off my good Unkle Somerse ' s head And it is generally conceived that grief for his death caused K. Edwards Consumption who succeeded not to any Consumptive Inclination as hereditary from His Extraction from a Father but little past and a Mother just in the strength of Their Age. 16. However An uncertain report I finde in a * Image of both Churches page 423. Popish Writer that it was said That the Apothecary who poisoned him for the horrour of the offence and the disquietnesse of his conscience drowned himself And that the Landresse who washed His shirt lost the skin off her fingers But if his History be no better than his Divinity we that justly condemn the one can doe no lesse than suspect the other 17. We will conclude this Kings most Pious life with that His most devout Prayer on His Death-Bed The Prayer of K. Edward on his death-bed which God heard and graciously answered for the good of the Church of England d Fox Acts Mon. p. 13â—5 LOrd God deliver Me out of this miserable and wretched life and take Me among thy chosen Howbeit not my will but thy will be done Lord I commit my spirit to thee O Lord thou knowest how happy it were for me to be with thee yet for thy chosens sake send me life and health that I may truly serve thee Oh my Lord God blesse thy people and save thine inheritance Oh Lord God save thy chosen People of England Oh my Lord God defend this Realm from Papistry and maintain thy true Religion that I and my People may praise thy holy Name for Jesus Christs sake 17. One of the last Sermons King Edward heard Opposers of the Liturgie grow a strong was preached before Him by Hugh Latimer at what time their party began to spread and increase who opposed the Liturgie witnesse this passage in his Sermon * Latimers Semons printed Anno 1607. pag. 83. I have heard say when that the good Queen that is gone had ordained in her House daily Prayer both before Noon and after Noon the Admirall getteth him out of the way like a Mole digging in the earth He shall be Lots Wife to me as long as I live He was I heard say a Covetous man a covetous man indeed I would there were no more in England He was I heard say an Ambitious man I would there were no more in England He was I heard say a Seditious man a Contemner of Common-Prayer I would there were no more in England Well! he is gone I would he had left none behinde him A passage so informative to the Church History of that Age must not passe without some observation thereon The good Queen is gone this was Queen Katharine Par the Relict of King Henry the eighth who some two years since died in Child-bed The Admirall This was Thomas Lord Seymour her Husband Getteth himself out of the way Here is the question on what terms he absented himself whether on Popish or Non Conformist In proof whereof he is compared to Lots Wife which importeth a looking back and reflexion on former practise  Being termed herein Seditious and not Superstitious it intimates that a factious Principle made him distast the Common-Prayer A Contemner of the Common Prayer I wish there were no more This probably relates unto a potent Party disaffected to the Liturgie which now began to be very considerable in England but if the premisses be rightly collected much too blame in the judgment of godly Master Latimer 18. The dislikers of the Liturgie bare themselves high upon the judgment of Master Calvin in his Letter four year since to the Duke of Somerset Lord Protectour now no longer a privacie because publickly printed in his Epistles And yet Master Calvin is therein very positive for a set Forme Mr. Calvin's 3 Reasons for a set Form of Prayer whose words deserve our Translation and observation * Libro Epist pag. 69. Formulam precums rituum Ecclesiasticorum valde probo ut certa illa extet A quâ ne Pastoribus discedere in functione sua liceat 1. Ut consulatur quorundam simplicitati imperitiae 2. Ut certius constet omnium inter se Ecclesiarum consensus 3. Ut obviam ineatur desultoriae quorundam levitati qui novationes quasdam affectant Sic igitur statum esse Catechismum oportet statam Sacramentorum administrationem publicam item precum formulam I doe highly approve that there should be a certain Form of Prayer and Ecclesiasticall Rites From which it should not be lawfull for the Pastors themselves to discede 1. That provision may be made for some peoples ignorance and unskilfulnesse 2. That the consent of all Churches amongst themselves may the more plainly appear 3. That order may be taken against the desultorie levity of such who delight in innovations Thus there ought to be an established Catechisme an established Administration of Sacraments as also a publick Form of Prayer So that it seems not a Form but this Form of Prayer did displease and exceptions were taken at certain passages still in the Liturgie though lately reviewed by the Bishops and corrected 19. Whilst mutuall animosities were heightned betwixt the Opposers and Assertors of the Liturgie Wanton fâ—owardnesse jâ—stly punished Providence put a period for a time to that Controversie in England Such who formerly would not soon after durst not use the Common Prayer Masse and Popery being set up by Queen Mary in the room thereof Thus when Children fall out and fight about the candle the Parents comming in and taking it away leave them to decide the differences in the dark The end of the Reign of King EDWARD the sixt THE Church-History OF BRITAINE The Eighth BOOK CONTAINING THE PERSECUTIONS Under the Reign of QUEEN MARY SIC OMNI TEMPORE VERDO LONDON Printed in the Year M.DC.LV. Punishment for their going naked that what sometimes they affect of Fancy should alwayes be enjoyned them by Authority till the Cold converted them into more Civility In vain do they plead for their Practise the Precedent of the Prophet * Isaiah 20. 3. Isaiah going naked for three years Whose act was extraordinary and mystical having an immediate command from God for the same As well may they in Imitation of Hos ea 1. 2. Hosea take a known harlot to their wives which I beleeve they would not willingly do though they have made Harlots of other mens wives if all be true reported of them Their other Opinion is that THOU and THEE is the Omer of Respect to be measur'd out to every single person allowing the hiest no more the lowest no less be he to speak in their own * Pamphlet called the Language of truth pag. 2. Phrase either King Lord Judge or Officer We will take their words asunder as the wheels of a watch only scowre them and then put them together again King though none at this present in the
of the burden thereof 7. Great at this time was the Calm in the English Church the Brethren not endeavoring any thing in Opposition to the Hierarchie A Quiet in the English Ch and the cause thereof This some impute not to their Quienesse but Wearinesse because so long they had in vaine seeked to cast off that Yoke from them Besides they did not so much practise for the Present as project for the Future to procure hereafter an Establishment of their Ecclesiasticall Government For they beheld the Queenes old Age as a Taper of Virgin Wax now in the Socket ready to be extinguished which made them addresse and apply themselves with all diligence to IAMES King of Scotland the Heire apparent to the Crowne as to the rising Sun whom they hoped will be more favourable to their Proceedings Hopes not altogether groundlesse whilest they considered the Power of the Presbytery in the Church of Scotland where Bishops though lately restored to their place were so restrained in their Power that small was their Command in Church-affaires which made the Brethren in England thence to promise Great matters to themselves but with what successe shall be seen hereafter As for Mr. Thomas Cartwright the Chiefraine of that Party in England we finde him at this time growing rich in the Towne of Warwick there Master of an Hospitall by the Benevolence and Bounty of his Followers where he preached f Sir Geo Paul in the life of Arch-bishop Whitgiss p. 54 very temperately according to his Promise made to the Arch-bishop 8. Some ascribe this his Mildnesse to his old Age and Experience Severall Reasons assigned of Mr. Cartwright's Moderation it being commonly observed Ann. Reg. Bliz. 44. that in Controversies of this kinde Ann. Dom. 1602 Men when they consult with their owne Gray haires begin to abate of their Violence Others conceive that Arch-bishop Whitgift had conquered him with his kindnesse having formerly procured him both his Pardon Dismission out of all his Troubles so that his Coales of Courtesies heaped on Mr. Cartwright's Head made the good Metall the Ingenuity in him to melt into Moderation For in hs Letters written with his owne hand March 24. Anno 1601. he confesseth himself much obliged unto him vouchsafing him the style of A RIGHT REVEREND FATHER IN GOD AND HIS LORD THE ARCH-BISHOP'S GRACE OF CANTERBURY which Title of GRACE he also often yeildeth him throughout his Letters acknowledging his g Sir George Paul ut prius Bond of most humble Duty so much the straiter because his Grace's Favour proceeded from a frank Disposition without any desert of his owne Others and that not improbably doe think that Mr. Cartwright grew sensible with Sorrow how all Sects and Schismes being opposite to Bishops Brownists Barrowists c. did shroud and shelter themselves under his Protection whom he could neither reject with Credit nor receive with Comfort seeing his Conscience could not close with their enormous Opinions and his Counsell could not regulate their extravagant Violences which made him by degrees decline their Party Yet for all this there want not those who will maintaine that all this while Mr. Cartwright was not more remisse but more reserv'd in his Judgement being still as sound but not as sharpe in the cause out of Politick intents like a skilfull Pilot in a great Tempest yeilding to the Violence of a storme therewith to be carried away contrary to his intents for the present but waiting when the Wind should soone turne about to the North and blow him and his a prosperous Gale according to their Desires 9. What his opinions were The Character of Mr. Cartwr may appeare by the Premises and his life may be presumed most pious it concerning him to be strict in his Conversation who so stickled for the Reformation of all abuses in the Church An excellent Scholar pure Latinist his Travels advantaging the ready use thereof accurate Grecian exact Hebraician as his Comments on the Proverbs and other Works doe sufficiently testifie But the Master-piece of all his Writings was that his Confutation of the Rhemish Translation of the New Testament into ENGLISH at the Importunity of many Ministers of London and Suffolk and Sir Francis Walsingham the Queens Secretary Mr. Cartwright's especiall Patron gave him an h See the Preface of M. Cartwright's Book hundred pounds to buy him Books and incourage him in that Work However the setting forth thereof was stopped by Arch-bishop Whitgift probably we may conceive because some Passages therein did glance at and gird the Episcopall Discipline in England and after it had layn thirty yeares neglected it was first set forth Anno 1618. and then without either Priviledge or Licence except any will say that Truth is a Licence for it selfe In a word no English Champion in that Age did with more Valour or Successe charge and rout the Romish Enemy in matters of Doctrine But when that Adversary sometimes was not in the field then his active spirit fell foul in point of Discipline with those which otherwise were of his own Religion 10. The same yeare proved fatall to many other eminent Clergie-men Bishop Westphaling Dean Nowel Mr. Perkins Gr Sayer and Will 〈◊〉 depart this World and I hope without offence I may joyne them together their Bodies at the same time meeting at the Grave though their mindes before had parted in different Opinions 1. Herbert Westphaling Bishop of Hereford though perchance his Ambiguous Death is more properly referred to the last yeare brought up in Christ-church in Oxford being the first Bishop of that Foundation a Man of great Piety of Life and of such i Godwin de Prasulibus Anglia p. 546. Gravity that he was seldome or never seene to laugh leaving no great but a well gotten Estate out of which he bequeathed twenty pounds per annum to Jesus Colledge in Oxford 2. Alexander Nowell Doctor of Divinity and Deane of S. Paul's in London borne in Lancashire bred in Oxford afterwards fled into Germanie in the reigne of Queen Mary He was the first of k Donald upon in his Life English Exiles that returned in the dayes of Q. Elizabeth And I have read how in a Parliament he was chosen Burgess of a Town of Cornwall But his Election pronounced void because he was a Deacon A Man of a most Angelicall Life and Deep Learning A great Defender of Justification by Faith alone and yet a great Practiser of Good Works witnesse l Gamblen's Elizabeth in Anno 2602. two hundred pounds a year rent for the maintenance of thirteen Students bestowed on Brazen-nose Colledge wherein he had his Education A great honourer of the Marriage of the Clergie and yet who lived and died single himselfe An aged Man of 90. yeares of age yet fresh in his youthfull Learning yea like another Moses his eyes were not dimme nor did he ever make use of m Hugh Holland in his Icones
Venerable Bede 167 14 Henry of Erphurt 169 15 Annals of Lichfield 175 16 Marianus Scotus 177 17 Ralph de Balduâ— 178 18 Iohn Bale 179 19 Polydor Virgil. Anno Dom. 108 182 20 Chron. Brit. Abbrev. 183 21 Roger de VVendover 184 22 Matth. Paris Westminster 185 23 Hector Boethius 187 24 Martin Polonus 188 25 Saxon Annals 189 26 Iohn Harding 190 Here is more then a Grand-Iury of Writers which neither agree in their Verdicts with their Fore-man nor one with another there being betwixt the first the last Paulus Iovius Iohn Harding ninetie years distance in their Account This with other Arguments is used not onely to shake but shatter the whole reputation of the Story And we must endeavour to clear this Objection before we go farther which is shrewdly pressed by many For if the two Elders which accused Susanna were condemned for Liars being found in two Tales the one laying the Scene of her Incontinency under a a Susanna verse 54. and 58. Mastick-tree the other under an Holme-tree why may not the Relation of Lucius be also condemned for a Fiction seeing the Reporters thereof more differ in Time then the forenamed Elders in Place seeing when and where are two circumstances both equally important and concerning in History to the Truth of any action 3. But we answere The History of K. Lucius not disproved by the dissension of Authors concerning the time thereof That however Learned men differ in the Date they agree in the Deed. They did set themselves so to heed the Matter as of most moment being the Soul and Substance of History that they were little curious not to say very careless in accurate noting of the Time which being well observed doth not onely add some lustre but much strength to a relation And indeed all Computation in the Primitive time is very uncertain there being then and a good while after an Anarchy as I may terme it in Authours their reckoning of years because men were not subject to any one soveraign Rule in accounting the year of our Lord but every one followed his own Arithmetick to the great confusion of History and prejudice of Truth In which age though all start from the same place our Saviour's Birth yet running in severall ways of account they seldome meet together in their dating of any memorable Accident Worthie therefore was his work whoever he was who first calculated the Computation we use at this day and so set Christendome a Copy whereby to write the date of actions which since being generally used hath reduced Chronology to a greater Certainty 4. As for their Objection Lucius might be a British King under the Roman Monarchy That Lucius could not be a King in the South of Britain because it was then reduced to be a Province under the Roman Monarchy It affects not any that understand how it was the Roman b Veâ—us jampridem recepta populi Romani consuetudo ut haberet instrumenta â—ervitutis Reges Tacitus in vita Agricolae custome both to permit and appoint Pettie Kings in several Countries as Antiochus in Asia Herod in Iudea Dtotaurus in Sicilie who under them were invested with Regal Power Dignity And this was conceived to conduce to the state and amplitude of their Empire Yea the German Emperour at this day Successour to the Roman Monarchy is stiled Rex Regum as having many Princes and particularly the King of Bohemia Homagers under him As for other inconsistents with truth which depend as Retainers on this Relation of King Lucius they prove not that this whole Story should be refused but refined Which calleth aloud to the Discretion of the Reader to fan the Chaffe from the Corne and to his Industry to rub the Rust from the Gold which almost of necessity will cleave to matters of such Antiquity Thus conceiving that for the main we have asserted King Lucius we come to relate his History as we finde it 5. He being much taken with the Miracles which he beheld truly done by pious Christians Lucius sendeth to the Bishop of Rome to be instructed in Christianity fell in admiration of 167 and love with their Religion and sent Elvanus and Meduinus men of known Piety and Learning in the Scriptures to Eleutherius Bishop of Rome with a Letter requesting several things of him but principally that he might be instructed in the Christian Faith The reason why he wrote to Rome was because at this time the Church therein was she can ask no more we grant no less the most eminent Church in the World shining the brighter Anno Dom. 167 because set on the highest Candle-stick the Imperial City We are so far from grudging Rome the Happiness she once had that we rather bemoan she lost it so soon degenerating from her primitive Purity The Letter which Lucius wrote is not extant at this day and nothing thereof is to be seen save onely by reflection as it may be collected by the Answer returned by Eleutherius which such an one as it is it will not be amisse here to insert 6. Ye require of us the Roman Laws This translation of the letter of Eleutherius is transcribed out of Bishop Godwin in his Catalogue of Bishops and the Emperours to be sent over unto you which you would practice and put in ure within your Realm The Roman Laws and the Emperours we may ever reprove but the Law of God we may not Ye have received of late through Gods mercy in the Kingdom of Britain the Law and Faith of Christ Ye have with you within the Realm both parts of the Scriptures out of them by Gods grace with the Councell of the Realm take ye a Law and by that Law through Gods sufference rule your Kingdome of Britain There is some variety between this and that of M r. Fox For you be God's Vicar in your Kingdom The Lords is the Earth and the fulness of the world and all that dwell in it And again according to the Prophet that was a King Thou hast loved righteousness and hated iniquity therefore God hath anointed thee with the Oile of gladness above thy fellows And again according to the same Prophet O God give Iudgement unto the King and thy Righteousness unto the Kings Sonne He said not the judgement and righteousness of the Emperour but thy Iudgement and Righteousness The Kings Sonnes be the Christian people and folk of the Realm which be under your Government and live and continue in peace within your Kingdome As the Gospel saith Like as the Hen gathereth her Chickens under her wings so doth the King his people The people and the folk of the Realm of Britain be yours whom if they be divided ye ought to gather in concord and peace to call them to the Faith and Law of Christ to cherish and a In the Latin it is Manu tenere maintain them to rule and govern them so as
him born in Britain 16. But whilest the aforesaid Authors in Prose softly rock the Infancy of yet little Constantine the Great in Britain and whilest others in Verse especially f In Antiocheide sua Ioseph of EXETER and g See his Tetrastichon in Bishop Usher de Brit. Eccles primord pag. 76. Answers to the objections of the contrary Party Alexander Necham sweetly sing Lullabies unto him some Learned men are so rough and uncivil as to over-turn his Cradle yea wholly deprive Britain of the Honour of his Nativity Whose Arguments follow with our Answers unto them 1. Object The Panegyrist speaking how Britain first saw Constantine Caesar h Joannes Livineius not in Panegyr 5. refers not to his ordinary Life but Imperial Lustre Britain beheld him not first a Child but first saw him Caesar not fetching thence his natural being Anno Dom. 307 but honourable Birth first saluted Caesar in Britain Ans Even a Not. in Admiranda lib. 4. cap. 11. Lipsius Britain's greatest Enemy in this point confesseth that though Constantine was first elected Emperour in Britain yet he was first pronounced Caesar in France in the life and health of his Father Caesar was a Title given to the Heir-apparent to the Empire ◠and therefore the words in the Panegyrist in their native Construction relate to his natural Birth 2. Object Constantine Porphyrogenetes the Grecian Emperour about 700 yeares since in his Book of Government which he wrote to his Son confesseth Constantine the Great to have been a FRANK by his Birth whence learned Meursius collecteth him a French-man by his extraction Ans It is notoriously known to all Learned men that the Greeks in that midle-Age as the Turks at this very day called all VVestern Europeaans FRANKS Wherefore as he that calleth such a Fruit of the Earth Grain a general name denyeth not but it may be VVheat a proper kind thereof so the terming Constantine a Frank doth not exclude him from being a Britan yea strongly implieth the same seeing no VVestern Country in Europe ever pretended unto his Birth 3. Object Bede a grave and faithfull Authour makes no mention of Constantine born in Britain who as b In his Epistle to M r. Camden Non Beda ille antiquus fidns an gloriae gentis suae non savet Lipsius marketh would not have omitted a matter so much to the honour of his own Nation Ans By the leave of Lipsius Constantine and Bede though of the same Country were of severall Nations Bede being a Saxon was little zealous to advance the British Honour The History of which Church he rather toucheth then handleth using it onely as a Porch to passe through it to the Saxon History And Saxons in general had little Skill to seek and lesse Will to find out any Worthy thing in British Antiquities because of the known Antipathy betwixt them 4. Object c In lib. ◠de aedisiciis Iustiniani Procopius maketh Drepanum a haven in Bithynia so called because there the Sea runnes crooked in forme of a Sicle to be the place where Constantine had his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or first Nursing very near to his Birth Nicephorus Gregoras makes him born in the same Country Ans The former speaks not positively but faith 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 men say so reporting a Popular Errour The latter is a late VVriter living under Andronicus junior Anno 1340 therefore not to be believed before others more ancient 5. Object But Iulius Firmicus contemporary with Constantine himself an Authour above Exception maketh this Constantine to be born at Naisus in printed Books Tharsus a City of Dacia Ans An excellent d Camden in his letter to Lipsius printed in Usher de Prim. Eccl. Brit. p. 188. Critick hath proved the Printed Copies of Firmicus to be corrupted and justifieth it out of approved Manuscripts that not Constantine the Great the Father but Constantine the younger his Sonne was intended by Firmicus born in that Place Thus we hope we have cleared the Point with ingenuous Readers in such measure as is consistent with the Brevity of our History So that of this Constantine a kind of outward Saviour in the World to deliver People from Persecution we may say with some allusion to the words of the e Mica 5. 2. Prophet but with a humble Reservation of the infinite Distance betwixt the Persons AND THOU BRITAIN ART NOT THE MEANEST AMONGST THE KINGDOMS OF EUROPE FOR OUT OF THEE DID COME A GOVERNOUR WHICH DID RULE THE ISRAEL OF GOD GIVING DELIVERANCE AND PEACE TO THE SAINTS 17. Now see what a Pinch a In his Epistle to this Nation Verstegan whose teeth are sharpned by the difference of Religion gives M r. Fox M r. Fox defended against the Cavils of Verstegan What is it other then an Absurdity for an English Authour to begin his Epistle to an huge b He meaneth his Books of Acts and Monuments Volume with Constantine the great and mighty Emperour the Sonne of Hellen an ENGLISH Woman c. VVhereas saith he in truth S t. Hellen the Mother of Constantine was no English but a British VVoman And yet Fox his words are capable of a candid Construction if by English VVoman we understand by a favourable Prolepsis one born in that Part of Britain which since hath been inhabited by the English Sure in the same Dialect S t. Alban hath often been called the first Martyr of the English by many Writers of good esteem Yea the Breviary of c In officio Sancti Albani Sarum allowed and confirmed no doubt by the Infallible Church of Rome greets S t. Alban with this Salute Ave Proto-martyr Anglorum Miles Regis Angelorum O Albane flos Martyrum Sure Hellen was as properly an English VVoman as Alban an English Man being both British in the Rigid Letter of History and yet may be interpreted English in the Equity thereof Thus it is vain for any to write Books if their words be not taken in a courteous Latitude and if the Reader meets not his Authour with a Pardon of course for venial Mistakes especially when his Pen slides in so slippery a Passage 18. And now having asserted Constantine a Britan Three Cities contend for Constantine born in them we are ingaged afresh in a new Controversy betwixt three Cities with equall Zeal and Probability challenging Constantine to be theirs by Birth d William Fitzstephens in the description of London London e Oratores Regis Angliae in Concil Constant York and f Camden's Brit. in Essex Colchester We dare define nothing not so much out offear to displease though he that shall gain one of these Cities his Friend shall make the other two his Foes by his Verdict but chiefly because little Certainty can be pronounced in a matter so long since and little evident Let me refresh my self and the Reader with relating and applying a pleasant Story Once at
Now though the said Sir Reginald did modestly decline the Pope's Honour for want of Maintenance yet had he at that time no fewer then forty three Knights Fees held of his Castle of Dunstar I have nothing else to adde herein save that the ancient Armes of the Mohuns viz. a hand in a Maunch holding a Flower de luce in that Age more fashionable then a Rose in Heraldry seems to relate to this occasion which their Family afterward changed into a Sable Crosse in the Atchievements in the Holy land born at this day by the truely honourable the Lord Mohun Baron of Oakehampton as descended from this Family 28. This year died Robert Grouthead 38 Bishop of Lincoln 1254 born at Stodebrook in Suffolk The death of Bishop Grouthead Natalibus pudendis saith my c Bishop Godwin in Catalogue of Linc. Bish. Authour of Shamefull extraction intimating suspicion of Bastardy though the parents rather then the child have caused a blush thereat He got his Surname from the greatness of his head having large Stoage to receive and store of Braines to fill it bred for a time in Oxford then in France a great and generall Scholar Bale reckoning up no fewer then two hundred books of his making and a great opposer of the Popes oppression which now grew intolerable 29. For it appeared by inquisition made the last year The Popes fume against this good Bishop that the Ecclesiasticall Revenues of Italians in England whereof many were Boyes more Blockheads all Aliens amounted per annum unto threescore and ten thousand Marks whereas the Kings Income at the same time was hardly d Matthew Paris in Anno 1552. twenty thousand Bishop Grouthead offended thereat wrote Pope Innocent the fourth such a Iuniper Letter taxing him with extortion and other vitious practices that his Holiness brake out into this expression VVhat meaneth this doting old man surdus absurdus thus boldly to controll our actions By Peter and Paul did not our innate ingenuity restrain us I would confound him and make him a prodigie to the whole world Is not the King of England our Vassall yea our Slave to imprison and destroy what persons we please to appoint 30. The Pope being in this pelt quenched by a Spanish Cardinall Aegidius a Spanish Cardinall thus interposed his gravitie It is not expedient my Lord to use any harshness to this Bishop We must confesse the truths which he saith He is a holy man of a more Religious life then any of us yea Christendome hath not his equall a great Philosopher skilled in Latine and Greek a constant reader in the Schools Preacher in the Pulpit lover of Chastity and loather of Simony 31. Thus the Pope took wit in his anger Grouthead the peoples though not the Pope's Saint and Grouthead escaped for the present though Bale reporteth that he died excommunicate and deprived of his Bishoprick Popish e Iohn Burie Mat. Paris Mat. Westminster Mr. Fabian Authours confidently report a strange vision or rather a passion of Pope Innocent the fourth whom Grouthead appearing after his death so beat with many blows it seems he had a heavy hand as well as a great head that the Pope died thereof soon after No wonder therefore if his successours would not Canonize this Robert who notwithstanding was a Saint though not in the Popes yet in the peoples Calendar many miracles being ascribed unto him and particularly f Godwin in his Catalogue of Bishops Discontents begin in England that a sweet oyl after his death issued out of his monument which if false in the litterall may be true in a mysticall meaning Solomon observing that a good name is as oyntment poured out 32. England began now to â—urfet of more then thirty yeares Peace and Plenty which produced no better effects then ingratitude to God and murmuring at their King Many active spirits whose minds were above their means offended that others beneath them as they thought in Merit were above them in Employment Anno Dom. 1254 cavilled at many errours in the Kings Government Anno Regis Henrici 3. 38 being State-Donatists maintaining the perfection of a Commonwealth might and ought to be attained A thing easie in the Theory impossible in the Practice to conform the actions of mens corrupted natures to the exact Ideas in mens Imaginations 33. Indeed they had too much matter whereon justly to ground their Discontents Grounded on too much occasion partly because the King distrusting his Natives imployed so many French Forrainers in places of power and profit partly because he had used such indirect courses to recruit his Treasuries especially by annihilating all Patents granted in his Minority though indeed he was never more in his Full-age then when in his Non-age as guided then by the best counsell and forcing his Subjects to take out new ones on what Terms his Officers pleased In a word an a Roger Wendover Authour then living complaineth that Iustice was committed to men unjust the Laws to such who themselves were Out-laws and the keeping of the Peace to injurious people delighting in Discords 34. After many contests betwixt the King and his Subjects which the Reader may learn from the Historians of the State four and twenty prime persons were chosen by Parliament to have the supreme inspection of the Land A Title without power onely lest to the King which soon after to make them the more cordiall passed a decoction and were reduced to three and they three in effect contracted to one Simon Mountfort Earle of Leicester the Kings Brother in Law The King himself standing by as a Cypher yet signifying as much as his ambitious Subjects did desire These to make sure work bound him with his solemn Oath to submit himself to their new-modelled Government 35. Here the Pope charitable to relieve all distressed Princes interposed his power The Pope freely gives his curtesies for money absolving the King from that Oath as unreasonable in it self and forced upon him His Holinesse was well paid for this great favour the King hereafter conniving at his Horse-Leeches Legates and Nuncioes sucking the bloud of his Subjects with intolerable Taxations Thus was it not altogether the Flexibility of King Henry but partly the Flexion of his Condition I mean the altering of his occasions which made him sometimes withstand and otherwhiles comply with the Popes extortion Thus alwayes the Popes Curtesies are very dear and the Storm it self is a better Shelter then the Bramble fleecing such Sheep as fly under the shade thereof 36. Mean time the King having neither Coyn nor Credit Sad case when the Royall Root is no better then a sucker having pawn'd his Iewels mortgag'd all his Land in France and sold much of it in England wanting where withall to subsist lived on Abbeys and Prioreys till his often coming and long staying there made what was welcome at the first quickly to become
and what the just measure of his judgment Many phrases heretical in sound would appear orthodox in sense Yea some of his poysonous passages dress'd with due caution would prove not onely wholsome but cordial truths many of his expressions wanting not granum ponderis but salis no weight of truth but some grains of discretion But now alas of the a Aeneaâ— Sylvius Hâ—â—â— Bohem pag. 78. two hundred books which he wrote being burnt not a tittle is left and we are sain to b So Jo. Bale contelleth Cent. 6. p. 451. borrow the bare titles of them from his adversaries from whom also these his opinions are extracted who winnow his works c Luke 22. 31. as Satan did Peter not to finde the corâ—â— but the chaff therein And how can did some Papists are in interpreting the meaning of Protestants appears by that cunning d See the book called Calvino Turcismus Chymist who hath distilled the spirits of Turcisme out of the books of Calvin himself 8. Now a Synod was called by Simon Sudbury 50. Arch-Bishop of Canterbury 1376 at Paul's in London the Parliament then sitting at Westminster whither Wicliffe was summoned to appear Wicliff appears before the Synod in Saint Pauls who came accordingly but in a posture and equipage different from expectation Four Fryers were to assist the Lord Piercy to usher John Duke of Lancaster to accompany him These Lords their enmity with the Prelates was all Wicliffes acquaintance with them whose eyes did countenance hands support and tongues encourage him bidding him to dread nothing nor to shrinke at the company of the Bishops for they are all unlearned said they in respect of you Great was the concourse of people as in populous places when a new sight is to be seen there never lack looke is on and to see this manbaiting all people of all kindes flock'd together 9. The Lord Piercy The brawle betwixt the Bishop and the Lords in the Church Lord Marshal of England had much ado to break thorow the croud in the Church so that the bustle he kept with the people highly offended the Bishop of London profaning the place and disturbing the Assembly Whereon followed a fierce contention betwixt them and left their interlocutions should hinder the intireness of out discourse take them verbatim in a Dialogue omitting onely their mutual railing which as it little became persons of honour to bring so it was flat against the profession of a Bishop to return who by the Apostles e 1 Tim. 3. 3. precept must be patient not a brawler Bish Courtney Lord Piercy if I had known before hand what maisteries you would have kept in the Church I would have stopt you out from coming hither Duke of Lancast He shall keep such masteries here though you say nay Lord Piercy Wicliffe sit down for you have many things to answer to and you need to repose your self on a soft seat Bish Courtney It is unreasonable that one cited before his Ordinary should sit down during his answer He must and shall stand Duke of Lancast The Lord Piercy his motion for Wicliffe is but reasonable And as for you my Lord Bishop who are grown so proud and arrogant I will bring down the pride not of you alone but of all the Prelacy in England Bish Courtney Do your worst Sir Duke of Lancast Thou bearest thy self so brag upon thy f His Father Hugh Courtney Earl of Devon-shire parents which shall not be able to help thee they shall have enough to do to help themselves Bish Courtney My confidence is not in my Parents nor in any man else but onely in God in whom I trust by whose assistance I will be bold to speak the truth Duke of Lancast Rather then I will take these words at his hands Anno Dom. 1376. I 'de pluck the Bishop by the hair out of the a Fox Martyr pag. 303. Harpsfield in Hist Wicliffiana cap. 5. pag. 683. Church Anno Regis Ed. 3. 50. These last words though but softly whispered by the Duke in the ear of one next unto him were notwithstanding over-heard by the Londoners who inraged that such an affront should be offered to their Bishop fell furiously on the Lords who were fain to depart for the present and for a while by flight and secresie to secure themselves whilest what outrages were offered to the Dukes palace and his servants Historians of the State do relate 10. Wonder not that two persons Why the Arch-Bishop and Wicliffe silent the while most concerned to be vocal were wholly mute at this meeting namely Simon the Arch-Bishop and Wicliffe himself The former rather acted then active in this business seeing the brawl happened in the Cathedral of London left the Bishop thereof to meddle whose stout stomach and high birth made him the meeter match to undertake such noble adversaries As for Wicliffe well might the Client be silent whilest such Councel pleaded for him And the Bishops found themselves in a dangerous Dilemma about him it being no pity to permit nor policy to punish one protected with such potent patrons Yea in the issue of this Synod they onely commanded him to forbear hereafter from preaching or writing his doctrine and how far he promised conformity to their injunctions doth not appear 11. In all this Synod Wicliffâ— opinions marvellously spread and why though Wicliffe made but a dumb shew rather seen then heard yet the noise of his success sounded all over the Kingdom For when a suspected person is solemnly summoned and dismissed without censure vulgar apprehensions not onely infer his innocence but also conclude either the ignorance or injustice of his adversaries In publique assemblies if the weaker party can so subsist as not to be conquered it conquers in reputation and a drawn battel is accounted a victory on that â—ide If Wicliffe was guilty why not punished if guiltless why silenced And it much advantaged the propagating of his opinions that at this very time happened a dangerous discord at Rome long lasting for above fourty years and fiercely followed begun betwixt Vrban the 6 th and Clement the 7 th One living at Rome the other residing at Avignon Thus Peters Chair was like to be broken betwixt two sitting down at once Let Wicliffe alone to improve this advantage pleading that now the Romish Church having two had no legal head that this monstrous apparition presaged the short life thereof and these two Anti-Popes made up one Anti-Christ In a word there was opened unto him a great door of utterance made out of that crack or cleft which then happened in this seasonable schisme at Rome 12. Edward The death character of King Edward the third the third of that name 1377 ended his life 51. having reigned a Jubilee ful fifty years A Prince no less succesful then valiant like an Amphibion He was equally active on water and land Witness
worse did he finde it witness Leland thus praising him Praedicat Algerum meritò Florentia Dantem Italia numeros tota Petrarche tuos Anglia Chaucerum veneratur nostra Poëtam Cui veneres debet patria lingua suas Of Alger Dants Florence doth justly boast Of Petrarch brags all the Italian coast England doth Poet Chaucer reverence To whom our language ows its eloquence Indeed Verslegan a learned a In his restitution of de caied intelligence p. 203. Antiquary condemns him for spoiling the purity of the English tongue by the mixture of so many French and Latin words But he who mingles wine with water though he destroies the nature of water improves the quality thereof 49. I finde this Chaucer fined in the Temple two shillings A great enemy to Friers for striking a Franciscan Frier in Fleet-street and it seems his hands ever after itched to be revenged and have his penniworths out of them so tickling Religious-Orders with his tales and yet so pinching them with his truths that Friers in reading his books know not how to dispose their faces betwixt crying and laughing He lies buried in the South-Isle of S t Peters Westminster and since hath got the company of Spencer and Drayton a pair-royal of Poets enough almost to make passengers feet to move metrically who go over the place where so much Poetical dust is interred 50. Since the Abjuration last exemplified A short quiet in the Church we meet in this Kings Reign no more persecution from the Bishops We impute this not to their pity but other imployment now busie in making their applications to the new King on the change of government King Richard being now deposed 51. He was one of a goodly person The character of King Rich the second of a nature neither good nor bad but according to his company which commonly were of the more vicious His infancy was educated under several Lord Protectours successively under whom his intellectuals thrived as babes battle with many nurses commonly the worse for the change At last he grew up to full age and empty minde judicious onely in pleasure giving himself over to all licentiousness 52. As King Richard was too weak to govern Conspired against by Hen. the fourth so Henry Duke of Lancaster his Cousin-germane was too wilful to be governed Taking advantage therefore of the Kings absence in Ireland he combined with other of the discontented Nobility and draws up Articles against him some true some false some both as wherein truth brought the matter and malice made the measure Many misdemeanors mo misfortunes are laid to his charge Murdering the Nobility advancing of worthless Minions sale of justice oppression of all people with unconscionable taxations For such Princes as carry a forke in one hand Anno Regis Hen. 4 1. must bear a rake in the other and must covetously scrape to maintain what they causlesly scatter 53. Loosness brings men into streights at last And resigneth the Crown as King Richard may be an instance thereof Returning into England he is reduced to this doleful Dilemma either voluntarily by resigning to depose himself or violently by detrusion to be deposed by others His misery and his enemies ambition admit of no expedient Yea in all this Act his little judgment stood onely a looker-on whilest his fear did what was to be done directed by the force of others In hopes of life he solemnly resigneth the Crown but all in vain For cruel thieves seldom rob but they also kill and King Henry his Successour could not meet with a soft pillow so long as the other wore a warm head Whereupon not long after King Richard was barbarously murdered at Pomfret-Castle But of these transactions the Reader may satisfie himself at large out of our civil Historians 54. Onely we will add The baseness of the disloyal Clergy that the Clergy were the first that led this dance of disloyaltie Thomas Arundel now Arch-Bishop of Canterbury in the room of William Courtney deceased made a Sermon on Samuels words Vir dominabitur populo He shewed himself a Satyrist in the former a Parasite in the later part of his Sermon a Traitor in both He aggravated the childish weakness of King Richard his inability to govern magnifying the parts and perfections of Henry Duke of Lancaster But by the Arch-Bishops leave grant Richard either deservedly deposed or naturally dead without issue the right to the Crown lay not in this Henry but in Edmond Mortimer Earl of March descended by his mother Philippa from Lionel Duke of Clarence elder son to Edward the third This the Arch-Bishop did willingly conceal Thus in all State-alterations be they never so bad the Pulpit will be of the same wood with the Councel-board And thus ambitious Clergy-men abuse the silver trumpets of the Sanctuary who reversing them and putting the wrong end into their mouthes make what was appointed to sound Religon to signifie Rebellion 55. But whilest all other Churches in England rung congratulatory peales to King Henry his Happiness The couragious conscience of the Bishop of Carlile one jarring bell almost marr'd the melody of all the rest even Thomas Merks Bishop of Carlile For when the Lords in Parliament not content to Depose King Richard were devising more mischief against him up steps the aforesaid Bishop formerly Chaplain to the King and expresseth himself as followeth There is no man present worthy to pass his sentence on so a Bishop Gedwin in the Bishops of Carlile great a King as to whom they have obeyed as their lawful Prince full two and twenty years This is the part of Traitors Cut-throats and Thieves None is so wicked none so vile who though he be charged with a manifest crime we should think to condemn before we heard him And you do ye account it equal to pass sentence on a King anointed and Crowned giving him no leave to defend himself How unjust is this But let us consider the matter it self I say nay openly affirm that Henry Duke of Lancaster whom you are pleased to call your King hath most unjustly spoiled Richard as well his Soveraign as ours of his Kingdom More would he have spoken when the Lord Marshal enjoyned him silence for speaking too much Truth in so dangerous a time Since it seems some Historians have made up what more he would have said spinning these his Heads into a very large Oration though tedious to none save those of the Lancastrian faction 56. Here Innocency the lest Armour if ever did the Proverb take effect Truth may be blam'd but cannot be sham'd for although the rest of the Bishops being guilty themselves condemned him as discovering more Covent-devotion who originally was a Monk of Westminster then Court-discretion in dissenting from his Brethren Yet generally he was beheld as Loyalties a Confessor Anno Dom. 1400. speaking what became his calling Anno Regis Ric. 2 2. in discharge of his
this be your errand you bring me no great newes for I have looked a long time for this message and I must humbly thank His Majesty that it pleaseth Him to rid me from all this worldly businesse Yet let me by your patience sleep an hour or two for I have slept very ill this night not for any fear of death I thank God but by reason of my great infirmity and weaknesse 7. The King's pleasure is farther said the Lieutenant that you shall use as little speech as may be Yet labours to preserve his life especially of any thing touching His Majesty whereby the people should have any cause to think of Him or His proceedings otherwise than well For that said he you shall see me order my self as by God's grace neither the King nor any man else shall have occasion to mislike of my words With which answer the Lieutenant departed from him and so the Prisoner falling again to rest slept soundly two hours and more And after he was awaked called to his man to help him up But first commanded him to take away his shirt-of-haire which customably he wore and to convey it privily out of the house and instead thereof to lay him forth a clean white shirt and all the best apparel he had as cleanly brushed as might be And as he was arraying himself his man seeing in him more curiosity and care for the fine and cleanly wearing of his apparel that day than was wont demanded of him What this sudden change meant saying That his Lordship knew well enough that he must put off all again within two hours and lose it What of that said he Doest not thou mark that this is our marriage-day and that it behoveth us therefore to use more cleanlinesse for solemnity thereof 8. About nine of the clock the Lieutenant came again Prepareth himsef for his death and finding him almost ready said He was now come for him Then said he to his man Reach me my furred-Tippet to put about my neck Oh my Lord said the Lieutenant what need ye be so careful for your health for this little time being as your self knows not much above an hour I think no otherwise said he but yet in the mean time I will keep myself as well as I can For I tell you truth though I have I thank our Lord a very good desire and willing minde to die at this present and so trust of his infinite mercy and goodnesse he will continue it yet will I not willingly hinder my health in the mean time one minute of an hour but still prolong the same as long as I can by such reasonable waies and means as Almighty God hath provided for me And with that taking a little book in his hand which was a New Testament lying by him he made a crosse on his forehead and went out of his prison-dore with the Lieutenant being so weak as that he was scant able to go down the stairs wherefore at the stairs-foot he was taken up in a chair between two of the Lieutenant's men and carried to the Tower-gate with a great number of weapons about him to be delivered to the Sheriffe of London for execution 9. And He advanceth to the place of his execution as they were come to the uttermost precinct of the liberties of the Tower they rested there with him a space till such time as one was sent before to know in what readinesse the Sheriffs were to receive him During which space he rose out of his chair and standing on his feet leaned his shoulder to the wall and lifting his eyes towards Heaven he opened a little Book in his hand and said O Lord this is the last time that ever I shall open this book let some comfortable place now chance unto me whereby I thy poor servant may glorifie thee in this my last houre And with that looking into the Book the first thing that came to his sight were these words Haec f Ioh. 17. 3 c. est autem vita aeterna ut cognoscant te solum verum Deum quem misisti Jesum Christum Ego te glorificavi super terram opus consummavi quod dedisti mihi c. and with that he shut the Book together and said Here is even learning enough for me to my lives end And so the Sheriffe being ready for him he was taken up again among certain of the Sheriffs men with a new and much greater company of weapons than was before and carried to the Scaffold on the Tower-hill otherwise called East-Smithfield himself praying all the way and recording upon the words which he before had read 10. When he was come to the foot of the Scaffold The manner of his mounting the scaffold they that carried him offered to help him up the stairs but said he Nay Masters seeing I am come so farre let me alone and ye shall see me shift for my self well enough And so went up the stairs without any help so lively that it was a marvell to them that before knew his debility and weaknesse But as he was mounting the stairs the South-east Sun shined very bright in his face whereupon he said to himself these words lifting up his hands Accedite ad eum illuminamini facies vestrae non confundentur By that time he was upon the Scaffold it was about ten a clock where the Executioner being ready to doe his office kneeled down to him as the fashion is and asked him forgivenesse I forgive thee said he with all my heart and I trust thou shalt see me overcome this storm lustily Then was his gown and tippet taken from him and he stood in his doubler and hose in sight of all the people whereof there was no small number assembled to see the execution 11. Being upon the Scaffold His Speech to the people he spake to the people in effect as followeth Christian people I am come hither to die for the faith of Christ's holy Catholick Church and I thank God hitherto my stomack hath served me very well thereunto so that yet I have not feared death wherefore I desire you all to help and assist with your prayers that at the very point and instant of deaths stroke I may in that very moment stand stedfast without fainting in any one point of the Catholick Faith free from any fear And I beseech Almighty God of his infinite goodnesse to save the King and this Realm and that it may please him to hold his holy hand over it and send the King a good Councell These words he spake with such a cheerfull countenance such a stout and constant courage and such a reverend gravity that he appeared to all men not only void of fear but also glad of death 12. After these few words by him uttered His execution he kneeled down on both his knees and said certain prayers Among which as some reported one was the hymn of
Justitia Justificare Idiota Elementa Baptizare Martyr Adorare Dignus Sandalium Simplex Tetrarcha Sacramentum Simulachrum Gloria Conflictationes Ceremonia Mysterium Religio Spiritus sanctê° Spiritus Merces Confiteor tibi Pater Panis praepositionis Communio Perseverare Dilectus Sapientia Pietas * Take faults and all as in the Original Presbyter Lites Servus Opera Sacrificium Benedictio Humilis Humilitas Scientia Gentilis Synagoga Ejicere Misericordia Complacui Increpare Distribueretur orbis Inculpatus Senior Conflictationes Apocalypsis Satisfactio Contentio Conscientia Peccatum Peccator Idolum Prudentia Prudenter Parabola Magnifico Oriens Subditus Didragma Hospitalitas Episcopus Gratia Charitas Tyrannus Concupiscentia Cisera Apostolus Apostolatus Egenus Stater Societas Zizania * Though sensible of Tautologie otherwise spelled I durst not vary from the Original MysteriuÌ„ Christus Conversari Profiteor Impositio manuum Idololatria Dominus Sanctus Confessio Imitator Pascha Innumerabilis Inenarrabilis Infidelis Paganus Commilito Virtutes Dominationes Throni Potestates Hostia 35. The judicious Reader hath no sooner perused these words The Papists plot therein but presently he sorts them in two ranks First some few untranslatable without losse of life or lustre these are continued in our English Testament intire it being conceived better that Ministers should expound these words in their Sermons than alter them in their Texts But besides these most of the second sort are not so emphaticall in themselves but that they may be rendred in English without prejudice of truth Wherefore Gardiner's designe plainly appeared in stickling for the preserving of so many Latine words to obscure the Scripture who though wanting power to keep the light of the Word from shining sought out of policy to put it in to a dark Lanthorn contrary to the constant practice of God in Scripture levelling high hard expressions to the capacity of the meanest For forraign terms are alwaies brought in like Joseph with an w Gen. 42. 23. Interpreter x Mat. 1. 23. Emmanuel doth not passe without an Exposition God with us nor y Mat. 7. 34. Ephatha escape but Commented on be thou opened Besides the Popish Bishop multiplied the mixture of Latine names in the Testament to teach the Laity their distance who though admitted into the outward Court of common matter were yet debarred entrance into the Holy of Holies of these mysterious expressions reserved only for the understanding of the high Priest to pierce into them Moreover this made Gardiner not onely tender but fond to have these words continued in kinde without Translation because the profit of the Romish Church was deeply in some of them concerned Witnesse the word Penance which according to the vulgar sound contrary to the original sense thereof was a magazin of Will-worship and brought in much gain to the Priests who were desirous to keep that word because that word kept them I finde not what entertainment Gardiner's motion met with it seems so suspended in success as neither generally received nor rejected 36. In a following Session Mar. 10. Cranmer Archbishop of Canterbury Cranmer stickleth for the Vniversities approbation informed the House That it was the King's will and pleasure that the Translation both of the Old and New Testament should be examined by BOTH UNIVERSITIES This met with much opposition in the House all the Bishops Ely and S. Davids excepted making their Protests to the contrary These affirmed the Universities were much decayed of late wherein all things were carried by Young Men whose judgments were not to be relied on so that the Learning of the Land was chiefly in this Convocation But the Archbishop said he would stick close to the will and pleasure of the King his Master and that the Universities should examine the Translation And here for ought I can finde to the contrary the matter ceased and the Convocation soon after was dissolved 37. The cruell prosecution of the Protestants still continued on the six Articles HeÌ„ 8. 36. And yet the Parliament now somewhat abated the illegall fury thereof 1544. for formerly any active Officer of the Bishops The six Articles somewhat mitigated at his pleasure molested all suspected persons and prosecured some to death But afterwards it was required That such Offenders should first be found guilty by a Jury of Twelve men a rub to the wheels of their cruelty that it saved the lives of some and prolonged the deaths of others 38. Now began the last Parliament in the Kings Reign HeÌ„ 8. 37. Nov. 24. wherein many things of consequence were enacted 1545. First The Acts of the last Parliament in this Kings Reign an Act against Usury a See the printed Statutes of this year Secondly for Tithes in London Thirdly for an exchange of Lands betwixt the King's Majestie and Thomas Cranmer Archbishop of Canterbury Robert Holegate Archbishop of York and Edmond Bonner Bishop of London which the King annexed to the Dutchie of Lancaster Fourthly an Act for union of Churches not exceeding the value of six pounds Lastly that Doctors of the Civil Law being married might exercise Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction 39. At this time also The originall of Stewes by the King's command were the Stewes suppressed A line or two I hope will not defile our Church-History in the description and detestation of such filthy persons and practises There stood a place on the South bank over against London called the Stewes where live-Fishes were formerly kept there to be washed in Ponds from their slime and muddinesse to make the more wholsome and pleasant food which was the originall use of these Stewes and the proper b Camdens Brit in Middlâ—â—â— meaning of the word Ann. Dom. 1545. Afterwards the place was converted to a worse use Ann. Reg. HeÌ„ 8.37 but still retaining its own name from the scouring of Fish to the defileing of Men Brothel-houses being built there and publickly permitted by the State These were sixteen in number known by the several signes whereof one was the Cardinals c Stower Survey of London pag. 449. Hat and it is to be feared that too many of the Clergie then forbidden marriage were too constant customers to it Such who lived in these Colledges of lust were called single Women and pity it was so good a name should be put upon so leud persons 40. Divers Constitutions were made in the eighth year of King Henry the second The regulation of the Stewes for the regulating of these Houses whereof some may inoffensively yea profitably be inserted 1. No Stew-holder should keep open his doors on the Holy daies or keep any in his house on those daies 2. No single woman to be kept against her will if out of remorse of conscience she would leave that leud life 3. No Stew-holder to receive any mans wife or any woman of religion 4. No man to be drawn or inticed into any of those houses
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
and Protestants wring their hands which our fathers found begun our selves see hightened and know not whether our children shall behold them pacified and appeased 4. But now a Parliament began at Westminster Alteration of Beligion enacted by the Parliament Wherein the Laws of King Henry the eighth against the See of Rome were renewed Jann 25. and those of King Edward the sixth in favour of the Protestants revived and the Laws by Queen Mary made against them repealed Uniformity of Prayer and Administration of Sacraments was enacted with a Restitution of first fruits Tenths c. to the Crown For all which we remit the Reader to the Statutes at large It was also enacted that whatsoever Jurisdictions Priviledges anâ— Spiritualls preeminences had been heretofore in Vse by any Ecclesiasticall Authority whatsoever to visit Ecclesiasticall men and Correct all manner of Errors Hereâ—es Schisms Abuses and Enormities should be for ever annexed to the Imperiall Crown of England if the Queen and her Successours might by their Letters patents substitute certain men to exercise that Authority howbeit with proviso that they should define nothing to be heresie but those things which were long before defined to be Heresies out of the Sacred Canonicall Scriptures or of the four Oecumenicall Councills or other Councills by the true and proper sence of the Holy Scriptures or should thereafter be so defined by authority of the Parliament with assent of the Clergy of England assembled in a Synod That all and every Ecclesiasticall Persons Magistrates Receivers of pensions out of the Exchequer such as were to receive degrees in the Vniversities Wards that were to sue their Liveries and to be invested in their Livings and such as were to be admitted into the number of the Queens servants c. should be tyed by oath to acknowledge the Queens Majesty to be the onely and supreme Governour of her Kingdoms the Title of Supreme head of the Church of England liked them not in all matters and causes as well spiritual as temporal all forrain Princes and Protestants being quite excluded from taking Cognizance of Causes within her Dominions 5. But the Papists found themselves much agrieved at this Ecclesiasticall Power Papists exceptions against the Queens Supremacy declared and confirmed to be in the Queen they complained that the simplicity of poore people was abused the Queen declining the Title Head and assuming the name Governour of the Church which though less offensive was more expressive So whil'st their ears were favoured in her waving the word their souls were deceived with the same sence under another Expression They cavilled how King a Sanders de Schismate Anglicano lib. 3. pag. 316. Henry the eighth was qualified for that Place and Power being a Lay-man King Edward double debarr'd for the present being a Lay-childe Queen Elizabeth totally excluded for the future being a Lay-woman b Hart against Rainolds pag. 673. They object also that the very c In Praefat. centur 7. writers of the Centuries though Protestants condemne such Headship of the Church in PRINCES and d Upon the 7. of Amos 3. The same how defended by Protestant Divines Calvin more particularly sharply taxeth Bishop Gardiner for allowing the same Priviledge to KING Henry the eighth 6. Yet nothing was granted the Queen or taken by her but what in due belonged unto her according as the most learned and moderate Divines have defended it For e Rainolds against Hart pag. 38. first they acknowledged that Christ alone is the Supreme Soveraign of the Church performing the Duty of an head unto it by giving it power of life feeling and moving and f Ephes 1. 22. him hath God appointed to be head of the Church and Col. 2. 19. by him all the body furnished and knit together by joynts and bands encreaseth with the encreasing of God This Headship cannot stand on any mortall shoulders it being as incommunicable to a Creature as a Creature is incapable to receive it There is also a peculiar Supremacy of Priests in Ecclesiasticall matters to preach the Word minister the Sacraments celebrate Prayers and practise the discipline of the Church which no Prince can invade without usurpation and the sin of Sacriledge for Incense it self did stink in the Nostrils of the God of heaven and h 2 Chr. 26. 19 provoked his Anger when offered by King Vzziah who had no calling thereunto Besides these there is that power which Hezekiah exercised in his Dominions Commanding the Levites and Priests to do their Duty and the People to serve the Lord. And to this power of the Prince it belongeth to restore Religion decayed reforme the Church Corrupted protect the same reformed This was that supremacy in Causes and over Persons as well Ecclesiasticall as Civil which was derived from God to the Queen annexed to the Crown disused in the dayes of her Sister whose blinde zeal surrendred it to the Pope not now first fixed in the Crown by this act of State but by the same declared to the Ignorant that knew it not cleared to the scrupulous that doubted of it and asserted from the Obstinate that denied it 7. As for Calvin How Dr. Rainolds answereth the exceptions to the contrary he reproveth not Reader it is D r. Rainolds whom thou readest the title of head as the Peotestants granted it but that sense thereof i against Hart pag. 673. which Popish Prelates gave namely Stephen Gardiner who did urge it so as if they had meant thereby that the King might do things in Religion according to his own will and not see them done according to Gods will namely that he might forbid the Clergie Marriage the laytie the Cup in the Lords Supper And the truth is that Stephen Gardiner was shamelessly hyperbolicall in fixing that in the King which formerly with as little Right the Pope had assumed Whether he did it out of mere flattery as full of adulation as superstition equally free in sprinkling Court and Church holy-water and as very a fawning Spaniel under King Henry the eighth as afterwards he proved a cruel Blood-hound under Queen Mary his Daughter Or because this Bishop being in his heart disaffected to the Truth Anno Dom. 1557. of set purpose betrayed it in defending it Anno Regin Eliza. 1. suting King Henries vast Body and Minde with as mighty yea monstrous a power in those his odious instances straining the Kings Authority too high on set purpose to break and to render it openly obnoxious to just exception The Centuriatoâ—s also well understood do allow and a Idem ibidem Confess the Magistrates Jurisdiction in Ecclesiasticall matters though on good reason they be enemies to this Usurpation of unlawfull power therein But I digresse and therein Transgresse seeing the large profecution hereof belongs to Divines 9. But Sanders taketh a particular exception against the Regular passing of this Act Sunders 〈…〉 Elizabeth shewing much Queen-Craft in
all due and wonted Ecclesiasticall monition declared so requiring it conceived it to belong unto us to provide for the eternall Salvation both of our selves and such as are committed to our charge by all means possible for us to obtain Wherefore stirred up by the examples of our Predecessours who have lived in the like times that faith which in the Articles under-written we believe to be true and from our souls profess to the praise and honour of God and the discharge of our duty and such souls as are commited unto us we thought in these presents publiquely to insert affirming and avowing as God shall helpe us in the last day of judgement First that in the Sacrament of the Altar by the vertue of Christs assisting after the word is duly pronounced by the Priest the naturall Body of Christ conceived of the Virgin Mary is really present under the species of bread and wine also his naturall bloud Item that after the Consecration there remains not the substance of Bread and Wine nor any other substance save the substance of God and man Item that the true body of Christ and his true bloud is offered a propitiatory sacrifice for the Quick and Dead Item that the supreme power of feeding and governing the militant Church of Christ and of confirming their Brethren is given to Peter the Apostle and to his lawfull Successours in the See Apostolike as unto the Vicars of Christ Item that the Authority to handle and define such things which belong to faith the Sacraments and Discipline Ecclesiasticall hath hitherto ever belonged and only ought to belong unto the Pastors of the Church whom the holy spirit hath placed in the Church of God and not unto lay-men Which our Assertion Affirmation and faith We the lower Clergy aforesaid so represent the aforesaid considerations unto your Fatherhoods by the Tenor of these Presents humbly requesting that because we have not liberty otherwise to notifie this our Judgement and intention to those which in this behalf are concerned you who are Fathers would be pleased to signifie the same to the Lords in Parliament wherein as we conceive you shall performe an office of Charity and Piety and you shall provide as it is meet for the safety of the flock committed to your charge and shall discharge your duty towards your own soul This remonstrance exhibited by the lower house of Convocation to the Bishops was according to their Requests presented by Edmond Bonner B p. of London to the Lord Keeper of the broad Seal of England in the Parliament Marc. 3. and as the said Bishop in the eighth Session reported he generously and gratefully received it But we finde no further news thereof save that in the 10. Session an account was given in by both Universities in an Instrument under the hand of a Publique Notary 10. wherein they both did concur to the Truth of the aforesaid Articles the last only excepted 10. But we may probably conceive that this Declaration of the Popish Clergy hastened the Disputation appointed on the last of March in the Church of Westminster The Disputations betwixt the Papists and Protestants at Westminster wherein these questions were debated 1. Whether Service and Sacraments ought to be celebrated in the vulgar tongue 2. Whether the Church hath not power to alter Ceremonies so all be done to edification 3. Whether the Mass be a propitiatory sacrifice for the Living and the Dead Popish Disputants Moderators Protestant Disputants * There is some difference in the Number and Names of Both Parties Mr. Fox neither agreeth with Mr. Camden nor with himself White Watson Baynes Scot. Bps. of Winchester Lincolne Covent and Lichfield Chester D r. Cole Deane of Pauls D r. Langdale D r. Harpsfield D r. Cheadsey Arch-Deac of Lewes Canterbury Middlesex Nicholas Heath B p. of York S r. Nicholas Bacon Lord Keeper of the great Seal John Scory late B p. of Chichester David Whitehead Robert Horne Edmond Gwest Edwine Sands John Aelmer Edmond Grindall John Jewell The passages of this Disputation whereof more Noise then fruit and wherein more Passion then Reason Anno Dom. 1458. Cavils then Arguments are largely reported by M r. Fox It was ordered that each side should tender their Judgements in writing to avoid verball extravagancies as also in English for the better information of the Nobility and Gentry of the house of Parliament their Auditors and that the Papists should begin first and the Protestants answer them But in the second dayes disputation this order was broken by the Popish Bishops who quitting their Primacy to the Protestants stood peremptorily upon it that they themselves would deliver their Judgements last Alledging in their behalf the fashion of the Schools that because they had the negative on their side the others ought first to oppose Citing also the Custome of the Courts at Westminster where the plaintiffe pleadeth before the defendant conceiving themselves in the nature and notion of the Later because maintaining those opinions whose Truth time out of minde were established Chester more open then the Rest plainly confessed that if the protestants had the last word they would come off cum Applausu Populi with applause of the People which themselves it seems most desired Whereby it appears what Wind they wished for not what was fittest to fanne the truth but what would blow them most reputation In this Refusal to begin Winchester and Lincolne behaved themselves faucily and scornfully the rest stiffly and resolutely only Feckenham Abbot of Westminster who it seems the second day was added to the Popish Disputants carried it with more meeknesse and moderation Hereupon the Lord Keeper cut off this conference with this sharp Conclusion Seeing my Lords we cannot now hear you you may perchance shortly hear more of us 11. Yet need we not behold the frustration of this meeting The Papists complain of partial usage as a private Doome peculiarly to this conference alone but as the generall Destiny of such publike Colloquies which like Sicamore-trees prove barren and which the larger the Leaves of the Expectation the less the fruits of Successe The Assembly dissolved it were hard to say which were lowder the Papists in Complaining or the Protestants in Triumphing The former found themselves agrieved that they were surprised of a sudden having but two dayes warning to provide themselves That Bacon the Moderator though well skil'd in matters of Equity ignorant in matters of Divinity was their Zealous Enemy to whom the Arch-Bishop was added only for a stale That to call such fundamentall points of Doctrine into question would cause an unsetlednesse in Religion of dangerous consequence both to single souls and to the Church in generall That it was unlawfull for them owing obedience to the Sea Apostolike without leave of his Holinesse first obtained to discusse these truthes long since decided in the Church 13. The Protestants on the other side slighted the Papists Plea of want
and the Scotch in the minority of King James exacted it of Noblemen Gentlemen and Courtiers which here was extended onely to men of Ecclesiastical function Not that the Queen and State was careless of the spiritual good of others leaving them to live and believe as they list but because charitably presuming that where Parishes were provided of Pastors Orthodox in their judgments they would by Gods blessing on their preaching work their people to conformity to the same opinions * Querie about the 20 Article whether shufled in or no. Some question there is about a clause in the twentieth Article whether originally there or since interpolated Take the whole a Pag. 98. Article according to the common Edition therof Twentieth Article of the Authority of the Church The Church hath power to decree Rites or Ceremonies and authority in controversies of faith And yet it is not lawful for the Church to ordain any thing that is contrary to Gods word neither may it so expound one place of Scripture that it be repugnant to another Wherefore although the Church be a Witness and keeper of holy writ yet as it ought not to decree any thing against the same so besides the same ought it not to enforce any thing to be believed for necessity of salvation Take along with this the bitter invective of a modern b Mr Burton in his Apologie Minister who thus laieth it on with might and main on the backs of Bishops for some unfair practice herein in an epistle of his written to the Temporal Lords of His Majesties Privy Councel reckoning up therein Fourteen Innovations in the Church The Prelates to justifie their proceedings have forged a new Article of Religion brought from Rome which gives them full power to alter the Doctrine and Discipline of our Church at a blow and have foisted it into the twentieth Article of our Church And this is in the last edition of the Articles Anno 1628. in affront of his Majesties Declaration before them The clause forged is this The Church that is the Bishops as they expound it hath power to decree rites and ceremonies and authoritie in matters of faith This clause is a forgery fit to be examined and deeply censured in the Star-chamber For it is not to bee found in the Latin or English Articles of Edward 6 or Queen Elizabeth ratified by Parliament And if to forge a Will or writing be censurable in the Star-chamber which is but a wrong to a private man How much more the forgery of an Article of Religion to wrong the whole Church and overturn Religion which concerns all our souls 57. Such as deal in niceties discover some faltering from the truth in the very words of this grand Delator The accuser his first mistake For the Article saith that The Church hath authority in controversies of faith He chargeth them with challenging authority in matters of Faith Here some difference betwixt the terms For matters of faith which all ought to know and believe for their souls health are so plainly setled by the Scriptures that they are subject to no alteration by the Church which notwithstanding may justly challenge a casting voice in some controversies of faith as of less importance to salvation 58. But to come to the main matter The dubious appearing of this clause this clause in question lieth at a dubious posture at in and out sometimes inserted sometimes omitted both in our written and printed copies Inserted in The originall of the Articles 1562 as appeareth under the hand of a Publick Notary whose inspection and attestation is only decisive in this case So also Anno 1593. and Anno 1605. and Anno 1612. all which were publick and authentick Editions Omitted in The English and Latine Articles set forth 1571. Anno Dom. 1563. Anno Regin Eliza. 5. when they were first ratified by Act and whose being as obligatory to punishment beares not date nine yeers before from their composition in Convocation but hence forward from their confirmation in Parliament And now to match the credit of private Authours in some equality we will weigh M r. Rogers Chaplain to Arch-Bishop Whitgift inserting this clause in his Edition 1595. against D r. Mocket Chaplain to Arch-Bishop Abbot omitting it in his Latine translation of our Articles set forth 1617. 59. Arch-bishop Laud Arch-Bishop Land his opinion in the point in a speech which he made in the Star-Chamber inquiring into the cause why this clause is omitted in the printed Articles 1571. thus expresseth himself * * In his speech made Iune 14. 1637. pag. 65. Certainly this could not be done but by the malicious cunning of that opposite Faction And though I shall spare dead mens names where I have not certainty Yet if you be pleased to look back and consider who they were that governed businesses in 1571. and rid the Church allmost at their pleasure and how potent the Ancestors of these Libellers began then to grow you will think it no hard matter to have the Articles printed and this clause left out I must confess my self not so well skilled in Historicall Horsemanship as to know whom his Grace designed for the Rider of the Church at that time It could not be Arch-Bishop Parker who though discreet and moderate was sound and sincere in pressing conformity Much less was it Grindall as yet but Bishop of London who then had but little and never much influence on Church-Matters The Earle of Leicester could not in this phrase be intended who alike minded the insertion or omission of this or any other Article As for the non-Conformists they were so far at this time from riding the Church that then they first began to put foot in stirrup though since they have dismounted those whom they found in the saddle In a word concerning this clause whether the Bishops were faulty in their addition or their opposites in their Substraction I leave to more cunning State-Arithmeticians to decide 60. One Article more we will request the Reader to peruse An Article to confirme the Homilies made in King Edward his reign as the subject of some historicall debates which thereon doth depend 35. Article of Homilies The second Booke of Homilies the severall titles whereof we have joyned under this Article doth contain a godly and wholsome Doctrine and necessary for these times as doth the former Booke of Homilies which were set forth in the time of Edward the sixth and therefore we judge them to be read in Churches by the Ministers diligently and distinctly that they may be understood of the People See we here the Homilies ranked into two formes Anno Regin Eliza. 4. The first such as were made in the Raign of Edward the sixth being twelve in number Of which the tenth of obedience to Magistrates was drawn up at or about Kets Rebellion in a dangerous juncture of time For as it is observed of the Gingles or S t.
exposition 38. Yea in process of time His â—â—ck Apostolick stile he grew so bad that charity it self would blush to have a favourable thought of his Opinions Not content to confine his Errours to his own Country over he comes into England and in the later end of the reign of King Edward the sixth joyned himself to the Dutch Congregation in London where he seduced a number of Artificers and silly women amongst whom two daughters of one Warwick to whom he dedicated an epistle were his principall Perverts M r. Martin Micronius and M r. Nicholaus Charineus then the ministers of the Dutch Congregation zealously confuted his errours but it seems their Antidotes pierced not so deep as his poisons Many of our English Nation were by him deceived and may the Reader but peruse this his mock-Apostolick Stile his charm to delude silly people therewith and let him tell me whether the Ape did not well deserve a whip for his over-imitation therein H. Nicholas through the grace and mercy of God d In his Evangelium Regni or the joyfull message of the kingdom through the Holy Spirit of the love of Jesus Christ Raised up by the highest God from the death according to the providence of God and his promises Anointed with the Holy Ghost in the old age of the holy understanding of Jesus Christ Godded with God in the Spirit of his love Illuminated in the Spirit with the heavenly truth the true light of perfect being Made heir with Christ in the Heavenly goods of the riches of God Elected to be a minister of the gracious word which is now in the last times raised up by God according to his promises in the most holy service of God under the obedience of his love The followers of this Nicholas assumed to themselves the Title of the family of Love Family a Gal. 6. 10. of faith we finde in Scripture but this new-name was one first invented by and falsely applied unto this Faction who might more fitly from Nicholas their father and founder be stiled Nicolaitans as their name-sakes hated by b Rev. 2. 6. God for thir filthinesse were called so from c Acts 6. 5. Nicolas the proselyte of Antioch These Familists besides many monstrosities they maintained about their Communion with God attenuated all Scriptures into Allegories and under pretence to turn it into Spirit made them aery empty nothing They counterfeited Revelations and those not explicatory or applicatory of Scripture such may and must be allowed to Gods Servants in all ages but additionall thereunto and of equal necessity and infallibility to be believed therewith In a word as in the small pox pardon my plain and homely but true and proper comparison when at first they kindly come forth every one of them may severally and distinctly be discerned but when once they run and matter they break one into another and can no longer be dividedly discovered so though at first there was a reall difference betwixt Familists Enthusiasts Antinomians not to adde highflown Anabaptists in their opinions yet process of time plucking up the Pales betwixt them afterwards they did so interfere amongst themselves that it is almost impossible to banke and bound their severall absurdities 39. The practises of these Familists were worse than their opinions The Familists worse in practice than opinion They grieved the Comforter charging all their sins on Gods Spirit for not effectually assisting them against the same accounting themselves as innocent as the d Deut. 22. 27. maid forced in the field crying out and having none to help her Yea S t. Pauls e Rom. 6. 1. supposition Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound was their position What he started from they embraced what he branded with a God forbid they welcomed with a well done good and faithfull servant sinning on designe that their wickednesse might be a foile to Gods mercy to set it off the brighter 40. The Privie Councell therefore took them into consideration Octo. 10. and tendred unto them this following abjuration Their abjuration Whosoever teacheth that the dead which are fallen asleep in the Lord rise up in this day of his judgement and appear unto us in godly glory which shall henceforth live in us everlastingly with Christ and reign upon the earth is a detestable heretick Whosoever teacheth that to be born of the Virgin Mary out of the seed of David after the flesh is to be expounded of the pure doctrine out of the seed of love is a detestable Heretick Whosoever teacheth that Jesus Christ is come again unto us according to his promise to the end that they all which love God and his righteousness and Christ and perfect being might presently enter into the true rest which God hath prepared from the beginning for his elect and inherit the everlasting life is a detestable heretick No fewer than ten of the Privy Councell tendered this abjuration to each Familist but with what success I finde not If any of these Familists were of their opinion in Higher Germany who were called a See Rutherfords survey of the Spirituall Antichrist pag. 11. Liberi Fratres Free Brethren who maintain'd themselves delivered by Christ from all covenants vows and debts if from prison too on deniall of payment it were excellent all was to little purpose seeing a bird may as soon be impounded as these spirits confin'd by any oaths or carnall obligation Pass we from them to others more dangerous because more learned even the Jesuits hoping at last to light on the temperate zone when we have done with these dull frozen ignorant Sectaries and fiery torrid overactive Papists whereof two principall ones Persons and Campian living at Româ— importun'd his Holiness for license to come over into England 41. Having obtained this gracious faculty Persons and Campian come into England Their severall characters over they come into England and distill superstition and disloyalty into the Queens Subjects This Persons was a Summerset-shire man formerly of Baliol Colledge in Oxford till for his b Camdens Eliz. Anno 1580. dishonesty he was expelled with disgrace But what Oxford cast away for dross Rome received for gold entertaining and rewarding him as a man of a daring and undertaking spirit and of a nature turbulent and seditious Campian born in London and bred in S t. Johns Colledge of the same University whereof he was Proctor Anno 1568. was one of a sweet nature constantly carrying about him the charms of a plausible behaviour of a fluent tongue and good parts which he knew how to shew to the best advantage These two effectually advanced the Roman cause appearing in moe severall shapes than Proteus himself in the disguised habits of Souldiers Courtiers Ministers of the word Apparitours as they were advised by their profit and safety and as if his Holiness had infused an ubiquitariness into them they acted in city court and country Persons was
negotiations wherein he was imployed for he was joyned with S r. William Winter Anno 1576 in a Commission to the Zealanders about their reprisalls And again Anno 1583 he was sent to the Queen of Scots Sharply to expostulate with her concerning some querulous letters Well knew Queen Elizabeth what tools to use on knotty timber our a Camden in his Elizabetha pag. 359. Author giving M r. Beal this Character that he was Homo vehemens austerè acerbus a Eager man and most austerely bitter His affections were wholy Presbyterian and I behold him as one of the best friends of the second Magnitude that party had What he wanted in authority he had in activity on their sides And what influence sometimes the Hands have on the Head I mean Notaries on the Judges themselves at Councell Board others may conjecture He either compiled or countenanced a Book made against the Bishops and the reader may receive a further confirmation of his Character herein from the following Complaint To the Lord Treasurer My singular good Lord I have borne much with M r. Beals intemperate speeches Arch Bishop Whiâ—gift his Letter complaining of Beals insolent carriage towards him unseemly for him to use though not in respect of my self yet in respect of her Majesty whom he serveth and of the laws established whereunto he ought to shew some duty Yesterday he came to my house as it seemed to demand the book he delivered unto me I told him that the book was written to me and therefore no reason why he should require it again especially seeing I was assured that he had a Copie thereof otherwise I would cause it to be written out for him whereupon he fell into very great passions with me which I think was the end of his coming for proceeding in the execution of his Articles c. and told me in effect that I would be the overthrow of this Church and a cause of tumult with many other bitter and hard speeches which I heard patiently and wished him to consider with what spirit he was moved so to say for I said it cannot be by the spirit of God because the spirit of God worketh in men humility patience and love and your words declare you to be very Arrogant proud impatient and uncharitable Moreover the spirit by God moveth men to hear the word of God with meekness c. And you have alomst heard with disdain every sermon preached before her Majesty this lent gibing and jesting openly thereat even in the sermon time to the offence of many and especially at such sermons as did most commended her Majesty and the State and moved the Auditory to obedience which he confessed and justified accusing some of the Preachers of false Doctrine and wrong allegations of Scripture c. Then he began to extol his book and said we were never able to answer it neither for the matter of Divinity not yet of Law I told him as the truth is that there was no great substance in the book that it might be very soon answered and that it did appear neither his Divinity nor Law to be great I further wished him to be better advised of his doings and told him indeed that he was one of the principall causes of the waywardness of divers because he giveth incouragement to divers of them to stand in the matter telling them that the Articles shall be shortly revoked by the Councell and that my hands shall be stopped c which saying is spread abroad already in every place and is the only cause why many forbear to subscribe which is true neither could he deny it All this while I talked with him privately in the upper part of my Gallery my Lord of Winchester and divers strangers being in the other part thereof But M r. Bâ—al beginning to extend his voice that all might hear I began to break off then he being more and more kindled very impatiently uttered very proud and contemptuous speeches in the justifying of his book and condemning of the orders established to the offence of all the hearers whereunto being very desirous to be rid of him I made small answer but told him that his speeches were intolerable that he forgat himself and that I would complain of him to her Majesty whereof he seemed to make small account and so he departed in great heat I am loth to hurt him or to be an accuser neither will I proceed therein further then your Lordships shall think it convenient but I never was abused more by any man at any time in my life then I have been by him since my coming to this place in hardness of speech for doing my duty and for all things belonging to my charge Surely my Lord this talk tendeth only to the increasing of the contention and to the animating of the wayward in their waywardness casting out dangerous speeches as though there were likelihood of sometumult in respect thereof Whereas in truth God be thanked the matter growth to greater quietness then I think he wisheth and will be soon quieted if we be let alone and they not otherwise encouraged It seemeth he is some way discontented and would work his anger no me The tongues of these men tast not of the Spirit of God your Lordship seeth how bold I am to impart unto you my private causes Truly if it were not that my conscience is setled in these matters and that I am fully perswaded of the necessity of these proceedings in respect of the peace of the Church and due observation of Gods laws and that I received great comfort at her Majesties hand as I did most effectually at my last being at the Court and that I were assured to your Lordships constancie in the cause and of your unmoveable good will towards me I should be hardly able to endure so great a burden which now I thank God in respect of the premises seemeth easie unto me neither do I doubt but God will therein prosper me Thus being desirous to impart this matter to your Lordship to whose consideration I leave it I commit you to the tuition of Almighty God John Cantuar. Nor have I ought else to say of this M r. Beal but that afterwards I finde one of his name and quality a Robert Beal Esabque Stow his survey of London pag. 183. dying 1601 and buried in London at Athallows in the wall who by all probability should be the same person Now that the Presbyterian party was not unfriended at the Councell Board but had those there which either out of Dictates of their conscience or reasons of State or reflections on their private interests endeavoured to mitigate the Arch-Bishops proceedings against them Let their ensuing letter to him be perused AFter our hearty commendations to both your Lordships although we have heard of late times sundry complaints out of divers Countries of this Realm of some proceedings against a great number of Ecclesiasticall persons
long time accustomed to be taken the Law already established providing a sharp and severe punishment for such as shall exceed the same Besides an order also which we at this present have taken amongst our selves for the better performance thereof I therefore most humbly beseech your Majesty to continue your gracious goodness towards us who with all humility submit our selves to your Highness and cease not daily to pray for your happy estate Mar. 24. and long and prosperous Reign over us Your Majesties Chaplain and daily Orator most bounden John Cantuar. Thus the old year on the last day whereof this Letter was dated ended sadly and suspiciously with the Prelates but the next year began Cheerfully and presented good tidings unto them 25. For Her Majesty will alter nothing materiall to church government the Queen to verifie her Motto SEMPER EADEM and to disprove that Inconstancy generally charged on her sex acquitted Her self more then Woman in Her masculine resolutions and nothing of moment was altered in Church discipline Many things indeed were offered to both houses debated agitated and as it seems passed the Commons but nothing in fine was effected Thus the Major may propound what it pleaseth and the Minor assume what it listeth but no conclusive argument could then be framed without the Ergo of the royall Assent which the Queen refused to affix to any materiall Alteration 26. And few dayes after the session of the Parliament for the present broke off Mar. 29. Parliament dissolved wherewith ended the assenbly of the Ministers And now all of them had leave to depart to their own homes Otherwise such members thereof as formerly went away without leave were obnoxious to censure Witness one of them in his Ingenious confession a Mr. Gelibrand to Mr. Field cited by Bp. Bancroft in his dangerous positions pag 75. Touching my departure from that holy assembly without leave c. I crave pardon both of you and them c And thus commending this holy Cause to the Lord himself and your Godly Councell to the President thereof I take my leave 27. The next day the Convocation ended Iohn Hilton in Convocation abjoreth his hereticall opinions having effected nothing of moment save that in the 9 th session thereof Iohn Hilton Priest made a solemn Abjuration of his blasphemous heresies according to the tenour ensuing b b This was by me faithfully transcribed out of the records of Canterbury In Dei nomine Amen Mar. 30. Before you most reverend father in God Lord John Arch-Bishop of Canterbury Primate and Metropolitane of all England and the reverend fathers in God the Bishops of this your Province of Canterbury here Congregated and Assembled together in this holy Synod and Convocation I John Hilton Priest of my pure heart and free will voluntarily and sincerely knowledge confess and openly recognize that in times past I thought beleeved said held and presumptuously affirmed and preached the Errors Heresies Blasphemies and damnable opinions following c. Here he distinctly read a Schedule containing his heresies which what they were may be collected by that which ensueth and then proceeded as followeth Wherefore I the said John Hilton detesting and abhorring all and every such my said Heresies Blasphemies and damned opinions willing and with all my power affecting hereafter firmely to beleeve in the true and perfect faith of Christ and his holy Church purposing to follow the doctrine of Christ and his holy Apostles with a pure and free heart voluntary minde will and intent utterly forsake relinquish renounce and despise the said detestable Errours Heresies Blasphemies and Abominable opinions Granting and confessing that the blessed Trinity consisteth in three distinct persons and one Godhead as God the Father God the Son and God the Holy Ghost coe quall in power and might Secondly that Jesus Christ is both God and man and my Saviour and Redeemer and of all other baptized and beleeving in him Who of his Father of his own substance in his humanity was conceived by the Holy Ghost incarnate and for our Redemption being very God became man And that by the death of Jesus Christ we be not only made partakers of his Testament and so deduced to the knowledge of his godly will and power but also that we have full Redemption and Remission of our sins in his bloud And where I did most ungodly detestably and blasphemously affirme that the Old and New Testaments were Fables now being most sorry for that abominable and damnable assertion I do most humbly and c c Here the record is so ill written that this word is not legible beleeve the same Testaments to contain all truths necessary to salvation and that I and all others are bound to beleeve the same as the undoubted word of God and that without that I cannot be saved And therefore the said Errours Blasphemies and all other Heresies false doctrines and damned opinions in generall contrary and repugnant to the faith of Christ I utterly absuâ—e forsake and purely renounce before you most Reverend father in God and the rest of this holy Synod here assembled And moreover I swear by this holy Evangelist by me here bodily touched that from henceforth I shall never hold teach believe or affirme the said Errours Heresâ—s â—lasphemies or damned opinions or any other against contrary or repugnâ—t to the holy saith of Christs Church Nor yet shall I by my self or any other person privately oâ— apertly defend maintain succour favour or support any person that to my knowledge holdeth beleeveth affirmeth or teacheth any such Heresies Errours or damned opinions So help me God and these holy Evangelists In witness whereof to this my present Abjuration and renunciation I have with my own hand voluntarily subscribed my proper name JOHN HILTON 28. Upon this his Abjuration Pennance imposed upon him Pennance was imposed on him first that he should attend at Pauls Crosse upon the Preacher Sunday next all the time of the Sermon and there penitently stand before the said Preacher with a faggot on his shoulders Secondly that he should not preach minister Sacraments nor exercise any Ecclesiasticall function in the Church except specially licensed by the Arch-Bishop thereunto Thirdly that he should recant the said heresies and damnable opinions in the Church of S t. Martius in the fields at a sermon there to be made by the Arch-Deacon and there to shew himself very penitent I finde in the Records a recognizance of five hundred pounds drawn up to the Queen whereby the said Hilton bound himself for the performance hereof but because the rude draught of the bond is crossed I conceive it not insisted on and finding nothing to the contrary presume the aforesaid pennance by him exactly performed 29. The Ministers or Brethren now missing their mark Exchange of important Letters betwixt the Earl of Leicester and the Arch-Bishop abated much of their former activity in so much as that
Persons it plainly appeareth that all others might by Magistrates be put to their Oaths Besides such were superstitiously free'd from swearing absolutely and not only in matters criminal here controverted an unreasonable Immunity which none will challenge to themselves It is not necessary that a positive or affirmative warrant be cited out of Scripture for all our practises sufficeth it that may be done which is not contrary to Gods word and conformable to the politick laws of the Land Yet have we some footsteps of inquiry in the Judaical Law When one was found secretly murthered in the Field and the Murtherer neither known nor suspected the Elders of the next City of whose guilâ—iness there was no detestation nor cause of presumption save only the Vicinage and nearness of the place were solemnly and secretly to swear before the * Deut. 21. 7. Priest conceptis Verbis that their hands had not shed this Blood c. if this was equall in matters Capital how can it be challenged for Tyrannical in matters Criminal Allowing all due respect to Tindals memory his Judgement much failed him in matters of Oaths For in the following words he taketh away all necessary Oaths and leaveth none but voluntary which no wise man will defend Even Geneva it self doth sometimes proceed by Oaths ex Officio against such suspected Offenders as in the two following cases will appear There was one Cumperel of Geneva ordained Minister for a Parish in that Territory called Drallian who had a secret designe under hand to place himself in the State of Berne which in him was esteemed a hainous fault The Consistory coming at some notice hereof ministred unto him an Oath of Mere Office to answer to several Questions But because Cumperel answeswered not directly to those Interrogatories two whereof concerned the very Cogitations of his heart and because there were Vehementia Judicia great presumption in the Common fame the Consistory Inter Epistol 〈…〉 pag. 421 422. 〈…〉 story in Geneva Z pronounced that they had just cause to depose him from his Ministry 52. There was a wealthy widdow living in Geneva called Balthaser in whose house there was a Dancing held which is a grievous crime in that Church and condemned by their last form of Discipline Amongst these dancers one was a Syndick one of the foure chief Magistrates of the City the other an Elder Henrith by name of the Church for that yeare The matter coming to Calvins ear they were all convented before the Consistory without any Accuser or Party and therefore of Mere Office put to their Corporal Oaths to confess the Truth The a Calvin in his Letter to Pharellas Pag â—4 Elder pleaded for himself the words of S. Paul receive not an Accusation against an Elder under two or three Witnesses which would nothing bestead him so that he was deposed from his Eldership and the Syndick from his Magistracy until he should shew some publick Testimony of his Repentance 53. But enough of this unwelcome subject First grievance complained of in tendering the Oath only I must add that some there were not offended with the Oath it self which took exceptions at the Injurious manner of offering it They complained how justly God knows of some created-fames on no grounds and pretended suspitions of Crimes against those persons to whom they bare ill affection and then tendered this Oath the Picklock of Conscience unto them merely to finde matter to insnare them 54. Secondly Second grievance they complained that to discover their Complices in their disciplinary Assemblies Children were on their Oaths interrogated against their own Fathers contrary to the Rule in Civil Law Filius non torquetur in caput Patris a Child ought not to be tortured in point of peril to his Fathers life And although these Accusations were not Capital yet because their Parents Credit was so deeply concerned therein such proceedings had a strong tong of Tyranny 55. Thirdly Third grievance the party to whom the Oath was given might not before hand be acquainted a favour usually afforded in the Star Chamber with the particulars whereon they were to be examined And if by the Rule of * Prov. 18. 13. Solomon He that answereth a matter before he heareth it it is shame and folly unto him much more is it indiscreet to swear to answer a matter before a man hear it 56. Fourthly Fourth grievance they complained this Oath ex Officio like what is said of black Witches had only power to do mischief not to heal and help any For none were cleared by the taking thereof if denying what was charged upon them but the Judges Ecclesiastical oft times proceeded to a further inquiry by examination of Witnesses on the points denied by the Parties 57. The Nonconformists who refused to take this Oath Foure ranks of Refusers of this Oath may be ranked into foure forms First such as would answer neither yea nor nay what they would resolve to do concerning the Oath but returned if our faults be hidden tarry til the Lord Come and make the counsels of our hearts * 2 Cor. 4. 5. manifest But if they be manifest let our Accuser and the Witnesses come forth before us 58. A Second sort refused not the Oath in a Cause Criminal Second but did it with this limitation and Protestation that they intended not to be bound thereby to accuse either themselves or their Brethren 59. A Third sort conceived themselves bound to reveal their own and Brothers Crimes and offences to remove evil from the land as they said Third but as for such Actions of their Brothers falsely reputed offences which were none in the Judgement of the Party examined these they held themselves not bound to reveal 60. The last sort The last rank though they took the Oath as to other things yet protested they counted not themselves bound to answer to any such things whereon witnesses may be had but if the crime was so hidden and secret that witnesses may not be had they thought they might lawfully be charged â—or Instance they held a Preacher might not be examined on Oath concerning any thing he had preached in publick alledging the words of our * Joh. 17. 21. Saviour Why askest thou me ask them that heard me they know what I said It is hard to make the opinion of the first and last forme to dwell peaceably together 61. We take our leave of this Subject when we have told the Reader that some twenty years since one being urged by Arch-Bishop Laud to take the Oath ex Officio refused it on this reason An Oath saith he by the * Heb. 6. 16. words of the Apostle is an end of all strife whereas this saith he is the beginning of strife yeelds matter for the Lawyers to molest me But since the High Commission and this Oath are taken away by Act of Parliament it is to be hoped that if such
And yet in way of recovering health by changing of Aire of study for a time in thâ— Vniversity of mortall enmity borne by some in the parish of prosecution of Law or of being imployed in publick Affairs they cannot be wholy abrogated That there were in England foure thousand five hundred Benefices with Cure not above ten and most of them under eight pounds in the first fruits-book which cannot be furnished with able Pastors as the Petitioners desire because of the smallness of their livings Moreover he affirmed that what ever was pretended to the contrary England at that time flourished with able Ministers more then ever before yea had more then all Christendome besides 3. The Lord Grey rejoyned to this Assertion of more learned Ministers in the Church of England then ever heretofore The Lord Gray his rejoynder nay then in all the reformed Churches in Christendome this That it was not to he attributed to the Bishops or their actions but to God who now opened the hearts of many to see into the truth and that the Schools were better observed 4. The Lord Treasurer Burghley seeming to moderate betwixt them The Lord Treasurer his moderation after a long and learned oration concluded that he was not so scrupuleus as absolutely to like of the bill against Pluralities without any exception for he did favour both learning and wished a competent reward to it And therefore could like and allow a learned man to have two Benefices so they were both in ene parish that is to say in one Diocess and not one in the Diocess of Winchester and another in the North where the severall Diocesans would have no regard of them whereas being both in one Diocess the Bishop would look unto them 5. Here it was signified that her Majesty was acquainted with the matter Others interpret and that she was very forward to redress the faults and therefore required the Bishops not to binder her good and gracious purpose for that her Majesty would conferr with them 6. The Lord Gray again said The Lord Grays quere whether of Withen or what most probable of Ruthen afterwards Earl of Kent replyed he greatly wondred at her Majesty that she would make choice to conser with those who were all enemies to Reformation for that it meerly touched their freeholds and therefore he thought it good the house should make choice of some to be joyned with them Also he wished the Bishops might be served as they were in in King Henry the 8 th dayes when as in the case of praemunire they were all thrust out of doores 7. Then the Lord Treasurer said that the Bishops if they were wise would themselves be humble suiters to her Majesty to have some of the Temporall Lords joyned with them 8. The Lord Chamberlain utterly disliked the Lord Grayes motion alledging that it was not to be liked of that the Lords should appoint her Majesty any to confer withall but that it should be left to her own election 9. Matters flying thus high the Arch-Bishop with the rest of the Clergy The Bishops providently petition the Queen conceived it the safest way to apply themselves by Petition to the Queen which they presented as followeth To the Queens most excellent Majesty THe wofull and distressed state whereinto we are like to fall forceth us with griâ—f of heart in most humble maner to crave your Majesties most soveraign Protection For the pretence being made the maintenance and increase of a learned ministry when it is throughly weighed decryeth learning spoâ—leth their livings taketh away the sâ—t form of prayer in the Church and is the means to bring in confusion and Barbarisme How dangerous innovations are in a setled estate whosoever hath judgemeâ—t perceiveth Set dangers apart yet such great inconviniences may ensae as will make a state lamentable and miserable Our nâ—ighbours miseries might make us fearfull but that we know who tales the same All the reformed Churches in Europe cannot compare with England in the number of learned Ministers These benefits of your Majesties most sacred and are fall Government with hearty joy we feel and humbly acknowledge senceless are they that repâ—ne at it and careless wâ—o lightly regard it The respect hereof made the Prophet to say Dii estis All the faithfull and discreet Clergy say ô Dea certè Nothing is impossible with God Requests without grounded reasons are lightly to be rejected We therefore not as directors but as humble Remembrancers beseech your Highness favourable beholding of our present state And what it will be in time to come if the Bill against Pluralities should take any place To the Petition were annexed a catalogue of those inconveniences to the State present State to come Cathedrall Churches Universities to her Majesty to Religion in case pluralities were taken away here too large to be inserted So that in effect nothing was effected as in relation to this matter but things left in staâ—u quo prius at the dissolution of this Parliament 10. Amongst the mortalities of this year The death of Bp Barns most remarkable the death of Richard Barnes Bishop of Durham one commendable in himself but much suffering for the * See the life of Bernard Gilpin p. 190. corruption and viciousness of John Barnes his brother and Chancellour This Bishop was bred in Brasen-nose Colledge made Suffragan of Nottingham the last I beleeve who wore that title and behaved himself very gravely in his Diocess A great friend at last to Bernard Gilpin though at first by some ill instruments incensed against him and seeing they were loving in their lives their memories in my Book shall not be divided though I confess the later died some three years before 11. This Bernard Gilpin And of Bernard Gilpin born of a right worshipfull family at Kentmirâ— in Westmerland had Cuthbert Tonstali Bishop of Durham for his great Vncle he was bred first in Queens Colledgs then Christs-Church in Oxford and no doubt the prayers of Peter Martyr conduced to his conversion to be a Protestant For he hearing this Gilpin dispute cordially on the Popish party desired of God that so good affections might not be misguided and at last obtained his desire 12. He Weathered out the Raign of Queen Mary Hardly escaped in Queen Maries dayes partly with his travels beyond the seas Anno Dom. 1587. chiefly residing at Lovain Anno Regin Eliza. 30. and Paris partly after his return by the favour of his Uncle Tonstall Before whom he was often cited chiefly about the Eucharist but was discharged by confessing the reall presence and that the manner thereof transcended his apprehension Tonstall not inforcing him to the particularity of Transubstantiation as using himself to complain on Pope Innocent for defining de modo to be an article of faith However his foes so hardly beset him that once he ordered his servant to provide for him a long shroud not for his
to affirm that those Articles of Lambeth were afterwards forbidden by publick Authority but when where and by whom he is not pleased to impart unto us And strange it is that a publick prohibition should be whispered so softly that this Author alone should hear it and none other to my knowledge take notice thereof 27. How variously forraign Divines esteemed of them As for forrain Divines just as they were biased in judgement so on that side ran their Affections in raising or decrying the esteem of these Articles some a Thysias twice printed them at Hardâ—ovick Anno 1613. printed set forth and b Bogerman in his 107. 108. notes on the second part of Grotius cited them as the sence of the Church of England others as fast slighted them as the narrow positions of a few private and Partial persons As for Corvinus as we know not whence he had his intelligence so we finde no just ground for what he reporteth that Arch-Bishop Whitgift for his pains incurred the Queens displeasure and c In his answer to the notes of Bogerman 2 part pag. 566. and so forward to pag. 570. a Praemunire We presume this forrainer better acquainted with the Imperial Law and locall customes of Holland then with our municipal Statutes and the nature of a Praemunire Indeed there goes a tradition that the Queen should in merriment say jestingly to the Arch-BP My Lord I now shall want no mony for I am informed all your goods are forfeited unto me by your calling a Councel without my consent but how much of truth herein God knows And be it referred to our learned in the Law whether without danger of such a censure the two Arch-Bishops by vertue of their place had not any implicite leave from the Queen to assemble Divines for the clearing declaring and asserting of difficult Truths provided they innovate or alter nothing in matters of Religion 28. And now I perceive These Articles excellent witnesses of the general doctrine of England I must tread tenderly because I goe not as before on mens graves but am ready to touch the quick of some yet alive I know how dangerous it is to follow Truth too nere to the heels yet better it is that the teeth of an Historian be struck out of his head for writing the the Truth then that they remain still and rot in his Jaws by feeding too much on the sweet-meats of flattery All that I will say of the credit of these Articles is this That as Medalls of Gold and Silver though they will not pass in payment for currant coyne because not stamped with the Kings Inscription yet they will goe with Goldsmiths for as much as they are in weight So though these Articles want Authentick Reputation to pass for Provinciall Acts as lacking sufficient Authority yet will they be readily received of Orthodox Christians for as far as their own purity bears conformity to Gods word And though those learned Divines be not acknowledged as competent Judges to pass definitive Sentence in those Points yet they will be taken as witnesses beyond exception whose testimony is an infallible evidence what was the generall and received doctrine of England in that Age about the forenamed controversies 29. This year ended the life Bp. Wickham Dr Whitakers Dan. Halsworth and Râ—b Southwell end their lives First of Doctor William Wickam bred in Kings Colledge in Cambridge first Bishop of Lincoln after of Winchester whose namesake William Wickham in the Reign of King Edward the third sat in the same See more years then this did weeks Indeed we know little of his life but so much of his death as we must not mention it without some pitty to him whil'st in pain and praise to God for our own health such was his torture with the stone before his death that for d Bp Goodwin in his Catalogue of the Bishops of Winchester 14 days together he made not water Secondly Worthy Doctor William Whittakers whose larger character we reserve God-willing for our History of Cambridge And amongst the Romanists Daniel Halseworth who as e De Angliae scriptoribus Aetate â—6 pag. 794. Pitzaeus describes him Papists give no scant measure in praising those of their own Party was well skill'd in Latin Greek and Hebrew and Elegant Poet Eloquent Orator acute Philosopher expert Mathematician deep-studied Lawyer and excellent Divine flying from England he lived successively in Savoy Rome and Millain having too many professions to gather wealth and with all his Arts and Parts both lived in Poverty and died in Obscurity More eminent but more infamous was the death of Robert Southwell a Jesuite born in f Idem ibidem Suffolk bred beyond the Seas where he wrote abundance of Books who returning into England was executed March the third for a Traitor at London and honoured for a Martyr amongst men of his own Religion 30. The Secular Priests continued their complaints Anno Regin Eliza. 39. Anno Dom. 1596. The complaint of the Seculars against the Jesuits and principally against Parsons as against Jesuits in general so particularly against Robert Parsons This Parsons about 18 years since was in England where by his statizing and dangerous activity he had so incensed the Queens Councell that the Secular Priests made him a main occasion why such sharp laws were so suddenly made against a DeclaratioÌ„ motuum ad Clementein ecitaâ—um pag. 24. Catholicks in England But no sooner did danger begin to appear but away went Parsons beyond the Seas wherein some condemned his cowarliness and others commended his policy seeing such a commander in chief as he was in the Romish cause ought to repose his person in safety and might be never the less vertually present in the fight by the issuing out of his orders to meaner officers Nor did Parsons like a wheeling Cock turn aside with intent to return but ran quite out of the Cockpit and then crowed in triumph when he was got on his own dunghil safely resident in the City of Rome Here he compiled and hence he dispatched many letters and libels into England and amongst the rest that Book of the succession to the English entit'ling the Spaniard thereunto setting it forth under the false name of b Camdens Eliz. in Anno 1594. p. 72. Dolman an honest harmless Secular Priest and his professed Adversary And surely Parsons was a fit fellow to derive the pedigree of the Kings of England who might first have studied to deduce his own descent from a lawfull Father being himself otherwise called Cowback c Watsons Quâ—â—libets p. 109 236. filius populi et filius peccati as Catholicks have observed Many letters also he sent over full of threats and assuring his party that the land would be invaded by forrainers writing therein not what he knew or thought was but what he desired and endeavoured should be true Some of these letters being intercepted made the
Colledge in Oxford living and dying a single man of whom largely before His innocency survived to triumph over those aspersions which the malice of others advantaged by his own dove-like simplicity had cast upon him I am informed S r Edwin Sands hath erected a monument over him in his Parish-Church in Kent where he lieth interred 41. An over-politick act disliked I cannot omit what I finde in this year in M r Camden his * Which shortly will be set forth in a new edition manuscript-life of Queen Elizabeth A report was cast out by our polititians in the midst of Harvest of the danger of a present forrain invasion done out of designe to prevent the Popularity of the Earl of Essex and to try the peoples inclinations Instantly all were put into a posture of defence mowers reapers all harvest folke left their work to be imployed in musters This afterwards appeared but a Court-project whereat the country took much distast so ill it is to jest with edged tools especially with Sythes and Sickles My Author addeth that people affirmed that such May-games had been fitter in the spring when sports were used amongst the Romans to Flora and not in the Autumn when people were seriously imployed to fetch in the fruits of the earth But by his leave these Expressions flow from Criticks and fly far above the capacities of Country-men 42. This Century Concluded the lives of two eminent Roman Catholicks John Sanderson born in Lancashire 43. 1600. The death of I. Sanderson and T. Case bred in Trinity Colledge in Cambridge where he set forth an excellent Logick called Sandersons Logick fourty years ancienter then that which his worthy name-sake of Oxford of a different judgement in religion hath since printed on the same subject From Cambridge he fled to Cambray in Artois where he lived with good comfort and died with great credit with those of his own perswasion The other Thomas Case of S t Johns in Oxford D r of Physick it seems always a Romanist in his heart but never expressing the same till his mortal sickness seized upon him The end of the sixteenth Century THE CHURCH-HISTORY OF BRITAIN THE TENTH BOOK Containing the Reigne of KING JAMES TO THE HONOURABLE ROBERT Lord BRUCE SOLE SON TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE THOMAS EARLE of ELGIN HAving by Gods assistance drawn down my History to the death of Queen Elizabeth some disswade me from continuing it any further Because that as Saint Peter out of warinesse alias cowardlinesse followed Christ who was the Truth * Mat. 26. 58. afarre off so they lay this down for a Maxime That the Story of Modern Times must not be written by any alive A Position in my poor opinion both disgracefull to Historians and prejudiciall to Posterity Disgracefull to Historians as if they would make themselves like unto the beasts of the Forrest as charactered by David Psal 10â— 20 22. Who move in the Darknesse till the Sun ariseth and they get them away loving to write of things done at distance where Obscurity may protect their Mistakes from Discovery but putting up their pens as soon as the day dawns of Modern Times and they within the reach of reputation Prejudiciall to Posterity seeing intentions in this nature long delayed are at last defeated * Plutarch in his Morals The Young man moved by his Mother to Marry returned That as yet it was too soon and some yeares after pleaded That now it was too late So some say Truth is not ripe enough to be written in the Age we live in which proveth rotten too much for the next Generation faithfully to report when the Impreses of memorable matters are almost worn out the Histories then written having more of the Authors hand than footsteps of truth therein Sure I am the most informative Histories to Posterity and such as are most highly prized by the judicious are such as were written by the Eye-witnesses thereof As Thucidides the reporter of the Peloponesian Warre However one may observe such as write the Story of their owne Times like the two Messengers which carried tydings to David Of these Ahimaaz sent the rather by permission than injunction onely told David what he knew would please him acquainting him with his Victory But being demanded of his Sons death he made a Tale of a * 2 Sam. 18. 29. Tumult no better than an officious Lye for himself the issue whereof was to him unknown Cushi the other Messenger having his carriage lesse of cunning and more of conscience informing the King of his Sons death but folding it up in a faire expression * 2 Sam. 18. 32. The Enemies of my Lord the King and all that rise against thee to doe thee hurt be as that young man is Ahimaaz is imitated by such Historians who leave that unwritten which they suspect will be unwelcome These following the rule Summa Lex salus Authoris when they meet with any necessary but dangerous Truth passe it over with a Blank flourished up with some ingenious evasion Such Writers succeed to plain Cushi in their Relations who give a true account of actions and to avoid all exasperating terms which may make a bad matter worse in relating it use the most lenitive language in expressing distastfull matter adventuring with their own danger to procure the information of others Truly one is concerned in conscience to transmit to the next Age some short intimations of these Times out of feare that Records are not so carefully kept in these so many and sudden Changes as they were in former Ages I know Machiavel was wont to say That he who undertakes to Write a History must be of no Religion if so he himselfe was the best qualified of any in his Age to be a good Historian But I believe his meaning was much better than his words intending therein That a Writer of Histories must not discover his inclination in Religion to the prejudice of Truth Levi-like who said to his Father and Mother I have not seen them owning no acquaintance of any Relations This I have endeavoured to my utmost in this Book knowing as that Oyle is adjudged the best that hath no tast at all so that Historian is preferred who hath the least Tangue of partial Reflections However some Candour of course is due to such Historians wherein the Courtesie not so great in giving as the Injury in detaining it which run the Chiding of these present Times in hope that after-Ages may excuse them And I am confident that these my Labours shall finde the same favour which may be in meer men should be in all Gentlemen must be in true Christians the rather because this Booke appeareth Patronized by a Dedication to Your Honour I have selected your Lordship for a Patron to this part of my History wherein the Reign of King JAMES is contained under VVhose peaceable Government your Grandfather was His Privie Counsellour and Master of
much that She commanded Archbishop Whitgift to signifie unto him Mar. 12. That â—e should be his Successour in case the Archbishoprick ever fell in the Queens disposall 34. Not long after the Archbishop meeting Bishop Rudde The Bishop by â—lain preaching gains the Queens â—avour Brother said he I bring good tydings to you though bad to my self for they cannot take full effect till after my death Her Grace is so pleased with your last Sermon She enjoyned me to signifie to you Her pleasure That you shall be my Successour in Canterbury if surviving me The Bishop modestly declined his words desiring the long life of his Grace and in case of his advancement to Heaven confessed many other in England farre fitter for the Place than his own unworthinesse adding after some other exchange of words Good my Lord might I be my â—wn-Judge I conceive I have preached better Sermons at Court surely such as cost me more time and pains in composing them I tell you replied the Archbishop the truth is this the Queen now is grown weary of the vanities of wit and eloquence wherewith Her youth was formerly affected and plain Sermons which come home to Her heart please Her the best Surely his Grace was too mortified a man though none naturally love their Successours whilst themselves are alive intentionally to lay a train to blow up this Archbishop designed though by the others unadvised practise of his words it proved so in the event 35. For And by too personal preaching loseth it again next time when it came to the Bishop's Course to preach at Court then lying at Richmond Anno â—596 he took for his Text Psalm 90. 12. O teach us to number our daies that we may incline our hearts unto wisdome and in the close of his Sermon touched on the Infirmities of Age Ecclesiastes 12. When the grinders shall be few in number and they wax dark that look out at the windows personally applying it to the QUEEN how Age had furrowed Her face and besprinkled her hair with its meal Whereat Her MAJESTY to whom ingratissimum acroama to hear of death was highly displeased Thus he not onely lost his Reversion of the Archbishoprick of Canterbury which indeed never fell in the QUEENS daies but also the present possession of Her MAJESTIES favour 36. Yet he justly retained the repute of a Reverend and godly Prelate Yet did generally beloved and lamented and carried the same to the grave He wrought much on the Welsh by his wisdome and won their affections and by moderate thrift and long staying in the same See left to his Son Sir Rise-Rudde Baroner a fair estate at Aberglaseny in Carmarthenshire 37. Some three years since Causabon invited into England on the death of King HENRY the fourth Isaac Causabon that learned Critick was fetcht out of France by King JAMES and preferred Prebendary of Canterbury Thus desert will never be a drug but be vented at a good rate in one Countrey or another as long as the world affordeth any truly to value it King HENRY is not dead to Causabon as long as King JAMES is alive He who formerly flourished under the Bayes now thriveth altogether as well under the Olive Nor is Causabon sensible that England is the colder Climate whilst he findes the beams of His Majesty so bright and warm unto him to whom also the lesser lights of Prelates and Peers contributed their assistance 38. Presently he falls a writing Where he dyâ—th and is buried as naturall and almost as necessary as breathing unto him First to Fronto-Duraeus his learned Friend Then to Cardinal Peron in the just Vindication of our English Church After these he began his Exercitations on Baronius his Ecclesiastical Annals which more truly may be termed the Annals of the Church of Rome But alas Death here stopped him in his full speed and he lieth entombed in the South-Ile of Westminster-Abbey Not on the East or Poetical Side thereof where Chaucer Spencer Draiton are interred but on the West or Historical Side of the I le next the Monument of M r Camden Both whose plain Tombs made of white Marble shew the simplicity of their intentions the candidnesse of their natures and perpetuity of their memories Mr. Causabon's was erected at the cost of Thomas Moreton Bishop of Durham that great lover of Learned men dead or alive 39. The KING comes to Cambridge in a sharp Winter The supposed occasion of Mr. Selden's writing against the Divine Right of Tithes Mar. 7. when all the world was nothing but Aire and Snow Yet the Scholers Wits did not Freez with the Weather witness the pleasant Play of IGNORAMUS which they presented to His Majesty Yet whilst many laughed aloud at the mirth thereof some of the graver sort were sad to see the Common Lawyers made ridiculous therein If Gowns begin once to abase Gowns Cloaks will carry away all Besides of all wood the Pleaders Bar is the worst to make a Stage of For once in an Age all Professions must be beholding to their patronage Some a Authour of Dr. Preston's Life conceive that in revenge Master John Selden soon after set forth his Books of Titbes wherein he historically proveth That they were payable jure humano and not otherwise 40. I cannot suspect so high a Soul Many write in Answer to his Book 1615. 13. guilty of so low reflections that his Book related at all to this occasion but only that the latitude of his minde tracing all pathes of learning did casually light on the rode of this Subject His Book is divided into two parts whereof the first is a meer Jew of the practise of Tithing amongst the Hebrews the second a Christian and chiefly an English-man of their customes in the same And although many Divines undertook the Answer of this Book as Mr. Stephen Nettles Fellow of Queens-Coll in Cambridge applying himself to the Judaical part Dr. Tillesly and Mr. Montague all writing sharply if strongly enough yet sure it is never a fiercer storm fell on all Parsonage Barns since the Reformation than what this Treatise raised up 41. By this time Mr. Andrew Melvin Melvin freed from the Tower a Scotchman got to be enlarged out of the Tower whither he had been committed for writing some satyrical Verses against the Ornaments on the Altar or Communion-Table in the Kings Chappell When first brought into the Tower he found Sir William Seymour now the Right Honorable most truly Noble and religious Marquis of Hertford there imprisoned for marrying the Lady ARABELLA so nearly allyed to the Crown without the KING's consent To whom Melvin being an excellent Poet but inferiour to Buchanan his Master sent this Distick Causa mihi tecum communis Carceris ARA Regia BELLA tibi Regia SACRA mihî As for his invective Verses against the Chappel-Ornaments I conceive the following Copie most authentick though there be various Lections of them but all
the King himself was pleased to interpose in his behalf July 7 Thursday 9. Saturday signifying to the House That those things which were then spoken and determined concerning Mountague without his Privitie did not please Him who by his Court-friends being imployed in the Kings Service his Majesty signifiyed to the Parliament that he thought his Chaplains whereof M r. Montague was one might have as much protection as the Servant of an ordinary Burgess neverthelesse his bond of two thousand pounds wherewith he was tailed continued uncancelled and was called on the next Parliament 11. The Plague increasing in London The Parliament removed to Oxford and brake up in discontent the Parliament was removed to Oxford But alas no avoiding Gods hand The infection followed or rather met the Houses there whereof worthy D r. Challenor died much lamented yet were the Members of Parliament not so carefull to save their own persons from the Plague as to secure the Land from a worse and more spreading contagion the daily growth of Poperie In prevention whereof they presented a Petition to his Majesty containing sixteen particulars all which were most graciously answered by his Majesty to their full satisfaction Thus this meeting began hopefully and cheerfully proceeded turbulently and suspiciously brake off suddenly and sorrowfully the reason whereof is to be fetch'd from our Civil Historians 12. The Convocation kept here Dr. James his motion in the Convocation is scarce worth the mentioning seeing little the appearance thereat nothing the performance therein Dean Bowles the Prolocurour absented himself for fear of infection D r. Thomas Good officiating in his place and their meeting was kept in the Chappell of Merton-Colledge Here D r. James that great Book-man made a motion that all Manuscript-Fathers in the Libraries of the Universities and elswhere in England might be perused and that such places in them as had been corrupted in Popish editions much superstition being generated from such corruptions might faithfully be printed according to those ancient Copies Indeed though England at the dissolving of Abbies lost moe Manuscripts than any Countrey of Christendome of her dimensions ever had yet still enough were left her if well improved to evidence the truth herein to all posteritie This designe might have been much beneficiall to the Protestant cause if prosecuted with as great endeavour as it was propounded with good intention but alas this motion was ended when it was ended expiring in the place with the words of the mover thereof 13. The King according to his late answer in the Parliament at Ox. The insolence of Papists seasonably restrained Nov. 11. issued out a Commission to the Judges to see the Law against Recusants put in execution This was read in all the Courts of Judicature at Reading where Michaelmas Terme was kept and a letter directed to the Arch-bishop of Cant. to take speciall care for the discovery of Jesuits Seminary Priests c. within his Province A necessary severity seing Papists presuming on Protection by reason of the late Match were grown very insolent And a Popish Lord when the King was at Chappell was heard to prate on purpose lowder in a Gallery adjoyning then the Chaplain prayed whereat the King was so moved that he sent him this message Either come and doe as we doe or I will make you prate further off 14. In this Severall Writers against Mr. Mountague and the next yeer many Books from persons of severall abilities and professions were writen against M r. Mountague By 1. D r. Sutcliffe Dean of Exeter One who was miles emeritus age giving him a Supersedeas save that his zeale would imploy it self and some conceived that his choler became his old age 2. M r. Henry Burton who then began to be well as afterwards wards too well known to the World 3. M r. Francus Rowse a Lay-man by profession 4. M r. Yates a Minister of Norfolk formerly a Fellow of Emmanuel in Cambridge he intitles his Book Ibus ad Caesarem 5. D r. Carleton Bishop of Chichester 6. Anthonie Wootton Divinitie-Professour in Gresham-Colledge In this Armie of Writers the strength is conceived to consist in the rere and that the last wrote the solidest confutations Of these six Dean Sutcliffe is said to have chode heartily M r. Rowse meant honestly M r. Burton wrote plainly Bishop Carleton very piously M r. Yates learnedly and M r. Wootton most solidly 15. I remember not at this time any of Master Mountague's partie engaged in print in his behalf Mr. Mountague left to deâ—end himself Whether because they conceived this their Champion sufficient of himselfe to encounter all opposers or because they apprehended it unsafe though of the same judgment to justifie a Book which was grown so generally offensive Insomuch as his Majesty himself sensible of his Subjects great distaste thereat sounded by the Duke of Buckingham to that purpose was resolved to leave Mr. Mountague to stand or fall Jan. 19. 1611-16 according to the justice of his cause The Duke imparted as much to Dr. Laud Bishop of Saint Davids who conceived it of such ominous concernment that he entred the same in his Diarie viz. I seem to see a cloud arising and threatning the Church of England God for his mercie dissipate it 16. The day of the Kings Coronation drawing neer A maim on the embleme of Peace his Majesty sent to survey and peruse the Regalia or Royal Ornaments which then were to be used It happened that the left wing of the Dove on the Scepter was quite broken off by what casualty God himself knows The King sent for Mr. Acton then his Goldsmith commanding him that the very same should be set on again The Goldsmith replied that it was impossible to be done so fairly but that some mark would remain thereof To whom the King in some passion returned l His Son succeeding his Father in that place and then present attested to me the truth hereof If you will not doe it another shall Hereupon Mr. Acton carried it home and got another Dove of Gold to be artificially set on whereat when brought back his Majesty was well contented as making no discovery thereof 17. The Bishop of Lincolne A Dilemma well waved Lord-Keeper was now dayly descendant in the Kings favour who so highly distasted him that he would not have him as Dean of Westminster to perform any part of His Coronation yet so was it a favour or a triall that it was left to his free choice to prefer any Prebendary of the Church to officiate in his place The Bishop met with a Dilemma herein To recommend Dr. Laud Bishop of Saint Davids and Prebendary of Westminster for that performance was to grace one of his greatest enemies to passe him by and prefer a private Prebendary for that purpose before a Bishop would seem unhandsome and be interpreted a neglect of his own Order To avoid all exceptions
Apocrypha was read in Churches viz. about sixty Chapters for the first lesson from the 28. of September till the 24. of November Canonicall Scripture is alone appointed to be read in the Scotch Liturgy one day alone excepted viz. All Saints day when Wisdome the 3 and Ecclesiasticus the 14 are ordered for Morning and Evening Praier on the same token there wanted not such who said that those two Chapters were left there to keep possession that all the rest might in due time be reintroduced Secondly The word Priest therein declined The word Priest often used in the English Liturgy gave offence to many in so much that c Cartwright in his Admonition 3. cap. 1. division one writeth To call us Priests as touching our office is either to call back again the old Priesthood of the Law which is to deny Christ to be come or else to keep a memory of the Popish Priesthood of abomination still amongst us besides we never read in the New-Testament that the word Priest as touching office is used in the good part Whereupon to prevent exception it was mollified into Presbyter in the Scotch Rubrick 97. The names of sundry Saints omitted in the English Scotch Saints inserted into the Kalender are inserted into the Scotch Kalender but only in black letters on their severall daies according to the form following January February March 11 David King 13 Mungo Bishop in Latin Kentigernus 18 Colman 11 Constantine the 3. King 17 Patrick 20 Cutbert April May. June 1 Gilbert Bishop 20 Serfe Bishop  9 Columba July August September 6 Palladius  18 Ninian Bishop 25 Adaman Bishop October November December  16 Margaret Queen 27 Ode Virgin 4 Droftane Some of these were Kings all of them Natives of that Countrey Scotch and Irish in former ages being effectually the same and which in probability might render them to the favor of their countrey-men some of them as Coleman c. zealous opposites to the Church of Rome in the celebration of Easter 98. But these Scotch Saints were so farr from making the English Laturgy acceptable Alterations of Addition in the Scotch Liturgie that the English Liturgy rather made the Saints odious unto them Such the Distasting alterations in the Book reduceable to 1. Additions 2. Omissions 3. Variations 4. and Transpositions To instance in the most materiall of the first kinde 1. In the Baptisme these words are inserted d Fol. 106. pag. 2. Sanctifie this fountain of water thou which art the Sanctifier of all things Which words are enjoyned to be spoken by the Minister so often as the water in the Fount is changed which must be at least twice a moneth 2. In the Praier after the Doxologie and before the Communion this Passage expunged by the English Reformers out of our Liturgy is out of the Ordinary of Sarum inserted in the Scotch Praier Book And of thy almighty c fol. 102. pagina 1. goodnesse vouchsafe so to blesse and sanctify with thy word and holy word these thy gifts and Creatures of Bread and Wine that they may be unto us the body and blood of thy most dearly beloved Sonne from which words saith the Scotch Author all f Bayly in his Canterburians Self-conviction pag. Papists use to draw the truth of the Transubstantiation 3. He that Celebrateth is injoyned to cover that which remaineth of the consecrated Eleents with a faire linen Cloth or Corporall g fol. 103. pag. 2. a word unknown to vulgar Eares of either Nations in other sense then to signify an under-officer in a foot Company and complained of to be purposely placed here to wrap up therein all Romish superstition of Christs Carnall Corporall presence in the Sacrament 4. In the Praier for the State of Christs Church Militant these words are added And h folio 98. pagina 1. we also blesse thy holy name for all those thy servants who having finished their course in faith doe now rest from their labours And we yeeld unto thee most high praise and hearty thanks for the wonderfull grace and vertue declared in all thy Saints who have been the choice vessells of thy grace and the lights of the world in their severall generations most humbly beseeching thee that we may have grace to follow the example of their stedfastnesse in thy faith and obedience to thy holy commandements that at the day of the generall Resurrection we and all they which are of the mysticall body of thy Sonne may be set on his right hand and hear that his most joyfull voice Come yee blessed c. 99. Amongst the Omissions none more complained of than the deleting these words The most materiall omission in the delivery of the bread at the Sacrament Take i fol. 103. pag. 2. and eat this in remembrance that Christ dyed for thee and feed on him in thine heart by faith with thanksgiving A passage destructive to Transubstantiation as diverting Communicants from Carnall Munducation and directing their Soules to a spirituall repast on their Saviour All which in the Scotch Liturgy is cut off with an Amen from the Receiver The Variations and Transpositions are of lesse moment as where the money gathered at the offer ory distributable by the English Liturgy to the poor alone hath a moyety thereof assigned the Minister therewith to buy him books of holy Divinity and some praiers are transposed from their place and ordered elsewhere whereat some doe take no small exception Other smaller differences if worth the while will quickly appear to the curious perusers of both Liturgies 100. Pass we now from the constitution of the book The discontented condition of the Scorch Nation when the Liturgy was first brought unto them to the condition of the Scotch Nation in this unhappy juncture of time when it was imposed upon him For it found them in a discontented posture and high Royalists will maintain that murmuring and muting against Princes differ only in degree nor in kinde occasioned on severall accounts 1. Some years since the King had passed an Act of revocation of Crown Lands aliened in the minority of his Ancesters whereby much land of the Nobility became obnoxious to forfeiture k The Kings declaration at large pag. 6. And though all was forgiven again by the Kings clemency and nothing acted hereby to the prejudice of any yet it vexed some to hold that as remitted by the Kings bounty wherein they conceived themselves to be before unquestionably estated 2. Whereas many formerly in Scotland were rather Subjects than Tenants rather Vassalls than Subjects Such the Land-lords Princely not to say Tyranniolly power over them the King had lately freed many from such dangerous dependence Especially in point of payment of Tythes to the Lords of the Erection equivalent to our English lay Impropriators but allowing the Land lords a valuable consideration according to the purchases l Idem pag. 9. of that Countrey whereby the
by hindering the Reformation of Religion dividing the King from his people or one of the Kingdomes from another or making any faction or parties amongst the people contrary to this League and Covenant that they may be brought to publick trial and receive condign punishment as the degree of their offences shall require or deserve or the supream Judicatories of both Kingdoms respectively or others having power from them for that effect shall judge convenient And whereas the happiness of a blessed peace between these Kingdoms denied in former times to our progenitours is by the good providence of God granted unto us and hath been lately concluded and setled by both Parliaments we shall each one of us according to our place and interest endeavour that they remain conjoyned in a firme peace and union to all posterity and that justice may be done upon the wilfull opposers thereof in manner expressed in the precedent Article We shall also according to our places and callings in this common cause of Religion liberty and peace of the Kingdoms assist and defend all those that enter into this league and Covenant in the maintaining and pursuing thereof and shall not suffer our selves directly or indirectly by whatsoever combination perswasion or terrour to be divided and withdrawn from this blessed Conjunction and union whether to make defection to the contrary part or to give our selves to a detestable indifferency or neutrality in this cause which so much concerneth the glory of God the good of the Kingdomes and honour of the King but shall all the dayes of our lives zealously and constantly endeavour to continue therein against all opposition and promote the same according to our power against all lets and impediments whatsoever and what we are not able of our selves to suppress or overcome we shall reveal and make known that it may be timely prevented or removed All which we shall do as in the sight of God And because these Kingdoms are guilty of many sins and provocations against God and his Son Jesus Christ as is too manifest by our present distresses and dangers the fruits thereof We profess and declare before God and the world our unfeined desire to be humbled for our own sins and for the sins of these Kingdoms especially that we have not as we ought valued the inestimable benefit of the Gospel that we have not laboured for the purity and power thereof and that we have not endeavoured to receive Christ in our hearts nor to walk worthy of him in our lives which are the causes of other sins and transgressions so much abounding amongst us and our true and unfeined purpose desire and endeavour for our selves and all others under our charge both in publick and in private in all duties we owe to God and man to amend our lives and each one to goe before another in the example of a real reformation that the Lord may turn away his wrath and heavie indignation and establish these Churches and Kingdoms in truth and peace And this Covenant we make in the presence of Almighty God the searcher of all hearts with a true intention to perform the same as we shall answer at the great day when the secrets of all hearts shall be disclosed most humbly beseeching the Lord to strengthen us by his Holy Spirit to this end and to bless our desires and proceedings with such success as may be deliverance and safety to his people and encouragement to other Christian Churches groaning under or in danger of the yoak of Anti-Christian Tyranny to joyn in the same or like Association and Covenant to the glory of God the enlargement of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ and the peace and tranquillity of Christian Kingdoms and Commonwealths We listen not to their fancy who have reckoned the words in the Covenant six a Rev. 13. 19. hundred sixty six Preface and Conclusion as only circumstantial appendants not accounted and esteeme him who trieth it as well at leisure aliàs as idle as he that first made the observation Much less applaud we their paralel who the number in branches agreeing compare it to the superstitious and cruel Six Articles enacted by King Henry the Eighth But let us consider the solid and serious exceptions alledged against it not so light and slight as to be puffed away with the breath of the present age but whose weight is likely to sink them down to the consideration of posterity 14. First Exceptions general to the whole seeing this Covenant though not as first penned as Prosecuted had heavie penalties inflicted on the refusers thereof such pressing is inconsistent with the nature of any Contract wherein consent not constraint is presumed In a Covenant men should go of their own good 〈◊〉 or be led by perswasions not drawn by frights and fears much less driven by forfeits and punishments 15. Secondly Made without the Kings consent Subjects are so far from having the express or tacit consent of the King for the taking thereof that by publick Proclamation he hath forbidden the same Now seeing Parents had power by the b Num. 30. 6. law of God to rescind such vows which their children made without their privity by the equity of the same law this Covenant is void if contrary to the flat command of him who is Parens Patriae 16. Many words occur in this Covenant Full of doubtful words some obsure others of doubtfull meaning viz. Common enemies Best-Reformed-Churches Malignants Highest Judicatories of both Kingdomes c. Untill therefore the obscure be cleared the doubtfull stated and fixed the same cannot as it ought be taken in judgement Exceptions to the Preface Therein it is suggested that Supplications Remonstrance Protestations to the King were formerly used which proving ineffectual occasioned the trying of this Covenant Anno Dom. 1643. Anno Regis Carol. 19. as the last hopefull means to preserve Religion from ruine c. Now seeing many joyned neither with their hands nor hearts in presenting these writings such persons scrupled this Covenant which they cannot take in truth because founded on the failing of the aforesaid means to the using whereof they concurred not in the laast degree 17. It is pretended in the Preface Pretended ancient yet unprecedented that this Covenant is according to the commendable practice of these Kingdoms in former times Whereas indeed it is new in it self following no former Precedents a grand Divine a a Phil. Nye Covenant with Narrat pag. 12. of the Parliament-party publickly professing that We read not either in Divine or Hamane Histories the like Oath extant in any age as to the matter persons and other circumstances thereof Exceptions to the First Article 18. They are unsatisfied to swear Cannot be taken knowingly to maintain the Preservation of the Reformed Religion of Scotland in Doctrine Worship Discipline and Government as being ignorant such their distance thence and small intelligence there of the particulars thereof
where we shall not finde them as we might justly expect all of one tongue and of one language there being some not concurring with the major part and therefore stiled Dissenting Brethren I know the Scotchs Writers call them of the Separation but because mollifying terms are the best Poultesses to be applyed to the first swellings of Church-differences we decline these words of distast They are also commonly called Independents though they themselves if summoned by that name will return to Vouz avez thereunto as to a word odious and offensive in the common seund and notation thereof For Independency taken for absolute subsistence Without relation to 1 God 2 King or State 3 Other Churches 4 Particular Christians is Prophane Blasphemous Seditious and Treacherous Proud and Ambitious Churlish and Uncharitable These Dissenting Brethren or Congregationalists were but five in the Assembly though many more of their judgements dispersed in the land 1 Namely Thomas Goodwin bred first in Christs-Col then fellow of Katherine Hall in Cambridge 2 Philip Nye who had his education in Oxford William Bridge fellow of Emanuel Colledg in Cambridge all three still alive 4 Sidrach Simson of Queens 5 Jeremiah Burroughs of Emanuel Col. in Cambridge both deceased It is our unhappiness that in writing their story we have little save what we have collected out of the writings of pens professedly engaged against them and therefore the less credit is to be given thereunto However in this Narration there is nothing of my own so that if any falsehoods therein they must be charged on their account whom the Reader shall behold cited in the margin Otherwise I confess my personal respects to some of the afore named dissenters for favours received from them 36. The cause of their first departing the land Some ten years since the sinful corruptions to use their own a a Apostolical narration p. 2 language of the worship and government in this Church taking hold on their consciences unable any longer to comport therewith they deserted their Native Country This we beleeve the true cause of their departure not what b b Mr Edwards in his Answer to the Apol. Narr some suggest that one for debt and another for danger to answer some ill interpreted words concerning the Scots were forced to forsake the Land And although I will not say they left not an hoof of their Estates behinde them here they will confess they conveyed over the most considerable part thereof Many wealthy Merchants and their families went over with them so that of all Exiles for so they stile themselves these may seem most like Voluntary Travellers for good company though of all Travellers most like to Exiles 37. Their reception beyond the seas in Holland was faire and civill Are kindly entertained in Holland where the States who though they tolerate own not all Religions were interpreted to acknowledge them and their Churches by many signs of their favour First By granting them their own Churches to assemble in for Divine Worship where their own Country men met also the same day but at different hours for the same purpose By permitting the ringing of a c c Apol. Nar. pag. 7. Bell to call people to their Publick meetings which loudly sounded the States consent unto them as not allowed to such clandestine Sects which shelter themselves rather under the permission then Protection thereof By assigning a full and liberal maintenance annually for their Ministers as also wine for their Communions Nor can there be a better evidence of giving the right hand of Fellowship then to give the full hand of liberality A moitie of this people fixed at Roterdam where they landed the other travelled up higher for better aire to Wianen and thence soon after removed to Arnhein a sweet and pleasant City No part of Holland largely d d Otherwise Arnhein is in Gelderland taken affording more of England therein resembled in their letters to their Friends to Hertford or Bury in Suffolk 38. Then fall they to consult of Church-Discipline How qualified to finde out the truth professing themselves a mere abrasa tabula with Virgin judgements longing only to be married to the truth Yea they looked upon the word of Christ Reader it is their own e e Apol. Nar. pag. 3. expression as unpartially and unprejudicedly as men made of flesh and blood are like to do in any juncture of time that may fall out the place they went to the condition they were in and company they went with affording no temptation to byasse them anyway 39. And first they lay down two grand ground-works Their two chief ground-works on which their following Fabrick was to be erected 1. Only to take what was held forth in Gods word leaving nothing to Church-practice or humane prudence as but the Iron leggs and Clay toes of that Statute whose head and whole body ought to be of pure Scripture-Gold 2. Not to make their present judgement binding unto them for the future Their adversaries cavil hereat as a reserve able to rout all the Armys of Arguments which are brought against them that because one day teacheth another they will not be tyed on Tewsday morning to maintain their Tenents on Munday night if a new discovery intervene 40. In pursuance of these principles they pitched on a middle way as generally the posture of truth betwixt Presbytery Coordination of Churches as too rigorous imperious and conclusive and Brownisme as too vage loose and uncertain Their main platform was that Churches should not be subordinate Parochial to Provincial Provincial to National as Daughter to Mother Mother to Grandmother but Coordinate without Superiority except Sentority of Sisters containing no powerfull influence therein Thus the Church formerly like a Chain with links of dependency on one another should hereafter become like an heap of rings each entire in it self but as they thought far purer then was ever seen before 41. The manner of their Church-service The manner of their Church-service according to their own a a Apol. Nar. pag. 8. relation was performed in form following 1. Publick and solemn prayers for Kings and all in Authority Reading the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament with exposition thereof on occasion Administration of the two Sacraments Baptisme to Infants and the Lords Supper Singing of Psalms and collection for the Poor every Lords-day For Publick Officers they had Pastors Teachers and Ruling Elders not Lay but Ecclesiastick persons and Deacons As for Church-censures they resolved only on Admonition and Excommunication the latter whereof was never handselled in their b b Apol. Nar. pag. 9. Church as no reason that the rod though made should be used where the Children are all quiet and dutifull Synods they account usefull and in some cases necessary yet so that their power is but Official not Authoritative whereby they may declare the truth not enjoyn obedience thereunto Or take it in the
was now leaving Kings Colledge A strange speech pretended of K. Henry the sixth when 't is pluckt back again by the feathers thereof casually lighting on the following passage That when William Wankefleet Bishop of Winchester afterwards founder of Magdalen Colledge perswaded King Henry the sixth to erect some monument for learning to Oxford the King returned Imò potiùs Cantabrigiae ut duas si fieri possit in Anglia Accademias habeam Yea rather said he at Cambridge that if it be possible I may have two Universities in England As if Cambridge were not reputed one before the founding of Kings Colledge therein 23. An improbable passage Considering then Cambridge equall with Oxford in number of Colledges which filled me with wonder for although none beheld King-Henry as a profound person to utter Oracles all acknowledge him of ability to expresse himself in proportion to truth Who could not be ignorant that Cambridge had been an University many hundreds of yeers before these words were pretended to be spoken and vieing indowed Colledges un indowed Halls coming not under this consideration with Oxford it self as by the ensuing parallel will appear In Cambridge 1 Peter House 2 Michael House 3 Clare Hall 4 Kings Hall 5 Pembrooke Hall 6 Bones Colledge 7 Trinity Hall 8 Gonvil Hall In Oxford 1 University Colledge 2 Merton Colledge 3 Baliol Colledge 4 Exeter Colledge 5 Orial Colledge 6 Queenes Colledge 7 New Colledge 8 Lincoln Colledge All these houses were extant in Cambridge Anno Dom 1443 Anno Regis Henr. 6. 21 before the reign of King Henry the Sixth equalling those in Oxford for number All Soules therein not being fully finished and Kings Colledge being an Embryo whilst All Soules was but an Infant which plainly proveth Cambridge a most flourishing University before the reign of King Henry the sixth 24. This made me consider with my self The speech avouched by no Historian what Authenticall Authors had attested the Kings words aforesaid finding it first printed by Brian Twine Oxford Antiquarie and afterwards by Dr. Heylyn a member of that University but neither relating to any Author by quotation in their Editions which I have seen which in a matter of such moment might justly have been expected During these my thoughts the following passages came very seasonably to reconcile what to me seemed a contradiction 25. Mr. Hubbard my much esteemed friend A memorable tradition late Fellow of Kings Colledge and Proctor of Cambridge told me that Mr Barlow Fellow of the same house informed him how he had heard from Mr. Matthew Bust the worthy School-master of Eaton familiarly conversing with Sr. Henry Savill Warden thereof that the said Sr. Henry Savill in the presence of Sr. Isaac Wake at an Oxford Act being pleasant at the entertainment of Cambridge men in meer merriment to try whether he could make Cousens of his Aunts Children herein devised the story far from any love of falshood or mischievous intent to deceive posterity but onely for present delight Which since it seemes how soon are great mens jests made meaner mens earnests hath passed for currant some confirming more crediting none opposing it and from going in talk comes now to fly in print and if not timely checkt will in the next age acquire to it selfe a peaceable possession of a generall beleife 26. I confess this is heare-say at the third mouth And a necessary conclusion losing much of the lustre thereof because removed three descents from the originall However I conceive my private resolutions just and equall who will condemn it for falshood in that very minute when the aforesaid speech of King Henry the sixt shall be avouched out of a warrantable Author till which time I shall account that no serious speech of a King but the Knights joculary expresssion I say again this my AUDIVI from my friend shall prevaile with me till confuted with the INSPEXI of a credible Historian to the contrary 27. Pass we now from Kings Colledge The Originall of the Schools in Cambridge but stay still on Kings Colledge ground for such were some part of the Schooles advanced at severall times by sundry Benefactors First the Schooles were kept in private houses hired from ten years to ten yeares by the University for that purpose during which terme they might be diverted to no other use Such we conceive the Schoole of Tyrannus wherein St. Paul kept his disputation and the house of John Goldcorn since inclosed in Caius Colledge served the University a long time in that nature 28. Afterwards the publick Schooles were built at the cost of the University The old Schools a mean structure in or near the place where now they stand But alass it was a little and low Structure more eminent for the Learning within than the building without Yet every whit as good as anciently the Artists Schools of Padua kept at St. Blass or as the Schools in Venice near the Steeple of St. Marke where Baptista Egnatius some hundred years since professed the liberall Arts. 29. Last of all the present Quadrant of the Schools was erected of brick and rough stone in fashion as it standeth at this day First The severall Founders of the modern Schools a Caius Hist Cant. pag. 80 The west side opposite to the entrance built by the University Charges on ground bought of Benet Colledge Containing Beneath the Philosophy commonly cald the Bachelors Schools Above the Physick and Law Secondly The North side on the right hand finished An. Dom. 1400 by Sir Will. Thorpe a Lincolnshire Knight Containing Beneath the Divinity Schools Above the Regent and Non-Regent houses having something of Chappell character and consecration in them as wherein some University devotions are performed Thirdly The South side on the left hand built by b vide infrà anno 1456. Laurence Booth Bishop of Durham Chancellor of the University but on the cost of Graduats and others Containing Beneath the Logick or Sophister Schools where in Term time dayly Disputations the Bachelors Commencement is kept Above the Greek Schools Fourthly The East side where one entreth at a beautifull Porch built anno 1475 by Rotheram Archbi-shop of York Containing Beneath on the Right hand a Vestiary where the Doctors robe themselves and have a convenient inspection into the Divinity Schools Left hand the Consistory where the Vice-chancellor keepeth his Courts Above a fair Library This Library formerly was furnished with plenty of choice books partly at the costs of the aforesaid Archbishop Rotheram partly at the charges of Cuthbert Tonstall Bishop of Durham bred in our University and quietly allowed unto us by Bishop Godwin though c Brian Twine some since on what unjust pretence I know not have drawn him unto Balioll Colledge in Oxford But these books by the covetousness of some great ones and carelesness of the Library Loosers for Library Keepers I cannot call them are for the most part imbezelled to the
Land yet because these pretend to a Prophetical spirit and there may be one in due time their words are considerable Lord here your Honour with those many persons your Peers are concerned Judge in this place the shooe pinches them because they * Rom. 13. 4. bear the Sword to punish Offendors Officers I suppofe either Civil or Military if they allow of the destinction No mention here of Ministers It seems THOU and THEE is too good language for us who are Cains and Balaams and Dogs and Devils in their mouths The best is the sharpest railing cannot pierce where Guiltiness in the person railed on hath not first wimbled an hole for the entrance thereof Their Principall Argument for their Practice is drawn from many places in * Exod-33 12 five times in one verse Scripture where THOU and THEE are used by God to Man and Man to God and Man to Man which cannot be denid In Opposition whereunto we maintain that THOU from Superiors to inferiors is proper as a Signe of Command from equals to equals is passable as a note of Familiarity but from Inferiors to Superiors if proceeding from Ignorance hath a smack of Clownishness if from Affectation a tang of Contempt But in answer to their Objection from Scripture we return foure things First THOU is not so distastful a term in Hebrew and Greek as it is in the English custom of every Country being the grand Master of Language to appoint what is honourable and disgraceful therein The Jews had their * Matth. 5. 26. Racha or terme of contempt unknown to us we our THOU a signe of slighting unused by them Secondly It followeth not because THOU and THEE only are set down that therefore no other Additions of Honour were then and there given from Inferiors to their Superiors A negative Argument cannot be framed in this Case that more respect was not used because no more exprest in scripture it being the designe of Histories chiefly to represent the substance of deeds not all verbal Formalities Thirdly What Inferiors in Scripture wanted in words they supplied in Postures and Gestures of Submission even to * Gen. 33. 3 King 1. 16 23. as also 1 King 18. 7. Prostration of their bodies which would be condemned for Idolatry if ussed in England Lastly There are extant in Scripture expressions of respect as when Sarah termed her Husband Lord which though but * 1 Pet 3. 6. once mentioned in the text was no doubt her constant Practise or else the holy Spirit would not have took such notice thereof and commended it to others imitation But they follow their Argument urging it unreasonable that any should refuse that Coine in common discourse which they in their solemn Devotions pay to God himself THOU and THEE are Currant in the Prayers of Saints clean thorough the Scipture as also in our late admired Liturgy we Praise THEE we Belss THEE we Worship THEE we Glorifie THEE we give THEE Thanks for THY great Glory It is answered those Attributes of Greatness Goodness c. given to God in the Beginning of every Prayer do Vertually and Effectually extend and apply themselves to every Clause therein though for Brevities sake not actually repeated Thus OURFATHER in the Preface of the Lords Prayer relateth to every Petition therein OURFATHER hallowed be thy Name Our FATHER thy Kingdom come Our FATHER thy will be done c. And this qualifieth the harshness and rudeness of THOU THEE and THY when for expedition and expressiveness sake they are necessarily used Your Honour will not wonder at the Practise of these QUAKERS having read in the Prophetical Epistles of * 2 Pet. 2. 10. S. Peter and * Jude 8. S. Jude last placed because last to be performed that towards the end of the world some shall NOT BE AFFRAID to speak evil of Dignities These Feare where no feare is and QUAKE where they need not but feare not where feare is being bold and impudent where they ought not They are NOTAFRAID not only to speak against Dignities which in some case may be done where they are Vitious men but against Dignities the lawful useful needful Ordinances of God himself God grant these may seasonably be suppressed before they grow too numerous otherwise such who now quarel at the Honour will hereafter question the wealth of others Such as now accuse them for Ambition for being higher will hereafter condemne them for Covetousness for being broader then other yea and produce Scripture too proper and pregnant enough for their purpose as abused by their Interpretation In a word it is suspicious such as now introduce THOU and THEE will if they can expel Mine and Thine disolving all propriety into confusion And now my Lord how silly a thing is that Honour which lies at the mercy of such mens mouths to tender or deny the same The best is Mens Statures are not extended or contracted with their shaddows so as to be stretched out into Giants in the morning shrunk up into Dwarfes at Noone and stretch'd out at Night into Giants again Intrinsecal worth doth not increase and abate Wax and Waine Ebb and Flow according to the Fancy of others May your Lordship therefore labour for that true Honour which consisteth in Vertue and God's Approbation thereof which will last and remain how furiously soever the wicked rage and imagine vain things against it Here I presume to present your Honour the Lives and Deaths of some worthies contrary to those QUAKERS in their Practise and Opinion I mean the Martyrs in the Reign of Queen Mary These despised not their Superiors giving due Reverence to those who condemned them honouring lawfull Authority though unlawfully used These cast not off their Cloaths but modestly wore their Linnen on them at their Suffering These counterfeited no Corporall QUAKING standing as firme as the stake they were fastned to though in a Spirituall sense working out their salvation with Feare and Trembling Whos 's admirable Piety and Patience is here recommended unto your Lordships consideration by Your humble Servant to be commanded in all Christian Offices THOMAS FULLER THE CHVRCH-HISTORY OF BRITAINE CENT XVI 1. July 6. KIng Edward Queen Mary in despight of the Duke of Northumberland's opposition crowned tender in yeers and weak with sicknesse Anno Regin Mar. 1. was so practiced on by the importunitie of others that Anno Dom. 1553 excluding His two Sisters he conveyed the Crown to the Ladie Jane His Kinswoman by that which we may we call the Testament of King Edward and the Will of the Duke of Northumberland Thus through the piousintents of this Prince wishing well to the Reformation the Religion of Queen Marie obnoxious to exception the ambition of Northumberland who would do what he listed the simplicity of Suffolke who would be done with as the other pleased the dutifulnesse of the Ladie Jane disposed by her Parents the fearfulnesse of the Judges not daring