Herbert fellow of Trin. Col. 1618 21 Robert Crection fellow of Trin. Col. 1627 22 Henry Molle fellow of Kings Col. 23 Ralph VVitherington fellow of Christs Col. True it is that before the solemn founding of the Oratours office some were procured on occasion to discharge the same Thus we find one Cajus Auberinus an Italian for that Age indifferently learned who some 20. yeares since had twenty a Manuscript Coll. Corp. Christi pence a piece for every Latin Letter which he wrote for the University Henceforth we had one standing Oratour whose place was assigned unto him next unto the Doctours of Physick Henry Bullock 16 Vice-Chan 1523-24 Rob. Aldriche Ant. Maxwell Proct. Thomas Brakin Major Bac. Theol. 12 Mag. Art 28 Bac. Leg. 9 Art 40 Thomas Bilney Fellow of Trinity Hall Bilney his scruple in conscience b Fox Acts and monum zealously advanced true Religion To the study of Canon and Civil Law wherein he was graduated he added a third worth both the former his study in Gods Law and the Holy Scriptures Once travelling in the Country he chanced to come to a poor Cure belonging to Trinity Hall where the people unprovided of a Preacher pressed him to give them some Instruction Bilney had Ability but no Authority to teach them as then prohibited by the Church Yet their Want so wrought on his Charity that for the present he gave them a Collation This good man afterwards a Martyr the most tender to sin are the most hardy to suffer was c Fox Acts and Mon. pag. 1013. much troubled in conscience for his contempt of Church-order How many now adayes without any regret turn Praters-Preachers without any Commission from the Church It is suspicious on the like occasion some would scarce follow Bilney to the Stake who run so far before him into the Pulpit Edmond Nateres Anno Dom. 1524-25 Vice-Chan Anno Regis Henrici 8. 17 Edm. Stretey Tho. Briggs Proct. Rich. Woolf Major Doct. Theol. 7 lu Can. 1 lu Civ 2 Mag. Art 25 Bac. Leg. 13 lu Civ 3 Art 40 33. Now was there high and stiffe banding in the Schools and Pulpits betwixt the Opposers of the Protestant Religion Two opposite parties for and against superstition 1. Henry Bullock his friend Erasmus calls him Bovillum of Queens Colledge 2. M r. Hugh Latimer of Christs Colledge the Cross-keeper of the University which he solemnly brought forth on Procession-dayes He exhorted the Scholars not to believe one word of what M r. Stafford did read or preach 3. Edmund Nateres Vice-Chancellour Master of Gon. Hall and generally all the Heads of Houses and Advancers of the same 1. Doctour Foreman of Queens Colledge who therein conceal'd and kept Luther's Books when sought for to be burnt 2. M r. Stafford Divinity Reader Let me conjecture him for the Founders Name-sake of Buckingham Colledge 3. Doctour Thissel as M r. Fox writes him of Pembrook Hall The same no doubt with Iohn Thixtil chosen fellow there 1 5 1 9. whom Cajus calls hominem singularis eruditionis nostra memoria Insomuch that his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 was authenticall in the Schools Edm. Nateres 1525-26 Vice-Chanc Gud. Duplake Tho. Harwood 18 Proctours Thomas Saye Major Doct. Theol. 2 Medic. 1 Bac. Theol. 2 Mag. Art 23 Bac. Leg. 3 lu Civ 3 Art 42 34. Bilney observing in Latimer misguided Zeal Latimer converted by Bilney repaired to his Chamber and desired him to hear his Confession The hearing whereof improved by Gods Spirit so wrought on Latimer that of almost a Persecutour he became a zealous Promoter of the Truth Then going to M r. Stafford he solemnly asked him a Fox Acts and monum pag. 1731. Idem pag. 1860. Forgivenesse for his former fierce and causeless Fury against him 35. Thomas Cranmer was outed of his Fellowship in Iesus Colledge for being married His wife was Kinswoman to the Hostess at the Dolphin which causing his frequent repair thither gave the occasion to that impudent Lie of ignorant Papists that he was an Ostler Indeed with his learned Lectures he rubb'd the galled Backs and curried the lazy Hides of many an idle and ignorant Frier being now made Divinity-Reader in Buckingham Colledge But soon after his Wife dying within the year being a VViddower he was re-elected into Iesus Col. I know the Statutes of some Houses run thus Nolumus Socios nostros esse Maritos velmaritatos It seems this last barbarous word was not or was not taken notice of in Iesus Colledge Statutes Cranmer herein is a Precedent by himself if that may be Precedent which hath none to follow it Iohn Edmunds 1526-27 Vice-Chan Nin. Shafto Iac. Hulton Proctours Henry Gilson 19 Major Doct. Theol. 5 Ju. Can. 2 Ju. Civ 1 Doct. Medic. 1 Bac. Theol. 5 Mag. Art 21 Bac. Leg. 14 Art 32 36. Richard Crook Vniversity Oratour and Greek Professour Crook out-bought departeth to Oxford invited with more large and liberall Conditions leaving Cambridge removed to Oxford Yet this honourable Proviso is entered in our Oratours Book Anno Regis Henrici 8. 19 that in Case Crook should ever be pleased to return Anno Dom. 1526-27 he for the good service by him performed should have the precedency of all Cambridge Oratours Great the Antipathy betwixt Crook and Leland the Antiquary whose differences began with generous emulation betwixt two eminent competitors of learned Honour but festred into Envy not to say malicious Detraction 37. D r. Cliffe Chancellour of Nicholas West B p. of Ely The priviledge of the University humbly submitted himself and craved pardon a Manuscript Col. Corp. Christi for his Rashness because he had excommunicated a Bachelour of Arts contrary to the expresse Priviledges of the Vniversity The familiarity betwixt Bilney and Latimer daily encreased their meeting-place nigh Cambridge being called the Hereticks walk My enquiry can discover no footsteps thereof on which side of the Town it lay Iohn Edmunds 20 Vice-Chan 1527-2s8 Tho. Smith Iohn Brewer Proctours Edw. Slegg Major Doct. Theol. 1 Ju. Can. 1 Ju. Civ 4 Doct. Medic. 1 Bac. Theol. 6 Mag. Art 20 Bac. Leg. 5 Art 26 Gram. 2 38. Now many and fierce the conflicts of Friers against M r. Latimer Latimer his Sermon of Cards especially after he had preached at S t. Edwards the Sunday before Christmas on the Question of the Priests to the Baptist parcel of the Gospel appointed for the day Iohn 1. 19. Tu quis es VVho art thou It seems he suited his Sermon rather to the Time then the Text thereby taking occasion to conform his discourse to the playing at Cards making the Heart b See it at large in Mr. Fox Triumph and exhorting all to serve God in sincerity Truth not in the glistering show of mens Ceremonies Traditions Pardons Pilgrimages Vows Devotions c. Now shew me not the Sermon but shew me the Souls converted thereby This blunt
as one plow can handsomely manage in a desolate Island full of Fenns and Brambles called the Ynis-VVitrin since by translation Glassenbury Here they built a small Church and by direction from b Malmsbury M S. de Antiqu Glaston Ecclesiae Gabriel the Archangel dedicated it to the Virgin Mary encompassing it about with a Church-yard in which Church afterwards Ioseph was buried and here these twelve lived many years devoutly serving God and converting many to the Christian Religion 12. Now The history full of dross when brought to the touch a little to examine this history we shall find first that no Writer of credit can be produced before the Conquest who mentioneth Ioseph's coming hither but since that time to make recompence for former silence it is refounded from every side As for Bale his citations out of Melkinus Avalonius and Gildas Albanus seeing the Originals are not extant they be as uncertain as what Baronius hath transcribed out of an English c Written in our age as Archbishop Usher observes De Brit. Eccl. prim pag. 15. Manuscript in the Vatican Yet because the Norman Charters of Glassenbury refer to a succession of many ancient Charters bestowed on that Church by several Saxon Kings as the Saxon Charters relate to British Grants in intuition to Ioseph's being there We dare not wholy deny the substance of the Story though the leaven of Monkery hath much swoln and puff'd up the Circumstance thereof â—3 For the mentioning of an inclosed Church-yard overthrows the foundation of the Church seeing Churches in that time got no such Suburbs about them as any Church-yards to attend them The burying his body in the Church was contrary to the practice of that Age yea dead mens Corpses were brought no nearer then the Porch some hundreds of years after The Dedication of the place to the Virgin Mary sheweth the Story of later date calculated for the elevation of Saint-worship In a word as this relation of Ioseph is presented unto us it hath a young mans Brow with an old mans Beard I mean novel Superstitions disguised with pretended Antiquity 13. In all this story of Ioseph's living at Glassenbury 64 there is no one passage reported therein beareth better proportion to time and place The platform of the most ancient Church in Christendome then the Church which he is said to erect whose dimensions materials and making are thus presented unto us It had in length sixty foot a Ancient plate of brass in the custody of Sir Henry Spelman De conciliis Brit. pag. 11. and twenty six in breadth b Malmsbury ut prius made of rods watled or interwoven Where at one view we may behold the simplicity of Primitive Devotion and the native fashion of British Buildings in that Age and some hundred years after For we find that c He was King of all Wales many years after viz. 940. See Cambden in Carmarthenshire Hoel Dha King of VVales made himself a Palace of Hurdle-work called Tyguyn or the VVhite House because for distinctions sake to difference it from and advance it above other Houses the rods whereof it was made were unbark'd having the rinde stripp'd off Which was then counted gay and glorious as white-limedhouses exceed those which are only rough-cast In this small Oratory Ioseph with his Companions watched prayed fasted preached having high Meditations under a low Roof and large Hearts betwixt narrow Walls If credit may be given to these Authours this Church without competition was senior to all Christian Churches in the World Let not then stately modern Churches disdain to stoop with their highest Steeples reverently doing homage to this poor Structure as their first platform and precedent And let their checquered Pavements no more disdain this Oratories plaine Floor then her thatch'd Covering doth envy their leaden Roofs And although now it is meet that Church-buildings as well as private houses partaking of the peace and prosperity of our Age should be both in their Cost and Cunning encreased far be that pride and profaneness from any to account nothing either too fair for Man or too foul for God yet it will not be amiss to desire that our Judgements may be so much the clearer in matters of Truth and our Lives so much the purer in Conversation by how much our Churches are more light our Buildings more beautifull then they were 14. Some difference there is about the place of buriall of Ioseph of Arimathea 76 Some assigning his Grave in the Church of Glassenbury Difference about the place of Ioseph's buriall others in the South corner of the Church-yard and others elsewhere This we may be assured of that he who d Math. 27. 60. resigned his own Tombe to our Saviour wanted not a Sepulchre for himself And here we must not forget how e Anno Dom. 1344. the 19. of Edward 3. more then a thousand years after one Iohn Bloone of London pretending an injunction from Heaven to seek for the Body of Ioseph of Arimathea obtained a licence from King Edward the third to dig at Glassenbury for the same as by his f In the Tower 19. of Edw. 3. part 1. parchment 3. Patent doth appeare It seems his Commission of Enquiry never originally issued out of the Court of Heaven for God never sends his servants on a sleeveless Errand but faith Ask and ye shall have seek and ye shall find Whereas this man sought and did never find for ought we can hear of his inquisition And we may well believe that had he found the Corpse of Ioseph though Fame might have held her peace yet Superstition would not have been silent but long before this time she had roared it even into the ears of deafmen And truely he might have digg'd at Glassenbury to the Centre of the earth yet not met with what he sought for if Ioseph were buried ten miles off as a Iesuite g Guilelmus Goodus cited by Archbishop Usher de Brit. Ecc. prim pag. 28. will have it at Montacute or in Hampden-Hill Hereafter there is hope that the Masons digging in the Quarries thereof may light by chance on his Corpse which if fond Papists might prize it would prove more beneficial to them 76 then the best bed of Free-stone they ever opened The best is be Ioseph's Body where it will his Soul is certainly happy in Heaven 15. Some ascribe to the sanctity of this Ioseph The budding Haw-thorn nigh Glassenbury attributed a miracle to Ioseph's 〈◊〉 the yearly budding of the Haw-thorn near Glassenbury on Christmas day no lesse then an annual Miracle This were it true were an argument as K. Iames did once pleasantly urge it to prove our Old stile before the New which prevents our Computation by ten dayes and is used in the Church of Rome yea all Prognosticators might well calculate their Almanacks from this Haw-thorn Others more warily affirm that it doth not punctually
Means which would maintain a Prince but like a Scholar would maintain a Scholar like a Prince Yea which was best of all on his Learning he grafted true Religion Bede giving him this Character that he became Vir Christianissimus doctissimus can more be said in so few words and returning home assisted by the Preaching of Felix a Monk of Burgundy Iuxta nominis sui sacramentum saith Bede happy was his Name and Happinesse was with him converted his Subjects to Christianity This Felix was made the first Bishop of Dunwich in Suffolk a place formerly furnished with a Weaver's Funerall Monuments in Suffolk two and fifty Churches and hath scarce two now remaining the rest being swallowed up by the Sea I can hardly hold my self from calling the Sea sacrilegious save that on second thoughts considering that Element to be but a Naturall Agent yea such whose Motions are ordered by Divine Providence Hither shalt thou come and no farther I will rather reserve this Epithete sacrilegious to be bestowed on those men who willingly and wilfully demolish the places appointed for God's Service 46. This Sigebert is generally reputed the Founder of the University of Cambridge Difference about the antiquity of the University of Cambridge And because the point in hand is somewhat litigious 631 But some make it four yeares after we will take the more Paines in clearing thereof two things being warily premised First that Sigebert's founding the University of Cambridge ought not by any to be extended to lessen and abate much lesse to drown and destroy her more ancient Title to Learning which she deriveth according to good b See Cajus on the antiquity of Cambridge Authours from many hundred yeares before Valeant quantum valere possint let such her over grown Evidences stand as valid as they may by us neither confirmed not confuted for the present And indeed all such Old things in either University though specious to the Eye must be closely kept and tenderly touched lest otherwise being roughly handled they should moulder into Dust Secondly let none suspect my Extraction from Cambridge will betray me to partiality to my Mother who desire in this Difference to be like Melchisedec 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 without Descent onely to be directed by the Truth And here I make this fair and free Confession which I hope will be accepted for ingenuous That as in Thamar's travell of c Gen. 38. 28. Twins Zarah first put out his Hand and then drew it in again whilest Pharez first came forth into the World so I plainly perceive Cambridge with an extended Arme time out of mind first challenging the Birth-right and Priority of place for Learning but afterwards drawing it in again she lay for many yeares desolate and of lesse account whilest Oxford if later larger came forth in more entire Proportion and ever since constantly continued in the full Dimensions of an University 47. These things being thus cautiously stated The leading testimony of Bede explained we proceed beginning with Bede on whose Testimony all the following History is founded Beda lib. 3. Eccles Hist cap. 18. Sigebertus ubi Regno potitus est mox ea quae in Galliis bene disposita vidit imitari cupiens instituit Scholam in qua pueri literis erudirentur juvante se Episcopo Felice quem de Cantia acceperat eisque paedagogos ac magistros juxta morem Cantuariorum praebente Sigebert when he had obtained the Kingdome presently desiring to imitate those things which he had seen well-ordered in France instituted a School wherein Youths might be trained up in Learning Felix the Bishop whom he had received out of Kent assisting him and providing for them Teachers and Masters according to the Custome of those in Canterbury See here Anno. Dom. 631 King Sigebert to make his School complete united therein such Conveniences for Education as he had observed commendable 1. Abroad in France where Learning at and before his time was brought to great Perfection S t. Hierome a In Epistola ad Rusticum affirming that even in his Age he had seen Studia in Galliis florentissima most flourishing Universities in France 2. At home in Canterbury where even at this time Learning was professed though more increased some fourty yeares after when as the same Bede b Hist Eccles reports that in the dayes of Theodorus the Arch-Bishop there were those that taught Geometry Arithmetick and Musick the fashionable studies of that Age together with Divinity The perfect Character of an University where Divinity the Queen is waited on by her Maids-of-Honour But I question whether the Formality of Commencing was used in that Age inclining rather to the negative that such Distinction of Graduates was then unknown except in S t. Paul's sense c 1 Tim. 3. 13 Such as used the office of a Deacon well purchased to themselves a good Degree 48. So much for Bede's Text. Authours commenting on Bede's text Come we now to ancient Authours commenting upon him Ancient I call those who wrote many yeares before the Differences were started about the Seniority of the Universityes and therefore are presumed unpartiall as unconcerned in a Controversie which did not appear First Polydore d Lib. 4. lib. 5. pag. 107. Virgil who from Bede's words plainly collects that Sigebert then founded the University of Cambridge Nor see I any cause for that Passage in the e Written Anno 1566. pag. 20. Assertion of Oxford's Antiquity charging Polydore Quod affectibus indulgens adamatae studet Academiae who being a Forrainer and an Italian had nothing to byass his Affection to one University more then the other Learned f In his Comment in Cygneam Cantionem Leland succeeds who being employed by King Henry the eighth to make a Collection of British Antiquities much scattered at the Dissolution of Abbies thus expresseth himself Olim Granta fuit Titulis Vrbs inclyta multis Vicini à Fluvii nomine Nomen habens Saxones hanc Belli deturbavere procellis Sed nova pro veteri non procul inde sita est Quam Felix Monachus Sigeberti jussa sequutus Artibus illustrem reddidit atque Scholis Haec ego perquirens Gentis Monumenta Britannae Asserui in Laudem Granta diserta tuam Grant long ago a City of great Fame From neighbouring River doth receive her Name When storms of Saxon-warres her overthrew Near to the old sprang up another new Monk Felix whil'st he Sigebert obeys Light'ned this place with Schools and Learning's rayes Searching the Monuments of British Nation This I assert in Grant's due Commendation Here we omit the severall Testimonies of g In Sigeberto rursus Cent. 13. in Felice First objection against Sigebert's founding of Cambridge Bale George Lilie and Thomas Cooper in their severall Histories Anno 636. with many moe concluding Sigebert then the Founder of the University of Cambridge 49. But our Cousin-germans of Oxford will scarce give
resolves revenge and because he could not make her Queen whom he desired he would make him King whom he pleased 31. Take hereof this cursory account 8. After many bloudy battles 1468 King Edward was taken Prisoner at Wolney in Warwick-shire King Edward taken prisoner and King Henry enlarged and committed by the Earl of Warwick to the custody of his Brother George Nevil Arch-Bishop of York Henry is brought out of the Tower shall I call him the sixth or the seventh because dead though not in Law in dignity and once Deposed he is now restored again to wear the Royal Robes not so much as his own garments but as the Livery the Earl of Warwick his liberality However he acted a very short part of Soveraignty wherein he revenged not any personal wrongs offered unto him in his restraint For one who thrust him into the side with a sword when he was Prisoner in the Tower was afterwards pardoned by him when restored to his former dignity 32. Mean time the Arch-Bishop allowed King Edward liberty to ride abroad and follow his pleasure Edward escaped flieth beyond sea and returneth now a careless Keeper giveth his Prisoner a warning and sheweth him a way to make his escape King Edward followeth his hawking so long that he taketh his own flight at last Over he gets beyond the Seas to his Brother in law Charles Duke of Burgundie by whom he was supplied to the proportion of a competent subsistence but not enabled for the recovering of a Crown However he returned into England landed in the North marched to York desired to be received therein as into the place whence he received his Title but in no other notion then a Subject to King Henry taking the Sacrament on the truth thereof but having gotten the City as Duke he kept it as King contrary to his oath for which his Children are conceived to fare no whit the better 33. Let the State-Historians inform you with what various changes K. Edward made hence into the South Recovereth the Crown by Conquest and at last near Barnet bid battle to and defeated the Earl of Warwick 10. slain with his Brother the Marquess Montague on the place 1470 Learn also from them how King Henry was cruelly put to death and his Son and Queen Margaret soon after overthrown at Tewxbury For when a Royal Family is once falling all things conduce to expedite their destruction Henceforward King Edward saving the differences of his own with his Wives Kindred passed the remnant of his dayes in much peace plenty and pleasure 34. In most of the Battles we may observe Why most Armies make for London it was the word general of the weaker side for London for London as the most martial thrift to Conquer a Kingdom in a City For such whose necessities can allow their Armies but little time to stay do burn day light in pelting against petty Towns in the out skirts of a Land especially if all other humane hopes be in one desperate push Hence was it that so many Battles were fought about Barnet and S t Albans the Cock-pit of War the lines of all Armies drawn from the circumference of the Land being the closer together the nearer they approched London the Center in Trade and Wealth though not in exact position thereof 35. Come we now to a tamer contest Brawls betwixt Mendicants and Secular Priests and more proper for our pen continuing all this Kings time betwixt the Begging Friers and Secular Priests the former not content to cry up the dignity of their own Order Anno Dom. 1470. but cast contempt on the rest of the Clergie Anno Regis Ed. 4. 10. But these bold Beggers met with as bold sayers â—ay I mean these Mendicants found their matches in the Secular Priests effectually humbling their pride herein For it was beheld as a most pestiferous doctrine the Friers so heightning the perfection of begging that according to their principles all the Priesthood and Prelacy in the Land yea by consequence the Pope himself did fall short of the sanctity of their Order Yet hard was it for them to perswade his Holiness to quit Peters Patrimony and betake himself to poverty although a Fryer Thomas Holden by name did not blush to preach at Pauls Cross that a Fox Acts and Mon. p. 717. Christ himself as first Founder of their Society was a Beggar a manifest untruth and easily confuted out of Scripture 36. For vast the difference betwixt begging Christ falsely traduced to be a beggar and taking what the bounty of others doth freely confer as our Saviour did from such who b Luke 8. 3. ministred unto him of their substance We never read him begging any thing save when from the c John 4. 7. Woman of Samaria he asked water a creature so common and needful that it was against the law of nature to deny it him Nor is it probable he was a Mendicant who was rated in the Publicans Tole-Book and paid Tribute unto d Mat. 17. 24. Caesar Not to say that he was so far from begging John 13. 29. that it was his custom especially about the time of the Passeover to relieve others and Judas his Purse-bearer was his Almoner to distribute to the poor 37. Here it will not be amiss to reckon up the principal Champions on both sides Writers pro con in the cause whose pens publickly appeared For Mendicants Against Mendicants 1. Henry f Piz p. 660. Parker a Carmelite bred in Cambridg living afterwards in Doncaster Covent imprisoned for preaching 2. Jo. g Idem p. 673 Milverton bred in Oxford Carm. of Bristol being excommunicated by the Bishop of London and appealing to the Pope found no favour but was kept three years captive in S t Angelo 1. Thomas h Idem p. 659 Wilton Doctor of both Laws and say some Dean of Saint Pauls most zealous in his preachings and disputings 2. William Ivie i Idem p. 654. Canon of S t Pauls in London who wrote very learnedly in the defence of Rich. Hill Bishop of London who imprisoned two Mendicants for their proud preaching But after Pope Paul the second had interposed herein concluding quod Christus publicè mendicavit pro damnata haeresi undique declarandam conculcandam esse the Mendicants let fall their Bucklers and the controversie sunk in silence nevermore revived 38. Never had England at once two Arch-Bishops of so high extraction as at this time A prodigious fear at an Arch-Bishops installation namely Thomas Bourchier Son of Henry Earl of Essex and George Nevil Brother to the Great Earl of Warwick The latter is famous for a prodigious Feast wherein whoso noteth the number and quality of the Guests all the Nobility most of the prime Clergie many of the Great Gentry will wonder where he got meat for so many mouthes whilest such who number the dishes thereof
conceived that Vicit vanitas was a truer Conclusion of the Disputation though indeed there could be no proper victory where there was no fair Fight things not being methodized with Scholasticall Formality but managed with tumultuous Obstreperousnesse See all at large in Mr. Fox to transcribe which would be tedious excribe something imperfect Contract all obscure may the reader therefore be remitted thither for his perfect Satisfaction Onely I will adde this Disputation was but a preparative or Prologue to the Tragedy of these Bishops Deaths as it were to drie their Bodies the more afore-hand that afterwards they might burn the brighter and clearer for the same 19. But we leave the prosecution hereof with the impression made by the Alteration of Religion on every severall Colledge in Oxford Some Oxford man invited to undertake a proper task to some learned men of that Vniversity as an office proper for them to performe having as their education therein so their advantage thereby in consulting the Registers of their severall Colledges I have hitherto and shall hereafter be the shorter in Matters of this Vniversity remembring two profitable Precepts for this purpose the one Minus notis minus diu insistendum the other 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Being a stranger be not over-busie Who confesse my selfe bred in another Seminary of learning Wherefore if my tongue long acquainted with CAMBRIDGE Siboleth have or shall chance to faulter in pronouncing the termes of Art or Topicall Titles proper to this Vniversity I hope the Readers Smile shall be all the writers Punishment For as I heartily protest the fidelity of my Affections to my Aunt and humbly request that my Weaknesse or want of Intelligence may no way tend to her Prejudice so I expect that my Casuall mistakes should meet with a Pardon of Course And if any of her own Children which is much to be desired Will hereafter write a particular History of Oxford I should be joyfull if the best Beames I can bring will but make him Scaffolds and the choicest of my Corner-stones but serve to fill up the Walls of his more beautifull Building 20. We have something trespassed on time to make our Story of Oxford intire Protestant Bishops withdraw themselves from the Parliament and must now go a little backward The Queen being crowned on the first of October her first Parliament began the fifth day following wherein Godwot a poor appearance of Protestant Bishops For Cranmer of Cant. was in the Tower for treason Ridley of London and Poynet of Winchester were displaced on the restitution of Bonner and Gardiner Holegate of Yorke Bush of Bristoll Bird of Chester Hooper of Worcester and Gloucester Barlow of Bath and Wells Scory of Chicester Ferrar of St. Davids Coverdale of Exeter were already deprived either for being married or delivering some displeasing doctrines Onely two Protestant Bish os viz. John a Fox Acts Mon pag. 1410. Taylour of Lincolne and John Harley of Hereford on what score I know not found the favour to be last undone as remaining un-deprived at the beginning of the Parliament where they presented themselves according to their duty took their place amongst the Lords But presently began solemne Masse after the Popish manner which these two good Bishops not abiding withdrew themselves and shortly both of them died their naturall deaths Providence graciously preventing their violent destructions Octob 1. 5. 21. All the rest of the Bishops present in Parliament Popery restored by the rest as Samson of Coventry and Litchfield Capon of Salsbury Thirleby of Norwich Bulkley of Bangor Parfew of St. Asaph b Ely and Oxfoord I conceive void at this time Kitchin of Landaffe though dissembling themselves Protestants in the dayes of King Edward now returned to their Vomit and the advancing of Popery No wonder then if all things were acted according to their pleasure the Statute of Premunire made by King Henry the Eight and many other goodlaws of Edward the Sixth repealed Masse and Latine service with the maine of Popery reestablished 22. But in the Convocation which began few dayes after 18. amongst all the Clergy therein assembled there were found but six which opposed the Reduction of Popery Viz. 1. Walter Philips Dean of Rochester Sixe Protestant Champions in the Convocation 2. Iames Haddon Dean of Exeter 3. Iohn Philpot Archdeacon of winchest 4. Richard Cheyney Archdeacon of Hereford 5. Iohn Ailmer Archdeacon of Stow. 6. One whose name is not recorded Of these Mr. Philpot one of a fervent spirit but not to any distemper as some suspect was so zealous against Transubstantiation that he offered to maintain the negative by Gods word and confound any six who should withstand him in that point 25. or else saith he c Foxe Acts Mon pag. 1413. let me be burned with as many fagots as be in London before the Court gates 23. But Weston the Prolocutor in the Convocation threatened him with the Prison Weston his railing on Mr. Philpot. adding that he was a mad man meeter to be sent to Bedlam then continue there Philpot returned he would think himself happy to be out of that company Nay lest you slander the house said Weston and say we will not suffer you to declare your minde we are content you come into the house as formerly on two conditions First that you be apparelled in a long gown and Tippet as we are 30. Decē 13. Secondly that you speak not but when I command you Then said Philpot I had rather be absent altogether and so it seems departed the place and soon after the Convocation ended having concluded all things to the hearts desire of the Papists therein 24. Afterwards Philpot was troubled by Gardiner for his words spoken in the Convocation Philpot fealeth the truth with his blood In vain did he plead the Priviledge of the Place commonly reputed a part of Parliament alledging also how Weston the Prolocutor once and again assured them that the Queen had given them leave and liberty fully and freely to debate of matters of Religion according to their own conscience Once at his Examination the Lord Rich d Foxe Acts Mon. pag. 1806. affirmed that the Convocation was no part of the Parliament House and we must believe him herein because a Lawyer and a Lord Chauncelour Otherwise we have the Statute 8. Hen. 6. That the Clergy of the Convocation shall have such liberty as they that come to the Parliament In fine Philpot in defence of the Truth acted the valiant part of a Martyr according to his promise though the Scene was altered from the Court-gates to Smithfield 25. The match of Queen Mary with Philip King of Spain was now as commonly talked of as generally distasted Janu. 20. To hinder the same Sr. Thomas Wyat a Kentish Knight took Armes with a great party assisting him 1553-1554 Saunders faith Wyats rising to hinder the Spanish match
any thing may create to it self a top or rester of a pulpit thereof though the like thereunto may be seen elsewhere in the city But that this lie of the naggs-head was bred in a knaves brains doth plainly appear For why should a rich man be a thief seeing all Churches in England were equally open unto them to pick and choose at pleasure why should they steal a clandestine consecration in a place so justly obnoxious to censure Were not the Canaâ—nites and Perizzites then in the land Were not many prying Papists then mingled amongst Protestants which consideration alone would command them to be cautious in their proceedings Besides that mock-pulpit shewen at this day at the entrance of that tavern was inconsistent with the secrecie which is said to be their designe who would rather have made choice of an inner and more remote roome for that purpose But when once one Jesuite had got this shamelesse lie of the Nâ—ggshead I can not say by the taile but by the ears instantly Champnâ—y â—itzSimon Persons Killison Constable and all the whole kennell of them baule it out in their books to all posterity 28. All the authority the Papists produce for their Naggs-head-Consecration Neale's testimony the sole witnesse thereof confuted is ultimately resolved into the single testimony of one Thomas Neale Chaplaine to Bishop Bonner and sometimes Hebrew-Professour in Oxford But was this Neale known or unknown to the Bishops pretended in this taverne-assembly If known as most probable he was Bonners Chaplains bearing their Masters marke the indeleble character of cruelty stamped upon them as the Wolfe is too well known to the sheep it is utterly unlikely they would permit a person vowing open opposition to their proceedings to be present thereat If Neale were unknown the English Bishops whom the Papists though they call Hereticks do not count fools would not admit a stranger to their privacies of such importance seeing commonly in such cases mens jealousies interpret every unknown face to be a foe unto them 29. A silent witness pretended in vain To the testimony of Neale a Champuius pag. 5â—1 one endeavours to twist the witness of John Stow to prove this Nags-head-consecration A silent wittness who says nothing herein if either we consult his Chronicle of our Kings or his Survey of London he neither speaks words nor makes any signes thereof But saith the Jesuite Stow though prudently omitting to print it told the same to some of his private friends I pray to whom where and when and what credible witnesses do attest it Be it referr'd to the ingenuity of our very adversaries whether their bare surmises without any proof be to be believed before the publique Records faithfully taken when the thing was done carefully preserved ever since intirely extant at this day and truly transcribed here by us Besides Charles Howard Earle of Nottingham not more famous for the Coronet of a Count than the crown of old age alive in the later end of the Reigne of King James being requested of a friend whether he could remember Matthew Parkers consecration gave an exact account of the same solemnly performed in Lambeth Chappel being himself an eyewitness thereof and an invited guest to the great feast kept there that day therefore the more observant of all particular passages thereat because the said Arch-Bishop was related to him as a kinsman Let such as desire further satisfaction herein consult learned b 〈…〉 Mason whom King James justly termed a wise builder in Gods house who hath left no stones unturn'd to clear the truth and stop the mouth of malicious adversaries Let the Papists therefore not be so busie to cast durt on our Bishops but first fall on washing the face of their own Pope even John the twelv'th whom an excellent c Luisprandus lib. 6. cap. 7. authour reporteth to have ordained a Deacon in a stable for which two Cardinals reproved him And let these three stories be told together that the Empress Hellen was the daughter of an Hostler that Arch-Bishop Cranmer himself was an Hostler and that our first Bps. in Queen Elizabeths dayes were consecrated in the Naggs-head I say let these three be told together because wise and good men will believe them together as all comming forth of the forge of falsehood and malice 30. Now though we are not to gratifie our Adversaries with any Advantages against us Sees supplied with Protestant Bishops yet so confident is our innocence herein that It may acquaint the world with that small foundation on which this whole report was bottom'd Every Arch-Bishop or Bishop presents himself in Bow-Church accompanied thither with Civilians where any shall be heard who can make any legall exceptions against his Election A Dinner * This the Lord Chancellour Egerton assumed to Bishop Williams was provided for them at the Naggs-head in Cheapside as convenient for the Vicinity thereof and from this Sparke hath all this Fire been kindled to admonish posterity not only to do no evil but also in this Captious Age to refrain from all appearance thereof 31. Parker thus solemnly consecrated proceeded with the assistance of the aforesaid Bishops to the consecration of other grave Divines and not as Sanders lewdly lies that these new elected Bishops out of good fellowship mutually consecrated one another some whereof were put into Bishopricks void By the Natural death as Sarisbury Rochester Glocester Bristol Bangor or Voluntary desertion as Worcester and S t. Asaph or Legal deprivation of the former Bishops as all other Sees in England Suffice it at this time to present a present Catalogue of their names Anno Regin Eliza. 1. Sees with the dates of their consecrations Anno Dom. 1558. referring their commendable characters to be set down when we come to their respective deaths Province of Canterbury 1. Edward Grindal 2. Richard Cox 3. Edwin Sandys 4. Rowland Merick 5. Nicolas Bullingham 6. John Jewell 7. Thomas Young 8. Richard Davies 9. Thomas Bentham 10. Gilbert Barclay 11. Edmond Gwest 12. William Alley 13. Iohn Parkhurst 14. Robert Horne 15. Edmond Scambler 16. Richard Cheiney consecrated London Decem. 21. 1559. Elie Decem. 21. 1559. Worcester Decem. 21. 1559. Bangor Decem. 21. 1559. Lincolne Janu. 21. 1559. Sarisbury Janu. 21. 1556. S. Davids Janu. 21. 1559. S. Asaph Janu. 21. 1559. Coven Lichfield Mar. 24. 1559. Bath and Wells Mar. 24. 1559. Rochester Mar. 24. 1559. Exeter July 14. 1560. Norwich Sept. 1. 1560. Winchester Feb. 16. 1560. Peterburgh Feb. 16. 1560. Glocester Apr. 19. 1562. Province of Yorke 1. Thomas Young translated from S t. Davids to Yorke 2. James Pilkington 3. John Best 4. George Downham consecrated Feb. 20. 1560. Durham Mar. 2. 1560. Carlile Mar. 2. 1561. Chester May 4. 1561. The other Bishopricks were thus disposed of Richard Cheiney held Bristol in Commendam with Glocester Barlow and Scory Bishops in King Edward's dayes were translated the one to Chicester the other to
to be improved 3. The necessity of hâ—s friendship at this time was onely fancied â—y such as desired it Besides the King of heaven must not be offended that the King of Spain may be pleased 4. Though Truth it selfe be stronger than falsehood yet generally the Promoters of falsehood are more active and sedulous than the Advancers of Truth Besides it is just with God upon the granting of such an unlawfull Toleration to weaken the converting power of Truth and strengthen the perverting power of Falsehood giving the English over to be deluded thereby 5. The world hath ever consisted of more fools than wise people such who carry their judgment more in their eyes than in their brains Popery being made Inscious to peoples senses too probably would court many to the imbracing thereof 6. It is no policie to let in the Wolfe meerly on designe to make the Shepherds more watchfull Rather on the contrary Protestant Ministers would be utterly disheartned in the performance of their place when the Parishioners were countenanced to desert them without any punishment 7. If the Papists already have what they would have let them be contented therewith Why desire they any more but indeed there is a grand difference betwixt a States winking at their wickednesse for a time and a formall and finall tolerating thereof During the former Catholicks sin on their own account and at their own peril the Laws though not executed standing in full force against them but a publick Toleration of their Superstition adopts the same to become the Act of the English Nation Here it would be tedious to recite the Texts of Scripture some more The Pulpit is loud against the Toleration some lesse proper to the purpose alledged by severall persons against the Toleration Ann. Dom. 1623. Ann. Regis Ja 21. some Typicall Thou a Deht 22. 10. shalt not plow with an Oxe and an Asse Some Historicall Gods Children must not speak two tongues Ashdod and b Neh. 13. 24. Hebrew Some Doctrinall We must not doe evil that good c Rom. 3. 8. may come thereof The best was the Toleration bare date with the Spanish Match with which it was propounded and agitated advanced expected desired by some opposed suspected detested by others and at last both together finally frustrated and defeated 3. Now was His Majestie informed His Majesties care to regulate Preaching that it was high time to apply some cure to the Pulpits as sick of a Sermon-surfeit and other exorbitances Some medled with State-matters and generally by an improper Transposition the Peoples duty was preached to the King at Court the Kings to the People in the Countrey Many shallow Preachers handled the profound points of Predestination wherein pretending to guide their flocks they lost themselves Sermons were turned into Satyrs against Papists or Non Conformists 4. To represse the present and prevent future mischiefs in this kinde His Majestie issued out His Directions to be written fair in every Registers Office whence any Preacher if so pleased might with his own hand take out Copies gratis paying nothing for d Cabala part 2. pag. 191. expedition Herein the King revived the primitive and profitable order of Catechizing in the afternoon better observed in all other Reformed Churches than of late in England according to the tenour ensuing Most Reverend Father in God His Directions right trusty and entirely beloved Counsellour We greet you well FOrasmuch as the abuses and extravagancies of Preachers in the Pulpit have been in all times repressed in this Realm by some Act of Councill or State with the advice and resolution of grave and learned Prelates Insomuch that the very licensing of Preachers had beginning by an Order of Star Chamber the eighth day of July in the 19 th year of the Reign of King Henry the eighth our Noble Predecessour And whereas at this present divers young Students by reading of late Writers and ungrounded Divines doe broach many times unprofitable unsound seditions and dangerous Doctrines to the scandall of the Church and disquiet of the State and present Government We upon humble representations unto Us of these inconveniencies by your selfe and sundry other grave and reverend Prelates of this Church as also of our Princely care and Zeal for the extirpation of Schisme and dissention growing from these seeds and for the setling of a religious and peaceable Government both in Church and Common wealth doe by these Our speciall Letters straitly charge and command you to use all possible care and diligence that these Limitations and Cautions herewith sent unto you concerning Preachers be duly and strictly from henceforth put in practice and observed by the several Bishops within your Jurisdiction And to this end Our pleasure is that you send them forthwith Copies of these Directions to be by them speedily sent and communicated unto every Parson Vicar Curate Lecturer and Minister in every Cathedrall or Parish Church within their severall Diocese and that you earnestly require them to employ their utmost endeavours in the performance of this so important a businesse letting them know that We have a speciall eye unto their proceedings and expect a strict account thereof both of you and every one of them and these Our Letters shall be your sufficient Warrant and discharge in that behalf Give under our Signet at Our Castle of Windsor the 4 th of August in the twentieth year of Our Reign Directions concerning Preachers sent with the Letter 1. THat no Preacher under the degree and calling of a Bishop or Dean of a Cathedral or Collegiate Church and they upon the Kings dayes and set Festivals doe take occasion by the expounding of any Text of Scripture whatsoever to fall into any set Discourse or Common place otherwise than by the opening the Cohaerence and Division of the Text which shall not be comprehended and warranted in essence substance effect or naturall in ference within some one of the Articles of Religion set forth 1562. or in some of the Homilies set forth by authority of the Church of England not onely for the help of the Non-Preaching but withall for a Pattern and Boundary as it were for the Preaching Ministers And for their further instructions for the performance hereof that they forthwith reade over and peruse diligently the said Book of Articles and the two Books of Homilies 2. That no Parson Vicar Curate or Lecturer shall preach any Sermons or Collation hereafter upon Sundaies and Holidaies in the afternoon in any Cathedrall or Parish Church throughout the Kingdome but upon some pare of the Catechisme or some Text taken out of the Creed ten Commandments or the Lords Prayer Funeral Sermons onely excepted and that those Preachers be most encouraged and approved of who spend the Afternoons exercise in the examination of Children in their Catechisme which is the most antient and laudable custome of teaching in the Church of England 3. That no Preacher of what title