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
those daies deserveth not ivie in cur Age. Now seeing by the rules of justice and the Kings own appointment His Debts were to be paid before His Legacies and seeing many of His personall debts remained unsatisfied till the daies of Queen Elizabeth probably most of these Legacies were never paid especially to inferiour persons As if it were honour enough for them to have such summs bequeathed unto though never bestowed upon them 53. Whereas mention in this Will of a Monument well onwards and almost made Monument made for the King by the Cardinal it is the same which Cardinal Wolsey built For King Henry and not for himself as is commonly reported Wherefore whereas there goeth a tale That King Henry one day finding the Cardinal with the workmen making His Monument should say unto him Tumble your self in this Tomb whilest you are alive for when dead you shall never lie therein it is a meer fiction the Cardinal originally intending the same for the King as appeareth by the ancient Inscription * Godwin in Hen 8. p. 200. thereupon wherein King Henry was stiled LORD not KING of Ireland without addition of supreme Head of the Church plainly shewing the same was of antient date in the daies of the Cardinal 54. Whereas the Lady Mary and Elizabeth Why His Nieces more at liberty than his Daughters Their marriages are so severely conditioned that if made without consent of the Councell They were to forfeit Their right to the Crown men interpret it as provided in terrorem and not otherwise Yet this clause was it which afterwards put so plausible a pretence on Wiat his rebellion which though made of rotten cloth had notwithstanding a good colour thereon Now whereas the King's Nieces the Daughters to Mary His younger Sister were not clogg'd in this His Will with such restrictions concerning their Marriages the plain reason was because both of them were already married before this Will was made Frances the elder to Henry Gray Marquesse Dorset afterward Duke of Suffolke and Eleanour the younger to Henry Clifford Earl of Cumberland 55. The Portion of but ten thousand pounds a piece left to His two Daughters Ten thousand pounds the portion of a Princesse was not much unproportionable to the value of money as it went in that Age though a summe small for such an use in our daies And I have heard that Queen Elizabeth being informed that Doctor Pilkington Bishop of Durham had given ten thousand pounds in marriage with his Daughter and being offended that a Prelates daughter should equal a Princesse in portion took away one thousand pounds a year from that Bishoprick and assigned it for the better maintenance of the Garrison of Barwick 56. Very much of His own abitrarinesse appears in this Will of King Henry Much of arbitrarinesse in this Will entalling the Crown according to His own fancie against all right and reason For first how unjust was it that His female issue by Queen Katharine Parr His last Wife had He had any should inherit the Crown before Mary and Elizabeth His eldest Daughters by His former Wives If Mary and Elizabeth were not His lawfull Children how came They by any right to the Crown If His lawfull Children why was Their birth-right and seniority not observed in succession Well it was for Them that Henry Fitz Roy His naturall Son but one of supernaturall and extraordinary endowments was dead otherwise some suspect had He survived King Edward the sixth we might presently have heard of a K. Henry the ninth so great was His Fathers affection and so unlimited His power to preferre Him 57. But the grand injury in this His Testament is The Scotish Line quite left out That He quite passeth over the Children of Margaret His eldest Sister married into Scotland with all Her issue not so much as making the least mention thereof 58. Great indeed when this Will was first made was the antipathy which for the present possessed Him against the Scotch with whom then He was in actual warre though at other times when in good humour very courteous to His kinred of that extraction For most sure it is that when Margaret Douglas His Sisters Daughter was married to Math. Earle of Lenox He publickly professed That in case His own Issue failed He should be right glad some of Her body should sacceed to the Crown as it came to * Henry Lord Darly her Son Father to King James passe 59. Of the eleven Witnesses Legatees Witnesses in Kings Will. whose names are subscribed to His Will the nine first are also Legatees therein and therefore because reputed Parties not sufficient Witnesses had it been the Will of a private person But the Testaments of Princes move in an higher sphere than to take notice of such Punctilloes and forraigners being unfit to be admitted to such privacies domesticall Servants were preferred as the properest Witnesses to attest an Instrument of their Lord and Master 60. It is but just with God that He who had too much of His Will done Little of His Will performed when living should have the lesse when dead of His Testament performed The ensuing Reformation swept away the Masses and Chantery Priests founded to pray for His soul The Tombs of Henry the sixth and Edward the fourth the one the last of Lancaster the other the first of Yorke the Titles of both which Houses met in this Henry remain at this day in statu quo priùs without any amendment Where by the way seeing in this Will King Henry the sixth is styled his Uncle I cannot make out the relation in the common sence of the word except any will say that Kings Uncles as their Cousins are oft taken in a large and favourable acception But the main wherein His Will missed the intent is in that the Scotch Line neglected and omitted by Him ordinary Heirs are made in Heaven Heirs to Crowns in the Heaven of Heavens came in Their due time to the Throne Their undoubted Right thereunto recognized by Act of Parliament 61. After the making of this his Will His disease and the manner of His death He survived a full Month falling immediately sick He had sesque corpus a body and half very abdominous unweldy with fat and it was death to Him to be dieted so great His appetite and death to Him not to be dieted so great His corpulency But now all His humours repaired to one place and setled themselves in an old sore in His thigh which quickly grew to be greatly enflamed Here flame met with fire the anguish of the sore with an hot and impatient temper so that during his sickness few of His Servants durst approach His presence His Physicians giving Him over desired some who tendred the good of His soul to admonish Him of His estate But such who could flie with good tidings would not halt to Him with ill newes Besides lately a Law was made That
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
His choller now swelling high because opposed by the Rebels more than His judgment in this His expression and seeing an Historian should suum cuique tribuere give me leave a little to enlarge in this subject 2. Of the Lord Marney What the Lord Marney was I can say but little finding him whilst as yet but a Knight Sir Henry Servant and one of the Executors to the Lady Margaret Countesse of Darby at which time he was Chancellour of the Dutchie of Lancaster It seemeth he rose by the Law being the first and last Baron of his name whose sole Daughter was married to Thomas Howard Vicount Bindon 3. Longer must we insist on the Parentage Three noble Branches of the Darcyes in the North. performances and posterity of Thomas Lord Darcy finding in the North three distinct branches thereof whereof the first was Begun Continued Extingnished In Norman de Adrecy or Darcy possessed under K Will the Conquerour of many Manours in Yorke shire and * Dooms-day book chap. 32. in Lincoln shire Lincoln shire where Normanbye His prime seat seemeth so named by him For ten Generations most of them buried in Noketon Priory in Lincoln sh by them founded and indowed viz 1. Robert 2. Thomas 3. Thomas 4. Norman 5. Norman 6. Philip. 7. Norman 8. Philip. 9. Norman 10. Philip. In Philip Darcy dying issue-less whose two Sisters and Co-heires were married the one to Roger Pedwardine the other to Peter of Limbergh 4. The first Male Line of the Darcyes being thus determined a second Race succeeded derived from Norman Darcy the Penultim Lord in the last Pedigree Begun Continued Extinguished In Iohn Darcy Son to the aforesaid Norman Steward to the King's Houshold Justice of Ireland For five descents being Barons of Knaith Moynill 1. John 2. John 3. Philip. 4. John 5 Philip. In Philip the fifth Baron who though dying under age left two Daughters Elizabeth married to Sir James Strangewayes of Hartley Castle and Margaret to Sir Iohn Coigniers of Hornbey-Castle 5. Thus expired the second Male stem of the Darcyes styled Barons of Knaith long since aliened from their Family and for this last hundred years the habitation of the Lord Willoughby of Parham Come we now to the third Stemme which was Begun Continned Extinguished In Sir Iohn Darcy of Torxay second Son to the last Lord John Darcy of Knaith Through seven Generations 1. Richard 2. William 3. Thomas 4. George 5. Iohn 6. Michael 7. Iohn In Iohn Lord Darcy of Ashton dying issue-lesse though hee had foure Wives in the Reigne of King Charles 6. Thomas Darcy here named is the person the subject of this discourse of whom four things are memorable 1. He was Knighted by K. Henry the seventh who made him Captain of the Town and Castle of Barwick * privatae Sigilla de anno 14 Henrici 7. and Commander of the East and Middle Marches 2. K Henry the eighth in the first year of his Reign made him Iustice in Eyre of the Forests beyond Trent summoned him the same yeare as a Baron to Parliament imployed him with a Navie An. 1511. to assist Ferdinand King of Arragon against the Moores and made him knight of the Garter 3. Though the Ancestours of this Thomas Darcy since the second Branch was expired were styled Lords in some Deeds whether by the courtesie of the Countrey or because the right of a Barony lay in them yet this Thomas was the first summoned Baron to Parliament in the first of King Henry the eighth and his Successours took their place accordingly 4. Though the Revenue of this Thomas Lord Darcy was not great at the beginning of King Henry the eighth because the Heires Generall of the Lord Darcyes of Knaith carried away the maine of the Inheritance yet he had a considerable Estate augmented by his Match with Dowsabella the Daughter and Heire of Sir Richard Tempest The result of all is this This Lord was most Honourably descended and his Nobility augmented not first founded by K. Henry the eighth as his words did intimate Let therefore passionate Princes speak what they please their patient Subjects will believe but their just proportion And although the Foxes eares must be reputed horns whilst the Lyon in presence is pleased so to term them yet they never alter their nature and quickly recover the name after the Lyons departure This I though fit to write in vindication of the Lord Darcy who though he owed his life to the Law it is cruelty he should lose both it and the just honour of his Extraction 7. As for the present Coigniers Lord Darcy he is not onely descended from the foresaid Lord Thomas but also from the Heire Generall of the second Stem of the Lord Darcyes of Knaith and was by King Charles accordingly restored to take his place in Parliament The antient English Nobility great Losers by the Dissolution of Abbeys ALthough many modern Families have been great Gainers by the destruction of Monasteries Antient Nobility losers yet the Antient Nobility when casting up their Audits found themselves much impaired thereby both in power and profit commodity and command I mean such whose Ancestours had been Founders of Abbeys or great Benefactours unto them These reserved to themselves and their Heirs many Annual Rents and Services Reliefs Escuage as also that such Abbots and their Successours should doe Fealry and Homage to their Heirs for such Lands as they held of them in Knights Service 2. Now although order was taken at the dissolution to preserve such Rents to the Founders Heires payable unto them by the Kings Officers out of the Exchequer yet such summes after long attendance were recovered with so much difficulty that they were lost in effect Good rents ill paid Thus when the few sheaves of the Subject are promiscuously made up in the Kings mewe it is hard to finde them there and harder to fetch them thence 3. As for the foresaid Services reserved either at money Services wholly lost or money worth to them and their Heires they were totally and finally extinguished for formerly such Abbeys used 1. To send men on their own Charges in Voyages to Warre to aid and attend such of their Founders and Benefactors Heires of whom they held Land in Knights service 2. They bountifully contributed a Portion to the Marriage of their eldest Daughters 3. They bear the Costs and charges to accoutre their eldest Sonnes in a gentile military equipage when Knighted by the King But now the Tree being pluckt up by the roots no such fruit could afterwards be expected 4. Nor must we forget the benefit of Corrodies With the commodity of Corodies so called à conradendo from eating together for the Heires of the foresaid Founders not by courtesie but composition for their former favours had a priviledge to send a set number of their poor Servants to Abbeys to diet therein Thus many aged Servants past working not feeding costly to keep and
thither or whilest they are so considerable in themselves as to command their own Entertainment Whereas this distressed King his Company was beheld not onely as Uselesse and Expensive but Dangerous as likely to draw with it the Displeasure of the Saxon Kings his Enemies on his Entertainer But it seems Cadwallader had better Friends in Heaven 685 then any he found on Earth if it be true what confidently is reported that an c Lewes Owen his running Register pag. 17. Angel appeared unto him advising him to go to Rome there to take on him the Habite of a Monk and spend the remainder of his Life Here he purchased Lands all by the foresaid Angelicall Direction built an House after his Death converted into an Hospitall and by his Will so ordered it that certain Priests of his own Country should for ever have the Rule and Government thereof These were to entertain all VVelsh-Pilgrims with Meat Drink and Lodging for the space of a moneth and to give them a certain Summe of Money for a viaticum at their Departure towards their Charges in returning to their own Country 105. Many a year did this Hospitall flourish in good Plenty Since injuriously taken from the VVelsh till the middle of Queen Elisabeth her Reign when fair the Revenues belonging and few the VVelsh-Pilgrims repairing thereto This made Father Parsons with the rest of our English Iesuites cast an envious eye thereon who would never be quiet until they had obtained of Pope Gregory the 13. to eject the old British and unite this Hospitall to the English Colledge at Rome This no doubt stirred up the VVelsh bloud of D r. Morris D r. Lewes D r. Smith M r. Griffith who in vain stickled to the utmost of their Power to continue this Foundation to their Country-men In my poor Opinion seeing an Angel is said to direct in the Founding and endowing of this Hospitall it was but fit that either the same Angel appearing again Anno Dom. or some other of an higher or at least equall Dignity and Degree in the Celestiall Hierarchie should have altered the Use and confirmed the Alienation thereof But of this more a Vide Annum Domini 1569. The Ecclesiasticall Laws of King Ina. hereafter 106. Ina 692 King of the VVest-Saxons about this time set forth his Saxon Laws translated into English by M r. Lambert Eleven of his Laws concerned Church-matters Kings in that Age understanding their own Power the Pope having not as yet intrenched on their just Prerogative These Constitutions were concluded on by the King through the Perswasion of Kenred his Father Hedda and Erkenwald his Bishops and all his Aldermen and wise Senatours of the People Let none wonder that Ina in his Preface to these Laws termeth Erkenwald His Bishop whose See of London was properly under the King of the East-Saxons For he might call him his in Affection whose Diocese was in another King's Possession Ina highly honouring Erkenwald for his Piety and therefore inviting him forward of himself to all Goodnesse to be present at the passing of these Laws Besides b Iac. Usser Arch. Armach de Brit. Eccles primord p. 394 some assign Surrey as part of the Kingdome of the VVest-Saxons Probably at this present Ina's Puissance sallied over the Thames and London might be reduced into his Honorary-Protection But see here a Breviate of his Church-Laws 1. That Ministers c S r. Henry Spelman his Councils pag. 182. c. observe their appointed form of living 2. That every Infant be baptized within thirty dayes after his Birth on the Penalty of his Parents forfeiting thirty shillings and if the Child chance to die before he be baptized all his Estate 3. If the Servant doth any Work on the Lords day at the Masters Command the Servant shall be d The Latine Liber esto may not onely import a freedome from fault but also that such a slaâ—e-servant should be manumis'd from servitude See the following 113. paragraph acquitted and the M r. pay thirty shillings But if he did that work without his Masters Command let him be beaten or redeem it with Money c. A Priest offending in this kind was to be double punished 4. The First-fruits of Seeds were to be paid to the Church on the Feast of S t. Martin on the Penalty of fourty shillings besides the payment of the said First-fruits twelve times over 5. If any deserving Stripes shall flie to a Church his Stripes shall be forgiven him If guilty of a Capitall Crime he shall enjoy his Life but make Recompence according to what is right and due 6. Fighters in the King's Court to lose their Goods and to be at the King's Mercy for their Life Such as fight in the Church to pay 120 shillings If in the house of an Alderman 60 shil c. 7. Such as falsifie their Witnesse or Pawn in the presence of the Bishop to pay 120. shillings 8. Severall Penalties of Money imposed on those that should kill a Stranger 9. Such as are breakers of the Peace in the Town of the King or Arch-Bishop punishable with one hundred and twenty shillings in the Town of an Alderman eight shillings in the Town of one of the King's Servants sixty shillings c. 10. First-fruits of all Seeds were to be paid by House-keepers as due to that place wherein they themselves were resident on the day of Christ's Nativity 11. What Summes of Money are to be paid by such who have killed their God-fathers or god-God-sons In this last Law expresse Provision is made Episcopi filius si occidatur in case the Son of a Bishop be kill'd a Passage impertinently alledged by some for the Proof of Bishops married in that Age seeing neither Sons natural nor conjugal but onely spirituall at the Font are thereby intended Now let the learned in the Law render the Reason why Murder in that Age was not punishable with Death but might be bought off with Money 107. A great Council for so it is tituled was held at Becanceld by VVithred Anno Dom. 694 King of Kent Women present at the great Council of Becanceld and Bertuald Arch-Bishop of Britain so called therein understand him of Canterbury wherein many things were concluded in favour of the Church Five Kentish Abbesses namely Mildred Etheldred Aete Wilnolde and Hereswide were not onely present but subscribed their Names and Crosses to the Constitutions concluded therein And we may observe that their Subscriptions are not onely placed before and above all Presbyters but also above a S r. Henry Spelman's Councills pag. 190. Romish braggs of S t. Andre ' s Chastity Botred a Bishop but of what Diocese not specified present in this great Council It seems it was the Courtesy of England to allow the upper hand to the weaker Sex as in their Siting so in their Subscriptions 108. We will conclude this Century with the miraculous Holiness of Ethelreda or S t.
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
His admirable successe in his wars as totally taken up with his atchievements in Scotland and France where his successe by Sea and Land was above beliefe and even to admiration He conquered both before his face and behind his back Whence he came and whither he went North and South the one in his person the other by his substitutes in his absence Insomuch that he got more then he knew what to do with exhausting the Land to man the Cities which he had gained Herein he stands without a parallel that he had both the Kings he fought against viz. John de Dalois of France and David the King of Scotland his prisoners at one time not taken by any cowardly surprize but by fair fight in open field 5. It soundeth much to the commendation of his modesty and moderation And humility that intending to found an Order of Knight-hood at his Castle of Windsor * Others say in London Town where he had these two Royall prisoners In the institution thereof he neither had any insolent relation to his own conquest nor opprobrious reflection on his enemies captivity but began the innocent Order of the Garter unreferring to any of his former atchievements But more hereof in due time 6. The King and State began now to grow sensible of the great gain he Netherlands got by our English Wool England hitherto ignorant in curious Cloathing in memory whereof the Duke of Burgundy not long after instituted the order of the Golden Fleece wherein indeed the Fleece was ours the Golden theirs so vast their Emolument by the Trade of Clothing Our King therefore resolved if possible to reduce the Trade to his own Country Anno Regis Ed. tertii 11 who as yet were ignorant of that Art Anno Dom. 1336. as knowing no more what to do with their Wool then the sheep that weare it as to any Artificiall and curious Drabery their best Cloathes then being no better then Freezes such their coursnesse for want of skill in their making But soon after followed a great alteration and we shall enlarge our selves in the manner thereof 7. The intercourse now being great betwixt the English and the Netherlands increased of late since King Edward married the Daughter of the Earl of Hainalt unsuspected Emissaries The Kings Agents tempt the Dutch apprentices were imployed by our King into those Countries who wrought themselves into familiarity with such Dutch men as were Absolute Masters of their Trade but not Masters of themselves as either Journeymen or Apprentiees These bemoaned the slavishnesse of these poore servants whom their Masters used rather like Heathens then Christians yea rather like Horses then Men. Early up and late in bed and all day hard work and harder fare a few Herrings and mouldy Cheese and all to inrich the Churles their Masters without any profit unto themselves 8. But oh how happy should they be if they would but come over into England To come over into England bringing their Mystery with them which would provide their welcome in all places Here they should feed on fatt Beef and Mutton till nothing but their fulnesse should stint their stomacks yea they should feed on the labours of their own hands enjoying a proportionable profit of their pains to themselves their beds should be good and their bedfellows better seeing the richest Yeomen in England would not disdain to marry their Daughters unto them and such the English beauties that the most envious Forreigners could not but commend them 9. Liberty is a Lesson quickly conn'd by heart And obtain their desire men having a principle within themselves to prompt them in case they forget it Perswaded with the premises many Dutch servants leave their Masters and make over for England Their departure thence being pickt here and there made no sensible vacuity but their meeting here altogether amounted to a considerable fulness With themselves they brought over their Trade and their Tools namely such which could not as yet be so conveniently made in England 10. Happy the Yeomans House into which one of these Dutchmen did enter bringing industry and wealth along with them Their welcome reception Such who came in strangers within their doors soon after went out Bridegrooms and returned Son in laws having married the Daughters of their Landlords who first entertained them Yea those Yeomen in whose houses they harboured soon proceeded Gentlemen gaining great estates to themselves arms and worship to their estates 11. The King having gotten this Treasury of Forreigners The King politickly disperseth the Dutch thought not fit to continue them all in one place lest on discontent they might imbrace a generall resolution to return but bestowed them thorow all the parts of the Land that Cloathing thereby might be the better dispersed Here I say nothing of the Colony of old Dutch who frighted out of their own Country with an Inundation about the reign of King Henry the first possibly before that Nation had attained the cunning of Cloath-making were seated only in Pembroke-shire This new Generation of Dutch was now sprinkled every where so that England in relation I mean to her own Counties may be speak these Inmates in the language of the Poet Que regio in terris vestri non plena laboris though generally where left to their own choice they preferred a Maritine Habitation East 1. Norfolk Norwich Fustians 2. Suffolk Sudbury Bayes 3. Essex Colchester Sayes and Serges 4. Kent Rentish Broad-clothes West 1. Devonshire Kirses 2. Gloucestershire 3. Worcestershire Cloth 4. Wales Welsh Friezes North. 1. Westmerland Kendall Cloath 2. Lancashire Manchester Cotton 3. Yorkshire Halifax Clothes 4. South 1. Somersetshire Taunton Serges 2. Hamshire 3. Berkshire 4. Sussex Cloth I am informed that a prime Dutch Cloth-maker in Gloucestershire had the Sirname of Web given him by King Edward there a Family still famous for their manufacture Observe we here that mid England Northamptonshire Lincolnshire and Cambridge having most of Woâ—l have least of cloathing therein 12. Here the Dutchmen found Fullers earth Fullers earth a precious commodity a precious Treasure whereof England hath if not more better then all Christendom besides a great Commodity of the Quorum to the making of good Cloath so that Nature may seem to point out our land for the Staple of Drapery if the idlenesse of her inhabitants be not the only hinderance thereof This Fullers Earth is clean contrary to our Jesuites who are needlesse Drugs yet still staying here though daily commanded to depart whilst Fullers earth a precious ware is daily scowred hence though by law forbidden to to be transported 13. And now was the English Wool improved to the highest profit woollen cloth the English wealth passing through so many hands every one having a fleece of the Fleece Sorters Kembers Carders Spinsters Weavers Fullers Diers Pressers Packers and these Manifactures have been heightned to a higher perfection since the cruelty
upon my power and meynten hem And alsoe I shall never more meynten ne tochen ne defenden errours conclusions ne techynges of the Lollardes ne swych conclusions and techynges that men clepyth Lollardes doctryn ne I shall her bokes Ne swych bokes ne hem or any suspeict or diffamede of Lolardery resceyve or company withall wyttyngly or defende in yo matters and yf I know ony swich I shall wyth all the haste that y may do yhowe or els your ner officers to wyten and of her bokes And also I shall excite and stirre all you to goode doctryn yat I have hindered wyth myn doctryn up my power and also I shall stonde to your declaracion wych es heresy or errour and do thereafter And also what penance yhe woll for yat I have don for meyntenyng of this false doctryn in mynd mee and I shall fulfill it and I submit me yer to up my power and also I shall make no othir glose of this my oth bot as ye wordes stonde and if it be so that I come againe or doe again this oath or eny party thereof I yhelde me here cowpable as an heretyk and to be punyshed be the lawe as an heretyk and to forfet all my godes to the Kynges will withowten any othir processe of Lawe and yerto I require ye notarie to make of all this ye whych is my will an instrument agayns me Et ex habundanti idem Will. Dynet eodem die voluit recognovit quod omnia bona Catalla sua mobilia nobis sint forisfca in casu quo ipse juramentum praedictum seu aliqua in eodem juramento contenta de cetero contravenerit ullo modo 41. We have here exemplified this Abjuration just according to the Originals Take it faults and all with all the faults and Pseudographie thereof For I remember in my time an under-Clerk at Court threatned to be called before the Green-Cloath for an Innovation from former Bills though onely writing Sinapi with an S. contrary to the common custom of the Clerks of the Kitchin formerly writing of it with a C. so wedded are some men to old orders and so dangerous in their judgment is the least deviation from them 42. The Arch-Bishop of York mentioned therein Some observations on this abjuration was Tho. Arundell then Chancellour of England and in all probability this Instrument was Dated at York For I finde that at this very time Tho. Arundell to humble the Londoners then reputed disaffected to the King removed the Termes and a Godwin in his Catalogue of the Arch-Bishops of York Courts to York where they continued for some short time and then returned to their ancient course Whereas he is enjoyned point-blank to worship Images it seemeth that the modern nice distinction of worshipping of Saints in Images was not yet in fashion It appeareth herein that Relaps after Abjuration was not as yet as afterwards punishable with death but onely with forfeiture of goods to the Crown 43. This year a Godly 23. Learned 1397 and Aged Servant of God ended his dayes The death of John de Trevisa viz. John de Trevisa a Gentleman of an ancient b Carews Survey of Cornwall p. 114. Family bearing Gules a Garbe OR born at Crocadon in Cornwall a Secular Priest and Vicar of Berkeley a painful and faithful Translator of many and great Books into English as Policronicon written by Ranulphus of Chester Bartholomeus de rerum proprictatibus c. But his master-piece was the Translating of the Old and New Testament justifying his act herein by the example of Bede who turned the Gospel of S t John in English 44. I know not which more to admire Who Translated the Bible into English his ability that he could his courage that he durst or his industry that he did perform so difficult and dangerous a task having no other commission then the c Balaeus de Script Angl. cent 7. numero 18. command of his Patron THOMAS Lord BERKELEY Which Lord as the said d Pelicronicon fol. 2. Trevisa observeth had the Apocalyps in Latin and French then generally understood by the better sort as well as English written on the roof and walls of his Chappel at Berkeley and which not long since viz. Anno 1622. so remained as not much defaced Whereby we may observe that midnight being past some early risers even then began to strike fire and enlighten themselves from the Scriptures 45. It may seem a Miracle Yet escaped persecution that the Bishops being thus busie in persecuting Gods servants and Trevisa so obnoxious to their fury for this Translation that he lived and died without any molestation Yet was he a known enemy to Monkery witness that among many other of his Speeches that he had read how Christ had e Balaeus ut prius sent Apostles and Priests into the world but never any Monks or begging Friers But whether it was out of reverence to his own aged gravity or respect to his Patrons greatness he died full of honour quiet and age little less then ninety years old For 1. He ended his Translation of Policronicon as appeareth by the conclusion thereof the 29 th of Edward the third when he cannot be presumed less then 30. years of age 2. He added to the end thereof fifty f Pitzeus de Scrip. Angla some say more years of his own historical observations Thus as he gave a Garbe or Wheat-sheaf for his Armes so to use the g Micah 4. 12. Prophets expression the Lord gathered him as a sheaf into the floor even full ripe and ready for the same 46. We may couple with him As did his contemporary Geoffery Chaucer his contemporary Geffery Chaucer born some say in Berke-shire others in Oxford-shire most and truest in London If the Grecian Homer had seven let out English haven three places contest for his Nativity Our Homer I say onely herein he differed Maeonides nullas ipse reliquit opes Homer himself did leave no pelf Whereas our Chaucer left behinde him a rich and worshipful estate 47. His Father was a Vintner in London His parentâ—ge and armes and I have heard his Armes quarell'd at Anno Dom. 1399. being Argent and Gules strangely contrived Anno Regis Ric. 2 23. and hard to be blazon'd Some more wits have made it the dashing of white and red wine the parents of our ordinary Claret as nicking his fathers profession But were Chaucer alive he would justifie his own Armes in the face of all his opposers being not so devoted to the Muses but he was also a son of Mars He was the Prince of English Poets married the daughter of Pain Roëc King of Armes in France and sister to the Wife of John of Gaunt King of Castile 48. He was a great Refiner He refined our English tongue and Illuminer of our English tongue and if he left it so bad how much
dayes of their lives it being death to put on their cloaths without that cognizance And indeed to poor people it was true Put it off and be burned keep it on and be starved seeing none generally would set them on work that carried that badg about them 8. On this account William Sweeting and James Brewster were re-imprisoned Sweeting and Brewster burnt In vain did a Fox Volum 2. pag. 12. Brewster plead that he was commanded to leave off his badg by the Controller of the Earl of Oxfords house who was not to control the orders of the Bishops herein And as little did Sweetings plea prevail that the Parson of Mary Magdalene's in Colchester caused him to lay his saggot aside Anno Dom. 1511 These Anno Regis Hen. 8 4. Ohab 18. like Isaac first bare their fagots on their backs which soon after bare them being both burnt together in Smithfield The Papists report that they profered at their death again to abjure their opinions the truth whereof one day shall appear Mean time if true let the unpartial but judge which were most faulty these poor men for want of constancy in tendring or their Judges for want of charity in not accepting their abjuration 9. Richard Hunn a wealthy Citizen of London Richard Hunn murdered in Lallards-tower imprisoned in Lollards Tower for maintaining some of Wiclifss opinions had his neck therein secretly broken To cover their cruelty they gave it out that he hang'd himself but he Coroners inquest sitting on him by necessary presumptions found the impossibility thereof and gave in their verdict that the said Hunn was murdered Insomuch that a Exam of Fox his Mart. for the month of Decemb. pag. 279. and 282. Persons hath nothing to reply but that the Coroners Inquest were simple men and suspected to be infected with Wiclifsian heresies But we remit the Reader to M r. Fox for ssatisfaction in all these things whose commendable care is such that he will not leave an hoof of a martyr behinde him being very large in the reckoning up of all sufferers in this kinde 10. Cardinal Bainbrigg Arch-Bishop of York being then at Rome was so highly offended with Rivaldus de Modena an Italian his Steward Others say his Physicain and a Priest that he fairly cudgelled him This his passion was highly censured as inconsistent with Episcopal gravity who should be no b 1 Tim 3.3 striker But the Italian shewed a cast of his Countrey and with c Godwin in Câ—t of Bish of York pag. 72. poison sent the Cardinal to answer for his fact in another world whose body was buried in the English Hospital at Rome 11. Richard Fox Bishop of Winchester The Founding of Câ—rpusChristi-Colledg in Oxford Founded and endowed Corpus-Christi-Colledg in Oxford bestowing thereon Lands to the yearly value of four d Godwin in the Bishops of Winchester pag. 297 hundred and one pounds eight shillings and two pence And whereas this Foundation is charactred by an Oxford e Pitzaeus de Acad. Oxon. pag. 36 man to be Ex omnibus minimum vel certè ex minimis unum at this day it acquitteth it self in more then a middle equipage amongst other Foundations Erasmus is very large in the praise thereof highly affected with a Library and Study of tongues which according to the Founders Will flourished therein insomuch that for some time it was termed The Colledg of the three learned Languages f John White in libro diacosio c. Est locus Oxonii licet appellare trilingue Musaeum à Christi Corpore nomen habet Sure I am that for all kinde of Learning Divine and Humane this House is paramount for eminent persons bred therein Presidents Bishops Benefactors Learned writers John Claymond Robert Nerwent William Chedsey William Butcher Thomas Greeneway William Cole John Raynolds John Spencer D r. Anian D r. Holt. D r. Jackson D r. Stanton Cardinal Poole John Jewel Hugh Oldham Bishop of Exeter John Claymond first President M r Mordent William Frost M rs Moore D r. John Raynolds S t George Paul Knight George Etheridge * See more of him Anno 1584. Richard Hooker Brian Twine the industrious Antiquary of Oxford D r. Jackson So that a President Anno Regis Hen. 8 8. twenty Fellows Anno Dom. 1516 twenty Scholars two Chaplaines two Clerks and two Choristers besides Officers and Servants of the Foundation are therein maintained which with other Students Anno 1634. made up threescore and ten 12. This Hugh Oldham in the front of Benefactors Hugh Oldham his bounty because he was Bishop of Exeter for names-sake intended his bounty to Exeter Colledg But suffering a repulse from that Society refusing at his a Godwin in the Bishops of Exeter pag. 473. request to make one Atkin a Fellow diverted his liberality to Corpus-Christi-Colledg so bountifull thereunto that as Founder is too much so Benefactour is too little for him He was one of more piety then learning courteous in his deeds but very harsh and rugged in his speeches making himself but bad Orations yet good Orators so many eloquent men were bred by his bounty Nor let it be forgotten that as Fox the Founder of this House was Fellow and Master of Pembroke-Hall so Oldham also had his education in Queens b See Jo. Scot. his Tables Colledg in Cambridg so much hath Oxford been beholding to her Nephews or Sisters Children But as once Ephron c Gen. 23. 15. said to Abraham what is that betwixt me and thee so such their mutual affection it matters not what favour one Sister freely bestoweth on the other 13. John Collet Dean of Pauls died this year in the fifty third year of his age of a pestilential sweating The death of Dean Collet at Shene in Surry He was the eldest and sole surviving childe of S r Henry Collet Mercer twice Lord Major of London who with his ten Sons and as many Daughters are depicted in a glass window on the North-side of S t Anthonies corruptly S t. Antlins to which d Stows Survey p. 265. Church he was a great Benefactor His Son John Founded the FREE-SCHOOL of S t Pauls and it is hard to say whether he left better Laws for the government or Lands for maintenance thereof 14. A Free-School indeed to all Natives or Foraigners of what Country soever Founder of Pauls School here to have their education none being excluded by their Nativity which exclude not themselves by their unworthiness to the number of one hundred fifty and three so many e John 21. 11. fishes as were caught in the net by the Apostles whereof every year some appearing most pregnant by unpartial examination have salleries allowed them for seven years or untill they get better preferment in the Church or University 15. It may seem false Latin that this Collet being Dean of S t Pauls the School Dedicated to S t Paul and
he maketh those who were to keep it in some sort Judges of the justness thereof endeavouring to convince their consciences and make their souls sensible of the natural uncleanness of such an act It is thy Brothers nakedness Such marriages are again forbidden in another Text. Anno Dom. 1530 Nor can I render other resson of this Duplicate Anno Regis Hen. 8. 22. whereas others are but once that this should be twice prohibited save that God foreseeing in his providence mens corrupt inclinations prone here to climb over did therefore think fit to make a double fence LEVIT 20. 21. And if a man shall take his Brothers Wife it is an unclean thing he hath uncovered his Brothers Nakedness they shall be Childless Here we have the Prohibition backt with a Commination of being Childless which is variously interpreted either that they shall never have children or if having them they shall not survive their Parents or if surviving they shall not be counted Children but Bastards illegitimate in the Court of Heaven This Commination of being childless as applied ad hominem fell heavy on King Henry the eighth who sensible that his Queen though happy often to conceive was unhappy almost as often to miscarry Henry his onely Christian son by her died before a full year old a second was nameless as never living to the honour of Baptism and of many blasted in the bud Mary onely survived to womans estate 11. Such as inquire into the nature of this Law finde it founded in Nature it self This proved to be a Law of Nature being onely declaratory of what true reason doth dictate to man God in making this Law did not imprint a new writing in mens hearts but onely rub off some old rust from the same wherefore it is added Levit. 18. 27 28. For all these abominations have the men of the Land done which were before you and the Land is defiled that the Land spue not you out also when ye defile it as it spued out the Nations that were before you Surely the Land would never have vomited out the Heathen for not observing a positive precept never immediately delivered unto them which plainly shews it was imprinted in nature though partly obliterated by their corrupt customes to the contrary and their consciences in their Lucid Intervals were apprehensive thereof This would make one the more to admire that any should maintain that this Law the breach whereof made the Country to avoid her Pagan Inhabitants should be onely a Senders de schism Angli pag. 3. lex imposititia Ecclesiastica an imposed and Church-Law To hear of a Church-Law amongst the Canaanites is a strange Paradox 12. It is objected this could not be a Law of Nature The Objection to the contrary because almost at the beginning of nature men brake them by the consent and permission of the God of heaven For Cain and Seth with the elder sons of Adam must be allowed to have married their own sisters far nearer in nature then their Brothers Wife 13. It is answered Answered when God first created man-kinde it was his pleasure all men should derive their original from Eve as she from Adam For had he made as one may say two distinct houses of Man-kinde what falling out and fighting what bickering and battleing would have been betwixt them If men now adayes descended from the loyns of one general Father and womb of one mother are full of so fierce hatred how many and keen may their differences be presumed had they sprung from several Fountains and then all their hatred would have been charged not on their corruption but on their Creation God therefore as the Apostle saith Acts 17. 26. hath made of one bloud all nations Now in the beginning of Mankinde absolute necessity gave Brethren liberty to marry their own sisters Yea God himself interpretatively signed and sealed the same with his own consent because his wisdom had appointed no other means without miracle for the propagation of man-kinde Anno Regis Hen. 8. 82. But when men began to be multiplied on the earth Anno Dom. 1530 that necessity being removed the light of Nature dictated unto them the unlawfulness of such marriages and of some others more remote as coming within the compss of Incest though the corrupt practises of Pagans sometimes trespassed in that kinde God therefore being to give his Law to the Jews cleared and declared that light of Nature by his positive Law unto his people to whom his Goodness gave a Garden and sorbad a Tree so inconsiderable were those few prohibited to the many persons permitted them in marriage For whereas there came out of a Exâ—d 12. 37. Egypt and six hundred thousand men besides children fifty persons at the most counting those forbidden as well by consequence as expresly were interdicted unto them amongst whom one was the Marriage with a Brothers Wife For although God Permitted this by a judicial Law ro his own people in case of b Deut. â—5 5. raising up seed to a Brother deceased childless the Will of God being the Law of Laws yet otherwise it was utterly unlawful as whereon God had stamped as is aforesaid a double Note of natural uncleanness 14. The Law then of forbidding marriage with a Brothers Wife Gods Laws indispensable with by the Pope being founded in nature it was pride and presumption in the Pope to pretend to dispense therewith Indeed we read that the dispensation of the Gospel to see it dealt and distributed to several persons was committed to c 1 Cor. 9. â—â— S t Paul whose joynt successour with S t Peter the Pope pretends to be but a Dispensation from the Law of God to free men from the same neither Paul nor Peter ever pretended unto Let the Pope make relaxations of such Church Canons which meerly Ecclesiastical Authority hath made there he may have the specious power to remit the rigour thereof at some times places and persons as he apprehendeth just occasion But let him not meddle to grant liberty for the breach of Gods Law The first Dispensation in this kinde is what Satan in the Serpent gave our first Parents in Paradice d Gen. 3. 4. you shall not surely dye and whether the Granter had less power therein or the receivers less profit therby we their woful posterity have little comfort to decide 15. Nor doth it any thing alter the case Carnal knowled not material in this controversie what was so much controverted in the Court of Rome whether or no Prince Arthur had carnal knowledge of his Wife seeing we may observe that in the Court of Heaven Marriages bear date not from their Copulation but solemn Contact And they thenceforward are esteemed Man and Wife before God For it is e Deut. 22. 24. provided that if a Damsel be betrothed to Husband still remaining a Virgin and shall be layen with by another man both of
though perchance wisely for the State not warily for himself Indeed it is impossible for such Officers managing not onely multitudes but multiplicity of matters but that in some things they must mistake As in c Prov. 10. 19. many words there wanteth not iniquity so in the Actours of many affairs faults are soon found out He was also accused to set at liberty certain persons not capable of it for granting Licenses and Commissions destructive to the King's authority for being guilty of Heresie himself and favouring it in others Trayterous speeches were also charged upon him spoken two years before in the Church of S. Peter's in the Poor in Broad street the avouchers thereof pretending that as hitherto they had concealed them for love of themselves fearing Cromwel's greatnesse so now for the love of the King they revealed the same Indeed on the first manifesting of the King's displeasure against him the foes of Cromwel had all their mouthes open and his friends their mouthes shut up 24. The mention of S. Peter's in Broad-street An injurious Act to many poor people charged on the Lord Cromwell mindeth me of a passage not unworthy to be recited of an injury offered by this Lord Cromwell to many poor men in the same Parish And because every one is best able to tell his own tale take it in the words of John d Survey of London p. 187. Stow being himself deeply concerned therein The Lord Cromwell having finished his house in Throgmorton-street in London and having some reasonable plot of ground left for a garden caused the pales of the gardens adjoyning to the North part thereof on a sudden to be taken down two and twenty foot to be measured forth-right into the North of every man's ground a line there to be drawn a trench to be cast a foundation laid and an high brick-wall to be builded My father had a garden there and there was an house standing close to his South-pale this house they loosed from the ground and bare upon rowlers into my father's garden two and twenty foot ere my father heard thereof no warning was given him nor other answer when he spake to the Surveyors of that work but that their Master Sir Thomas commanded them so to doe no man durst goe to argue the matter but each man lost his land and my father paid his whole rent which was six sâ—illings eight pence the year for that half which was left Thus much of mine own knowledge have I thought good to note that the sudden rising of some men causeth them to forget themselves I am moved the rather to believe our Authour herein because elsewhere he alloweth this Lord his deserved praise for his virtues and especially his Hospitality affirming e Survey of London p. 74. he had often seen at the Lord Cromwell's gate above two hundred persons served twice every day with meat and drink sufficient Nor can I see what may be said in excuse of this oppression except any will plead that Abimelech's servants violently f Gen. 21. 26. took away the wells from Abraham and yet Abimelech himself never knew more or lesse thereof 25. As for the passionate expressions of Cromwell The worst passionate Speech objected against him a g Sir I. Strode of Parubam in Dorcet-shire Knight aged well-nigh eighty whose Mother was Daughter to the Lord Cromwell's Son hath informed me That the principall passage whereon the Lord's enemies most insisted was this It being told the L. Cromwell that one accused him for want of fidelity to the King Cromwell returned in passion Were he here now I would strike my dagger into his heart meaning into the heart of the false Accuser and therein guilty of want of charity to his fellow-subject not of loyaltie to his Sovereign But seeing the words were a measuring cast as uttered though not as intended to whom they should relate the pick-thank Repeater avowed them uttered against the King Himself So dangerous are dubious words and ambiguous expressions when prevalent power is to construe and interpret the meaning thereof 26. Ten daies after his Arrest His Speech on be scaffold he was attainted of high Treason in Parliament and brought on the Scaffold the next week to execution Here he spake the following words unto the people which the Reader is requested the more seriously to peruse July 19. that thereby he may be enabled to passe if concerned therein his verdict in what Religion this Lord died I Am come hither to die 29. and not to purge my selfe as some think peradventure that I will For if I should so doe I were a very wretch and miser I am by the law condemned to die and thank my Lord God that hath appointed me this death for mine offence For since the time that I have had years of discretion I have lived a sinner and offended my Lord God for the which I aske him heartily forgivenesse And it is not unknown to many of you that I have been a great traveller in this world and being but of base degree I was called to high estate and since the time I came thereunto I have offended my Prince for the which I aske Him heartily forgivenesse and beseech you all to pray to God with me that he will forgive me And now I pray you that be here to bear me record I die in the Catholick Faith not doubting in any Article of my faith no nor doubting in any Sacrament of the Church Many have slandered me and reported that I have been a bearer of such as have maintained evil opinions which is untrue But I confesse that like as God by his Holy Spirit doth instruct us in the truth so the Devil is ready to seduce us and I have been seduced but bear me witnesse that I die in the Catholick Faith of the Holy Church And I heartily desire you to pray for the King's Grace that He may long live with you in health and prosperity and that after Him His son Prince Edward that goodly impe may long reign over you And once again I desire you to pray for me that so long as life remaineth in this flesh I waver nothing in my faith And so making his Prayer c. The generall terms wherein this his Speech is couched hath given occasion for wise men to give contrary censures thereof Fox in his Marginall Note on this Speech pag. 515. A true Christian Confession of the Lord Cromwell at his death Lord Herbert in the Index of his History under C. Cromwell died a Roman-Catholick notwithstanding he had been such a destroyer of the Church True it is so warie were Cromwell's expressions that Luther and Bellarmine might in their own persons have said the same without any prejudice to their own principles and many conceive that the most which these his words amount to will but make him an six-Articles Protestant 27. But let Cromwell's politick Speech be in part expounded by
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
Monks therein were it so their soyl being so fruitfull and pleasant it would merit more wonder than that Ireland hath no Venemous creatures therein Quare what meant by four Abbots peculiarly exempt But their brag hath more of Mirth than Truth in it seeing the Priorie at Caris-brook and Nunnery at Quarre evidence them sufficiently stockt with such Cattell 17. I have done with this subject of Mitred Abbeys when we have observed that they were called ABBOTS GENERALL aliàs ABBOTS n Sir H. Spelman in Glossario verbo Abbas SOVEREIGNE as acknowledging in a sort no Superiour because exempted from the Jurisdiction of any Diocezan having Episcopall power in themselves And here I would be thankfull to any who would inform me that seeing all these Abbots were thus priviledged how it came to passe that Four of them were especially termed ABBOTS o Titles of honour pag. 727. EXEMPTI viz Bury Waltham S. Albans and Evesham I say seeing these were so called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 EXEMPT as it were out of the EXEMPTED I would willingly be satisfied what extraordinary Priviledges these enjoyed by themselves above others of their own Order Of the Civill benefits and Temporall conveniences accruing to the State by the continuance of Abbies SO much of the greatnesse Give Abbies their due somewhat of the goodnesse of Abbeys if possibly it may be done without prejudice to truth Surely some pretences plausible at least did ingratiate them with the Politicians of that Age otherwise Prince and people in those daies though blinded with ignorant zeal yet worldly-wise would never have been gulled into so long a toleration yea veneration of them 2. They were an easie and cheap outlet for the Nobility and Gentry of the land They convenient to dispose youngest children in therein to dispose their younger children That younger son who had not mettal enough to manage a sword might have meeknesse to become a coule Which coule in short time might grow up to be a Mitre when his merits presented him to be Abbot of his Covent Clap a vail on the head of a younger daughter especially if she were superannuated not over-handsome melancholy c. and instantly she was provided for in a Nunnery where without cost or care of her parents she lived in all outward happinesse wanting nothing except perhaps it were an husband This was a great cause of the long continuance of the English Nobility in such pomp and power as having then no temptation to torture their Tenants with racking of rents to make provision for their younger children Indeed sometimes Noblemen gave small portions with their children to the Covent not such as would preferre them in marriage to one of their own quality but generally Abbeys were glad to accept them with nothing thereby to engage the Parents and Brothers of such young men and maidens to be the constant friends to their Covent on all occasion at Court and chiefly in all Parliaments 3. One eminent instance hereof we have in Ralph Nevil An eminent instance thereof first Earl of Westmerland of that Family whom I behold as the happiest Subject of England since the Conquest if either we count the number of his Children or measure the height of the Honour they attained He had by Margaret his first Wife Joan his second Wife 1. John his eldest son Lord Nevil c. 2. Ralph in the right of Mary his wife Lord Ferrars of Ously 3. Maud married to Peter Lord Mauley 4. Alice married to Sir Thomas Gray 5. Philip married to Thomas Lord Dacres of Gilsland 6. Margaret married to the Lord Scroop of Bolton 7. Anne married to Sir Gilbert Umfrevil 8. Margerie Abbesse of Bearking 9. Elizabeth a Nun. 1. Richard Earl of Sarisbury 2. William in the right of Joan his wife Lord Faulconbridge 3. George Lord Latimer 4. Edward Lord Abergavennie 5. Robert Bishop of Durham 6. Thomas in right of his wife Lord a Mills p. 393. Seymour 7. Katharine married to Thomas Duke of Norfolke 8. Elianour to Henry Earl of Northhumberland 9. Anne to Humphrey Duke of Buckingham 10. Jane a Nun. 11. Cicilie to Richard Duke of York and Mother to King Edward the fourth See we here the policie of that age in disposing of their numerous issue More than the tithe of them was given to the Church and I trow the Nuns and Abbesse especially were as good Madams as the rest and conceived themselves to go in equipage with their other Lady-Sisters And no wonder if an Earl preferred his daughters to be Nuns seeing no King of England since the Conquest had four Daughters living to womans estate but He disposed one of them to be a Votarie And Bridget the fourth Daughter to King Edward the fourth a Nun at Dartford in Kent was the last Princesse who entered into a Religious Order 4. They were tolerable Tutours for the education of youth there being a great penurie of other Grammar-schools in that Age and every Covent had one Children taught therein or moe therein who generally gratis taught the children thereabouts Yea they who were loose enough in their own lives were sufficiently severe in their discipline over others Grammar was here taught and Musick which in some sort sung her own Dirige as to the generall use thereof at the dissolution of Abbies 5. Nunneries also were good Shee-schools Conveniency of Shee-Colledges wherein the Girles and Maids of the Neighbourhood were taught to read and work and sometimes a little Latine was taught them therein Yea give me leave to say if such Feminine Foundations had still continued provided no vow were obtruded upon them virginity is least kept where it is most constrained haply the weaker sex besides the avoiding modern inconveniences might be heightned to an higher perfection than hitherto hath been attained That sharpnesse of their wits and suddenness of their conceits which their enemies must allow unto them might by education be improved into a judicious solidity and that adorned with Arts which now they want not because they cannot learn but are not taught them I say if such Feminine Foundations were extant now of dayes haply some Virgins of highest birth would be glad of such places and I am sure their Fathers and elder Brothers would not be sorry for the same 6. They were the sole Historians Monks the sole Historians and why in writing to preserve the remarkable passages of Church and Common-wealth I confesse I had rather any than Monks had written the Histories of our Land yet rather than the same should be unwritten I am heartily glad the Monks undertook the performance thereof Indeed in all their Chronicles one may feel a rag of a Monks coule I mean they are partial to their own interest But in that Age there was a choicelesse choice that Monks or none at all should write our English Histories Sword-men lacked learning States-men leasure to doe it it was therefore devolved to Monks and Friers who
cruell to cast off were sent by their Masters to such Abbeys where they had plentifull food during their lives Now though some of those Corrodies where the property was altered into a set summe of money was solvable out of the Exchequer after the dissolution of Abbeys yet such which continued in kinde was totally extinct and no such Diet hereafter given where both Table and House were overturned The Premisses proved by instance in the Family of the Berkeleys THe Noble Family of the Berkeleys may well give an Abbots Mitre for the Crest of their Armes because so loving their Nation and building them so many Synagogues Hence it was that partly in right of their Auncestors partly by their Matches with the Co-heirs of the Lord Mowbray and Seagrave in the Vacancies they had a right of Nomination of an Abbot in following Foundations Place Founder Order Value 1. St. Augustines in Bristoll 2. Burton Laus in Leicester shire 3. Byland or Bella-Launda in York sh 4. Chancomb in Northhampton shire 5. Combe in Warwick shire 6. Croxton in Leicester shire 7. Edworth in the Isle of Axholme in Lincoln-shire 8. Fountains 9. Kirkby in Leicestershire 10. Newburge in Yorkshire 1. Robert Fitz-Harding whose posterity assumed the name of Berkeley 2. The Lord Mowbray in the Reign of K. Henry the first 3. Robert de Mowbray Gonnora his Mother 4. Hugh de Anaf Kn t in the time of the Conq. whose Son Robert took the name of Chaâ—comb Annabisia his daughter was married to Gilbert Lord Seagrave 7. Tho Mowbray Earl of Notingham in the Reign of K. Rich. the 2. to which the Mowbrays were grand Benefactors 9. Roger de Beller who held this Manour of the Lord Mowbray 1. Black Canons of the Order of S. Victor 2. Leprous people professing the Order of S. Augustine 6. Premonstratentian Monks 7. Carthusians 9. Canons Regular of S. Augustine l. s. d. ob q. 767.15.3.0.0 458.19.11.1.1 7.290.14 178.7.10 0 1 What shall I speak of the small Houses of Longbridge and Tintern in Gloucestershire not mentioned in Speed the Hospitals of S. Katharine and Mary Maudlins neer Bristol the well endowed Schoole of Wotton Underhedge in Glocester shire besides forty Chanteries founded by the Berkeleys yea I have read in a Manuscript belonging unto them no lesse judiciously than industriously composed by Mr. John Smith who did and received many good offices to and from that Family as is mutually confessed that the forenamed Abbeys and others held of the Lord Berkeley at the dissolution no fewer than eighty Knights fees and payed services unto them accordingly all which are now lost to the value of ten thousand pounds within the compasse of few years 2. Nor will it be amisse to insert Rob. Derby last Abbot of Croxton that Robert Derby the last Abbot of Croxton was presented thereunto April 22. the 26 of King Henry the eighth by Thomas the sixt of that name Lord Berkeley the place being void by the death of one Atter cliffe belonging to his presentation by inheritance And in the Record he commandeth the Prior and Convent to receive and obey him as Abbot Ingratitude to their Founders a grand fault in many Abbeys INgratitude is the abridgement of all basenesse If unthankfull all bad a fault never found unattended with other vitiousness This is justly charged on the account of many Abbeys whose stately structures grew so proud as to forget the Rock whence they were Hewen and the Hole of the Pit whence they were digged unthankfull to such Founders who under God had bestowed their maintenance upon them 2. One instance of many Great bounty Vast was the liberality of the Lord Berkeleys to S. Austins in Bristoll leaving themselves in that their large Estate not one Rectory to which they might present a Chaplaine all the Benefices in their numerous Manours being appropriated to this and other Monasteries Now see the Requitall 3. Maurice Ill required the first of that name Lord Berkeley having occasion to make the ditch about his Castle the broader for the better fortifying thereof took in some few feet of ground out of Berkeley Church-yard which Church with the Tithes thereof his Ancestors had conferred on the aforesaid Monastery The Abbot beholding this as a great trespasse or rather as a little sacriledge so prosecuted the aforesaid Lord with Church-censures that he made him in a manner cast the dirt of the ditch in his own face inforcing him to a publick confession of his fault and to give Five shillings rent for ever with some Tithes and Pasture for as many Oxen as would till a Plow-land by the words of his Will Pro emendatione culpa meae de fossato quod feci de Coemiterio de Berkeley circa castellum meum 4. I know it will be pleaded for the Abbot that there is as much right in an inch as in an ell Summum jâ—â— that he was a Fiduciary intrusted to defend the rights of his Covent that Founders Heirs are not priviledged to doe injuries yea they of all persons most improper to take back what their Ancestors have given However the Lords incroachment on the Church-yard being in a manner done in his own defence the thing in it self so small and the merit of his Ancestors so great to that Abbey might have met with that meeknesse which should be in the brests of all Spirituall persons to abate his rigorous prosecution against him 5. Thomas the first Lord Berkeley of that name Another instance of ingratitude found little better usage from the Abbot of S. Austines though he had formerly besides confirmation of many Lands conferred on that Convent pasture for Twenty four Oxen discharging also their Lands lying within certain of his Manours from all Services and Earthly demands onely to remember him and his in their prayers yet did that Abbot and Convent implead him before the Popes Delegates for Tythes of Paunage of his Woods for Tythes of his Fishing and of his Mills The Lord removed the Suit to Common Law as challenging the sole power to regulate Modum Dicimandi And now when all was ready for a Tryall before the Judge irinerant at Gloucester it was compounded by Friends on such Terms as the Abbot in effect gained his desire 6. Indeed A cause of their â—uine so odious and obvious was the unthankfulnesse of some Convents that it is reputed by some the most meritorious Cause of their Dissolution and their doing things without and against the Will of their Founders is instanced in the * For the dissolution of Chanteries Colledges 37 of Hen. 8. cap. 4. An overwise conceit Statute as a main Motive to take them away 7. Some who pretend to a Prometheus wit fondly conceive that the Founders of Abbeys might politickly have prevented their dissolution had they inserted a provision in their Foundations That in case Abbey Lands should be alienated to other uses against or besides the Owners intents then such
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
captive by their cruelty except also they carry them about in publike triumph as here Bonner a Fox ibidem got S r. John Cheek unawares to sit in the place where godly Martyrs were condemned And although He then did nothing but sit still sigh and be silent yet shame for what He had done Sense of what others suffered and sorrow that his presence should be abused to countenance cruelty brought him quickly to a comfortable end of a miserable life Sept. 13. as carrying Gods pardon and all good mens pitty along with him 32. Since his Death History rectified in his parentage parts and posterity his Memory hath done some pennance I say not to satisfy the failings in his life being wronged in his Parnetage abused in his Parts and mistaken in his Posterity For the first a learned Pen Sr. John Hayward in the life of Edward the 6. pag. 8. but too free in dealing disgracefull characters on the subjects thereof stileth him a Man of mean Birth and generally he is made only the Son of his own Deserts Whereas M r. Peter Cheek S r. Johns Father living in Cambridge where S r. John was borne over against the Cross in the market-place and where by the advantage of his Nativity He fell from the wombe of his Mother into the lap of the Muses was descended of the family of the Cheeks of Moston in the Isle of Wight where their estate was about 300 li a yeer never increased nor diminished till sold outright some 20. yeers since out of which Richard Cheek in the raigne of King Richard the Second married a Daughter of the Lord Mountagu As for Duffield his Mother she was a discreet and grave Matrone as appeared by the good d The Mother of my aged and worthy friend Mr. Jackson of Histons was with many others present thereat counsel and christian charge She gave this her Son when comming to take his farewell of her and betake himself to Prince Edward his Tuition For his Parts the foresaid Author with the same breath termeth Him So far as appears by the books He wrote Pedantick enough that is too much to such as understand his Miosis But had He perused all his works and particularly His True Subject to the Rebel He would have bestowed a better character upon him Another Writer e One that set forth his life in Oxford Anno 1641. can finde no issue left of his body saving one Son bearing his Fathers name whereas he had three Sons by his wife as appears on her Monument in S t. Martins in the Fields 1. Henry the Eldest Secretary to the Councel in the North who one Francis Ratliffe Sister to the last Earle of Sussex of that family begat S r. Thomas Cheek of Pyrgo in Essex blessed with an happy issue John a valiant Gentle man and Edward both dying without any posterity But these things belong to Heraulds not Historians 33. The sufferings of Katherine Dutchess of Suffolk The Pilgrimage of the Dutchess of Suffolk Baroness Willowgby of Eresby late widow of Charles Brandon Duke of Suffolke since wife to Richard Berty Esq must not be forgotten A Lady of a sharpe wit and sure hand to drive her wit home and make it pierce where She Pleased This made Bp. Gardiner to hate her much for her Jests on Him but more for her earnest towards God the Sincerity of Her Religion and thereupon she was forced with her Husband and infant-Daughter to fly beyond the Seas 34. It would tire our Pen to trace their Removals True and sad Errantry from their House the Barbican in London to Lions-Key thence to Leigh thence over Seas beeing twise driven back again into Brabant thence to Santon a City of Cleveland thence to Wesel one of the Hanse-Towns thence to Windhein in the Palatinate thence to Frankford thence by many intermediate Stages into Poland Every removall ministred them matter of new Difficulties to improve their Patience new Dangers to imploy their Prayers and new Deliverances to admire Gods providence Especially in their a See it at large in Fox tome 3. pag. 928. Passage from Santon to Wesel in a cold February and a great thaw after a long frost on foot in a dark night and rainy weather thorow wayes unknown without guide to direct or company to defend them leaving certain Foes behinde and having but suspected friends before them The end of their journy was worse then their journy it self finding first at Wesel no Inn to entertain them able to speak little high-Dutch for themselves and other willing to speak in comfort to them In a word it would trouble ones Head to invent more Troubles then they had all at once and it would break ones Heart to undergo but halfe so many seeing their real sufferings out Romanced the fictions of many Errant Adventures 35. No English Subject had like fâ—rrain relations with this Lady The vanity of Relations and yet they rather afflicted then befriended Her She had been wife to Him who had been Husband to a Queen of France yet durst not go into that country By the confession of Bp. Gardiner himself She and Queen Mary were the only English Ladies of Spanish extraction and alliance yet was it unsafe for Her to stay in any part of the Spanish Dominions The Emperour owed her as Executrix to her Husband Duke Charles great sums of mony yet durst she not demand payment lest the credetrix should be made away and so the debt satisfied 36. Yet an higher Emperour God the best detter even God himself seemed in some sort indebted unto Her He that giveth to the poor lendeth to the Lord for her bounty at Home in the height of her Honour forrainers Protestants especially in distress 37. And now that good debtour Makes just payment God his providence made full payment thereof by inciting the King of Poland at the mediation of the Palatine of Vilna as He at the instance of John Baron Alasco who formerly in England had tasted of this Ladyes liberality to call this Dutchess with her Husband and family to a place in Poland of Safety Profit Credit and Command where they comfortably continued till the death of Queen Mary During these their Travels Peregrine Berty carrying his forrain nativity in his name was born unto them afterwards the valiant Lord Willowgby of Eresby To conclude let this virtuous Lady her example incourage all to be good to all Godly in distress seeing Hospes hodie crasâ— Hospes the Entertainers to day may want Entertainment to morrow 38. My Pen hath been a long Time an Exile from England Why the Parliament so silent in Church-matters and now is willing to return to its native soile Janu. 21. though finding little comfort to invite it thither and less to welcome it there Only I finde a Parliament called solely commendable on this account that it did no more mischief in Church matters Indeed
in a servants armes and set on his lap on an hillock all means affordable at that instant being used for his recovery Aug. 24. died on the place on the twenty fourth of August and is buried in the Chancell of Haunes Reverend Doctor Bulkley preaching his funerall Sermon after he had faithfully fed his flock therein for fifteen years 17. He was a constant Student Whence we derive our intelligence much troubled before his death with obstructions both of the liver and gall and is supposed by Physicians to have died of the later about the fiftieth one year of his age And now no doubt he is in the number of those * Revel 14. 4. Virgins who were not defiled with women and follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth Who alwaies led a single life as preferring a bed unfilled before a bed undefiled This my intelligence I have received by Letter from my worthy friend lately gone to God Master William Buckly Bachelour of Divinity and once Fellow of Queens Colledge in Cambridge who living hard by Haunes at Clyfton at my request diligently inquired and returned this his character from aged credible persons familiar with Master Brightman 18. This year silently slipt away in peace 1608. plenty and prosperity being ended before effectually begun as to any memorable Church-matter therein Indeed all the Reigne of King JAMES was better for one to live under than to write of consisting of a Champian of constant tranquility without any tumours of trouble to entertain posterity with 19. In the Parliament now sitting at Westminster in whose parallel Convocation nothing of consequence the most remarkable thing Enacted was An Act for Chelsey-Colledge 1609. the Act made to enable the Provosts and Fellowes of Chelsey-Colledge to dig a trench out of the river Lee to erect Engines water-works c. to convey and carry water in close-pipes under ground unto the City of London and the Suburbs thereof for the perpetuall maintenance and sustentation of the Provost and Fellows of that Colledge and their successours by the rent to be made of the said waters so conveyed Where first lighting on the mention of this Colledge we will consider it in a fourfold capacity 1. As intended and designed 2. As growing and advanced 3. As hindred Ann. Reg. Jac. 7 Ann. Dom. 1609. and obstructed 4. As decaying and almost at the present ruined I shall crave the Reader pardon if herein I make excursions into many years but without discomposing of our Chronologie on the margin because it is my desire though the Colledge be left imperfect to finish and complete my description thereof so farre as my best intelligence will extend being herein beholding to Doctor Samuel Wilkinson the fourth and present Provost of that Colledge courteously communicating unto me the considerable Records thereof 20. It was intended for a Spirituall Garrison The glory of the designe with a Magazine of all Books for that purpose where learned Divines should study and write in maintenance of all Controversies against the Papists Indeed the Romanists herein may rise up and condemn those of the Protestant Confession For as a 2 Chron. 8. 9. Solomon used not his military men for any servile work in building the Temple whereof the Text assigneth this reason For they were men of warre so the Romish Church doth not burden their Professours with preaching or any parochiall incumbrances but reserves them onely for Polemical studies Whereas in England the same man reads preacheth catechizeth disputes delivers Sacraments c. So that were it not for Gods marvellous blessing on our studies and the infinite odds of truth on our side it were impossible in humane probability that we should hold up the bucklers against them Besides the study of Divinity at the least two able Historians were to be maintained in this Colledge faithfully and learnedly to record and publish to posterity all memorable passages in Church and Common-wealth 21. In pursuance of this designe K. James His Mortmain and personal benefaction His Majesty incorporated the said foundation by the name of King JAMES his Colledge in Chelsey and bestowed on the same by his Letters Patents the reversion of good land in Chelsey then in possession of Charles Earl of Nottingham the Lease thereof not expiring till about thirty years hence and also gave it a capacity to receive of His loving Subjects any lands not exceeding in the whole the yearly value of three thousand pounds 22. Next King JAMES Dr. Sutcliffe his bounty let me place Doctor Matthew Sutcliffe Dean of Exeter who though no Prince by birth seems little lesse by his bounty to this Colledge As Araunah but a private Subject gave things b 2 Sam. 24. 23. as a King to Gods service such the royall liberality of this Doctor bestowing on this Colledge The Farms of 1. Kingstone 2. Hazzard 3. Appleton 4. Kramerland in the Parish of 1. Staverton 2. Harberton 3. Churchton 4. Stoke-rivers All in the County of Devoâ— and put together richly worth three hundred pounds per annum Besides these by his Will dated November 1. 1628. he bequeathed unto Doctor John Prideaux and Doctor Clifford as Feoffees in trust to settle the same on the Colledge the benefit of the Extent on a Statute of four thousand pounds acknowledged by Sir Lewis Steuklie c. A bountifull benefaction and the greater because the said Doctour had a Daughter and she Children of her own And although this endowment would scarce make the Pot c 2 Kings 4. 38 39. of pottage seethe for the sons of the Prophets yet what feasts would it have made in his private family if continued therein Seeing therefore so publick a minde in so private a man the more the pity that this good Doctour was deserted Uriah d 2 Saâ— 11. 15. like ingaged in the forefront to fight alone against an army of difficulties which he encountred in this designe whilest such men basely retired from him which should have seasonably succoured and seconded him in this action 23. The fabrick of this Colledge was begun on a piece of ground called Thameshot The Structure containing about six acres and then in possession of Charles Earl of Nottingham who granted a Lease of his terme therein to the said Provost at the yearly rent of seven pounds ten shillings King JAMES laid the first stone thereof and gave all the timber requisite thereunto which was to be fetch'd out of Windsor-Forrest And yet that long range of building which alone is extant scarce finished at this day thus made though not of free-stone of free-timber as I am informed cost oh the dearnesse of Church and Colledge-work full three thousand pound But alas what is this piece not an eighth part to a double quadrant besides wings on each side which was intended If the aged fathers which remembred the magnificence of Solomon's wept at the meannesse of the e Ezra 3. 12.
and writing I am almost pined away otherwise his fat cheeks did confute his false tongue in that expression 7. Amongst other of his ill qualities The jeerer jeered he delighted in jeering and would spare none who came in his way One of his sarcasmes he unhappily bestowed on Count Gondomar the Spanish Ambassador telling him That three turns at Tiburne was the onely way to cure his Fistula The Don highly offended hereat pained for the present more with this flout than his fistula meditates revenge and repairs to King JAMES He told His MAJESTY that His charity an errour common in good Princes abused His judgment in conceiving Spalato a true convert who still in heart remained a Roman Catholick Indeed His Majesty had a rare felicity in discovering the falsity of Witches and forgery of such who pretended themselves possessed but under favour was deluded with this mans false spirit and by His Majesties leave he would detect unto Him this his hypocrisie The KING cheerfully embraced his motion and left him to the liberty of his own undertakings 8. The Ambassadour writeth to His Catholick Majesty Spalato his hypocrisie discovered He to his Holinesse Ann. Dom. 1622. Ann. Regis Ja. 20 Gregory the fifteenth that Spalato might be pardoned and preferred in the Church of Rome which was easily obtained Letters are sent from Rome to Count Gondamar written by the Cardinal Millin to impart them to Spalato informing him that the POPE had forgiven and forgotten all which he had done or written against the Catholick Religion and upon his return would preferre him to the Bishoprick of Salerno in Naples worth twelve thousand crowns by the year A Cardinals Hat also should be bestowed upon him And if Spalato with his hand subscribed to this Letter would renounce and disclaim what formerly he had printed an Apostolical Breve with pardon should solemnly be sent him to Bruxels Spalato embraceth the motion likes the pardon well the preferment better accepts both recants his opinions largely subscribes solemnly and thanks his Holinesse affectionately for his favour Gondamar carries his subscription to King JAMES who is glad to behold the Hypocrite unmasked appearing in his own colours yet the discovery was concealed and lay dormant some daies in the deck which was in due time to be awakened 9. Now it happened a false rumour was spread He is incensed â—â—th a repulse that Tobâ—e Matthew Archbishop of Yorke who died yearly in report was certainly deceased Presently posts Spalato to Theobalds becomes an importunate Petitioner to the KING for the vacant Archbishoprick and is as flatly denied the KING conceiving He had given enough already to him if gratefull too much if ungratefull Besides the KING would never bestow an Episcopal charge in England on a forraigner no not on His own Countrey-men some Scotish-men being preferred to Deanries none to Bishopricks Spalato offended at this repulse for he had rather had Yorke than Salerno as equal in wealth higher in dignity neerer in place requests His MAJESTY by his Letter to grant His good leave to depart the Kingdome and to return into Italy Pope Paul his fierce foe being now dead and Gregory the fifteenth his fast friend now seated in the Chair The Copie of whose Letter we have here inserted To the high and mighty Prince JAMES by the Grace of God King of Great Britaine c. Defender of the Faith c. M. Anthonie de Dominis Archbishop of Spalato wisheth all happinesse THose two Popes which were most displeased at my leaving of Italy and coming into England Paulus Quintus and he which now liveth Gregory the Fifteenth have both laboured to call me back from hence and used divers Messages for that purpose to which notwithstanding I gave no heed But now of late when this same Pope being certified of my Zeal in advancing and furthering the union of all Christian Churches did hereupon take new care and endevour to invite me again unto him and signified withall that he did seek nothing therein but Gods glory and to use my poor help also to work the inward peace and tranquillity of this Your Majesties Kingdome Mine own conscience told me that it behoved me to give ready eare unto his Holiness Besides all this the diseases and inconveniences of old age growing upon me and the sharpness of the cold aire of this Countrey and the great want I feel here amongst strangers of some friends and kinsfolks which might take more dâ—ligent and exact care of me make my longer stay in this Climate very offensive to my body Having therefore made an end of my Works and enjoyed Your Majesties goodness in bestowing on me all things needfull and fit for me and in heaping so many and so Royal benefits upon me I can doe no lesse than promise perpetual memory and thankfulness and tender to You my continuance in Your Majesties service wheresoever I goe and will become in all places a reporter and extoller of Your Majesties praises Ann. Reg. Ja. 19 Now if my business proceed Ann. Dom. 1621 and be brought to a good end I well hope that I shall obtain Your Majesties good leave to depart without the least diminution of Your Majesties wonted favour towards me I hear of Your Majesties late great danger and congratulate with Your Majesty for Your singular deliverance from it by Gods great goodness who hath preserved You safe from it as one most dear unto him for the great good of his Church I hope Jan. 16. From the Savoy Jan. the 16. 1621. Farewell the glory and ornament of Princes Your Majesties ever most devoted Servant Ant. de Dominis Archbishop of Spalato To this Letter no present Answer was returned 21. but five daies after the Bishops of London and Duresme with the Dean of Westminster by His MAJESTIES direction repaired to this Archbishop propounding unto him Sixteen Quaeres all arising out of his former Letter 31. and requiring him to give the explanation of five most material under his hand for His MAJESTIES greater satisfaction which he did accordingly yet not so clearly but that it occasioned a second meeting wherein more interrogatories were by command propounded unto him which with his Answers thereunto because publickly printed are purposely omitted and notwithstanding all obstructions Spalato still continued his importunity to depart 10. He pretended many Reasons for his return Reasons pleaded for his return First Longing after his own Countrey Who so iron-hearted as not to be drawn home with the load-stone of his native Land Secondly To see his Friends Kinred Nephews but especially his beloved Neice a story hangs thereon and it is strange what was but whispered in Italy was heard over so plain into England In the Hebrew Tongue Nephews and Nieces are called Sons and Daughters but the Italian Clergie on the contrary often term their Sons and Daughters Nephews and Nieces Thirdly The late-pretended-discovery of many errors in our English Church how
Thirdly because in fine it proved nothing though kept on foot so long till K. James by endeavouring to gain a Daughter-in Law had in effect lost His own Daughter Her Husband and Children being reduced to great extremities 7. Truly K. James never affected his Son in Law 's acceptance of the Bobemian Crown A Crown not joyed in nor promised Himself any good successe thence though great the hope of the German Protestants therein Indeed some of them were too credulous of a blinde Prophesie commonly currant amongst them POST TER VIGINTI CESSABIT GLORIA QUINTI Expecting the ending of the Austrian Family sixty years being now expired since the death of Charles the fift but discreet persons slighted such vanities and the Quinti had like to have proved the extirpation of Frederick fift of that name Palatine of Rhyne had not God almost miraculously lately countermanded it 8. Yea K. Iames accused by some K. James privately foretold to some principal persons that this matter would prove the ruine of his Daughter There want not some who say That he went about to virefie his own Prediction by not sending seasonable succours for their assistance who had He turned His Embassies into Armies might probably have prevented much Protestant misery 9. Others excuse K. James Defended by others partly from the just hopes He had to accommodate all interests in a peaceable way partly from the difficulty of conveying effectual forces into so farre distant a Countrey 10. Mean time both the Palatinates were lost Both the Palatinates lost the Upper seized on by the Emperour the Neather but higher in value by the King of Spaine the City of Heidelberg taken and plunder'd and the inestimable Library of Books therein carried over the Alpes on Mules backs to Rome Each Mule laded with that learned burthen had a silver-plate on his forehead wherein was engraven FERO BIBLIOTHECAM PRINCIPIS PALATINI Now those Books are placed in the Popes Vatican entituling Protestants to visit the place who one day may have as good successe as now they have just right to recover them 11. As for the Palatinate Land of Promise Now Land of Performance Satyricall tongues commonly called it the Land of Promise so frequently and so solemnly was the restitution thereof promised to King James fed only with delayes which amounted to mannerly denials Since it hath pleased God to turn this Land of Promise into a * The nether Palatinate Land of Performance the present Palatine being peaceably possessed thereof 12. Prince Charles Prince Charles goes to Spain with the Duke of Buckingham lately went privately through France where He saw the Lady whom afterwards He married into Spain It is questionable whether then more blamed K. James for sending him or afterwards blessed God for his safe return Sumptuous his entertainment in the Spanish Court where it was not the Kings fault but Kingdomes defect that any thing was wanting He quickly discovered the coursness of fine-pretending wares at distance are easily confuted neer hand that the Spanish State had no minde or meaning of a Match as who demanded such unreasonable Liberty in education of the Royall Off-spring in case any were born betwixt them and other Priviledges for English Papists that the King neither could nor would in honour or conscience consent thereunto However Prince Charles whose person was in their power took his fair farewell with courteous compliance 12. Though He entred Spain like a private person His return * Sept. 12. He departed it like Himself and the Son of his Father * The Reader is requested to pardon our short setting back of time a stately Fleet attending Him home Foul weather forced them to put in at the Isse of Syllie the parings of England South-west of Cornwall where in two daies they fed on more and better flesh than they found in Spain for many moneths Octob. 5. 6. Soon after He arrived at Portesmouth and the next day came to London to the great rejoicing of all sorts of people signified by their bonefires ringing of bells with other externall expressions of joy 13. King James now despaired of any restitution The Palatinate beheld desperate especially since the Duke of Bavaria was invested in the upper Palatinate and so His Son-in-Laws Land cantoned betwixt a Duke a King and an Emperour Whose joynt consent being requisite to the restoring thereof One would be sure to dissent from the seeming-consenting of other two Whereupon King James not onely broke off all treaty with Spaine but also called the great Councill of his Kingdome together 14. Indeed An happy Parliament the Malecontents in England used to say That the King took Physick and called Parliaments both alike using both for meer need and not caring for either how little time they lasted But now there hapned as sweet a compliance betwixt the King and his Subjects as ever happen'd in mans memory the King not asking more than what was granted Both Houses in the Name of the whole Kingdome promising their assistance with their lives and fortunes for the recovery of the Palatinate A smart Petition was presented against the Papists and order promised for the education of their Children in true Religion 15. As for the Convocation contemporary with this Parliament The Convocation large Subsidies were granted by the Clergie otherwise no great matter of moment passed therein I am informed Doctor Joseph Hall preached the Latine Sermon and Doctor Donne was the Prolocutor 16. This is that Doctor Donne Doctor Donne Prolocutor born in London but extracted from Wales by his Mother-side great-great Grandchilde to Sir Thomas More whom he much resembled in his endowments a great Traveller first Secretary to the Lord Egerton and after by the perswasion of K. James and encouragement of Bishop Morton entred into Orders made Doctor of Divinity of Trinity Colledge in Cambridge and Dean of S. Pauls whose Life is no lesse truly than elegantly written by my worthily respected friend Mr. Isaac Walton whence the Reader may store himself with further information 17. A Book was translated out of the French Copie A Book falsly fathered on I. Casaubon by Abraham Darcye intituled The Originall of Idolatry pretended made by Dr. Isaac Casaubon dead ten years before dedicated to Prince Charles but presented to King James and all the Lords of the Councill A Book printed in French before the said Isaac Casaubon was born whose name was fraudulently inserted in the Title-page of the foregoing Copie 18. Merick Casaubon his Son then Student of Christs-Church The falshood detected by Letter informed King James of the wrong done to his Father by making him the Authour of such a Book contrary to his Genius and constant profession being full of impertinent allegations out of obscure and late Authors whom his Father never thought worthy the reading much lesse the using their Authority His Majestie was much incensed hereaâ— and Doctor
make the said Marquess Earl of Cambridge before John Earl of Hanault was graced with the Title All agree that both were Earls thereof and the transposition of them is no whit materiall to our History of the University 53. Mary de Saint Paul daughter to Guido Castillion Earle of Saint Paul in France 18 third wife to Audomare de Valentia Earle of Pembroke 1343 maide wife Mary de S P. founds Pembrook Hall and widow all in a day her husband being unhappily stain at a tilting at her nuptials sequestred herself on that sad accident from all worldly delights bequeathed her soul to God and her estate to pious uses amongst which this a principall that she founded in Cambridge the Colledge of Mary de Valentia commonly called Pembroke Hall She survived the death of her husband forty two yeares and died full of dayes and good deeds A hall afterwards much augmented by the benefaction of others Masters Benefactors Bishops Learned Writers Coll. Livings 1. Tho. de Bingham 2 Robert de Thorp 3 Rich de Morris 4 John Tinmew 5 John Sudbury 6 John Langton 7 Hugh Dainlet 8 Laurence Booth 9 Tho. Rotheram 10 George Fitzbugh 11 Roger Leyburne 12 Rich. Fox 13 Robert Shirton 14 Rob. Swinburne 15 George Folburie 16 Nich. Ridley 17 John Young 18 Edmond Grindall 19 Matth. Hutton 20 John Whitgift 21 John Young 22 Wil. Fulk 23 Lanc. Andrews 24 Sam. Harsenet 25 Nich. Felton 26 Jerom Beale 27 Benjamin Laney 28 Rich. Vines 29 Sidrach Simson 1 Henry the sixth 2 Edward Story 3 Gerhard Shipwith 4 Nicholas 5 Dr. Atkinson 6 William Hussy Knight 7 Charles Booth 8 Roger Strange Knight 9 Dr. Wats 10 Wil. Marshall 11 Will. Smart 12 Alice 13 Jane Cox Widow 14 John Langton 15 Laur. Booth 16 Thomas Scot alià s Rotheram 17 Rich. Fox 18 Dr. Shorton 19 Edmond Grindall 20 John Whitgift 21 Will. Fulk 22 Lancelot Andrews 1 Will. Bottlesham Rot. 2 Will. Linwoode S. Da. 3 John Langton St. Da. 4 Laur. * Charles Booth Bishop of Hereford ought to be inserted in this Catalogue bred in Benefactor to this Hall Booth York 5 Tho Rotheram York 6 Edward Story Cich 7 Tho. Langton Wint. 8 Rich. Foxe Wint. 9 Will. Smith Linc. 10 Rog. Layburne Car. 11 Nich. Ridley Lon. 12 John Christopherson Chichester 13 Edmond Grindall Cant. 14 John Young Rot. 15 Matth. Hutton York 16 John Whitgift Cant. 17 Tho. Dove Peterb 18 Joh. Bridges Oxford 19 Lancelot Andrews Winton 20 Sam. Harsenet York 21 Theophilus Field St. Dav. 22 Nich. Felton Ely 23 Matth. Wren Ely 14 Rog. Dod 25 Randolph Barlow Bishops in Ireland 1 Wil. Linwoode famous for his writing the Provincial constitutions of Canterbury 2 John Somerset Dr. of Physick to King Henry the sixth 3 John * See more of him hereafter viz an 1525. Thix stille whose 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 carried it in â—y Schools 4 John Rogers the first 5 Nicholas Ridley the most learned 6 John Bradford the hardiest Martyr under Queen Mary 7 Will. Fulke who so learnedly confuted the Rhemish Testament Not to repeat these many worthy Bishops besides many other Writers since unknown unto me 8 Edmund Spencer prime of English Poets Tilney Vic. in Norv Dioc. valued at 30 l. Soham Vic. in Norv Dioc. valued 32 l. 16 s. Overton R. in Linc. Dioc. valued Saxthorp Vic. in Norv Dioc. valued 4 l. 13 s. 4 d. Rawreth R. in Lond. Dioc. valued 20 l. 13 s. 4 d. Waresley Vic. in Linc. Dioc Wherein there is at this present a Master nineteen Fellows one Tanquam thirty three Scholars of the house besides officers and servants of the foundation with other Students the whole number being 100. 54. The aforesaid Mary de Valentia founded also Denny Abbey nigh Cambridge And Denny Abbey richly endowed and filled it with Nuns whom she removed from Water-Beach She enjoyed also her Fellows of Pembrook Hall to visit those Nuns and give them ghostly counsel on just occasion who may be presumed having not only a fair invitation but full injunction that they were not wanting both in their courteous and conscientious addresses unto them 54. Amongst the ancient plate of this Hall Two remarkeable peeces of Plate two peeces are most remarkable Anno Dom. 1343 one silver and gilt Anno Regis Edw. 3. 18 of the Foundresses produced on Festivals who being of French extraction was much devoted to their tutelar Saint witness this inscription as I remember it Saint Dionyse is my deer Wherefore be merry and make good cheer The other very like the former weighing 67 ounces the gift of Thomas Langton Bishop of Winton with this insculption Thomas Langton Winton Episcopus Aulae Pembrochianae olim socius dedit hanctassiam coopertam eidem Aulae 1497. Qui alienaret Anathema sit 55. King Henry the sixth was so great a favorer of this House An invidious Elogie of this Hall that it was termed his adopted Daughter Kings Coll. onely being accounted his naturall sonne and great were his benefactions bestowed thereon But above all we take notice of that passage in his Charter granting repeated in another of King Edwards confirming lands to this House Notabile insigne quà m pretiosum Collegium quod inter omniae loca Universitatis prout certitudinaliter informamur mirabiliter splendit sempter resplenduit Now although it is frequent for inferiors to flatter their superiors it is seldome seen that Subjects are praised by their Soveraigns without due cause as this doth appear true to such who seriously peruse our foregoing Catalogue And though the commendation in the Kings Charter be confined to Cambridge yet may it be extended to any Colledge in Christendom of the same proportion for Students therein I say as the * 2 Cor. 8. 14. Apostle in another kinde that there may be an equality let Prembroke Hall be compared with any foundation in Europe not exceeding it in bigness time and number of Members and it will acquit it self not conquered in all learned and liberal capacities 56. Amongst the Masters of this Hall Rob. Thorp Lord Chancellor Robert de Thorp the second in number was in the thirtieth year of King * Spelman Glos pag. 417. Edward the third Lord chief Justice of the Common-Pleas which place he held thirteen years till 1371 when he was made Lord Chancellor of England His Executors anno 1375 gave fourty marks apiece to every Colledge in Cambridge then eight in number out of his own estate who in his life time began the publique-Schools as we shall shew hereafter 57. Amidst the Benefactors A Greek and gratefull Scholar Thomas Watts Doctor of Divinity and Archdeacon of Middlesex gave certain Farmes in Ashwell and Sauston for the maintenance of 7 Scholars by the name of Greek-Scholars Lancelot Andrews was one of his foundation Who at this day is neither indebted to this House in general to which he gave besides plate three hundred folio-books c. one thousand
a J. Scot his â—ables Author hath affirmed But finding no such place in that b See Speeds maps in the Catalogues of both Countâ—â— County a Wakerly nigh Stanford in Northamptonshire blame me not if willing to restore my native shire to its right and the honor of his nativity This Richard being the last foundation-Fellow and third Provost of Kings-Colledge purchased four Tenements in Millstreet over against the late Carmelites then newly Queens-Colledge and founded an Hall thereon for one Master and three Fellowes dedicating it to St. Katherine the Virgin and Martyr since augmented by the bounty of others 41. This may be termed Aula Bella Properly a prety Hall if not a proper a pretty Hall even by the confession of the Poet so critical in the word Sed qui bellus homo Cotta c Martial lib. 1. Epigra 10 pusillus homo What thing is in it self but small d in his list of Edward the fift folio 62. That Cotta we doe pretty call And the beholding of this House mindeth me of what Sir Thomas More wrteth of a She favourite of King Edward the fourth as to this particular conformity betwixt them otherwise far be it from me to resemble this Virgin Hall to a wanton Woman namely that there was nothing in her Body one could have changed except one would have wished her somewhat higher Lowness of endowment and littlensse of Receit is all can be cavilled at in this foundation otherwise proportionably most compleat in chappell cloisters library Hal c. Indeed this House was long Town-bound which hindered the growth thereof til Dr. Goslin that good Physitian cured it of that disease by giving the Bull-Inn thereunto so that since it hath flourished with buildings and Students lately more numerous than in greater Colledges Masters Benefactors Bishops Learn Writers Col. Livings 1 Robert Roch. 2 John Tarton 3 John Wardoll 4 Rich. Barleston 5 Thomas Green 6 Rain Bainbrig 7 Edwin Sands 8 Edm. Cosin 9 John May. 10 Edm. Hound 11 John Overal 12 John Hills 13 Richard Sibs 14 Ralph Brounrig 15 Willam Spurstow 16 John Lightfoot 1 Isabel Canterbury Sister to the founder 2 William Tayler 3 Katherine Mils 4 Robert Simpton 5 Hugh PembertoÌ„ 6 John Chester 7 Thomas Green 8 The Lady Elizabeth Bernardiston 9 John Leach 10 Rich. Nealson 11 Rob. Shorton 12 D. Thimblebie 13 Dr. Middleton 14 Hugh Garret 15 Rosamond Paster 16 John Colmlex 17. John Duke 18 John Claypoole 19 John Gostlin Knight 20 Thomas Buck. Esquire Bedle. 21 Mr. Christopher Shirland 22 Mrs. Stafford 23 Mr. Tho. Hobbs 24 Mr. Peter Phesant 25 Lady Cocket 26 Mrs. Jurdain 27 Ann. Lady Bernardiston 28 William Gouge 39 Mr. Coulson 30 Mr. Skirne Esquire 31 Mr. Alured 32 Mr. Cradock 33 The worthy company of Mercers of the City of London Edwin Sands Master Archbishop of York John May Mr. Bishop of Carlile John Overal Mr. Bishop of Norwich Ralp Brounrig Mr. Bishop of Exeter Edwin Sands Archbishop of York Richard Sibs a most Pious and profound Divine Thomas Godwin Fellow an eminent Preacher John Lightfoot an excellent Linguist Coaton Rect. in the Diocess of Ely valued at 6l 12s 9d 0b So that lately in this were maintained one Master six Fellowes with all the Students above an hundred Joannes Boynton Can. Thomas Rotheram Can. Thomas Northwood Can. Richardus Badew Can. Tho. Cosine Can. Joannes Blithe The foundation of Jesus Colledge Can. Robertus Fitz-hugh Can. Richard Freyer 1476 17 Ro. Woodroof Proct. Thomas Swayne 1477 18 Gerard Borell Proct. Guil. Stockdale 1478 19 John Laycroft Proct. Robert Wellby 1479 20 Robert Luther Proct. Guil. Tompson 1480 21 Roger Bower Proct. Phil 1481 22 Morgan Thomas Hole Proct. Jo. Green 1482 Edv. 5. Rich. 3. and James Grave Proct. Jo. Smith 1483 2 and Ro. Hacumblen Proct. John Butler 1484 3 and Gilb. Geuge Proct. John Butler and Gilb. Urmsen 1485 Hen. 7. Proct. Gilb. Fitz-John 1486 2 Hen. Babington Proct. Tho. Waters 1487 3 and Guil. Birly Proct. Richard Walle 1488 4 and John Basset Proct. Tho. Medcalfe 1489 5 Roger Layburne Proct. Gual Bedman 1490 6 John Wolfe Proct. Ric. Burton 1491 7 and John Wolfe Proct. John Sickling 1492 8 and John Walle Proct. Jo. Lound 1493 9 and Ric. Huddleston Proct. Ric. Bramton 1494 10 and John Robinson Proct. John Fisher 1495 11 and Thomas Cooke Proct. Jac. Denton 1496 12 and Tho. Gogney Proct. 42. This year a new Colledge was made in Cambridge of an old Nunâ—ery sounded some three hundred years agoe Viz. anno 1133. by Malcolme of the Scots Royall-race Earle of Cambridge and Huntington and dedicated to St. Radegund This Radegund daughter to Berthram Prince of Thuringia was wife to Lotharius King of France Son to Clodoveus the great the first Christian King of that country whose sequestring herself from her husbands company about the year 560 liv'd The incontinence of Saint Radegunds Nuns and died in a small Monasterie in Poicton thereby gaining the reputation of a Saint 43. But it seems the Sisters living in Cambridge Nunnery consecrated to her honor fell as far short in chastity as she over-did therein Indeed one of them left a good memory Anno Regis Henr. 7. 12 Anno Dom. 1443 or at least hath a good Epitaph inscribed on her monument in the Chappell Moribus ornatae jacet hîc bona Berta Rosata But the rest were not so sweet and fragrant in their reputes squandring away the wealth and ornaments of their house which was no wonder for those to doe which were prodigals of their own persons Not able therefore to go away from their shame they went away with their shame and quitting their covent concealed themselves privately in their own countrey Tradition e Godwin in his catalogue of Bishops of Ely in the life John Alcock saith that of the two remaining one was with child the other but a child so that their land seemed lapsed for want of owners or rather for the owners want of honesty 44. John Maiors testimony here of But let us heare what John Maior f De gestis Scotoâ—um fol. 9. the blunt Scotch Historian saith hereof living in Cambridge some years after whilest those matters were yet fresh in most mens memories Quoddam mulierum coenobium in collegium Jesu converterunt consilio eruditissimi pariter et optimi Viri Stubis doctoris Theologi Nolebant mulieres illae includi sed scholasticorum consortium admiserunt Unde graves viros scandalizarunt quocirca eis ejectis allis Coenobiis imposit is earum loco studentes inopes positi sunt quatenus literis virtutibus incumberent folium darent in tempore suo Hanc mulierum ejectionem approbo Si enim proreligione
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
one of Scotland the other of England at the same time as they beare the Poeticall Names of two Sons of Priamus so they take to themselves much liberty of Fancy and Fiction in their severall Histories 9. Not long after Germanus marcheth against the Pagan Picts and Saxons the Aid of Germanus and Lupus was implored and employed an hundred miles off in another service against the Pagan Picts and Saxons Here we meet with the first mention of Saxons being some stragling Voluntiers of that Nation coming over to pillage here of their own accord not many yeares before they were solemnly invited hither under Horsus and Hengistus their Generalls Germanus after the Lent well spent in the Fasting of their Bodies and Feasting of their Souls for the people had b Bede 1 Book cap. 20. daily Sermons and the solemnity of Easter Festivall duly celebrated wherein he Christened Multitudes of Pagan Converts in the River Alen marched with an Army of them whil'st their Baptismall water was scarce wip'd from their Bodies against the aforesaid Enemies whom he found in the North-East of VVales Here the Pious Bishop turning Politick Enginier chose a place of Advantage being a hollow Dale surrounded with Hils near the Village called at this day by the English Mold by the British Guidcrue in Flintshire where the Field at this day retains the name of c Usher de Brit. Ecc. Primord p. 333. Mâ—es Garmen or Germans Field the more remarkable because it hath escaped as few of this Note and Nature the exact Observation of Master Camden 10. Here Germanus placed his men in Ambush A Victory gotten not by shooting but shouting with Instructions that at a Signall given they should all shout Hallelujah three times with all their might which was done accordingly The Pagans were surprized with the Suddennesse and Loudnesse of such a Sound much multiplied by the advantage of the Echo whereby their Fear brought in a false List of their Enemies Number and rather trusting their Eares then their Eyes they reckoned their Foes by the increase of the Noise rebounded unto them and then allowing two Hands for every Mouth how vast was their Army But besides the Concavity of the Vallies improving the Sound God sent a Hollownesse into the Hearts of the Pagans so that their Apprehensions added to their Eares and Cowardice often resounded the same Shout in their Breasts till beaten with the Reverberation thereof without striking a Stroak they confusedly ran away and many were drowned for speed in the River Alen lately the Christians Font now the Pagans Grave Thus a bloudlesse Victory was gotten without Sword drawn consisting of no Fight but a Fright and a Flight and that Hallelujah the Song of the d Revel 19. 1. Saints after Conquest atchieved was here the Fore-runner and Procurer of Victory So good a Grace it is to be said both before and after a Battel Gregory the Great a grave Authour in his e Chap. 36. vers 29 30. Comment upon Iob makes mention of this Victory Anno Dom. 430 occasioned on those words Can any understand the noise of his Tabarnacle 11. Germanus now twice a Conquerour S. Albans in Hartfordshire Colen Ely Osell pretend to the whole Body of Saint Alban of Pelagians and Pagans prepares for his Return after first he had caused the Tombe of S t. Alban to be opened and therein deposited the Reliques of many Saints which he brought over with him conceiving it fit as he said that their Corpses should sleep in the same Grave whose Souls rested in the same Heaven In lieu of what he left behind him Exchange is no Robbery he carried along with him some of S t. Alban's Dust wherein Spots of the Martyr's Bloud were as fair and fresh as if shed but yesterday But what most concerns S t. Alban's Monks to stickle in some report German to have carried the Body of Alban to Rome whence some hundred yeares after the Empresse to Otho the second brought it to a Surius Tomo 3. vita Sanct. Iunij 22. Colen where at this day they maintain his uncorrupted Body to be enshrined The Monks of Ely in Cambridge-shire pretending to the same as also do those of Ottonium or Osell in Denmark Thus as Metius Suffetius the Roman was drawn alive by Horses four wayes like Violence is offered to the Dead Body of Alban pluck't to four severall places by importunate Competitours only with this Difference that the Former was mangled into Quarters whereas here each place pretends to have him whole and intire not abating one Hair of his b Caputenim cum barba Idem ut prius Beard Nor know I how to reconcile them except any of them dare say though without shew of Probability that as the River in Paradise went out of Eden from whence it was parted and became into four c Gen. 2. 10. Heads Alban in like manner when dead had the same Quality of one to be multiplied into four Bodies 12. Now after Germanus and Lupus were returned home into their native Country After the departure of Germanus Pelagianisme recruits in Britain Pelagianisme began to sprout again in Britain An Accident not so strange to him that considers how quickly an Errour much of kin thereunto grew up amongst the Galathians presently on d Gal. 1. 6. Paul's departure I marvel said he that you are so soon removed from him that called you unto the Grace of Christ unto another Gospell S t. Paul's marvelling may make us marvel the lesse seeing that Wonder which hath a Precedent is not so great a Wonder Here we may sadly behold the great Pronenesse of men to go astray whose hearts by nature cold in Goodnesse will burn no longer then they are blown To suppresse this Heresie Germanus is sollicited to make a second Voiage into Britain which he did accordingly accompanied with his Partner Severus because Lupus his former Companion was otherwise employed Hereupon a prime e Erticus Antissiod orensis in vita S. Germani Poet of his Age makes this Apostrophe unto S t. German Tuque O cui toto discretos orbe Britannos Bis penetrare datum 449 bis intima cernere magni Monstra maris O thou that twice pierc'd Britain cut asunder From the whole World twice did'st survey the wonder Of monstrous Seas The same f Bede lib. 1. cap. 21. Successe still followed and this Conquerour who formerly had broken and scattered the main Body of the Pelagians now routed the Remnant which began to ralley and make head again 13. He also called a g Math. West in anno 449. Pelagianism and King Vottiger's incestuous marridge condemned in a Synod Synod wherein those damnable Doctrines were condemned as also the h Nennius cap. 37. Incestuous Marriage of VORTIGER King of Britain a wicked Prince in whom all the Dregs of his vicious Auncestors were settled who had took his own Daughter to Wife And yet of
this unlawfull Copulation a pious Son S t. Faustus was born to shew that no Crosse-barre of Bastandy though doubled with Incest can bolt Grace out of that Heart wherein God will have it to enter Germanus having settled Britain in good Order went back to his own Country where presently upon his return he died Anno Dom. 449 as God useth to send his Servants to Bed when they have done all their Work and by Gods blessing on his Endeavours that Heresie was so cut down in Britain that it never generally grew up again 14. Mean time the South of this Island was in a wofull condition In vain the Britans petition to the Roman Emperour for help against the Picts caused by the daily Incursions of the Picts As for the Picts Wall built to restrain them it being a better Limit then Fortification served rather to define then defend the Roman Empire and uselesse is the strongest Wall of Stone when it hath Stocks only upon it such was the Scottish Lazinesse of the Britans to man it a Nation at this time given over to all manner of Sin insomuch as a In Prologo libri de Excid Brit. Gildas their Country-man calls them Aetatis Atramentum the Inke of the Age. And though God did daily correct them with Inroads of Pagans yet like restife Horses they went the worse for Beating And now the Land being exhausted of the Flower of her Chivalry transported and disposed in Roman Garrisons as farre as Iudaea and b See Notitia Provinciarum Aegypt it self could not make good her ground against the Picts and was fain to request first Theodosius the younger then Valentinian the third Roman Emperour whose Homagers the British Kings were untill this time for their Assistance They dispatch Petition after Petition Embassie on Embassie representing their wofull estate Now the Barbarians beat them to the Sea the Sea repelled them to the Barbarians and thus bandied betwixt Death and Death they must either be kill'd or drowned They inforced their Request for Aid with much Earnestnesse and Importunity all in vain seeing Whisperings and Hollowings are like to a Deaf Eare and no Answer was returned Had they been as carefull in bemoaning their Sins to God as clamorous to declare their Sufferings to the Roman Emperour their Requests in Heaven had been as graciously received as their Petitions on Earth were carelesly rejected 15. What might be the Cause of this Neglect True Reasons why the Romans neglected to send Aid to the Britans Had the Imperial Crown so many Flowers that it might afford to scatter some of them Was Britain grown inconsiderable formerly worth the Conquering now not worth the Keeping or was it because they conceived the Britans Need not so much as was pretended and Aid is an Almes ill-bestowed on those Beggars who are lame of Lazinesse and will not work for their Living Or was the Service accounted desperate and no wise Physician will willingly undertake a Disease which he conceives incurable The plain truth is the Roman Empire now grown Ruinous could not repair it's out-Rooms and was fain to let them fall down to maintain the rest and like Fencers receiving a blow on their Leg to save their Head exposed the Remote Countries of Spain France and Britain to the Spoil of Pagans to secure the Eastern Countries near CONSTANTINOPLE the Seat of the Empire 16. Here Vortiger The sad successe of the Pagan Saxons invited by King Vortiger into Britain forsaken of God and man and left to himself Malice could not wish him a worse Adviser resolves on a desperate Project to call in the Pagan Saxons out of Germany for his Assistance under Horsus and Hengistus their Captains Over they come at first but in three great Ships a small Earnest will serve to bind a great Bargain first possessing the Island of Thanet in Kent but following afterwards in such Swarms that quickly they grew formidable to him that invited them over of Guests turning Sojourners then In mates and lastly Land-lords till they had dispossessed the Britans of the best of the Island the entertaining of mercenary Souldiers being like the administring of Quick-silver to one in Hiaca Passio a Receipt not so properly prescribed by the Physician to the Patient as by Necessity to the Physician If hired Aid do on a sudden the Work they are sent for and so have a present Passage to be discharg'd sovereign use may be made of them otherwise if long tarrying they will eat the Entralls and corrode the Bowells of that State which entertains them as here it came to passe 17. For soon after the Saxons erected seven Kingdomes in Britain And because their severall Limits conduce much to the clear understanding of the following History and we for the present are well at Leisure we will present the Reader with the Description of their severall Principalities The respective bounds of the Saxon Heptarchie The Partition was made by mutuall Consent thus farre forth that every King caught what he could and kept what he caught and there being amongst them a Parity of high-spirited Princes who more prized an absolute Sovereignty over a little then a Propriety with Subjection in never so much they erected seven severall Kingdomes in little more then but the third part of this Island A thing which will seem no wonder to him who hath read how the little Land of a Iosh. 12. 24. CANAAN found room at the same time for one and thirty Kings But let us reckon them up 1. The first was the Kingdome of KENT which began Anno 4 5 7. under King Hengist It contained the County of Kent as it is at this day bounded without any notable difference And though this Kingdome was the least of all as consisting but of one intire County without any other addition yet was it much befriended in the Situation for Traffick with France and Germany Besides it being secured on three Sides with Thames and the Sea and fenced on the fourth with Woods this made their Kings naturally defended at home more considerable in their Impressions on their Neighbours 2. Of the SOUTH-SAXONS comprising Sussex and Surry both which till very lately were under one Sheriff And this Kingdome began Anno 491 under King Ella and was the weakest of all the seven affording few Kings and fewer Actions of moment 3. Of the EAST-SAXONS comprehending Essex Middlesex and so much of Hartfordshire as is under the Bishop of London's Jurisdiction whose Diocese is adequate to this Kingdome A small Ring if we survey the little Circuit of Ground but it had a fair Diamond in it the City of London though then but a Stripling in Growth well thriving in Wealth and Greatness This Kingdome began in Erchenwin about the year 527. 4. Of the EAST-ANGLES containing Norfolk Suffolk Cambridgeshire with the Isle of Ely and as it seems faith a Reverend b Usher de Brit. Ecc. Primord p. 394. Writer part of