stipend if every flock might have a preaching pastor which is rather to be wished then hoped for then were reading of Homilies altogether unnecessary but to supply that want of preaching Gods word which is the food of the soul growing upon the necessities before mentioned both in your brothers time and in your time also certain Homilies have been devised that the people should not altogether be destitute of instruction for it is an old proverb better a loaf then no bread Now for the second point which is concerning the learned exercises and conferences amongst the ministers of the Church I have consulted with divers of my brethren the Bishops who think of the same as I do a thing profitable to the Church and therefore expedient to be continued and I trust your Majesty will think the like when your Majesty shall have been informed of the matter and order thereof what authority it hath of the scriptures what commodity it bringeth with it and what discommodities will follow if it be clean taken away The authors of this exercise are the Bishops of the Diocess where this same is used who by the law of God and by the Canons and Constitutions of the Church now in force have authority to appoint exercise to their inferiour Ministers for encrease of learning and knowledge in the Scriptures as to them seemeth most expedient for that pertaineth ad disciplinam clericalem the time appointed for this exercise is once in a moneth or once in twenty or fifteen dayes at the discretion of the Ordinary The time of this exercise is two hours the place the Church of the 〈◊〉 appointed for the Assembly the matter entreated of is as followeth some text of Scripture before appointed to be spoken is interpreted in this order First the occasion of the place is shewed Secondly the end Thirdly the proper sence of the place Fourthly the property of the words and those that be learned in the tongues shewing the diversity of interpretations Fiftly where the like phrases are used in scriptures Sixtly places of scripture that seem to repugne are reconciled Seventhly the arguments of the text are opened Eightly it is declared what vertues and vices are therein couched and to which of the commandements they do appertain Ninâ—hly how the like hath been wrested by the adversary if occasion so require Tenthly and lastly what doctrine of faith and manners the said text doth contain the conclusion is with a prayer for your Majesty and all estates as is appointed by the book of Common-Prayer and a psalm These orders â—ollowing are also observed by the said exercise First two or three of the gravest and best learned pastors are appointed of the Bishops to be Moderators in every Assembly no man may speak unless he be first allowed by the Bishop with this proviso that no lay man be suffered to speak at any time no controversy of this present time and state shall be moved and dealt withall if any attempt the contrary he is put to silence by the Moderator none is suffered to glance openly or covertly at persons publick or private neither yet any one to confute one another if any man utter a wrong sence of scripture he is privately admonished thereof and better instructed by the Moderators and other his fellow Ministers if any man use immoderate speeches or unreverend gesture or behaviour or otherwise be suspected in life he is likewise admonished as aforesaid if any man do vilify or break these orders he is presented to the Bishop to be corrected The ground of this or like exercises is of great and ancient authority for Samuel did practise such like exercises in his time at Naioth in Ramath and Bethel 1 Sam. 10. 2 19. So did Elizeus the prophet at Jerico which studious persons in those dayes were called filij Prophetarum the disciples of the Prophets that being exercised in the knowledg and study of the scriptures they might be able men to serve in Gods Church as that time required St. Paul also doth make express mention 1 Cor. 14. that the like in effect was used in the primitive Church and giveth order for the same that 2 or 3 should speak by course he meaneth and the rest shall keep silence That exercise in the Church in those dayes St. Paul calleth Prophetia and the speaker Prophetas terms very odious in our dayes to some because they are not rightly understood for indeed propheta in that and like places of the same Paul doth not as it doth sometimes signifie prediction of things to come which thing or which gift is not now ordinary in the Church of God but signifieth thereby the assent and consent of the scriptures And therefore doth St. Paul attribute unto these that be called Prophetae in that chapter doctrinam ad aedificationem exortationem consolationem This gift of expounding and interpreting the scriptures was in St. Pauls time given unto many by a speciall miracle without study so was also by miracle the gift to speak strange tongues which they had never learned But now miracles ceasing men must attain to the Hebrew Greek and Latine tongues c. by travell and study God giveth the encrease so must men also attaine by the like means to the gifts of expounding and interpreting the scriptures and amongst other helps nothing is so necessary as these above named exercises and conferences amongst the ministers of the Church which in effect are all one with the exercises of students in Divinity in the Vniversities saving that the first is done in a tongue understanded to the more edifying of the learned hearers Howsoever report hath been made to your Majesty concerning these exercises yet I and others of York whose names are noted as followeth 1. Cantuariensis 2. London 3. Winc. 4. Bathon 5. Litchfield 6. Glocester 7. Lincolne 8. Chester 9. Exon. 10. Meneven al 's Davids Hereof as they have testified unto me by their letters have found by experience that these profits and commodities following have ensued of them 1. The ministers of the Church are more skillfull and more ready in the scriptures and more apt to teach their flocks 2. It withdraweth them from idleness wandring gaming c. 3. Some afore suspected in doctrine are brought to the knowledge of the truth 4. Ignorant ministers are driven to study if not for conscience yet for shame and fear of discipline 5. The opinion of lay men touching the ableness of the Clergy is hereby removed 6. Nothing by experience beateth down popery more then that 7. Ministers as some of my brethren do confess grow to such knowledge by means of those exercises that where afore were not able Ministers not 3 now are 30 able and meet to preach at Pauls cross and 40 or 50 besides able to instruct their own Cures so as it is found by experience the best means to encrease knowledge in the simple and to continue it in the learned only backward men in religion and
it nothing worth except they relate the first Planting of Religion in their Countrie to some Apostle Whereas indeed it matters not if the Doctrine be the same whether the Apostles preached it by themselves or by their Successours We see little Certainty can be extracted who first brought the Gospell hither 't is so long since the British Church hath forgotten her own Infancy who were her first God-fathers We see the Light of the VVord shined here 56 but see not who kindled it I will not say as God to prevent Idolatrie caused the Body of a Deut. 34. 6. Moses to be concealed so to cut off from Posterity all occasion of Superstition he suffered the Memories of our Primitive Planters to be buried in Obscurity 9. Now amongst the Converts of the Natives of this Island 63 in this Age to Christianity Claudia notwithstanding Parsons exceptions might be a British Christian Claudia surnamed Ruffina is reputed a principall wife to Pudens a Romane Senatour And because all this is too high a Step for our belief to climb at once the Ascent will be more easie thus divided into Stairs and half-paces First That Claudia was a Britan born Martial affirms it in his Epigrara b Lib. 11. Epig. 54. Claudia caeruleis cum sit Ruffina Britannis Edita cur Latiae pectora plebis habet Secondly That this Claudia was wife to Pudens the same c Lib. 4. Epig. 13. Poet averreth Claudia Rufe meo nubit peregrina Pudenti Macte esto taedis ô Hymenaec tuis Thirdly That there was a Pudens and Claudia living at Rome both Christians we have it from a more infallible Pen of d 2 Tim. 4. 21 S. Paul himself Eubulus greeteth thee and Pudens and Linus and Claudia and all the brethren Lastly That this Claudia mentioned by S t. Paul then living at Rome was the same Claudia a Britan born mentioned by Martial is the Opinion and probable Conjecture of many Modern VVriters But Father Parsons will not admit hereof because willingly he would not allow any sprinkling of Christianity in this Island but what was rained from Rome when Eleutherius sent to Christian King Lucius that so our ingagement to the Romish Church might be the more visible and conspicuous This of Claudia Ruffina is hudled up saith e Parsons 3 Convers part 1. pa. 18. he by our late Hereticall VVriters though f Pitseus de Script Brit. pag. 72. is zealous for it Parsons objection to the contrary answered some as Catholick as himself in his own sense do entertain it and hereby we see that Hereticks are but sleight Provers and very deceitfull in all matters as well Historicall as Doctrinall 10. But be it known to him and others that our History is founded on the best humane Books we can get but our Doctrine is grounded on what is best in it self the Divine Scriptures The matter in hand is so sleight a Controversie that it cannot bear a Demonstration on either side it will suffice if by answering his Reasons to the contrary we clear it from all Impossibilitie and Improbabilitie that it is not hudled but built up by Plummet and Line with proportion to Time and Place 1. Arg. There is a generall silence of all Antiquity in this matter Answ Negative Arguments from humane Writers in such Historicall differences are of small validity 2. Arg. Martial an Heathen would hardly so much commend Claudia if she had been a Christian Answ A wanton Poet in his chast Intervalls might praise that Goodness in another which he would not practice in himself 3. Arg. Claudia spoken of by S t. Paul 〈◊〉 in the time of Nero and could not be known to Martial who â—â—ed sixty years after in the reign of Trajan Answ Though Martial died a very old man in Trajan's days yet he flourished under Nero very familiar with his friend and fellow-Poet Silius g Martial lib. 7. Ep. 62. Italicus in whose Consulship Nero died 4. Arg. That same Claudia reported also the first Hostess which entertained Peter and Paul must be presumed ancient in Martial his remembrance and therefore unfit to be praised for her beauty Answ Even in the Autumne of her Age 63 when she had enriched her Husband with three Children her vigourous Beauty preserved by Temperance might entitle her to the commendation of Matron-like Comelinesse 5. Arg. The Children assigned in the Roman Calendar to Claudia the Christian will not well agree to this British Claudia Answ Little certainty can be extracted and therefore nothing enforced to purpose from the number and names of her Children such is the difference of severall a See Usher De Brit. Eccl. prim cap. 3. Writers concerning them The issue of all is this Claudia's story as a British Christian stands unremoved for any force of these Objections though one need not be much engaged herein for whosoever is more then luke-warm is too hote in a case of so small consequence Yet we will not willingly leave an hoofe of the British Honour behind which may be brought on the rather to save the longing of such who delight on rath-ripe fruits and Antiquaries much please themselves to behold the probabilities of such early Converts of our Island But now to return again to the prime Planters of Religion in Britain As for all those formerly reckoned up there is in Authours but a tinkling mention of them and the sound of their Preaching low and little in comparison of those lowd Peales which are rung of Ioseph of Arimathea his coming hither Let the Reader with patience take the summe thereof extracted out of severall Authours 11. The Jews The coming of Ioseph of Arimathea into Britain bearing an especiall spight to Philip whether the Apostle or Deacon uncertain Ioseph of Arimathea Lazarus Mary Magdalene and Martha his sisters with Marcella their servant banished them out of Iudea and put them into a Vessell without Sailes and Oares with intent to drown them Yet they being tossed with tempests on the Mid-land Sea at last safe-landed at Marseilles in France A relation as ill accoutred with tacklings as their Ship and which is unrigged in respect of time and other circumstances neither hath it the authority of any authentick Writer for a Pilot to steer it which notwithstanding hath had the happinesse to arrive at the hearing of many and belief of some few Now whilest * Some hold Philip came not in this Ship but was in France before Philip continued preaching the Gospell in France he sent Ioseph of Arimathea over into Britain with Ioseph his son and ten other Associates to convert the Natives of that Island to Christianity These coming into Britain found such entertainment from Arviragus the King that though he would not be disswaded from his Idolatry by their preaching yet he allowed them twelve Hides of ground an Hide is as much as being well manur'd will maintain a familie or as others say as much
as one plow can handsomely manage in a desolate Island full of Fenns and Brambles called the Ynis-VVitrin since by translation Glassenbury Here they built a small Church and by direction from b Malmsbury M S. de Antiqu Glaston Ecclesiae Gabriel the Archangel dedicated it to the Virgin Mary encompassing it about with a Church-yard in which Church afterwards Ioseph was buried and here these twelve lived many years devoutly serving God and converting many to the Christian Religion 12. Now The history full of dross when brought to the touch a little to examine this history we shall find first that no Writer of credit can be produced before the Conquest who mentioneth Ioseph's coming hither but since that time to make recompence for former silence it is refounded from every side As for Bale his citations out of Melkinus Avalonius and Gildas Albanus seeing the Originals are not extant they be as uncertain as what Baronius hath transcribed out of an English c Written in our age as Archbishop Usher observes De Brit. Eccl. prim pag. 15. Manuscript in the Vatican Yet because the Norman Charters of Glassenbury refer to a succession of many ancient Charters bestowed on that Church by several Saxon Kings as the Saxon Charters relate to British Grants in intuition to Ioseph's being there We dare not wholy deny the substance of the Story though the leaven of Monkery hath much swoln and puff'd up the Circumstance thereof â—3 For the mentioning of an inclosed Church-yard overthrows the foundation of the Church seeing Churches in that time got no such Suburbs about them as any Church-yards to attend them The burying his body in the Church was contrary to the practice of that Age yea dead mens Corpses were brought no nearer then the Porch some hundreds of years after The Dedication of the place to the Virgin Mary sheweth the Story of later date calculated for the elevation of Saint-worship In a word as this relation of Ioseph is presented unto us it hath a young mans Brow with an old mans Beard I mean novel Superstitions disguised with pretended Antiquity 13. In all this story of Ioseph's living at Glassenbury 64 there is no one passage reported therein beareth better proportion to time and place The platform of the most ancient Church in Christendome then the Church which he is said to erect whose dimensions materials and making are thus presented unto us It had in length sixty foot a Ancient plate of brass in the custody of Sir Henry Spelman De conciliis Brit. pag. 11. and twenty six in breadth b Malmsbury ut prius made of rods watled or interwoven Where at one view we may behold the simplicity of Primitive Devotion and the native fashion of British Buildings in that Age and some hundred years after For we find that c He was King of all Wales many years after viz. 940. See Cambden in Carmarthenshire Hoel Dha King of VVales made himself a Palace of Hurdle-work called Tyguyn or the VVhite House because for distinctions sake to difference it from and advance it above other Houses the rods whereof it was made were unbark'd having the rinde stripp'd off Which was then counted gay and glorious as white-limedhouses exceed those which are only rough-cast In this small Oratory Ioseph with his Companions watched prayed fasted preached having high Meditations under a low Roof and large Hearts betwixt narrow Walls If credit may be given to these Authours this Church without competition was senior to all Christian Churches in the World Let not then stately modern Churches disdain to stoop with their highest Steeples reverently doing homage to this poor Structure as their first platform and precedent And let their checquered Pavements no more disdain this Oratories plaine Floor then her thatch'd Covering doth envy their leaden Roofs And although now it is meet that Church-buildings as well as private houses partaking of the peace and prosperity of our Age should be both in their Cost and Cunning encreased far be that pride and profaneness from any to account nothing either too fair for Man or too foul for God yet it will not be amiss to desire that our Judgements may be so much the clearer in matters of Truth and our Lives so much the purer in Conversation by how much our Churches are more light our Buildings more beautifull then they were 14. Some difference there is about the place of buriall of Ioseph of Arimathea 76 Some assigning his Grave in the Church of Glassenbury Difference about the place of Ioseph's buriall others in the South corner of the Church-yard and others elsewhere This we may be assured of that he who d Math. 27. 60. resigned his own Tombe to our Saviour wanted not a Sepulchre for himself And here we must not forget how e Anno Dom. 1344. the 19. of Edward 3. more then a thousand years after one Iohn Bloone of London pretending an injunction from Heaven to seek for the Body of Ioseph of Arimathea obtained a licence from King Edward the third to dig at Glassenbury for the same as by his f In the Tower 19. of Edw. 3. part 1. parchment 3. Patent doth appeare It seems his Commission of Enquiry never originally issued out of the Court of Heaven for God never sends his servants on a sleeveless Errand but faith Ask and ye shall have seek and ye shall find Whereas this man sought and did never find for ought we can hear of his inquisition And we may well believe that had he found the Corpse of Ioseph though Fame might have held her peace yet Superstition would not have been silent but long before this time she had roared it even into the ears of deafmen And truely he might have digg'd at Glassenbury to the Centre of the earth yet not met with what he sought for if Ioseph were buried ten miles off as a Iesuite g Guilelmus Goodus cited by Archbishop Usher de Brit. Ecc. prim pag. 28. will have it at Montacute or in Hampden-Hill Hereafter there is hope that the Masons digging in the Quarries thereof may light by chance on his Corpse which if fond Papists might prize it would prove more beneficial to them 76 then the best bed of Free-stone they ever opened The best is be Ioseph's Body where it will his Soul is certainly happy in Heaven 15. Some ascribe to the sanctity of this Ioseph The budding Haw-thorn nigh Glassenbury attributed a miracle to Ioseph's 〈◊〉 the yearly budding of the Haw-thorn near Glassenbury on Christmas day no lesse then an annual Miracle This were it true were an argument as K. Iames did once pleasantly urge it to prove our Old stile before the New which prevents our Computation by ten dayes and is used in the Church of Rome yea all Prognosticators might well calculate their Almanacks from this Haw-thorn Others more warily affirm that it doth not punctually
you may reign everlastingly with him whose Vicar you are which with the Father and the Sonne c. 7. Now we have done our Threshing A preparative for the examining the truth of this letter we must begin our Winnowing to examine the Epistle For the trade of counterfeiting the Letters of eminent men began very early in the Church Some were tampering with it in the Apostles time which occasioned S t. Paul's b 2 Thess 2. 2. Caution That ye be not soon shaken in minde or be troubled neither by spirit nor by word nor by letter as from us Since men then but Apprentices are now grown Maisters in this Mysterie wherefore it will be worth our examining whether this Epistle be genuine or no. Say not this doth betray a peevish if not malicious disposition and argues a vexatious spirit in him which will now call the title of this Letter in question which time out of minde hath been in the peaceable possession of an authentick reputation especially seeing it soundeth in honorem Ecclesiae Britannicae and grant it a Tale yet it is smoothly told to the credit of the British Church But let such know that our Church is sensible of no Honour but what resulteth from truth and if this Letter be false the longer it hath been received the more need there is of a speedy and present Confutation before it be so firmly rooted in mens belief past power to remove it See therefore the Arguments which shake the credit thereof 1. The date of this Letter differs in several Copies and yet none of them light right on the time of Eleutherius according to the Computation of the best-esteemed Authours 2. It relates to a former Letter of King Lucius wherein he seemeth to request of Eleutherius both what he himself had before and what the good Bishop was unable to grant For what need Lucius send for the Roman Laws to which Britain was already subjected and ruled by them At this very time wherein this Letter is pretended to be wrote the Roman Laws were here in force and therefore to send for them hither was even actum agere and to as much purpose as to fetch water from Tiber to Thames Besides Eleutherius of all men was most improper to have such a suit preferred to him Holy man he little medled with Secular matters or was acquainted with the Emperours Laws onely he knew how to suffer Martyrdome in passive obedience to his cruel Edicts 3. How high a Throne doth this Letter mount Lucius on making him a Monarch Who though Rex Britannicus was not Rex Britanniae except by a large Synecdoche neither sole nor supreme King here but partial and subordinate to the Romans 4. The Scripture quoted is out of S t. Hierom's Translation which came more then an hundred years after And the Age of Eleutherius could not understand the language of manu tenere for to maintain except it did ante-date some of our modern Lawyers to be their Interpreter In a word we know that the a Ioshua 9. 12. Gibeonites their mouldy Bread was baked in an Oven very near the Israelites and this Letter had its original of a later b See S â— Hen. Spelman in Councells p. 34. c. where there is another copy of this letter with some alterations and additions King Lucius baptized date which not appearing any where in the World till a thousand years after the death of Eleutherius probably crept out of some Monks Cell some four hundred years since the true answer of Eleutherius being not extant for many years before 8. But to proceed Eleutherius at the request of King Lucius sent unto him c Aliter Phaganus Duvianus Faganus and Derwianus or Dunianus two holy men and grave Divines to instruct him in the Christian Religion by whom the said King Lucius called by the Britans Lever-Maur or the Great Light was baptized with many of his Subjects For if when private d Act. 16. 15. 32. Persons were converted Cornelius Lydia c. their Housholds also were baptized with them it is easily credible that the example of a King embracing the Faith drew many Followers of Court and Country Soveraigns seldome wandring alone without their Retinue to attend them But whereas some report that most yea e Ita ut in brevi nullus infidelis remaneret Matth. Paris Westm all of the Natives of this Island then turned Christians it is very improbable and the weary Traveller may sooner climbe the steepest Mountains in Wales then the judicious Reader believe all the hyperbolical reports in the British Chronicles hereof 9. For Ieffery Monmouth tells us I. Monmouth his fiction of Flamens and Arch-Flamens that at this time there were in England twenty eight Cityes each of them having a f Monmouth de geâ—lis Britannor lib. 2. cap. 1. fol. 33. Flamen or Pagan Priest and there of them namely London York and Caer-lion in Wales had Arch-Flamens to which the rest were subjected and Lucius placed Bishops in the room of the Flamens and Arch-Bishops Metropolitans in the places of Arch-Flamens All which saith he solemnly received their Confirmation from the Pope But herein our Authour seems not well acquainted with the propriety of the word Flamen their Use and Office amongst the Romans who were not set severally but many together in the same City Nor were they subordinate one to another but all to the Priests Colledge and therein to the Pontifex Maximus Besides the British g Ja. Armach de Brit. Eccl. prim p. 17. Manuscript which Monmouth is conceived to have translated makes no mention of these Flamens Lastly these words Arch-Bishop and Metropolitan are so far from being current in the days of King Lucius that they were not coined till after-Ages So that in plain English his Flamens and Arch-Flamens seeme Flamms and Arch-Flamms even notorious Falshoods 10. Great also is the mistake of h Giraldus Cambrensis de Sedis Menevensis dignitate apud D. Joh. Prise pag. 75. another British Historian A gross mistake affirming how in the days of King Lucius this Island was divided into five Roman Provinces namely Britain the First Britain the Second Flavia Maximia and Valentia and that each of these were then divided into twelve Bishopricks sixtie in the whole a goodly company and more by halfe then ever this Land did behold Whereas these Provinces were so named from Valens Maximus and Flavius Theodosius Romane Emperors many years after the death of Lucius Thus as the Damosell convinced S t. Peter to be a Galilean for said she i Mark 14. 70. Thy speech agreeth thereunto so this five-â—old division of Britain by the very Novelty of the Names is concluded to be of far later date then what that Authour pretendeth 11. But it is generally agreed Pagan Temples in Britain converted to Christian Churches that about this time many Pagan Temples in Britain had their Property
Bedfordshire It began Anno 575 under King Vffa and lay most exposed to the Cruelty of the Danish Incursions 5. Of MERCIA so called because it lay in the middest of the Island being the Merches or Limits on which c Lambert's Descript of Kent all the residue of the Kingdomes did bound and border It began Anno 582. under King Cridda and contained the whole Counties of Lincoln Northampton with Rutland then and long since part thereof Huntingdon Buckingham Oxford Worcester Warwick Darby Nottingham Leicester Stafford and Chester Besides part of Hereford and Salop the Remnant whereof was possess'd by the Welsh Gloucester Bedford and d Idem ibid. Lancaster In view it was the greatest of all the seven but it abated the Puissance thereof because on the VVest it affronted the Britans being deadly Enemies and bordering on so many Kingdomes the Mercians had work enough at home to shut their own Doors 6. Of NORTHUMBERLAND corrivall with Mercia in Greatnesse though farre inferiour in Populousnesse as to which belonged whatsoever lieth betwixt Humber and Edenborough-Frith It was subdivided sometimes into two Kingdomes of Bernicia and Deira The later consisted of the Remainder of Lancashire with the intire Counties of York Durham VVestmorland and Cumberland Bernicia contained Northumberland with the South of Scotland to Edenborough But this Division lasted not long before both were united together It began Anno 547 under King Ida. 7. Of the WEST-SAXONS who possessed Hantshire Berkshire Wiltshire Somerset Dorset and Devonshire part of Cornwall and Gloucestershire yea some assigne a Moiety of Surrey unto them This Kingdome began Anno 519 under King Cerdicus and excelled for plenty of Ports on the South and Severn Sea store of Burroughs stoutnesse of active men some impute this to the Naturall cause of their being hatch't under the warm Wings of the South-VVest VVind which being excellent VVrastlers gave at last a Fall to all the other Saxon Kingdomes So that as the seven Streams of Nilus loose themselves in the Mid-land Sea this Heptarchy was at last devoured in the VVest-Saxons Monarchy The reason that there is some difference in VVriters in bounding of these severall Kingdomes is because England being then the constant Cock-pit of Warre the Limits of these Kingdomes were in daily motion sometimes marching forward sometimes retreating backward according to variety of Successe We may see what great difference there is betwixt the Bounds of the Sea at High-water and at Low-water Mark and so the same Kingdome was much disproportioned to it self when extended with the happy Chance of Warre and when contracted at a low Ebb of Ill Successe And here we must not forget that amongst these seven Kings during the Heptarchie commonly one was most puissant over-ruling the rest who stiled himself a Camden's Brit. pag. 139. King of the English Nation 18. But to return to the British Church and the year of our Lord 449 wherein S t. Patrick Irish S. Patrick said to live and die at Glassenbury the Apostle of Ireland is notoriously reported to have come to Glassenbury where finding twelve old Monks Successours to those who were first founded there by Ioseph of Arimathea he though unwilling was chosen their Abbot and lived with them 39 yeares observing the Rule of S t. Mark and his Aegptian Monks the Order of Benedictines being as yet unborn in the world Give we here a List of these 12 Monks withall forewarning the Reader that for all their harsh Sound they are so many Saints least otherwise he should suspect them by the ill noise of their Names to be worse Creatures 1. Brumbam 2. Hyregaan 3. Brenwall 4. VVencreth 5. Bantom-meweng 6. Adel-wolred 7. Lowar 8. VVellias 9. Breden 10. Swelves 11. Hinloemius 12. Hin But know that some of these Names as the 3. 6. and 9. are pure plain b First observed by Mr. Camden and since by the Arch-bishop of Armach He is made Co-partner in the Church with the Virgin Mary Saxon words which renders the rest suspected So that whosoever it was that first gave these British Monks such Saxon Names made more Haste then good Speed preventing the true Language of that Age. 19. So great was the Credit of S t. Patrick at Glassenbury that after his Death and Buriall there that Church which formerly was dedicated to the Virgin Mary alone was in after-Ages jointly consecrated to her and S t. Patrick A great Presumption For if it be true what is reported that at the first by direction of the Angel c See 1. Cent. 11. Parag. Gabriel that Church was solely devoted to the Virgin Mary surely either the same or some other Angel of equall Power ought to have ordered the Admission of S t. Patrick to the same to be match'd and impaled with the Blessed Virgin in the Honour thereof In reference to S t. Patrick's being at Glassenbur severall Saxon Kings granted large Charters with great Profits and Priviledges to this Place 20. But now the Spight is that an unparallel'd d James Usher de Brit. Ecc. Primord pag. 875. 883 894. 895. Yet the Credit of Patrick's being at Glassenbury shrewdly shaken Critick in Antiquity leaves this Patrick at this time sweating in the Irish Harvest having newly converted Lempster to the Faith and now gone into the province of Munster on the same Occasion Yea he denies and proveth the same that this Patrick ever liv'd or was buried at Glassenbury But be it known to whom it may concern that the British are not so over-fond of S t. Patrick as to ravish him into their Country against his will and the consent of Time Yea S t. Patrick miss'd as much Honour in not being at Glassenbury as Glassenbury hath lost Credit if he were never there seeing the British justly set as high a Rate on that Place as the Irish do on his Person See but the Glorious Titles which with small Alteration might serve for Ierusalem it self given to Glassenbury and seeing now the Place is for the most part buried in it's own Dust let none envy these Epithets for the Epitaph thereof Here lies the a Or Borough City vvhich once vvas the b In the Charter of King Ina and also in King Edgar's Fountain and Originall of all Religion built by Christs Disciples c Malmesbury MS. de Antiq. Eccles Glaston consecrated by Christ himself and this place is the d So called in the Charter of King Kenwin MOTHER OF SAINTS We are sorry therefore for S t. Patrick's sake if he was never there To salve all some have found out another Patrick called Seniour or Sen Patrick a nice difference equall with the Irish Apostle in Time and not much inferiour in Holinesse who certainly liv'd at Glassenbury The plain truth is that as in the e Plautus his Amphitruo Comoedian when there were two Amphitruo's and two Sosia's they made much fallacious Intricacy and pleasant Delusion in the eyes of the Spectatours So
Theophilus kept a Synod against S t. Chrysostome the Oak which notwithstanding is notoriously known to have been a populous Suburb of the City of Chalcedon 3. At the first Sessions of this Synod there was a very thin Appearance of the Britans The British Clergy refuse submission to the Pope of Rome of whom Augustine demanded that they should mutually contribute with him their Paines to convert the Heathen in Britain and that they should submit to the Pope and embrace an Uniformity with the Romish Rites especially in the Celebration of Easter What their Answer was it is pitty it should be delivered in any other Words then what the Abbot of Ranchor being the Mouth for the rest represented as followeth and let it shift as well as it can for its own authenticalness BId ispis a diogel i chwi ynbod ni holl vn ac arral yn vuidd ac ynn ostingedig i Eglwys Duw ac ir Paab o Ruvam ac i Boob Kyar grisdic n dwyuel y garu pawb yn i radd mewn kariad parfaich ac ihelpio pawb o honaunt ar air a guec-thred i vod ynn blant yDaw ac amgenach wyddod nc hwn nidadwen i vod ir neb yr yddeck chwi y henwi yn Paab ne in Daad o Daad yw glemio ac ywo ovunn ar uvyddod hivn idden in yn varod yw rodde ac yw dalu iddo ef ac i pob Krisdion yn dragwiddol He uid yry dym ni dan lywodrath Esoob Kaerllion ar Wysc yr hien ysidd yn oligwr dan Duw ar nom ni y wuenthud i ni gadwr fordd ysbrydol BE it knovvn and vvithout doubt unto you Copied exactly many yeares since by S r. Henry Spelman out of an ancient British manuscript of Mr. Peter Mostons a Welch Gentleman Spelman's Concilia pag. 108. that vve all are and every one of us obedient and subjects to the Church of God and to the Pope of Rome and to every godly Christian to love every one in his degree in perfect Charity and to help every one of them by vvord and deed to be the children of God and other Obedience then this I do not knovv due to him vvhom you name to be Pope nor to be the Father of Fathers to be claimed and to be demanded And this Obedience vve are ready to give and to pay to him and to every Christian continually Besides vve are under the government of the Bishop of Kaerlion upon Uske vvho is to oversee under God over us to cause us to keep the vvay spirituall See we here the Pedigree of the British Church which the shorter the ancienter the fewer Steps it had the higher it reached They were subject in Spirituall matters to the Bishop of Caer-lion and above him unto God without any subordination unto the Pope so that it was more then a Presumption that Religion came into Britain not by the Semicircle of Rome but in a Direct Line from the Asiatick Churches We must not forget that though many yeares since the Archiepiscopal See of the Britans was removed from Caer-lion to S t. Davids yet it still retained the Title of Caer-lion as of the first and most famous place 4. A late Papist much impugneth the Credit of this Manuscript as made since the Dayes of King Henry the eighth and cavilleth at the VVelsh thereof The Cedit of this Manuscript impugneth as modern and full of false Spelling He need not have used so much Violence to wrest it out of our Hands who can part with it without considerable Losse to our selves or Gain to our Adversaries for it is but a Breviate or Abstract of those Passages which in Bede and other Authours appear most true of the British refusing Subjection to the See of Rome Whilest therefore the Chapter is Canonicall it matters not if the Contents be Apocrypha as the Additions of some wel-meaning Scribe And though this VVelsh be far later then the Dayes of Abbot Dinoth and the English added in the originall later then the VVelsh yet the Latin as ancienter then both containeth nothing contrary to the sense of all Authours which write this Intercourse betwixt Augustine and the VVelsh Nation 5. But this Synod in fine proved ineffectuall The Synod proves ineffactual the British Bishops refusing to submit and Augustine to communicate with them without such Submission Whereupon at Augustine's motion a Blind man was publickly presented amongst them on whom the British Bishops practised in vain with their Prayers to restore him to his Sight which at the Request of Augustine to God was a Bede's Eccles Hist lib. 2. c. 2. presently and perfectly performed This Miracle convinced the Britans that Augustine was in the right for the criticall Observation of Easter But yet they could not absque suorum consensu ac licentia without the National Consent of their own People and principall Elders therein renounce their ancient Customes to embrace new Practices Indeed as for their submitting to Augustine's Jurisdiction they apprehended it unsafe for the present and mischievous for the future having another Civil Government under Kings of their own and suspecting his Spirituall Power might in processe of time intrench upon their Temporall Liberty 6. Departing hence The Dialogue betwixt the British Bishops and the Anchoret the Britans repaired to an Aged Anchoret charactered by Beda to be sanctus prudens holy and wise and none would wish his Counseller better qualified and craved his Advise how hereafter they should behave themselves in the next Synod wherein they had promised to give Augustine a meeting which out of our Authour may thus be Dialogue-wise digested British Bishops Anchoret Brit. B. Are we bound to desert our Traditions at the Preaching of Augustine Anch. If he be a Man of God follow him Brit. B. But how shall we be able to make Triall thereof Anch. The b b Matth. 11. 29. Lord saith Take my yoke upon you and learn of me for I am meek and lowly in heart If therefore this Augustine be Milde and Humble in heart it is credible that he himself beareth the Yoke of Christ and tendereth the same to be born of you but if he be Cruel and Proud it appeareth that he is not of God neither ought ye to heed what he saith Brit. B. But how shall we make Discovery hereof Anch. Contrive it so that he his may come first into the Place of the Synod And if he rise up when you draw near unto him hear him then obediently knowing him for a Servant of Christ but if he slighteth you and vouchsaseth not to rise up unto you seeing you are moe in Number let him be slighted by you Armed with these Instructions the British Bishops advance to the second Synod Where Augustine Pontifically sitting in his Chair at their Entrance entertained them onely with Neglect and Contempt which by the Britans was accordingly requited 7. Herein that stately Prelate forgot S t. Gregorie's Precept to him Proud â—iotrephes
Means which would maintain a Prince but like a Scholar would maintain a Scholar like a Prince Yea which was best of all on his Learning he grafted true Religion Bede giving him this Character that he became Vir Christianissimus doctissimus can more be said in so few words and returning home assisted by the Preaching of Felix a Monk of Burgundy Iuxta nominis sui sacramentum saith Bede happy was his Name and Happinesse was with him converted his Subjects to Christianity This Felix was made the first Bishop of Dunwich in Suffolk a place formerly furnished with a Weaver's Funerall Monuments in Suffolk two and fifty Churches and hath scarce two now remaining the rest being swallowed up by the Sea I can hardly hold my self from calling the Sea sacrilegious save that on second thoughts considering that Element to be but a Naturall Agent yea such whose Motions are ordered by Divine Providence Hither shalt thou come and no farther I will rather reserve this Epithete sacrilegious to be bestowed on those men who willingly and wilfully demolish the places appointed for God's Service 46. This Sigebert is generally reputed the Founder of the University of Cambridge Difference about the antiquity of the University of Cambridge And because the point in hand is somewhat litigious 631 But some make it four yeares after we will take the more Paines in clearing thereof two things being warily premised First that Sigebert's founding the University of Cambridge ought not by any to be extended to lessen and abate much lesse to drown and destroy her more ancient Title to Learning which she deriveth according to good b See Cajus on the antiquity of Cambridge Authours from many hundred yeares before Valeant quantum valere possint let such her over grown Evidences stand as valid as they may by us neither confirmed not confuted for the present And indeed all such Old things in either University though specious to the Eye must be closely kept and tenderly touched lest otherwise being roughly handled they should moulder into Dust Secondly let none suspect my Extraction from Cambridge will betray me to partiality to my Mother who desire in this Difference to be like Melchisedec 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 without Descent onely to be directed by the Truth And here I make this fair and free Confession which I hope will be accepted for ingenuous That as in Thamar's travell of c Gen. 38. 28. Twins Zarah first put out his Hand and then drew it in again whilest Pharez first came forth into the World so I plainly perceive Cambridge with an extended Arme time out of mind first challenging the Birth-right and Priority of place for Learning but afterwards drawing it in again she lay for many yeares desolate and of lesse account whilest Oxford if later larger came forth in more entire Proportion and ever since constantly continued in the full Dimensions of an University 47. These things being thus cautiously stated The leading testimony of Bede explained we proceed beginning with Bede on whose Testimony all the following History is founded Beda lib. 3. Eccles Hist cap. 18. Sigebertus ubi Regno potitus est mox ea quae in Galliis bene disposita vidit imitari cupiens instituit Scholam in qua pueri literis erudirentur juvante se Episcopo Felice quem de Cantia acceperat eisque paedagogos ac magistros juxta morem Cantuariorum praebente Sigebert when he had obtained the Kingdome presently desiring to imitate those things which he had seen well-ordered in France instituted a School wherein Youths might be trained up in Learning Felix the Bishop whom he had received out of Kent assisting him and providing for them Teachers and Masters according to the Custome of those in Canterbury See here Anno. Dom. 631 King Sigebert to make his School complete united therein such Conveniences for Education as he had observed commendable 1. Abroad in France where Learning at and before his time was brought to great Perfection S t. Hierome a In Epistola ad Rusticum affirming that even in his Age he had seen Studia in Galliis florentissima most flourishing Universities in France 2. At home in Canterbury where even at this time Learning was professed though more increased some fourty yeares after when as the same Bede b Hist Eccles reports that in the dayes of Theodorus the Arch-Bishop there were those that taught Geometry Arithmetick and Musick the fashionable studies of that Age together with Divinity The perfect Character of an University where Divinity the Queen is waited on by her Maids-of-Honour But I question whether the Formality of Commencing was used in that Age inclining rather to the negative that such Distinction of Graduates was then unknown except in S t. Paul's sense c 1 Tim. 3. 13 Such as used the office of a Deacon well purchased to themselves a good Degree 48. So much for Bede's Text. Authours commenting on Bede's text Come we now to ancient Authours commenting upon him Ancient I call those who wrote many yeares before the Differences were started about the Seniority of the Universityes and therefore are presumed unpartiall as unconcerned in a Controversie which did not appear First Polydore d Lib. 4. lib. 5. pag. 107. Virgil who from Bede's words plainly collects that Sigebert then founded the University of Cambridge Nor see I any cause for that Passage in the e Written Anno 1566. pag. 20. Assertion of Oxford's Antiquity charging Polydore Quod affectibus indulgens adamatae studet Academiae who being a Forrainer and an Italian had nothing to byass his Affection to one University more then the other Learned f In his Comment in Cygneam Cantionem Leland succeeds who being employed by King Henry the eighth to make a Collection of British Antiquities much scattered at the Dissolution of Abbies thus expresseth himself Olim Granta fuit Titulis Vrbs inclyta multis Vicini à Fluvii nomine Nomen habens Saxones hanc Belli deturbavere procellis Sed nova pro veteri non procul inde sita est Quam Felix Monachus Sigeberti jussa sequutus Artibus illustrem reddidit atque Scholis Haec ego perquirens Gentis Monumenta Britannae Asserui in Laudem Granta diserta tuam Grant long ago a City of great Fame From neighbouring River doth receive her Name When storms of Saxon-warres her overthrew Near to the old sprang up another new Monk Felix whil'st he Sigebert obeys Light'ned this place with Schools and Learning's rayes Searching the Monuments of British Nation This I assert in Grant's due Commendation Here we omit the severall Testimonies of g In Sigeberto rursus Cent. 13. in Felice First objection against Sigebert's founding of Cambridge Bale George Lilie and Thomas Cooper in their severall Histories Anno 636. with many moe concluding Sigebert then the Founder of the University of Cambridge 49. But our Cousin-germans of Oxford will scarce give
Bishoprick Were not Bishop and Bishoprick so correlated in that Age that they must be together the trick of making Titular Bishops not as yet being used in Rome It is impossible that Bishops here should import no more then a plain Priest and that he onely took Orders before he came over into England Well commend me to the Memory of this man who first was made Bishop and then made himself a Bishoprick by earning it out of the Pagan English whom he intended to convert to Christianity Yea he passed his solemn Promise in the presence of the Pope that he would preach the Gospel in the heart of the c Idem ibid. uttermost coasts of England meaning the Northern parts thereof whither no Teacher had at any time gone before him Minded herein like d 2 Cor. 10. 16. S t. Paul not to boast in another mans line of things made ready to his hand 66. This his Promise Birinus 636 though he literally brake A broken promise well kept Virtually kept for he chanced to land amongst the West-Saxons then called Gevises in the South-VVest part of England where as yet the Inhabitants were pure-impure Pagans Having here found a fit subject for his Pains why should he go farther to seek the same Is not Providence the best Herauld to marshal us and ought we not to sit down where it disposeth us Besides according to Military Rules it was best to clear the Coasts as he went and not to leave a Pagan-Foe behind his back Moved herewith Birinus here sets up his Staffe Episcopal fixeth himself falls a preaching converts many and amongst the rest Kyngils the VVest-Saxon King whom he baptized Oswald King of Northumberland chanced to be e Bede Eccles Hist l. 3. cap. 7. present at that time and was first God-Father then Father in Law to King Kyngils to whom he gave his Daughter to Wife 67. Dorchester not the Town which denominates Dorsetshire Dorchester made a Bishops See but an old City in Oxfordshire not in Barkshire as Stapleton f In his translation of Bede Pol. 82. mistakes it was made the Seat of Birinus his Bishoprick Bede faith Donaverunt autem ambo Reges eidem Episcopo civitatem quae vocatur Dorinca c. Both the Kings Oswald and Kynglls gave to the said Bishop the City Dorinca or Dorchester Both of them Hence observe first that Oswald whose Concurrence in this Grant was required though particular King of Northumberland was also Monarch of all England To justifie our former Observation that amongst the seven Saxon Kings alwayes one was paramount above the rest Secondly that this Dorchester though it lay North of Thames in Oxfordshire which properly belonged to the Kingdomes of Mercia pertained now to the VVest-Saxons beyond the ordinary Limits assigned to that Kingdome 68. In this year Honorius Arch-Bishop of Canterbury divided England understand 637 so much thereof as was Christian into Parishes England divided into Parishes But that most exquisite g Mr. Selden in his Hist of Tithes cap. 9. pag. 256. Antiquary seems very unwilling to admit so early and ancient Parishes in the modern proper Acception of the word Who knoweth not that Parochia at large signifieth the Diocese of the Bishop and two new Dioceses Anno Dom. 637 Dunwich and Dorchester were erected under Honorius in the Province of Canterbury But whether Parishes as usually understood for places bounded in regard of the Profits from the people therein payable onely to a Pastour incumbent there I say whether such Parishes were extant in this Age may well be questioned as inconsistent with the Community of Ecclesiastick Profits which then seemed joyntly enjoyed by the Bishop and his Clergy 69. No sooner was Oswald whom we formerly mentioned settled in his Kingdome of Northumberland A morose Preacher little the edifieth but his first Princely Care was to provide Pastours to instruct his People in Christianity In order where unto he sends into Scotland where he had his own Education for some Eminent Preachers Unusuall the Sun should come out of the North to enlighten the South as here it came to passe One Preacher was sent him thence whose Name we find not but thus much of his Nature that being over-rigid and severe his Sermons made no Impression on his English Auditory Hard with hard saith the Proverb makes no VVall and no Wonder if the spirituall Building went on no better wherein the Austerity and Harshnesse of the Pastour met with the Ignorance and Sturdinesse of the People Home he returns complaining of his ill Successe and one Aidan of a Milder temper and more Discretion a Grace which none ever spake against but such as wanted it was sent back in his room 70. Aidan coming into England Aidan his due commendation settled himself at Lindisfern or Holy-Island in Northumberland a place which is an Island and no Island twice in twenty four hours as divided by the Tide from so conjoyned at Low-water to the Continent His exemplary Life was a Pattern for all pious Pastours First he left to the Clergy Saluberrimum abstinentiae vel continentiae exemplum though we read not he vowed Virginity himself or imposed in on others He lived as he taught and whatsoever the Bounty of Princes or great Persons bestowed on him he gave to the Poor He seldome travelled but on Foot and when invited to large Feasts at Court used to arise after a short Refection and betake himself to his Meditations He redeemed many Slaves from Captivity making them first Free-men then Christians 71. Bede his allay All these his excellent Practices Bede a Eccles Hist lib. 3. cap. 3. dasheth with this Allay that He had a Zeal of God although not fully according to Knowledge merely because he dissented from the Romish Church in the Celebration of Easter But whether those words of b Rom. 10. 2. S t. Paul spoken of his Country-men the Iews in reference to their Stumbling at Christ the Saviour of Mankind be fitly appliable to Aidan onely differing in an outward Ceremony let others decide True it is this Aidan was a prime Champion of the Quartadecimans as who had been brought up under or with S t. Colme in Ireland The writer of the Life of this S t. Colme let this be inserted by the way reports how the said Saint had a Revelation c Arch-Bishop Usher in the Religion of the Irish p. 99. of the Holy Ghost which prophesied unto him of this Discord which after many dayes should arise in the Church about the diversity of the Feast of Easter Yet he telleth us not that the Holy Ghost reproved this Colme whose Example animated others against the Roman Rite for his Errour as if God cared not which of both Sides carried the Controversie 72. But all which Bede speaketh in Diminution of Aidan Lay-mens diligence in reading Scripture may freely be forgiven him were it but for his faithfull recording
born in the Kingdome of Northumberland at a Camden's Brit. pag. 743. Girwy now Yarrow in the Bishoprick of Durham brought up by S t. Cuthbert and was the profoundest Scholar in his Age for Latine Greek Philosophy History Divinity Mathematicks Musick and what not Homilies of his making were read in his Life-time in the Christian Churches a Dignity afforded to him alone We are much beholding to his Ecclesiasticall History written by him and dedicated to Ceolwoolfus King of Northumberland A worthy Work indeed though in some respect we could heartily wish that his Faith had been lesse and his Charity more Faith lesse in believing and reporting so many prodigious Miracles of the Saxons except any will say that this in him was not so much Vitium Hominis as Seculi Charity more I mean to the Britans being no Friend to them and over-partial to his own Country-men slightly and slenderly touching British matters onely thereof to make a Pedestall the more fairly to reare and advance his Saxon History thereupon 16. Some report that Bede never went out of his Cell Bede probably went out of his Cell but lived and died therein If so the Scholars of Cambridge will be very sory because thereby deprived of their Honour by Bede's living once in their University whose House they still shew betwixt S t. Iohn's Colledge and round-Round-Church or S t. Sepulchres Surely Bede was not fixed to his Cell as the Cockle to his Shel seeing no Observance of his Benedictine Order imposed such a Penance upon him Indeed his own words in the end of his Book give some Countenance to their Conjecture of his voluntary Confinement speaking of himself Cunctum tempus vitae in ejusdem Monasterii habitatione peragens But his Expression imports onely his generall Residence therein that he was no Gadder abroad or Discontinuer from his Convent for a long time though he might for some short space make his Abode elsewhere Thus when of the Prophetesse it is said b Luke 2. 37. that she departed not from the Temple we understand it not so as if she never went out thereof but that for the main she spent the most of her time therein 17. He is generally surnamed Venerable Bede why surnamed Venerabilis but why Authours differ therein Some say a Dunce-Monk being to make his Epitaph was non-pluss'd to make that Dactyle which is onely of the Quorum in the Hexameter and therefore at Night left the Verse thus gaping Hic sunt in fossa Bedae ossa till he had consulted with his Pillow to fill up the Hiatus But returning in the morning an Angel we have often heard of their Singing see now of their Poetry Anno Dom. 730 had filled up the Chasma with Venerabilis Others disclaiming this Conceit assign this Reason Because Bede's Homilies were as aforesaid read in all a Flores Sanctorum in the life of Bede pag. 528. Churches in his Life-time plain Bede was conceived too little and S t. Bede too much because according to Popish but not S t. Paul's Principles Saint is too much Flattery to be given to any whilest alive Solon allowing none happy and this mine Authour none in this degree holy before their Death Wherefore Venerable was found out as an Expedient to accommodate the Difference luckily hitting the Mark as a Title neither too high nor too low just even to so good a man and great a Scholar whilest alive This is observable in all those who have written the Life of Bede that whereas such Saxon-Saints as had not the tenth of his Sanctity nor hundredth part of his Learning are said to have wrought Miracles ad Lectoris nauseam not one single Miracle is reported to have been done by Bede Whereof under favour I conceive this the Reason Monks who wrote the Lives of many of their Saints knew little more of many of them then their bare Names and Times wherein they lived which made them Historiae vacua miraculis supplere to plump up the Hollownesse of their History with improbable Miracles swelling the Bowells of their Books with empty Wind in default of sufficient solid Food to fill them Whereas Bede's Life affording plenty and variety of reall and effectuall Matter the Writer thereof why should a Rich man be a Thief or Lyar had no Temptation I am sure no Need to farse his book with fond Miracles who might rather leave then lack of materiall Passages therein 18. One of the last things he did 734 was the translating of the Gospel of S t. Iohn into English Bede's last blaze and the going out of the candle of his life When Death seised on him one of his devout Scholars whom he used for his Secretary or Amanuensis complained My beloved Master there remains yet one Sentence unwritten Write it then quickly replied Bede and summoning all his spirits together like the last Blaze of a Candle going out he indited it and expired Thus Gods Children are immortall whiles their Father hath any thing for them to do on Earth and Death that Beast cannot overcome and kill them till first they have b Revel 11. 7. finished their Testimony which done like Silk-worms they willingly die when their Web is ended and are comfortably entombed in their own Endeavours Nor have I ought else to observe of Bede save onely this A forreign Embassadour some two hundred yeares since coming to Durham addressed himself first to the high and sumptuous Shrine of S t. Cuthbert If thou beest a Saint pray for me then coming to the plain low and little Tombe of Bede Because said he thou art a Saint good Bede pray for me 19. Now began the Saxons to be infected with an universall Vitiousnesse 735 The cause whereof was The general viciousnesse of the Saxons how occasioned Ethelbald King of Mercia contemned Marriage and though Abstinence from it in some cases may be commendable the Contempt thereof alwayes is dangerous yea damnable as it proved in him For his unlawfull Lust made no difference of Places or Persons Castles or Cloisters common-Kerchief or Nuns-vaile all came alike to him But oh the legislative power which is in a great Prince his Example His Subjects presumed they might not onely impune but legitime follow his Precedent which made the Land swarm with Wickednesse 20. This caused the Letter of Boniface Arch-bishop of Ments an English-man born The effect of Boniface his letter to the King of Mercia and lately very eminent for converting the Germans to Christianity to King Ethelbald wherein he observed the prudent method of S t. Paul to the c 1 Cor. 11. 2. and 22. Corinthians As the Apostle first commended them I praise you Brethren that you remember me in all things c. so he began with a large Encomium of King Ethelbald his Charity and bountifull Almes-giving Hence seasonably he descended to his Faults shall I praise you in this I praise you not and soundly and
they have honest persons witnesses of their Conversation 3. That no Arch-Deaconries be let out to farm 4. That all Arch-Deacons be Deacons 5. That no Arch-Deacon Priest Deacon or * Aliâ—er being Canonical Canon marry a wife or retain one being married unto him and that every sub-Deacon who is not a Canon if he have married after his Profession made of Chastity be bound by the same Rule Here what a grave Author Anno Regis Hen. 1 3. almost of the same Age Anno Dom. 1102. saith of this Constitution a Henricus Huntingdon Historiaâ—um lib. 7. pag. 217. Hoc quibusdam mundissimum visum est quibusdam periculosum nè dum munditias viribus majores Sacerdotes appeterent in immunditias horribiles ad Christiani nominis summum dedecus inciderent And as Jordan wanting a Vent or Influx like other Rivers into the Ocean loseth its Current at last in a filthy lake or dead sea of its own making So it was to be feared that these men now debarr'd that remedy for their weakness which God who best knew the Constitution of his own Creatures hath Provided setled themselves in some unclean wayes and most mortal filthiness occasion by this prohibition 6. That a Priest so long as he keeps unlawful Conversation with a Woman understand his own Wife is not legal nor rightly celebrateth the Mass nor is his Mass to be heard if he celebrate it 7. That none be admitted to the Order of Sub-Deacon or upwards without the profession of Chastity 8. That the Sons of Priests be not made heirs to the Church of their Fathers 9. That no Clerks be Provosts or Proctors of Secular matters or JUDGES IN BLOUD This is the reason saith the Appendix to b Pag. 746. in Catalogo Religiosarum Aedium Harpsfield reporting is no approving of his judgment why Bishops being arraigned for their Lives are not to be tried by their Peers but by a jury of ordinary men because debarred by their Canons to be Judges of Lay-Peers in like cases and therefore it was conceiv'd unfitting that they should receive that honour which they could not return 10. That Priests should not go to Publick Drinkings nec ad * Hence probably the Proverb He is in a merry Pin. pinnas bibant not drink at Pins This was a Dutch trick but now used in England of Artificial Drunkenness out of a Cup marked with certain Pins and he accounted the Man who could nick the Pin drinking even unto it whereas to go above or beneath it was a forfeiture 11. That the Garments of Clergie-men be of one colour and their Shooes according to order 12. That Monks and Clerks that have cast off their Order either return thereto or be excommunicated 13. That Clerks have CROWNS PATENT so that their shaving be conspicuous to the beholder 14. That Tythes be given to none but to Churches 15. That Churches or Prebends be not bought 16. That new Chappels be not made without the consent of the Bishop 17. That no Church be Consecrated until necessaries be provided for the Priest and Church 18. That Abbots make no Knights and that they eat and sleep in the same house with their Monks except some necessity forbid It appeareth it was the Ancient Custom of Abbots in this Age to make Knights Thus c Ingulsus pag. 512. Edict Londin Brando the Abbot of S t Edmunds-bury Knighted Heward his Nephew having first confessed his sins and received absolution Indeed in those dayes mens mindes were so possessed that they thought nothing well and fortunately done but what came from Church-men Whereupon he that was to be made a Knight first offered his sword upon the Altar and after the Gospel read the Priest put the sword first hallowed upon the Knights neck with his d Camdens Brit. pag. 173. Benedictum and so having heard Mass again and received the Sacrament he became a lawful Knight And seeing the HOLY WAR now was begun Anno Dom. 1105 no wonder if Church-men made Knights Anno Regis Hen. 16. And that Age conceived that a Knights Sword dipt in Holy water was well tempered and became true metal indeed Why Abbots were now prohibited to confer this honor the cause is not rendred Whether because it made KNIGHTWOOD too common or that this Priviledg was reserved onely for higher Prelates such as Bishop and Arch-Bishop were or that it was an incroachment upon the Royal dignity it being as proper for Kings to ordain Priests as for Abbots to dub Knights This is most sure that notwithstanding this Canon a J. Selden ad Eadmer specilegium pag. 207. King Henry the first some years after granted and King John confirmed to the Abbot of Reading the power of Knighting persons with some cautions of their behaviour therein 19. That Monks enjoyn no Pennance to any without permission of their Abbot and that onely to such persons whereof they have cure of Souls 20. That Monks and Nuns be not God-fathers or God-mothers 21. That Monks hold no Lands in Farm 22. That Monks take no Churches by the Bishops and that they spoyl not such as are given unto them of the Revenues but so that the Priests serving in those Cures and the Churches might be provided with necessaries 23. That Faith in way of marriage pledged secretly and without witness betwixt man and woman be of no effect if either party do deny it 24. That Criniti such as wear long hair be so shaven that part of their Ears may appear and their Eyes not be covered Criniti are opposed to Tonsi extended to all Lay-persons If any demand how it came within the cognizance of the Church to provide about their trimming which might well have been left to the parties pleasure and his Barbars skill know this Canon was built on the Apostles Words b 1 Cor. 11. 14. doth not even nature it self teach you that if a man have long hair it is a shame unto him And the Church forbad whatsoever was a Trespass against Christian decency c De excid Britan. fo1 6. Gildas giveth this Character of the Picts Furciferos magis vultus pilos quam Corporum pudenda vestibus tegentes that they covered rather their Thievish Eyes with their hair then their shame with Cloaths which Ruffin-like custom of long hair now used by the Normans was here justly restrained 25. That parties akin to the Seventh Generation be not coupled in marriage and that persons so coupled remain not in Marriage and if any be privy to this Incest and not declare it let him know himself to be guilty of the same crime This brought much Grist to the Popes Mill for Dispensations As secular Princes used to stop travellers on common Bridges or at the entrance of Gates not with intent finally to forbid their going further but ot receive Tole or Custom for their passing by So the Pope prohibited these degrees in marriage not absolutely ot hinder such matches but
the Bishop of Ely Longcampe Wolsey parallel'd English as the English as the English were not willing to speak one good word of him 25. Such as draw up a parallel betwixt this William Longcampe and Thomas Wolsey afterward Arch-Bishop of York finde them to meet in many conformities First in the lowness of their birth the one the son of an Husband-man the other of a Butcher Anno Dom. 1192. Secondly Anno Regis Rich. prim 3. in the greatness of their power both being the Popes Legates and their Kings principal Officers Thirdly height of their pride Longcampe having fifteen hundred daylie attendants Wolsey though but a thousand equalizing that number with the nobility of his train Fourthly suddenness of their fall and it is hard to say which of the two lived more hated or died less pittied 26. Yet to give Wolsey his due Wolsey the better of the two he far exceeded the other Longcampe is accused of covetousness promoting his base kindred to the damage and detriment of others no such thing charged on Wolsey Longcampes activity moved in the narrow sphear of Englands Dominions whilest Wolsey might be said in some sort to have held in his hand the scales of Christendome Up Emperor down France and so alternately as he was pleased to cast in his graines Wolsey sate at the sterne more then twenty years whilest Longcampe's impolitick pride outed him of his place in less then a quarter of the time Lastly nothing remains of Longcampe but the memory of his pride and pomp whilest christ-Christ-Church in Oxford and other stately edifices are the lasting monuments of Wolseys magnificence to all posterity 27. But seeing it is just to settle mens memories Yet a word in excuse of Longcamp on their true bottom Be it known that one putteth in a good word in due season in the excuse of Bishop a Godwin ut prius Longcampe haply not altogether so bad as the pens of Monks would perswade us It inraged them against him because Hugh Nonant Bishop of Coventry and Liechfield drave out Monks out of Coventry and brought in Secular Priests in the room which alteration he being not able of himself to effect used the assistance of Longcampe Bishop of Elie ordering the same in a Synod called at London And seeing Monks have no medium betwixt not loving and bitter hating no wonder if for this cause they paid him their Invectives But we have done with him and are glad of so fair a riddance of him on this account that most of his misdemeanors were by him committed not quà Bishop but quà Vice-roy and so more properly belon̄ging to the civil Historian 28. King Richard in his return from Palestine King Richard dearly Ransomed was taken prisoner by Leopold Duke of Austria 1193. and detained by him in durance 3. with hard and un-Prince-like usage Whilest the English Clergy endeavoured the utmost for his Enlargement And at last when a fine certain was set upon him to be paid for his Ransome they with much ado in two years time disbursed the same 29. The summe was an hundred and fifty thousand and marks Why a small sum great in that age to be paid part to the Duke of Austria part to Henry the sixth Sir-named the sharpe Sure such our Richard found him Emperor of Germany Some will wonder that the weight of such a summe should then sway the back of the whole Kingdome putting many Churches to the sale of their silver Chalices having seen in our age one City in few dayes advance a larger proportion But let such consider 1. The money was never to return not made over by Bils of Exchange but sent over in specie which made it arise the more heavily For such summes may be said in some sort to be but lent not lost as to the Common-wealth which are not exported but spent therein in the circulation of Trading 2. A third of silver went then more to make a marke then now adayes witness their groats worth our six pence in the intrinsick value 3. Before trading to the East and West Indies some hundred and fifty years since very little the silver of England in comparison to the Banks of Modern Merchants However Hubert Arch-Bishop of Canterbury with much diligence perfected the work and on his ransom paid King Richard returned into England 30. Now lest his Majesty should suffer any diminution by his long late imprisonment Anno Regis Rich. prim 4. King Richard was Crowned again by Hubert Arch-Bishop of Canterbury Anno Dom. 1194. at Winchester King Richard better for affliction with great solemnity and one may say that his durance was well bestowed on him seeing after the same he was improved in all his relations Son For though he could not revive his dead Father yet on all occasions he expressed sorrow for his undutifulness Husband Hereafter prising the company of Beringaria his Queen Daughter to Sanctius King of Navarre whom formerly he slighted and neglected Brother Freely and fully pardoning the practises of his Brother John aspiring to the Crown in his absence and being better to his base Brother Geffery Arch-Bishop of York then his tumultuous nature did deserve Man Being more strict in ordering his own conversation King In endeavouring the amendment of many things in the Land 6. in whose dayes a Councel was kept at York for Reformation 1196. but little effected 31. Hubert Walter 8. Arch-Bishop of Canterbury 1198 had almost finished a fair Covent for Monks at Lambeth Lambeth Covent why demolished begun by Baldwin his Predecessor But instantly the Monks of Canterbury are all up in anger against him they feared that in process of time Lambeth would prove Canterbury viz. the Principal place of the Arch-Bishops residence to the great impairing of their Priviledges the vicinity of Lambeth to the Court encreased their jealousie And now they ply the Pope with Petitions and with what makes Petitions to take effect in the Court of Rome never content till they had obtained contrary to the Kings and Arch-Bishops desire that the Covent at Lambeth was utterly demolished many bemoaning the untimely end thereof before it was ended murdered as one may say by malitious emulation 32. The death of King Richard is variously reported 9. but this relation generally received 1199. that he lost his life on this sad occasion King Richard his death A Viscount in France subject to King Richard having found a vast Treasure hid probably by some Prince the Kings Predecessor sent part thereof to King Richard reserving the rest to himself who could he have concealed all had made no discovery and had he sent all had got no displeasure whilest hoping by this middle-way to pleasure the King and profit himself he did neither King Richard disdaines to take part for a gift where all was due and blame him not if having lately bled so much money he desired to
6. Rex dilecto sibi in Christo Archidiacono Glouc. 25 Salutem 1241 Significavimus etiam viva voce exposuimus Magistro P. Rubeo Nuncio Domiin Papae quod non est intentionis nostrae nec etiam volumus aliquatenus sustinere quod vel viros Relligiosos vel Clericum aliquem ad contributionem faciendam ad opus Domini Papae compellant Et ideo vobis mandamus inhibentes districte ne ad mandatum ip sius Magistri Petri vel suorum viros religiosos seu Clericos ad contributionem praedictam faciendam aliqua censura Ecclesiastica compellatis Scituri quod si secus egeritis nos contra vos tanquam perturbatorem Pacis Ecclesiasticae quam conservare tenemur modis quibus expedire viderimus procedemus Teste Rege apud Glouc. 11. die Iunij The King to his beloved in Christ the Archdeacon of Glocester Greeting We have signified also by word of mouth have declared to M r. P. Rubeus Nuncio to the Lord the Pope that it is not our intention nor will we any wayes endure it that they shall compell Religious Men or any Clerk to make a contribution to supply the occasions of the Lord the Pope And therefore we command you strictly forbidding that at the command of the same M r. Peter or any of his officers you compel not any Religious Men or Clerks by any Ecclesiasticall censures to make the aforesaid Contribution Knowing that if you do otherwise we shall proceed against you by means we shall think fit as against the Disturber of the Peace of the Church which we are bound to preserve Witnesse the King at Glocester the 11. of Iune By the way a Nuncio differed from a Legate almost as a Lieger from an extraordinary Ambassodour who though not so ample in his power was as active in his progging to advance the profit of the Pope his Master 23. This Instrument acquainteth us with the Method used by him in mannaging his money matters A free-forced gift Such as refused to pay his demands were proceeded against by Church Censures suspension excommunication c. The cunning Italian to decline to odium imploying the Archdeacons to denounce the same in their respective Iurisdictions Yet this went under the notion of a voluntary contribution Anno Dom. 1241 as free as fire from Flint forced with Steel and strength out of it Anno Regis Henrici 3. 25 24. Whereas the King counted himself bound to preserve the Peace of the Church Spoken like a King the words well became his mouth They seem to me to look like DEFENDER OF THE FAITH as yet but in the Bud and which in due time might grow up to amount to as much For though every Christian in his calling must keep the peace of the Church Kings have a coercive power over the disturbers thereof 25. This Royal resolution Say and do best to resist the oppressing of his Subjects was good as propounded better if performed I find no visible effect thereof but we may believe it made the Popes Mil go the slower though it did not wholy hinder his grinding the faces of the Clergy This Patent is dated from Glocester more loved of King Henry then London it self as a strong and loyal City where he was first crowned and afterwards did often reside 26. Amongst the thousands of pounds which the Pope carried out of England A Pension given by the Pope to an English Earile I meet onely with three hundred Marks yearly which came back again as a Private Boon bestowed on an English Knight Sir Reginald Mohun by Pope Innocent the fourth then keeping his Court at Lyons in France And because these are vestigia sola retrorsum it will not be amisse to insert the whole Story thereof as it is in an ancient French Manuscript pertaining to the Family of the Mohuns Quant Sire Reinalda voit Ceo faitz il passa a la Court de Rome que adonques fuist a Lions purconfirmer ratifer sa novelle Abbay a grand honor de liu a touz joues fuist en la Courte le deniergne en quaresme quant lenchaunce loffice del messe Laetare Ierusalem al quen jour lusage de la Court este que la poistoille doa a plus valiant a plus honorable home qui puit estre trovez en la deste Courte une Rose ou une floretta de fin or donquez ilz sercherent tote le Courte entroverent Cesti Reinald pur le plus noble de tou te la Courte a oui le Pape Innocent donna Celle rose ou florette dor la Papa lui Damanda quil home il fuisten son pais il respondi simple bacheleri bean fitz fetz la pape Celle rose on florette unquez ne fuist donez fo rs an Rois ou an Dukes an a Countese pour ceo nous voluns que vous sons le Counte de Est Ceo est Somerset Reinald respondi Aist O Saincts piere ieo nay dout le mom meinteyner lapos soille donques lui dona ducent mariz per annum receiver sur Cantee saint Paule de Londres de ces deneires d'Engleterre pour son honor mainteyner de quen donna il reporta Bulles que enquore aurent en plomps c. en semblement odue moltes dis aultres bulles confirmatione de sa novelle Abbay de Newham a pres quen jour il porta la rose ou florette en les armes It is as needless as difficult to translate this Bull verbatim being of base obsolete and ill-pointed French sufficeth it that this is the summe thereof The Pope used on the Lords day called Laetare Ierusalem solemnly to bestow a consecrated Rose on the most Honorable persons present at Masse with his Holinesse Enquiry being made the Rose was conferred on Sir Reginald Mohun as the best extracted in the present Congregation But seeing that Rose used alwayes to be given to Kings Dukes and Earles at least the lowest form of Coronetted Nobility in that Age his Holinesse understanding the same Sir Reginald to be but a plain Knight Bachelour created him the Earle of Est that is saith this Bull of Somerset and for the better support of his Honour he allowed him three hundred Marks out of the pence of England understand the Peter-Pence as the most certain Papal Revenue in the Land By this Bull the same Sir Reinald was made a Count Apostolick whereby he had the Priviledges to appoint publick Notaries and to legitimate Bastards on some Conditions King Henry the third was so far from excepting against this Act that he highly honoured him And yet Master Camden sometimes a In his Brit. in Somersetshire acknowledgeth sometimes denieth b In his Eliz. in the case of Count Arundel There are rich who make themselves poor him for an English Earle Not that I accuse him as inconstant to himself but suspect my self not well attaining his meaning therein 27.
Kenelworth to perswade him to resign sign the Crown though having no other design Anno Dom. 1326. then the Kings safety therein He hoped that in this tempest the casting out of the Lading Anno Regis Ed. secun 19â— would save the Hulke of the Ship and the surrendring of the Scepter secure the Kings person 22. With John Stratford let me couple Robert de Baldock though no Bishop And a Loyal Priest-Chancelour a Bishops mate as a Priest and Chancelour of England This man unable to assist resolved to attend the King and was taken with him in Wales Hence was he brought up to London and committed to Adam Tarleton Bishop of Hereford Here the shadow of Tarleton Miter if pleased to put forth his power might have secured this his Guest-prisoner from any danger whereas on the contrary it is more then suspicious that he gave a signall to the tumultouous people to seize his person For he was dragged to Newgate and there payed his life for his Loyalty yet was never heard to complain of the dearnesse of his penyworth If any violence was secretly offered unto his person he might endure it the more patiently having read * St. Mat. 10. 24. that the Disciple is not above his Master nor the servant better then his Lord. This Baldock was a good Justicer nor charged in our Chronicles with any misdemeanour save faithfulnesse to an unfortunate Master and his Memory will travers his Innocence as confessing the Fact but denying any fault therein 23. But we have more then a good number of such Bishops W. Reinolds unthankful to the King which ungratefully sided with the Queen against her Husband and their Soveraign Walter Reynolds Arch-Bishop of Canterbury leads their Van preferred to that See at the Kings great importunity and by the Pope his Power of Provision On the same token that a Far better Man Thomas Cobham by name Deane of Salisbury so learned and pious a person that he was generally called the good Clergy-men legally elected by the Commons was put by by the Pope to make room for this Reinolds He afterwards complied with the Queen his new Mistress against his old Master active to perform his desires This some seek in vain to excuse by pleasing Her imperious spirit and this Arch-Bishops fearfulness alleadging that cowardlinesse is rather a defect in nature then default in Morality 24. A word by the way of the nature of the Popes provisions lately mentioned which now began to be a general grievance of our Nation The nature of the Popes provisions When any Bishoprick Abbots place Dignity or good Living Aquila non capit muscas was like to be void the Pope by a profitable Prolepsis to himself predisposed such places to such successors as he pleased By this devise he defeated when so pleased the Legal election of all Convents and rightful presentation of all Patrons He took up Churches before they fell yea before they ever stumbled I mean whilst as yet no suspition of sicknesse in Incumbents younger and healthier than his Holiness himself Yea sometimes no Act of Provision was entered in scriptis in the Court only the Pope was pleased to say by word of mouth and who durst confute him he had done it So that Incumbents to Livings who otherwise had a rightful Title from their Patrons were to purchase their peace glad to buy of the Popes provisions Yea his Holiness sold them aforehand to several persons so that not he who gave the first but the most Money carried away the preferment 25. Next we take notice of Henry Burwash Bishop of Lincoln Hen. Bishop of Lincoln bad lately restored to the favour of King Edward and by him lately esteemed Yet no sooner did the Queen appear in the field with an army against him but this Bishop was the first and for wardest who publiquely repaired unto Her This Burwash was he who by meere might against all right and reason took in the Land of many poor people without making also the least reparation therewith to compleat his Park at Tinghurst These wronged persons though seeing their own Bread Beef and Mutton turned into the Bishops Venison durst not contest with him who was Chancelour of England though neither Law Anno Regis Ed. secun 18 nor equity in this his Action Anno Do. 13 m only they loaded him with curses and execrations This mindeth me of a Modern accident when some twenty years since a Knight went about injuriously to inclose the Commons of a Town and demanded of his Builiffe what the railing in of the same would amount to to whom his servant answered that if he would take in the Commons the Countrey would find him railings as here they did this injurious Bishop Otherwise let me say that inclosures made without oppression are a grand inriching both to private persons and to the Common-wealth 26. Here let the Reader smile or frown Smile or frown I am resolved to write what I find recorded in a * Godwin in the Bishop of Lincoln Grave Author deriving it no doubt from good intelligence This Bishop Burwash is said after his death to have appeared to one of his former familiar friends apparelled Like a Forester all in Green a with his Bow and Quiver of Arrows and his Bugle horn hanging by his side to him he complained that for the injuries done by him to poor whilst living he was now condemned to this penance to be the Park-keeper of that place which he so wrongfully had enclosed He therefore desired him to repair to the Canons of Lincoln and in his name to request them that they would take order that all hedges being cut down and Ditches filled up all might be reduced to their property and the poor men be restored to their inheritance It is added moreover that one W. Batheler was imployed by the Canons aforesaid to see the premises performed which was done accordingly 27. This pretended Apparition seems inconsistent with the nature of Purgatory A grave foolery as usually by Papists represented to people Surely the smoake thereof would have sooted his Green suit and the Penance seems so slight and light for the offence as having so much liberty and pleasure in a place of Command Some Poets would have fancied him rather conceived himself turned Acteon-like into a Deere to be daily hunted by his own Hound guilt of Conscience untill he made restistution But it seems there be degrees in Purgatory and the Bishop not in the Prison itself but only within the Rules thereof priviledged to go abroad whether on his Parel or with his Keeper uncertain till he could procure Suffrages for his Plenary relaxation 28. Adam Tarlton Bishop of Hereford A Divell preaching is the last we will insist on born in that City where afterward he became Bishop yet not honoured but hated and feared in the place of his Nativity He was the grand Engineer and contriver of all
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
Vniversitas praedicta solvant teneantur folvere ipsi Domino nostro Regi Henrico haeredibus suis mille Libras legalis Monetae Angliae Concordat cum Originali GULIELMUS RYLEY Afterwards the King confirmed the same with the consent of the Lords and Commons in Parliament as in the Tower Rouls doth plainly appear 27. See we here the grand difference The effect of the Statute of Praemunire betwixt the Popes power in England before and after the Statute of Praemunire Before it his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 was authentical and his Bulls received next to Canonical Scripture Since that Statute hath broken off their best Seals wherein they crosse the Royall Power and in all things else they enter into England mannerly with good King by your leave Sir or else they were no better then so much waste Parchment 28. This doth acquaint us with a perfect Character of King Henry the fourth Farwell to K. Henry the fourth who though curteous was not servial to the Pope And * Fourth book of his Instit of the Jurisd of Courts page 228. S r Edward Cook accounteth this his Oxford action though unwilling to transcribe the Instrument for the tediousness thereof a noble act of Kingly power in that Age and so we take our farwell of King Henry the fourth not observed as all English Kings before and after him to have erected and endowed any one intire house of Religion as first or sole Founder thereof though a great Benefactor to the Abby of Leicester and Colledg of Fotheringhay in Northamptonshire his Picture is not so well known by his Head as his Hood which he weareth upon it in an antick fashion peculiar to himself 29. At the Commons Petition to the King in Parliament Chaumberdakyns banished England that all Irish begging-Priests Hen. 5 1413 called * Rotuli in Turre in hoc anno The death of T. Arundel Chaumberdakyns should avoid the Realm before Michaelmas next 1. they were ordered to depart by the time aforesaid upon pain of loss of goods and imprisonment during the Kings pleasure 30. I had almost forgotten that just a moneth before the death of King Henry the Fourth Thomas Arundel Arch-Bishops of Canterbury expired famished to death not for want of food but a throat to swallow it such the swelling therein that he could neither speak nor eat for some dayes I may safely report what others observe how he who by his cruel Canons forbad the food to the soul and had pronounced sentence of condemnation on so many innocents was now both starv'd and strick dumb together Henry Chichely succeeded him in the place whose mean birth interrupted the Chain of Noble Arch-Bishop his two predecessors and successors being Earls sons by their extraction 31. The Prelates and Abbots especially The Clergie jealous of King Henries activity began now to have the activesoul of King Henry in suspition For working heads are not so willing to follow old wayes Hen. 5 1414. 2. as well-pleased to find out new ones Such a medling soul must ne sent out of harms-way If that the Clergie found not this King some work abroad he would make them new work at home Had his humor happend to side with the Lollards Anno Regis Hen. 2 8. Henry the fifth would have saved King Henry the Eight much pains in demolishing of Monasteries Anno Dom. 1414. 32. Hereupon the Clergie cunningly gave vent to his Activity Divert it on a war in France by divertting it on a long warre upon the French where his Victories are loundly sounded forth by our State Historians A warre of more credit then profit to England in this Kings Reigne draining the Men and Money thereof Thus Victorious Bayes bear onely barren Berries no whit good for food and very little for Physick whilst the Peaceable Olive drops down that precious liquor making the face of man to shine therewith Besides what this King Henry gained his Son as quickly lost in France Thus though the Providence of Nature hath priviledged Islanders by their entire position to secure themselves yet are they unhappy in long keeping their acquisitions on the Continent 33. Now began the Tragedy of Sir John Oldcastle The sad story of Sir John Oldcastle so largely handled in Mr. Fox that his pains hath given Posterity a Writ of Ease herein He was a vigorous Knight whose Martiall Activity wrought him into the affections of Jone f Camd. Brit. in Kent D la Pole Baronesse of Cobham the Lord whereof he became sed quaere whether an Actuall Baron by her Marriage 34. As for the Opinions of this Sir John Oldcastle His belief they plainly appear in his Belief which he drew up with his own hand and presented it first to the King then to the Archbishop of Canterbury wherein some things are rather coursely then falselie spoken He knew to speak in the Language of the Schools so were the meetings of the Wicklivists called but not scholastically and I believe he was the first that coyned and last that used the distinction of the Church Militant divided into Priest-hood Knight-hood and Commons which had no great harm therein as he explained it As for * In his 3 conversion Persons his charging him with Anabaptistical Tenets it is pitty that the words of a plain meaning man should be put on the Wrack of a Jesuites malice to extort by deduction what never was intended therein 35. But a worse accusation is charged on his Memory He is charged of Treason that he was not onely guilty of Herese but Treason But by the way it appeareth that Lolardisme then counted Heresie was made Treason by Statute and on that account Heresie and Treason signifie no more then Heresie and then Heresie according to the abusive language of that Age was the best serving of God in those dayes But besides this a very formal Treason is laid to this Lords account in manner following It is laid to his charge that though not present in the person with his Councel he encouraged an Army of Rebels no fewer then twenty thousand which in the dark thickets expounded in our Age into plain pasture of S t Giles Fields nigh London intended to seize on the Kings Person and his two Brothers the Dukes of Bedford and Glocester Of this numerous Army thirty six are said to be hang'd and burnt though the Names of three are onely known and S r Roger Acton Knight the onely person of quality named in the design 36. For mine own part The Author intricated I must confess my self so lost in the Intricacies of these Relations that I know not what to assent to On the one side I am loath to load the Lord Cobhams memory with causless crimes knowing the perfect hatred the Clergie in that Age bear'd unto him and all that look d towards the reformation in Religion Besies that 20000 men should be brought into the field
They also complained With great earnestnesse that when such Merchants troubled in the Courts Christian addressed themselves for remedy to the Chancery and moved therein for a Prohibition which in such cases is to be granted unto them by vertue of a Statute made in the forty fift year of King Edward the third yet such a writ of Prohibition and attachment was against all law and right denyed them Wherefore they humbly desired the King to ordaine by authority of the present Parliament that such who shall find themselves grieved may hereafter have such writs of Prohibition and upon that Attachments aswell in the Chancery as in the Kings and Common-Bench at their choice * Ex Archivis in Tur. Londin undecimo Hen. sexti And that the said Writs of Prohibition and Attachment issuing out of the said Benches have the said force and effects as the Original writs of Prohibition and Attachment so issuing out of the Chancery of our Lord the King 70. To this it was returned Yet not fully redressed the King will be advised the civilest expression of a Denial However we may observe that for a full hundred years viz. from the middle of King Edward the third to and after this time no one Parliament passed wherein this Grievance was not complained on So that an Acorn might become an Oake and good Timber in the term wherein this molestation for the Tithes of wood under the pretence of Silva Cedua did continue But it seems it was well Ordered at last finding future Parliaments not complaining thereof 71. At this time William Linwood finished his industrious and usefull work of his Constitutions William Linwood his Constitutions set forth He was bred in Cambridge first Schollar of Gonvile then Fellow of Pembroke-Hall His younger years he spent in the studie of the Laws whereby he gained much wealth and more reputation Afterwards quitting his practice he betook himself to the Court and became Keeper of the Privie-Seale unto King Henry the fifth who employed him on a long and important Embassy into Spain and Portugal 72. Linwood being no less skilful in Civil than Canon Law First imployed Embassador into Portugal performed the place with such exemplarie industrie and judgement that had not the Kings suddain death prevented it he had been highly advanced in the Common-wealth Afterwards he reassumed his Officials place of Canterburie and then at spare houres collected and digested the Constitutions of the fourteen latter Archbishops of Canterbury from Stephen Langton to Henry Chicheley unto whom he dedicated the Work submitting the censure thereof to the Church 73. A worthy Work highly esteemed by forraign Lawyers not so particularly Provincial for England His work printed and prized beyond sea but that they are usefull for other Countries his Comment thereon being a Magazine of the Canon-Law It was printed at Paris 1505. but at the cost and charges of William Bretton an honest Merchant of London revised by the care of Wolfgangus Hippolius and prefaced unto by Jodocus Badius This Linwood was afterward made Bishop of Saint Davids whose works though now beheld by some as an Almanack out of date will be valued by the judicious whilst Learning and Civility have a being CENT XV. Anno Regis TO M r THOMAS RICH Anno Dom. Late of LONDON Esquire Great is the praise S. Paul * * Rom. 16. 23. gives to Gaius stiling him his host and of the whole Church Surely the Church then was very little or Gaius his house very large Now Hosts commonly are Corpulent persons but Gaius not so it being more then suspicious that he was afflicted with a faint body as may be collected from the words of ††3 John 2. S. John I wish that thou maist prosper and be in health even as thy soul prospereth You are Sir the Entertainer-general of good men many a poor Minister will never be wholly Sequestred whilest you are living whose Charity is like to the winde which cannot be seen but may be felt And God hath dealt with you more bountifully then with Gaius blessing you in all dimentions of Soul Body and Estate and my prayers shall never be wanting for the continuance and increase thereof 1. THis year began the smart and active Councel of Basil Hen. 6 12. to which our Ambassadours were to represent both their Soveraign 1434. and the English Nation English Ambassadors sent to Basil where they were received with honour and respect the reputation of King Henry his Holiness adding much to their credit Foraigners there being very inquisitive of them to be satisfied in the particulars of his devotion which by them was represented much to their Masters advantage But it is worth our pains to peruse the Commission they carried with them REx omnibus quos c. Anno Dom. 1434 salutem Anno Regis Hen. 6. 12. Sciatis quòd cum juxta decreta Constantiensis Concilii praesens Concilium Basileense actualiter celebretur sub sanctissimo Patre Domino Eugenio Papa quarto Nos eidem Concilio nedum ex parte ejusdem Concilii per suos Oratores nobis ex hac causa specialiter destinatos verum etiam Apostolicis Imperialibus ac aliorum quamplurimorum sanctae Matris Ecclesiae Patrum Principum saecularium literis creberrimè instigati ad Dei laudem sanctae Matris Ecclesiae prosperitatem optatam honorem praesertim ob fidei Catholicae exaltationem interesse cupientes variis diversis causis rationabiliter praepediti quo minus personaliter eidem interesse poterimus ut vellemus venerabiles Patres Robertum Londoniensem Philippum Lexovieasem Johannem Roffensem Johannem Bajocensem Bernardum Aquensem Episcopos ac carissimum consanguineum nostrum Edmundum Comitem Moritonii dilectos nobis Nicholaum Abbatem Glastoniensem Willielmum Abbatem Ecclesiae beatae Mariae Eborum Willielmum Priorem Norwincensem nec non dilectos fideles nostros Henricum Broumflete Militem Magistrum Thomam Broun utriusque Juris Doctorem Sarum Decanum Johannem Colluelle Militem Magistrum Petrum c c Or Maurison Mauricii Doctorem in Theologia Magistrum Nicholaum David Archidiaconum Constantiensem Licentiatum in utroque Jure nostros Ambassiatores Oratores veros indubitatos Procuratores Actores Factores Nuncios speciales constituimus facimus deputamus per praesentes dantes eis ipsorum majori parti potestatem mandatum tam generale quam speciale nomine nostro pro nobis in eodem Concilio interessendi tractandi communicandi concludendi tam de hiis quae fidei Orthodoxae fulcimentum Regumque ac principum pacisicationem concernere poterunt nec non de super pace perpetua guerrarúmve abstinentia inter Nos Carolum Adversarium nostrum de Francia ac etiam tractandi communicandi appunctuandi consentiendi insuper si opus fuerit dissentiendi hiis quae juxta deliberationem
wife conform themselves ad Ecclesiam Catholicam nor admit or receive Canonices probatos Authores but will have their own fancies and inventions preached and set forward 15. Item That Images of Saints are not in any wife to be neverenced And that it is plain idolatry and abomination to set up any lights before any Images or in any place of the Church the time of Divine Service as long as the Sun giveth light 16. Item That it is idolatry to make any Oblations 17. Item That it is as lawfull to Christen a Childe in a Tub of water at home or in a Ditch by the way as in a Font-stone in the Church 18. Item That the Water in the Font-stone is alonely a thing conjured 19. Item That the Hallowed oyl is no better than the Bishop of Rome his grease or butter 20. Item That Priests crowns be the Whores marks of Babylon 21. Item That the Stole about the Priest's neck is nothing else but the Bishop of Rome's rope 22. Item That Images Ann. Regis Hē 8. 28. as well of the Crucifix as of other Saints are to be put out of the Church and the Reliques of Saints in no wise to be reverenced And that it is against God's commandment that Christian men should make courtesie or reverence to the Image of our Saviour 23. Item That it is no sin or offence to eat white meats eggs butter cheese or flesh in the Lent or other Fasting-daies commanded by the Church and received by consent of Christian people 24. Item That it is lawfull to eat flesh on Good-Friday as upon Easter-day or other times in the year 25. Item That the sinner offending in the Lent or other high Feasts of the year is worthy no more punishment that he that transgresseth in any other time 26. Item That Confession auricular Absolution and Penance are nother necessary nor profitable in the Church of God 27. Item That auricular Confession is onely invented and ordained to have the secret knowledge of mens hearts and to pull money out of their purses 28. Item That the ghostly Father cannot give or enjoyn any penance at all 29. Item That it is sufficient for a man or woman to make their confession to God alone 30. Item That it is as lawfull at all times to confesse to a Lay-man as to a Priest 31. Item That confession is but a whispering in a Priests care and is as well to be made a multitude being present as secretly 32. Item That it is sufficient that the sinner doe say I know my self a sinner 33. Item That Bishops Ordinaries and Ecclesiastical Judges have no authority to give any sentence of excommunication or censure ne yet to absolve or lose any man from the same 34. Item That it is not necesssary or profitable to have any Church or Chappel to pray in or to doe any divine service in 35. Item That the Church was made for no other purpose but other to keep the people from winde and rain other else that the people upon Sondaies and Holy-daies should resort thither to have the Word of God declared unto them 36. Item That buryings in Churches and Church-yards be unprofitable and vain 37. Item That the rich and costly ornaments in the Church are rather high displeasure than pleasure or honour to God 38. Item That it is pity that ever the Mass Mattens Evensong or any other Divine Service was made or suffered to be read said or sung within any Church because it is onely to the deluding of the people 39. Item That Saints are not to be invocated or honoured and that they understand not nor know nothing of our Petitions nor can be Mediatours or Intercessours betwixt us and God 40. Item That our Lady was no better than another woman and like a bag of pepper or saffron when the spice is out and that she can doe no more with Christ than another sinfull woman 41. Item That it is as much available to pray unto Saints as to hurl a stone against the winde and that the Saints have no more power to help a man than a man's wife hath to help her husband 42. Item That Dirige Commendations Masse Suffrages Prayers Alms-deeds or Oblations done for the souls of them that be departed out of this world be but vain and of no profit 43. Item That the Souls departed goe straight to Heaven other to Hell 44. Item That there is no mean place between heaven and hell wherein souls departed may be afflicted 45. Item That if there be a place where they be punished God is not yet born nor he that shall redeem the world 46. Item That Prayers Suffrages Fasting or Alms-deeds doe not help to take away any sin 47. Item That there is no distinction of sins after this sort sin to be venial and sin to be mortal 48. Item That all sins after that the sinner be once converted are made by the merits of Christ's passion venial sins that is to say sins clean forgiven 49. Item That Almighty God doth not look for nor yet require of a sinner after his conversion from sin any fasting alms-deed or any other penance but only that the sinner be sorry for his sins amending his life and sinning no more 50. Item That hallowed-water hallowed-bread hallowed-candles hallowed-ashes hallowed-palm and such like ceremonies of the Church are of none effect and to be taken as trifles and vanities to seduce the people 51. Item That Holy-daies ordained and instituted by the Church are not to be observed and kept in reverence inasmuch as all daies and times be like and that servile works as plowing and carting may be done in the same without any offence at all as in other ferial daies 52. Item That the singing or saying of Masse Mattens or Even-song is but a roreing howling whistleing mumming tomring and jugling and the playing at the Organs a foolish vanity 53. Item That pilgrimage fasting alms-deeds and such like are not to be used and that a man is not bound to the Church but onely to the preaching 54. Item That it is sufficient and enough to believe though a man doe no good works at all 55. Item That men be not content to preach of certain abuses found in pilgrimages in fasting in prayer in invocation of Saints in reverencing of Images in alms-deeds but they will have needs the thing self taken away and not enough the abuses to be reformed 56. Item That by preaching the people have been brought in opinion and belief that nothing is to be believed except it can be proved expresly by scripture 57. Item That it is preached and taught that forasmuch as Christ hath shed his blood for us and redeemed us we need not to doe any thing at all but to believe and repent if we have offended 58. Item That there is of late a new Confiteor made after this form Confiteor Deocoeli terrae peccavi nimis cogitatione locutione opera mea culpa Ideo
pains seriously to peruse it Partly for the authenticalness thereof being by me transcribed out of the Acts of the Convocation partly for its usefulness shewing by what degrees the Gospel insinuated it self into the souls of men What said Zeresh Haman's c Esther 6. 13. wife to her husband If thou hast begun to fall before Mordecai thou shalt not prevail against him but shalt surely fall before-him Seeing Popery began even now to reel and stagger within few years we shall have it tumble down and lay prostrate with the face thereof at the foot-stool of truth 35. HENRY the Eight by the grace of God KING of England and of France Defensour of the Faith Lord of Ireland and in earth Supreme Head of the Church of England to all singular our most loving faithfull and obedient Subjects greeting AMongst other cures appertaining unto this Our Princely Office whereunto it hath pleased Almighty God of his infinite mercy and goodnesse to call Vs We have alwaies esteemed and thought like as We also yet esteem and think that it most chiefly belongeth unto Our said charge diligently to foresee and cause Ann. Regis Hē 8. 28. That not onely the most holy Word and Commandements of God should most sincerely be believed and most reverently be observed and kept of Our Subjects but also that unity and concord in opinions namely in such things as doe concern Our Religion may encrease goe forthward and all occasion of dissent and discord touching the same be repressed and utterly extinguished For the which cause We being of late to Our great regrete credibly advertised of such diversity in opinions as have grown and sprongen in this Our Realm as well concerning certain Articles necessary to Our salvation as also touching certain other honest and commendable ceremonies rites and usages now a long time used and accustomed in Our Churches for conservation of an honest politie and decent and seemly order to be had therein minding to have that unity and agreement established through Our said Church concerning the premisses And being very desirous to eschew not onely the dangers of souls but also the outward unquietness which by occasion of the said diversity in opinions if remedy were not provided might perchance have ensued have not onely in Our own Person at many times taken great pain study labours and travails but also have caused Our Bishops and other the most discreet and best learned men of Our Clergie of this Our whole Realm to be assembled in Our Convocation for the full debatement and quiet determination of the same Where after long and mature deliberation had of and upon the premisses finally they have concluded and agreed upon the most special points and Articles as well such as be commanded of God and are necessary to our salvation as also divers other matters touching the honest ceremonies and good and politick orders as is aforesaid Which their determination debatement and agreement for so much as We think to have proceeded of a good right and true judgment and to be agreeable to the laws and ordinances of God and much profitable for the stablishment of that charitable concord and unity in Our Church of England which We most desire We have caused the same to be published willing requiring and commanding you to accept repute and take them accordingly And farther We most heartily desire pray Almighty God that it may please him so to illuminate your hearts that you and every of you may have no lesse desire zeal and love to the said unity and concord in reading divulging and following the same than We have had and have in causing them to be thus devised set forth and published And for because We would the said Articles and every of them should be taken and understanden of you after such sort order degree as appertaineth accordingly We have caused by the like assent agreement of our said Bishops other learned men the said Articles to be divided into two sorts where of the one part containeth such as be commanded expresly by God and be necessary to our salvation and the other containneth such things as have been of a long continuance for a decent order honest polity prudently instituted used in the Church of Our Realm be for that same purpose end to be observed kept accordingly although they be not expresly cōmanded of God nor necessary to our salvation Wherefore We will require you to accept the same after such sort as We have here prescribed them unto you to conform your selves obediently unto the same whereby you shall not only attain that most charitable unity loving concord whereof shall ensue your incomparable cōmodity profit lucre as well spiritual as other but also you shall not a little encourage Vs to take farther travails pains labours for your commodities in all such other matters as in time to come may happen to occur and as it shall be most to the honour of God the profit tranquility quietness of all you Our most living Subjects The principal Articles concerning our Faith First As touching the chief and principal Articles of our Faith it is thus agreed as hereafter followeth by the whole Clergie of this Our Realm We will that all Bishops and Preachers shall instruct and teach Our people by Us cōmitted to their spiritual charge that they ought and must most constantly believe and defend all those things to be true which be comprehended in the whole body and Canon of the Bible and also in the three Creeds or Symbols whereof one was made by the Apostles and is the common Creed which every man useth The second was made by the Councel of Nice and is said daily in the Masse and the third was made by Athanasius and is comprehended in the Psalm Quicunque vult And that they ought and must take and interpret all the same things according to the self-same sentence and interpretation which the words of the self-same Creeds or Symbols doe purport and the holy approved doctrines of the Church doe intreat and defend the same Item That they ought and must repute hold and take all the same things for the most holy most sure and most certain and infallible words of God and such as neither ought he can altered or convelled by any contrary opinion or authority Item That they ought and must believe repute and take all the Articles of our Faith contained in the said Creeds to be so necessary to be believed for mans salvation That whosoever being taught will not believe them as is aforesaid or will obstinately affirm the contrary of them he or they cannot be the very members of Christ and his Spouse the Church but be very Infidels or Hereticks and members of the Devil with whom they shall perpetually be damned Item That they ought and must most reverently and religiously observe and keep the self-same words according to the very same form and
merits of the blood and passion of our Saviour JESU CHRIST Item That this certain faith and hope is gotten and also confirmed and made more strong by the applying of Christs words and promises of his grace and favour contained in his Gospel the Sacraments instituted by him in the New Testament And therefore to attain this certain faith the second part of Penance is necessary that is to say Confession to a Priest if it may be had for the asolution given by the Priest was institute of Christ to apply the promises of God's grace and favour to the penitent Wherefore as touching Confession We will that all Bishops and Preachers shall instruct and teach Our people committed by Us to their spiritual charge that they ought and must certainly believe that the words of absolution pronounced by the Priest be spoken by the authority given to him by Christ in the Gospel Item That they ought and must give no lesse faith and credence to the same words of absolution so pronounced by the Ministers of the Church than they would give unto the very words and voice of God himself if he should speak unto us out of heaven according to the saying of Christ i i Iohn 20. 23. Whose sins soever ya doe forgive shall be forgiven whose sins soever ye doe retain shall be retained And again in another place Christ saith k k Luke 10. 16. Whosoever heareth you heareth me Item That in no wise they doe contemn this Auricular Confession which is made unto the Ministers of the Church but that they ought to repute the same as a very expedient and necessary mean whereby they may require and ask this absolution at the Priest's hands at such time as they shall finde their conscience grieved with mortal sin and have occasion so to doe to the intent they may thereby attain certain comfort and consolation of their consciences As touching to the third part of Penance We will that all Bishops and Preachers shall instruct and teach Our people committed by Us to their spiritual charge that although Christ his death be the sufficient oblation sacrifice satisfaction and recompense for the which God the Father forgive and remitteth to all sinners not only their sin but also eternal pain one for the same yet all men truly penitent contrite and confessed must needs also bring forth the fruits of penance that is to say Prayer Fasting Alms deeds and must make restitution or satisfaction in will and deed to their neighbours in such things as they have done them wrong and injury in and also must doe all other good works of mercy and charity and expresse their obedient will in the executing and fulfilling of Gods commandements outwardly when time power and occasion shall be ministred unto them or else they shall never be saved For this is the expresse precept and commandement of God l l Luke 3. 8. Doe you the worthy fruits of penance And S. Paul saith m m Rom. 6. 19. Like as in times past you have given and applied your selves and all the members of your body to all filthy living and wickednesse continually excreasing the same in like manner now you must give and apply your selves wholly to justice excreasing continuoslly in purity and cleannesse of life And in another place he saith n n 1 Cor. 9. 27. I chastise and subdâ—e my carnal body and the affections of the same and make them obedient unto the spirit Item That these precepts and works of charity be necessary works to our salvation and God necessarily requireth that every penitent man shall perform the same whensoever time power and occasion shall be ministred unto them so to doe Item That by penance and such good works of the same we shall not onely obtain everlasting life but also we shall deserve remission or mitigation of these present pains and afflictions in this world according to the saying of Saint Paul o o 1 Cor. 11. 31. if we would correct and take punishment of our selves we should not be so grievously corrected of God And Zecharias the Prophet saith p p Zech. 1. 3. Turn your selves unto me and I will turn again unto you And the Prophet Esay saith q q Isa 58. 7 8 9 c. Break and deal thy bread unto the hungry bring into they house the poor man and such as want harbour When thou seest a naked man give him clothes to cover him with and refuse not succour and help the poor and needy for he is thine own flesh And if thou wilt thus doe then shall thy light glister out as bright as the sun in the morning and thy health shall sooner arise unto thee and thy justice shall goe before thy face and the glory of God shall gather thee up that thou shalt not fall And whensoever thou shalt call upon God God shall hear thee and whensoever thou shalt crie unto God God shall say Loe here I am ready to help thee then shall thy light overcome all darknesse and thy darknesse shall be as bright as the sun at noon-daies and then God shall give unto thee continuall rest and shall fulfill thy soul with brightnesse and shall deliver thy body from adversity and then thou shalt be like a garden that most plentifully bringeth forth all kinde of fruits and like the well-spring that never shall want water These things and such other should be continually taught and inculked into the ears of Our people to the intent to stirre and provoke them unto good works and by the self-same good works to exercise and confirm their faith and hope and look for to receive at God's hand mitigation and remission of the miseries calamities and grievous punishments which God sendeth to men in this world for their sins The Sacrament of the Altar Fourthly As touching the Sacrament of the Altar We will that all Bishops Preachers shall instruct and teach Our people committed by Us unto their spiritual charge that they ought and must constantly believe that under the form figure of bread wine which We there presently do see perceive by outwards senses is verily substantially really contained and comprehended the very self-same body and blood of our Saviour Jesus Christ which was born of the Virgin Mary and suffered upon the Crosse for our redemption And that under the same form and figure of Bread and Wine the very self-same body and blood of Christ is corporally really and in the very substance exhibited distributed and received unto and of all them which receive the said Sacrament And that therefore the said Sacrament is to be used with all due reverence and honour and that every man ought first to prove and examine himself and religiously to trie and search his own conscience before he shall receive the same according to the saying of S. Paul Whosoever eateth r r 1 Cor. 11. 27. this body of Christ unworthily or drinketh of this
though perchance wisely for the State not warily for himself Indeed it is impossible for such Officers managing not onely multitudes but multiplicity of matters but that in some things they must mistake As in c Prov. 10. 19. many words there wanteth not iniquity so in the Actours of many affairs faults are soon found out He was also accused to set at liberty certain persons not capable of it for granting Licenses and Commissions destructive to the King's authority for being guilty of Heresie himself and favouring it in others Trayterous speeches were also charged upon him spoken two years before in the Church of S. Peter's in the Poor in Broad street the avouchers thereof pretending that as hitherto they had concealed them for love of themselves fearing Cromwel's greatnesse so now for the love of the King they revealed the same Indeed on the first manifesting of the King's displeasure against him the foes of Cromwel had all their mouthes open and his friends their mouthes shut up 24. The mention of S. Peter's in Broad-street An injurious Act to many poor people charged on the Lord Cromwell mindeth me of a passage not unworthy to be recited of an injury offered by this Lord Cromwell to many poor men in the same Parish And because every one is best able to tell his own tale take it in the words of John d Survey of London p. 187. Stow being himself deeply concerned therein The Lord Cromwell having finished his house in Throgmorton-street in London and having some reasonable plot of ground left for a garden caused the pales of the gardens adjoyning to the North part thereof on a sudden to be taken down two and twenty foot to be measured forth-right into the North of every man's ground a line there to be drawn a trench to be cast a foundation laid and an high brick-wall to be builded My father had a garden there and there was an house standing close to his South-pale this house they loosed from the ground and bare upon rowlers into my father's garden two and twenty foot ere my father heard thereof no warning was given him nor other answer when he spake to the Surveyors of that work but that their Master Sir Thomas commanded them so to doe no man durst goe to argue the matter but each man lost his land and my father paid his whole rent which was six sâ—illings eight pence the year for that half which was left Thus much of mine own knowledge have I thought good to note that the sudden rising of some men causeth them to forget themselves I am moved the rather to believe our Authour herein because elsewhere he alloweth this Lord his deserved praise for his virtues and especially his Hospitality affirming e Survey of London p. 74. he had often seen at the Lord Cromwell's gate above two hundred persons served twice every day with meat and drink sufficient Nor can I see what may be said in excuse of this oppression except any will plead that Abimelech's servants violently f Gen. 21. 26. took away the wells from Abraham and yet Abimelech himself never knew more or lesse thereof 25. As for the passionate expressions of Cromwell The worst passionate Speech objected against him a g Sir I. Strode of Parubam in Dorcet-shire Knight aged well-nigh eighty whose Mother was Daughter to the Lord Cromwell's Son hath informed me That the principall passage whereon the Lord's enemies most insisted was this It being told the L. Cromwell that one accused him for want of fidelity to the King Cromwell returned in passion Were he here now I would strike my dagger into his heart meaning into the heart of the false Accuser and therein guilty of want of charity to his fellow-subject not of loyaltie to his Sovereign But seeing the words were a measuring cast as uttered though not as intended to whom they should relate the pick-thank Repeater avowed them uttered against the King Himself So dangerous are dubious words and ambiguous expressions when prevalent power is to construe and interpret the meaning thereof 26. Ten daies after his Arrest His Speech on be scaffold he was attainted of high Treason in Parliament and brought on the Scaffold the next week to execution Here he spake the following words unto the people which the Reader is requested the more seriously to peruse July 19. that thereby he may be enabled to passe if concerned therein his verdict in what Religion this Lord died I Am come hither to die 29. and not to purge my selfe as some think peradventure that I will For if I should so doe I were a very wretch and miser I am by the law condemned to die and thank my Lord God that hath appointed me this death for mine offence For since the time that I have had years of discretion I have lived a sinner and offended my Lord God for the which I aske him heartily forgivenesse And it is not unknown to many of you that I have been a great traveller in this world and being but of base degree I was called to high estate and since the time I came thereunto I have offended my Prince for the which I aske Him heartily forgivenesse and beseech you all to pray to God with me that he will forgive me And now I pray you that be here to bear me record I die in the Catholick Faith not doubting in any Article of my faith no nor doubting in any Sacrament of the Church Many have slandered me and reported that I have been a bearer of such as have maintained evil opinions which is untrue But I confesse that like as God by his Holy Spirit doth instruct us in the truth so the Devil is ready to seduce us and I have been seduced but bear me witnesse that I die in the Catholick Faith of the Holy Church And I heartily desire you to pray for the King's Grace that He may long live with you in health and prosperity and that after Him His son Prince Edward that goodly impe may long reign over you And once again I desire you to pray for me that so long as life remaineth in this flesh I waver nothing in my faith And so making his Prayer c. The generall terms wherein this his Speech is couched hath given occasion for wise men to give contrary censures thereof Fox in his Marginall Note on this Speech pag. 515. A true Christian Confession of the Lord Cromwell at his death Lord Herbert in the Index of his History under C. Cromwell died a Roman-Catholick notwithstanding he had been such a destroyer of the Church True it is so warie were Cromwell's expressions that Luther and Bellarmine might in their own persons have said the same without any prejudice to their own principles and many conceive that the most which these his words amount to will but make him an six-Articles Protestant 27. But let Cromwell's politick Speech be in part expounded by
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
well it is in Latine calling his Book Charta Cacata which saving reverence to the Reader may be returned on the foul of mouth of him who first uttered it 32. Now I conceive Justly disproved not onely Queen Elizabeths poor people at Greenwich so are the Almes-men there termed in a fair House which this Mr. Lambert charitably g Cambd. Brit. in Kent founded for them engaged to assert their good Patron but also that all ingenious English men are obliged in his just vindication from this unjust aspersion Indeed his Book is a rare piece of learning and he in age and industry the true successour to Leland in the studies of English Antiquity and the height thereof above common capacity the sole cause that his Book as also his worthy work on the Saxon Laws hath no oftner passed the Impression His labours are feasts for schollars not like Stow's works daily fare for common people Thus the Draper may sooner sell forty ells of freeze and course cloath than the Mercer four yards of cloath of gold as onely for the wearing of persons of prime quality Nor doth the slow-selling of a book argue it to be a drugge wanting reall worth in its self seeing this railing Reinerius his own Book notwithstanding the pompous Title thereof Apostolatus Benedictinorum in Angliâ though printed nine and twenty years since viz 1626 hath not on my best enquiry as yet been honour'd with a second Edition 33. Before we take our farewell of Fryers Antipathy betwixt Fryers and Parish-Priests know there was a deadly Antipathie betwixt them and Parish-Priests For the former slighted the later as good alone to take Tythes and like Hackney post-horses onely to run the stage in the Masse-book secundùm usum Sarum Ignorant and unable to preach Wherefore the Fryers when invading the Pulpit would not say to the Parson By your leave Sir but proudly presuming on their Papall Priviledges assumed it to themselves as forfeited to them for the Parson's want of skill or will to make use of it But these Vultures had the quickest sight and scent about Corps flocking fastest to men of fashion when lying on their Death-beds whose last Confessions were more profitable to the Fryers than half the Glebe-land that year to the Priest of the Parish 34. This plainly appeareth out of Erasmus in his Dialogues In Erasâ—â—â— his Jeast-earnest Dialogue who though perchance therein he doth Lucian it too much yet truth may be discovered under the varnish of his scoffing wit He in his Dialogue entituled FUNUS tells us how Sir George the rich Knight being formerly confessed to the Fryers the Parochiall Pastour refused to bury him because he could not give an account to God of this his sheep as unacquainted with his finall estate and this case commonly happened in England the occasion of much heart-burning betwixt them 35. Monks also hated Fryers at their hearts Monks why hating Fryers because their activity and pragmaticalnesse made Monks be held as idle and uselesse yea as meer Cyphers whilst themselves were the onely Figures of reckoning and account in the Church 36. h Hist. Angl. in Hen. 3. pag. 949. Matthew Paris a Benedictine Monke of S. Albans was a back-friend to Fryers and on all occasions hath a good word in store for them thus speaking of the coming in of the Brethren of the Sack as also of the Order of Betblemites he welcomes them with this Complement That now there were so many Orders in England that of them there was an inordinate confusion 37. Indeed Fryers stinted to 4 Orders the Pope at last grew sensible that the world began to groan as weary with the weight of Fryers Who if multiplying proportionably in after-Ages would so increase there would be more mouthes to beg almes than hands to relieve them and therefore they were stinted to the aforesaid four Cardinal Orders of Dominicans Franciscans Carmelities and Augustinian Eremites These boasted themselves to be like the i Erasmus Dialogues in Fun. four Evangelists though the number alone excepted no conformity betwixt them And they more like unto God's four k Ezek. 14. 21. sore Iudgments wherewith he useth to afflict a sinfull Nation 37. Come we now to Nuns The numerousnesse of Nuns almost as numerous in England as Monks and Fryers as having though not so many Orders more of the same Order The weaker sex hath ever equalled men in their devotion Often exceeded them in superstition as in the one instance of Gilbertines may appear These were an Hermophrodite Order as is aforesaid admitting both men and women under the same roof and during the life of Gilbert their first Founder for seven hundred Brethren there were l Weavers Fun. Mon. pag. 148. eleven hundred Sisters entred into that Order None can be so exact in reckoning up the Nuns as the Fryers because that sex afforded no Writers to acquaint us with the Criticismes of their observances 38. We will insist onely on three sorts The ancientest and poorest Nuns 1. The Antientest 2. The Poorest 3. The latest Nuns in England Of the first sort we account the she Benedictines commonly called black Nuns but I assure you peny white being most richly endowed The Poorest follow being the strict Order of S. Clare a Lady living in the same time and born in the same Town with S. Francis and her Nuns did wear a like habit in colour with the Franciscans I am charitably enclined to believe that these were the least bad amongst all the Professions of Virginity 39. The Brigettean Nuns were the latest in England Brigetteans the last Order of Nuns first setled here in the second year of King Henry the fifth Anno Dom. 1415 dissolved with the rest of all Orders Anno 1538 so that they continued here onely one hundred three and twenty years an Order to be loved on this account That it was the last in England Bridget Queen of Sweden gave them their name and institution Men and Women living under the same roof the Women above the Men beneath and one Church common to both By their Order their House was to be endowed plentifully at the first whereon they might live without wanting or begging as well in dear as cheap years and after their first foundation they were uncapable of any future benefactions Si posteatotus m Tho. Walsingham in Hen. 5. in Anno 1413. mundus possessiones praedia eis offerret quicquam omninò recipere non liceret If afterwards the whole world should proffer them farms and possessions it was utterly unlawfull for them to accept any thing thereof as indeed additions to such who had plenty before is rather a burden than a benefit 40. The mysterious number of Brigetteans might not exceed the number of eighty five The mysticall number of Brigetteans which forsooth was the number of Christ's Apostles and Disciples put together and thus they were precisely to be qualified 1.
The miserable ends of the Cardinals instruments herein that these houses were still continued to the generall end of pious uses however it was not fair to alienate them from the primitive intention of the Founders yea God himself seemed not well-pleased therewith I know that g Eccles 9. 1 2. no man knoweth either love or hatred by all that is before them All things come alike to all there is one event to the righteous and to the wicked c. However Gods exemplary hand ought to be heeded in the signall fatality of such as by the Cardinall were employed in this service Five they were in number two whereof challenging the field of each other one was h Godwin his Annals of Hen. the eighâ—h Anno 1525. Yet Mr. Fox maketh the Lord Cromwell the principall person employed by the Cardinall therein slain and the other hanged for it A third throwing himself headlong into a well perished wilfully A fourth formerly wealthy grew so poor that he begged his bread The fifth Dr. Allen one of especiall note afterward Archbishop of Dublin was slain in Ireland What became of the Cardinal himself is notoriously known and as for his two Colledges that in Ipswich the embleme of its Builder soon up soon down presently vanished into private houses whilst the other christ-Christ-Church in Oxford was fain to disclaim its Founder and being adopted the issue of the bounty of the King Henry the eighth at this day owns not him for Father who first gave it life but who afterwards kept it from dying In a word this dissolution of fourty small Houses caused by the Cardinall made all the Forest of religious Foundations in England to shake justly fearing the King would finish to fell the oaks seeing the Cardinal began to cut the underwood Of the first Priory which was solemnly suppressed by King Henry the eighth SOme six years after Christ-Church Priorie neer Allgate first and solely dissolved whilst as yet all other Abbeys flourished in their height and happinesse as safe and secure as ever before King Henry the eighth for reasons best known to Himself singled out the Priory of Christ-Church nigh Allgate in London and dissolved the same This He bestowed as a boon on Thomas a Hall's Chronicle An. 1525. Audley Speaker in the Parliament and indeed it was an excellent receit to clear his voice to make him speak shrill and loud for his Master This shrewdly shook the freehold of all Abbeys seeing now two such great men Wolsey and Audley both in their times Lord-Chancellours of England and therefore presumed well versed in cases of conscience the one a Divine first took the other a Common-Lawyer first received such lands into their possession 2. A word of the antiquity The antiquity wealth and dignity thereof wealth and dignity of this Covent because in each respect it was remarkable It was founded Anno 1108. by Queen b Harpâ—field in his Catalogue of Abbeys Matilda Wife to King Henry the first dedicated to the holy Trinity for Black Canons or Canons-Regular and one Norman by name and nation was first Prior thereof In processe of time it became rich in land and ornaments and passed all the Priories in London or Middlesex especially in this particular that the Prior thereof was alwaies an c Stow's Survey of London p. 145. Alderman of London namely of Portsoken Ward though otherwise their Covent standeth in Ealgate Ward and used to ride amongst the Aldermen in a livery like the rest save that his habit was in the shape of a spiritual person In the year 1264 d Idem ibidem Eustathius the eighth Prior of this Covent because he himself was loth to deale in temporall matters instituted Theobald Fitz-Ivo Alderman in his place They were most bountifull house-keepers relieving all comers and goers and got themselves much reputation for their hospitality 3. Some conjecture this was King Henry's designe in dissolving this Priorie A guesse at King Henry's design thereby to make a discovery in peoples affections how they resented the same He dispatched this Covent first as the forelorn hope is sent out before the body of the Army which if meeting with unsuspected dangers may give timely notice to the rest to advance no farther And if He had found the people much startled thereat He could quickly knock off retrench His resolutions and dexterous to decline envy for Himselfe handsomely cast the same on His instruments employed therein Others think the King as yet had no such project in intention but did it meerly to gratifie Sir Thomas Audley whom He loved the better for hating Cardinal Wolsey now beginning to fall against whom he had bitterly inveighed in the Parliament 4. As for the manner of the dissolving thereof The Priory taken by composition whereas all other Abbeys afterwards were stormed by violence whatsoever is plausibly pretended to the contrary this onely was fairly taken by composition For the Prior thereof was sent for by the King commended for his hospitality promised preferment as a man worthy greater dignity which promise surely He performed though the particulars of the agreement are not to be known Whereupon Anno 1531 the twenty third year of the King's reign in the moneth of July he surrendred the same to the King's use As for the Canons they were sent to other houses of the same Order who now being severally disposed in other Covents they might serve them as Monitours to warn all the rest seasonably to prepare for the time of their dissolution 5. The rooting out of this Priory wrought a middle effect in people The effect thereof upon the people for they were neither dumb nor clamorous thereat but grumbled out their discontentment for a time and then returned to their former temper However at first they were so abstemious that whereas the Priory Church and Steeple was e Idem ut priùs profered to whomsoever would take it down no man would undertake the offer Whereupon Sir Thomas Audley was fain to be at more charges than he could make of the materials the workmen with great labour beginning at the top loosed stone from stone and throwing them down most part of them were broken in the fall and remained uuelesse 6. What might move the King to single this Priory out of all the rest This the antientest of all Priories to lead this sad dance is variously conjectured Indeed this was the antientest of all England of that Order since the Conquest I mean of Canon-Regulars as our f Stow ut priùs Authour telleth us And therefore it was but reasonable the oldest should go first the first-born should be first buried But surely no such consideration moved King Henry to this choice who was not so methodical in His deeds of undoing 7. As for the Lord Audley At this day called the Dukes-Place on whom this Priory was bestowed Margaret his sole Daughter Heir was
The Queen made Sir Tho Tresham Lord Prior of this Order who the thirtieth of November 1557 received the Order of the Crosse at Westminster and was solemnly inducted into his place He was of an antient family and large estate and had done the Queen Knights service proclaiming Her in the highest contest with Queen Jane If the dimension of his Body may be guessed by his finger and his finger by his Ring which have seen in the possession of his Kinsman William Tresham Esq of Newton in Northampton-shire he was a little Gyant and farre greater than his pourtraicture on his Monument almost demolisht in Rushton-Church in the same County But Alexander's souldiers were not in proportion so big as their shields left in India and possible that Ring of State serving for a Seale was rather borne about him than worn on his finger 7. Re-edified by devout persons It is out of doubt that Papists contributed many pretious Utensils unto these Orders as also that they were bountifull in repairing their decayed Houses to fit them for their habitation but by Sanders his leave No visible refunding of land doth appear Which if he had known of no doubt he would have told posterity as tending according to his principles so much to the credit of those persons I say again though Queens Examples carry a kinde of Mandamus in them yet herein Her best Subjects and Servants were so unmannerly as to suffer Her Grace to go alone by Her self in this Act without any attendants as to the restitution of any entire Religious house to its former Order No not Anthony Browne Viscount Montacute though formerly solemnly employed in an Ambassy to the Pope to reconcile the Church of England to Rome would part with his rich Abbey of Battaile in Sussex or poor Priory of Barnewell nigh Cambridge c. but kept all his pluralities in that nature though otherwise we believe him most bountifull to those of his own Religion 8. The Catholick Princes Meaning Philip and Mary and surely though we cannot insist on the particulars that Kings inclinations are sufficiently known zealous for the promoting of His own Religion However it is almost incredible what a qualme on this occasion came over the hearts of the stoutest Abbey-land Mongers in England fearing in processe of time a reverting of them to their former use the rather because Cardinall Poole in that Act in this Queens Reign to secure Abbey-lands to their Owners without the passing whereof to pacifie so many persons concerned Papistry could not have been restored in that Parliament did not as some think absolve their consciences from restitution But onely made a palliate cure the Church but suspending that power which in due time she might put in execution 3. This made many suspect that such edifices of Abbeys A generall jealousie of Abbey-holders which still were extant entire looked lovingly on their antient Owners in hope to be restord unto them In prevention whereof such as possest them for the present plucked out their eyes by levelling them to the ground and shaving from them as much as they could all Abbey-Characters disguising them as much as might be in a Lay-habit matching and mingling them with lands in another Tenure because on this very motion Abbey lands sunk two years purchase in the common valuation 4. Nor must I forget one passage in Derby-shire Nimianon cautela Non nocet a certain information whereof I have received from that skilful Antiquary and my respected Kinsman Samuel Roper of Lincolnes-Inne how one Thacker being possessed of Repingdon Abbey in Derby-shire alarumed with this news that Q. Mary had set up these Abbeys again and fearing how large a reach such a precedent might have upon a Sunday belike the better day the better deed called together the Carpenters and Masons of that County and plucked down in one day Church-work is a cripple in going up but rides post in coming down a most beautifull Church belonging thereunto adding He would destroy the Nest for fear the Birds should build therein again 5. And now when a Papist have done commending Q. Mary The best work of Q. Mary a Protestant may begin I say Her setting up the Hospitall of the Savoy was a better work than any instanced in by Sanders for the relief of poor people First because poor qua poor may be said to be Jure Divino * Prov. 22. 2. The rich and poor meet together and the Lord maketh them both Not onely as Creatour of their persons but Assigner of their conditions Besides the Poor is a continuall Order in the Church by the words of our Saviour * John 12. 8. The poor ye have alwaies with you but more properly hereof in the Reign of Queen Mary Queen Elizabeth demolisheth the new-erected Convents Queen Elizabeth coming to the Crown Violent alterations dangerous was not over-busie at the first but for some moneths permitted all things to remain in statu quo priùs Insomuch that in the first Parliament of Her summoning She sent Her Writs to the aforesaid Lord Prior Tresbam and Abbot Feckenham to make their appearance with the rest of Her Barons in Her Great Councell Whither they repaired and wherein they took their places accordingly 2. Sir Thomas as Lord Prior above but the Abbot beneath all the a See a List of them sitting in Sir Tho Cottons Library Temporal Lords being the lag of the House and placed under Oliver Lord S. John of Blet netsho lately made the second Baron of Queen Eliz Her creation But they had hardly set down on their seats before they were raised up and dissolved with all the rest of the late-restored Orders 3. I have not met to my best remembrance with any Statute A Quaere to the learned in Law enacted in the Reign of Queen Mary whereby She was legally empowred for the re-erection of these Convents done it seems by Her Prerogative by connivance not concurrence of the Parliament Nor can I finde in the first year of Queen Elizabeth any particular Statute wherein as in the Regin of King Henry the eighth these Orders are nominatim suppressed this probably being supposed needlesse as I conceive with submission to the Learned in that Profession their Houses having no Legal settlement Or else when the general Statutes against Superstition were layed like the Ax to the root of the Tree these Orders are under-branches fell of themselves by virtue of the Queens Commission for the same 4. I intended by way of a farewell-Corollary to present the Reader with a List of the Lord Priors of S. Iohn's An imperfect List better than none from Iordanus Briset their first Founder But their Records being all burnt in that fire which was kindled by Straw in his commotion it is impossible to compleat the Catalogue At and since which difaster such as we can recover are not contiguous in times and distanced with many years betwixt them though perhaps
them how much they have profited in the study of holy Scripture 21. That in the time of High Masse be that sayeth or singeth a Psalm shall read the Epistle and Gospel in English and one Chapter in the New Testament at Mattens and another at Evensong and that when nine Lessons are to be read in the Church three of them shall be omitted with Responds And at Evensong the Responds with all the Memories 22. That to prevent in Sick persons the damnable vice of Despair They shall learn and have alwaies in readinesse such comfortable places and sentences of Scripture as doe set forth the mercy benefits and goodnesse of God Almighty towards all penitent and believing persons 23. To avoid all contention and strife which heretofore have risen amongst the Kings subjects by challenging of Places in Procession no Procession hereafter shall be used about the Church or Church-yard but immediately before high Masse the Letany shall be distinctly said or sung in English none departing the Church without just cause and all ringing of Bells save one utterly forborne 24. That the Holy-day at the first beginning Godly instituted and ordained be wholly given to God in hearing the Word of God read and taught in private and publick prayers in acknowledging their offences to God and amendment in reconciling themselves to their Neighbours receiving the Communion visiting the sick c. Onely it shall be lawfull for them in time of harvest to labour upon Holy and Festival-daies and save that thing which God hath sent and that scrupulosity to abstain from working upon those daies doth grievously offend God 25. That no Curate admit to the Communion such who are in ranchor and malice with their neighbours till such controversies be reconciled 26. That every Dean Arch-Deacon c. being a Priest preach by himself personally twice a year at least 27. That they instruct their people not obstinately to violate the Ceremonies of the Church by the King commanded to be observed and not as yet abrogated And on the other side that whosoever doth superstitiously abuse them doth the same to the great perill of his souls health 28. That they take away and destroy all Shrines covering of Shrines Tables Candlesticks Trindills or rolls of Wax Pictures Paintings and other Monuments of fained Miracles so that no memory of them remain in Walls or Windows exhorting their Parishioners to doe the like in their severall houses And that a comely Pulpit be provided in a convenient place 29. That a strong Chest be provided with a hole in the upper part thereof with three Keyes thereunto belonging be provided to receive the charity of people to the poor and the same at convenient times distributed unto them in the presence of the Parish 30. That Priests be not bound to go to visit Women lying in Child-bed except in times of dangerous sicknesse and not to fetch any Coarse except it be brought to the Church yard 31. That to avoid the detestable sin of Simonie the Seller shall lose his right of Patronage for that time and the Buyer to be deprived and made unable to receive Spirituall promotion 32. That because of the lack of Preachers Curats shall read Homilies which are or shall be set forth by the Kings Authority 33. Where as many indiscreet persons doe uncharitably contemn and abuse Priests having small learning his Majesty chargeth his Subjects that henceforth they be reverently used for their Office and Ministration sake 34. That all persons not understanding Latine shall pray on no other Primmer but what lately was set forth in English by K. Henry the eighth and that such who have knowledge in Latine use none other also and that all Craces before and after meat be said in English and no Grammer taught in Schools but what is set forth by Authority 35. That Chantery Priests teach youth to read and write 36. That when any Sermon or Homily shall be had the Prime and Houres shall be omitted ⧠The form of bidding the Common Prayers YOu shall pray for the whole Congregation of Christs Church and specially for this Church of England and Ireland wherein first I commend to your devout prayers the Kings most excellent Majesty Supreme Head immediately under God of the spirituality and temporalty of the same Church And for Queen Katharine Dowager and also for my Lady Mary and my Lady Elizabeth the Kings sisters Secondly You shall pray for my Lord Protectors grace with all the rest of the Kings Majesties Councell for all the Lords of this Realm and for the Clergie and the Commons of the same beseeching Almighty God to give every of them in his degree grace to use themselves in such wise as may be to Gods glory the Kings honour and the weal of this Realm Thirdly You shall pray for all them that be departed out of this world in the faith of Christ that they with us and we with them at the Day of Judgment may rest both body and soul with Abraham Isaac and Jacob in the kingdome of heaven Observations on the Kings Injunctions Let us here admire Gods wisdome in our first Reformers The wisdome of our Reformers who proceeded so moderately in a matter of so great consequence To reform all at once had been the ready way to reform nothing at all New wine must be gently powred into old bottles lest the strenght of the liquor advantaged with the violence of the infusion break the vessel Iacob could not keep pace with Esau presumed fleet on foot as used to hunting whilest he had in his company the * Gen. 33. 13. tender children and flocks with young which if over driven one day would die And though no doubt he himself was foot-man enough to go along with his Brother yet he did lead on softly according as the cattle and children were able to endure Thus our wise Reformers reflected discreetly on the infirmities of people long nouzled in ignorance and superstition and incapable of a sudden and perfect alteration On this account in the third Injunction they reduced Candles formerly sans number in Churches to two Onely two lights left upon the high Altar before the Sacrament these being termed lights shews they werenot luminacaeca but burning Know also that at this time there was an universall dilapidation of Chancells and men had seen so many Abbey-Churches pluckt down that they even left Parish-Churches to fall down on themselves now to repair them all at once would have stopt the holes in the Chancells and made one in the states of the Ministers It was therefore in the sixteenth Injunction ordered That a fift part of their means should be imployed therein whereby the work was effectually done without any great dammage to the Repairers By Memories appointed to be omitted What meant by Memories Injunction 21. we understand the Obsequia for the dead which some say succeeded in the place of the Heathen Roman Parentalia The abolishing Processions is politickly
the Lord Protectour or by the Archbishop of Canterbury should take upon him to preach in any open audience upon pain in the said Proclamation contained and that upon hope and assurance that those being chosen and elect men should preach and set forth onely to the people such things as should be to Gods honour and the benefit of the Kinges Majesties subjects Yet neverthelesse His Highnesse is advertised that certain of the said preachers so licenced not regarding such good admonitions as hath been by the said Lord Protectour and the rest of the Councell on His Majesties behalf by Letters Ann. Dom. 1548 or otherwise given unto them Ann. Reg. Ed. 6. 2. hath abused the said authority of preaching and behaved themselves irreverently and without good order in the said preachings contrary to such good instructions and advertisements as was given unto them whereby much contention and disorder might rise and insue in this his Majesties Realm wherefore his Highnesse minding to see very shortly one uniforme order throughout this his Realm and to put an end to all controversies in Religion so farre as God shall give grace for which cause at this time certain Bishops and notable learned men by his hignesse commandement are congregate hath by th' advise aforesaid thought good although certain and many of the said preachers so before licenced have behaved themself very discretly and wisely and to the honor of God and his highnesse contentation yet at this present and untill such time that the said Order shall be set forth generally throughout this His Majesties Realme to inhibit and by these presents doth inhibit generally as well the said Preachers so before licenced as all manner of persons whosoever they be to preach in open audience in the pulpit or otherwise by any sought colour or fraud to the disobeying of this commandement to the intent that the whole Clergie in this mean space might apply themself to prayer to Almighty God for the better atchieving of the same most Godly intent and purpose not doubting but that also His loving Subjects in the mean time will occupie themself to Gods honour with due prayer in the Church and patient hearing of the Godly Homelies heretofore set forth by His Highnesse Injunctions unto them and so endevour themself that they may be the more ready with thankefull obedience to receive a most quiet Ann. Reg. Ed. 6. 2. godly Ann. Dom. 1548. and uniform order to be had throughout all His said Realms and Dominions And therefore hath willed all His loving Officers and Ministers as well Justices of peace as Majors Sheriffs Bailiffs Constables or any other His Officers of what estate degree or condition soever they be to be attendant upon this Proclamation and commandement and to see the infringers or breakers thereof to be imprisoned and His Highnesse or the Lord Protectors grace or His Majesties Councell to be certified thereof immediately as they tender His Majesties pleasure and will answer to the contrary at their perill 16. Some Preachers perusing the aforesaid Proclamation A Pannick silence of Pulpits will complain of persecution that all the Pulpits in England should be universally silenced at once and will conclude it summum jus That the Righteous should be condemned with the Wicked the mouthes of good Ministers stopt with Railers Well might the souls of weak Christians be faint and feeble having no warm meat but the cold Homilies allowed them But Statesmen easily excuse the matter finding the juncture of time falling out when many Popish Pulpits sounded the Alarum to Ket his Rebellion and the Devon-shire Commotion whereof hereafter Besides this prohibition of preaching lasted but for few weeks and we read of a silence for about * Revel 8. 1. the space of half an hour even in heaven it self 7. A Proclamation for the payment of the late Incumbents of Colledges 3. and Chanteries 1549. lately dissolved Anno 3 o Edvardi sexti Octob. 31. 17. The Pulpit thus shut and silent by Proclamation A Proclamation against Stage-plaies the Stage was the more open and vocall for the same the Popish Priests which though unseen stood behinde the hanging or lurked in the tyring-bouse removed their invectives from Sermons to Playes and a more proper place indeed for the venting thereof Here it made old sport to see the New Religion as they term it made ridiculous with the prime Patrons thereof which caused the insuing Proclamation for the prohibition 8. A Proclamation for the inhibition of Players Ann. Dom. 1549. Anno 3 Edvardi 6. Aug 6. And some perchance will not grudge the time to read the form thereof Ann. Reg. Ed. 6. 3. FOrasmuch as a great number of those that be common Players of Enterludes and Plaies as well within the City of London or elsewhere within the Realm doe for the most part play such Interludes as contain matter tending to sedition and contemning of sundry good orders and laws whereupon are grown and daily are like to grow and ensue much disquiet division tumults and uprores in this Realm the Kings Majestie by the advise and consent of his dearest Uncle EDWARD Duke of Somerset Governour of His Person and Protectour of His Realms Dominions and Subjects and the rest of His Highnesse privie Councell straitly chargeth and commandeth all and every His Majesties subjects of whatsoever state order or degree they be that from the ninth day of this present Month of August untill the Feast of All-Saints next comming they nor any of them openly or secretly play in the English Tongue any kinde of Interlude Play Dialogue or other matter set forth in form of play in any place publick or private within this Realm upon pain that whosoever shall play in English any such Play Interlude Dialogue or other matter shall suffer imprisonment and further punishment at the pleasure of His Majestie For the better execution whereof His Majesty by the said advise and consent straitly chargeth and commandeth all and singular Majors Sheriffs Bailiffs Constables Headboroughs Tythingmen Justices of Peace and all other His Majesties head Officers in all the parts throughout the Realm to give order and speciall heed that this Proclamation be in all behalfs well and truly kept and observed as they and every of them tender His Highnesse pleasure and will avoid His indignation 18. The Proclamation being but temporary did not take down but only clear the stage for a time reformed Enterludes as they term them being afterward permitted yea in the first of Queen Elizabeth Scripture-plaies were acted even in the Church it self which in my opinion the more pious the more profane stooping faith to fancy and abating the majestie of Gods Word Such Pageants might inform not edifie though indulged the ignorance of that Age For though children may be played into Learning all must be wrought into Religion by Ordinances of Divine institutions and the means ought to be as serious as the end is
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
A petty rebellion happened in Merton Colledge in Oxford small in it self Papists stickle in Merton Colledge great in the consequence thereof if not seasonably suppressed on this occasion Some Latine superstitious Hymns formerly sung on Festivalls had by order of the late Warden Dr. Gervas been abolished and English Psalms appointed in their place now when M r. Leach a Fellow in the House on Allholland-day last had the Book in his hand ready to begin the Psalme in springs one M r. William Hall a seniour Fellow offering to snatch it from him with an intent to cast it into the fire adding a Manuscript Records of Cant. in Matthew Parker pag. 322. moreover that they would no more dance after his pipe This was done in the intervall of the vacancy of the Wardenship For though John Man was lawfully chosen to the place yet Hall and his Popish faction whereof M r. Potto M r. Binnion and S r. Appleby the Leaders opposed his admission And whereas in this House great was the power of a Seniour-Fellow especially in office over the young scholars Hall raised such a persecution against them that it was poenall for any to be a Protestant 48. Arch-Bishop Parker hearing hereof Are curbed by the Arch-Bishop his visitation summoneth Hall to appear before him May 26. who cared so little for the same that some of his Party plucked off the Seal from the citation which was affixed to the gates of the Colledge Whereupon his Grace made a solemn visitation of that Colledge wherein all were generally examined Man confirmed Warden Hall justly expelled his party publickly admonished the Young Schollers relieved Papists curbed and suppressed Protestants countenanced and encouraged in the whole Vniversity 49. * Cranmets children restored in blood A Parliament was called b Parliament Roles quinto Elizabethe wherein a Bill passed for the assurance of certain lands assumed by the Queen from some Bishopricks during their vacation Anno Regin 5. Janu. 11. Another for the restitution in blood of the children of Thomas Cranmer late Arch-Bishop of Canterbury 2. 156. 3. Here fain would I be informed by some learned in the law what needed the restoring of those Children whose Father was condemned and died only for Heresie which is conceived a Personall crime and not tainting the bloud For although this Arch-Bishop was first accused of high-Treason yet it afterwards was waved and he tried upon haereticall opinions * I have read that he was condemned of treason Cromptons juris courts fol. 2. b. which Treason was released unto him yet he saith Holinsh excepted out of the general pardon intricacies I understand nor An Act for translating the Bible into Welsh Except any will say that because not solemnly and formally pardoned in majorem cantelam such an Act was not amiss or else done not so much for the use of the living Children as honour of their dead Father Anno Dom. 1563. 50. A third Bill passed for the Translating of the Bible into the Welsh tongue which sicnce the Reformation may hitherto be said to have been read in Latin in their Congregations English being Latin to them as in the most Parishes of Wales utterly un-understood This some years after was performed principally by the endeavours of a Godwin in his catalogue of Bishops p. 641. William Morgan Doctor of Divinity afterwards Bishop of Landaff and thence preferred to S t Asaph but worthy for his work of better advancement 51. In the Convocation now sitting Janu. 29. wherein Alexander Nowel Dean of S t Pauls was Prolocutor The 39 Articles compiled in Convocation the nine and thirty Articles were composed For the main they agree with those set forth in the Reign of King Edward the sixth though in some particulars allowing more liberty to dissenting judgments For instance in this Kings Articles it is said that it is to be be believed that Christ went down to Hell to preach to the Spirits there which last clause is left out in these Articles and men left to a latitude concerning the cause time and manner of his Descent 52. Hence some have unjustly taxed the Composers for too much favour extended in their large expressions Why favourably drawn up in general terms clean through the contexture of these Articles which should have tied mens consciences up closer in more strict and particularizing propositions which indeed proceeded from their commendable moderation Childrens cloaths ought to be made of the biggest because afterwards their bodies will grow up to their garments Thus the Arcles of this English Protestant Church in the infancy thereof they thought good to draw up in general terms foreseeing that posteritie would grow up to fill the same I mean these holy men did prudently pre-discover that differences in judgments would unavoidably happen in the Church and were loath to unchurch any and drive them off from an Ecclesiastical communion for such petty differences which made them pen the Articles in comprehensive words to take in all who differing in the branches meet in the root of the same Religion 53. Indeed most of them had formerly been sufferers themselves Most confessors who composed the Articles and cannot be said in compiling these Articles an acceptable service no doubt to offer to God what cost them nothing b 2 Sam. 24. 24. some having paid Imprisonment others Exile all losses in their Estates for this their experimental knowledg in Religion which made them the more merciful and tender in stating those points seeing such who themselves have been most patient in bearing will be most pittiful in burdening the consciences of others 54. It is observable English Articles and Trent Decrees contemporaries these Articles came forth much about the time wherein the Decrees of the Councel of Trent were published Truth and Falshood starting in some sort both together though the former will surely carry away the victory at long running Many of which Decrees begin with Lying and all conclude with Cursing thundering Anathemas against all Dissenters Whilest these our Articles like the still voice only plainly express the Positive truth 55. But some nine years after The 39 Articles confirmed by Parliament Viz. Anno 1571. the Parliament c See the Statutes in decimo tertio Eliz cap. 12. confirmed these Articles so far that every Clerk should before the Nativity of Christ next following subscribe the same And hereafter every person promoted to an Ecclesiastical living should within a time prefixed publickly in the time of Divine service read and profess his consent to the same on pain of Deprivation ipso facto if omitted 56. No Lay-person was required to subscribe But only imposed on Clergy-men no Magistrate none of the Commons according to the severity in other places For the persecuted Church of English in Frankford in Queen Mary her dayes demanded subscription to their discipline of every man yea even of women
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.
they kept communion with the Church of England In which sense one may say Anno Regin Eliza. 13. that the whole land was of one language and one specch But now began the tower of Babel to be built and Popery to encrease which brought with it the division of tongues and the common distinction of Papist and Protestant the former now separating themselves from our publick Congregations They went out from us because they were not of us for had they been of us they would have continued with us Indeed the Pope set his mark of favour on such reputed sheep as absented themselves from our Churches henceforward accounting them goats that repaired thither And now began the word Recusant to be first born and bred in mens mouths Which though formerly in being to signify such as refused to obey the edicts of lawfull authority was now confined in common discourse to express those of the Church of Rome 30. Indeed hitherto the English Papists slept in a whole skin Papists their own persecutors and so might have continued had they not wilfully torn it themselves For the late rebellion in the North and the Pope thundring out his excommunication against the Queen with many scandalous and pernicious pamphlets daily dispersed made Her Majesty about this time first to frown on Papists then to chide then to strike them with penalties and last to draw life-blood from them by the severity of Her laws For now the Parliament sate at Westminstâ—r cutting as one may say with a three-edg'd-sword as making sharp edicts against Papists non-Conformists and covetous-Conformists of the Church of England 31. A Parliament cutâ—â—g with three edges Against Papists it was a See the statutes 13 Eliz. enacted that to write print preach express publish or affirme that the Queen was an Heretick Schismatick c. should be adjudged treason Also that it should be so accounted and punished to bring and put in execution any Bulls writings instruments or other superstitious things from the See of Rome from the first of July following A severe Act also was made against Fugitives who being the natural borne subjects of this Realm departed the same without license and fled into forraign parts Against non-Conformists it was provided that every Priest or Minister should before the Nativity of Christ next following in the presence of his Diocesan or his deputy declare his assent and subscribe to all the Articles of Religion agreed on in the Convocation One thousand six hundred sixty and two upon pain of Deprivation on his refusal thereof Against covetous-conformists it was provided that no spirituall person Colledge or Hospitall shall let lease other than for the terme of twenty one years or three lives the rent accustomed or more reserved payable yearly during the said terme 32. Indeed this law came very seasonably Covetous Clergie men bridled to retrench the unconscionable covetousness of some Clergy men who by long and unreasonable leases as the Statute tearmed them dilapidated the lands of their Churches Here it came to pass what the Spouse b Cant. 5. 7. complains that the keepers of the walls tooke her vail away from her It being true what one said that those who should have righted her of her wrongs did wrong her of her rights Many a Bishoprick so bruised it self when it fell vacant that it lost some land before a new Bishop was setled therein where the Elects contracted with their Promoters on unworthy conditions 33. But no armour can be made of proof against the darts of covetousness Covetousness creeps in at a small cranie especially when they come from an high and heavy hand of great men in authority This law was not so cautiously drawn up but that some Courtiers found a way to evade it seeing the Crown was not expressed therein and left capable of such leases as God-willing c Vide 1604. Secundo Reg. Jacobi hereafter shall be largely related by which single shift they frustrated the effect of this law Thus a ship may though not as suddenly as certainly be sunk with one as with a thousand leaks 34. We return to the Queen of Scots Anno Regin Eliza. 14. Anno Dom. 1571 of whom we have heard nothing this three years of Ecclesiasticall cognizance The second letter of Maâ—y Q of Scots to the Pope nor now meet with any thing of that nature save this letter which though somewhat long yet because never as yet printed and acquainting us with some passages in her restraint is not unworthy the perusall Most Blessed Father AFter the kissing of your most holy feet Octob 31. about the beginning of October I received your Holiness Letter written the thirteenth of July by which I understood not only the Benediction which your Holiness sent me and which was and shall be alwayes to me most acceptable but also the great demonstration of your good will to comfort me I rested therewith singularly comforted indeed partly because it was pleased earnestly to recommend both me and the affairs of my estate to the most Potent Princes and especially to the most renouned Kings of France and Spain But withall there is yet remaining on the other part to work so with Christian Princes that making a strict league among themselves they should spare no vigilance nor Travels nor expences once to abate the most Cruell * * This is meant of the Turke and not as some may suspect of Q. Elizabeth Tyrant who continually thinketh of no other thing then to move warr against us all And might it please God that all other things might correspond with my will besides that I were to do the same also your Blessednesse should see it with effect which should be that not only I but also my subjects with a will conform to their body and together with other Christians would put our selves forward to do our utmost force But what thing is there to be seen more worthy of compassion then to see my self fallen into so great infelicity from that happinesse wherein I found my self lately What thing is more lamentable then from a Free-woman as I was to become a Servant To these miseries is added that my Country is at this day * * This letter to the Pope was written in Latine then translated into Italian then retranslated into English Wonder not therefore if it lose some native lustre thereof wrapped in such and so many calamities and beaten down with so many inroads of the English that many and many Towns have been set on fire and flames many Castles and most fair Churches ruinated to the very Foundations But that which is worse my Inhabitants and Subjects without scarce doing the least offence unto them have been more cruelly slain But What shall I say nothing of my self Is it not clear unto all men how I have been continually in divers and sundry perils I call God to witnesse who knows with what greatness of
conscience is grounded upon the word of God and the word of God worketh his effect by preaching so as generally where preaching wanteth obedience faileth No Prince ever had more lively experience hereof then your Majesty hath had in your time and may have daily if your Majesty comes to the City of London never so often what gratulations what joy what concourse of the people is there to be seen Yea what acclamations and prayers to God for your long life and other manifest significations are there to be heard of inward and unfeined love joyned with most humble and hearty obedience are there to be heard Whereof commeth this Madam but of the continuall preaching of Gods word in that City whereby that people hath been plentifully instructed in their duty towards God and your Majesty On the contrary what bred the Rebellion in the North was it not Papistry and ignorance of Gods word through want of often preaching in the time of that rebelling were not all men of all states that made profession of the gospel most ready to offer their lives for your defence in so much that one poore parish in York-shire which by continuall preaching hath been better instructed then the rest Halifax I mean was ready to bring three or foure thousand able men into the field to serve you against the said rebels How can your Majesty have a more lively triall and experience of the effects of much preaching or little or no preaching the one worketh most faithfull obedience the other working most unnaturall disobedience and rebellion but it is thought that many are admitted to preach and few able to do it well that unable preachers be removed is very requisite if ability and sufficiency may be rightly weighed and judged and therein I trust as much is and shall be done as can be for both I for my own part let it be spoken without any ostentation I am very carefull in allowing of such preachers only as be able both for the knowledge in the Scriptures and also for testimony of their godly life and conversation and besides that I have given very great charge to the rest of my brethren the Bishops of this Province to do the like we admited no man to the office of preaching that either prosesseth Papistry or puritanisme the graduats of the Vniversities are only admitted to be preachers unless it be some few which have excellent gifts of knowledge in the Scriptures joyned with good utterance and godly perswasions I my self procured above 40. learned preachers and graduats within less then these six years to be placed within the Diocess of York besides those I found there and there I left them the fruits of whose travell in preaching your Majesty is like to reap daily by most assured dutifull obedience of your subjects in those parts But indeed this age judgeth hardly and nothing indifferently of the ability of preachers of our time judging few or none to be able in their opinion which hard judgement groweth upon divers ill dispositions of men St. Paul doth command the preaching of Christ crucified be absque eminentia sermonis but in our time many have so delicate eares that no preaching can satisfie them unless it be sauced with much sweetness and exornation of speech which the same apostle utterly condemneth and giveth this reason ne evacuetur crux Christi Some there be also that are mislikers of the godly reformation in religion now established wishing indeed that there were no preachers at all and so by depraving of ministers impugne religion non aperto Martis sed in cuniculis much like to the Popish Bishops in your fathers time who would have had the english translation of the Bible called in as evill translated and the new translation thereof to be committed to them which they never intended to performe A number there is and that exceeding great whereof some are altogether worldly minded and altogether bent covetously to gather worldly goods and possessions serving all carnall vain dissolute and lascivious life Voluptatis amores magis quam Dei semetipsos dediderunt ad patrandum omnem immunditiem cum aviditate Eph. 4. 19. and because the preaching of Gods word which to all Christians conscience is sweet and delectable to them having cauterizatas conscientias is bitter and grievous for as St. Ambrose saith super Psal 119. quomodo possunt verba Dei dulcia esse in faucibus tuis in quibus est amaritudo There they wish also that there were no preachers at all but because they dare not directly condemne the office of preaching so expressly commanded by Gods word for that the same were open blasphemy they turne themselves altogether and with the same meaning as others do to make exceptions against the persons of them that be admitted to preach But God forbid Madam that you should open your eares to any of these wicked perswasions or any way to diminish the preaching of Christs gospell for that you would ruinate altogether at length Cum defecerit propheta dissipabitur populus Pro. 27. saith Solomon Now where it is though that the reading of godly Homilies set forth by publick authority may suffice I continue in the same minde I was when I attended upon your Majesty the reading of Homilies hath his commodities but it is nothing comparable to the office of preaching The godly preacher is learned in the gospell Fidelis servus qui novit who can apply his speech to the diversity of times places and hearers which cannot be done in homilies Exhortations reprehensions and perswasions are uttered with more affections to the moving of the hearers in sermons then in Homilies Besides Homilies were devised by godly Bishops in your brothers dayes only to supply necessity by want of preachers and are by the statute not to be preferred but to give place to sermons wheresoever they may be had and were never thought in themselves to contain alone sufficient instruction for the Church of England for it was then sound as it is sound now that this Church of England hath been by appropriations and that not without sacriledge spoiled of the livings which at the first were appointed to the office of preaching and teaching which appropriations were first annexed to Abbyes and after came to the crown and now are disposed to private mens possessions without hope to reduce the same to the originall Institution So that at this day in my opinion where one Church is able to yield sufficient living to a learned preacher there are at the least seven Churches unable to do the same where there be * * The word nor being easily legible I have 〈◊〉 â—â—ink as sometimes before and after prefering to refer the sence to the Judicious Readers own coniecture then to impose my guess upon him soules the more is the pitâ—y there are not seven pounds a year reserved for the Minister In such parishes as it is not possible to place able preachers for want of convenient
contemners of learning in the countries abroad do fret against it which in truth doth the more commend it the dissolution of it would breed triumph to the adversary and great sorrow and gries to the favourers of religion contrary to the counsell of Ezekiel 13. 18. who saith Cor justi non est contristandum and although some have abused this good and necessary exercise there is no reason that the malice of a few should preâ—udice all Abuses may be re formed and that which is good may remain neither is there any just cause of offences to be taken if diverse men make divers sences of one sentence of scripture so that all the senses be good and agreeable to the analogie and proportion of faith for otherwise we must needs condemne all the ancient Fathers and divers of the Church who most commonly expound one and the same text of scripture diversly and yet all to the good of the Church and therefore doth Basil compare the scriptures to a well out of which the more a man draweth the better and sweeter is the water I trust when your Majesty hath considered and weighed the premises you will rest satisfied and judge that no such inconveniences can grow oâ— such exercises as these as you have been informed but rather the clean contrary and for my own part because I am well assured by reasons and also by arguments taken out of the holy scriptures by experience the most certain seal of sure knowledge that the said exercises for the interpretation and exposition of the scriptures and for the exhortation and comfort drawn out of the same are both profitable to encrease knowledge amongst ministers and tendeth to the edifying of the hearers I am inforced with all humility and yet plainly to profess that I cannot with safe conscience and without the ofence of the Majesty of God give mine assent to the suppressing of the said exercises much less can I send out any injunction sor the utter and universall subversion of the same I say with S. Paul I have no power to destroy but only to edifie and with the same Apostle I can do nothing against the truth but with the truth If it be your Majesties pleasure for this or any other cause to remove me out of this place I will with all humility yield thereunto and render again unto your Majesty that which I have received of the same I consider with myself quod terrendum est incidere in manus Dei viventis I consider also quod qui facit contra conscientiam divinis in rebus aedificat ad gehennam And what shall I win if I gained I will not say a Bishoprick but the whole world and lose my own soul Beare with me I beseech you Madam if I chuse rather to offend your earthly Majesty then to offend the heavenly Majesty of God And now being sorry that I have been so long and tedious to your Majesty I will draw to an end most humbly praying the same that you would consider these short petitions following The first that you wound referr all these Ecclesiasticall matters which touch religion or the Doctrine or Discipline of the Church unto the Bishops and Divines of the Church of your Realm according to the example of all Christian Emperours and Princes of all Ages for indeed they are to be judged as an ancient Father writeth in Ecclesia seu Synodo non in Palatino When your Majesty hath questions of the laws of your Realm you do not decide the same in your Court or Palace but send them to your judges to be determined Likewise for the duties in matters in Doctrine or Discipline of the Church the ordinary way is to defer the decision to the Bishops and other head Ministers of the Church Ambrose to Theodosius useth these words Si de causis pecuniarijs comites tuos consulis quanto magis in causa religionis sacerdotes Domini aequum est consulas And likewise to the Emperour Valentinian Epist 32. Si de fide conferendum est Sacerdotum debet esse just collatio si enim factum est Constantino Augustae memoriae principi qui nullas leges ante praemisit sed liberum dedit judicium Sacerdotis And in the same place the same Father saith that Constantius the Emperour son to Constantine the great began well by reason he followed his Fathers steps at the first but ended ill because he took upon him difficile intra Palatinum judicare and thereby fell into Arianisme a terrible example The said Ambrose so much commended in all histories for a godly Bishop goeth further and writeth to the said Emperour in this forme Si docendus est episcopus à laico quid sequitur laicus ergo disputet Episcopus audiat à laico At certè si vel scripturarum seriem divinarum vel vetera tempora retractemus quis est qui abundat in causa fidei inquam fidei episcopos solere de Imperatoribus christianis non imperatores de episcopis judicaâ—e Would God your Majesty would follow this ordinary you should procure to your self much quietness of minde and better please God avoid many offences and the Church should be more peaceable and quietly governed much to the comfort and quietness of your Realm The second petition I have to make to your Majesty is this that when you deal in matters of faith and religion or matters that touch the Church of Christ which is the Spouse bought with so dear a price you would not use to pronounce so resolutely and pèremptorily quasi ex authoritate as you may do in civill and extern matters but always remember that in Gods cause the will of God and not the will of any earthly creature is to take place It is the antichristian voice of the Pope Sic volo Sic jubeo stet pro ratione voluntas In Gods matters all Princes ought to bow their Septers to the Son of God and to ask counsell at his mouth what they ought to doe David exhorteth all Kings and Rulers to serve God with fear and trembling Remember Madam that you are a mortall creature look not only as was said to Theodosius upon the people and princely array wherewith you are apparrelled but consider withall what it is that is covered therewith Is it not flesh and blood is it not dust and ashes is it not a corruptible body which must return to her earth again God knoweth how soon Must you not one day appear ante tremendum tribunal crucifixi ut recipias ibi prout gesseris in corpore sive bonum sive malum 2 Cor. 5. And although you are a mighty Prince yet remember that he that dwelleth in heaven is mightier as the Psalmist saith 76. Terribilis est is qui aufert spiritum principum terribilis super omnes reges Wherefore I beseech you Madam in visceribus Christi when you deal in these religious causes set the Majesty of God before your eyes laying all earthly
assemblies are to be monished to make Collections for relief of the poor and of scholars but especially for relief of such Ministers here as are put out for not subscribing to the Articles tendered by the Bishops also for relief of Scottish Ministers and others and for other profitable and necessary uses All the Provinciall Synods must continually aforehand foresee in due time to appoint the keeping of their next Provinciall Synods and for the sending of Chosen Persons with certain instructions unto the nationall Synod to be holden whensoever the Parliament for the Kingdome shall be called at some certain set time every year See we here the embryo of the Presbyterian Discipline lying as yet as it were in the wombe of Episcopacy though soon after it swell'd so great that the mother must violently be cut before the child could be delivered into the world as to the publick practice thereof 2. Many observables in these Decrees offer themselves to our consideration Several observations on these Decrees First that they were written in latine whereof they had two elegant penners Cartwright and Travers shewing themselves no enemies to that tongue which some ignorant Sectaries afterward condemn'd for superstitious counting every thing Romish which was Romane and very Cordials to be poison if lapp'd up in latine 2. Probably as Artists hang a curtain before their works whilst yet imperfect so these Synodists thought fit in latine as yet to vail their Decrees from vulgar eyes seeing nothing can be projected and perfected together Yea the repetition of those words doth seem and it seemeth carrying something of uncertainty in them sheweth these Decrees as yet admitted but as Probationers expecting confirmation on their good behaviour 3. The election of the people is here made the essence of a call to a Pastoral Charge to which the presentation of the most undoubted Patrone is call'd in but ad corroborandum As for Institution from the Bishop it was superadded not to compleat his Ministeriall function in point of conscience but legally to enable the Minister to recover his maintenance from the detainers thereof 4. Partiall subscription is permitted to the Articles of Religion viz. only to the Doctrinal part thereof but none to those wherein Discipline is mentioned especially to the clause at the end of the twentieth Article The Church both power to decree Rites and Ceremonies c. accounted by the Brethren the very sting in the tail of the locusts 5. Those words If subscription shall be urged again Plainly intimate that the reins of Episcopal government were but loosly held and the rigour thereof remitted for the reasons by us fore-alledged 6. That Church-wardens and Collectors for the poor are so quickly convertible even in their opinion into Elders and Deacons only with a more solemn and publick election shows the difference betwixt those officers to be rather nominal then real 7. By Women-Deacons here mentioned we understand such widows which the Apostle appointeth in the primitive Church to attend strangers and sick people and which M r. a In his Admonitions pag 163. Section 2. Cartwright affirmeth ought still to be continued although he confesseth there be learned men think otherwise 8. Their Comitial Assemblies kept in the Universities at the commencements wisely they had an eye on the two eyes of the land were conveniently chosen as safely shadowed under a confluence of people See we here though the matter of their Discipline might be Jure Divino humane prudence concurred much in the making thereof as in ordering a National Synod alwayes to run parallel with the Parliament 9. Mention being made of relieving Scottish Ministers if any ask what northern tempest blew them hither know they quitted their own country about this time upon refusal of conformity and found benevolence in England a better livelihood than a Benefice in Scotland 10. The grand designe driven on in these Decrees was to set up a Discipline in a Discipline Presbytery in Episcopacy which as appears in the Preface they thought might well stand with the peace of the Church but this peace prov'd but a truce this truce but a short one before both parties brake into irreconcileable hostility Thus it is impossible to make a subordination in their practises who have an opposition in their principles For though such spheres and orbs which agree in one center may proportionably move one within another yet such as are excentricall can never observe equall distance in their motion but will sagg aside to grind and grate one the other But enough hereof at this time having jetted out a little already into the next year no offence we hope seeing it makes our History more entire in this subject 3. This year A blasphemous Hererick reclaimed Robert Dickons a Leicester shire youth but it seems Apprentice at Mansell in Nottingham-shire having parts and pregnancy above his Age and profession arrived at such a height of Prophanenesse as not only to pretend to visions but account himself Eliah sent from God to perfect some defects in the Prophesie of Malachy But by Gods blessing on the endeavours of M r. Henry Smith whom his Unkle M r. Briant Cave this year Sheriff of Leicester-shire employed therein this Heretick was a See Mr. Smiths Sermon of the lost sheep found reclamed renouncing his Blasphemies by Subscription under his own hand and for ought I finde to the contrary lived peacably and painfully the remainder of his life 4. This is that Henry Smith The Character of Mr. Henry Smith born at Withcock in Leicester-shire of a worshipfull family and elder Brother to S r. Roger smith still surviving bred in Oxford and afterwards became that famous Preacher at S t. Clements Danes in London commonly called the silver-tongu'd smith being but one mettall in Price and Purity beneath S t. Chrysostome himself Yea whereas generally the sermons of those dayes are now grown out of fashion such is our Ages Curiosity and Affectation of Noveltie Smiths Sermons keep up their constant Credit as appears by their daily Impressions calculated for all times places and persons so solid the learned may partly admire so plain the unlearned may perfectly understand them The wonder of his worth is increased by the consideration of his tender Age dying very young b About the year 1500 as I am inform'd by his brother about 50. years agoe 5. I finde three of such who seemed Pillars in the Romish Church The death of Rich. Bristow deceased this year First Richard Bristow born in Worcester-shire bred in Oxford in Exeter Colledge whence he fled beyond the Seas and by Cardinall Allen was made overseer of the English Colledge first at Doway then at Rhemes He wrote most in English humili quidem stilo faith one of his own * â—itzaeus de illustribus Argl. scriptor Opinion but very solidly for proof whereof let his Books against D r. Fulke be perused For the recovery of his health he was advised
from the unity of the Church which in the execution of our ministry in participation of the publick prayers and Sacraments we have in our own example testified and by publick doctrine maintained And that the ministery of the word preached and publick administration of the Sacraments exercised in this land according to Authority is as touching the substance of it Lawfull and greatly blessed of God And lastly that we have and always will shew our selves obedient to Her Majesties authority in all causes Ecclesiasticall and civil to whomsoever it be committed and therefore that as poor but most faithfull subjects to Her Majesty and Ministers of Jesus Christ the great cause we have in hand and which consequently as we under your Honours correction judge the necessary reformation of many things in the Church according unto Gods word may have that sufficient hearing as all causes of our refusall to subscribe may be known and equally out of Gods word judged of and the lamentable estate of the Churches to which we appertain with the hard condition of us may in that manner that your Honours most excellent wisdom shall finde expedient in the pitty of Jesus Christ for the mean time be relieved the Lord Almighty vouchsafe for Jesus Christ his sake long to continue and bless your Honours wisdom and Councell to the great glory of God and the happy government of Her Majestie and flourishing estate of this Church of England Your Honours daily and faithfull Orators the Ministers of Kent which are suspended from the execution of their Ministery The Lords of the Councell sent this Petition with another Bill of complaint exhibited unto them against Edmond Freak Bishop of Norwich unto the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury What his answer was thereunto the reader may informe himself out of the following letter To the Lords of the Councell Most Honorable UPon Sunday last in the afternoon The Arch-Bishops letter in answer thereof M r. real brought unto me in your Lordships names two supplications or Bills of complaint exhibited unto your Lordships The one by certain Ministers of Suff. against their Diocesan there The other by some of Kent against my self with this further message that it was your desires I should come to the Court on Sunday next It may please your good Lordships to be advertised that it seemeth something strange to me that the Ministers of Suffolk finding themselves aggrieved with the doings of their Diocesan should leave the ordinary course of proceeding by Law which is to appeal unto me and extraordinarily trouble your Lordships in a matter not so incident as I think to that most honourable Board seeing it hath pleased Her Majesty Her own self in express words to commit these causes Ecclesiasticall to me as to one who is to make answer to God to her Majesty in this behalf my office also and place requiring the same In answer of the complaint of the Suffolk men of their Ordinaries proceeding against them I have herewith sent to your Lordships a Copie of a letter which I lately received from his Lordship wherein I think that part of their Bill to be fully answered and his doings to have been orderly and charitable Touching the rest of their Bill I know not what to judge of it neither yet of what spirit it cometh but in some points it talketh as I think modestly and charitably They say they are no Jesuits sent from Rome to reconcile c. True it is neither are they charged to be so but notwithstanding they are contentious in the Church of England and by their contentions minister occasion of offence to those which are seduced by Jesuits and give the arguments against the forme of publick prayer used in this Church and by law established and thereby encrease the number of them and confirm them in their wilfullnesse They also make a Schism in the Church and draw many other of her Majesties subjects to a misliking of her Laws and Government in causes Ecclesiasticall so far are they from perswading them to obedience or at least if they perswade them to it in the one part of her authority it is in causes civill they desswade them from it as much in the other that is in causes Ecclesiasticall so that indeed they pluck down with the one hand that which they seem to build with the other they say that they have faithfully traveled in perswading to obedience c. and have therein prevailed c. It is but their own testimony I think it were hard for them to shew whom they converted from Papistry to the Gospell But what stirrs and discentions they have made amongst those which professed the Gospel before they were taught by them I think it to be apparent It is notorious that in King Edwards time and in the beginning of her Majesties Reign for the space of divers years When this self same book of publick prayers was uniformally used c. by all learned Preachers maintained and impugned by none the Gospell mightily prevailed took great increase and very few were known to refuse to communicate with us in prayer and participation of the Sacraments But since this Schism and division the contrary effect hath fallen out and how can it otherwise be seeing we our selves condemn that publick form and order of prayer and administration of the Sacraments as in divers points contrary to the word of God from which as in like manner condemning the same the Papists do absent themselves In the later part of their Bill conteining the reasons why they cannot submit themselves to observe the form prescribed by the book in all points I wonder either at their ignorance or audacity They say that the Learned writers of our time have shewed their mislikings of some of our Ceremonies The most learned writers in our times have not so done but rather reproved the mislikers those few that have given contrary judgement therein have done more rashly then learnedly presuming to give their Censures of such a Church as this is not understanding the fruits of the cause Nor alledging any reason worth the hearing especially one little Colledge in either of our Universities containing in it more learned men then in their Cities But if the authority of men so greatly move them why make they so small account of those most excellent and learned Fathers who were the penners of the Book whereof divers have sealed their Religion with their Blood which none yet have done of the impugners of the Book The Pope say they hath changed his Officium B. Mariae c. And so it is neither is there any man that doubteth but the Book of Common-Prayer may also be altered if there appear good cause why to those in Authority But the Pope will not suffer that Officium B. Marie c. to be preached against or any part thereof till it was by publick order reformed neither will he confess that he hath reformed it in respect of any errours but such only
such offencive Ministers as they thought to be touched with such dishonest conversation together with their proofs thereof promising on our parts to see the same redressed accordingly It seemeth by this which is exhibited now to your Lordships they have prevented the time hoping thereby to alter the course whereunto it tendeth I leave to your Lordships consideration surely if the Ministers be such as this Schedule reporteth they are worthy to be grievously punished And for my own part I will not be slack or remisse Godwilling therein But if that fall out otherwise upon tryal and that they or many of them in respect of their obedience to her Majesties laws be thus depraved by such as impugne the same then I doubt not but your Lordship will judge those amusers to deserve just punishment This I can assure your Lordships of that my Lord of London affirmed in my hearing that not long since upon that occasion that none or few at his or his Arch-Deacons visitations had at any time by the Church-wardens or sworn men been detected or presented for any such misdemeanours as are now supposed against them Of the Preachers which are said to be put there to silence I know but few Notwithstanding I know those few to be very factious in the Church contempners in sundry points of the Ecclesiasticall laws and chief authors of disquietness in that part of the Country And such as I for my part cannot doing my duty with a good conscience suffer without their further conformity to execute their ministry But your Lordships God willing shall have a more particular answer to every point of your letter when my Lord of London who is now at his house in the Country and I shall meet and have conferred thereupon In the mean time I trust that neither there nor elsewhere within this province either by my self or others of my brethren any thing is oâ— shall be done which doth not tend to the peace of the Church the working of obedience to laws established the encouragement of the most the Godliest and most learnedst Ministers in this Church of England and to the Glory of God To whose protection I commit your good Lordships Now although we finde S r. Christopher Hatton for companies sake as we humbly conceive it amongst the Privie Councellors Peter Rihadeneira in his Appendix to Sanders pag. 41. subscribbing for moderation to non-conformists yet we take him to be a zealous Stickler for the pressing Church Ceremony And although I look on the words of the Jesuite as a meer scandal when he saith that this Hatton was Animo Catholicus a Papist in his heart yet I know him to be no favourer of the Presbyterian party But a great countenancer of Whitgifts proceedings against them as appears by the following Address of the Arch-Bishop unto him To Sr. Christopher Hatton Right Honorable I give you most hearty thanks for that most friendly message which you sent unto me by your man M r Kemp I shall think my self bound unto you therefore as long as long as I live The Arch-Bishâ—ps gratulatory letter to Sr. Christopher Hatton It hath not a little comforted me having received not long since unkinde speeches where I least looked for them only for doing my duty in the most necessary business which I have in hand I marvell how it should come to passe that the selfsame persons will seem to wish peace and uniformity in the Church and to mislike of the contentious and disobedient sort cannot abide that any thing should be done against them wishing rather the whole Ministry of the land to be discountenanced and discouraged then a few wayard persons of no account in comparison suppressed and punished Men in executing the laws according to their duties were wont to be encouraged and backed hy such but now it falleth out clean contrary Disobedient wifull persons I will tearm them no worse are animated Laws contemned her Majesties will and pleasure little regarded and the executors thereof in word and deed abused howbeit these overthwarts grieve me yet I thank God they cannot withdraw me from doing that duty in this cause which I am perswaded God himself her Majesty the laws and the State of this Church and Commonwealth do require of me In respect whereof I am content to sustain all these displeasures and fully resolved not to depend upon man but upon God and her Majesty and therefore your honour in offering me that great curtesie offered unto me as great a pleasure as I can desire Her Majesty must be my refuge and I beseech you that I may use you as a means when occasion shall serve whereof I assure my self and therein rest John Cantuar. As for the Lord Burleigh such was his moderation that both parties beheld him as their friend carrying matters not with Passion and prejudice but prudently as became so great a Statesman He was neither so rigid as to have conformity prest to the Height nor so remiss as to leave Ministers to their own liberty He would argue the case both in discourse and by letters with the Arch-Bishop Amongst many of the latter kinde let not the Reader grudge to peruse this here inserted IT may please your Grace The Treasuâ—ers Letter to the Arch-Bishop for some Indulgence to the Ministers I am sorry to trouble you so often as I doe but I am more troubled my self not only with many private petitions of sundry Ministers recommended for persons of credit and for peaceable persons in their Ministry and yet by complaints to your Grace and other your Colleagues in Commission greatly troubled But also I am daily now charged by Councellers and publick persons to neglect my duty in not staying of those your Graces proceedings so vehement and so Generall against Ministers and Preachers as the Papists are thereby greatly incouraged and all evill disposed persons amongst the Subjects animated and thereby the Queens Majesties safety endangered with these kinde of arguments I am daily assayled against which I answer That I think your Grace doth nothing but being duly examined tendeth to the maintenance the Religion established and to avoid schism in the Church I also have for example shewed by your papers sent to me how fully the Church is furnished with Preachers and how small a number there are that do contend for their singularity But these reasons do not satisfie all persons neither do I seek to satisfie all persons but with reason and truth But now my good Lord by chance I have come to the sight of an instrument of 24 Articles of great length and curiosity formed in a Romish stile to examine all manner of Ministers in this time without distinction of Persons which Articles are intituled apud Lambeth Maâ—j 1584. to be executed Ex officio mero c. and upon this occasion I have seen them I did recommend unto your Graces favour two Ministers Curates of Cambridge-shire to be favourably heard and your Grace wrote
done Well because I would be loath to omit any thing whereby your Lordship might be satisfied I have sent unto you herein inclosed certain reasons to justifie the manner of my proceedings which I marvel should be so misliked in this cause having been so long practised in the same and never before this time found fault with Truly my Lord I must proceed this way or not at all the reasons I have set down in this paper And I heartily pray your Lordship not to be carried away either from the cause or from my self upon unjust surmises and clamours lest you be the occasion of that confusion which hereafter you would be sorry for For mine own part I desire no further defence in these occasions neither of your Lordship nor any other then Justice and Law will yield unto me In my own private affairs I know I shall stand in need of friends especially of your Lordship of whom I have made alwayes an assuâ—ed account but in these publick actions I see no cause why I should seek for friends seeing they to whom the care of the Commonwealth is committed ought of duty therein to joyne with me To conclude I am your Lordships assured neither will I ever be perswaded but you do all even of hearty good will towards me John Cantuar Now amongst all the favourers of the Presbyterians surely honesty Sr. Fra. Walsingham a good friend to nonconformists and wisdom never met more in any then in S r. Francis Walsingham of whom it may be said abate for the disproportion as of S t. Paul though poore yet making many rich Having but one only Daughter whole extraordinary handsomnesse with a moderate portion would considerably prefer her in marriage He neglected wealth in himself though I may say he enriched many not only his dependants but even the English Nation by his prudent steering of State affairs How he interceded to qualifie the Arch-Bishop for a Semi-non conformist we learn from his following Letter IT may please your Grace to understand St. Francis Walsinghams Letter to the Arch. Bishop in favour of non-conformists that this bearer M r. Leverwood of whom I wrote unto your Grace Anno Dom. 1583. Anno Regiâ— Eliza. 26. hath been here with me and finding him very conformable and willing to observe such orders as are appointed to be used in the Church as your Grace shall partly perceive by certain Articles subscribed with his own hand and herein inclosed I willed him to repair unto your Grace And in case these Articles may be allowed then I pray your Grace to be his good Lord and that with your good will and favour he may proceed in his suit upon knowledge whereof I do mean to deal further therein with her Majesty thereof for him as I have already begun to do upon the good report I heard of the man before your Graces message sent to M r. Nicasius for the stay thereof And so I humbly take my leave Your Graces at command Francis Walsingham What this Letter effected the next will informe us Right Honourable I thank you heartily for your letter The Arch-Bishops answer to secretary Walsingâ—aâ—s Letter written unto me in the behalf of Leverwood wherein I perceive the performance of your honorable speeches to my self in promising to joyne with me against such as shall be breakers of the orders of the Church established and movers of contentions therein upon that and other like speeches of yours with me at your last being at Lambeth I have forborn to suspend or deprive any man already placed in any cure or charge for not subscribing only if hereafter he would promise unto me in writing the observing of the Book of Common-Prayer and the orders of the Church by law setâ—down and I do now require subscription to the said Articles of such only as are to be admitted to the Ministry and to Ecclesiasticall livings wherein I finde my self something eased of my former troubles and as yet none or very few of the last named persons to refuse to subscribe to the said Articles though some of them have been accounted heretofore very precise I also very well remember that it was her own wish and desire that such as hereafter should be admitted to any living should in like manner be tied to the observing the orders which as it hath already wrought some quietness in the Church so I doubt not but that it will in time perfect the same And I cannot break that order in one but other will look for the like favour to the renewing and increasing of the former Atheisme not yet already extinguished Wherefore I heartily pray you to joyn with me herein Touching the Articles inclosed in your letter whereunto Leverwood hath subscribed they are of no moment but such as may easily be deluded For whereas he first saith that he will willingly subscribe as far as the law requireth at his hand his meaning is that the law requireth no such subscription for so I am informed that some Lawyers therein deceived have perswaded him and others and in saying that he will alwayes in the Ministry use the Book of Common-Prayer and none else his meaning is that he will use but so much of the Book as pleaseth him and not that he will use all things in the Book required of him I have dealt with him in some particularities which he denieth to use and therefore his subscription is to small purpose I would as neer as I can promise that none should hereafter come into the Church to breed new troubles I can be better occupied otherwise And God would bless our labours more amply and give better success to the word so commonly and diligently preached if we could be at peace and quietness among our selves which I most hartily wish and doubt not to bring to pass by Gods grace the rather through your good help and assistance whereof I assure my self and so with my hearty prayers c. John Cantuar. Thus have we presented to the Reader some select Letters out of many in my hand A transition to other matter passing betwixt the highest persons in Church matters I count it a blessing that providence hath preserved such a treasure unplundred esteem it a favour in such friends as imparted them unto me and conceive it no ungratefull act in our communicating the same to the Reader And now we who hitherto according to good manners have held our peace while such who were farr our betters by their pens spake one to another begin to resume our voice and express our selves as well as we may in the following History 10. By the changing of Edmond into John Cantuar. Good Grindal his death It plainly appears that as all these letters were written this year so they were indited after the sixth of July and probably about December when BP Grindal deceased Our English Eli for office highest in spirituall promotion age whereby both were blinde and
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
winding but burning sheet as expecting at last he should be brought to the stake for his religion But men may make cloaths either for mirth or for mourning whilst God alone orders whether or no they shall wear them 13. After the coming of Queen Elizabeth to the Crown A single man yet a true father he with more earnestnes refused a Bishoprick then others affected it His parsonage at Haughton as it might seem a Bishops Palace for building so was it no less for hospitality Fourteen Villages belonging to that mother Church the poor whereof besides many others were daily relieved at his door twenty Scholars he commonly boarded in his house which seemed a little Colledge In a word he was commonly called Father Gilpin and well deserved it for his paternall affections to all Making his yearly progress into Rheadsdale and Tinsdale in Northumberland where people sat in darkness of ignorance and shaddow of death and instructing them by his heavenly preaching 14. Now began that fatall yearl generally foretold that it would be wonderfull as it proved no less The brave coming forth of the Spanish Armado Whence the Astrologers fetcht their intelligence hereof 1588 whether from Heaven 31. or Hell from other Stars or from Lucifer alone is uncertain this is most sure that this prediction though hitting the mark yet miss'd their meaning who both first reported and most believed it Out comes their invincible Navie and Army perfectly appointed for both Elements Water and Land to Sail and March compleat in all warlike Equipage so that formerly with far less provision they had conquered another new world Mighty was the bulk of their ships the sea seeming to groan under them being a burden to it as they went and to themselves before they returned with all manner of artillery prodigious in number and greatness so that the report of their guns do stil and ought ever to sound in the ears of the English not to fright them with any terrour but to fill them with deserved thankfulness 15. It is said of Senacherib The shameful sight and return thereof coming against Hierusalem with his numerous army by a 1 Kings 19. 33. the way that he came shall he return and shall not come into this City saith the Lord as the later part of his threatning was verified here no Spantard setting foot on English ground under other notion then a prisoner so God did not them the honour to return the same way who coming by South-East a way they knew went back by South-West a way they sought chased by our ships past the 57 th Degree of Northen Latitude then and there left to be pursued after by hunger and cold Thus having tasted the English valour in conquering them the Scotch constancy in not relieving them the Irish cruelty in barbarous butchering them the small reversion of this great navie which came home might be look'd upon by religious eyes as reliques not for the adoration but instruction of their nation hereafter not to account any thing invincible which is less then infinite 16. Such as lose themselves by looking on second causes impute the Spanish ill success This deliverance principally wrought by Gods arm partly to the Prince of Parma who either mind-bound or wind-bound staying himself or stopt by the Hollander would or could not come to their seasonable succour and partly to the Duke of Medina's want of commission to fight with the English save on the defensive till joyned with Parma Anno Regin Eliza. 31. Thus when God will have a designe defeated Anno Dom. 1588. amidst the plenty yea superfluity of all imaginable necessaries some unsuspected one shall be wanting to frustrate all the rest We will not mention save in due distance of helps the industry and loyalty of the Lord Hâ—ward Admirall the valour of our captains the skill of our pilots the activity of our ships but assigne all to the goodness of God as Queen Elizabeth did Leave we her in the Quire of Pauls church devoutly on her knees with the rest of her Nobles in the same humble posture returning their unseigned thanks to the God and giver of all victory whilst going abroad we shall finde some of her subjects worse employed in implacable enmity about Ecclesiasticall discipline one against another And let not the mentioning of this deliverance be censured as a deviation from the Church-History of Britain Silence thereof being a sin for had the designe took effect neither Protestant Church in Britain had remained nor History thereof been made at this present 17. But bullets did not fly about so much at sea Scurrilous Pamphlets dispersed as bastardly Libels by land so fitly call'd because none durst father them for their issue They are known though not by their Parents by their names 1 The Epitome 2 The demonstration of discipline 3 The Supplication 4 Diotrephes 5 The Minerals 6 Have you any work for the Cooper 7 Martin Seignior 8 Martin Junior Marprelate 9 More work for the Cooper c. The main drift and scope of these pamphlets for know one and know all these foule mouth'd papers like Blackmoors did all look alike was to defame and disgrace the English Prelates scoffing at them for their garb gate apparel vanities of their youth naturall defects and personall infirmities it is strange how secretly they were printed how speedily dispers'd how generally bought how greedily read yea and how firmly beleeved especially of the common sort to whom no better musick then to hear their betters upbraided 18. Some precise men of that side thought these jeering pens well employed Their reasons for the lawfulness of such pamphlets For having formerly as they say tried all serious and sober means to reclaim the Bishops which hitherto proved uneffectuall they thought it not amiss to try this new way that whom they could not in earnest make odious in sport they might render ridiculous Wits will be working and such as have a Satyricall vein cannot better vent it then in lashing of sin Besides they wanted not a warrant as they conceived in Holy Writ where it was no soloecisme to the gravity of Eliah to mock a 1 Kings 18 27. Baals priests out of their superstition chiefly this was conceived would drive on their designe strengthen their party by working on the peoples affections which were marvelously taken with the reading thereof 19. But the more discreet and devout sort of men These Books disclaimed by the discreet sort and why even of such as were no great friends to the Hierarchy upon solemn debate then resolved I speak on certain knowledge from the mouths of such whom I must believe that for many foul falsehoods therein suggested such Books were altogether unbeseeming a pious spirit to print publish or with pleasure peruse which supposed true both in matter and measure charity would rather conceal then discover The best of men being so conscious of their own badness
but the curing of consciences I am credibly a By my own father Mr Thomas Fuller who was well acquainted with him A great instrument of the good keeping of the Lords-day informed he in some sort repented his removall from his Parish and disliked his own erratical and planetary life which made him fix himself Preacher at last at Christ-Church in London where he ended his dayes 69. He lived Sermons and was most precise in his conversation a strict observer of the Lords-day and a great advancer thereof thorough the whole Realm by that Treatise which he wrote of the Sabbath No book in that age made greater impression on peoples practice as b Mr Joseph Hall one then a great wit in the University now a grave wisdome in our Church hath ingeniously expressed On M r Greenhams book of the Sabbath While Greenham writeth on the Sabbaths rest His soule enjoyes not what his penn exprest His work enjoyes not what it self doth say For it shall never finde one resting day A thousand hands shall toss each page and line Which shall be scanned by a thousand eine That Sabbaths rest or this Sabbath's unrest Hard is to say whether's the happiest Thus godly Greenham is fallen asleep we softly draw the curtains about him and so proceed to other matter SECTION VIII To the Lady Anne Archer of Tanworth in Warwickshire Anno Regis Eliza. Anno Dom. Madam YOu beeing so good a Houswife know far better then I how much strength and handsomness good hemming addeth to the end of a cloath I therefore being now to put a period to this long and important Century as big as the whole Book besides but chiefly containing her Reign the Honour of your Sex and our nation have resolved to prevent the unraveling thereof to close and conclude it with this Dedication to your Ladiship On which account alone you are placed last in this Book though otherwise the first and freest in incouraging my weak endeavours 1. OF M r Vdals death come we now to treat The uncertain date of Mr. Vdals death thorough some defect in the a Records transposed o Searched by me and my friends in the office of the Clerk of Assise for Surrey or lost we cannot tell the certain day of M r Vdals condemnation 35. and death 1592. But this appears in the office that two years since viz. 32. of Eliz. July 23. he was indicted and arraigned at Craydon for defaming the Queen Her government in a book by him written and intituled A Demonstration of the Discipline which Christ hath prescribed in his Word for the government of his Church in all times and places untill the worlds end But the mortal words as I may terme them are found in tho preface of his book written to the supposed governors of the Church of England Arch-Bishops Bishops c. and are inserted in the body of his Indictment as followeth Who can without blushing deny you to be the cause of all ungodliness seeing your government is that which giveth leave to a man to be any thing saving a sound Christian For certainly it is more free in these dayes to be a Papist Anabaptist of the Family of love yea any most wicked whatsoever than that which we should be And I could live these twenty years any such in England yea in a Bishops house it may be and never be much molested for it so true is that which you are charged with in a Dialogue lately come forth against you and since burned by you that you care for nothing but the maintenance of your dignities be it to the damnation of your own soules and infinite millions moe To this indictment he pleaded not guilty denying himself to be the Author of the Book Next day he was cast by the Jurie and submitted himself to the mercy of the Court whereby he prevailed that judgement against him was respited till the next Assises and he remanded to the Marshalsey 2. M r. Vdal his supplication to the Lords of the Assises March following the 33 d of Queen Elizabeth he was brought again to the Bar before the Judges to whom he had privately presented a petition with all advantage but it found no entertainment Insomuch that in this moneth of March the day not appearing in the Records he at the Assises held in Southwark was there condemned to be executed for a felon 3. Vâ—rious censures on his condemnation Various were mens censures on these proceedings against him Some conceived it rigorous in the greatest which at the best is cruel in the least degree considering the worth of his person and weakness of the proof against him For he was a learned man blameless for his life powerfull in his praying and no less profitable than painfull in his preaching For as Musculus in Germany if I mistake not first brought in the plain but effectual manner of preaching by Vse and Doctrine so Vdal was the first who added reasons thereunto the strength and sinews of a Sermon His English-Hebrew-Grammar he made whilst in prison as appears by a subscription in the close thereof The proof was not pregnant and it is generally believed that he made only the preface out of which his indictment was chiefly framed and not the body of the book laid to his charge Besides it was harsh to inflict immediate and direct death for a consequential and deductory felonie it being pen-housed out beyond the foundation and intent of the Statute to build the indictment thereupon Others thought that some exemplary severity was necessary not only to pinion the wings of such pamphlets from flying abroad but even thereby to crush their eggs in the nest Surely the multitude of visits unto him during his durance no whit prolonged his life For flocking to popular prisoners in such cases is as ominous a presage of their death as the flying and fluttering of Ravens near and about the house and chamber of a sick body 4. He died peaceably in his bed But an higher Judge had formerly passed another sentence on Vdals death that his soul and body should not by shamefull violence be forced asunder but that they should take a faire farewell each of other How long he lived after his condemnation we know not there being a tradition that S r Walter Rawleigh procured a Reprieve in a fair way to his pardon this is certain that without any other sickness save heart-broken with sorrow he ended his dayes Right glad were his friends that his death prevented his death and the wisest of his foes were well contented therewith esteeming it better that his candle should goe than be put out lest the snuff should be unsavoury to the survivers and his death be charged as a cruel act on the account of the procurers thereof 5. Anno Regin Eliza. 36. Anno Dom. 1593. The Ministers of London flocked to his funeralls His solemn buriall and he was decently interred
on the first day were called in Chappel christ-Christ-Church Worcester Westminster Andrewes S. Pauls Overall Chester Barlow Sarisbury Bridges Winsor D. Field King KING JAMES Spectators All the Lords of the Privy Council whereas some at times interposed a few words Place A withdrawing Room within the Privy chamber Dr. Reynolds Sparks Mr. Knewstubs Chaderton These remaining in a Room without were not called in the first day To omit all gratulatory Preambles as necessary when spoken as needlesse if now repeated we will present onely the Substance of this Dayes Conference his Majesty thus beginning it It is no novel device but according to the example of all Christian Princes for Kings to take the first course for the establishing of the Church both in Doctrine and Policy To this the very Heathen related in their Proverb A Jove principium particularly in this Land King Henry the 8. towards the end of his Reign altered much King Edward the 6. more Queen Mary reversed all and lastly Queen Elizabeth of b Note his Majesty never remembred her but with some honourable Addition famous memory setled Religion as now it standeth Herein I am happier than they because they were faine to alter all things they found established Ann. Dom. 160 3 4 whereas I see yet no suchcause to change Ann. Reg. Jac. 1 as confirm what I finde well setled already For blessed be Gods gracious Goodnesse who hath brought me into the Promised Land where Religion is purely professed where I sit amongst Grave Learned and Reverend Men not as before elsewhere a King without State without Honour without Order where Beardlesse Boyes would brave us to the Face And I assure you we have not called this Assembly for any Innovation for we acknowledge the Government Ecclesiasticall as now it is to have been approved by manifold blessings from God himself both for the increase of the Gospel and with a most happy and glorious Peace Yet because nothing can be to absolutely ordered but that something may be added thereunto and corruption in any State as in the Body of Man will insensibly grow either thorough Time or Persons and because we have received many complaints since our first entrance into this Kingdome of many disorders and much disobedience to the Lawes with a great falling away to Popery Our purpose therefore is like a good Physitian to examine and try the Complaints and fully to remove the occasions thereof if scandalous cure them if dangerous and take knowledge of them if but frivolous thereby to cast a Sop into Cerberus his Mouth that he bark no more For this cause we have called you Bishops and Deans in severally by your selves not to be confronted by the contrary Opponents that if any thing should be found meet to be redressed it might be done without any visible Alteration Particularly there be some speciall Points wherein I desire to be satisfied and which may be renduced to three Heads 1. Concerning the Book of Common Prayer and Divine Service used in the Church 2. Excommunication in Ecclesiasticall Courts 3. The providing of fit and able Ministers for Ireland In the Common Prayer-book I require satisfaction about three things First about Coâ—firmation For the very name thereof if arguing a Confirming of Baptâ—sme as if this Sacrament without it were of no validity is plainly blasphemous For though at the first use thereof in the Church it was thought necessary that baptised Infants who formerly had answered by their Patrins should when come to yeares of discretion after their Profession made by themselves be confirmed with the blessing of the Bishop I abhorre the Abuâ—e wherein it is made a Sacrament or Corroboration to Baptisme As for Absolution I know not how it is used in our Church but have heard it likened to the Popes Pardons There be indeed two kindes thereof from God One generall all Prayers and Preaching importing an Absolution The other particular to speciall Parties having committed a Scandall and repenting Otherwise where Excommunication precedes not in my judgement there needs no Absolution Private Baptisme is the third thing wherein I would be satisfied in the Common Prayer If called Private from the Place I think it agreeable with the use of the Primitive Church but if termed private that any besides a lawfull Minister may baptise I utterly dislike it And here his Majesty grew somewhat earnest in his Expressions against the baptising by Women and Laicks In the second Head of Excommunication I offer two things to be considered of First the Matter Secondly the Persons For the first I would be satisfied whether it be executed as it is complainmed of to me in light Causes and that too commonly which causeth the undervaluing thereof For the Persons I would be resolved why Chancellours and Commissaries being Lay-men should do it and not rather the Bishops themselves or some Minister of Gravity and account deputed by them for the more dignity to so high and weighty a Censure As for providing Ministers for Ireland I shall refer it in the last daies Conference to a Consultation c He addressed himselfe to the King on his knee Ar-Bp of CaÌ„t. Confirmation hath been used in the Catholick Church ever since the Apostles and it is a very untrue suggestion if any have informed your Highnesse that the Church of England holds Baptisme imperfect without it as adding to the vertue and strength thereof BP of Lon. The Authority of Confirmation depends not onely on d Citing Cypr. Ep. 73. and Jer. Adversus Luciferiam Antiquity and the Practise of the Primitive Church but is an Apostolical Institution named in expresse words Heb. 6. 2. and so did Mr. Calvin expound the very place earnestly wishing the restitution thereof in the reformed Churches The Bishop of Carlile is said gravely and learnedly to have urged the same and the Bishop of Durham noted something out of S. Matthew for the Imposition of hands on Children The Conclusion was this For the fuller Explanation that we make Confirmation neither a Sacrament nor a Corroboration thereof their Lordships should consider whether it might not without Alteration whereof his Majesty was still very wary be intitled an Examination with a Confirmation Ar-B of CaÌ„t. As for the point of Absolution wherein your Majesty desires satisfaction it is clear from all abuse or superstition as it is used in our Church of England as will appear on the reading both of the Confession and Absolution following it in the beginning of the Communion Book Here the King perused both and returned His Majesty I like and approve them finding it to be very true what you say BP of Lond. It becometh us to deal plainly with your Majesty There is also in the Book a more particular and personall absolution in t he Visitation of the Sick Here the Dean of the Chappel turned unto it and read it These be severally cited BP of Lond. Not onely the Confessions of Augusts Boheme and Saxon
retaine and allow it but Mr. Calvin also doth approve both such a generall and such a private for so he termes it Confession and Absolution His Majesty I exceedingly well approve it being an Apostolicall and Godly Ordinance given in the name of Christ to one that desireth it upon the clearing of his Conscience The Conclusion was this That the Bishops should consult whether unto the Rubrick of the general Absolution these words Remission of Sins might not be added for explanation sake Arch-BP of Can. To the point of private Baptisme the administration thereof by Women and Lay-persons is not allowed in the practise of the Church but enquired of and ceusured by Bishops in their Visitations His Majesty The Words of the Book cannot but intend a permission of Women and private Persons to baptise BP of Worc. d To this be cited the Testimony of the Arch-bishop of Yorke The doubtfull words may be pressed to that meaning yet the Compilers of the Book did not so intend them as appeareth by their contrary practise But they propounded them ambiguously because otherwise perhaps the Book would not then have passed the Parliament BP of Lond. Those reverend Men intended not by ambiguous terms to deceive any but thereby intended e Here he produced the Letters of some of those first compilers a Permission of private Persons to baptise in case of necessity This is agreeable to the practise of the ancient Church Act. 2. when three thousand being baptised in a day which for the Apostles alone to doe was at the least improbable some being neither Priests nor Bishops must be presumed imployed therein and some Fathers are of the same opinion Here he spake much and earnestly about the necessity of Baptisme His Ma. That in the Acts was an Act exraordinary and done before a Church was setled and grounded wherefore no sound reasoning thence to a Church stablished and flourishing I maintaine the necessity of Baptisme and alwayes thought the place John 3. 5. Except one be born againe of Water c. was meant thereof It may seem strange to you my Lords that I think you in England give too much to Baptisme seeing fourteen moneths agoe in Scotland I argued with my Divines there for attributing too little unto it Insomuch that a pert Minister asked me if I thought Baptism so necessary that if omitted the Child should be damned I answered No But if you called to baptise a Child though 0privately refuse to come I think you shall be damned But this necessity of Baptisme I so understand that it is necessary to be had if lawfully to be had that is ministred by lawfull Ministers by whom alone and no private person in any case it may be administred though I utterly dislike all Re-baptization on those whom Women or Laicks have baptised Bp. of Winch. To deny private Persons to baptize in case of necessity were to crosse all Antiquity and the common Practice of the Church it being a rule agreed on amongst Divines that the Minister is not of the Essence of the Sacrament His Ma. Though he be not of the Essence of the Sacrament yet is he of the Essence of the right and lawfull Ministry thereof according to Christs g Mat. 28. 20. Commission to his Disciples Go preach and baptise c. The Result was this To consult whether in the Rubrick of Private Baptisme which leaves it indifferently to all these words Curate or lawfull Minister may not be inserted For the point of Excommunication His Majesty propounded whether in causes of lesser moment the name might not be altered and the same censure retained Secondly whether in place thereof another coertion equivalent thereunto might not be invented Which all sides easily yeilded unto as long and often desired and so was The end of the first dayes Conference On Monday January the 16. they all met in the same place Jan. 16 with all the Deans and Doctours above mentioned Patrick Galloway Minister of Perth in Scotland admitted also to be there And hopefull Prince Henry sate on a stoole by his Father The King made a pithie Speech to the same purpose which he made the first day differing onely in the conclusion thereof being an addresse to the four Opposers of Conformity there present whom he understood the most grave learned and modest of the aggrieved sort professing himself ready to hear at large what they could object and willed them to begin D r. Reyn. All things disliked or questioned may be reduced to these four Heads 1. That the Doctrine of the Church might be preserved in purity according to Gods Word 2. That good Pastors might be planted in all Churches to preach the same 3. That the Church government might be sincerely ministred according to Gods Word 4. That the Book of Common-Prayer might be fitted to more increase of Piety For the first may Your Majesty be pleased that the Book of Articles of Religion concluded on 1562. may be explained where obscure enlarged where defective viz. Whereas it is said Article the 16. After we have received the Holy Ghost we may depart from Grace These words may be explained with this or the like addition Yet neither totally nor finally To which end it would do very well if the mine orthodoxall Assertions concluded on at Lambeth might be inserted into the Book of Articles Secondly whereas it is said in the 23 Article that it is not lawfull for any in the Congregation to preach before he be lawfully called these words ought to be altered because implying one out of the Congregation may preach though not lawfully called Thirdly in the 25 Article there seemeth a contradiction one passage therein confessing Confirmation to be a depraved imitation of the Apostles and another grounding it on their example BP of Lond. May your Majesty be pleased that the ancient Canon may be remembred Schismatici contra Episcopos non sunt audiendi And there is another Decree of a very ancient Council That no man should be admitted to speak against that whereunto he hath formerly subscribed And as for you Doctor Reynolds and your Sociates how much are ye bound to his Majestie 's Clemency permitting you contrary to the Statute primo Elizabethae so freely to speak against the Liturgie and Discipline established Faine would I know the end you aime at and whether you be not of Mr. Cartwright's minde who affirmed That we ought in Ceremonies rather to conforme to the Turks than to the Papists I doubt you approve his Position because here appearing before his Majesty in Turky-Gownes not in your Scholastick habits according to the order of the Universities His Majesty My Lord Bishop something in your passion I may excuse and something I must mislike I may excuse you thus farre That I thinke you have just cause to be moved in respect that they traduce the well-setled Government and also proceed in so indirect a course contrary to their owne pretence and the intent
of this Meeting I mislike your sudden interruption of Doctour Reynolds whom you should have suffered to have taken his liberty For there is no Order nor can be any effectuall Issue of Disputation if each party be not suffered without chopping to speak at large Wherefore either let the Doctor proceed or frame your Answer to his Motions already made although some of them are very needlesse BP of Lond. Upon the first motion concerning falling from Grace may Your Majesty be pleased to consider how many in these dayes neglect holinesse of Life presuming on persisting in Grace upon Predestination If I shall be saved I shall be saved A desperate Doctrine contrary to good Divinity wherein we should reason rather ascendendo than descendendo from our Obedience to God and Love to our Neighbour to our Election and Predestination As for the Doctrine of the Church of England touching Predestination it is in the very next Paragraph viz. We must receive Gods Promises in such wise as they be generally set forth to us in Holy Scripture and in our doings the will of God is to be followed which we have expresly declared unto us in the Word of God His Majesty I approve it very well as consonant with the place of Paul Work out your salvation with feare and trembling Yet let it be considered of whether any thing were meet to be added for clearing of the Doctors doubt by putting in the word often or the like Mean time I wish that the Doctrine of Predestination may be tenderly handled lest on the one side Gods Omnipotency be questioned by impeaching the Doctrine of his eternall Predestination or on the other side a desperate presumption arreared by inferring the necessary certainty of persisting in Grace B. of Lond. The second Objection of the Doctors is vain it being the Doctrine and Practice of the Church of England that none but a Licensed Minister may preach nor administer the Lords Supper His Majesty As for Private Baptisme I have already with the Bishops taken order for the same Then came they to the 2 d. point of Confirmation and upon the perusal of the words of the Article His Majesty concluded the pretended Contradiction a Cvaill Bp. of Lond. Confirmation is not so much founded on the place in the Acts of the Apostles but upon Heb. 6. 2. which was the opinion besides the judgement of the Fathers of Mr. Calvin h On Heb 6. 2. and Doctour Fulk i On Act. 8. 27. neither needeth there any farther proof seeing as I suppose he that objected this holds not Confirmation unlawfull but he and his Party are vexed that the use thereof is not in their owne hands for every Pastor to confirme his owne Parish for then it would be accounted an Apostolicall Institution if Dr. Reynolds were pleased but to speak his thoughts therein D r. Reyn. Indeed seeing some Diocesse of a Bishop hath therein six k Here the Bishop of London thought himself touched because about 609 in his Diocess hundred Parishes it is a thing very inconvenient to permit Confirmation to the Bishop alone and I suppose it impossible that he can take due examination of them all which come to be confirmed BP of Lond. To the matter of fact I answer that Bishops in their Visitations appoint either their Chaplains or some other Ministers to examine them which are to be confirmed and lightly confirme none but by the testimony of the Parsons and Curates Ecclesiae Salus in sumi sacerdotis dignitate pendet cui si non exors quaedem ab omnibus eminens data potestos tor in Ecclesis efficientur Schismata quot Sacerdotes where the Children are bred and brought up To the Opinion I answer that none of all the Fathers ever admitted any to confirme but Bishops alone Yea even S. Jerome himselfe otherwise no friend to Bishops confesseth the execution thereof was restrained to Bishops onely BP of Winch. Dr. Reynolds I would fain have you with all your Learning shew where ever Confirmation was used in antient times by any other but Bishops These used ait partly to examine Children and after Examination by Imposition of Hands the Jewish Ceremony of Blessing to blesse and pray over them and partly to try whether they had been baptised in the right forme or no. For in former ages some baptised as they ought in the name of the Father Son and Holy-Ghost Some as the Arrians in the name of the Father as the greater and the Sonne as the lesse Some in the name of theFather by the Sonne in the Holy Ghost Some not in the name of the Trinity but onely in the Death of Christ Whereupon Catholick Bishops were constrained to examine them who were baptised in remotis concerning their Baptisme if right to confirme them if amisse to instruct them His Majesty I dissent from the judgement of S. Jerome in his assertion that Bishops are not of Divine Ordination BP of Lond. Unlesse I could prove my Ordination lawfull out of the Scriptures I would not be a Bishop four hours longer His Majesty I approve the calling and use of Bishops in the Church and it is my Aphorisme No Bishop no King nor intend I to take Confirmation from the Bishops which they have so long enjoyed Seeing as great reason that none should confirme as that none should preach without the Bishops License But let it be referred whether the word Examination ought not to be added to the Rubrick in the title of Confirmation in the Communion-book And now Dr. Reynolds you may proceed D â— Reyn. I protest I meant not to gall any man though I perceive some took personall exceptions at my words and desire the imputation of m It seemes the Bishop of London jealous that he was reflected on as is aforesaid called the Doctor Schismatick Schisme may not be charged upon me To proceed on the 37. Article wherein are these words The Bishop of Rome hath no authority in this Land These are not sufficient unless it were added nor ought to have any His Majesty Habemus jure quod habemus and therefore in as much as it is said he hath not it is plaine enough that he ought not to have Here passed some pleasant discourse betwixt the King and Lords about Puritants till returning to seriousnesse There began the BP of Lond. May it please your Majesty to remember the Speech of the French Embassadour Mounsieur Rognee upon the view of our solemne service and Ceremonie viz. That if the Reformed Churches in France had kept the same order there would have been thousands of Protestants more than there are D r. Reyn. It were well if this proposition might be added to the Book of Articles The Intention of the Minister is not of the Essence of the Sacrament the rather because some in England have preached it to be essentiall and here againe I could desire that the nine Orthodoxall Assertions concluded at Lambeth may be
be admitted into the Ministerie but able and sufficient men and those to Preach diligently and especially upon the Lords day That such as be already entred and cannot Preach may either be removed and some charitable course taken with them for their reliese or else to be forced according to the value of their Livings to maintain Preachers That Non-Residencie be not permitted That King Edward's Statute for the lawfulnesse of Ministers Marriage be revived That Ministers be not urged to subscribe but according to the Law to the Articles of Religion and the Kings Supremacie onely III. For Church-Livings and Maintenance That Bishops leave their Commendams some holding Prebends some Parsonages some Vicarages with their Bishopricks That double beneficed men be not suffered to hold some two some three Benefices with Cure and some two three or foure Dignities besides That Impropriations annexed to Bishopricks and Colledges be demised onely to the Preachers Incumbents for the old rent That the Impropriations of Lay-mens Fees may be charged with a sixt or seventh part of the worth to the maintenance of the Preaching Minister IV. For Church-Discipline That the Discipline and Excommunication may be administred according to Christs owne Institution Or at the least that enormities may be redressed As namely That Excommunication come not forth under the name of Lay persons Ann. Reg. Jac. 2 Chancellors Officials c. That men be not excommunicated for trifles and twelve-peny matters That none be excommunicated without consent of his Pastour That the Officers be not suffered to extort unreasonable Fees That none having Jurisdiction or Registers places put out the same to Farme That divers Popish Canons as for restraint of Marriage at certaine times be reversed That the longsomnesse of Suits in Ecclesiasticall Courts which hang sometime two three foure five six or seven yeers may be restrained That the Oath Ex Officio whereby men are forced to accuse themselves be more sparingly used That Licenses for Marriage without Banes asked be more cautiously granted These with such other abuses yet remaining and practised in the Church of England we are able to shew not to be agreeable to the Scriptures if it shall please your Highnesse farther to heare us or more at large by Writing to be informed or by Conference among the Learned to be resolved And yet we doubt not but that without any farther processe your Majesty of whose Christian judgement we have received so good a taste already is able of Your selfe to judge of the equity of this cause God we trust hath appointed your Highnesse our Physician to heale these diseases And we say with Mordecai to Hester who knoweth whether you are come to the Kingdome for such a time Thus Your Majesty shall doe that which we are perswaded shall be acceptable to God honourable to your Majesty in all succeeding ages profitable to his Church which shall be thereby encreased comfortable to your Ministers which shall be no more suspended silenced disgraced imprisoned for mens traditions and prejudiciall to none but to those that seek their owne quiet credit and profit in the world Thus with all dutifull submission referring our selves to your Majesties pleasure for your gracious answer as God shall direct you we most humbly recommend Your Highnesse to the Divine Majesty whom we beseech for Christ his sake to dispose Your Royall heart to doe herein what shall be to his glory the good of his Church and your endlesse comfort Your Majesties most humble Subjects the Ministers of the Gospel that desire not a disorderly innovation but a due and godly Reformation 25. This calme The issue of this Petition and stil but deep Petition being as is aforesaid presented to the King it was given out that his Majesty lent it a favourable eare that some great ones about him gave it a consenting entertainment that some potent strangers I understand of the Scottish nation had undertaken the conduct and managing thereof Whether indeed it was so God knows or whether these things were made to make the people the Van pretending a victory that the Rere might follow the more comfortably Sure it is this Petition ran the Gantlop throughout all the Prelaticall party every one giving it a lash some with their Pens moe with their Tongues and the dumb Ministers as they terme them found their speech most vocall against it The Universities and justly found themselves much agrieved that the Petitioners should proportion a seaventh part onely out of an impropriation in a Lay-mans fee whilst those belonging to Colleges and Cathedralls should be demised to the Vicars at the old rent without fine without improvement Whereas Scholars being children of the Prophets counted themselves most proper for Church-revenues and this motion if effected would cut off more than the nipples of the breasts of both Universities in point of maintenance 26. Cambridge therefore began Universities justly netled thereat and passed a Grace in their Congregation that whosoever in their University should by Word or Writing oppose the received Doctrine and Discipline of England or any part thereof should â—ipso facto be suspended from their former excluded from all future degrees Oxford followed recompencing the slownesse of her pace with the firmenesse of her footing making a strong and sharp confutation of the Petition But indeed King James made the most reall refutation thereof not resenting it whatsoever is pretended according to the desires and hopes not to say the reports of such who presented it And after his Majesty had discountenanced it some hot-spurs of the opposite party began to maintaine many copies thereof being scattered into vulgar hands that now the property thereof was altered from a Petition into a Libel And such papers desamatory of the present Government punishable by the Statute Prime Elizabethae Under favour Other Millenary Petitions I conceive this Petition by us lately exemplified the proper Millenary Petition Otherwise I observe that Millenary Petition is vox aequivoca and attributed to all Petitions with numerous and indefinite subscriptions which were started this year concerning Church-Reformation Many there were of this kinde moving for more or lesse alteration as the promoters of them stood affected For all mens desires will then be of the same size when their bodies shall be of the same stature Of these one most remarkable required a subscription in manner as followeth We whose names are under written doe agree to make our humble Petition to the Kings Majesty that the present state of the Church may be farther reformed in all things needfull according to the rule of Gods holy Word and agreeable to the example of other reformed Churches which have restored both the Doctrine and Discipline as it was delivered by our Saviour Christ and his holy Apostles Two things are remarkable therein First that this was no present Petition but a preparative thereunto which in due time might have proved one if meeting with proportionable encouragement Secondly that it
Breve not of his own accord and proper will but rather for the respect and at the instigation of others next year he sent a t Extant ibid. pag. 258. second to give faith and confirmation to the former Notwithstanding all which this Oath being tendred to was generally taken by Catholicks without any scruple or regret And particularly George Blackwell Arch-priest of the English being apprehended and cast into prison by taking this Oath wrought his own enlargement Which made Cardinall Bellarmine some fourty years agoe acquainted with him in his Letters u Extant ibit pag. 206. kindly to reprove him for the same 58. And now the allarme being given Pens 〈◊〉 at pens about â—e lawfulnesse of this Oath whether this Oath was lawfull or no both parties of Protestants and Papists drew forth their forces into the field King JAMES undertook the POPE himself the wearer of Three against the wearer of a Triple Crown an even match effectually confuting his Breve's Bishop Andrews takes Bellarmine to task Bishop Barlow poures out upon Parsons Doctor Morton Doctor Robert Abbot Doctor Buckeridge Doctor Collins Doctor Burrel Master Tomson Doctor Peter Moulin maintain the legality of the Oath against Suarez Eudaemon Becanus Cofteteus Peleterius and others to whose worthy Works the Reader is referred for his farther satisfaction I may call at not go into these controversies lest by staying so long I be benighted in my way the rather because the nearer we approach our home the longer the miles grow I mean matter multiplieth toward the conclusion of our work And now it is not worth the while to go into the contemperary Convocation where we meet with nothing but formality and continuations SECTION III. THOMAE DACRES DE CHESTHUNT Armig AVdîsti saepius de Rotundâ tabulâ quam VVintonia jactitat Hanc Regem Arthurum instituisse ferunt ne inter Milites ejus discumbentes aliquid discordiae ob 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 orireretur Nôsti quales olim Libri fuerunt cum in gyrum rotarentur Hinc adhuc inter Latinos volumen à volvendo obtinet Nihil igitur interest quo ordine Patroni mei collocentur cum in circulari formâinter primum imum nihil sit discriminis Sed quorsùm haec Cum Genus tuum licèt splendidum tanta est Comitas quae te illustrem reddidit non fastuosè consulas Tibi omnia prospera Vale. WEE May remember The names places and severall employments of the Translators of the Bible that one of the best things produced by Hampton-Court-Conference was a resolution in His Majesty for a new Translation of the Bible Which religious designe was now effectually prosecuted and the Translators being seven and fourty in number digested into six companies and severall Books assigned them in order as followeth according unto the severall places wherein they were to meet conferre and consult together so that nothing should passe without a generall consent Westminster 10. The Pentateuch the Story from Joshua to the first Book of the Chronicles exclusively Doctor Andrews Fellow and Master of Pembroke-Hall in Cambr then Dean of Westminster after Bishop of Winchester Dr. Overall Fellow of Trin Coll Master of Kath Hall in Cambr then Dean of S. Pauls after Bishop of Norwich Dr. Saravia Dr. Clarke Fellow of Christ-Coll in Cambr Preacher in Canterbury Dr. Laifield Fellow of Trin in Cambr Parson of St. Clement-Danes Being skill'd in Architecture his judgment was much rely'd on for the farbrick of the Tabernacle and Temple Dr. Leigh Archdeacon of Middlesex Parson of Allhallows-Barking Master Burgley Mr. King Mr. Thompson Mr. Bedwell of Cambridge and I think of Saint Johns Vicar of Tottenham nigh London Cambridge 8. From the first of the Chronicles with the rest of the Story the Hagiographa viz Job Psalmes Proverbs Canticles Ecclesiastes Master Lively Mr. Richardson Fell of Emman after D. D. Master first of Peter-House then of Trin Coll Mr. Chaderton after D. D. Fell first of Christ-Coll the Master of Emmanuel Mr. Dillingham Fell. of Christ Coll beneficed at in Bedford-shire where he died a single and a wealthie-man Mr. Andrews after D. D. brother to the Bishop of Winchester and Master of Jesus-Coll Mr. Harrison the Reverend Vice-Master of Trinity-Coll Mr. Spalding * See our Catalogue of the Hebrew Professors in Cambridge to marshall their succession Fell of St. Johns in Cambr and Hebrew-Professor therein Mr. Bing Fell of Peter-House in Cambr and Hebrew-Professour therein Oxford 7. The four greater Prophets with the Lamentations and the twelve lesser Prophets Doctor Harding President of Magdalent-Colledge Dr. Reynolds President of Corpus-Christi-Colledge Dr. Holland Rectour of Exceter-Colledge and Kings-Professour Dr. Kilby Rectour of Lincoln-Colledge and Regius Professour Master Smith after D. D. and Bishop of Glocester He made the learned and religious Preface to the Translation Mr. Brett of a worshipfull family beneficed at Quainton in Buckingham shire Mr. Faireclowe Cambridge 7. The Prayer of Manasseh and the rest of the Apocrypha Doctor Duport Prebend of Elie and Master of Iesus Colledge Dr. Brainthwait first Fellow of Emmanuel then Master of Gonvel and Caius-Coll Dr. Radclyffe one of the seniour Fellows of Trin Coll Master Ward Emman after D. D. Master of Sidney-Coll and Margaret-Professour Mr. Downes Fellow of St. Iohns-Coll and Greek-Professour Mr. Boyse Fellow of St. Iohns-Coll Prebend of Elie Parson of Boxworth in Cambridge-shire Mr. Ward Regal after D. D. Prebend of Chichester Rectour of Bishop-Waltham in Hampshire Oxford 8. The four Gospels Acts of the Apostles Apocalyps Doctor Ravis Dean of Christ-Church afterwards Bishop of London Dr. Abbot Master of University-Coll afterward Archbishop of Canterbury Dr. Eedes Mr. Thompson Mr. Savill Dr. Peryn Dr. Ravens Mr. Harmer Westminster 7. The Epistles of S. Paul The Canonicall Epistles Doctor Barlowe of Trinity-Hall in Cambridge Dean of Chester after Bishop of Lincolne Dr. Hutchenson Dr. Spencer Mr. Fenton Mr. Rabbet Mr. Sanderson Mr. Dakins Now for the better ordering of their proceedings His Majestie recommended the following Rules by them to be most carefully observed The Kings instructions to the Translators 1. The ordinary Bible read in the Church commonly called the Bishops Bible to be followed and as little altered as the Originall will permit 2. The names of the Prophets and the Holy Writers with the other names in the text to be retained as neer as may be accordingly as they are vulgarly used 3. The old Ecclesiasticall words to be kept viz as the word Church not to be translated Congregation c. 4. When any word hath divers significations that to be kept which hath been most commonly used by the most eminent Fathers being agreeable to the propriety of the place and the analogie of faith 5. The division of the Chapters to be altered either not at all or as little as may be if necessity so require 6. No marginall notes at all to be affixed but onely for the explanation of the Hebrew or Greek
bowed all waies was adjudged unfit to make a beam or raster either in Popish or Protestant Church And now what would not make timber to build must make fewel to burn to which end he came at last But for some years he lived at Rome on a pension which Pope Gregory assigned him out of his own revenues untill there arose a new Pope who never knew Spalato with the least knowledge of approbation viz Urban the eighth brought in by the antifaction of the French He finding his revenue charged with a pension paid to his adversary thrift is a floure even in the Triple Crown prohibits the future issuing out of the same His pension being stopped Spalato's mouth is open and passionately discourseth reputed heresie in severall companies 16. There was residing at Rome Cardinal Clesel's neglected friendship destructive to Spalato one Cardinal Clesel an High Germane betwixt whom and Spalato formerly great familiarity whilst Clesel was the Pope's Legate de Latere with the Emperour at Vienna where Spalato negotiated business for the State of Venice This Cardinal expected Spalato's applications unto him after he was returned to Rome which he refused being belike too high in the instep or rather too stiffe in the knees to bow to beg a kindnesse Clesel perceiving his amity made contemptible resolved to make his enmity considerable yet dissembling friendship for the better opportunity of revenge he invites Spalato to supper and a train of discourse being laid at a liberal meal Spalato is as free in talking as in eating and le ts fall this expression that though divers had endevoured it no Catholick had as yet answered his Books De Republica Ecclesiastica but adding moreover That he himself was able to answer them Presently his person is clapt into prison his study seised on wherein many papers were found speaking heresie enough his Adversaries being admitted sole Interpreters thereof 17. As for his death Spâ—lato's body burnt after his death some moneths after some say he was stifled others strangled others stabb'd others starv'd others poyson'd others smothered to death but my intelligence from his own Kinred at Venice informs me that he died a natural death adding moreover non sine praeveniente gratiâ not without God's preventing grace for had his life been longer his death had been more miserable Yea they say the Pope sent four of his sworn Physicians to recognize his corps who on their oath deposed that no impression of violence was visible thereon However after his death his excommunicated corps were put to publick shame and solemnly proceeded against in the Inquisition for relapsing into heresie since his return to Rome His Kinred were summoned to appear for him if they pleased but durst not plead for a dead man for fear of infection of the like punishment on themselves Several Articles of heresie are charged upon him and he found convict thereof is condemned to have his body burnt by the publick Executioner in the field of Flora which was performed accordingly Such honour have all Apostates 18. We must not forget The word Puritane how first abused by Spalato that Spalato I am confident I am not mistaken therein was the first who professing himself a Protestant used the word PURITANE to signifie the defenders of matters doctrinal in the English Church Formerly the word was onely taken to denote such as dissented from the Hierarchie in Discipline and Church-Government which now was extended to brand such as were Anti-Arminians in their judgments As Spalato first abused the word in this sense so we could wish he had carried it away with him in his return to Rome Whereas now leaving the word behinde him in this extensive signification thereof it hath since by others been improved to asperse the most orthodox in doctrine and religious in conversation 19. He was of a comely personage His unpartial character tall stature gray beard grave countenance fair language fluent expression somewhat abdominous and corpulent in his body Of so imperious and domineering spirit that as if the Tenant were the Land Lord though a stranger he offered to controll the Archbishop of Canterbury in his own house An excellent Preacher every first Sunday in the moneth to the Italian Nation at Mercers-Chappel as his Sermon called Scopleos or the Rocks doth plentifully witnesse wherein he demonstrates That all the Errors of the Roman Church proceed from their pride and covetousness And under the Rose be it spoken if the great ship of Rome split it self on these Rocks Spalato his own pinnace made m 1 Tim. 1. 19. shipwrack of the faith on the same which were his bosome-sins In a word he had too much Wit and Learning to be a cordial Papist and too little Honesty and Religion to be a sincere Protestant 20. About the same time three other Italians made their escape into England Three other Italian juglers One Antonio as I take it a Capuchian who here married a Wife and was beneficed in Essex The other two Benedictines living the one with the Archbishop of Canterbury the other with the Archbishop of Yorke All these three were neither good dough not good bread but like Ephraim n Hos 7. 8. a cake not turned though they pretended to true conversion The first of these being kinne to Spinola the Low-Countrey-General was by him on what terms I know not trained over and reconciled to Rome The other two onely racking no thorough-paced Protestants watched their opportunity to run away Yet let not this breed in us a jealousie of all Italianâ— Converts seeing Vergerius Peter Martyr Emanuel Tremellius c. may reconcile us to a good opinion of them and to believe That God hath p Revel 3. 4. a few names even in Sardis where the Throne of the Beast is erected And indeed Italian Converts like Origen where they doe well none better where ill none worse 21. All mens mouthes were now fill'd with discourse of Prince CHARLES his match with Donna MARIA the Infanta of Spaine The Spanish Match the discourse general The Protestants grieved thereat fearing that this marriage would be the funeralls of their Religion and their jealousies so descanted thereon that they suspected if taking effect more water of Tiber than Thames would run under London-bridge The Churchâ—Catholicks grew insolent thereat and such who formerly had a Pope in their belly shewed him now in their tongues and faces avouching their Religion which they concealed before Yet at last this Match so probable brake off Heaven forbidding the Banes even at the third and last asking thereof 22. Count Gondomar was the active Instrument to advance this Match Gondomaâ— procures the inlargment of all Iesuâ—s who so carried himself in the twilight of jest-earnest that with his jests he pleased His MAJESTY of England and with his earnest he pleasured his Master of Spaine Having found out the length of King JAMES's foot he fitted Him with so easie a shooe which
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
in literature what wil the blow given doe thereon 62. Fourthly he alledged that the ancient and genuine use of Deans and Chapters was as Senatus Episcopi to assist the Bishop in his jurisdiction Now whereas some of his reverend Brethren had lately complained that Bishops have for many yeers usurped the sole government to themselves and their Consistories the continuing of Chapters rightly used would reduce it from one Man to a plurality of assistants 63. Lastly the structures themselves should said he speak for the structures Not that he would have then with Christs disciples fondly to admire the Fabricks but to put them in remembrance that Cathedrall Churches were the first monuments of Christianity in the Kingdome 64. From things he passed to Persons and began with the multitude of such members as had maintenance from Cathedralls some one of them allowing lively-hood to three hundred and the totall amounting to many thousands All which by the dissolutions of Deans and Chapters must be exposed to poverty Next he instanced in their Tenants who holding Leases from Deans and Chapters are sensible of their own happinesse as enjoying six parts of seven in pure gain and therefore have petitioned the House to continue their ancient Land-lords Thirdly such Cities wherein Cathedrals stand if maritime being very poor in Trade are inriched by the hospitality of the Clergy the frequent resort of strangers unto them 65. Then proceeded he to speak of the branches of the whole Kingdome all being in hope to reap benefit by the continuance of Deans and Chapters lands as now emploied For all men said he are not born elder Brothers nor all elder Brothers inheriters of Land Divers of low degree but generous Spirits would be glad to advance themselves and archieve an estate by qualifying themselves by industry and virtue to attain a share of Cathedrall Endowments as the common possession of the Realm inclosed in no private mens estate 66. And whereas travailers inform them that all ranks and degrees of people in England Knights Gentlemen Yeamen live more freely and fashionably than in any other Countries he trusted their Honours would account it reasonable that the Clergy had in some sort a better maintenance then in neighbouring reformed Churches and not with Jeroboams Priests to be the basest of all the People 67. Then did he instance in some famous Protestants of forrain parts who had found great relief and comfort by being installed Prebendaries in our Cathedrall and Collegiate Churches as Dr. Saravia preferred by Queen Elizabeth Dr. Casaubon Father and Son by King James Dr. Primrose Mr. Vossius in the reign of King Charles and Dr. Peter Moulin alive at this day and who intended to leave Sedan if the warlike preparations there proceeded and come over into England where he should have but sad welcome if all his livelyhood were taken away from him 68. Nor could an Act be done more to gratify the Church of Rome than to destroy Deans and Chapters seeing * De schismotâ— Anglicano pag. 163. Sanders himself seemeth to complain that Queen Elizabeth had left Provosts Deans Canons and Prebendaries in Cathedrall and Collegiate Churches because he foresaw such foundations would conduce to the stability of religion so that by his words a fatter Sacrifice could not be offered up to such as himself than the extirpation of them 69. He went forwards to shew the benefit the King and Commonwealth reapt by such Lands as paying greater summs to the Exchequer for first fruits tenths and subsidies according to the proportion than any other estates Corporations in the Kingdome And are ready said he if called upon cheerfully to contribute in an extraordinary manner to the charge of the Kingdome 70. Now as he was by their Honours favour admitted to plead under that roof where their noble Progenitors had given to the Clergy so many Charters Priviledges Immunities so he implored to finde the ancient honourable justice of the House unto his Brethren who were not charged much lesse convicted of any scandalous faults justly for the same to forfeit their estates 71. At last he led them to the highest degree of all considerations viz. the honour of God to whose worship and service such Fabricks and Lands were dedicated and barred all alienation with which he said is tremenda vox curses and imprecations he minded them of the censers of Korah and his complices pronounced hallowed * Numbers 16. 38. because pretended to doe God service therewith And left any should wave this as a Leviticall nicety it was * Proverbs 20. 25. proverbiall Divinity as a received rule in every mans mouth It is a snare to a man that devoureth that which is holy He added the smart question of St. Paul Thou that abhorrest Idols doest thou commit Sacriledge and concluded that on the ruins of the rewards of learning no structure can be raised but ignorance and upon the chaos of ignorance nothing can be built but profanenesse and confusion 72. This his speech was uttered with such becoming gravity The Speech well accepted that it was generally well resented and wrought much on the House for the present so that had the aliening of such Lands been then put to the Vote some who conceived themselves knowing of the sense of the House concluded it would have been carried on the Negative by more than six score suffrages 73. In the afternoon Dr. Cornelius Burges Dr. Burges his Speech against Deans and Chapters as Speaker for his Party made a vehement invective against Deans and Chapters and the unprofitablenesse of such Corporations He heavily aggravated the debauchednesse of Singingmen not only uselesse but hurtfull by their vicious conversations Yet he concluded with the utter unlawfulnesse to convert such Endowments to any private Persons profit So that the same Doctrine was delivered by both the Doctors only they differed in their Applications the former being for the continuing such lands to their ancient the latter for diverting them to other but neither for alienating them from publique and pious imployments 74. If since Dr. Burges hath been a large purchaser of such lands to himself His ability in casuisticall Divinity If since St. Andrew * wels and London the first converted and St. Paul the last converted Apostle have met in his purse I doubt not but that he can give sufficient reason for the same both to himself and any other that shall question him therein The rather because lately he read his learned Lectures in St. Pauls on the Criticisms of Conscience no lesse carefully then curiously weighing satisfaction to scruples and if there be any fault so able a Confessor knows how to get his absolution 75. A Bill brought up from the Commons to the Lords against Bishops and Clergy-men A medly Bill against Bishops partly granted partly denyed which having severall branches was severally voted 1. That they should have no votes in Parliament 2. That they should not
others grumbling at it as too much for what by them was performed And now what place more proper for the building of Sion as they propounded it then the Chamber of Jerusalem the fairest in the Deans Lodgings where King Henry the fourth died and where these Divines did daily meet together 7. Be it here remembred The superadded Divines that some besides those Episcopally affected chosen to be at this Assembly notwithstanding absented themselves pretending age indisposition c. as it is easie for able unwillingness to finde out excuses and make them probable Fit it was therefore so many evacuities should be filled up to mount the Meeting to a competent number and Assemblies as well as Armies when grown thin must be recruited Hence it was that at severall times the Lords and Commons added more Members unto them by the name of the Super-added Divines Some of these though equall to the former in power were conceived to fall short in parts as chosen rather by the affections of others then for their own abilities the Original members of the Assembly not overpleased thereat such addition making the former rather more then more considerable 8. One of the first publick Acts The Assemblies first petition for a fast which I finde by them performed was the humble presenting of a Petition to both Houses for the appointing of a solemn fast to be generally observed And no wonder if their request met with fair acceptance and full performance seeing the Assemblies Petition was the Parliaments intention and this solemn suite of the Divines did not create new but quicken the old resolutions in both Houses presently a Fast is appointed July 21. Frid. and accordingly kept on the following Friday M r Boules and M r Newcomen whose sermons are since printed preaching on the same and all the rest of the particulars promised to be taken into speedy consideration 9. It was now projected to finde out some Band or Tie The Covenent entreth England for the streighter Vnion of the English and Scotish amongst themselves and both to the Parliament In order whereunto the Covenant was now presented This Covenant was of Scottish extraction born beyond Tweed but now brought to be bred on the South-side thereof 10. The House of Commons in Parliament The Covenant first taken and the Assembly of Divines solemnly took the Covenant at S t. Margarets in Westminster 11. It was ordered by the Commons in Parliament that this Covenant be forthwith printed and published Commanded to be printed 12. Divers Lords Taken by Gentlemen Knights Gentlemen Collonels Officers Souldiers and others Sept. 27. Wed. 29. Frid. then residing in the City of London met at S t Margarets in Westminster and there took the said Covenant M r Coleman preaching a Sermon before them concerning the piety and legality thereof 13. It was commanded by the authority of both Houses Enjoyned all in London that the said Covenant on the Sabbath day ensuing Frid. Octo. 1. Sund. should be taken in all Churches and Chappels of London within the lines of Communication and thoroughout the Kingdom in convenient time appointed thereunto according to the Tenour following A Solemn league and Covenant for Reformation and defence of Religion the honour and happiness of the King and the peace and safety of the three Kingdomes of England Scotland and Ireland WE Noblemen Barons Knights Gentlemen Citizens Burgesses Ministers of the Gospel and Commons of all sorts in the Kingdom of England Scotland and Ireland by the providence of God living under one King and being of one Reformed Religion having before our eyes the glory of God and the advancement of the Kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ the honour and happiness of the Kings Majesty and his posterity and the true publick liberty safety and peace of the Kingdom wherein every ones private condition is included And calling to minde the Treacherous and Bloody Plots Conspiracies attempts and Practises of the enemies of God against the true Religion and the professors thereof in all places especially in these three Kingdoms ever since the Reformation of Religion and how much their rage power and presumption are of late and at this time encreased and exercised whereof the deplorable estate of the Church and Kingdom of Ireland the distressed estate of the Church and Kingdom of England the dangerous estate of the Church and Kingdom of Scotland are present and publick Testimonies We have now at last after other means of Supplications Remonstrances Protestations and sufferings for the preservation of our selves and our Religion from utter ruine and destruction according to the commendable practises of these Kingdoms in former times and the example of Gods people in other nations after mature deliberation resolved and determined to enter into a mutual solemn League and Covenant wherein we all subscribe and each one of us for himself with our hands lifted up to the most High God do swear That we shall sincerely really and constantly through the grace of God endeavour in our several places and callings the preservation of the reformed Religion in the Church of Scotland in Doctrine Worship Discipline and Government against our common enemies the Reformation of Religion in the Kingdoms of England and Ireland in Doctrine Worship Discipline and Government according to the word of God and the example of the best reformed Churches and shall endeavour to bring the Churches of God in the three Kingdoms to the nearest conjunction and uniformity in Religion Confession of Faith form of Church-Government directory for Worship and Catechizing That we and our posterity after us may as Brethren live in faith and love and the Lord may delight to dwell in the midst of us That we shall in like manner without respect of persons endeavour the extirpation of Popery Prelacie that is Church-government by Arch-Bishops Bishops their Chancellours and Commissaries Deans Deans and Chapters Arch-Deacons and all other Ecclesiastical Officers depending on that Hierarchie Superstition Heresie Schism Prophaneness and whatsoever shall be found to be contrary to sound Doctrine and the power of godliness lest we partake in other mens sins and thereby be in danger to receive of their plagues and that the Lord may be one and his name one in the three Kingdomes We shall with the same sincerity reality and constancy in our several Vocations endeavour with our estates and lives mutually to preserve the Rights and priviledges of the Parliaments and the due liberties of the kingdomes and to preserve and defend the Kings Majesty his person and authority in the preservation and defence of the true Religion and liberties of the Kingdoms that the world may bear witness with our consciences of our loyalty and that we have no thoughts or intentions to diminish his Majesties just power and greatness We shall also with all faithfulness endeavour the discovery of all such as have been or shall be Incendiaries Malignants or evill instruments
Sr that the least wrong may redound to You by my indiscretion in the writing hereof desiring You only to Patronize what is acceptable therein and what shall appear otherwise is left on my account to answer for the same YOu may know Anno Regis Carol. 21. that amongst the most Remarkables effected by the Assembly of Divines Anno Dom. 1645. the compiling of the Directory was one The Directory drawn up by the Assembly which although composed in the former yeare yet because not as yet meeting with universal Obedience it will be seasonable enough now to enter on the consideration thereof The Parliament intending to abolish the Liturgie and loath to leave the Land altogether at a loss or deformity in publick service imployed the Assembly in drawing up a model of Divine Worship Herein no direct forme of Prayer Verbis conceptis was prescribed no outward or bodily worship enjoyned nor people required in the Responsals more than in Amen to bear a part in the Service but all was left to the discretion of the Minister not enjoyned what but directed to what purpose he ought to order his devotions in publick-prayer and administring Sacraments 2. The dissenting Brethren commonly call'd Independents were hardly perswaded to consent to a Directory Even libera custodia To which the dissenting Brethren at last assent though it be the best of Restraints is but a restraint and they suspected such a Directory would if inforced be an infringing of the Christian-liberty Anno Dom. 1645. Anno Regis Carol 21. However they consented at last the rather because a Preface was prefixed before it which did much moderate the matter and mitigate the rigorous imposition thereof 3. In this preface A discreet and charitable Preface respectful terms are no less discreetly than charitably afforded to the first compilers of the Liturgie allowing them wise and pious in redressing many things which were vain erroneous superstitious and idolatrous affirming also that many Godly and Learned men of that age rejoyced much in the Liturgie at that time set forth But adding withall that they would rejoyce more had it been their happiness to behold this present reformation they themselves were perswaded that these first Reformers were they now alive would joyn with them in this work at advanting the Directory 4. The Assemblie-work of the Directorie thus ended The Directorie inforced by ordinance of Parliament the Lords and Commons began therewith prefixing an Ordinance thereunto made much up of forms of repeal laying down the motives inclining them to think the abolishing of the Common-Prayer and establishement of this Directory necessary for this Nation First the consideration of the many inconveniences risen by that book in this Kingdom Secondly their Covenant-Resolution to reform Religion according to Gods word and the best reformed Churches Thirdly their consulting with the learned pâ—â—us and reverend Divines for that purpose 5. The Benefit of Printing the Directorie was bestowed on M r Rowborrough and M r Byfield Scribes to the Assembly who are said to have sold the same for some hundreds of pounds Surely the Stationer who bought it A good price if well paid did not with the dishonest * Pro. 20. 14. Chap-man first decry the worth thereof and then hoast of his penniworth If since he hath proved a loser thereby I am confident that they who sold it him carried such a Chancery in their bosoms as to make him fair satisfaction 6. Now because it was hard to turn people out of their old track and put them from a beaten path such was call it constuncy or obstinacy love or doting of the generality of the Nation on the Common-Prayer the Parliament found it fit yea necessary to back their former Ordinance with a second dated twenty third of August 1645. And entitled an Ordinance of the Lords and Commons for the more effectual putting in execution the Directorie c. Wherein directions were not only given for the dispersing and publishing of the Directory in all Parishes Chappelries and Donatives but also for the calling in and suppressing of all books of Common-Prayer A Second Ordinance to back the former and several forfeitures and penalties to be levied and imposed upon conviction before justices of Assize or of Oyer and terminer c. 7. But in opposition hereunto the King at Oxford set forth a Proclamation bearing date the thirteenth of November 1645. enjoyning the use of Common-Prayer according to the Law notwithstanding the pretended ordinances for the new Directory Thus as the waves The Kings Proclamation contrary to the Parliaments Ordinance commanded one way by the Tide and countermanded another with the wind know not which to obey so people stood amused betwixt these two forms of service line upon line * Isa 28. 10. precept upon precept being the easiest way to edifie whilst line against line precept against precept did much disturb and distract 8. The King and Parliament being thus at difference Arguments pro and con to Directory no wonder if the pens of the Chaplains followed their Patrons and engaged violently pro and con in the controversy I presume it will be lawful and safe for me to give in a breviat of the Arguments on both sides reserving my private opinion to my self as not worthy the readers taking notice thereof for as it hath been permitted in the height and heat of our Civil man for Trumpeters and Messengers to have fair and free passage on both sides pleading the Priviledge of the publick faith provided they do not interest themselves like parties and as spies forfeit the protection so subjecting themselves justly to the severest punishment So. Historians in like manner in all ages have been permitted to transmit to posterity an unpartial account of actions preserving themselves Neuters in their indifferent relations Against the Liturgie 1. Sad experience hath made it manifest that the Liturgie used in England notwithstanding the religious intentions of the compilers thereof hath prove an offence to many godly people 2. Offence thereby hath also been given to the reformed Churches abroad 3. M r Calvin himself disliked the Liturgie in his letter to the Lord Protector charitably calling many thing therein tolerabiles ineptias 4. The Liturgie is no better then confining of the Spirit tying it to such and such words which is to be left alone to its own liberty use praying and have praying the extemporary gift is improved by the practice thereof 5. It being a compliant with the Papists in a great part of their Service doth not a little confirm them in their Superstition and Idolatry 6. It is found by experience that the Liturgie hath been a great means to make an idle and an unedifying Ministry For the Liturgie 1. Such offence if any was taken not given and they must be irreligious mistakes which stand in opposition to such religious intentions 2. No forrain Church ever in print expressed
Barrett summoned before the Consistory Fellow of Gonvile and Caius Colledge April 29. preached ad Clerum for his degree of Bachelour in Divinity in St. Maryes wherein he vented such Doctrines May 5. for which he was summoned six daies after before the Consistory of the Doctors and there enjoyned the following Recantation PReaching in Latine not long since in the University-Church Right Worshipfull many things slipped from me His solemn Recantation both falsly and rashly spoken whereby I understand the mindes of many have been grieved to the end therefore that I may satisfie the Church and the Truth which I have publickly hurt I doe make this publick Confession both repeating and revoking my Errors First I said That no man in this transitory world is so strongly underpropped at least by the certainty of Faith that is unlesse as I afterwards expounded it by revelation that he ought to be assured of his own Salvation But now I protest before God and acknowledge in my own conscience that they which are justified by Faith have peace towards God that is have reconciliation with God and doe stand in that Grace by Faith therefore that they ought to be certain and assured of their own Salvation even by the certainty of Faith it self Secondly I affirmed That the faith of Peter could not fail but that other mens may for as I then said our Lord prayed not for the faith of every particular man But now being of a better and more sound judgment according to that which Christ teacheth in plain words John 17. 20. I pray not for these alone that is the Apostles but for them also which shall believe in me through their word I acknowledge that Christ did pray for the faith of every particular Believer and that by the virtue of that prayer of Christ every true Believer is so stayed up that his faith cannot faile Thirdly Touching perseverance unto the end I said That that certainty concerning the time to come is proud forasmuch as it is in his own nature contingent of what kinde the perseverance of every man is neither did I affirm it to be proud onely but to be most wicked But now I freely protest that the true and justifying Faith whereby the faithfull are most neerly united unto Christ is so firm as also for the time so certain that it can never be rooted out of the mindes of the faithfull by any tentations of the flesh the world or the Devill himself so that he who hath his Faith once shall ever have it for by the benefit of that justifying Faith Christ dwelleth in us and we in Christ therefore it cannot be but increased Christ growing in us daily as also persevere unto the end because God doth give constancy Fourthly I affirmed That there was no distinction in Faith but in the persons believing In which I confesse I did erre now I freely acknowledge That temporary faith which as Bernard witnesseth is therefore fained because it is temporary is distinguished and differeth from that saving Faith whereby Sinners apprehending Christ are justified before God for ever not in measure and degrees but in the very thing it selfe Moreover I adde that James doth make mention of a Dead Faith and Paul of a Faith that worketh by Love Fiftly I added That Forgivenesse of Sins is an Article of Faith but not particular neither belonging to this man nor to that man that is as I expounded it that no true faithfull man either can or ought certainly to believe that his Sins are forgiven But now I am of another minde and doe freely confesse that every true faithfull man is bound by this Article of Faith to wit I believe the forgivenesse of Sins certainly to believe that his own particular sins are freely forgiven him neither doth it follow hereupon that that Petition of the Lords Prayer to wit Forgive us our Trespasses is needlesse for in that Petition we ask not onely the Gift but also the increase of Faith Sixtly These words escaped me in my Sermon viz As for those that are not saved I doe most strongly believe and doe freely protest that I am so perswaded against Calvin Peter Martyr and the rest That Sin is the true proper and first cause of Reprobation But now being better instructed I say That the Reprobation of the wicked is from everlasting and that the saying of Augustine to Simplician is most true viz If Sin were the cause of Reprobation then no man should be elected because God doth foreknow all men to be defiled with it and that I may speak freely I am of the same minde and doe believe concerning the Doctrine of Election and Reprobation as the Church of England believeth and teacheth in the Book of the Articles of Faith in the Article of Predestination Last of all I uttered these words rashly against Calvin a man that hath very well deserved of the Church of God to wit that he durst presume to lift up himself above the High and Almighty God By which words I confess that I have done great injury to that most learned and right Godly man and I doe most humbly beseech you all to pardon this my rashness as also that I have uttered many bitter words against Peter Martyr Theodore Beza Jerome Zanchius Francis Junius and the rest of the same Religion being the Lights and Ornaments of our Church calling them by the odious names of Calvinists and other slanderous terms branding them with a most grievous mark of Reproach whom because our Church doth worthily Reverence it was not meet that I should take away their good name from them or any way impaire their credit or dehort others of our Countrey-men from reading their most learned Works I am therefore very sorry and grieved for this most grievous offence which I have publickly given to this most famous University which is the Temple of true Religion and sacred receptacle of Piety And I doe promise you that by Gods help I will never hereafter offend in like sort and I doe earnestly beseech you Right Worshipfull and all others to whom I have given this offence either in the former Articles or in any part of my said Sermon that you would of your courtesie pardon me upon this my Repentance This Recantation was by the Doctors peremptorily enjoyned him Maii 10. That on Saturday following immediately after the Clerum he should go up into the Pulpit of S. Maryes where he had published these Errors and there openly in the face of the University read and make this Recantation which by him was done accordingly but not with that remorse and humility as was expected for after the reading thereof he concluded thus Haec dixi as if all had been orall rather than cordiall Yea soon after he departed the University got beyond Sea turned a Papist returned into England where he led a Lay mans life untill the day of his death Iohn Iegon Vicecan 1595-96 Ezech
large Demesnes and larger Royalty and Command Should I therefore present it to any other save your self it would be held as a STRAY indeed wandring out of the right Way it should go in and so without any thanks to me would fall to your Lordship as due unto you by the Custome of your Manor Your Honours most obliged Servant and Chaplain THE HISTORY OF Waltham-Abby PRovidence by the hand of my worthy friends having planted me for the present at Waltham-Abby I conceive that in our general work of Abbies I owe some particular description to that place of my abode Hoping my endeavours herein may prove exemplary to others who dwell in the sight of remarkable Monasteries to do the like and rescue the observables of their habitations from the teeth of time and oblivion Waltham is so called from the Saxon Ham Waltham Why so named Which is a Town whence the Diminutive Hamlet and Weald or Wealt that is Woody whence the Weald of Kent it being Anciently over-grown with tress and timber Thus Kiriaâ—h-jearim or the City of the woods in Palestine Dendros an Island in Peloponnesus Sylviacum an Ancient City in Belgia got their names from the like woody scituation Some will have it called Waltham quasi Wealthie-Ham I wish they could make their words good in respect of the persons living therein though in regard of the soyl it self indeed in is rich and plentiful The Town is seated on the East side of the River Ley The situation thereof which not onely parteth Hertford-shire from Essex but also seven times parteth from its self whose septemfluous stream in coming to the Town is crossed again with so many bridges On the one side the Town it self hath large and fruitful Medows whose intrinsick value is much raised by the vicinity of London the grass whereof when first gotten an head is so sweet and lushious to Cattle that they diet them at the first entring therein to half an hour a day lest otherwise they over-eat themselves which some Kine yearlie do and quickly die for it notwithstanding all their Keepers care to the contrary On the other side a spacious Forest spreads it self where fourteen years since one might have seen whole Herds of Red and Fallow Deer But these late licentious years have been such a Nimrod such an Hunter that all at this present are destroyed though I could wish this were the worst effect which our woful Wars have produced The aire of the Town is condemned by many Excused from bad air for over-moist and Aguish Anno Dom. caused by the depressed scituation thereof Anno Regis In confutation of which censure we produce the many aged persons in our Town above threescore and ten since my coming hither above threescore and ten years of age so that it seemes we are sufficiently healthful if sufficiently thankful for the same Sure I am what is wanting in good air in the Town is supplied in the Parish wherein as many pleasant hils and prospects are as any place in England doth afford Tovy First Founded by Tovy a man of great wealth and authority as being the Kings Staller that is Standard-Bearer first Founded this Town for the great delight which he took in the game the place having plenty of Deer He planted onely threescore and six in-dwellers therein Athelstan Falls back to the Crown his son proved a Prodigal and quickly spent all his Fathers goods and great estate so that by some transactions the place returned to the Crown Edward the Confessour Bestowed on Earl Harold bestowed Waltham 1060. with the Lands thereabouts Edw. Confessor 18. on Harold his Brother-in-law who presently built and endowed therein a Monastery where of nothing at this day is extant save the West end or body of the Church A structure of Gothish-building The model of the modern Church rather large then neate firm then fair Very dark the design of those dayes to raise devotion save that it was helped again with artificial lights and is observed by Artists to stand the most exactly East and West of any in England The great pillars thereof are wreathed with indentings which vacuities if formerly filled up with Brasse as some confidently report added much to the beauty of the building But it matters not so much their taking away the Brasse from the Pillars had they but left the Lead on the Roof which is but meanly Tiled at this day In a word the best commendation of the Church is that on Lords-dayes generally it is filled with a great and attentive Congregation To the South-side of the Church is joyned a Chappel Mortality triumphant formerly our Ladies now a School-house and under it an arched Charnel-house the fairest that ever I saw Here a pious fancy could make a feast to its self on those dry bones with the meditation of mortality where it is hard yea impossible to discern the Sculls of a rich from a poor wise from a simple noble from a mean person Thus all counters are alike when put up together in the box or bag though in casting of account of far different valuation King Harold Dedicated the Monastery to the honour of an Holy Cross A Dean and Canons founded at Waltham found far West-ward and brought hither as they write by miracle whence the Town hath the addition of Waltham-Holy-Cross but the Church we finde in after ages also Dedicated to S t Laurence His foundation was for a Dean and eleven Secular Black Canons Let none challenge the words of impropriety seeing a Dean in Latin Decanus hath his name from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ten over which number he is properly to be preposed For nothing more common then to wean words from their infant and original sense and by custome to extend them to a larger signification as Dean afterwards plainly denoted a superiour over others whether fewer then ten as the six Prebendaries of Rochester or moe as the three and thirty of Salisbury The Dean and eleven Canons were plentifully provided for each Canon having a Manor and the Dean six for his maintenance For in the Charter of Confirmation made by King Edward the Confessor Seventeen Manors confirm'd to them by the Confessor besides North-land in Waltham now called 1062 as I take it 20. North-field wherewith the Monastery was first endowed these following Lordshops with all their appurtenances are reckoned up 1. Passefield 2. Walde 3. Upminster 4. Walthfare 5. Suppedene 6. Alwertowne 7. Wodeford 8. Lambehide 9. Nesingan 10. Brickindon 11. Melnhoo 12. Alichsea 13. Wormeley 14. Nichelswells 15. Hitchche 16. Lukendon 17. West-Wealtham All these the King granted unto them cum Sacha Socha Tol and Team Anno Regis Harol 1. c. free from all gelts and payments Anno Dom. 1066 in a most full and ample Manner Witness himself Edith his Queen Stigand Archiepiscopus Dorobornensis Count Harold and many other Bishops and Lords
was afterwards to prevent wantonness to make the more expedition commuted into a new custome viz. A piece of wood or metall with Christ's picture thereon was made and solemnly tendred to all people to kiss This was called the Pax or Peace to shew the unity and amity of all there assembled who though not immediately by the Proxie of the Pax kissed one another Item For a pair of Censers copper and gilt nine shillings and eight pence These were pots in the which frankincense was burned perfuming the Church during Divine Service Item For a Stock of brass for the Holy-water seven shillings Which by the Canon must be of marble or metall and in no case of brick b Durantus de Ritibus Eccles num 6. pag. 173. lest the sacred liquor be suck'd up by the spunginess thereof Item For a Chrismatory of pewter three shillings four pence This was a vessel in which the consecrated oyl used in Baptisme Confirmation and Extreme Vnction was deposited Item For a yard silver Sarcenet for a cloth for the Sacrament seven shillings eight pence Here some Silkeman or Mercer must satisfie us what this was The price seems too low for Sarcenet inwoven with silver and too high for plain Sarcenet of a silver colour Item For a Pix of Pewter two shillings This was a Box wherein the Host or consecrated wafer was put arid preserved Item For Mary and John that stand in the Rood-left twenty six shillings eight pence Christ c John 19. 26. c. on the Cross saw his Mother and the Disciple whom he loved standing by In apish imitation whereof the Rood when perfectly made with all the appurtenances thereof was attended with these two images Item For washing eleven Aubes and as many Head-clothes six pence An Aube or Albe was a Priests garment of white linen down to their feet girded about his middle The thin matter denoted simplicity colour purity length deep d Durontus de Rititbus Eccles num 9. pag. 316. Divinitie perseverance and the cincture thereof signified the person wearing it prompt and prepared for Gods service Their head-clothes were like our Sergeants Coifes but close and not turned up Item For watching the Sepulchre eight pence Thus the price of that service but a groat in King Henries dayes was doubled However though Popery was restored to its kinde yet was it not re-estated in its former degree in the short Reign of Queen Mary for we finde no mention of the former six Obits anniversarily performed the lands-for whose maintenance were alienated in the Reign of King Edward and the Vicar of the Parish not so charitable as to celebrate these Obits gratis without any reward for the same Item For a Processioner and a Manual twenty pence Item For a Corporas-cloth twelve pence This was a linen cloth laid over or under the consecrated Host Item To the Apparitor for the Bishops Book of Articles at the Visitation six pence This Bishop was bloudy Bonner that corpulent Tyrant full as one said of guts and empty of bowels who visited his Diocese before it was sick and made it sick with his Visitation His Articles were in number thirty seven and John a Fox Acts Mon. pag. 1474. Bale wrote a book against them The Bishops chief care herein was the setting up of compleat Roods commonly called but when without his ear-reach Bonners Block-almightie If any refused to provide such blocks for him let them expect he would procure fagots for them Anno 1556. Mariae tertio Imprimis For coles to undermine a piece of the Steeple which stood after the first fall two shillings This Steeple formerly stood in the middle now East end of the Church and being ruined past possibilitie of repair fell down of it self onely a remaining part was blown up by underminers How quickly can a few destroy what required the age and industry of many in long time to raise and advance It soundeth not a little to the praise of this Parish that neither burthensome nor beholding to the Vicinage for a collection they re-built the Steeple at the West end of the Church on their own proper cost enabled thereunto partly by their stock in the Church-box arising from the sale as is aforesaid of the goods of the Brotherhood and partly by the voluntary contribution of the Parishioners This Tower-Steeple is eighty six foot high From the foundation to the battlements each b The thirty three foot on the top diffculty danger of climbing made it the dearer cost fourty shillings a foot as appeareth by the Church-wardens accounts Anno 1563. foot whereof besides the materials preprovided costing thirty three shillings four pence the building Three years passed from the founding to the finishing thereof every years work discernable by the discolouration of the stones and the Parish was forced for the perfecting of the building to fell their Bells hanging before in a wooden frame in the Church-yard so that Waltham which formerly had Steeple-less-Bells now had for some years a Bell-less-Steeple The condition of the Church from the beginning of Queen ELIZABETH to this day IN eleven full years viz. from the last of King Henry the Eighth Anno 1547. till the first of Queen Elizabeth 1558. this Church found four changes in Religion Papist and Protestant Papist and Protestant again The last turn will appear by the Wardens following accounts Anno 1558. Elizabethae primo Imprimis For the taking down of the Rood-lost three shillings two pence If then there living and able I hope I should have lent an helping hand to so good a work as now I bestow my prayers that the like may never in England be set up again Item Received for a suite of Vestments being of blew velvvet and another suite of Damask and an Altar-cloth four pound Item For three Corporasses whereof two white silk and one blew velvet two pound thirteen shillings four pence Item For two suits of Vestments and an Altar-cloth three pound Now was the superstitious Ward-robe dispersed and that no doubt sold for shillings which cost pounds They were beheld as the garments spotted with sin and therefore the less pity to part with them But see what followeth Anno 1562. Elizabethae quinto Item For a cloth of Buckeram for the Communion-Table and the making four shillings Having fold so much could they not afford a better Carpet Is there no mean betwixt painting a face and not washing it He must have a fixt aim and strong hand who hits decency and misseth gaudiness and sluttery But there is a generation of people who over-do in the spirit of opposition such conceive that a tressel is good enough for Gods Table and sucn a Table Covering enough for it self Item For Lattices for the Church-windows fifteen shillings Fain would I for the credit of our Church by Lattices understand Casements if the word would bear it Yet surely it was not for covetousness wholly to spare glazing but thrift to preserve
died in his own House in Waltham and was g Matt. Paris Anno 1252. A heap of difficulties cast together buried in the Abby-Church therein And now because we have so often cited Matthew Paris I never met with more difficulties in six lines then what I finde in him which because nearly relating to this present subject I thought fit to exemplifie MATTHEW PARIS in Anno 1242. p. 595. Eodemque Anno videlicet in crastino S ti Michaelis dedicata est Ecclesia conventualis Canonicorum de Waltham ab Episcopo Norwicensi Willielmo solemniter valde assistibus aliis plurimis Episcopis Praelatis Magnatibus venerabilibus statim post dedicationem Ecclesiae sancti Pauli Londinensis ut peregrinantes hinc inde indistanter remearent And in the same year namely the morrow after S t. Michaels day the conventual Church of the Canons at Waltham was dedicated by William Bishop of Norwich very solemnly many other Bishops Prelates and venerable Peers assisting him presently after the dedication of S t Pauls in London that Pilgrims and Travellers up and down might indistantly return It is clear our Church of Waltham Abby is intended herein a See speed his Caralogue of religiious houses Queries on queries England affording no other Conventual Church This being granted how comes Waltham Church built by Harold two hundred years before now to be first Dedicated that Age accounting it as faulty and fatal to defer the Consecration of Churches as the Christning of Children 2. What made the Bishop of Norwich to meddle therewith an Office more proper for the Bishop of London to perform Waltham being though not under in his jurisdiction 3. What is meant by the Barbarous word indistanter and what benefit accrewed to Travellers thereby I will not so much as conjecture as unwilling to draw my bow where I despair to hit the mark but leave all to the judgment of others But I grow tedious and will therefore conclude Anno 1641. King CHARLES came the last time to Waltham and went as he was wont where any thing remarkable to see the Church the Earl of Carlile attending him His Majestie told him that he divided his Cathedral Churches K. Charls his last coming to Waltham as he did his Royal ships into three ranks accounting S t Pauls in London York Lincoln Winchester c. of the first form Chichester Lichfield c. of the second the Welch Cathedrals of the third with which Waltham Church may be well compared especially if the Roof thereof was taken lower and Leaded The Earl moved His Majestie Conditionally granteth the repairing of the Church that seeing this Ancient Church Founded by king Harold his Predecessor was fallen into such decay that the repair was too heavy for the Parish he would be pleased to grant a moderate Tole of Cattle coming over the Bridg with their great Driftss doing much damage to the High-wayes and therewith both the Town might be Paved and the Church repaired The King graciously granted it provided it were done with the privity and cons ent of a great Prelate not so safe to be named as easie to be guessed with whom he consulted in all Church-matters But when the foresaid Prelate was informed But it misarcrieth that the Earl had applied to His Majestie before addresses to himself he dashed the design so that poor Waltham Church must still be contented with their weak walls and worse Roof till Providence procure her some better Benefactors As for the Armes of Waltham Abby being loath to set them alone I have joyned them in the following draught with the Armes of the other Mitred Abbies as far as my industry could recover them SOLI DEO GLORIA FINIS AN INDEX OF THE MOST REMARKABLE PERSONS and Passages in this BOOK TO THE READER ALthough a Methodicall Book be an Index to it self yet an Index is not to be contemned by the most Industrious Reader Whom we request to take notice of the following Particulars I. C. stands for Century B. for Book P. for Page ¶ for Paragraph II. In the two first Books memorables are ranked onely according to Centuries an Paragraphs but afterwards by Books III. Paragraph without page doth for brevity sake referre to that page which was last named IV. Page without Book on the same reason relates to the last Book that was named V. VVhere no Paragraph is named it sheweth that the page by it self is sufficient notification Lastly know that the discounting of Sheets to expedite the work at severall Presses hath occasioned in the Fifth book after page 200. completed to go back Again to page 153 surrounded in this fashion to prevent confusion ARON a Citizen of Caerlion martyred Cent. 4. 1. 10. ABBEYS The prodigious expence in building and endowing them Cent. 10. ¶ 40. multitudes of them causeth the Danish invasion ¶ 51. mischiefs done by them b. 2. p. 282 283 284. prime Officers and Officines p. 285 286 287. the civil benefits by them p. 296 297 298. presage of their ruin p. 300. and offers to overthrow them p. 301 302. the lesser which could not expend 200. pounds a year bestowed on the King p. 310 311 and the rest visited with three sorts of Officers p. 314. 315. some appear vertuous p. 316. otherâ—â—otouriously vitious p. 317. all resigned by their Abbots unwillingly willing to the King p. 319 c. Rob. ABBOT Bishop of Salisbury his death and commendation B. 10. P. 70. ¶ 53. George ABBOT Arch-bishop of Cant. B. 10. P. 57. 9. 47. casually killeth a keeper p. 87 ¶ 12 c. befriended by Sir Edward Coke ¶ 15. and Bishop Andrews ¶ 16. mortified by this chance ¶ 17. seven years after severely suspended from his jurisdication b. 11. ¶ 51. his character ¶ 53. and vindication ¶ 54. 55. Tho. ADAMS Alderman of London foundeth an Arabick Professours place in Cambridge Hist of Cam. P. 166. ¶ 23. ADELME the first Bishop Sherborn Cent. 8. ¶ 4. and the first Englsnman who wroted Latin or made a verse ibid. AETHELARD Arch-bishop of Cant. calleth a Svnod Cent. 9. ¶ 2. with the solemn subscriptions thereunto ibidem AGRICOLA a principall spreader of Pelagiamisme in Britain Cent. 5. ¶ 3. AIDAN Bishop of Lindissern his due Commendation Cent. 7. ¶ 70. dissenteth from the Romish Church in the Celebration of Easter ¶ 71. inciteth Lay-men to the Reading of Scripture ¶ 72. St. ALBAN though a Britan how a Citizen of Rome Cent. 4. ¶ 2. converted to Christianity by Amphibalus ¶ 3. his Martyrdome and reported Miracles ¶ 4. 5. his intire body pretended in three places Cent. 5. ¶ 11. Enshrined some hundred years after by King Offa Cent. 8. ¶ 35. St. ALBANS Abbey founded by King Offa Cent. 8. ¶ 38. the Abbot thereof confirmed first in place of all England by Pope Adrian the fourth b. 3. p. 29. ¶ 49. ALL-SOULS Colledge in Oxford founded by Hen. Chichely Arch-bishop of Cant. b. 4. p. 182. ARROW a small city in
goe out thereof Sure I am it was a loud lie which * In the Examen of Fox's Martyrs Month of Feb. pag. 306. Parsons tells that Latimer was kept bare who kept himself bare living not in the want but neglect yea contempt of all worldly wealth He was Confessour-General to all Protestants troubled in minde yea he was the Corban or treasurie into which restored-ill-gotten-goods were cast to be bestowed on the poor according to his discretion And Latimer by the courtesie of England once a Bishop and ever a Bishop was in civility saluted Lord and honoured by all good people that knew him This I conceive the true cause why Hooper would not be translated to Worcester but held it in Commendam with Gloucester because Latimer and Heath were both surviving each accounted a lawfull Bishop by those of their own Religion 29. But when Hooper unwillingly willing wore those Episcopal Ornaments Hooper and Ridley reconciled by afflictions he put on with them a great grudge against Ridley who enforced him thereunto Yea when those his clothes may be presumed half worn out his anger was new and fresh as at the beginning nor were they fully reconciled till their death in the daies of Queen Mary High time then to period their passion before the Sun of their life went down in their wrath Strange that their heart-burnings could not be quenched till the fire was kindled which was to burn both their bodies But it matters not what is the cause if amendment be the effect The * Parsons ut supra pag. 31◠Jesuite challengeth the credit of this reconciliation to the Catholicks bragging that they made them friends But we know their cruell intention was not to make friends but ashes of them Let the thanks be paid to that Divine Power and Providence which sanctified their sufferings into an agreement besides beyond above against the designe and desire of those which inflicted them Thus when froward children fall out and fight a good parent and a good rod doe quickly make them friends See the Letters at large in Master Fox which passed betwixt them in prison wherein as Hooper had the honour first to offer agreement let Ridley receive his praise that he did fast embrace it For as the second blow makes the fray so it is not the tender but acceptance of peace makes the reconciliation As for their observation that of all the Marian-Martyrs Hooper and Ridley suffered with most torture and impute this to a Divine punishment justly inflicted on them for this their dissention there is somewhat of curiosity in the observation and nothing of charity in the application 30. We must not forget Three sorts of Non-conformists that this earnest contest was not about the calling but clothes not the vocation but onely about the vestments of Bishops Whereupon the juditious Reader will distinguish three Ranks or if the word be better liked three Classes of Non-conformists according to their severall dates and designes 1. Antient Non-conformists here in King Edward's daies who desired onely to shake down the leaves of Episcopacy misliking onely some garments about them 2. Middle Non conformists in the end of Queen Elizabeth and beginning of King James who struck at the branches thereof Chancellours and Officialls and other appendant limbs which they endeavoured to remove 3. Modern Non-conformists who did lay the axe to the root of the tree to cut down the function it self as unlawfull and Antichristian Thus after-Ages still made new additions as if it would be accounted idlenesse in them if the strong and active legs of the sons and nephews should not goe faster and farther than the old and feeble feet of their fathers and grand-fathers 31. About this time The Psalmes translated into meeter David's Psalms were translated into English meeter and if not publickly commanded generally permitted to be sung in all Churches The work was performed by Thomas e Ballcius Cent. 9. pag. 728. Sternhold an Hampshire man Esquire and of the Privie Chamber to King Edward the sixt who for his part translated thirty seven selected Psalms John Hopkins Robert Wisedome c. men whose piety was better than their poetry and they had drank more of Jordan than of Helicon These Psalms were therefore translated to make them more portable in peoples memories Verses being twice as light as the self-same bulk in Prose as also to raise mens affections the better to enable them to practice the Apostles precept f Jam. 5. 13. Is any merry let him sing Psalms Yet this work met afterwards with some frowns in the faces of great Clergy-men who were rather contented than well pleased with the singing of them in Churches I will not say because they misliked so much liberty should be allowed the Laitie Rome only can be guilty of so great envy as to sing in Churches rather because they conceived these singing Psalms erected in corrivality and opposition to the reading-Psalms which were formerly sung in Cathedral Churches or else the childe was disliked for the mothers sake because such Translatours though branched hither had their root in Geneva 32. Since The meanness of the Translation endeavoured to be excused later men have vented their just exceptions against the baldnesse of the translation so that sometimes they make the Maker of the Tongue to speak little better than barbarisme and have in many Verses such poor rhime that two hammers on a Smith's anvill would make better musick Whilst others rather to excuse it than defend it doe plead that English poetry was then in the nonage not to say infancy thereof and that match these Verses for their age they shall goe a breast with the best Poëms of those times Some in favour of the Translatours alledge that to be curious therein and over-descanting with wit had not become the plain song and simplicity of an holy style But these must know there is great difference between painting a face and not washing it Many since have farre refined these Translations but yet their labours therein never generally received in the Church principally because un-book-learn'd people have conn'd by heart many Psalms of the old Translation which would be wholly disinherited of their patrimony if a new Edition were set forth However it is desired and expected by moderate men that though the fabrick stand unremoved for the main yet some bad contrivance therein may be mended and the bald rhimes in some places get a new nap which would not much discompose the memory of the people 33. On the twenty fourth of July The first legal election of the Dutch-Congregation in London King Edward by His Letters patent at the request of John à Lasco free Baron of Lasco in Poland did by the consent of His Counsell give and grant the whole Church of S. Augustine's neer Broad-stree◠in London the Quire excepted formerly possessed by Marquesse Pawlet unto the Superintendent and Ministers of the dutch-Dutch-Church and
other strangers in London to have and to hold for them their heirs and successours in Frank Almonage to be a meeting-place for them therein to attend God's Word and Sacraments He ordered also that hereafter it should be called by the new name of the Church of the Lord IESUS and incorporated the said Superintendent Ministers and Congregation to be a body politick for all purposes and intents empowering them from time to time in the vacancy of a Superintendent to chuse name and substitute any able and fit person in that place provided that the person so chosen be first presented to the King His Heirs and Successours to be approved and confirmed by them in the Office of the Ministerie enjoyning all Archbishops Bishops and other Officers Quòd permittant praefatis g The Letters are kept in the Dutch Church and exemplified in Iohannes Utenbovius in his narration of the Dutch Congregation pag. 13. c. Superintendenti Ministris Sucessoribus suis liberè quietè frui gaudere uti exercere ritus ceremonias suas proprias disciplinam Ecclesiasticam propriam peculiarem non obstante quòd non conveniant cum ritibus ceremoniis in Regno nostro usitatis That they permit the foresaid Superintendent and Ministers and their Successours freely and quietly to hold enjoy use and exercise their own proper rites and ceremonies and their proper and peculiar Church-discipline notwithstanding that they agree not with the rites and ceremonies used in Our Kingdome 34. Now followed the fatall tragedy of the Duke of Somerset Womens brawles Mens thralles and we must recoile a little to fetch forward the cause thereof Thomas Seymour Baron of Sudely and Lord Admirall the Protectours younger Brother had married the Lady Katharine Parre the Relict of King Henry the eighth A contest arose betwixt their Wives about place the Protectresse as I may call her refusing to give it to the Kings Dowager Yet was their precedencie no measuring cast but clear in the view of any unpartiall eye Nor needed other Herauld to decide the controversie than the Kings own Injunctions a Vide supra in the first of this King wherein after prayer for His own Royall person Ministers were commanded to pray for the Queen Dowager even before the Kings Sisters Mary and Elizabeth the Protectour under whom his Lady must claim place being placed last in the List of their Devotions 35. The Womens discords derived themselves into their Husbands hearts Lord Thomas â—eymour executed for Treason Whereupon not long after followed the death of the Lord Thomas Seymour arraigned for designing to traslate the Crown to himself though having neither Title to pretend unto it nor effectual Interest to atchieve the same Let b 1 King 2. Adonijah and this Lord's example deterre Subjects from medling with the Widows of their Soveraigns left in the same match they espouse their own danger and destruction This Lord thus cut off the Protectour stood alone on his own bottome at which his enemies daily endevoured to undermine 36. Soon after the Lords of the Councel resolved to accuse him of many high offences A tripartite accusation Of these Lords some were Lawyers as the Lord Wriothesley lately the Lord Rich then Lord Chancellour Sir Edward Montague Chief Justice c. some Martialists as S r Ralph Sadler Treasurer to the Army and some meer Statesmen as William Pawlet Lord Treasurer and their accusations participated of the severall conditions of the Accusers The Lawyers charge him for bringing Westminster-hall into Somerset-house keeping there a Court of Request and therein determining Titles of Land to the apparent injury of the Subject Military men taxed him for his Sumptuous buildings having their Morter tempered with the tears of Souldiers Wives and Children whose wages he detained and for betraying Bolloigne and other places in France to the Enemy States-men chiefly insisted on his engrossing all power to himself that whereas by the constitution of the Protectourship he was to act nothing without the advice of King Henry's Executours he solely transacted matters of the highest consequence without their privity 37. Here I must set John Dudley Earl of Warwick as a Transcendent in a form by himself Earle of Warwick the Proectors grand enemy being a competent Lawyer Ann. Dom. 1551. Son to a Judge known Soldier Ann Reg. Ed 6 5. and able States man and acting against the Protector to all these his capacities Indeed he was the very soul of the Accusation being all in all in every part thereof And seeing the Protector was free spirited open hearted humble hard to distrust easie to forgive The other proud suttle close cruell and revengefull it was impar congressus betwixt them almost with as much disadvantage as betwixt a naked and an armed person 38. Hereupon The Protector accused and imprisoned yet restored he was imprisoned at Windsor in a place antiently called c Fox Acts Mon. pag. Beauchamp's Tower it seems by a sad Prolepsis but never verified till now when this Vâ—count Beauchamp by his original honour was therein consined and hence was he removed to the Tower of London However although all this happened in the worst juncture of time viz in the disjuncture of his best Friend the Lord Russell Privie Seal then away in the West yet by his own innocence his other Friends endeavour the Kings interposing and Divine Providence he was acquitted and though outed his Protectorship restored and continued Privie Counsellour as in the King's Diarie was formerly observed 39. But after two years and two months Accused the second time his enemies began afresh to assault him hoping that as the first stroak shak'd the next would fell him to the ground Indeed Warwick who had too powerfull an influence upon all the Lords could not erect his intended Fabrick of Soveraignty except he first cleared the ground work from all obstructive rubbish whereof this Duke of Somerset was the Principall In whose absence the Lords met at the Councell Table where it was contrived how all things should be ordered in relation to his Arraignment 40. R. Rich Lord Chancellor then living in great S. Bartholomews though outwardly concurring with the rest Lord Rich his Servants dangerous mistake began now secretly to favour the Duke of Somerset and sent him a Letter therein acquainting him with all passages at the Councell Board superscribing the same either out of haste or familiarity with no other direction save To the Duke enjoying his Servant a raw attendant as newly entred into the family safely to deliver it The man made e This story attested to me by his great grand childe the Earl or Warwick more haste than good speed and his Lord wondring at his quick return demanded of him where the Duke was when he deliver'd him the Letter In Charter-house said his Servant on the same token that he read it at the window and smiled thereat But the
make out to the Kingdome of England However much mischief was done hereby many Papists paying their good wishes where they were not due and defrauding the Queen their true creditòr of the allegiance belonging unto her 43. Now did the Queen summon a Parliament Anno Regin Eliza. 30. Anno Dom. 1587. wherein her Majesty appeared not in person An Act without precedent But passed over the presidentship of that her great Councel unto John Whitgift Arch-Bishop of Canterbury William Cecill Lord treasurer and to the Earle of Darby A thing done without precedent when the King at home and in health But the pleasure of so powerful a Princess might create a leading case in things of this nature 44. Wonder not if the Nonconformists were very quiet in this Parliament Good reason why the Nonconformists were quiet Beholding the Arch-Bishop their great adversary in so great power and place However their activity in the next will make their party amends for their stilness in this Session 45. This year ended the doleful life of a distressed Lady The death of Mary Queen of Scotland Mary Queen of Scots whose Triall and Death belongeth to the State Historian She was aged fourty six years passing the last twenty in Imprisonment One of a sharp Wit undaunted Spirit comely person beautiful Face Majestick presence one Reason why Queen Elizabeth declined what the other so much desired a personal conference with Her as unwilling to be either out-shone or even-shone in her own Hemispheare For her morals the belief of moderate men embraceth as middle Courts betwixt Buchanan aspersing and Causinus his Hyperbolical Commending her because zealous in his own Religion 46. She was an excellent Poet Her Poetry both Latine and English of the former I have read a distick made and written by her own hand on a Pane of Glass at Buxton well Buxtona quae calidae celebraris nomine Lymphae * So it is in the Glass I had in my hand though it be celebrabere in Cand. Brit. in Derby-shire Forte mihi posthac non adeunda Vale. Buxton who dost with waters warme excell By me perchance never more seen Farewell And at Fotheringhay-Castle I have read written by Her in a window with a pointed Diamond From the Top of all my Trust Mishap hath lai'd me in the dust But her Adversaries conceive had she not been laid there the happiness of England had been prostrated in the same place She was buried in the Quire of Peterborough and Doctor Wickham Bishop of Lincolne preached her funeral sermon causelessly carped at by the Martin Mar-Prelate as too favourable concerning her final condition though he uttered nothing inconsistent with Charity and Christian discretion 47. Some twenty years after Her Body removed to Westminster King James caused her Corps to be solemnly removed from Peterborough to Westminster where in the south-side of the Chappel of King Henry the seventh he erected a stately monument to her memory and thereon this Epitaph wherein such cannot but commend the Piety of her Son who will not believe all the praises of his Mother D. O. M. MAriae Stuartae Scotorum Reginae Franciae Dotariae Jacobi V. Scotorum Regis Filiae Haeredis unicae Henrici VII Ang. Regis ex Margareta majori Natu Filia Jacobi IIII Regi Scotorum matrimonio copulata proneptis Edwardi IIII. Angliae Regis ex Elizabetha Filiarum natu maxima abneptis Francisci II. Gallorum Regis conjugis Coronae Angliae dum vixit certae indubitatae haeredis Jacobi magnae Brittanniae monarchae potentissimi matris Stirpe verè Regiâ antiquissima prognata erat Anno Dom. 1587. maximis Totius Europae Principibus Agnatione Cognatione conjuncta Anno Regin Eliza. 30. exquisitissimis Animi corporis dotibus ornamentis cumulatissima Verum ut sunt variae rerum humanarum vices postquam annos plus minus viginti in custodia detenta fortiter strenuè sed frustrà cum malevolorum obtreclationibus timidorum suspitionibus inimicorum capitalium insidijs conflictata esset tandem inaudito infesto Regibus exemplo securi percutitur Et contempto mundo devicta morte lassato Carnifice Christo Servatori animae salutem Jacobi Filio spem Regni posteritatis universis caedis infaustae spectatoribus exemplum patientiae commendans piè intrepidè Câ—rvicem Regiam securi maledictae subjecit vitae caducae sortem cum coelestis Regni perennitate commutavit Besides this there is a long inscription in verses one distich whereof I remember because it is the same in effect with what was made of Maud the Empress On Maud Magna Ortu majorque Viro sed maxima Partu Hic jacet Henrici Filia sponsa Parens On Queen Mary Magna Viro major Natu sed maxima Partu Conditor hic Regis Filia sponsa Parens So that it is no disgrace for a Queen to weare part of an Epitaph at the second hand with some little alteration 48. About this time it was A designe propounded that some Privie Councellors endeavoured to perswade Queen Elizabeth to raise and foment a difference betwixt the Pope and King of Spain and to assist the former not as Pope but temporal Prince by her shipping to regain Naples detained from him by the Spanish King They alledged the designe advantagious to work a diversion of Spanish forces and prevent an invasion of her own Land 49. But her Majesty would not listen to the motion to entertain Compliance in any capacity And blasted by the Queen on any Conditions with the Pope as dishonourable in her self distastful to the Protestant Princes nor would she touch Pitch in jest for fear of being defiled in earnest but crushed the designe in the birth thereof 50. A first onset was now made by the Nonconformists against the Hierarchie Conformity to the height though the more they opposed it the more the Queen did Countenance their persons and preserve their power In so much that she would not in Lent feed on any fish as forbidden by the Canons of the Church until she had first attained a solemn * Camdens Eliz. Manuscript shortly likely to be Printed Licence from the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury and every year of her life renew'd the same 51. The power of the high Commission began now to extend far and penalties to fall heavie on offenders Whereupon the favourers of the Nonconformists much opposed it in their printed books some questioning the Court as not warranted by Law others taxing their proceedings as exceeding their Commission but hear their Arguments on both sides Against the High Commission It is pretended founded on the Statute primo Elizabethae wherein the Parliament impowered the Queen by her Letters patents to appoint Commissioners to punish Offendors in Ecclesiastical Causes But no mention therein of Temporall penalties and therefore the Commissioners are to confine themselves to Church Censures by Excommunicating
c. illegally inflicting any other punishments Such Commissioners proceeding against Offender by Attachment Fine or Imprisonment are contrary to the express words of Carta Magna providing that no free man shall be taken or imprisoned or be disseised of his free hold and liberty and but by the lawful judgement of his Peers or of the Law of the Land Their whole Commission is void in Law because it beareth date in July but was not signed till November next after contrary to the Statute which enjoyneth that Letters patents should be dated the day of their delivery into Chancery or else they shall be void For the High Commission The words in the Statute run thus they shall have full power and authority by vertue of this Act and of the Letters patents under your Highness your Heirs and successors to Exercise Vse execute all the promises according to the Tenor and effect of the said Letters patents any matter or cause to the contrary in any wise notwithstanding Now their Letters patents inable them to Attach Fine or Imprison c. in doing whereof they are sufficiently impowered by the Commission When Carta Magna was made Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction though it was de jure it was not de facto in the King Whereby it plainly appears that those words related not to the Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction but only to Crimes belonging to the Common Law But since the Parliament hath declared Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction in the Queen the Ecclesiastical persons might impose such penalties even to the Condemning of Hereticks though never tri'd by a Jury It appeareth by the Preamble of that Statute that the words cannot be stretched to Letters patents of that nature but belong only to such to private persons wherein Grantees are unjustly expelled out of their right by colour of Letters patents bearing an elder date But the most general exception against the High Commission was this that proceeding ex officio mero by way of enquiry against such whom they pleased to suspect they tendered unto them an Oath which was conceived unjust that in Cases Criminal a party should be forced to discover what might be penal to himself The Lawfulness of which Oath was learnedly canvassed with Arguments on both sides Against the Oath ex Officio The Common Laws have ever rejected and impugned it never put in Ure by any civil Magistrate in the Land but as it is corruptly crept in amongst other abuses by the sinister practises and pretences of the Romish Prelates and Clergimen And where loss of Life Liberty or good Name may ensue the Common Law hath forbidden such Oath It is contrary to the Fundamental Law of Liberty Nemo tenetur seipsum prodere It appeareth by the Lord Dyer's Book that one Hynde called before the Commissioners Ecclesiastical for Vsury refused to swear whereupon he was committed But upon an Information in the Common pleas he had a Corpus cum causa to remove him so as it seemeth the Judges were then of Opinion that the Commissioners could not give him such an Oath Though such proceedings ex officio were practised by the Popish Prelates against the Saints and Servants of God Yet it was never used by Protestants in their Ecclesiastical Censures The Justice of the Land detesteth that the Judge should himself be an Accuser For by Law no man may be Accuser and Witness Inditer and Jurer therefore much less Judg Accuser which notwithstanding he is that tendereth the Oath ex Officio Even the Heathen Romans were so Christian that by antient custome no Vestal Virgin or * Gellius lib. 10 câ—p 15. Flamen of Jupiter was restrained to swear whereof * Plutarch problems 43. Plutarch rendreth three Reasons First because an Oath is a kinde of torture to a free man Secondly it is absurd in smaller matters not to credit their words who in higher matters touching God are believed Thirdly an Oath in case they were forsworne draweth a curse on them a detestable Omination towards the Priests of God And why may not as much be allowed to the true Ministers of the Gospel The Scripture which ought to be the Rule of our Actions affords neither precepts nor precedent of such proceedings where Witnesses were produced and the Accusers brought face to face William Tindal a worthy Martyr in his * Pag. 208. Comment on the fifth of Matthew saith plainly that a Judge ought not to compel a man to swear against himself No Protestant Church beyond the Seas hath made use of such tyrannical proceedings For the Oath ex Officio It is true To give this Oath to the Defendent in Causes of Life and Death is contrary to the Justice of the Land But where Life or Limbe is not concerned it is usually tendered in Chancery Court of Requests Councel of Marches and Councel in the North yea in other Courts of Record at Westminster where the Judges time out of minde by Corporal Oath did examine any person whom in discretion they suspected to have dealt lewdly about any Writ Returne entrie of Rule pleading or any such like Matter not being Capital It is granted But with all Proditus per deruntiationem Famam c. tenetur seipsum offendere Some faults are simply secret no way bruited or published abroad in which cases the person guilty is not bound to make Confession thereof though urged on his Oath to any Officer Civil or Ecclesiastical But if once discovery be made by Presentment Denunciation Fame c. according to Law then is not the fault meerly secret but revealed in some sort to the Magistrate or abroad who for avoiding Scandal to Christian Religion and Reformation of the Party may thus inquire of the Offence to see it redressed and punished There is no such report in the Lord Dyer all that is extant is only this Marginal Note upon Skroggs his case in Michaelmas Terme 18. of Elizabeth Simile M. 18. fol. per Hynde qui noluit jurare coram justiciariis Ecclesiasticis super Articulos pro usura Which seems added by some unskilful person it being improbable so learned a Judge would have termed the Commissioners Justiciarios Ecclesiasticos Besides this cause of Hynde can no where else be found Certain Commissioners whereof some Bishops some privie Councellers some Civilians and some Judges and Common Lawyers in the Reign of K. Edward the sixth charged BP Bonner with a corporal Oath * For Act Mon. sol 1512. ex Officio to answer to questions ministred unto him and for resusal he was pronounced * For Acts Mon. sol 1516. contumacious The like Oath in matter criminal and Penal was tendered to * For Acts Mon. sol 1536. Stephen Gardener at appeareth by the sentence of his deprivation of the Bishoprick of Winchester The Laws Civil and Ecclesiastical hold not the Judge proceeding of office to be an Accuser but that whereupon the Enquiry is grounded to represent the Accusation By the granting of this peculiar priviledge to these