Matthew Kelison a North-Hamptonshire man Rectour 1624. Note That whereas the government of all other English Colledges belongs to Jesuits this only is ruled by Secular Priests D r. Web whom they brag to be the best Casuist in the world He lived to sing his Miss of Jubile having been a Priest full fifty years Colledge Founder Benefactour Means 2. Colledge of Rome founded 1579. Gregory the 13. Pope exhibited maintenance first to six then to fourteen at last to threescore Scholars therein to the yearly value of foure thousand Crowns Owen Lewes Referendary Apostolical was a principal promoter thereof The Welsh Hospital in Rome founded and endowed many hundred yeers since by Cadwallader King of Wales for Welsh pilgrims with the rich lands thereof conferred by Pope Gregorie the 13. on this Colledge They have at Frescata which is the Popes Sommer house lying some ten miles East of Rome three or four farmes where corne for the Colledge and other provision groweth Number Rectour Eminent Scholars One hundred at the least But Italian aire not well agreeing with English bodies they bury yearly ten or twelve of their fresh-men Note that whereas Anno 1576 there were but thirty old Priests remaining in this Realm these two Colledges alone within few years sent above three hundred Priests into England 1. D. Maurice He was removed out of his place for being too favourable to his Countritrimen the Welsh 2. Ferdinando a Neapolitan Jesuite succeeded him 3. Robert Persons Rectour for twenty three years from 1587. to 1610. where he died 4. Thomas Fitzherbert one of great age and parentage Rectour 1623. Francis Monfort who Anno 1591. being to depart the Colledge for England took his farewell of Pope Clement the eighth with so passionate a latin a Extant the continuation of Sanders de Schis Angl. pag 119. Image of â—oth Churches pag. 330. Sanders de Schism Angl. pag. 365. Oration that it fetch'd tears from the tender heart of his Holiness This Monfort some moneths after was executed in England Colledge Founder Benefactours Means 3. Colledge of Valladolit in Old Castile founded 1589. Anno Regin Eliza. 8. Philip the second Anno Dom. 1566. King of Spain Dona Luysa de Caravaial a rich widow Ladie in Spain gave all her estate being very great to this Colledge and came over into England where she died Lands they have not purchased much in Spain being loth the Spaniard should take notice of their wealth but great sums of mony they have at use in Brabant As also with English Factours in Spain perverted to their perswasion they have a great stock in trading Number Rector Eminent Scholars They are fewer now than formerly ever since the Spanish Court was removed by Philip the Third from Valladolit to Madrid Father Walpoole if not Rectour was principall actour herein about the year 1605. When by pretending to have gained Mr. Pickering Wotton son and heir to Lord Wotton to the Romish Church he got above a See this forgery at large in Lewes Owen his Running Register p. 59 to whom I am much beholding for my instructions in this subject five hundred pound to his Colledge  Know that S r. Francis Inglefield Privie Councellour to Queen Mary forsaking his fair Estate in Bark-shire in the first of Queen Elizabeth fled beyond the Sea He afterwards was a bountifull benefactor to the Colledge at Vaâ—â—â—dolit Yea he is beheld by the English Papists as a Beuefactor Generall to their Nation for the priviledges he procured them from Pope Gregory the thirteenth whereof hereafter He lieth buried in this Colledge and his Grave is shewen with great respect to Travellers of our Country coming thither Colledge Founder Benefactours Means 4. Colledge of Sivil founded 1593. Philip the second King of Spain Our English Merchants and Factours there residing even often against their own wills to secure themselves from the searchers in the Inquisition So that it is a Nemo scit what here is gotten for a Ne noceant They have a Box in every ship sailing to the West-Indies Upon it is the picture of S nt Thomas Becket on the Octaves of whose day this Colledge forsooth was first founded and into it through an hole in the lid thereof Merchants put in their devotion The key of this not Christmas but all-the-year-ong box is kept by the Rectour of the Colledge who only knoweth to how much this money amounteth Number Rectour Eminent Scholars * Cunning conveyances to pass over the seas Here expect not of me a discovery being no Spie by my profession of the cunning contrivances whereby these Jesuits pass and repass the seas without any detection yea suspicion of them Sometimes under the protection of a Pass procured from some Lords of the Privie Councell for a young Gentleman to go over into France with two or three of his Serving-men to learn the language Sometimes they shuffle themselves into the company of an Embassadour or his meniall servants and so cover their private falsehood under his publick Faith Many English Gentlewomen intended for Nunns are first vailed before their going beyond seas under pretence of travelling to the Spaw for their healths In their return for England these Jesuits have found the farthest way about for them the nearest way home For out of France or Spain first they will sail into the Low-Countries and thence into England and so coming immediately out of Protestant parts escape without any or with easie examination And yet these curious Engineers who flie so high and carry their conveyances so farr above all common discovery have sometimes one of their wheels or strings broken and then down they fall into Newgate or some other prison notwithstanding all their verbal and real equivocations Colledge Founder Benefactours Means 5. Saint Omers in Artois founded about the year 1596. Philip the second who gave them a good annuity for whose soul they say every day a Mass and every
miseries I have been alwayes stifled and that which yet makes this Tempest more cruel unto me is that those who had promised to make provisions for my good have afterwards failed me nor given me the least favour in the world nor do I hope that ever they will do it except perhaps these made or prepared for or journey most inclined to help me shall not be moved to undertake such enterprises in my behalf But to say the truth of it although there were succours gathered together and a most assured Army of-from beyond the Seas certainly not without great perill could they cross the Ocean into Scotland in the winter time which then is wont to be most turbulent and stormy But the English on the other side who are not separated from the Scots with any River interposed between them are able not only in Summer but in Winter time also to move warr against the Scots themselves who when there doth rise up even the least occasion of discord between them are wont suddenly to put themselves effectually into Arms. Constrained therefore by these principall respects without I should expose the interest of my Life and Country to the hazard of the greatest dangers I am by no means able to help it but that even to my greatest disadvantage I must make peace with the English saving alwayes as they say my honour and conscience because honour doth regard the civill administration whereby to be able afterwards to rule or govern the Commonwealth Then the conscience as being the forme and force divine given to men to direct them to a good end which admitting it to be sometimes straightned and bound with calamities Yet nevertheless may it neither for torments nor for promises of rewards be ever expelled or deprived from the Communion and obedience of the Catholick Church But amongst other things it now happeneth that I must relate to your Holiness one thing most truly bitter unto me that is that we are come to those tearms of desiring my only Son the Heir of the Temporal Kingdoms to be delivered by a certain time into the hands of the English by way of Hostage or pledge reserving to me nevertheless the liberty to appoint him such Governours and Councellours afterwards as shall best please me There is moreover granted leave of accession unto him not only for me but likewise to all those that for my satisfaction shall be sent into England to visit him Let not your Holiness for this cause have any doubt but that he shall be not only full of good and holy conversation but also though he be amongst an unluckie nation a perfect member of the Catholick and Apostolick Church and alwayes ready and prone to help the same But because that by this my letter I may not extend my self in greater length beyond my duty I do conclude with this that I have determined with my self nevertheless to give your Holiness to understand of my estate and of all these things which for the present do pass between them and me and if these also which shall happen in the journey of any importance and because it is a most difficult thing to put all my occasions in writing I have for that cause informed the Bishop of Dublin with all mine occurrences as him that is and alwayes hath been my most faithfull Nâ—ncio and most lovingly affected towards your Holiness and the seat Apostolick May it please your Holiness to give faith unto him concerning all the things whereof he shall treat with you in my name Mean time I pray our Lord God that he by his most holy grace protect the Catholick Church from all the wicked thoughts of her Adversaries in which case all we have fixed our eyes upon your Holiness as upon a most clear light expecting of the same continually in name of his Divine Majesty your most Holy Benediction And all with the same minde do desire unto your Holiness a most long life to the glory of the most mighty God and comfort of all the faithfull From Chattisworth in England the last of October 1570. The most Devout Daughter of your Holiness Mary the Queen Who so consults our State-Historians in this very juncture of time shall finde the Queen of Scots on tolerable tearms daily likely to amend with Queen Elizabeth Yea now she was in the Verticall of her favour wherein hence-forward she began to decline principally for practising with the Pope and Forraign Princes SECTION III. To M rs ANNE DANVERS of Chelsey Madam LEt not your Maiden modesty be betrayed to a blush seeing your self here left alone sorrounded on all sides with Masculine Dedications It will keep you in countenance if reflecting your eye either on the first page of this Booke or side Columnes of this page Where you shall finde the Queen of Virgins in the front thereof whose Reign in this Booke is described Indeed a portion thereof being designed to your late Brother now glorious Saint falls of course to you with his goods and Chattells as his sole Executrix If any Latine Letters occurr in this Section I doubt not but God will seasonably provide you such a Consort who amongst his many other Virtues will change you to a happy wife and translate them to your understanding 1. ABout this time deceased William Alley Bishop of Exeter The death of the Bps. of Exeter and Salisbury a Painfull Preacher and John Jewell of Salisbury of whom largely before He was borne in Devonshire bred first in Merton then Corpus Christi Colledge in Oxford first Pupill to afterwards Fellow Exile with M r. Parkhurst in Germany After Queen Maries death Parkehurst durst not for danger return with Jewell but went a securer way as he supposed by himself Though Jewell came safe and sound home whilest Parkehurst was robbed of all in his return and relieved by the other at his journies end and soon after both of them were made Bishops M r. Parkehurst of Norwich and Jewell of Salisbury * Vide supra in the first year of Queen Mary 2. A Jewell sometimes taken for a single precious stone is properly a collective of many The praise of Bp. Jewell orderly set together to their best advantage So severall eminences met in this Worthy man Naturals Artificials amongst which I recount his studied memory Anno Dom. 1572. Anno Regin Eliza. 15. deserving as well as Theodectes the Sophister the Sirname of Mnemonicus Moralls but principally Spiritualls So devout in the Pew where he prayed diligent in the Pulpit where he preached grave on the Beach where he assisted milde in the Consistory where he judged pleasant at the Table where he fed patient in the bed where he died that well it were if in relation to him Secundâ—m usum Sarum * Laurence Humfrey in the long life of Bp Jewell were made Precedentiall to all Posterity He gave at his death to Peter Martyr a golden rose yet more fragrant for the worth of the Giver
the name of Percy and sight of Faux so quickned the jealousie of the Lord Mounteagle that this first slight Search led to a second scrutinie more strictly and secretly performed 34. This was made at midnight by Sir Thomas Knevet The second search discovers all Gentleman of His Majesties Privie Chamber and others into the Vault under the Parliament House There the mysterie of iniquity was quickly discovered a Pile of Fewell faced over with Billets lined under with thirty six Barrels of Powder besides Iron barres to make the force of the fire more effectuall Guido Faux was apprehended in the outward Room with a Dark Lantern in his hand the lively embleme of their designe whose dark side was turned to man whiles the light part was exposed to God and three Matches ready to give fire to the Train This Caitiffe professed himself onely grieved that he was not in the inner room to blow himself and them all up together affirming moreover that not God but the Devil made the discovery of the Plot. 35. Mean time The Traytors slie and are taken Catesbie Percy Rookwood both the Wrights and Thomas Winter were hovering about London to attend the issue of the matter Having sate so long abrood and hatching nothing they began to suspect all their eggs had proved addle Yet betwixt hope and fear they and their Servants post down into the Countrey thorough Warwick and Worcester into Stafford shire Of Traytors they turn Felons breaking up Stables and stealing Horses as they went But many of their own men by a farre more lawfull felonie stole away from their Masters leaving them to shift for themselves The neighbouring Counties and their own consciences rise up against these riotous Roisters as yet unknown for Traytors At last Sir Richard Walsh High Sheriffe of Worcestershire overtook them at Holbeck in Stafford shire at the house of Mr. Stephen Littleton where upon their resistance the two Wrights were killed Rookwood and Thomas Winter shrewdly wounded 36. As for Percy Catesbi◠and Piercie fight desperately for their lives and Catesbie they fought desperately for their lives as knowing no quarter but quartering would be given unto them and as if they scorned to turn their backs to any but themselves setting back to back they fought against all that assaulted them Many swords were drawn upon them but gunpowder must doe the deed which discharged that bullet which dispatched them both Never were two bad mens deaths more generally lamented of all good men onely on this account that they lived no longer to be forced to a farther discovery of their secret Associates 37. It must not be forgotten The Lord is just how some hours before their apprehension as these Plotters were drying dank gun-powder in an Iane a Miller casually coming in haply not heeding the black meal on the hearth by carelesse casting on of a billet fired the gun-powder Up flies the Chimney with part of the house all therein are frighted most hurt but especially Catesbie and Rookwood had their faces soundly scorched so bearing in their bodies not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 g Gal. 6. 17. the marks of our Lord Jesus Christ but the print of their own impieties Well might they guesse how good that their cup of cruelty was whose dregs they meant others should drink Ann. Reg. Jac. 4 Ann. Dom. 1605-6 by this little sip which they themselves had unwillingly tasted thereof 38. The rest were all at London solemnly arraigned The rest are legally executed convicted condemned So foule the fact so fair the proof they could say nothing for themselves Master Tresham dying in the prison prevented a more ignominious end 1. Sir Everard Digbie Robert Winter Grant and Bates were hanged drawn Jan. 30. and quartered at the West end of S. Paul's Three of them but especially Sir Everard Digbie died very penitently and devoutly onely Grant expressed most obstinacy at his end 2. Thomas Winter Ambrose Rookwood Keies Jan. 31. and Faux were executed as the former in the Parliament-yard in Westminster Keies followed Grant in his obstinacie and h Stow's Chro pag. 882. Faux shewed more penitencie than all the rest 3. Garnet Provinciall of the English Jesuits was arraigned some weeks after by i Stow p. 883. four severall names and executed on the Saturday which he said was called Institutio crucis of whom largely in the next year They all craved testimony that they died Roman Catholicks my pen shall grant them this their last and so equall petition and bears witnesse to all whom it may concern That they lived and died in the Romish Religion And although the hainousnesse of their offence might with some colour of justice have angred severity into cruelty against them yet so favourably were they proceeded with that most of their Sons or Heirs except since disinherited by their own prodigality at this day enjoy their Paternall possessions 39. Heaven having thus defeated Hell of its desired successe The presumption of a posthume report justly censured Earth since hath endevoured to defraud Heaven of its deserved praise A posthume report is brought forth into the world nursed as it is fit by the mothers thereof that King JAMES was privie to this Plot all along and that His observing ran parallel with the Traytors acting therein so that He could discover it when He pleased but was not pleased to discover it untill the Eve of the fifth of November A fancie inconsistent with that ordinary piety which all charitable men must allow King JAMES as a Christian and with that extraordinary policie which His adversaries admire in Him as a Statesman Was it probable that He would tempt God so profanely as solemnly to thank him for revealing that to Him which he knew before Would King JAMES his wisdome not to say His warinesse not to say His fearfulnesse dally so long with destruction as to put it off to the last hour when Uno actu tactu ictu nictu all might have been confounded Was it not hard for Him to equivocate before such a Master of equivocation as Garnet the Jesuit was who certainly if he had smelt any jugling of King JAMES therein would no doubt have proclamed it to all the world at his execution I deny not but that the King both by intelligence from forain parts and secret information from those secular Priests that Bishop Bancroft secretly kept in his house was advertised in generall of some great Plot which the Jesuited Papists were hatching against the ensuing Parliament but for the particulars that ridd'ling Letter brought Him the first notice thereof whatsoever is fancied to the contrary But if wilde conjectures in such cases from obscure Authors shall be permitted to justle for credit against received Records all former unquestionable history will be quickly reduced to an universall uncertainty But there is a generation of people who to inhanse the reputation of their knowledge seem not only like mothes to have
c pag. 6â— better so also longer than King Solomon 8. Left the world most resolved most prepared embracing his Grave for his Bed 9. Reigning gloriously with God in Heaven 10. Whilest his body was interred with all possible solemnitie in King Henry the seventh his Chappell Be it here remembred that in this Parallel the Bishop premised to set forth Solomon not in his full proportion faults and all but half-faced imagine lusca as Apelles painted Antigonus to conceal the want of his eye adding that Solomons vices could be no blemish to King James who resembled him onely in his choicest vertues He concluded all with that verse Ecclesiasticus 30. 4. Though his Father die yet he is as though he were not dead for he hath left one behinde him that is like himself in application to his present Majestie 4. Some Auditors Exceptions taken at his Sermon who came thither rather to observe than edifie cavill than observe found or made faults in the Sermon censuring him for touching too often and staying too long on an harsh string three times straining the same making eloquence too essentiall and so absolutely necessary in a King that the want thereof made Moses in a manner f pag. 16. refuse all Government though offered by God that no g pag. 5. man ever got great power without eloquence Nere being the first of the Caesars qui alienae facundiae eguit who usurp'd another mans language to speake for him Expressions which might be forborn in the presence of his Sonne and Successor whose impediment in speech was known to be great and mistook to be greater Some conceived him too long in praising the passed too short in promising for the present King though saying much of him in a little and the Bishops Adversaries whereof then no want at Court some took distaste others made advantage thereof Thus is it easier and better for us to please one God than many men with our Sermons However the Sermon was publiquely set forth by the Printer but not the express command of his Majestie which gave but the steddier Mark to his enemies noting the marginall notes thereof and making all his Sermon the text of their captious interpretations 5. Now began animosities to discover themselves in the Court Discontents begin in the Court. whose sad influences operated many years after many being discontented that on this change they received not proportionable advancement to their expectations Anno Regis Car. 1. 1 Anno Dom. 1625 It is the prerogative of the King of Heaven alone that he maketh all his Sonnes Heires all his Subjects Favourites the gain of one being no losse to the other Whereas the happiest Kings on Earth are unhappy herein that unable to gratifie all their Servants having many Suitors for the same place by conferring a favour on one they disoblige all other competitors conceiving themselves as they make the estimate of their own deserts as much if not more meriting the same preferment 6. As for Doctor Preston he still continued Dr Preston a great favourite and increased in the favor of the King and Duke it being much observed that on the day of King James his death he h Sâ—e his Life pag. 503. rode with Prince and Duke in a Coach shut down from Theobalds to London applying comfort now to one now to the other on so sad an occasion His partie would perswade us that he might have chose his own mitre much commending the moderation of his mortified minde denying all preferment which courted his acceptance verifying the Anagram which a i Mr Ayâ—â— of Lincolns Inn. friend of his made on his name Johannes Prestonius Enstas pius in honore Indeed he was conceived to hold the Helme of his own partie able to steere it to what point he pleased which made the Duke as yet much to desire his favor 7. A booke came forth called Appello Caesarem made by M. Mountague He formerly had been Fellow of Kings Colledge in Cambridge Mr. Mountague his character at the present a Parson of Essex and Fellow of Eaton One much skilled in the Fathers and Ecclesiasticall Antiquity and in the Latin and Greek Tongues Our great k Mr. Selden in his book De Diâ—s Syris pag. 361. Antiquarie confesseth as much Graecè simul Latinè doctus though pens were brandished betwixt them and vertues allowed by ones adversarie may passe for undeniable truths These his great parts were attended with tartnesse of writing very sharp the neb of his pen and much gall in his inke against such as opposed him However such the equability of the sharpnesse of his style he was unpartiall therein be he antient or modern writer Papist or Protestant that stood in his way they should all equally taste thereof 8. Passe we from the Author to his Book Settâ—th forth his Appellâ— Caesaâ—em whereof this was the occasion He had lately writen satyrically enough against the Papists in consutation of The Gagger of Protestants Now two Divines of Norwich Dioces M r. Yates and M r. Ward informed against him for dangerous errours of Arminianisme and Poperie deserting our cause in stead of defending it M. Mountague in his own vindication writes a second Book licensed by Francis White Dean of Carlile finished and partly printed in the reign of James to whom the Author intended the dedication But on King James his death it seems it descended by succession on King Charles his Sonne to whom M r. Mountague applyed the words which Ockam once used to Lewes of Bavier Emperour of Germanie Domine Imperator defende me gladio ego te defendam calamo Lord Emperour defend me with thy Sword and I will defend thee with my Pen. Many bitter passages in this his Book gave great exception whereof largely hereafter 9. On Sunday being the twelfth of June Queen Mary her first arrival at Dover about seven of the clock at night June 12. Queen Marie landed at Dover at what time a piece of Ordinance being discharged from the Castle flew in fitters yet did no bodie any harm Moe were fearfull at the presage than thankfull for the providence Next day the King coming from Canterburie met her at Dover whence with all solemnitie she was conducted to Sommerset-House in London where a Chappell was new prepared for her devotion with a Covent adjoyning of Capuchin-Friers according to the Articles of her Marriage 10. A Parliament began at London The King rescueth Mr. Mountague from the House of Commons wherein the first Statute agreed upon was for the more strict observation of the Lords-day Which day as it first honoured the King His Reign beginning thereon so the King first honoured it by passing an Act for the greater solemnitie thereof Anno Regin Caroli 1 The House of Commons fell very heavie on M r. Mountague for many bitter passages in his Book who in all probability had now been severely censured but that
despaire of perfect notice of particulars at so great a distance of place and greater of Parties concerned therein Thirdly if exact intelligence were obtained as ages long agoe are written with more saefety then truth so the story hereof might be writen with more truth then safety Lastly being a civill busines it is aliened from my subject and may justly be declined If any object that it is reduceable to Ecclesiasticall story because one as they said termed this Bellum episcopale The Warr for Bishops I conceive it presumption for so mean a Minister as my self and indeed for any under that great order to undertake the writing thereof TO HENRY PUCKERINGNEVVTON SONNE and HEIRE to S r. HENRY PVCKERINGNEWTON BARONET NO Gentleman in this Nation is more advantaged to be a Scholar born then your self You may be free of the City of the Muses by the Copy of your Grandfathers By your Fathers side Sir Adam Newton Tutour to Prince Henry By your Mothers side Mr. Murray Tutour to K. Charles If you be not more then an ordinary Scholar it will not be lesse then an extraordinary disgrace Good is not good where better is expected But I am confident if your pains be added to your parts your prayers to your pains Gods blessing will be added to your prayers to crown all with successe 1. NOw Bishop Williams was sentenced the second time in the Star-Chamber on this occâ—sion Bishop Williams his second censure Mr. Lambert Osbaston School-master of Westminster wrote a Letter unto him wherein this passage The little vermin the Urchin and Hocus pocus is this stoâ—my Christmas at true and reall variance with the Leviathan Now the Bishop was accused for d vulging scandalous Libells on Privy-Counsellors and that the Archbishop of Canterbury was meant by the former names The Lord Treasurer Weston by the Leviathan because he should have presented the libellous Letter at the receit thereof to some Justice of Peace Anno Dom. and not dispersed the same Anno Regis Carol. 2. The Bishop pleaded that he remembred not the receiving of any such letter that he conceived no law directs the subject to bring to a Justice of Peace Enigmaes or Riddles but plain literall and grammaticall Libells against a known and clearly deciphered Person Mr. Osbaston denyed the words so meant by him and deposed that he intended one Doctor Spicer a Civilian by Hocus Pocus and the Lord Richardson alive when the letter was written but then dead for the Leviathan 3. Here a paper was produced by Mr. Walker the Bishops Secretary and found in a band-box at Bugden wherein the Bishop had thus written unto him Here is a strange thing Mr. Osbaston importunes me to contribute to my Lord Treasurers use some charges upon the little great man and assures me they are mortally out I have utterly refused to meddle in this business and I pray you learn from Mr. S. and Mr. H. if any such falling out be or whether some body hath not guld the Schoolmaster in these three last letters and keep it to your self what I write unto you If my Lord Treasurer would be served by me be must use a more neere solid and trusty Messenger and free me from the bonds of the Star-chamber else let them fight it out for me Now Mr. Walker being pressed by a friend why he would discover this letter to his Masters prejudice averred he brought it forth as a man witness of his innocency and as able to clear him of all in the informaton however it was strongly misunderstood for by comparing both letters together the Court collected the Bishop guilty 4. Sir John Finch fined him a just ten thousand pounds Rotundi numeri causa whom Secretary Windebank did follow The rest brought it down to eight thousand pounds only one Lord thought fitting to impose no fine upon him rendring this reason Qui jacet in terra non habet unde cadet 5. The Bishop already being sequestred from all his Temporall Lands spirituall preferment and his Person imprisoned Mr. Osbaston was sentenced five Thousand pounds loss of his good living at Whethamstede and to have his earâ—s tackt to the Pillory in the presence of his Scholars whom his industry had improved to as great eminency of learning as any of his Predecessors insomuch that he had at the present above fouresore Doctors in the two Universities and three learned faculties all gratefully acknowledging their education under him But this last personall penalty he escaped by going beyond Canterbury conceived seasonably gone beyond the Seas whilst he secretly concealed himself in London 6. All this put not a period to the Bishops troubles 1638 his unsequestred Spirit so supported him 14 that some of his Adversaries frowned because he could smile under so great vexations A design is set a foot either to make him voluntarily surrender his Bishoprick Deanary and dignities permitted perchance a poor Bishoprick in Ireland or else to press his degradation in order whereunto a new information with ten Articles is drawn up against him though for the main but the consequence and deductions of the fault for tampering with Witnesses for which in the 13. of King Charles he had been so severely censured 7. To this the Bishop put in a Plea and Demurrer that Deus non judicat bis in id ipsum God punisheth not the same fault twice that this is the way to make causes immense and punishments infinite that whereas there was two things that Philosophers denied infinitenesse and vacuity Kilvert had found them both in this prosecution infinitenesse in the Bishops cause and vacuity in his purse that the profane wits of this age should begin to doubt of the necessity of beleeving a Hell hereafter Anno Regis Caroli 14 when such eternall punishments are found here in such kind of prosecution Anno Dom. 1638 he added also that he could prove it that it was a conspiracy of Kilverts with other persons if he might have freedome to bring his witnesses against them which because it cast scandal on those who were Pro domino Rege was now denied him 8. Then put he in a Rejoynder and an Appeal unto the next Parliament whensoever it should be assembled pleading his priviledge of Peerage as his freehold and that he could not be degraded of his Orders and Dignities This was filed in the Sâ—ar-Chamber under the Clarks Book and Copies thereof signed with the usuall Officers Now although this was but a poor help no light of a Parliament dawning at that time yet it so far quashed the proceedings that it never came to farther hearing and the matter superseded from any finall Censure 9. And now began Scotland to be an Actor 15 and England 1639 as yet a sad Spectator thereof Scots broileâ— begin as suspecting ere long to feel what â—e beheld There is an Hye Hill in Cumberland called Skiddaw another answering thereto Scrussell by name in Anandale in
our Lord 1655. To the Honourable BANISTER MAINARD Esq Sonne and Heire to the Right Honourable WILLIAM Lord MAINARD Baron of Estaynes in England and Wicklow in Ireland THERE is a late generation of People professed enemies to all humane Learning the most moderate amongst them accounting it as used in Divinity no better then the barren a Luke 13. 7. Fig-tree Cut it downe why cumbreth it the ground whilest the more furious resemble it to the wilde b 2 Kings 4. 40 Gourd in the Pottage of the Children of the Prophets deadly and pernicious Thus as Wisdome built c Prov. 9. 1. her an house with seven Pillars generally expounded the Liberal Sciences Folly seeketh but I hope in vaine to pluck down and destroy it The staple place whereon their ignorance or malice or both groundeth their error is on the words of the Apostle d Colos 2. 1. Beware lest any man spoyle you through Philosophy and vain deceipt or which is the same in effect vain and deceitfull Philosophy VVhich words seriously considered neither expresse nor imply any prohibition of true Philosophy but rather tacitly commend it Thus when our Saviour saith e Mat. 7. 15. Beware of false Prophets by way of opposition hee inviteth them to beleeve and respect such as true-ones Indeed if we consult the word in the notation thereof consisting of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to love and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 wisdom nothing can bee cavilled thereat The childe of so good Parents cannot bee bad and the compound resulting thence viz. Philosophy or the love of Wisdom is the same so commended by f Prov. 29. 3. Solomon Who so loveth Wisdom rejoyceth his Father True Philosophy thus considered in it selfe is as Clemens Alexandrinis termeth it Aeternae veritatus sparagmon a Sparke or Splinter of Divine truth Res Dei Ratio saith Tertullian God himselfe being in a sort the great Grand father of every Philosophy Act. But wee confesse there is a great abuse of Philosophy making it vain and deceitfull according to the Apostles just complaint when it presumeth by the principles of Reason to crosse and controll the Articles of Faith then indeed it becometh 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 vain or empty as wherein nulla impletio multa inflatio nothing to fill man's minde though too much to puffe it up which is true both of Philosophy in generall and of all the parts thereof Thus Logick in it selfe is of absolute necessity without which Saint Paul could never have g Act. 19. 9. disputed two yeeres no nor two houres in the School of Tyrannus so highly did the Apostle prize it that hee desired to be free'd 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from men who have no Topicks from absurd men who will fixe in no place to bee convinced with reason But Logick thus usefull may bee abused and made deceitfull either in doubtfull Disputations where the Questions can never bee determined or k 1 Tim. 6. 5. in perverse disputings of men where the Disputants are so humorous and peevish that they are unwilling to understand each other making wrangling not satisfaction the end of their dispute Ethicks in like manner are of speciall use in Divinity though not to bee beleeved where they crosse Christianity namely where they exclude Humility from being a virtue on the erroneous account that it is destructive to Magnanimity which is the Christians Livery Bee ye clothed l 1 Pet. 5. 5. with Humility and the m Mica 6. 8. Third part of all which God in this world enjoyneth us to performe Natural Philosophy must not bee forgotten singularly usefull in Divinity save when it presumes to control the Articles of our Creed it is one of the four things for which the Earth is n Pro. 30. 22. moved A Servant when hee Reigneth and intolerable is the pride of Natural Philosophy which should hand-maid it to Divinity when once offering to rule over it Your Honors worthy Grandfather William Lord Maynard well knew the great conveniency yea necessity of Logick for Divines when hee founded and plentifully endowed a Professors place in the Vniversity of Cambridge for the Reading thereof Of Cambridge which I hope ere long you will grace with your presence who in due time may become a â—tudent and good Proficient therein Learning being no more prejudiciall to a Person of Honor then moderate ballaste to the safe-sayling of a Ship Till which time and ever after the continuance and increase of all Happinesse to you and your relations is the daily prayer of Your Honours humble Servant THOMAS FULLER THE HISTORY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF Cambridge Since the CONQVEST ⧠Preface ALthough the foundation of this Vniversity was far ancienter yet because what before this time is reported of it is both little and doubtfull and already inserted into the Body of our Ecclesiasticall History it is early enough to begin the certain History thereof Farre be it from me to make odious comparisons between a 1 Kings 17. 21. Jachin and Boaz the two Pillars in Solomons Temple by preferring either of them for beauty and strength when both of them are equally admirable Nor shall I make difference betwixt the Sisters Coheires of Learning and Religion which should be the Eldest In the days of King Henry b Ex bundello Petitionâ—m Parliamenti Anno 23 Hen. 6 num 12. the sixth such was the quality of desert betwixt Humphrey Stafford Duke of Buckingham and Henry Beauchampe Duke of Warwick that to prevent exceptions about Priority it was ordered by the Parliament That they should take precedency by turns one one yeare and the other the next yeare and so by course were to checquer or exchange their going or setting all the years of their life Sure I am there needeth no such pains to be took or provision to be made about the preeminence of our English Universities to regulate their places they having better learned Humility from the Precept of the c Rom. 12. 10 Apostle In honour preferring one another Wherefore I presume my Aunt Oxford will not be justly offended if in this Book I give my own Mother the upper hand and first begin with her History Thus desiring God to pour his blessing on both that neither may want Milk for their Children or Children for their Milk we proceed to the businesse 1. AT this time the fountain of learning in Cambridge was but little Anno Regis Will. the Conq. 1 and that very troubled Anno Dom 1066 For of late the Danes who at first The low condition of Cambridge at the Conquest like an intermitting Ague made but inroads into the Kingdom but afterwards turn'd to a quotidian of constant habitation had harraged all this Countrey and hereabouts kept their station Mars then frighted away the Muses when the Mount of Parnassus was turn'd into a Fort and Helicon derived into a Trench And at this present Anno Dom. 1070 King William
seaven hundred ninety five pounds two shillings and a penny all bestowed by charitable people for that purpose Amongst whom Thomas Barow Dr. of Civil law Arch-deacon of Colchester formerly Fellow of Kings hall and Chancellor of his house to King Richard the third gave for his part two hundred and fourty pounds 55. One may probably conjecture The foundation of Christs-Colledge that a main motive which drew King Henry this year to Cambridge was with his presence to grace his mothers foundation of Christs-Colledge now newly laid without Barnwell-gate over against St. Andrews-Church in a place where Gods house formerly stood founded by King Henry the sixth This King had an intention had not deprivation a civil death prevented him to advance the Scholars of this foundation to the full number of sixty though a great fall never more than foure lived there for lack of maintenance Now the Lady Margaret Countess of Richmond and Darby acounting her self as of the Lancaster-line heir to all King Henries godly intentions onely altered the name from Gods-house to Christs-Colledge and made up the number viz. One Master twelve Fellows fourty seaven Scholars in all sixty 56. Great and good were the lands The fair endowments thereof which this Lady by her last Will bestowed on this Colledge in severall Counties In Cambridge-shire the Manors of Malton Meldred and Beach with divers lands and rents elsewhere in that County Leicester-shire Aliàs Disworth the Manor of Ditesworth with lands and tenements in Ditesworth Kegworth Hathern and Wolton Northfolk All these I have transcribed out of her last Will. the Abbey of Creyke which was in the Kings hands as dissolved and extinct settled by the Popes authority and the Kings licence Essex the Manor of Royden Wales Manibire an Impropriation This Lady being of Welsh affinity a Teuther by marriage and having long lived in Wales where her Sonne King Henry the seaventh was born in Pembroke thought fitting in commemoration thereof to leave some Welsh land to this her foundation 5. Once the Lady Margaret came to Christs-Colledge A Lady of pity to be hold it when partly built This I heard in a Clerum from Dr. Collings and looking out of a window saw the Deane cal a faulty Scholar to correction to whom she said Lentè lentè gently gently as accounting it better to mitigate his punishment than procure his pardon mercy and justice making the best medley to offenders 6. John Maior a Scotishman John Maior a Student in Christs Colledge and a Scotish Historian of good account was onely for the terme of three moneths a Student in this Colledge as himself acknowledgeth He reporteth that the Scholars of Cambridge in his time Lib. de gest Scotorum c. 5. usually went armed with bowes and swords which our learne * Cain Hist Ac. Can. p. 74 Antiquary is very loth to beleeve except it was John Maior his chance to come to Cambridge in that very juncture of time when the Scholars in fend with the Townsmen stood on their posture of defence Thus Pallas her self may sometimes be put to it to secure her wit by her weapons But had Maior lived as many years as he did but moneths in this University he would have given a better account of their peaceable demeanour 7. John Leland John Leyland Fellow therein that learned Antiquary was a Fellow of this Foundation as he gratefully professeth Anno Regis Hen. 7. 21 I account it therefore in my self an excusable envie Anno Dom. 1505 if repining that the rare Manuscripts of his collections were since his death bestowed on Oxford Library In vita Regis Seberti fol. 70 and not here where he had his education But I remember a Maxime in our Common Law wherein the Lands such are Books to Scholars of a Sonne deceasing without heirs fall rather to his Uncle or Aunt than Father or Mother 7. Many yeers after the founding of this Colledge Reformation of augmentation complaint was made to King Edward the sixth of superstition therein the Master and twelve Fellowes of this Christ-Colledge superstitiously alluding to Christ and his twelve Apostles Probably the peevish informers would have added that the Discipuli or Scholars in this House were in imitation of Christs seventy Disciples save the number corresponds not as being but fourty seven by the originall foundation Hereupon King Edward altered this number of twelve not by Subtraction the most easie and profitable way of reformation but Addition founding a thirteenth Fellowship and three Scholarships out of the impropriation of Bourn which he bestowed on the Colledge and so real charity discomposed suspected superstition This good King also gave the Colledge in lieu of the Mannor of Royden which he took from it the entire revenues of Bromwell Abbey such was his bountifull disposition Nor can it be proved that in his own person he ever did to any an injurious action though too many under him if those may be termed under him who did what they pleased themselves were too free of their favours in that nature 9. It may without flattery be said of this house The worthies of this Colledge Many daughters have done vertuously but thou excellest them all if we consider the many Divines who in so short a time have here had their education Prov. 31. 29. Let Papists tell you of Richard Reignalds Doctor of Divinity a Monk of Zion of William Eximew a Carthusian both bred here and martyred say they for the Catholique cause Anno 1535. of Richard Hall who ran beyond the Seas Pitzeut in Cent. ult became Canon of Cambray and wrote the manuscript-life of Bishop Fisher we chiefly take notice of the Divines bred here since the Reformation Masters Bishops Benefactors 1 John Sickling Fellow of Gods-House first Master 2 Richard Wiat Dr. of Divinity 3 Thomas Tompson D. D. a good Benefactor 4 John Watsonne D. D. 5 Henry Lockwood D. D. 6 Richard Wilks D. D. chosen 1549. 7 Cuthbert Scot D. D. chosen 1553. 8 William Taylor D. D. chosen 1557. 9 Edward Hawford D. D. chosen 1559. he was a good Benefactor 10 Edmond Barwell D. D. chosen 1581. 11 Valentine Carey D. D. chosen 1610. 12 Thomas Bainbrigg D. D. chosen 1620. 13 Samuel Bolton 14 Ralph Cudworth 1 Hugh Latimer Bishop of Worcester 1535. and Martyr 2 Nicholas Heth * So saith Dr. Willet in his dedication of his Comment on Samuel to this Colledge Indeed I finde one Heth but not his Christian name fellow of this Colledge 1520 Archbishop of York 1553. 3 Cuthbert Scot Bishop of Chester 1556. 4 William Hughs Bishop of St Asaph 1573. 5 Anthonie Watson Bishop of Chichester 1596. 6 Valentine Carey Bishop of Exeter 1620. D. Johnson Arch-bishop of Dublin Brute Babington Bishop of Derrie in Ireland George Dounham Bishop of Derrie in Ireland William Chappel Bishop of in Ireland William Chappel Bishop of in Ireland 1 John Fisher Bishop of
appears in the whole Lordship In this sute Plaintiff Judges Defendant Peter Duke of Savoy the Kings dear Uncle first founder I take it of the Savoy in London on whom the King conferred many Lordships and Chesthunt amongst the rest Solicitor Adam de Alverton Ralph Fitz-Nicolas John of Lexington Paulin Peyner Seneschal Henry of Bath Jeremy of Caxton Henry de Bretton The Case Simon the Abbot and the Covent of Waltham The Plaintiff endeavoured to prove that the stream of Ley called the Kings-Stream dividing Hertford-shire from Essex ran thorow the Town of Waltham all the land West thereof belonging to the Manor of Chesthunt This was denied by the Defendant maintaining that Small-Ley-stream running welnigh half a mile West of Waltham parted the Counties all the interjacent meadows pertained to Waltham Perusing the names of these the Kings Justices at Westminster A like not the same who would not suspect but that this Henry of Bath was Bishop of that See considering how many Clergy-men in that age were imployed in places of Judicature But the suspicion is causless finding none of that name in the Episcopal Catalogue Others in like manner may apprehend that Bretton here mentioned was that Learned Lawyer afterwards Bishop of Hereford who wrote the * See Godwin in his Bishops of Hereâ—ord Book De Juribus Anglicanis and who flourished in the latter end of the Reign of this King Henry the third But his name being John not Henry discovereth him a different person Not long after this sute was finally determined and Peter Duke of Savoy remised and quit-claimed from him and his Heirs to the said Abbot and his Successors Anno Regis the right and claim he had to ask in the same Meadows and Marshes of the said Abbot Anno Dom. This is called in the Instrument finalis concordia though it proved neither final nor a concord For soon after this palliaâ—â— cure broke out again and the matter was in variance and undetermined betwixt Robert the last Abbot and the Lord of Chesthunt when the Abby was dissolved Many accessions besides those common prolongers of all sutes namely the heat of mens anger and the bellows of instruments gaining by Law did concur to lengthen this cause 1. The considerableness and concernment of the thing controverted being a large and rich portion of ground 2. The difficulty of the cause about the chanels of that River which Proteus-like in several Ages hath appeared in sundry formes disguised by derivations on different occasions 3. The greatness of the Clients Chesthunt Lordship being alwayes in the hand of some potent person and the Corporation of Waltham Covent able to wage Law with him Hence hath this sute been as long-lov'd as any in England not excepting that in * Cambden in Glocester-shire Glocester-shire betwixt the posterity of Vice-Count Lisle and the Lord Barkley seeing very lately if not at this day there were some sutes about our bounds Waltham Meadows being very rich in grass and hay but too fruitful in contentions For mine own part that wound which I cannot heal I will not widen and seeing I may say with the Poet Non nostrum inter vos tantas componere lites No power of mine so far extends As for to make both parties friends I will not turn of an unpartial Historian an engaged person who as a neighbour wish well to Chesthunt as a Parishioner better to Waltham as a Christian best to both And therefore so much for matter of fact in our Records and Leiger-books leaving all matters of right for others to decide Mean time whilest the Abbot and Monks of Waltham were vexed with the men of Chesthunt they found more favour if publick same belies them not from some loving women in that Parish I mean the Holy Sisters in Chesthunt-Nunnery whose House when ever Founded I finde some ten years since thus confirmed by Royal Authority Henricus Rex Anglie Chesthunt Nunnery Founded Dominus Hybernie Dux Normanie Aquitanie Comes Andegavie c. Shestrehunt Moniales totam terram Dom. teneant cum pertinentiis suisque Canonicis de Cathele c. quos amoveri fecimus Datum apud West xj Aug. Anno Regni nostri xxiiij But this subject begins to swell beyond the bounds intended unto it lest therefore what we intended but a Tract should swell to a Tome we will here descend to matters of later date Onely be it premised Copt-Hall past to King Hen. 8. that some years before the Dissolution Robert the last Abbot of Waltham passed over the fair seat of Copt-Hall unto King Henry the eighth Thus as the Castor when pursued by the Hunter to make his escape is reported to bite off his own stones as the main treasure sought after and so saves his life by losing a limb So this Abbot politickly parted with that stately Mansion in hope thereby to preserve the rest of his revenues However all would not do so impossible it is to save what is design'd to ruine and few years after the Abby with the large Lands thereof were seized on by the King and for some Moneths He alone stood possessed thereof The Extraction Charter Death and Issue of Sir Anthony Dennie on whom King Henry the Eighth bestowed WALTHAM-ABBY AT the Dissolution A Lease of Waltham Abby given to Sir Anthony Denny King Henry bestowed the Site of this Abby with many large and rich Lands belonging thereunto on S r Anthony Dennie for the terme of Thirty one years Let us a little enquire into his extraction and discent I finde the name very Ancient at a Speed or ratherâ—â— Rob. Cotton in Huntingdon-shire Chesterton in Huntington-shire where the Heir-general was long since married John Denny the great souâ—der in France to the worshipful and Ancient Family of the Bevils It seems a branch of the Male-line afterwards fixed in Hertford-shire Whereof John Denny Esquire valiantly served Henry the fifth in France where he was slain and buried with Thomas his second Son in S t Dionys his Chappel their interment in so noble a place speaking their worthy performances In the Reign of Queen Mary a Frier shewed their Tombes to S r Matthew Carew together with their Coates and differences Henry eldest son of this John Denny begat William Denny of Chesthunt in Hertford-shire which William was High Sheriff of the County in the year 1480. leaving Edmond Denny to inherit his estate Edmond Denny was one of the Barons of the Exchequer Edm. Denny Baron of the Exchequer in credit and favour with King Edward the Fourth and Henry the Seventh He Married Mary the Daughter and Heir of Robert Troutbeck Esquire on whom he begat Thomas Denny from whom the Dennies in Norfolk are descended Anthony Denny Anthony Denny his high commendations second Son to Baron Denny was Knighted by King Henry the Eighth made Gentleman of his Bed-chamber Privy-Councellour and one of his Executors I cannot say he was bred any great Scholar