make it known what they were Prestons Chantery THis was Founded by John Preston for two Priests to Sing Mass daily for the good Estate of Him the said John during this mortal Life and afterwards for the health of his Soul as also for the Souls of his Parents and Benefactors and all the Faithful Deceased Thus Mr. Dugdale Of Gilds or Fraternities The word Gild Proceeds from the Saxon word Gelo or Gilo which signifies Money because that such as were either for Charity Religion or Merchandize sake associated did cast their Money Goods yea and sometimes Lands together for the publick support of their own common charge These had their Annual Feasts â—…nd Neighbourly Meetings The First and most Ancient of these Gilds here in Coventry was Founded in the Fourteenth year of Edward the Third At which time the King granted Licence to the Coventry men That they should have a Merchants Gild and a Fraternity of Brethren and Sisters of the same in this Town with a Master or Warden thereof to be chosen out of the same Fraternity And that they might make Chantries bestow Alms do other works of Piety and Constituted Ordinances touching the same with all Appurtenances thereto And in the Seventeenth year Edward the Third gave leave to several to enter into a Fraternity and make a Gild consisting of themselves and such others as would joyn with them to the Honor of St. John Baptist. As also to purchase certain Lands Tenements and Rents for the Founding of a Chantry of Six Priests to Sing Mass every day in the Church of the Holy Trinity and St. Michael in Coventry for the Souls of the King's Progenitors and for the good Estate of the King Queen Isabel his Mother Queen Philippa his Wife and their Children As also of Walter Chesthunt and William De-Belgrave during their lives here on Earth and for their Souls after their departure hence and for the good Estate of the said John John Tho. Rich. Pet. and William and the rest of the said Gild with their Benefactors and likewise for the Soul of John Eltham late Earl of Cornwal and all of the Faithful Deceased Which Gild being so Founded within Two years after the same King Edward gave Licence to Queen Isabel his Mother to Give and Assign thereunto a parcel of Land to build thereupon a Chappel to the Honor of our Bâ—…essed Saviour and St. John Baptist for Two Priests to Sing Mass daily for the good Estate of the said King Edward Queen Isabel his Mother Queen Philippa his Wife Edward Prince of Wales and of the Brethren and Benefactors of the same Gild whilst they lived in this World and for their Souls after their Departure hence As also for the Soul of John of Eltham Earl of Cornwal and the Souls of the said Brethren and Benefactors with all the Faithful Deceased Thus Mr. Dugdale p. 119. There were great store of these and such like Pious Foundations throughout all England as appears by the same History All destroyed by King Henry the Eighth and his Son This Change being made something must necessarily be established in order to Religion CHAP. III. A Book of Religion Published THE Clergy held a Convocation in St. Paul's Church where after much disputing and debating of matters they Published a Book of Religion Entituled Articles Devised by the King's Highness c. In which Book is mentioned but Three Sacraments Baptism Eucharist and Penance The Articles contained in this Book were Six And by an Act of Parliament all were condemned for Hereticks and to be Burnt that should hold the contrary to them Asserting 1. That the Body of Christ was not really present in the Sacrament of the Eucharist after Consecration 2. That Priests entred into Holy Orders might Marry 3. That the Sacrament might not truly be Administred in one kind 4. That Vows of Chastity made upon mature deliberation were not to be kept That Private Masses were not to be used That Auricular Confession was not necessary in the Church Thus Sir Rich. Baker pag. 408. Here followeth the Act it self out of the Statute Book An Act of Parliament made in King Henry the Eighth's time for abolishing diversity of Opinions in certain Articles concerning Religion THe King 's Most Royal Majesty most prudently considering that by occasion of various Opinions and Judgments concerning some Articles in Religion great discord and variance hath arisen as well amongst the Clergy of this Realm as amongst a great number of the vulgar People And being in a full hope and trust that a full and perfect Resolution of the said Articles would make a perfect Concord and Unity generally amongst all His Loving and Obedient Subjects of His most Excellent Goodness not only Commanded that the said Articles should Deliberately and Advisedly by His Archbishops Bishops and other Learned Men of His Clergy be Debated Argued and Reasoned and their Opinions therein to be Understood Declared and Known But also most Graciously vouchsafed in his own Princely Person to come unto his High Court of Parliament and Council and there like a wise Prince of most high Prudence and no less Learning opened and declared many Things of most high Learning and great Knowledge touching the said Articles Matters and Questions for an Unity to be had in the same Whereupon after a great and long deliberate and advised Disputation and Consultation had and made concerning the said Articles as well by the consent of the King's Highness as by the Assent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal and other Leaned Men of His Clergy in their Convocations and by the Consent of the Commons in Parliament Assembled it was and is finally resolved accorded and Agreed in manner and form following that is to say 1. First That in the most Blessed Sacrament of the Altar by the strength and efficacy of Christ's mighty Word it being spoken by the Priest is present really under the Forms of Bread and Wine the natural Body and Blood of our Saviour Jesus Christ conceived of the Virgin Mary and that after the Consecration there remains no substance of the Bread or Wine nor any other Substance but the Substance of Christ God and Man 2. That the Communion in both kinds is not necessary to Salvation by the Law of God to all Persons and that it is to be Believed and not Doubted but that in the Flesh under the Form of Bread is the very Blood and with Blood under the Form of Wine is the very Flesh as well apart as if they were both together 3. That Priests after the Order of Priesthood received may not Marry by the Law of God 4. That Vows of Chastity Widowhood c. are to be kept 5. That it is meet and necessary that Private Masses be continued and admitted in the King 's English Church and Congregation as whereby good Christian People orcering themselves accordingly do receive both Godly and Goodly Consolations and Benefits and it is agreeable also to God's Law 6. That
Auricular Confession is expedient and necessary to be retained and continued used and frequented in the Church of God For the which most Godly study pain and travel of His Majesty and determination and resolution of the Premises His humble and obedient Subjects the Lords Spiritual and Temporal and the Commons in this present Parliament Assembled not only render and give unto His Highness their most high and hearty Thanks and think themselves most bound to Pray for the long continuance of his Graces most Royal Estate and Dignity And being also desirous that his most Godly enterprize may be well accomplished and brought to a full end and perfection and so Established that the same might be to the Honor of God and after to the common Quiet Unity and Concord to be had in the whole Body of this Realm for ever Do most humbly beseech His Royal Majesty that the Resolution and Determination above written of the said Articles may be established and perpetually perfected by the Authority of this present Parliament It is therefore Ordained and Enacted by the King our Sovereign Lord and by the Lords Spiritual and Temporal and by the Commons in this present Parliament Assembled and by the Authority of the same That if any Person or Persons within this Realm of England or in any other of the Kings Dominions do by Word Writing Printing Ciphering or any otherwise Publish Preach Teach Say Affirm Declare Dispute Argue or Hold any Opinion 1. That in the Blessed Sacrament of the Altar under the Form of Bread and Wine after the Consecration thereof there is not present really the natural Body and Blood of our Saviour Jesus Christ conceived of the Virgin Mary or that after the said Consecration there remains any Substance of Bread or Wine or any other Substance but the Substance of Christ God and Man or likewise to Publish Preach Teach Say Affirm Declare Dispute Argue or Hold Opinion that in the Flesh under the Form of Bread there is not the very Blood of Christ or that with the Blood under the Form of Wine there is not the very Flesh of Christ as well apart as though they were both together or by any the means abovesaid or otherwise do Preach Teach Declare or Affirm the said Sacrament to be of other Substance than is abovesaid or do by any means Contemn Deprave or Despise the said Blessed Sacrament that then such Person or Persons so offending shall be deemed and adjudged Hereticks and that every such offence shall be judged manifest Heresie and that every such Offender and Offenders shall therefore have and suffer Judgment Execution Pain and Pains of Death by way of Burning without any Abjuration Clergy or Sanctuary and their Estates to be Confiscated to the King as in Cases of High Treason 2. And moreover if any do obstinately Affirm Uphold Maintain or Defend that the Communion of the Blessed Sacrament in both kinds that is to say in Form of Bread and also of Wine is necessary for the health of Man's Soul or that it ought or should be Given and Administred to any Persons in both kinds or that it is necessary so to be taken or received by any Person other than Priests being at Mass and Consecrating the same 3. Or that any Man after having received the Order of Priesthood may marry 4. Or that any Man or Woman who hath advisedly vowed or professed Chastity or Widowhood may marry 5. Or that Private Masses be not lawful or not laudable or should not be celebrated had nor used in the Realm nor be not agreeable to the Laws of God 6. Or that Auricular Confession is not expedient and necessary to be retained and continued used and frequented in the Church of God Such Persons are to suffer pains of death as in cases of Felony without any benefit of Clergie or Priviledge of Church or Sanctuary and shall forfeit all their Lands and Goods as in cases of Felony Thus far out of the same Book CHAP. IV. Of another Effect of this Change which was a horrid Effusion of Blood QUeen Anne Boleign who had been the first occasion of this Change of Religion was beheaded Whereof there is this Relation Baker pag. 407. It was now the Twenty eighth year of King Henries Reign When there were solemn Justs at Greenwich from whence the King suddenly departed and came to Westminster Whose sudden departure struck amazement into many but to the Queen especially And not without cause For the next day the Lord Rochford her Brother and Henry Norris were brought to the Tower Prisoners Whither also the same day was brought Queen Anne her self Who at the Tower-gate fell on her knees beseeching God to help her as she was innocent of that whereof she was accused Soon after this she was arraigned in the Tower and found guilty and had Judgment pronounced Immediately the Lord Rochford her Brother was likewise Arraigned Who together with Henry Norris Mark Smeton William Brierton and Francis Weston all of the King's Privy-Chamber about matters touching the Queen were beheaded on Tower-hill Within Two days Queen Anne her self on a Scaffold upon the Green within the Tower was also beheaded At her death she spake these words God save my Master and Sovereign the King the most Goodliest Noblest and Gentlest Prince that is and grant him that he may long Reign over you which words she spake with a smiling countenance which done she kneeled down and the Hangman of Calais smote off her head at one stroke For her Religion she was an earnest Professor and one of the first Counternancers of the Gospel The Crimes for which she died were Adultery and Incest She had many Enemies as being a Protestant and perhaps in that respect the King himself not greatly her Friend For though he had excluded the Pope yet he continued a Papist still Her Death cast upon King Henry a dishonorable Imputation Insomuch that whereas the Protestant Princes of Germany had resolved to chuse him for Head of their League after they heard of this Queens Death they utterly refused him Thus far Sir Rich. Baker The next day after her Death the King Married the Lady Jane Seymour Stow Page 573. In the next place Thomas Cromwel who had been the grand Promoter of this business was likewise beheaded Whereof thus writes Howes upon Stow page 508. THomas Cromwel Earl of Essex being in the Council-Chamber was suddenly apprehended and committed to the Tower of London and soon after attainted of Heresie and High Treason When he was brought to the Scaffold on Tower-hill to be executed he spake these words I pray you that be here to bear me witness that I die in the Catholick Faith not doubting in any Article of my Faith or in any Sacrament of the Church Many have slandered me and reported that I have been an A better of such as have maintained evil Opinions which is untrue But I confess that like as God by his holy Spirit does instruct us
new Palace called Sommerset-House Thus Dr. Heylyn concerning this Example given of pulling down of Churches According to this beginning all the year proceeds in which there was nothing to be found but Troubles Commotions and Disquiets both in Church and State For about this time there started up a Sect of Men that were nam'd Gospellers who asserted the Blasphemous Doctrine of Calvin of Gods being the Author of Sin And at the same time the Anabaptists who had kept themselves unto themselves in the late King's time began to look abroad and disperse their Dotages For the prevention of which mischief before it grew to a Head some of the chief of them were Convented in the Church of St. Paul before Archbishop Cranmer who in Examining them took up his Seat upon an Altar of our Lady These Men being convicted of their Errors some of them were dismissed only with an Admonition others condemn'd to bear their Faggots at St. Pauls-Cross Thus Dr. Heylyn concerning these Sects Now the time draws on for the putting forth the new Liturgy which differed little in the main no not so much as in the Canon of the Mass from the Latin Service But notwithstanding the Publishing and Commanding the use of this Book yet many did Celebrate their Private Masses in such secret places that it was not easie to discover them More confidently carried in the Church of St. Paul in many Chappels whereof by the Bishops Sufferance the former Masses were kept up that is to say Our Ladies Mass the Apostles Mass c. performed in Latin but disguis'd with English names of the Apostles Communion and our Ladies Communion But these were afterwards suppressed Thus Dr. Heylyn concerning the new Liturgy An Opposition against the new Form of Religion Page 75. UPon the Imposition of this Book and a new Form of Religion obtruded many Counties took up Arms to oppose it But yet so that they were presently ready to lay down if the King would grant them some few Demands whereof one was this to wit That for as much as we constantly believe that after the Priest hath spoken the words of Consecration being at Mass there is very really the Body and Blood of our Saviour Jesus Christ God and Man And that no Substance of Bread and Wine remains after but the very self same Body that was born of the Virgin Mary and was given upon the Cross for our Redemption therefore we desire to have Mass celebrated as it was in times past Because we find that many presume unworthily to receive the same putting no difference between our Lords Body and other kind of Meat Some saying That it is Bread both before and after Consecration And some again say that it is profitable to no man unless he receives it with many other abused terms Secondly we desire that Curates may Administer Baptism at all times of necessity as well upon Week-days as Holy-days Thirdly That Children may be Confirm'd by the Bishop Fourthly That there may be Holy-Bread and Holy-Water in remembrance of Christ's precious Body and Blood Fifthly That our Lord's Body be reserv'd in Churches Sixthly That Priests may live unmarried Seventhly That the Six Articles set forth by King Henry the Eighth may be continued at least till the King comes to full Age. They further made this Remonstrance viz. That the Free-born Commonalty was oppress'd by a small number of Gentry who glutted themselves with Pleasures whilst poor Commons wasted with daily Labor did like Pack-horses live in extreme slavery Secondly That Holy Rites establish'd by Antiquity were abolished and new ones Authoriz'd with a new Form of Religion obtruded to the subjecting of their Souls to those horrid pains which no death could terminate And therefore Thirdly they declar'd That they thought it necessary and convenient to have new Counsellors plac'd about the King during his Minority with the removing of those who Ruling as they list confounded things Sacred and Profane regarding nothing but the enriching themselves with the Publick Treasure that they might riot it amongst those Publick Calamities Thus Dr. Heylyn concerning this Commotion But these Men were soon suppressed and the Changes went on As appears by this following Relation of Dr Heylyn pag. 79. But then there started up another Faction as dangerous to the Church as opposite to the Publick Liturgy and as destructive of the Rules of Reformation then by Law establish'd as were those of Rome The Archbishop and the rest of the Prelates having so far proceeded in abolishing the Religion and Doctrine of the Church of Rome resolv'd in the next place to go forwards with a further Reformation in a particular point of Doctrine concerning the Sacrament In order whereunto Melancthon's coming was expected in the year before But he came not then and therefore Letters were directed by the Archbishop to Martin Bucer and Peter Martyr who were more addicted to the Zuinglian than the Lutheran Doctrines in the Point of the Sacrament Martyr coming over was made the King's Professor of Divinity at Oxford and about two years after made Canon of Christ's-Church In his first Lectures he is said by Saunders if he may be credited to have declared himself so much a Zuinglian in the Point as to give great offence to Cranmer and the rest of the Bishops But afterwards upon notice of it to have been more moderate and to conform his judgment to the sense of the Prelates But however it were it is certain that his Readings were so much disliked by some of the University that a publick Disputation was shortly had betwixt him and some of those who disliked his doings in which he publickly maintained these Two Propositions 1. That the Substance of the Bread and Wine was not changed 2. That the Body and Blood of Christ was not carnally and bodily in the Bread and Wine but united unto them Sacramentally When the Disputation was ended it was declared in the open Schools That Martyr had the upper hand and had sufficiently answered all Arguments But Chadsey the chief of the Opponents and the rest of those that Disputed with him acknowledged no such Satisfaction to be given unto them their Party noising it abroad that they had the Victory But Bucer not coming over at the same time was earnestly invited by the Archbishop's Secretary upon which he came and presently writ to Peter Martyr Being now settled here he receives Letters from Calvin by which he was advised to take heed of his old fault and to run a moderate course in his Reformations The first thing that he did at his coming hither was to make himself acquainted with the English Liturgy Of this he gives account to Calvin and desires some Letters from him to the Lord Protector with whom Calvin had already began to tamper that he migh find the greater Favor from him He was sent to take a Chair at Cambridge where his first Readings gave no such distast as to put him to the necessity of Challenging
vertue of Christ's Assistance after the words of Consecration are duly pronounced by the Priest the Natural Body of Christ conceived of the Virgin Mary is really present under the species of Bread and Wine As also his Natural Blood Secondly That after the Consecration there remains not the Substance of Bread and Wine nor any Substance but the Substance of God and Man Thirdly that the true Body of Christ and his Blood is offered for a Propitiatory Sacrifice for the Quick and Dead Fourthly That the Supream Power of Feeding and Governing the Militant Church of Christ and of Confirming their Brethren is given to Peter the Apostle and to his lawful Successors in the See Apostolick as unto the Vicars of Christ. Fifthly That the Authority to handle and define such things as belong to Faith the Sacraments and Ecclesiastical Discipline hath hitherto ever belonged and only ought to belong unto the Pastors of the Church whom the Holy Spirit hath placed in the Church and not unto Lay-men These Articles they caused to be Engrâ—…ssed and so commended them to the Care and Consideration of the Higher House presented by Boner to the hands oâ—… the Lord Keeper Bacon by whom they were candiâ—…ly received But they prevailed no further with the Queen or House of Peers when imparted to them than that possibly they might help forwards the aforementioned Disputation It was on the Four and twentieth of June that that the 〈◊〉 Liturgy was to be officiated in all the Churches of the Kingdom In the performance oâ—… which service the Bishops giving no encouragement and many of the Clergy being backwâ—…d in it it was thought fit to put them to a Final Tâ—…st and either to bring them to Conformity or to bestow their â—…laces and 〈◊〉 on mâ—…re â—…actable Pâ—…sons The Bishops at that time were reduced into a narrowâ—… 〈◊〉 than at any other time befâ—… â—…ere being no more than Fifteen of that 〈◊〉 Order 〈◊〉 alive These being â—…alled by certain of the Lords of the 〈◊〉 were required to take the Oath of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of Landaff only takes it who having â—…merly submitted to every Change resolved to shew himself no Changâ—…ing in not conforming to the pleasures of the Higher Powers By all the rest it was refused Whereupon they were deprived of their Bishopricks The Bishops being thus put out the Oath is tendred next to the Deans and Chapters and lastly to the rural Clergy Thus â—…r Heylyn It is here to be noted That during the forementioned Convocation there came from both the Universities a Writing signed by a publick Notary by which they both signified their concurrence to the aforesaid Articles only with a little alteration of the last But these Declarations and Protestations of the whole Representative Clergy and Universities were not like to signifie much since a Change of Religion was absolutely resolved on CHAP. V. Of an Ignorant and Illiterate Clergy and a medley of Calvinists introduced to Govern this New Church and of some other particulars concerning the Settlement of it Dr. Heylyn pag. 115. BY the Deprivations of these Persons and the death of so many in the last years sickness there was not to be found a sufficient number of Learned men to supply the Cures Which filled the Church with an Ignorant and Illiterate Clergy Whose Learning went no further than the Liturgy or the Book of Homilies but otherwise conformable which was no small felicity to the rules of the Church And on the otherside many were raised to great preferments who having spent their time of 〈◊〉 in such Forreign Churches as followed the Platform of Geneva returned so disaffected to Episcopal Government and unto the Rites and Ceremonies here by Law established as not long after filled the Church with most sad disorders not only to the breaking of the Bond of Peace but likewise to the extinguishing the Spirit of Unity And not to speak of private Opinions nothing was more considered in them than their zeal against Popery On which account we find the Queens Professor at Oxford to pass amongst the Non-Conformists though some-what more moderate than the rest And Cartwright at Cambridge to prove an unextinguished Fire-brand to the Church of England Wittington the chef Ring-leader of the Frankfort-Schismaticks preferred unto the Deanry of Durham From thence encouraging Knox and Goodman in setting up Presbytery and Sedition in the Kirk of Scotland Sampson advanced to the Deanry of Christ's-Church and within a few years after turned out again for an incorrigible Non-conformist Hardiman one of the first Twelve Prebends of the Church of Westminster deprived soon after for throwing down the Altar and defacing the Vestments of the Church The Pope being informed of these proceedings labours to Perswade the Queen from going on with these Alterations in Religion But that not succeeding She sent out by the Advice of her Council a certain Body of Injunctions the same in effect with those which had been published in the First of King Edward but more accommodated to the temper of the present time Nothing more singular in them than the severe course taken about Ministers Marriages But this was long since worn out of use and not much observed when it first came out As if it had been published only in way of Caution to make the Clergy-men more wary in the choice of their Wives rather than with any purpose of pursuing it to an Execution Concerning the Position of the Holy Table it was ordered thus by these Injunctions viz. That no Altar should be taken down but by over-sight of the Curate of the Church or the Church-wardens or one 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 at least wherein no riotous or disordered manners were to be used And that the Holy Table in every Church should be decently made and set in the place where the Altar stood and there commonly covered as thereto belonged and as should be appointed by the Visitors And so to stand saving when the Communion of the Sacrament was to be Administred At which time the same should be placed within the Quire or Chancel as whereby the Minister might be more conveniently heard of the Communicants in his Prayer and Administration and the Communicants also more conveniently and in more number Communicate with the said Minister And after the Communion done from time to time the said Table to be placed where it stood before By these Injunctions she made way for her visitation regulated by the Book of Articles By which Articles all Images were removed out of the Church and all the Roods and other Images which had been taken out of the Churches were burnt in St Paul's Church-Yard Cheapside and other places of the City And in some places the Copes Vestments Altar-cloths Books Sepulchers and Rood-lofts were burnt altogether Thus far Dr. Heylyn concerning the first progress of this Change of Religion established by Parliament A short Note conclâ—…g the Occurrences of this year I Will end the Occurrences of this year with the Relation of a
Succession to the Crown in this Last Will that contrary to all Justice he totally Excluded the whole Scottish-Line Descended from the Lady Margaret his eldest Sister from all hopes of having their turns in it His Infirmity and the weakness it brought upon him confining him to his Bed he had a great desire to receive the Sacrament and being perswaded to receive it in the easiest posture sitting or raised up in his Bed he would by no means yield unto it but caus'd himself to be taken up and plac'd in his Chair in which he heard the greatest part of the Mass till the Consecration and then receiv'd the Blessed Sacrament on his Knees as at other times saying withal as Saunders relates the Story That if he did not only cast himself upon the Ground but even under it also he could not give unto the Sacrament the Honor that was due unto it The instant of his Death approaching none of his Servants though thereunto desir'd by his Physicians durst acquaint him with it till at last Sir Anthony Denny undertook that ungrateful Office which the King entertaining with less impatience than was looked for from him gave order that Archbishop Cranmer should be presently sent for But he being then at Croyden it was so long before he came that he found him speechless However applying himself to the Kings present condition and discoursing to Him on this Point That Salvation was to be obtain'd only by Faith in Christ He desired the King if he understood the effect of his words and believ'd the same that he would signifie so much by some Sign or other which the King did by wringing him gently by the Hand and shortly after died There is a sharp but shrewd Character of this King to wit That he never sparea Woman in his Lust nor Man in his Anger Sir Walter Rawleigh says of him That if all the Patterns of a Merciless Prince had been lost in the World they might have been found in this King Thus Dr. Heylyn I will here set down some Passages out of his last Will related by Dr. Heylyn pag. 23. By which it will appear how constant he was till his death in professing and maintaining these following Points of Catholick Doctrine to wit The Real Presence in the Sacrament Invocation of Saints and Prayer for the Dead The words of the Will are these WE most humbly and heartily recommend our Soul to God who in the Person of his Son redeemed us with his most precious Body and Blood And for our better remembrance thereof hath left here with us in his Church Militant the Consecration and Administration of his most precious Body and Blood We also instantly desire that the Blessed Virgin Mary with all the Holy Company of Heaven may continually pray for us whilst we live in this World and at our passing out of it that we may the sooner attain everlasting life We likewise further Ordain That there be a convenient Altar at Windsor honorably prepared with all things requisite and necessary for a daily Mass there to be said perpetually while the World should endure Moreover He gave Order That all Divine Offices accustomed for the Dead should be daily Celebrated for him And that at the removal of his Body to Windsor a Thousand Marks should be distributed amongst the Poor to pray for the Remission of his Sins and the good of his Soul Thus Dr. Heylyn An Account of his Wives Of Six Wives this King had Anne Boleign his Second Wife was beheaded for Incest with her own Brother The Third Jane Seymour being in Child-birth and in danger of death had her Belly ripp'd up to preserve the Child The Fourth Anne of Cleve was cast off within two or three Months The Fifth Catherine Howard was beheaded for Adultery Concerning his Sixth Wife thus writes Sir Rich. Baker Page 418. The Sixth Catherine Parre being an earnest Protestant was accused to the King to have Heretical Books in her Closet and this was so aggravated against her that they prevail'd with the King to Sign a Warrant to Commit her to the Tower with a purpose to have burnt her for Heresie This Warrant was committed to Wriothsley Lord Chancellor and he by chance letting it fall from him it was taken up and carried to the Queen who having read it went soon after to visit the King Being come to the King he presently fell into Talk with her about some Points of Religion demanding her Resolution therein But she knowing that his nature was not to be cross'd specially considering the case she was in made him answer That She was a Woman accompanied with many Imperfections but his Majesty was Wise and Judicious of whom she must learn as of her Lord and Head Not so by St. Mary said the King for you are a Doctor Kate to instruct us and not to be instructed by us as often we have seen heretofore Indeed Sir said She if your Majesty have so conceiv'd I have been mistaken For if heretofore I have held talk with your Majesty it hath been to learn some Point of your Majesty whereof I stood in doubt and sometimes that with my Talk I might make you forget your present infirmity And is it so says King Then we are Friends But nevertheless soon after upon a day appointed by the Kings Warrant for apprehending her the King being dispos'd to walk into the Garden took the Queen with him when all on the sudden the Lord Chancellor with Forty of the Guard came into the Garden with a purpose to apprehend her whom as soon as the King saw he stept to the Chancellor and calling him Knave and Fool bid him get him out of his Presence The Queen seeing the King so angry with him began to intreat him to whom the King said You little know what it is he came about Of my Word Sweet-heart he hath been a very Knave to Thee Thus the Queen was preserv'd who else had tasted of as bitter a cup as any of his former Wives had done Thus Sir Rich. Baker Now we will give an Account of the Years when these changes were made Sir Rich. Baker Page 425. IN the Eighth year of this King's Reign Luther began to Preach against the Authority of the Pope and to bring in a Reformation of Religion for repressing of whom the Council of Trent was called by Pope Paul the Third At the same time with Luther there arose also in the same Country other Reformers of Religion as Zuinglius Oecolampadius Melancthon c. whâ—… differing from Luther in some Points made the difference which is at this day of Lutherans and Protestants so call'd at first at Ausburgh for making a Protestation in defence of their Doctrine In his Two and twentieth year a Proclamation was set forth That no Person should purchase any thing from the Court of Rome and this was the first beginning of his Deserting the Church of Rome In his Three and twentieth year the Clergy
words of our Saviour John 6. 55. My Flesh is meat indeed and my Blood is drink indeed Where he writes thus The following words are these as my Living Father sent me and I live by the Father so he that eats or feeds upon me shall live by me Our Saviour has taught us by these Misterious Words That we are to be as Members in his Body the Church under him or connected to him as our Head feeding upon his Flesh and not deserting his Unity Now that which makes us his Members is this Unity Which Unity is caused by charity diffused into our hearts by the Holy Ghost who is given to us It is therefore the Spirit to wit of Charity that gives life making us living Members Nor does this Spirit make any living Members but such as are in the Body of the Church which receives life from the same Spirit For the Spirit or Soul which is in man does not give life to a member separated from the Body because it is not joyned by Union to the same Body The design of this Discourse is to move us to love Unity and fear a separation from the Church For a Christian ought to fear nothing more than to be separated from the Body of Christ to wit his Church Since such as are separated from this his Mystical Body are not his Members and not being his Members they cannot receive life from his Spirit Now the Apostle assures us That such as have not the Spirit of Christ belong not to him And a little after in the same Homily he goes on thus The Faithful know Christ's Body if they neglect not to be his Body They must be his Body if they will live of the Spirit of Christ. For none live of the Spirit of Christ but his Body the Church Consider well what I have said You being a Man are composed of a body and a spirit which is otherwise termed a Soul The Spirit or Soul is invisible the Body visible Now as your Body lives by your Spirit so if you will live by the Spirit of Christ you must be in the Body of Christ. For as my Body lives by my Spirit and your Body by yours so the Body of Christ cannot live but by the Spirit of Christ. He that desires to live may understand here where he is to live and from whence he is to receive his life He must approach believe and be incorporated if he pretends to live He must not voluntarily separate himself from being connected with the Members of this Body of the Church nor be a corrupted Member so as to deserve to be cut off Nor yet so deformed or out of order that the rest of the Members of the Body may be ashamed of him He is therefore to be fair and neat aptly proportioned to the rest and in perfect health Moreover he must be careful to adhere closely to the Body of the Church taking his life from God and referring it to him labouring here in this life that he may afterwards reign in Heaven Thus St. Augustin convinces evidently That no Schismatick or Heretick can be saved CHAP. V. A further manifestation of the Horridness of the Sin of Schism and in what Case Ignorance may Excuse from the Guilt of it NOw yet to penetrate more fully into the true Grounds why above almost all other Sins a Christian is capable of committing Schism that is the setting up of an Altar against an Altar or the relinquishing the External Communion of the Church the making Collects or Assemblies without yea against the consent of the true Bishops or Church Governors c. should be a sin so unpardonable we are to consider that the true reason of this may be deduced from the Example of all other Governments whatsoever For the greatest offence a Subject can commit against Monarchy is an actual attempt or rather the attempt executed by which Monarchy is dissolved Inwardly to condemn the Laws of such a Government or to entertain Principles which if put in practice would withdraw Subjects from their due Obedience is an offence of an high nature but the actual Cantonizing of a Kingdom and the raising in it Courts and Judicatories independent on and opposite to the Common Tribunal of the Country is the utmost of all crimes both the Seducers and the Seduced are not only deprived of the Privileges belonging to good Subjects but pursued by Arms as the worst of All Enemies It is so in God's Church The main Thing our Creed teaches us to believe of it is its Unity without which it is not a Church Now if Unity then Order then Subordination of Governments c. What therefore is the great Sin against this Fundamental Constitution of the Church but Schism A dissolving the Communion and connexion that the Members of this great Body have amongst themselves and with relation to the whole We all willingly acknowledge that the great sin of the Synagogue the sin that filled up the measure of the crimes of the Jews was their Murdering of our Lord. Now says St. Chrisâ—…stom Homil. 11. ad Ephes. We shall not merit or incur a less cruel Punishment if we divide the Unity and Plenitude of the Church the Mystical Body of our Lord then Those have done who pierced mangled and tore his own Body But may not Ignorance excuse the Guilt of Schism No On the contrary in some regard it aggravates it For though Pride and Malice be far greater in the leading Schismaticks Persons of Wit and Learning yet ignorant Souls and Ideots seem more to contradict Human reason because the more ignorant they are and being no Pastors the more they ought to submit their judgments to Authority and consequently the preferring their own conduct or the conduct and direction of particular men or Churches before the universal Authority of the Church the Excommunicating as it were the whole Church of God the esteeming all Christians both Pastors and Flocks as Heathens and Publicans is a presumption so contrary to human nature and reason that their want of Learning is that which will most of all condemn them I speak not now of Persons absolutely Ideots who scarce know there are any other Pastors or any other Church than their own who pretend not at all to pass their judgments on other Religions but know only what their Pastors teach them having not ability by reason of their condition to examine Scriptures and Churches For such no doubt may by their simplicity and absolute invincible ignorance escape the malignity of Schism But I speak of Inferior Tradsmen of Gentlemen and Gentlewomen who have a capacity of being rightly instructed and better informed of the Spiritual Authority to which they owe their Subjection and yet who by their own perversness become troublers of the Church and who because they can read the Scriptures take upon them to judge of the Sense of them both for themselves and their Pastors Such as these no doubt have drunk in the
great Zeal to Gods glory so cheerfully given and bestowed on the structure endowment and adorning of this sometimes famous Monastery and that with such heavy Imprecations and Curses upon any that should take away or diminish ought thereof as the Charters before cited do manifest Against which Violators of the Church its Patrimony the Representative body of this Realm had also so often in terrorem pronounced Solemn Curses in open Parliament as whosoever shall cast his eye upon our Statutes and publick Histories may discern was subverted torn away and scattered in 30 of King Henry the Eighths Reign after it had stood near Five hundred years the Glory of all these parts At which time the very Church it self tho a most beautiful Cathedral and the Mother Church of this City escaped not the Rude hands of the destroyers but was pull'd in pieces and reduced to Rubbish For the countenance of which sad Act the then Prior and Covent seeing the fate of some others that refused was no less than to be hanged up at their Gates were brought to make surrender of the same into the hands of Commissioners for the Kings use as appears by their publick Instrument under Seal bearing date 15 Jan. in the year abovesaid with all the names of those that subscribed thereunto Of the Charter-House at Coventry he has as follows pag. 134. Col. 1. After which viz. 17 Junii 34 H. 8. was the site of this Monastery inter alia granted out of the Crown to Richard Andrews Gent. and Leonard Chamberlain Esq and to the Heirs of Andrews How short a time these Two kept it I cannot say But I do not perceive that they enjoyed it many years for in 9 Eliz. Henry Waver alias Over a Coventry Mercer dyed seized thereof leaving Richard his Son and Heir 36 years of Age who in 11 Eliz. sold it to Robert Earl of Leicester Neither have any other that did since possess it continued owners thereof very long For from the Earl of Leicester it was sold to one Tho. Riley from him to Sampson Baker from Baker to Edw. Holt of Dudston Esq whose Son and Heir Thomas now of Aston K t. and Bar t. sold it to Rich. Butler of Coventry Gent. which Richard shortly after pass'd it away to one Lodge a Londoner from whom Edw. Hill Gent. purchased it whose Son Edward now enjoys it And Col. 2. he has thus But it was neither their Devout and strict lives nor these Charitable allowances that could preserve them from the common Ruine which befel all the rest of the Religious houses in 30 H. 8. as the Instrument of surrender whereunto their publick Seal is affixed bearing date 16 Jan. the same year and subscribed by the particular persons whose names I have here Inserted with the several pensions granted to each of them for life doth manifest The following account he gives of the Dissolurion of Wroxhall Monastery in Warwickshire pag. 492. col 2. But I now return to this Religious house of Wroxhall from the Ruin and Destruction whereof as also of the Church and Altar before specified no Consecration or Dedication were it never so Solemn and Sacred could affright that barbarous Generation which under â—…he Power and Authority of King Henry the Eighth subverted this and the rest of those Goodly structures of that kind wherewith England was so much adorned as a Preamble whereunto was that fatal Survey in 26 H. 8. made whereby it appears that the value of this then extended to 72 l. 12 s. 6 d. above all reprises Sir Edward Ferrers K t. being High Steward thereof and his â—…ee 3 l. 6 s. 8 d. per Ann. And that there then was every Maundy-Thursday distributed to poor people for the Founders Soul in Bread and Herrings with 13 d. in Money the Sum of 20 shillings After which viz. the next year following it was dissolved with the rest of the small Houses by Act of Parliament Anne Little being then Prioress and having a Pension of 7 l. 10 s. per Ann. granted to her by the King during life But the rest of her fellow Nuns were exposed to the wide World to seek their fortune And in 36 H. 8. granted inter alia I mean the site thereof with the Church Belfrey Church-yard and all the Lands in Wroxhall thereto belonging as also the Rectory and Tithes of Wroxhall unto Rob. Burgoyn and John Scudamore and their Heirs from which Robert is Sir John Burgoyn of Sutton in Com. Bedf. Baronet the present possessor thereof Descended And in the same place he takes occasion to make this discourse of the Dedication of Churches and of their bearing Saints Names pag. 492. col 1. Now the reason and signification of all these Ceremonies follows which I here for Brevity omit resolving to speak a word or two of the cause wherefore Churches do bear the Name of some Saint by which many of them are yet distinguished altho the Consecration or Dedication were unto none but unto God alone wherein I shall make use of St. Augustines Testimony To them saith he speaking of Angels and Saints we appoint no Churches because they are not to us as Gods Again The Nations to their Gods Erected Temples we not Temples unto our Martyrs as unto Gods but Memorials as unto dead Men whose Spirits with God are still living So that hereby is clearly manifest that as they were dedicated to God alone so was it in memory of some special Saint either as Mr. Hooker observes because by the Ministery of Saints it pleased God there to shew some rare effect of his power or else in regard of Death which those Saints having suffered for the Testimony of Jesus Christ did thereby make the places where they died venerable Thirdly for that it liked good and vertuous men to give such occasion of mentioning them often to the end that the naming of their Persons might cause enquiry to be made and meditation to be had of their virtues And here since these strange confusions began with a Dissolution of the Religious Houses I think it will not be amiss to give the Reader an account of the Institution of these Houses and of the Methods and Rules observed by the Monks that made profession in them And this out of Sir William Dugdales History of Warwickshire And first Of the Order of Benedictin Monks That the word Monachus which is derived from the Greek word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifieth such a one as doth solitariam vitam degere I need not stand to demonstrate but who it was that may be said to have been absolutely the first that begun this course of Life I find no direct certainty Divers ascribe it to the Prophet Samuel others to Helias and Helyseâ—…s that liv'd in poor Cottages and Desert places near the River Jordan and long after them St. John the Baptist To whom may be added some of the Apostles as also St. Mark the Evangelist and by their example certain others viz. Paul