choak a man but that Stone can never stop his Throat which cannot enter into his Mouth 31. In very deed The maâ—lacre of the Monks at Winchester very little at this time was ever reported of Church-matters 495 For a Drought of Christian Writers in the Heat of Persecution caused a Dearth of all History Now it was that Cerdicus first King of the West-Saxons having overcome the Britans at Winchester kill'd all the Monks belonging to the Church of e VVintoniâ—â—sis Ecc. Hist cap. 9. S t. Amphibalus turned the same into a Temple of Idolatry Also Theon Archbishop of London seeing the Pagan Saxons to prevail left his See and f But Matth. Florilegus designeth the yeare 586. about this time may be presumed to have fled into Wales I say about this time For what Liberty is allowed to Prognosticatours of Weather to use all favourable Correctives and Qualifications like to be rain inclined to rain somewhat rainy c. the same Latitude we must request in relating actions past in point of Chronologie his fere temporibus per haec tempora circa circiter plus minus c. And what we take upon Trust in this kind let the Reader be pleased to charge not on the Score of our Ignorance but on the Uncertainty of that Ages Computation As for S t. Petrock Son to the King of Cumberland we remit him to the next Age because though Budding in this full Blown in the next Century 32. This Age is assigned by Authors for that Famous Ambrose Merlin differing from Sylvester Merlin the Scot though it be doubtfull whether ever such a man in rerum natura Merlin left in a twilight whether that Magician was an Impostor or his whole Story an Imposture put upon credulous posterity it being suspicious First Because he is reported born at Caer-merthen that City so denominated from him Whereas it is called Maridunum by Ptolemie many yeares before Thus it is ominous to begin with a Lie Secondly Because it was said his Mother was a Nun got with Child by a Devil in the form of an Incubus perchance such a one as Chaucer describes It seems that as Vestall Virgins when they had stollen a Great Belly used to entitle some Deity to the getting of their Child so did the Mother of Romulus and Remus whereby they both saved themselves from Shame gained Reputation so Nuns in this Age when with child unable to perswade people as the Poets feign of the Spanish Mares that they were impregnated by the Wind alone made the World believe that some Spirit had consorted with them This makes the whole Story of Merlin very doubtfull and as for all his Miracles Prophesyes they sink with the Subject For sure the same Hand which made the Puppet gave it all it's Motions and suited his Person with Properties accordingly May the Reader be pleased to take notice of three ancient British Writers 1. Aquila Septonius or the Eagle of Shaftsbury whether He or She. 2. Perdix Praesagus or Partridge the prophesier 3. Merlin Ambrose All three Birds of a Feather and perchance hatch'd in the same Nest of ignorant Credulity nor can I meet with a fourth to make up the Messe except it be the Arabian Phaenix But because it is a Task too great for a Giant to encounter a received Tradition let Merlin be left in a Twi-light as we found him And surely no judicious man will censure the Mention of Merlin whose Magicall Pranks and Conjurations are so frequent in our Sories to be a Deviation from the History of the Church who hath read both of Simon Magus and Elymas the Sorcerer in the Acts of the Apostles THE SIXTH CENTURY Anno Dom. To Douse Fuller of Hampshire Esquire I Cannot say certainly of you as Naomi did of Boaz * * 2 Ruth 20. He is near of kin unto us having no Assurance though great Probability of Alliance unto you Hovvever Sir if you shall be pleased in Courtesy to account me your Kinsman I vvill endeavour that as it vvill be an Honour to me it may be to you no Disgrace 1. QUestionlesse we shall not be accounted Trespassers 501 though onely Ecclesiasticall Businesse be our right Road to go a little in the By-way of State-matters because leading the shortest Passage for the present to our Church-story The most miserable estate of the British Common-wealth Most miserable at this time was the British Common-wealth crouded up into barren Corners whil'st their Enemies the Pagan Saxons possest the East and South if not the greatest the best part of the Island Much ado had Vter Pen-dragon the British King with all the sinews of his Care and Courage to keep his disjoynted Kingdome together whose onely desire was to prolong the Life it being above his hopes to procure the Health of that languishing State And though sometimes the Britans got the better yet one may say their Victories were spent before they were gain'd being so farre behind-hand before that their Conquest made no Shew swallowed up in the discharging of old Arrearages Needs then must Religion now in Britain be in a dolefull condition For he who expects a flourishing Church in a fading Common-wealth let him try whether one side of his Face can smile when the other is pinched 2. Pen-dragon dying 508 left the British Kingdome to Arthur his Son King Arthur's actions much discredited by Monkish fictions so famous in History that he is counted one of the Nine VVorthies and it is more then comes to the Proportion of Britain that amongst but Nine in the whole World Two should prove Natives of this Island Constantine and Arthur This later was the British Hector who could not defend that Troy which was designed to destruction and it soundeth much to his Honour that perceiving his Countrey condemned by Gods Justice to Ruine he could procure a Reprieve though not prevail for the Pardon thereof More unhappy was he after his Death Hyperbolicall Monks so advancing his Victories above all reach of Belief that the twelve pitch't Battels of Arthur wherein he conquered the Pagan Saxons find no more credit then the twelve Labours of Hercules Belike the Monks hoped to passe their Lies for current because countenanced with the mixture of some Truths whereas the contrary came to passe and the very Truths which they have written of him are discredited because found in company with so many Lies Insomuch that learned Leland is put to it to make a Book for the asserting of Arthur Many are unsetled about him Anno Dom. 508 because Gildas his Country-man living much about his Age makes no mention of him though such may be something satisfied if considering the principall Intent of that Querulous Authour is not to praise but to reprove not greatly to grace but justly to shame his Country his Book being a bare Black Bill of the Sins and Sufferings Monsters and Tyrants of Britain keeping no
to Himself to be deceived by him and humoured into a peace to His own disadvantage 31. Once King James in an Afternoon was praising the plentifull provision of England King Iames his return to Gondomer especially for flesh and fowle adding the like not to be had in all Spaine what one County here did afford Yea but my Master quoth Gondomer there present hath the gold and silver in the East and West Indies And I by my Saule saith the King have much adoe to keep my men from taking it away from Him To which the Don 's Spanish gravity returned silence 32. His judgment was most solid in matters of Divinity Judicious bountifull and mercifull not fathering Books of others as some of His Predecessours but His Works are allowed His own by His very adversaries Most bountiful to all especially to Scholars no King of England ever doing though His Successour suffered more to preserve the revenues of the English Hierarchy Most mercifull to Offendors no one person of Honour without parallel since the Conquest being put to death in His Reign In a word He left His own Coffers empty but His Subjects Chests full the Land being never more wealthy it being easier then to get than since to save an estate The end of the Reign of King JAMES THE CHURCH-HISTORY OF BRITAIN THE ELEVENTH BOOK Containing the Reign of KING CHARLES excepted who in due time may be happy in their Marriage hopefull in their Issue These five have all been of the same Christian Name Yet is there no fear of Confusion to the prejudice of your Pedigree which Heralds commonly in the like cases complain of seeing each of them being as eminent in their kinde so different in their eminency are sufficiently distinguished by their own character to Posterity Of these the first a Judge for his gravity and learning famous in his Generation The second a worthy Patriot and bountifull House-keeper blessed in a numerous Issue his four younger Sonnes affording a Bishop to the Church a Judge and Peer to the State a Commander to the Camp and an Officer to the Court. The third was the first Baron of the House of whose worth I will say nothing because I can never say enough The fourth your Honourable Father who because he doth still and may he long survive I cannot doe the right which I would to his merit without doing wrong which I dare not to his modesty You are the fift in a direct Line and let me acquaint you with what the world expected not to say requireth of you to dignifie your self with some select and peculiar desert so to be differenced from your Ancestours that your memory may not be mistaken in the Homonymie of your Christian Names which to me seemeth as improbable as that a burnning-Beacon at a reasonable distance should not be beheld such the brightnesse of your parts and advantage of your education You was bred in that Schoole which hath no superiour in England and successively in those two Vniversities which have no equall in Europe Such the stock of your native perfection before graffed with the forraigne accomplishments of your travells So that men confidently promise themselves to read the best last and largest Edition of MERCATOR's ATLAS in your experience and discourse That good God who went with you out of your Native Countrey and since watched over you in forraign parts return with you in safety in due time to his Glory and your own Good which is the daily desire of Your Honour 's most devoted Servant THOMAS FVLLER THE CHURCH-HISTORY OF BRITAIN XVII CENTURIE 1. THe sad newes of King James his death was soon brought to White-hall Anno Regis Caroli primi 1 Anno Dom. 1625 News of the Kings death brought to White Hall at that very instant when D r Land Bishop of S t Davids was preaching therein This caused him to a See his own Diatie on that day March 27 Sunday May 14 break off his Sermon in the middest thereof out of civil complyance with the sadness of the congregation and the same day was King Charles proclaimed at White-Hall 2. On the fourteenth of May following King James his funeralls were performed very solemnly His solemn funeralls in the Collegiate-Church at Westminster his lively statue being presented on a magificent Herse King Charles was present thereat For though modern state used of late to lock up the chief Mourner in his Chamber where his grief must be presumed too great for publique appearance yet the King caused this ceremonie of sorrow so to yeeld to the substance thereof and pomp herein to stoop to pietie that in his person he sorrowfully attended the funerals of his Father 3. D r. Williams Dr. Williams his text Sermon and parallel betwixt K. Solomon and K. James Lord Keeper and Bishop of Lincolne preached the Sermon taking for his Text 2 Chron. 9. 29 30. and part of the 31 verse containing the happy reign quiet death and stately buriall of King Solomon The effect of his Sermon was to advance a parallel betwixt two peaceable Princes King Solomon and King James A parallel which willingly went not to say ran of its own accord and when it chanced to stay was fairly led on by the art and ingenoitie of the Bishop not enforcing but improving the conformitie betwixt these two Kings in ten particulars all expressed in the Text as we read in the vulgar Latin somewhat different from the new Translation King Solomon King James 1. His eloquence the rest of the words of Solomon 2. His actions and all that he did 3. A well within to supply the same and his wisedome 4. The preservation thereof to eternitie Are they not written in the book of the acts of Solomon made by Nathan the Prophet Ahijah the Shilonite and Iddo the Seer 5. He reigned in Jerusalem a great Citie by him enlarged and repaired 6. Over all Israel the whole Empire 7. A great space of time full fourtie years 8. Then he slept importing no sudden and violent dying but a premeditate and affected kinde of sleeping 9. With his fathers David especially his Soul being disposed of in happiness 10. And was buried in the City of David 1. Had b Tacitus of Augustus profluentem quae Principem deceret eloquentiam 2. Was eminent in his actions of Religion Justice War and Peace 3. So wise that there was nothing that any c pag. 59. would learn which he was not able to teach 4. As Trajan was nicknamed herba parietaria a Wal-flower because his name was engraven on every wal so King James shall be called herba chartacea the paper-flower and his glory be read in d pag 61. in all writers 5. He reigned in the capital City of London by him much augmented 6. Over great Britain by him happily united and other Dominions 7. In all fiftie eight though over all Britain but two and twenty years reigning as
c pag. 6â— better so also longer than King Solomon 8. Left the world most resolved most prepared embracing his Grave for his Bed 9. Reigning gloriously with God in Heaven 10. Whilest his body was interred with all possible solemnitie in King Henry the seventh his Chappell Be it here remembred that in this Parallel the Bishop premised to set forth Solomon not in his full proportion faults and all but half-faced imagine lusca as Apelles painted Antigonus to conceal the want of his eye adding that Solomons vices could be no blemish to King James who resembled him onely in his choicest vertues He concluded all with that verse Ecclesiasticus 30. 4. Though his Father die yet he is as though he were not dead for he hath left one behinde him that is like himself in application to his present Majestie 4. Some Auditors Exceptions taken at his Sermon who came thither rather to observe than edifie cavill than observe found or made faults in the Sermon censuring him for touching too often and staying too long on an harsh string three times straining the same making eloquence too essentiall and so absolutely necessary in a King that the want thereof made Moses in a manner f pag. 16. refuse all Government though offered by God that no g pag. 5. man ever got great power without eloquence Nere being the first of the Caesars qui alienae facundiae eguit who usurp'd another mans language to speake for him Expressions which might be forborn in the presence of his Sonne and Successor whose impediment in speech was known to be great and mistook to be greater Some conceived him too long in praising the passed too short in promising for the present King though saying much of him in a little and the Bishops Adversaries whereof then no want at Court some took distaste others made advantage thereof Thus is it easier and better for us to please one God than many men with our Sermons However the Sermon was publiquely set forth by the Printer but not the express command of his Majestie which gave but the steddier Mark to his enemies noting the marginall notes thereof and making all his Sermon the text of their captious interpretations 5. Now began animosities to discover themselves in the Court Discontents begin in the Court. whose sad influences operated many years after many being discontented that on this change they received not proportionable advancement to their expectations Anno Regis Car. 1. 1 Anno Dom. 1625 It is the prerogative of the King of Heaven alone that he maketh all his Sonnes Heires all his Subjects Favourites the gain of one being no losse to the other Whereas the happiest Kings on Earth are unhappy herein that unable to gratifie all their Servants having many Suitors for the same place by conferring a favour on one they disoblige all other competitors conceiving themselves as they make the estimate of their own deserts as much if not more meriting the same preferment 6. As for Doctor Preston he still continued Dr Preston a great favourite and increased in the favor of the King and Duke it being much observed that on the day of King James his death he h Sâ—e his Life pag. 503. rode with Prince and Duke in a Coach shut down from Theobalds to London applying comfort now to one now to the other on so sad an occasion His partie would perswade us that he might have chose his own mitre much commending the moderation of his mortified minde denying all preferment which courted his acceptance verifying the Anagram which a i Mr Ayâ—â— of Lincolns Inn. friend of his made on his name Johannes Prestonius Enstas pius in honore Indeed he was conceived to hold the Helme of his own partie able to steere it to what point he pleased which made the Duke as yet much to desire his favor 7. A booke came forth called Appello Caesarem made by M. Mountague He formerly had been Fellow of Kings Colledge in Cambridge Mr. Mountague his character at the present a Parson of Essex and Fellow of Eaton One much skilled in the Fathers and Ecclesiasticall Antiquity and in the Latin and Greek Tongues Our great k Mr. Selden in his book De Diâ—s Syris pag. 361. Antiquarie confesseth as much Graecè simul Latinè doctus though pens were brandished betwixt them and vertues allowed by ones adversarie may passe for undeniable truths These his great parts were attended with tartnesse of writing very sharp the neb of his pen and much gall in his inke against such as opposed him However such the equability of the sharpnesse of his style he was unpartiall therein be he antient or modern writer Papist or Protestant that stood in his way they should all equally taste thereof 8. Passe we from the Author to his Book Settâ—th forth his Appellâ— Caesaâ—em whereof this was the occasion He had lately writen satyrically enough against the Papists in consutation of The Gagger of Protestants Now two Divines of Norwich Dioces M r. Yates and M r. Ward informed against him for dangerous errours of Arminianisme and Poperie deserting our cause in stead of defending it M. Mountague in his own vindication writes a second Book licensed by Francis White Dean of Carlile finished and partly printed in the reign of James to whom the Author intended the dedication But on King James his death it seems it descended by succession on King Charles his Sonne to whom M r. Mountague applyed the words which Ockam once used to Lewes of Bavier Emperour of Germanie Domine Imperator defende me gladio ego te defendam calamo Lord Emperour defend me with thy Sword and I will defend thee with my Pen. Many bitter passages in this his Book gave great exception whereof largely hereafter 9. On Sunday being the twelfth of June Queen Mary her first arrival at Dover about seven of the clock at night June 12. Queen Marie landed at Dover at what time a piece of Ordinance being discharged from the Castle flew in fitters yet did no bodie any harm Moe were fearfull at the presage than thankfull for the providence Next day the King coming from Canterburie met her at Dover whence with all solemnitie she was conducted to Sommerset-House in London where a Chappell was new prepared for her devotion with a Covent adjoyning of Capuchin-Friers according to the Articles of her Marriage 10. A Parliament began at London The King rescueth Mr. Mountague from the House of Commons wherein the first Statute agreed upon was for the more strict observation of the Lords-day Which day as it first honoured the King His Reign beginning thereon so the King first honoured it by passing an Act for the greater solemnitie thereof Anno Regin Caroli 1 The House of Commons fell very heavie on M r. Mountague for many bitter passages in his Book who in all probability had now been severely censured but that
Idolaters who from misapplying that undeniable Truth of Gods being in every thing made every thing to be their God Trees Rivers Hills and Mountains They worshipped Devils whose Pictures remained in the dayes of a Epist de Excid Brit. Gildas within and without the decayed Walls of their Cities drawn with deformed Faces no doubt done to the Life according to their Terrible Apparitions so that such ugly Shapes did not woe but fright people into Adoration of them Wherefore if any find in Tully that the Britans in his time had no Pictures understand him they were not Artists in that Mystery like the Greeks and Romans they had not pieces of Proportion being rather Dawbers then Drawers Stainers then Painters though called Picti from their self-discoloration 2. Three paramount Idols they worshipped above all the rest Their Principall Idols and ascribed divine honour unto them 1. Apollo by them styled Belinus the Great 2. Andnaste b Xiphil Epi. in Nerone or Andate the Goddesse of Victorie 3. Diana Goddesse of the Game This last was most especially reverenced Britain being then all a Forest where Hunting was not the Recreation but the Calling and Venison not the Dainties but the Diet of Common people There is a place near S. Pauls in London called in old Records DIANA'S CHAMBER where in the daies of K. c Camden Britann in Middlesex Edward the first thousands of the Heads of Oxen were digged up whereat the Ignorant wondred whilest the Learned well understood them to be the proper Sacrifices to Diana whose great Temple was built thereabout This rendereth their Conceit not altogether unlikely who will have LONDON so called from LLAN-DIAN which signifieth in British the Temple of DIANA And surely Conjectures if mannerly observing their Distance and not impudently intruding themselves for Certainties deserve if not to be received to be considered Besides these specified they had other Portenta Diabolica a Gildas ut prius pene numero Aegyptiaca vincentia as indeed they who erroneously conceive one God too little will find two too many and yet Millions not enough As for those learned b Druides unum esse Deum semper inculcarunt Camden and Bp. Godwin Pens which report that the Druides did instruct the Ancient Britans in the Knowledge and Worship of one onely God may their Mistake herein be as freely forgiven them as I hope and desire that the Charitable Reader will with his Pardon meet those unvoluntary Errours which in this Work by me shall be committed 3. Two sorts of People were most honoured amongst the Britans 1. Druides who were their Philosophers Divines Lawyers 2. Bards who were their Prophets Poets Historians The former were so called from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The office and employment of the Druides signifying generally a Tree and properly an Oak under which they used to perform their Rites and Ceremonies An Idolatrie whereof the Iews themselves had been guilty for which the Prophet threatneth them c Isai 1. 29. They shall be ashamed of the Oaks which they have desired But the signall Oak which the Druides made choice of was such a one on which d Pliny Natur Hist lib. 6. cap. 44. Misletoe did grow by which privie token they conceived God marked it out as of soveraigne vertue for his service Under this Tree on the sixth day of the Moon whereon they began their Year they invocated their Idols and offered two white Bulls filleted in the horns with many other Ceremonies These Pagan Priests never wrote anything so to procure the greater Veneration to their Mysteries men being bound to believe that it was some great Treasure which was locked up in such great Secresie 4. The Bards were next the Druides in Regard The powerfull practices of the Bards on the people and played excellently to their Songs on their Harps whereby they had great Operation on the Vulgar surprising them into Civility unawares they greedily swallowing whatsoever was sweetned with Musick These also to preserve their Ancestours from Corruption embalmed their Memories in Rhiming Verses which looked both backward in their Relations and forward in their Predictions so that their Confidence meeting with the Credulity of others advanced their wild Conjectures to the Reputation of Prophesies The Immortality of the Soul they did not flatly denie but salfely believe disguised under the opinion of Transanimation conceiving that dying mens Souls afterward passed into other Bodies either preferred to better or condemned to worse according to their former good or ill behaviour This made them contemn Death and alwayes maintain erected Resolutions counting a valiant Death the best of Bargains wherein they did not loose but lay out their Lives to Advantage Generally they were great Magicians insomuch that e Natur. Hist lib. 30. cap. 1. Plinie saith that the very Persians in some sort might seem to have learn't their Magick from the Britans 5. So pittifull for the present 37 and more fearfull for the future was the condition of the Heathen Britans The first preaching of the Gospell in Britain Causes which hastened the conversion of Britain before other kingdoms which lay nearer to Palestine when it pleased God with a strong hand and stretched-out Arme to reach the Gospel unto them who were afarre off both in locall and theologicall Distance This was performed in the later end of the Reigne of Tiberius some thirty seven years after Christ's Birth as Polydor Virgil collecteth out of the testimony of f Tempore ut scimus summo Tiberii Caesaris inp Epist de Ex. Brit. Gildas 6. If it seem incredible to any that this Island furthest from the Sunne should see Light with the first whil'st many Countries on the Continent interposed nearer in Situation to Iudaea the Fountain of the Gospell sate as yet and many years after in Darknesse and in the Shadow of Death Let such consider First That Britain being a by-Corner out of the Road of the World seemed the safest Sanctuarie from Persecution 37 which might invite Preachers to come the sooner into it Secondly it facilitated the Entrance of the Gospell hither that lately the Roman Conquest had in part civilized the South of this Island by transporting of Colonies thither and erecting of Cities there so that by the Intercourse of Traffick and Commerce with other Countries Christianity had the more speedy and convenient Wastage over Whereas on the other side this set the Conversion of Germany so backward because the in-land Parts thereof entertained no Trading with others and out of Defiance to the Romans hugged their own Barbarisme made lovely with Liberty bolting out all Civility from themselves as jealous that it would usher in Subjection Lastly and chiefly God in a more peculiar manner did alwayes favour the Islands as under his immediate Protection For as he daily walls them with his Providence against the scaling of the swelling Surges and constant Battery of the Tide so he made a
and critically bud on Christmas day such Miracles must be tenderly toucht lest crusht by harsh handling they vanish into smoke like the Apples of Sodome but on the dayes near or about it However it is very strange that this Haw-thorn should be the Harbenger and as it were ride post to bring the first news of the Spring holding alone as it may seem correspondency with the Trees of the Antipodes whilest other Haw-thorns near unto it have nothing but winter upon them 16. It is true Different opinions of men concerning it by powring every night warm water on the root thereof a Tree may be maturated artificially to bud out in the midst of Winter but it is not within suspicion that any such cost is here expended Some likewise affirm that if an Haw-thorn be grafted upon an Holly it is so adopted into the stock that it will bud in Winter but this doth not satisfie the accurateness of the time Wherefore most men pursued to render a reason hereof take refuge at Occulta Qualitas the most mannerly confession of Ignorance And God sometimes puts forth such questions and Riddles in nature on purpose to pose the Pride of men conceited of their skill in such matters But some are more uncharitable in this point who because they cannot find the reason hereof on Earth do fetch it from Hell not sticking to affirm that the Devil to dandle the infant faith of fond people works these prety Feats and petty Wonders having farther intents to invite them to Superstition and mould them to Saint-worship thereby 17. However The subject of the question taken away there is no necessity that this should be imputed to the Holiness of Arimathean Ioseph For there is as it is credibly said an Oake in New-Forest nigh Lindhurst in Hantshire which is indued with the same quality putting forth leaves about the same time where the firmness of the Rinde thereof much encreaseth the wonder and yet to my knowledge for ought I could ever learn none ever referred it to the miraculous influence of any Saint But I loose pretious time and remember a pleasant Story How two Physitians the one a Galenist the other a Paracelsian being at supper fell into an hote dispute about the manner of Digestion whilest they began to ingage with earnestness in the controversie a third man casually coming in caried away the meat from them both Thus whilest opposite parties discuss the cause of this Haw-thorns budding on Christmas day some Souldiers have lately cut the Tree down and Christmas day it self is forbidden to be observ'd and so I think the question is determined 18. To conclude this Century The conclusion of this Century By all this it doth not appear that the first Preachers of the Gospel in Britain did so much as touch at Rome much lesse that they received any Command or Commission thence to convert Britain which should lay an eternal obligation of Gratitude on this Island to the See of Rome Insomuch that Parsons himself as unwilling to confess as unable to deny so apparent a truth flies at last to this slight and slender Shift a 3 Conversions 1 part 1 ch num 26. That albeit S. Joseph came not immediatly from Rome yet he taught in England in Britain he would say the Roman faith whereof S. Paul hath written to the Romans b Rom. 1. 8. themselves that your Faith is spoken of through the whole World Hereby the Iesuite hopes still to keep on foot the ingagement of this Island to Rome for her first Conversion But why should he call the Christian Religion the Roman faith rather then the faith of Hierusalem or the faith of Antioch seeing it issued from the former and was received first named in the later City before any spark of Christianity was kindled at Rome But what is the main he may sooner prove the modern Italian tongue now spoken in Rome to be the self-same in propriety purity with the Latine language in Tullie's time then that the Religion profess'd in that City at this day with all the Errours and Superstitions thereof is the same in foundnesse of Doctrine and sanctitie of Life with that Faith which by S t. Paul in the Roman Church was then so highly commended THE SECOND CENTURY To Robert Abdy of London Esquire HE that hath an Hand to take and no Tongue to return Thanks deserveth for the future to be lame and dumb Which punishment that it may not light on me accept this acknovvledgement of your Favours to your devoted Friend and Servant T. F. 1. DEsire of our Country's honour would now make us lay claim to Taurinus 105 Bishop of York Taurinus no B P. of York and reported Martyr To strengthen our Title unto him we could produce many a Guil. Harrison descript Brit. l. 1. c. 7. Wernerus Laërius in Fasciculo Anno 94. Hartmannus Schedelius in Chronico Writers affirming it if Number made Weight in this case But being convinced in our judgement that such as make him a Britan ground their pretence on a leading Mistake reading him Episcopum EBORACENSEM instead of EBROICENSEM Eureux as I take it in France we will not enrich our Country by the Errours of any or advantage her Honour by the Misprisions of others Thus being conscientiously scrupulous not to take or touch a thread which is none of our own we may with more boldness hereafter keep what is justly ours and chalenge what is unjustly detained from us 2. But the main matter 108 which almost engrosseth all the History of this Century Difference of Authours concerning the time of King Lucius his conversion and by scattered dates is spread from the beginning to the end thereof is the Conversion of Lucius King of Britain to Christianity However not to dissemble I do adventure thereon with much averseness seeming sadly to presage that I shall neither satisfie others nor my self such is the Varietie yea Contrarietie of Writers about the time thereof If the Trumpet saith the Apostle giveth an uncertain sound who shall prepare himself to the Battell He will be at a loss to order and dispose this Story aright who listeneth with greatest attention to the trumpet of Antiquity sounding at the same time a March Retreit appointing Lucius to come into the world by his Birth whâ—n others design him by Death to goe out of the same Behold Reader a view of their Differences presented unto thee and it would puzzle Apollo himself to tune these jarring Instruments into a Consort These make K. Lucius converted Anno Domini 1 P. Iovius in Descrip Brit. 99 2 Io. Cajus in Hist Cantab. 108 3 Annals of Burton 137 4 Ninius in one Copie 144 5 Annals of Krokysden 150 6 Iefferie Monmouth 155 7 Iohn Capgrave 156 8 Matth. Florilegus 158 9 Florence Vigorniensis 162 10 Antiq. of VVinchester 164 11 Tho. Redburn jun. 165 12 VVil of Malmesbury 166 13
Venerable Bede 167 14 Henry of Erphurt 169 15 Annals of Lichfield 175 16 Marianus Scotus 177 17 Ralph de Balduâ— 178 18 Iohn Bale 179 19 Polydor Virgil. Anno Dom. 108 182 20 Chron. Brit. Abbrev. 183 21 Roger de VVendover 184 22 Matth. Paris Westminster 185 23 Hector Boethius 187 24 Martin Polonus 188 25 Saxon Annals 189 26 Iohn Harding 190 Here is more then a Grand-Iury of Writers which neither agree in their Verdicts with their Fore-man nor one with another there being betwixt the first the last Paulus Iovius Iohn Harding ninetie years distance in their Account This with other Arguments is used not onely to shake but shatter the whole reputation of the Story And we must endeavour to clear this Objection before we go farther which is shrewdly pressed by many For if the two Elders which accused Susanna were condemned for Liars being found in two Tales the one laying the Scene of her Incontinency under a a Susanna verse 54. and 58. Mastick-tree the other under an Holme-tree why may not the Relation of Lucius be also condemned for a Fiction seeing the Reporters thereof more differ in Time then the forenamed Elders in Place seeing when and where are two circumstances both equally important and concerning in History to the Truth of any action 3. But we answere The History of K. Lucius not disproved by the dissension of Authors concerning the time thereof That however Learned men differ in the Date they agree in the Deed. They did set themselves so to heed the Matter as of most moment being the Soul and Substance of History that they were little curious not to say very careless in accurate noting of the Time which being well observed doth not onely add some lustre but much strength to a relation And indeed all Computation in the Primitive time is very uncertain there being then and a good while after an Anarchy as I may terme it in Authours their reckoning of years because men were not subject to any one soveraign Rule in accounting the year of our Lord but every one followed his own Arithmetick to the great confusion of History and prejudice of Truth In which age though all start from the same place our Saviour's Birth yet running in severall ways of account they seldome meet together in their dating of any memorable Accident Worthie therefore was his work whoever he was who first calculated the Computation we use at this day and so set Christendome a Copy whereby to write the date of actions which since being generally used hath reduced Chronology to a greater Certainty 4. As for their Objection Lucius might be a British King under the Roman Monarchy That Lucius could not be a King in the South of Britain because it was then reduced to be a Province under the Roman Monarchy It affects not any that understand how it was the Roman b Veâ—us jampridem recepta populi Romani consuetudo ut haberet instrumenta â—ervitutis Reges Tacitus in vita Agricolae custome both to permit and appoint Pettie Kings in several Countries as Antiochus in Asia Herod in Iudea Dtotaurus in Sicilie who under them were invested with Regal Power Dignity And this was conceived to conduce to the state and amplitude of their Empire Yea the German Emperour at this day Successour to the Roman Monarchy is stiled Rex Regum as having many Princes and particularly the King of Bohemia Homagers under him As for other inconsistents with truth which depend as Retainers on this Relation of King Lucius they prove not that this whole Story should be refused but refined Which calleth aloud to the Discretion of the Reader to fan the Chaffe from the Corne and to his Industry to rub the Rust from the Gold which almost of necessity will cleave to matters of such Antiquity Thus conceiving that for the main we have asserted King Lucius we come to relate his History as we finde it 5. He being much taken with the Miracles which he beheld truly done by pious Christians Lucius sendeth to the Bishop of Rome to be instructed in Christianity fell in admiration of 167 and love with their Religion and sent Elvanus and Meduinus men of known Piety and Learning in the Scriptures to Eleutherius Bishop of Rome with a Letter requesting several things of him but principally that he might be instructed in the Christian Faith The reason why he wrote to Rome was because at this time the Church therein was she can ask no more we grant no less the most eminent Church in the World shining the brighter Anno Dom. 167 because set on the highest Candle-stick the Imperial City We are so far from grudging Rome the Happiness she once had that we rather bemoan she lost it so soon degenerating from her primitive Purity The Letter which Lucius wrote is not extant at this day and nothing thereof is to be seen save onely by reflection as it may be collected by the Answer returned by Eleutherius which such an one as it is it will not be amisse here to insert 6. Ye require of us the Roman Laws This translation of the letter of Eleutherius is transcribed out of Bishop Godwin in his Catalogue of Bishops and the Emperours to be sent over unto you which you would practice and put in ure within your Realm The Roman Laws and the Emperours we may ever reprove but the Law of God we may not Ye have received of late through Gods mercy in the Kingdom of Britain the Law and Faith of Christ Ye have with you within the Realm both parts of the Scriptures out of them by Gods grace with the Councell of the Realm take ye a Law and by that Law through Gods sufference rule your Kingdome of Britain There is some variety between this and that of M r. Fox For you be God's Vicar in your Kingdom The Lords is the Earth and the fulness of the world and all that dwell in it And again according to the Prophet that was a King Thou hast loved righteousness and hated iniquity therefore God hath anointed thee with the Oile of gladness above thy fellows And again according to the same Prophet O God give Iudgement unto the King and thy Righteousness unto the Kings Sonne He said not the judgement and righteousness of the Emperour but thy Iudgement and Righteousness The Kings Sonnes be the Christian people and folk of the Realm which be under your Government and live and continue in peace within your Kingdome As the Gospel saith Like as the Hen gathereth her Chickens under her wings so doth the King his people The people and the folk of the Realm of Britain be yours whom if they be divided ye ought to gather in concord and peace to call them to the Faith and Law of Christ to cherish and a In the Latin it is Manu tenere maintain them to rule and govern them so as
most sadly 201 at the entrance whereof we are accosted with the Funeralls of King Lucius The death buriall and Epitaph of King Lucius the brightest Sun must set buried as they say in Glocester Different dates of his Death are assigned but herein we have followed the a Annals of Sarum M. Paris Westm with London tables and hist of Rochest most judicious Long after the Monks of that Convent bestowed an Epitaph upon him having in it nothing worthy of translating Lucius b John Bever in his Abbreviat of the Brit. Chron. in tenebris priûs Idola qui coluisti Es merito celebris ex quo Baptisma subisti It seems the puddle-Poet did hope that the jingling of his Rhyme would drown the sound of his false Quantity Except any will say that he affected to make the middle Syllable in Idola short because in the days of King Lucius Idolatry was curb'd and contracted whilest Christianity did dilate and extend it self 2. But Christianity in Britain was not buried in the Grave of Lucius The Christian faith from the first preaching thereof ever continued in Britain but survived after his Death Witness Gildas whose words deserve to be made much of as the clearest evidence of the constant continuing of Religion in this Island Christ's Precepts saith c Quae praecepta â—in Britannia â— licet ab incolis tepidè suscepta sunt apud quosdam tamen integre alios minùs usque ad persecutionem Diocletiani novennem permansere Gildas in Epist de excidio Brit. he though they were received but luke-warmly of the Inhabitants yet they remained entirely with some less sincerely with others even untill the nine years of Persecution under Diocletian Whose expression concerning the entertaining of Christianity here though spoken indefinitely of the British Inhabitants yet we are so far from understanding it universally of all this Island or generally of the most or eminently of the principal parts thereof that if any list to contend that the main of Britain was stil Pagan we will not oppose A thing neither to be doubted of nor wondered at if the modern Complaints of many be true that even in this Age there are dark Corners in this Kingdome where Profaneness lives quietly with invincible Ignorance Yea that the first Professours in Christianity were but luke-warm in Religion will without Oath made for the truth thereof be easily believed by such who have felt the temper of the English Laodiceans now a days However it appeares there were some honest Hearts that still kept Christianity on foot in the Kingdome So that since Religion first dwelt here it never departed hence like the Candle of the vertuous Wife d Prov. 31. 18. It went not out by night by the Night neither of Ignorance nor of Security nor of Persecution The Island generally never was an Apostate nor by Gods blessing ever shall be 3. To the Authority of Gildas Two Fathers to be believ'd before two children we will twist the Testimony of two Fathers both flourishing in this Century Tertullian and Origen plainly proving Christianity in Britain in this Age both of them being undoubtedly Orthodox without mixture of Montanist Anno Dom. 201 or Millenary in historical matters Hear the former There are places of the a Britannorum inaccessa Romanis loca Christo verò subdita Tertull advers Iudaeos cap. 7. Britans which were unaccessible to the Romans but yet subdued to Christ Origen in like maner b Virtus Domini Salvatoris cum his est qui ab orbe nostro in Britannia dividuntur Orig. in Lucae c. 1. Homil. 6. The power of God our Saviour is even with them which in Britain are divided from our world These ought to prevail in any rational belief rather then the detracting reports of two modern men Paradine and Dempster who affirm that after Lucius death the British Nation returned to their Heathen Rites and remained Infidels for full five hundred years after Which c Paradine Ang. descrip cap. 22. Dempster in Apparat. Hist Scot. cap. 6. words if casually falling from them may be passed by with pardon if ignorantly uttered from such Pretenders to Learning will be heard with wonder if wilfully vented must be taxed for a shameless and impudent Falshood Had Dempster the more positive of the two in this point read as many Authours as he quoteth and marked as much as he read he must have confuted himself yea though he had obstinately shut his Eies so clear a Truth would have shined through his Eye-lids It wil be no wilde Justice or furious Revenge but Equity to make themselves satisfaction if the Britans declare Dempster devoid of the faith of an Historian who endeavoured to deprive their Ancestours of the Christian Faith for many yeares together his Pen to be friend the North doing many bad offices to the South part of this Island 4. The Magdeburgenses The judgement of the Magdeburgenses in this point Compilers of the General Ecclesiastical History not having lesse Learning but more Ingenuity speaking of the Churches through Europe in this Age thus express themselves Then follow the Isles of the Ocean where we first meet with Britain d Centuria tertia cap. 2. colum 6. Mansisse hac aetate ejus Insulae Ecclesias affirmare non dubitamus We doubt not to affirme that the Churches of that Island did also remain in this Age. But as for the names of the Places and Persons professing it we crave to be excused from bringing in the Bill of our particulars 5. By the Levitical Law Want of work no fault of the workman e Exod. 22. 12. If an Oxe Sheep or Beast were delivered to a man to keep and it were stolen away from him the keeper should make restitution to the owner thereof but if it was torn in pieces and he could bring the fragments thereof for witness he was not bound to make it good Had former Historians delivered the entire memory of the passages of this Century to our custody and charged us with them the Reader might justly have blamed our Negligence if for want of our Industry or Carefulness they had miscarried but seeing they were devoured by Age in evidence whereof we produce these torn Reversions hardly rescued from the Teeth of Time we presume no more can justly be exacted of us 6. Gildas very modestly renders the reason Reason why so little left of this Age. why so little is extant of the British History Scripta patriae Scriptorumve monumenta si quae fuerint aut ignibus hostium exusta aut Civium exulum classe longius deportata non comparent The Monuments saith he of our Country or Writers if there were any appear not as either burnt by the fire of enemies or transported farr off by our banished countrymen 7. This is all I have to say of this Century Conclusion of this Century and must now confess my self as
unable to goe on so ashamed to break off scarce having had of a full Hundred Years so many Words of solid History But as I find little so I will feign nothing time being better spent in Silence then in Lying Nor do I doubt but clean Stomacks will be better satisfied with one drop of the Milk of Truth then foul Feeders who must have their Bellies ful with a Trough of VVash mingled with the water of Fabulous Inventions If any hereafter shall light on more History of these times let them not condemn my Negligence whilest I shall admire their Happinesse THE FOURTH CENTURY Anno Dom. To Theophilus Bidulph of London Esquire OF all Shires in England Stafford-shire vvas if not the soonest the largest sovvn vvith the Seed of the Church I mean the bloud of primitive Martyrs as by this Century doth appear I could not therefore dedicate the same to a fitter person then your self vvhose Family hath flourished so long in that County and vvhose Favours have been so great unto your thankfull Friend T. F 1. DArk and tempestuous was the Morning of this Century 303 which afterward cleared upto be a fair Day First persecution in Britain under Diocletian It began with great Affliction to Gods Saints The Spirit saith to the Church of Smyrna a Revel 2. 10. Ye shall have Tribulation ten dayes This is commonly understood of the Ten generall Persecutions over all the Christian world But herein Divine Mercy magnified it self towards this Island that the last Oecumenicall was the first Provinciall Persecution in Britain God though he made our Church his Darling would not make it a Wanton she must taste of the Rod with the rest of her Sisters The Fiery b 1 Pet. 1. 12. Triall spoken of by the Apostle now found out even those which by water were divided from the rest of the World This tenth Persecution as it was the last so it was the greatest of all because Satan the shorter his Reign the sharper his Rage so that what his Fury lacks in the Length it labours to gaâ—â— in the Thickness thereof 2. In this Persecution Alban the British S t. Stephen how a Citizen of Rome the first Britan which to Heaven led the Van of the noble Army of Martyrs was Alban a wealthy Inhabitant of Verolam-cestre and a Citizen of Rome for so Alexander c In his Poem on Verulam Neccham reports him Hic est Martyrii roseo decoratus honore Albanus Cives inclyta Roma tuus Here Alban Rome thy Citizen renow'nd With rosy Grace of Martyrdome was crown'd None need stop much lesse stumble at this seeming Contradiction easily reconciled by him that hath read S t. Paul in one place proclaiming himself an d Philipp 3. 5. Hebrew of the Hebrews and e Acts 22. 25. elsewhere pleading himself to be a Roman because born in Tarsus a City of Cilicia and Roman Colony as Verolam-cestre was at this time enfranchised with many Immunities Thus Alban was a Britan by Parentage a Roman by Priviledge naturally a Britan naturallized a Roman and which was his greatest Honour he was also Citizen of that spiritual Hierusalem which is from above 3. His Conversion happened on this manner The manner of Alban's Conversion Amphibalus a Christian Preacher of Caer-lion in VVales was fain to fly from persecution into the Eastern parts of this Island and was entertained by Alban in his house in Verulam Soon did the Sparks of this Guests Zeal catch hold on his Host and inflamed him with love to the Christian Religion Anno Dom. 303 Herein our Saviour made good his promise a Matth. 10. 41. He that receiveth a Righteous man in the name of a Righteous man shall receive a Righteous mans reward And the Shot of Amphibalus his Entertainment was plentifully discharged in Alban's sodain and sincere Conversion Not long after a search being made for Amphibalus Alban secretly and safely conveighed him away b Beda lib. 1. cap. 7. exchanging Cloaths with him offered himself for his Guest to the Pagan Officers who at that instant were a sacrificing to their Devil-Gods where not onely Alban being required refused to sacrifice but also he reproved others for so doing and thereupon was condemned to most cruell Torments But he conquered their Cruelty with his Patience and though they tortured their Brains to invent Tortures for him he endured all with Chearfulnesse till rather their Wearinesse then Pity made them desist And here we must bewaile that we want the true Story of this mans Martyrdome which impudent Monks have mixed with so many improbable Tales that it is a Torture to a discreet Eare to heare them However we will set them down as we find them the rather because we count it a thrifty way first to gult the Readers belief with Popish Miracles that so he may loath to look or listen after them in the sequele of the History 4. Alban being sentenced to be beheaded The miraculous Martyrdom of Alban much people flockt to the place of his Execution which was on a Hill called c Understand 〈◊〉 so called afterwards in the time of the Saxons Holm-hurst to which they were to go over a River where the narrow Passage admitted of very few a-breast Alban being to follow after all the Multitude and perceiving it would be very late before he could come to act his Part and counting every Delay half a Denial who wil blame one for longing to have a Crown by his Prayer obtained that the River parting asunder afforded free Passage for many together The corrupted Copy of Gildas calls this River the d Thames is wanting in the Manuscript Gildas in Cambridge Library Thames But if the Miracle were as farre from Truth as Thames from Verulam being 16 Miles distant it would be very hard to bring them both together The sight here of so wrought with him who was appointed to be his Executioner that he utterly refused the Imployment desiring rather to Die with him or for him then to offer him any Violence Yet soon was another substituted in his place for some cruel Doeg will quickly be found to do that Office which more mercifull men decline 5. Alban at the last being come to the Top of the Hill A new spring of Water at Alban's summons appears in the top of a Hill was very dry and desirous to drink Wonder not that he being presently to tast of Ioyes for evermore should wish for fading Water Sure he thirsted most for God's Glory and did it only to catch hold of the handle of an occasion to work a Miracle for the good of the Beholders For presently by his Prayer he summoned up a Spring to come forth on the top of the Hill to the amazement of all that saw it Yet it moistened not his Executioners Heart with any Pity who notwithstanding struck off the Head of this worthy Saint May 23 Aliter Iune
one of Scotland the other of England at the same time as they beare the Poeticall Names of two Sons of Priamus so they take to themselves much liberty of Fancy and Fiction in their severall Histories 9. Not long after Germanus marcheth against the Pagan Picts and Saxons the Aid of Germanus and Lupus was implored and employed an hundred miles off in another service against the Pagan Picts and Saxons Here we meet with the first mention of Saxons being some stragling Voluntiers of that Nation coming over to pillage here of their own accord not many yeares before they were solemnly invited hither under Horsus and Hengistus their Generalls Germanus after the Lent well spent in the Fasting of their Bodies and Feasting of their Souls for the people had b Bede 1 Book cap. 20. daily Sermons and the solemnity of Easter Festivall duly celebrated wherein he Christened Multitudes of Pagan Converts in the River Alen marched with an Army of them whil'st their Baptismall water was scarce wip'd from their Bodies against the aforesaid Enemies whom he found in the North-East of VVales Here the Pious Bishop turning Politick Enginier chose a place of Advantage being a hollow Dale surrounded with Hils near the Village called at this day by the English Mold by the British Guidcrue in Flintshire where the Field at this day retains the name of c Usher de Brit. Ecc. Primord p. 333. Mâ—es Garmen or Germans Field the more remarkable because it hath escaped as few of this Note and Nature the exact Observation of Master Camden 10. Here Germanus placed his men in Ambush A Victory gotten not by shooting but shouting with Instructions that at a Signall given they should all shout Hallelujah three times with all their might which was done accordingly The Pagans were surprized with the Suddennesse and Loudnesse of such a Sound much multiplied by the advantage of the Echo whereby their Fear brought in a false List of their Enemies Number and rather trusting their Eares then their Eyes they reckoned their Foes by the increase of the Noise rebounded unto them and then allowing two Hands for every Mouth how vast was their Army But besides the Concavity of the Vallies improving the Sound God sent a Hollownesse into the Hearts of the Pagans so that their Apprehensions added to their Eares and Cowardice often resounded the same Shout in their Breasts till beaten with the Reverberation thereof without striking a Stroak they confusedly ran away and many were drowned for speed in the River Alen lately the Christians Font now the Pagans Grave Thus a bloudlesse Victory was gotten without Sword drawn consisting of no Fight but a Fright and a Flight and that Hallelujah the Song of the d Revel 19. 1. Saints after Conquest atchieved was here the Fore-runner and Procurer of Victory So good a Grace it is to be said both before and after a Battel Gregory the Great a grave Authour in his e Chap. 36. vers 29 30. Comment upon Iob makes mention of this Victory Anno Dom. 430 occasioned on those words Can any understand the noise of his Tabarnacle 11. Germanus now twice a Conquerour S. Albans in Hartfordshire Colen Ely Osell pretend to the whole Body of Saint Alban of Pelagians and Pagans prepares for his Return after first he had caused the Tombe of S t. Alban to be opened and therein deposited the Reliques of many Saints which he brought over with him conceiving it fit as he said that their Corpses should sleep in the same Grave whose Souls rested in the same Heaven In lieu of what he left behind him Exchange is no Robbery he carried along with him some of S t. Alban's Dust wherein Spots of the Martyr's Bloud were as fair and fresh as if shed but yesterday But what most concerns S t. Alban's Monks to stickle in some report German to have carried the Body of Alban to Rome whence some hundred yeares after the Empresse to Otho the second brought it to a Surius Tomo 3. vita Sanct. Iunij 22. Colen where at this day they maintain his uncorrupted Body to be enshrined The Monks of Ely in Cambridge-shire pretending to the same as also do those of Ottonium or Osell in Denmark Thus as Metius Suffetius the Roman was drawn alive by Horses four wayes like Violence is offered to the Dead Body of Alban pluck't to four severall places by importunate Competitours only with this Difference that the Former was mangled into Quarters whereas here each place pretends to have him whole and intire not abating one Hair of his b Caputenim cum barba Idem ut prius Beard Nor know I how to reconcile them except any of them dare say though without shew of Probability that as the River in Paradise went out of Eden from whence it was parted and became into four c Gen. 2. 10. Heads Alban in like manner when dead had the same Quality of one to be multiplied into four Bodies 12. Now after Germanus and Lupus were returned home into their native Country After the departure of Germanus Pelagianisme recruits in Britain Pelagianisme began to sprout again in Britain An Accident not so strange to him that considers how quickly an Errour much of kin thereunto grew up amongst the Galathians presently on d Gal. 1. 6. Paul's departure I marvel said he that you are so soon removed from him that called you unto the Grace of Christ unto another Gospell S t. Paul's marvelling may make us marvel the lesse seeing that Wonder which hath a Precedent is not so great a Wonder Here we may sadly behold the great Pronenesse of men to go astray whose hearts by nature cold in Goodnesse will burn no longer then they are blown To suppresse this Heresie Germanus is sollicited to make a second Voiage into Britain which he did accordingly accompanied with his Partner Severus because Lupus his former Companion was otherwise employed Hereupon a prime e Erticus Antissiod orensis in vita S. Germani Poet of his Age makes this Apostrophe unto S t. German Tuque O cui toto discretos orbe Britannos Bis penetrare datum 449 bis intima cernere magni Monstra maris O thou that twice pierc'd Britain cut asunder From the whole World twice did'st survey the wonder Of monstrous Seas The same f Bede lib. 1. cap. 21. Successe still followed and this Conquerour who formerly had broken and scattered the main Body of the Pelagians now routed the Remnant which began to ralley and make head again 13. He also called a g Math. West in anno 449. Pelagianism and King Vottiger's incestuous marridge condemned in a Synod Synod wherein those damnable Doctrines were condemned as also the h Nennius cap. 37. Incestuous Marriage of VORTIGER King of Britain a wicked Prince in whom all the Dregs of his vicious Auncestors were settled who had took his own Daughter to Wife And yet of
the Ignorant with much Veneration Now at the dissolution of Abbeys it was brought up to London and burnt at the Gallows in Smithfield with Fryer Forrest executed for a Traytor 13. A Prophecie was current in the Abbey of Glassenborough Haret Delphinus in ulmo That a Whiting should swim on the top of the Torr thereof which is a steep hill hard by and the credulous Countrey people understood it of an eruption of the Sea which they suspected accordingly It happened that Abbot Whiting the last of Glassenbury was hanged thereon for his Recusancy to Surrender the Abbey and denying the King's Supremacy so swimming in aire and not water and waved with the winde in the place 14. We will close all with the Propheticall Mottoes at leastwise as men since have expounded them of the three last successive Abbots of Glocester Propheticall Mottoes inscribed in Glocester Church because much of modesty and something of piety contained therein 1. Abbot Boulers Memento memento that is as some will have it Remember remember this Abbey must be dissolved 2. Abbot Sebruck Fiat voluntas Domini that is if it must be dissolved the will of the Lord be done 3. Abbot Mauborn Mersos reatâ— suscita Raise up those which are drowned in guiltiness Which some say was accomplished when this Abbey found that favour from King Henry the eighth to be raised into a Bishoprick But I like the Text better than the Coment and there is more humility in their Mottoes than solidity in the Interpretations That many precious Books were embezeled at the dissolution of Abbeys to the irreparable losse of learning THe English Monks were bookish of themselves English Libraries excellently furnished and much inclined to hoord up monuments of learning Britain we know is styled Another world and in this contradistinction though incomparably lesse in quantity acquits it self well in proportion of famous Writers producing almost as many Classical School-men for her Natives as all Europe besides Other excellent Books of forraign Authors were brought hither purchased at dear rates if we consider that the Presse which now runs so incredibly fast was in that Age in her infancie newly able to goe alone there being then few Printed Books in comparison of the many Manuscripts These if carefully collected and methodically compiled would have amounted to a Librarie exceeding that of Ptolomie's for plenty or many Vaticans for choicenesse and rarity Yea had they been transported beyond the seas sent over and sold entire to such who knew their value and would preserve them England's losse had been Europe's gain and the detriment the lesse to Learning in generall Yea many years after the English might have repurchased for pounds what their Grand-fathers sold for fewer pence into forraign parts 2. But alas The miserable martyrdome of innocent Books those Abbeys were now sold to such Chap-men in whom it was questionable whether their ignorance or avarice were greater and they made havock and destruction of all As Broakers in Long-lane when they buy an old suit buy the lineings together with the out-side so it was conceived meet that such as purchased the buildings of Monasteries should in the same grant have the Libraries the stuffing thereof conveyed unto them And now these ignorant owners so long as they might keep a Lieger-book or Terrier by direction thereof to finde such stragling acres as belonged unto them they cared not to preserve any other Monuments The covers of books with curious brasse bosses and claspes intended to protect proved to betray them being the baits of covetousness And so many excellent Authors stripp'd out of their cases were left naked to be burnt or thrown away Thus Esop's cock casually lighting on a pearl preferr'd a grain before it yet he left it as he found it and as he reaped no profit by the pearl it received no damage by him Whereas these cruell Cormorants with their barbarous beaks and greedy claws rent tore and tatter'd these inestimable pieces of Antiquity Who would think that the Fathers should be condemn'd to such servile employment as to be Scavengers to make clean the foulest sink in mens bodies Yea which is worse many an antient manuscript Bible cut in pieces to cover filthy Pamphlets so that a case of Diamond hath been made to keep dirt within it yea the Wisemen of Gotham bound up in the Wisdome of Solomon 3. But hear how John Bale John Bale lamentably bemoaneth thâ—â—massacre a man sufficiently averse from the least shadow of Popery hating all Monkery with a perfect hatred complained hereof to King Edward the sixt a In his Declaration upon Leland's Journall Anno 1549. Covetousnesse was at that time so busie about private commodity that publick Wealth in that most necessary and of respect was not any where regarded A number of them which purchased those superstitious mansions reserved of those Library-books some to serve their jakes some to scour their candlesticks and some to rub their boots some they sold to the Grocers and Sope sellers and some they sent over sea to the Book binders not in small number but at times whole ships full Yea the Universities of this Realme are not all clear in this detestable fact But cursed is that belly which seeketh to be fed with so ungodly gains and so deeply shameth his naturall Countrey I know a Merchant-man which shall at this time be namelesse that bought the contents of two noble Libraries for fourty shillings price a shame it is to be spoken This stuffe hath he occupied instead af gray paper by the space of more than these ten years and yet he hath store enough for as many years to come A prodigious example is this and to be abhorred of all men which love their Nations as they should doe Yea what may bring our Realm to more shame and rebuke than to have it noised abroad that we are despisers of learning I judge this to be true and utter it with heavinesse that neither the Britains under the Romans and Saxons nor yet the English people under the Danes and Normans had ever such damage of their learned monuments as we have seen in our time Our posterity may well curse this wicked fact of our Age this unreasonable spoil of Englands most noble antiquities 4. What soul can be so frozen Learning recelveth an incurable wound by the losse of books as not to melt into anger hereat What heart having the least spark of ingenuiry is not hot at this indignity offered to literature I deny not but that in this heap of Books there was much rubbish Legions of lying Legends good for nothing but fewell whose keeping would have caused the losse of much pretious time in reading them I confesse also there were many volumes full fraught with superstition which notwithstanding might be usefull to learned men except any will deny Apothecaries the priviledge of keeping poison in their shops when they can make antidotes of them But be
flattery Little beloved of her subjects to whom though once she remitted an intire Subsidie yet it little moved their affections because though liberall in this Act she had been unjust in another her Breach of promise to the gentry of Norfolke and Suffolk However she had been a worthy Princesse had as little Cruelty been done under her as was done by her Her Devotion alwayes commanded her Profit and often times did fill the Church with the emptying of her own Exchequer 54. Take one instance of many Her and her Ladies Bounty to the Hospitals of the Savoy The Hospitall of the Savoy in the Strand founded by her grandfather King Henry the seventh and since Dissolved was by her Erected again And whereas the Utensells thereof had lately been Embezelled the house being left as bare as the poore people which were brought therein her maids of Honour out of their own Wardrope furnished it with * Stow in his survey of London pag. 491. Beds Blankets and Sheets Were any of those Ladies still alive I would pray for them in the language of the * Psal 41. 3. Psalmist The Lord make all their bed in their sicknesse And he is a good Bed-maker indeed who can and will make it fit the person and please the patient But seeing such long since are all deceased it will be no Superstition to praise God for their piety and Commend their practise to the imitation of Posterity 55. Her Body was enterred in the Chappell of King Henry the seventh The place of her Burial In the Isle on the North-side thereof and afterwards the Corps of her sister Queen Elizabeth were buried in the same Vault Over Both King James afterwards erected a most sumptuous monument though the Epitaph inscribed thereon taketh noe notice at all of Queen Mary as destined and designed soly to the memory of Queen Elizabeth But Maryes name still surviveth in many Roman Catholick families being though never mother her self Godmother to many of her Servants Sons giving her own Anthony Maria Edward Maria c. as an addition to their Christian names 56. Many great persons Q. Eliz. 1. chiefly of the Clergy followed her into another world God paveth the way for Q. Elizabeths coming to the crown a communis quaedam lues ex ardore febrium per universos Angliae ordines â—ermeabat in illis maxime divites honorantes personas de populabatur Haddon contra Osorium fol. 25. whether out of a politick Sympathic that being raised by her they would fall with her or that fore seeing alteration of religion and their own ruine they died to prevent death heart-broken with sorrow Besides at this time there was a strange mortality different from other infections not sweeping but choosing which did principally single out men of wealth and quality Whil'st such as make uncharitable applications parallel this to the plague of the Israelites b Psal 71. 32. which slew the wealthest of them we will onely conceive that God intending to plant in Queen Elizabeth first cleared the ground by removing such as probably would oppose her Neither was it a small advantage unto her that the Parliament sat at her sisters death after which they onely continued so long as joyntly and publiquely to proclaim Elizabeth Queen Nov. 18. and then they were c Holinshed pag. 1170. dissolved Now though her Title was free from doubt yet it it was not so clear from cavils but that one considering the power of the English Papists at this time and their activity at all times will conclude they might have though not hurt troubled and though not hindred disturb'd her succession Whereas now being so solemnly proclaimed it gave much countenance and some strength to her right being done by the whole State in so weighty a manner that it crush't in pieces all hopes of private oppositions Thus those whom God will have to rise shall never want hands to lift them up THE Church-History OF BRITAINE THE NINTH BOOK Containing the Raign of QUEEN ELIZABETH SIC OMNI TEMPORE VERDO To the Honourable GEORGE BERKLEY Sole Son to the Right Honorable GEORGE Baron of BERKLEY I have ever dissented from their opion who maintain that the world in was created a levell Champian Mountains being only the product of NOAHS flood where the violence of the waters aggested the earth goared out of the hollow valleys For we reade how in that deluge * Gen. 7. 20. the mountains were not then as upstarts first caused but as old standards newly covered As much do I differ from their false position who affirme that all being equall in the loynes of Adam and wombe of Eve honour was onely the effect of humane ambition in such whose pride or power advanced themselves above others Whereas it was adequate to the creation as originally fixed in Eldership or Primogeniture and afterwards by Divine providence the sole fountain thereof confer'd on others Either out of love by nothing lesse than his express Commission for their good or hatred by somewhat more than his bare Permission for their ruine The three Sons of David serve us for the threfold division of honour 1. Absolon said * 2. Sam. 15. 4. O that I were made Judge in the land 2. Adoniah exalted himself saying * 1 King 1. 5. I will be King 3. Solomon said nothing But * 1 King 1. 17. David said and God confirmed his words Assuredly he shall reign after me The first sought by secret ambition to surprise his fathers subjects The second went a mere bold and blunt way to work by open usurpation but both finally miscaried The Third reached not at all at Honor but only happily held what was put into his hands But when outward Greatnesse as in the last instance is attended with inward Grace all Christian beholders thereof are indebted to a double tribute of respect to that person whose Honour is martialled according to the * Rom. 2. 12. Apostolicall equipage BUT GLORY HONOUR AND PEACE See how it standeth like a Shield in the middle with GLORY and PEACE as supporters on each side And this is that Honor the zealous pursute whereof I humbly recommend unto you Nor will you be offended at this my counsel as If it imported a suspition of your present practise who know well what St. paul * 1 Thes 5. 1â— saith Edifie one another EVEN AS YE DOE It is no tautologie to advise good people to do what they do Such precepts are prayses such counsels commendations And in this notion do I tender my humble advice to your consideration Remember the modesty of * Psal 27. 4. David in asking One thing have I desired of the Lord Viz. to be constantly present at his publique service And behold the bounty of * 1 Cor. 29. 28 God in giving three for one And he died in a good old age full of dayes riches and honor Such measure may you
our Lord 1655. To the Honourable BANISTER MAINARD Esq Sonne and Heire to the Right Honourable WILLIAM Lord MAINARD Baron of Estaynes in England and Wicklow in Ireland THERE is a late generation of People professed enemies to all humane Learning the most moderate amongst them accounting it as used in Divinity no better then the barren a Luke 13. 7. Fig-tree Cut it downe why cumbreth it the ground whilest the more furious resemble it to the wilde b 2 Kings 4. 40 Gourd in the Pottage of the Children of the Prophets deadly and pernicious Thus as Wisdome built c Prov. 9. 1. her an house with seven Pillars generally expounded the Liberal Sciences Folly seeketh but I hope in vaine to pluck down and destroy it The staple place whereon their ignorance or malice or both groundeth their error is on the words of the Apostle d Colos 2. 1. Beware lest any man spoyle you through Philosophy and vain deceipt or which is the same in effect vain and deceitfull Philosophy VVhich words seriously considered neither expresse nor imply any prohibition of true Philosophy but rather tacitly commend it Thus when our Saviour saith e Mat. 7. 15. Beware of false Prophets by way of opposition hee inviteth them to beleeve and respect such as true-ones Indeed if we consult the word in the notation thereof consisting of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to love and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 wisdom nothing can bee cavilled thereat The childe of so good Parents cannot bee bad and the compound resulting thence viz. Philosophy or the love of Wisdom is the same so commended by f Prov. 29. 3. Solomon Who so loveth Wisdom rejoyceth his Father True Philosophy thus considered in it selfe is as Clemens Alexandrinis termeth it Aeternae veritatus sparagmon a Sparke or Splinter of Divine truth Res Dei Ratio saith Tertullian God himselfe being in a sort the great Grand father of every Philosophy Act. But wee confesse there is a great abuse of Philosophy making it vain and deceitfull according to the Apostles just complaint when it presumeth by the principles of Reason to crosse and controll the Articles of Faith then indeed it becometh 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 vain or empty as wherein nulla impletio multa inflatio nothing to fill man's minde though too much to puffe it up which is true both of Philosophy in generall and of all the parts thereof Thus Logick in it selfe is of absolute necessity without which Saint Paul could never have g Act. 19. 9. disputed two yeeres no nor two houres in the School of Tyrannus so highly did the Apostle prize it that hee desired to be free'd 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from men who have no Topicks from absurd men who will fixe in no place to bee convinced with reason But Logick thus usefull may bee abused and made deceitfull either in doubtfull Disputations where the Questions can never bee determined or k 1 Tim. 6. 5. in perverse disputings of men where the Disputants are so humorous and peevish that they are unwilling to understand each other making wrangling not satisfaction the end of their dispute Ethicks in like manner are of speciall use in Divinity though not to bee beleeved where they crosse Christianity namely where they exclude Humility from being a virtue on the erroneous account that it is destructive to Magnanimity which is the Christians Livery Bee ye clothed l 1 Pet. 5. 5. with Humility and the m Mica 6. 8. Third part of all which God in this world enjoyneth us to performe Natural Philosophy must not bee forgotten singularly usefull in Divinity save when it presumes to control the Articles of our Creed it is one of the four things for which the Earth is n Pro. 30. 22. moved A Servant when hee Reigneth and intolerable is the pride of Natural Philosophy which should hand-maid it to Divinity when once offering to rule over it Your Honors worthy Grandfather William Lord Maynard well knew the great conveniency yea necessity of Logick for Divines when hee founded and plentifully endowed a Professors place in the Vniversity of Cambridge for the Reading thereof Of Cambridge which I hope ere long you will grace with your presence who in due time may become a â—tudent and good Proficient therein Learning being no more prejudiciall to a Person of Honor then moderate ballaste to the safe-sayling of a Ship Till which time and ever after the continuance and increase of all Happinesse to you and your relations is the daily prayer of Your Honours humble Servant THOMAS FULLER THE HISTORY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF Cambridge Since the CONQVEST ⧠Preface ALthough the foundation of this Vniversity was far ancienter yet because what before this time is reported of it is both little and doubtfull and already inserted into the Body of our Ecclesiasticall History it is early enough to begin the certain History thereof Farre be it from me to make odious comparisons between a 1 Kings 17. 21. Jachin and Boaz the two Pillars in Solomons Temple by preferring either of them for beauty and strength when both of them are equally admirable Nor shall I make difference betwixt the Sisters Coheires of Learning and Religion which should be the Eldest In the days of King Henry b Ex bundello Petitionâ—m Parliamenti Anno 23 Hen. 6 num 12. the sixth such was the quality of desert betwixt Humphrey Stafford Duke of Buckingham and Henry Beauchampe Duke of Warwick that to prevent exceptions about Priority it was ordered by the Parliament That they should take precedency by turns one one yeare and the other the next yeare and so by course were to checquer or exchange their going or setting all the years of their life Sure I am there needeth no such pains to be took or provision to be made about the preeminence of our English Universities to regulate their places they having better learned Humility from the Precept of the c Rom. 12. 10 Apostle In honour preferring one another Wherefore I presume my Aunt Oxford will not be justly offended if in this Book I give my own Mother the upper hand and first begin with her History Thus desiring God to pour his blessing on both that neither may want Milk for their Children or Children for their Milk we proceed to the businesse 1. AT this time the fountain of learning in Cambridge was but little Anno Regis Will. the Conq. 1 and that very troubled Anno Dom 1066 For of late the Danes who at first The low condition of Cambridge at the Conquest like an intermitting Ague made but inroads into the Kingdom but afterwards turn'd to a quotidian of constant habitation had harraged all this Countrey and hereabouts kept their station Mars then frighted away the Muses when the Mount of Parnassus was turn'd into a Fort and Helicon derived into a Trench And at this present Anno Dom. 1070 King William