he maketh those who were to keep it in some sort Judges of the justness thereof endeavouring to convince their consciences and make their souls sensible of the natural uncleanness of such an act It is thy Brothers nakedness Such marriages are again forbidden in another Text. Anno Dom. 1530 Nor can I render other resson of this Duplicate Anno Regis Hen. 8. 22. whereas others are but once that this should be twice prohibited save that God foreseeing in his providence mens corrupt inclinations prone here to climb over did therefore think fit to make a double fence LEVIT 20. 21. And if a man shall take his Brothers Wife it is an unclean thing he hath uncovered his Brothers Nakedness they shall be Childless Here we have the Prohibition backt with a Commination of being Childless which is variously interpreted either that they shall never have children or if having them they shall not survive their Parents or if surviving they shall not be counted Children but Bastards illegitimate in the Court of Heaven This Commination of being childless as applied ad hominem fell heavy on King Henry the eighth who sensible that his Queen though happy often to conceive was unhappy almost as often to miscarry Henry his onely Christian son by her died before a full year old a second was nameless as never living to the honour of Baptism and of many blasted in the bud Mary onely survived to womans estate 11. Such as inquire into the nature of this Law finde it founded in Nature it self This proved to be a Law of Nature being onely declaratory of what true reason doth dictate to man God in making this Law did not imprint a new writing in mens hearts but onely rub off some old rust from the same wherefore it is added Levit. 18. 27 28. For all these abominations have the men of the Land done which were before you and the Land is defiled that the Land spue not you out also when ye defile it as it spued out the Nations that were before you Surely the Land would never have vomited out the Heathen for not observing a positive precept never immediately delivered unto them which plainly shews it was imprinted in nature though partly obliterated by their corrupt customes to the contrary and their consciences in their Lucid Intervals were apprehensive thereof This would make one the more to admire that any should maintain that this Law the breach whereof made the Country to avoid her Pagan Inhabitants should be onely a Senders de schism Angli pag. 3. lex imposititia Ecclesiastica an imposed and Church-Law To hear of a Church-Law amongst the Canaanites is a strange Paradox 12. It is objected this could not be a Law of Nature The Objection to the contrary because almost at the beginning of nature men brake them by the consent and permission of the God of heaven For Cain and Seth with the elder sons of Adam must be allowed to have married their own sisters far nearer in nature then their Brothers Wife 13. It is answered Answered when God first created man-kinde it was his pleasure all men should derive their original from Eve as she from Adam For had he made as one may say two distinct houses of Man-kinde what falling out and fighting what bickering and battleing would have been betwixt them If men now adayes descended from the loyns of one general Father and womb of one mother are full of so fierce hatred how many and keen may their differences be presumed had they sprung from several Fountains and then all their hatred would have been charged not on their corruption but on their Creation God therefore as the Apostle saith Acts 17. 26. hath made of one bloud all nations Now in the beginning of Mankinde absolute necessity gave Brethren liberty to marry their own sisters Yea God himself interpretatively signed and sealed the same with his own consent because his wisdom had appointed no other means without miracle for the propagation of man-kinde Anno Regis Hen. 8. 82. But when men began to be multiplied on the earth Anno Dom. 1530 that necessity being removed the light of Nature dictated unto them the unlawfulness of such marriages and of some others more remote as coming within the compss of Incest though the corrupt practises of Pagans sometimes trespassed in that kinde God therefore being to give his Law to the Jews cleared and declared that light of Nature by his positive Law unto his people to whom his Goodness gave a Garden and sorbad a Tree so inconsiderable were those few prohibited to the many persons permitted them in marriage For whereas there came out of a Exâ—d 12. 37. Egypt and six hundred thousand men besides children fifty persons at the most counting those forbidden as well by consequence as expresly were interdicted unto them amongst whom one was the Marriage with a Brothers Wife For although God Permitted this by a judicial Law ro his own people in case of b Deut. â—5 5. raising up seed to a Brother deceased childless the Will of God being the Law of Laws yet otherwise it was utterly unlawful as whereon God had stamped as is aforesaid a double Note of natural uncleanness 14. The Law then of forbidding marriage with a Brothers Wife Gods Laws indispensable with by the Pope being founded in nature it was pride and presumption in the Pope to pretend to dispense therewith Indeed we read that the dispensation of the Gospel to see it dealt and distributed to several persons was committed to c 1 Cor. 9. â—â— S t Paul whose joynt successour with S t Peter the Pope pretends to be but a Dispensation from the Law of God to free men from the same neither Paul nor Peter ever pretended unto Let the Pope make relaxations of such Church Canons which meerly Ecclesiastical Authority hath made there he may have the specious power to remit the rigour thereof at some times places and persons as he apprehendeth just occasion But let him not meddle to grant liberty for the breach of Gods Law The first Dispensation in this kinde is what Satan in the Serpent gave our first Parents in Paradice d Gen. 3. 4. you shall not surely dye and whether the Granter had less power therein or the receivers less profit therby we their woful posterity have little comfort to decide 15. Nor doth it any thing alter the case Carnal knowled not material in this controversie what was so much controverted in the Court of Rome whether or no Prince Arthur had carnal knowledge of his Wife seeing we may observe that in the Court of Heaven Marriages bear date not from their Copulation but solemn Contact And they thenceforward are esteemed Man and Wife before God For it is e Deut. 22. 24. provided that if a Damsel be betrothed to Husband still remaining a Virgin and shall be layen with by another man both of
shall be requisite In pursuance of these their Instructions the Kings Commissioners in their respective Counties recovered much and discovered more of Church-wealth and Ornaments For some were utterly imbeziled by persons not responsible and there the King must lose his right More were concealed by parties not detectable so cunningly they carried their stealths seeing every one who had nimmed a Church-Bell did not ring it out for all to hear the sound thereof Many potent persons well known to have such goods shufled it out with their greatnesse mutually connived at therein by their equalls fellow-offenders in the same kinde However the Commissioners regained more than they expected confidering the distance of time and the cold scent they followed so many years after the Dissolution This Plate and other Church-Utensils were sold and advanced much money to the Exchequer An * Sir John Hayward Authour telleth us That amongst many which they found they left but one silver Chalice to every Church too narrow a proportion to populous Parishes where they might have left two at the least seeing for expedition sake at great Sacraments the Minister at once delivereth the wine to two Communicants But they conceived one Cup enough for a small Parish and that greater and richer were easily able to purchase more to themselves 2. All this Income rather stayed the stomack Durham Bishoprick dissolved than satisfied the hunger of the Kings Exchequer For the allaying whereof the Parliament now sitting conferred on the Crown the Bishoprick of Durham This may be called the English Herbipolis or Wirtz-burge it being true of both Dunelmia sola judicat Ense Stola The Bishop whereof was a Palatine or Secular Prince and his Seal in form resembleth Royalty in the Roundnesse thereof and is not Oval the badge of plain Episcopacy Rich and entire the revenues of this See such as alone would make a considerable addition to the Crown remote the scituation thereof out of Southern sight and therefore if dissolved the sooner out of mens mindes Besides Cuthbert Tunstall the present Bishop of Durham was in durance and deprived for his obstinacy so that so stubborn a Bishop gave * yet the Duke of Northumberland either was or was to be possessour thereof the State the fairer quarrell with so rich a Bishoprick now annexed to the Kings revenue 3. Well it was for this See Afterwards restored by Qu. Mary though dissolved that the lands thereof were not dispersed by sale unto severall persons but preserved whole and entire as to the main in the Crown Had such a dissipation of the parts thereof been made no lesse than a State miracle had been requisite for the recollection thereof Whereas now within two years after Queen Mary restored Tunstall to this Bishoprick and this Bishoprick to it self re-setling all the lands on the same 4. By this time A wood rather a wildernesse of the Popes Canons such Learned men as were employed by the King to reform the Ecclesiastical Laws had brought their work to some competent perfection Let me enlarge my self on this subject of concernment for the Readers satisfaction When the Pope had ingrossed to his Courts the cognizance of all causes which either looked glanced or pointed in the least degree at what was reduceable to Religion he multiplied Laws to magnifie himself Whose principal designe therein was not to make others good but himself great not so much to direct and defend the good to restrain and punish the bad as to ensnare and entangle both For such the number of their Clementines 〈◊〉 Intrd. Extravagants Provincialls Synodalls Glosses Sentences Chapters Summaries Rescripts Breviaries long and short Cases c. that none could carry themselves so cautiously but would be rendred obnoxious and caught within the compasse of offending Though the best was for money they might buy the Popes pardon and thereby their own innocence 5. Hereupon Two and thirty Regulatours of the Canon-Law when the Popes power was banished out of England his Canon-Law with the numerous Books and branches thereof lost its authority in the Kings Dominions Yet because some gold must be presumed amongst so much drosse grain amongst so much chaffe it was thought fit that so much of the Canon Law should remain as was found conformable to the Word of God and Laws of the Land And therefore King Henry the eighth was impowred by Act of Parliament to elect two and thirty able persons to reform the Ecclesiastical Laws though in His Reign very little to good purpose was performed therein 6. But the designe was more effectually followed in the daies of King Edward the sixth Contracted to eight by King Edward the 6. reducing the number of two and thirty to eight thus mentioned in His Letters Patents dated at Westminster the last year Novemb 11. Bishops Thomas Cranmer of Canterbury Thomas Goodrich of Elie. Divines Peter Martyr Richard Cox Civilians and Canonists Dr. William May. Dr. Rowland Taylor of Hadley Common Lawyers John Lucas Rich Goodrick Esquires It was not onely convenient but necessary that Common Lawyers should share in making these Church Constitutions because the same were to be built not onely sure in themselves but also symmetricall to the Municipall Lawes of the Land These Eight had power by the Kings Patents to call in to their assistance what persons they pleased and are said to have used the pens of Sir John Cheeke and Walter Haddon Dr. in Law to turn their Lawes into Latine 7. However Laws no Laws not stamped with Royall Authority these had onely a preparing no concluding power so that when they had ended their work two things were wanting to make these Ecclesiastical Canons thus by them composed have the validity of Laws First an exact review of them by others to amend the mistakes therein As where * Titulo de Divinis Officiâ—s cap. 6. they call the Common Prayer Book then used in England proprium perfectum omnis divini cultus judicem magistrum a title truly belonging onely to the Scripture Secondly a Royall ratification thereunto which this King prevented by death nor any of His Successours ever stamped upon it Indeed I finde in an * Iohn 〈◊〉 at the end of his Preface to his Book intituled Reformation no enemy to Her Majesty Author whom I am half-ashamed to alledge that Doctor Haddon Anno 12 or 13 Elizabeth delivered in Parliament a Latine Book concerning Church-Discipline written in the daies of King Edward the sixt by Mr. Cranmer Sir John Cheek c. which could be no other than this lately mentioned Which Book was committed by the House unto the said Mr. Haddon Mr. George Bromley Mr. Norton c. to be translated I conceive into English again and never after can I recover any mention thereof save that some thirteen years since * Anno 1640. A silent Convocation it was printed in London 8. A Parliament was called in the last of this Kings
volley of ill words discharged at them amongst which none so mortal to their reputation as the word Schismatick wherewith the Coxians branded them at their departure Much fending and proving there was betwixt them whether Schismatick was properly applyable to such who agreeing in doctrine dissented onely in superfluous ceremonies In conclusion nothing was concluded amongst them as to agreement And now no pitty shewed at their departure no sending of sighes or shedding of tears on either side the one being as glad of the room they left as the other were desirous of their own removall 10. If any be curious to know the names of such The names of such as went to Geneva who separated themselves from this Congregation of Frankford this ensuing catalogue a Taken out of their subscription to a letter in the Troubles of Frankford pag. 47. will acquaint him therewith William William Anthonie Christopher Thomas Iohn Williams Whittingham Gilby Goodman Cole Fox Thomas William Iohn Iohn Christopher Nicolas Wood. Keth◠Kelke Hilton Soothous Purfote Iohn Thomas William Laurence Iohn Anthonie Escot Grafton Walton Kent Hellingham Carier Of these M r. Fox with a few moe went to Basil the rest settled themselves at Geneva where they were all most courteously entertained And now who can expect less but that those still remaining at Frankford as the same in opinion should be the same in affection and live in brotherly love together But alas man while he is man will be man and Sathan the sower of tares 6. 155. 7. did set a sad dissention betwixt them which we come now to relate 11. There was an eminent member of the Congregation in Frankford The sad difference betwixt Mr. Ashley and Mr. Horne M r. Ashley by name one of a worshipfull b Troubles of Frankford pag. 55. degree and as it seems of a Spirit not to say Stomack no whit beneath his extraction Jan. 14. 16. Now there happened some high words at Supper betwixt Him and M r. Horn then Pastor of the Congregation yet so that all the difference by the seasonable mediation of the Guests was then seemingly composed But two dayes after M r. Ashley was convented before the Elders where it was laid to his charge that at time and place aforesaid he had spoken words slanderous to them and their Ministry Ashley appealed from them as an adversary Part against Him and therefore no competent Judges unto the whole Congregation as men of estimation with both Parties to hear and determine the difference betwixt them 12. Hereat M r. Horn and the Elders were highly offended Horne and the Elders in discountent quit their places pleading that they had received authority from the whole Church to hear and decide such Cases Ann. Dom. 6. 155-7 and were resolved not to depart with the power so legally delegated unto them And whereas many meetings were made of M r. Ashleys friends to debate his businesse M r. Horne and the Elders condemned them as tending to schism accounting their own presence so of the Quorum to any lawful assembly that without it all conventions were conventicles Yea M r. Horne and the Elders perceiving that M r. Ashleys friends being most numerous in the Congregation would bring his Cause to be determined by the diffusive Church Feb. 2. fully and freely forsook their Ministry and Service therein Preferring rather willingly to un-Pastor and dis-Elder themselves than to retain the place without the power Title without the Authority due thereunto 13. This deserting of their Duty Where at the Church is highly offended was by others interpreted an high contempt of the Congregation Especially when two dayes after a full Church met with an empty Pulpit 4. wherein none to teach the people The Ashleyans being far the major part took exception that Horne and the Elders should so slightly and suddenly quit what before they had so seriously and solemnly accepted as if their Pastoral charges were like their cloaths or upper garments to be put off at pleasure to coole themselves in every heat of Passion Besides these men being married in a manner to their Ministeriall Functions could not legally divorce themselves without mutual consent and the Churches approbation thereof 14. Soon after the State of the controversie was altered Inquiry how to proceed against the Pastor and Elders if accused M r. Ashleys businesse being laid aside and another of an higher concernment taken up in the room thereof namely how the Congregation should proceed against the Pastor and Elders in case they were accused for misdemeanour For hitherto no provisions were made in the constitutions of this Church to regulate this case if chancing to occur Whether because the compilers of those constitutions charitably presumed on the integrity of all such Officers or omitted the making any law against them in favour to themselves as most probable to obtain such places or because no canons can at once be compleated 14. but a reserve must be left for the additions of others to perfect the same But now eight were appointed to regulate the manner of the proceeding of the Congregation against Pastor and Elders if peccant who were without or rather above censure according to the old Discipline which still inflamed the anger of M r. Horne and his Party 15. A Party much advantaged by M r. Chambers siding therewith Mr. Chambers accused of injustice because He was keeper of the charity conferred on and contributions collected for the Congregation Now where goeth the Purse there goeth the Poor most in want were of Hornes side in hope of the larger relief This made others complain of Chambers as an unjust Steward of the Churches treasure too free to such as He affected and bountifull only of Taunts and ill Terms to those of a different Judgement making neither Mens Need or Deserts but only his own fancy the direction of his Distributions 16. Now began their brawls to grow so loud The scandal of this dissention that their next neighbours over-heard them I mean the State of Frankford took notice thereof to the shame of all and grief of all good in the English Nation For how scandalous was it that exiles of the same Country for the same Cause could not agree together But man in misery as well as man in honour hath no understanding Yea they began to fear lest many Dutch-men hitherto their bountifull Benefactours should for the future withdraw their benevolences conceiving these exiles wanted no mony who had such store of animosities and probably poverty would make them more peaceable amongst themselves Their discords were the worse because the Vernali mart at Frankford did approach and it would be welcome ware and an usefull commodity for Popish Merchants meeting there to carry over into England and all the world over the news of their distractions 17. Hereupon the Magistrate of Frankford interposed to arbitrate their differences 〈…〉 short friends but whether
assuredly expect from him If before and above all things seeking for that one thing which is needfull the rather because God hath done great things for you already for which you have cause to rejoyce A great and good * 1 Sa. 18. 23 man said to his fellow-servants Seemeth it a small thing to you to be Son in-law to a King A greater honour was done to your first Ancestor who was SON TO A KING namely to Hardinge King of Denmark whence Fitz-Harding your most ancient sir-name But labour SIR for a higher honor then both Even to be led by GODS SPIRIT and then you shall be even in the language of the Apostle himself * Rom. 8. 14. FITZ-DIEU A SON OF GOD. Now as your Eminent bounty unto me may justly challenge the choicest of my best endeavours So the particular motive inducing me to dedicate this Booke to your honor is because it containeth the reign of Queen Elizabeth to whom you are so nearly related Whose * The heir generall of George Carâ—e L. Hunsdon whose Grandmother Mary was second Sister to Anne Bollen Grandmother proved her heir by ANNE BOLLEN her mother In which capacity some of that Queens or rather the Lady Elizabeths moveables and Jewels which were her Mothers descended unto her You may therefore challenge an interest most properly in this part of my History And now what remaineth but my humble and hearty prayers to the Divine Majesty for his blessing on your selfe and on your hopefull Issue That God would plentifully powre all his fauours of this and a better life upon them Suspect me not Sir for omitting because not expressing your noble Consort We finde in the fourth commandement Thou and thy Son and thy Daughter c. Where Divines render this reason why the wife is not mentioned because the same person with the Husband On which account your second self is effectually included within the daily devotions of Your bounden Orator Thomas Fuller THE CHVRCH-HISTORY OF BRITAINE Anno. Regin Eliza. 1. SECTION I. CENT XVI Anno. Dom. 1559 1. FOr the first six weeks the Queen Her slow but sure pace of Reformation and her wife councell suffered matters to stand in their former state without the least change as yet not altering but consulting what should be altered Thus our Saviour himself coming into the Temple and finding it profaned with sacriledge when he had looked round about upon all things a Mar. 11. 11. departed for the evening contenting himself with the survey of what was amisse and deferring the reformation thereof till the next morning but on the first b Holinshed 1. year of Q. Elizabeth pag. 1172. of January following being Sunday the best new-yeers-gift that ever was bestowed on England by vertue of the Queens Proclamation the Letanie was read in English with Epistles and Gospels in all Churches of London as it was formerly in her Graces own Chappel 2. But some violent Spirits The forwardness of private men in publique reformation variously censured impatient to attend the leisure by them counted the lazinesse of authority fell before hand to the beating down of superstitious Pictures and images and their forward zeal met with many to applaud it For Idolatry is not to be permitted a moment the first minuite is the fittest to abolish it All that have power have right to destroy it by that Grand charter of Religion whereby every one is bound to advance Gods glory And if Soveraâ—gns forget no reason but Subjects should remember their duty But others condemned their indiscretion herein for though they might reforme their private persons and families and refraine to communicate in any outward act contrary to Gods word yet publique reformation belonged to the Magistrate and a good deed was by them ill done for want of a calling to do it However the Papists have no cause to tax them with over-forwardness in this kinde the like being done by them in the beginning of Queen Maries raigne whilst the laws of King Edward the Sixth stood as yet in full force when they prevented authority as hath been c See â—6 Cent. 2 part â— paragraph formerly observed thus those who are hungry and have meat afore them will hardly be kept from eating though Grace be not said and leave given them by their superiours 3. Now the tidings of Queen Elizabeths peaceable coming to the crown Anno. Dom. 1558. was no sooner brought beyond the Seas but it fitted the English Exiles with unspeakable glandness 〈…〉 being instantly at home in their hearts and not long after with their bodies I knew one right well whose father amongst them being desperately diseased was presently and perfectly cured with the cordiall of this good news and no wonder if this Queen recovered sick men which revived religion it self Now the English Church at Geneva being the greatest opposer of ceremonies sent their letter by William Ceth to all other English Congregations in Germany and especially to those of Frankford congratulating their present deliverance condoling their former discords counselling and requesting that all offences heretofore given or taken might be forgiven and forgotten and that for the future they might no more fall out about sâ—perfluous ceremonies a It was dated Decem. 15. but not received till about Ianuâ—r the second see 〈◊〉 at Frankford pag. 162. But this letter came too late because the principall persons concerned in that controversie with whom they sought a charitable reconciliation were departed from Frankford I think towards England before the messenger arrived and so the motion missed to take effect Some suppose had it come in season it might have prevailed much that both parties in gratitude to God would in a bonefire of their generall joy have burnt this unhappy bone of dissention cast betwixt them Others considering the distance of their principles and difference of their spirits conceive such an agreement neither could be wrought nor would be kept betwixt them For it is the property of cold to congregate together things of different kinds and if the winter of want pinching them all with poverty could not freeze their affections together less likely was it that the warmth of wealth in their native Soâ—le would conjoyne them in amity but rather widen them further asunder as indeed it came to passe For as the rivers of Danubius and Savus in Huagarie though running in the same channell yet for many miles keep different streames visible in their party-coloured waters which do rather touch then unite yea the fishes peculiar to one stream are not found in another So these opposite parties returning home though concurring in doctrine under the generall notion of Protestants were so reserved in severall disciplines to themselves with their private favourites and followers that they wanted that comfortable communion which some hop'd and all wished would be amongst them Till at last they brake out into dolefull and dangerous opposition whereat all Papists clap
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
the peoples pews than was then generally in the Readers deske yea Preachers Pulpit let God be more glorified in it men more edified by it seeing of late the Universities have afforded moe vine-dressers than the Country could yeeld them vineyards Yea let us be jealous over our selves with a godly jealousie lest our ingratitude make us to relapse into the like ignorance and barbarisme For want of bread was not so much the suffering of those dayes as fulness thereof hath lately been the sin of ours 36. Great abuses being offered to the monuments of the dead A Proclamation against defaeers of Monuments in Churches the Queen thought fitting seasonably to retrench the increase of such impieties And although her Proclamation being printed the printing of Her name thereunto had been of as much validity in it self and of far more ease to Her Majesty yet to manifest Her Princely zeal therein She severally signed each copie and those numerous to be dispers'd thoroughout all Her Dominions with Her own hand And seeing Shee begrutched not Her pains to superscribe Her name I shall not think much of mine to transcribe the whole Proclamation Elizabeth THe Queens Majesty understanding Anno Dom. 1559. that by the means of sundry people Anno Regin Eliza. 2. partly ignorant This Proclamation was printed at London in Pauls Church-yard by Rich. Jagg and John Cawood 〈◊〉 to the Queen partly malitious or covetous there hath been of â—â—te yeers spoiled and broken certain ancient Monuments some of metall some of stone which were erected up as well in Churches as in other publike places within this Realme only to shew a memory to the posterity of the persons there buried or that had been benefactours to the building or dotations of the same Churches or publique places and not tonourish any kinde of superstition By which means not only the Churches and places remain at this present day spoiled broken and ruinated to the offence of all noble and gentle hearts and the extinguishing of the honourable and good memory of sundry vertuous and noble persons deceased but also the true understanding of divers families in this Realm who have descended of the blood of the same persons deceased is thereby so darkened as the true course of their inheritance may be hereafter interrupted contrary to justice besides many other offences that do hereof ensue to the slander of such as either gave or had charge in times past only to deface monuments of idolatry and false fained images in Churches and Abbeys And therefore although it be very hard to recover things broken and spoiled yet both to provide that no such barbarous disorder be hereafter used and to repaire as much of the said monuments as conveniently maybe Her Majesty chargeth and commandeth all maner of persons hereafter to forbear the breaking or defacing of any parcell of any monument or tombe or grave or other inscription and memory of any person deceased being in any manner of place or to break any image of Kings Princes or Nobles Estates of this Realme or of any other that have been in times past erected and set up for the only memory of them to their posterity in common Churches and not for any religious honour or to break down and deface any image in glass-windows in any Churches without consent of the Ordinarie upon pain that whosoever shall be herein found to offend to be committed to the next Goale and there to remain without baile or mainprise unto the next coming of the Justices for the delivery of the said Goale and then to be farther punished by fine or imprisonment besides the restitution or reedification of the thing broken as to the said Justices shall seem meet using therein the advice of the Ordinary and if need shall be the advice of Her Majesties Councell in Her Starr-Chamber And for such as be already spoiled in any Church or Chappell now standing Her Majesty chargeth and commandeth all Arch-Bishops Bishops and other Ordinaries or Ecclesiastical persons which have authority to visit the Churches or Chappels to enquire by presentments of the Curates Church-wardens and certain of the parishioners what manner of spoâ—les have been made sithence the beginning of Her Majesties raigne of such monuments and by whom and if the persons be living how able they be to repair and readifie the same and thereupon to convent the same persons and to enjoyn them under pain of Excommunication to repair the same by a convenient day or otherwise as the cause shall farther require to notifie the same to Her Majesties Councell in the Sarr-chamber at Westminster And if any such be found and convicted thereof not able to repair the same that then they be enjoyned to do open pennance two or three times in the Church as to the quality of the crime and party belongeth under the like pain of excommunication And if the party that offended be dead and the Executours of the Will left having sufficient in their hands unadministred and the offence notorious the Ordinarie of the place shall also enjoyn them to repair or reedifie the same upon like or any other convenient pain to be devised by thesaid Ordinarie And when the offender cannot be presented if it be in any Cathedral or Collegiate Church which hath any revenue belonging to it that is not particularly allotted to the sustentation of any person certain or otherwise but that it may remain in the discretion of the governour thereof to bestow the same upon any other charitable deed as mending of high-wayes or such like Her Majesty enjoyneth and straitly chargeth the governours and companies of every such Church to employ such parcels of the said sums of mony as any wise may be spared upon the speedy repaire or reedification of any such monuments so defaced or spoiled as agreeable to the original as the same conveniently may be And where the covetousness of certain persons is such that as Patrons of Churches or owners of the personages impropriated or by some other colour or pretence they do perswade with the Parson and Parishioners to take or throw down the bells of Churches and Chappels and the lead of the same converting the same to their private gain and to the spoils of the said places and make such like alterations as thereby they seek a slanderous desolation of the places of prayer Her Majesty to whom in the right of the Crown by the ordinance of Almighty God and by the laws of this Realme the defence and protection of the Church of this Realme belongeth doth expressly forbid any manner of person to take away any bells or lead of any Church or Chappel under pain of imprisonment during Her Majesties pleasure and such farther fine for the contempt as shall be thought meet And Her Majesty chargeth all Bishops and Ordinaries to enquire of all such contempts done from the beginning of Her Majesties raigne and to enjoyn the persons offending to repair the same within a
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.
Spirit and present them spotlesse and unblameable to their Saviour In discharge of which function We which are by Gods goodnesse called to the government of the aforesaid Church do spare no pains labouring with all earnestness that Unity and the Catholick Religion which the Author thereof hath for the triall of his childrens faith and for our amendment suffered with so great afflictions might be preserved uncorrupt But the number of the ungodly hath gotten such power that there is now no place left in the whole world which they have not assayed to corrupt with their most wicked Doctrines Amongst others Elizabeth the pretended Queen of England the servant of wickedness lending thereunto her helping hand with whom as in a Sanctuary the most pernicious of all have found a refuge This very woman having seised on the Kingdom and monstrously usurping the place of Supreme Head of the Church in all England and the chief authority and jurisdiction thereof hath again brought back the said Kingdom into miserable destruction which was then newly reduced to the Catholick Faith and good fruits For having by strong hand inhibited the exercise of the true Religion which Mary the lawfull Queen of famous memory had by the help of this See restored Anno Dom. 1570. Anno Regin Eliza. 13. after it had been formerly overthrown by Henry the eighth a revolter therefrom and following and embracing the errours of Hereticks She hath removed the Royall Councell consisting of the English Nobility and filled it with obscure men being Hereticks suppressed the embracers of the Catholick Faith placed dishonest Preachers and Ministers of impieties abolished the sacrifice of the Mass Prayers Fastings Choice of meats Unmarried life and the Catholick Rites and Ceremonies commanded Books to be read in the whole Realm containing manifest Heresie and impious mysteries and institutions by Her self entertained and observed according to the prescript of Calvin to be likewise observed by Her Subjects presumed to throw Bishops Parsons of Churches and other Catholick Priests out of their Churches and Benefices and to bestow them and other Church-livings upon Hereticks and to determine of Church-causes prohibited the Prelates Clergy and People to acknowledge the Church of Rome or obey the Precepts and Canonicall Sanctions thereof compelled most of them to condescend to Her wicked Laws and to abjure the authority and obedience of the Bishop of Rome and to acknowledge Her to be sole Ladie in temporall and spirituall matters and this by oath imposed penalties and punishments upon those which obeyed not and exacted them of those which perserved in the unity of the faith and their obedience aforesaid cast the Catholick Prelates and Rectors of Churches in prison where many of them being spent with long languishing and sorrow miserably ended their lives All which things seeing they are manifest and notorious to all Nations and by the gravest testimony of very many so substantially proved that there is no place at all left for excuse defence or evasion We seeing that impieties and wicked actions are multiplied one upon another and moreover that the persecution of the faithfull and affliction for Religion groweth every day heavier and heavier through the instigation and means of the said Elizabeth because We understand Her minde to be so hardened and indurate that She hath not only contemned the godly requests and admonitions of Catholick Princes concerning Her healing and conversion but alas hath not so much as permitted the Nuncioes of this See to cross the seas into England are constrained of necessity to betake our selves to the weapons of justice against Her not being able to mitigate our sorrow that We are drawn to take punishment upon one to whose Ancestors the whole state of all Christendome hath been so much bounden Being therefore supported with His authority whose pleasure it was to place Us though unable for so great a burden in this supreme throne of justice We do out of the fulnesse of Our Apostolick Power declare the aforesaid Elizabeth being an Heretick and a favourer of Heresies and Her adherents in the matters aforesaid to have incurred sentence of Anathemaâ— and to be cut off from the unity of the body of Christ And moreover We do declare Her to be deprived of Her pretended title to the Kingdom aforesaid and of all Dominion Dignity and Priviledge whatsoever and also the Nobility Subjects and People of the said Kingdom and all other which have in any sort sworn unto Her to be for ever absolved from any such oath and all manner of duty of Dominion Allegiance and Obedience As We do also by authority of these presents absolve them and do deprive the same Elizabeth of Her pretended title to the Kingdom and all other things above-said And We do command and interdict all and every the Noble-men Subjects People Anno Regin Eliza. 12. Anno Dom. 1569. and others aforesaid that they presume not to obey Her or Her monitions mandates and laws and those which shall do the contrary We do innodate with the like Sentence of Anathem And because it were a matter of too much difficulty to convey these presents to all places wheresoever it shall be needfull Our will is that the copies thereof under a publick Notaries hand and sealed with the seal of an Ecclesiastical Prelate or of his court shall carry together the same credit with all people judicially and extrajudicially as these presents should do if they were exhibited or shewed Given at Rome at S t. Peters in the year of the incarnation of our Lord one thousand five hundred sixty nine the fifth of the Kalends of March and of Our Popedom the fifth year Cae Glorierius H. Cumyn 25. The principall persons The different opinions of English Catholicks concerning this excommunication whose importunity solicited the Pope to thunder out this excommunication were D r. Harding D r. Stapleton D r. Morton and D r. Web. And now the news thereof flying over into England variously affected the Catholicks according to their several dispositions 1. Some admired and applauded the resolution of His holinesse expecting all persons should instantly start from the infectious presence of the Queen and that that virgin-rose so blasted should immediately wither 2. Others would not believe that there was any such excommunication at all but that it was a mere slander devised by the common enemy to make all Catholicks odious 3. Others accounted such Excommunication though denounced of no validity a Watsons Qâ—â—dlibets pag. 262. because the reasons which moved the Pope thereunto were falsely and surreptitiously suggested to His Holiness 4. Others did question the lawfulnesse of all excommunications of Princes according to the rule of S t. Thomas Princeps multitudo non est excommunicanda where the uncertain profit which might follow could not countervail the certain mischief which would ensue 5. Others did condemne the present excommunication pro hic nunc as unexpedient probable to incense and exasperate the
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
this promoted to be Bishop of Worcester then succeeded Grindal in London and Yorke an excellent and painfull preacher and of a pious and Godly life which increased in his old age so that by a great and good stride whilst he had one foot in the Grave he had the other in Heaven He was buried in Southwell and it is hard to say whether he was more eminent in his own Vertues or more happy in his Flourishing Posterity 26. The next year produced not any great Church matters in its self 32. but was only preparatory to the ripening of business 1589. and raising the charges against the principall Patrons of Nonconformity Arch-Bishop Whitgift his discretion Indeed Arch-Bishop Whitgift according to his constant custome and manner repaired daily to the Councell-Table early in the morning and after an usuall apprecation of a Good-morrow to the Lords he requested to know if there were any Church business to be debated and if the answer were returned in the Affirmative He stayed and attended the issue of the matter But if no such matter appeared he craved leave to be dispensed withall saying Then my Lords here is no need of me and departed A commendable practise clearing himself from all aspersions of civill-pragmaticallness and tending much to the just support of his reputation 27. On the first of September M r. Cartwright 33. Batchelor in Divinity 1590. Sept. 1. was brought before Her Majesties Commissioners Articles objected against Mr. Thomas Cartwright there to take his oath and give in his positive answer to the following Articles 1. IMprimis a a The copy of these Articles â—ere 〈…〉 after his death who as kindly communicated as 〈◊〉 have 〈◊〉 â—nscribed them We do object and articulate against him Anno Dom. 1590. that he Anno Regin Eliza. 33. being a Minister at least a Deacon lawfully called according to the godly laws and orders of this Church of England hath forsaken abandoned and renounced the same orders Ecclesiastical as an antichristian and unlawfull manner of calling unto the Ministry or Deaconship 2. Item that he departing this Realm into forraign parts without license as a man discontented with the form of Government Ecclesiasticall here by law established the more to testifie his dislike and contempt thereof and of the manner of his former Vocation and Ordination was contented in forraign parts as at Antwerpe Middeburgh or elsewhere to have a new Vocation Election or Ordination by imposition of hands unto the Ministry or unto some other order or degree Ecclesiasticall and in other manner and form than the laws Ecclesiasticall of this Realm do prescribe Let him declare upon his oath the particular circumstances thereof 3. Item that by vertue or colour of such his later Vocation Election or Ordination becoming a pretended Bishop or Pastor of such Congregation as made choice of him he established or procured to be established at Antwerp and at Middleburgh among Merchants and others Her Majesties Subjects a certain Consistory Seminary Presbytery or Eldership Ecclesiastical consisting of himself being Bishop or Pastor and so President thereof of a Doctor of certain Ancients Sentours or Elders for government Ecclesiastical and of Deacons for distributing to the poor 4. Item that the said Eldership and the authority thereof certain English-born Subjects were called elected or ordained by imposition of hands to be Ministers or Ecclesiastical Doctors being not of that degree before as Hart Travers Grise or some of them and some that were also Ministers afore according to the orders of the Church of England as Fenner Acton were so called and other English Subjects were also called and likewise ordained Elders and some others were ordained Deacons in other manner and form than the laws Ecclesiasticall of the Realm do prescribe or allow of 5. Item that such Eldership so established under the Presidentship of him the said Thomas Cartwright had used besides this authority of this Vocation and Ordination of Officers ecclesiasticall the Censures and keyes of the Church as publick admonition suspension from the Supper and from execution of offices ecclesiastical and the censures of excommunication likewise authority of making laws degrees and orders ecclesiastical and of dealing with the doctrine and manners of all persons in that Congregation in all matters whatsoever so far as might appertain to conscience 6. Item that he the said Thomas Cartwright in the publick administration of his Ministry there among Her Majesties Subjects used not the forme of liturgie or Book of Common-Prayer by the laws of this land established nor in his government ecclesiasticall the laws and orders of this land but rather conformed himself in both to the use and form of some other forraign Churches 7. Item that since his last return from beyond the Seas being to be placed at Warwick he faithfully promised if he might be but tolerated to preach not to impugne the laws orders policy government nor governours in this Church of England but to perswade and procure so much as he could both publickly and privately the estimation and peace of this Church 8. Item That he having no Ministry in this Church other then such as before he had forsaken and still condemneth as unlawful and without any license as Law requireth he hath since taken upon him to preach at Warwick and at sundry other places of this Realm 9. Item That since his said return in sundry private conferences with such Ministers and others as at sundry times by word and letter have asked his advice or opinion he hath shewed mislike of the Laws and Government Ecclesiastical and of divers parts of the Liturgie of this Church and thereby perswaded and prevailed also with many in sundry points to break the orders and form of the Book of Common-Prayer who observed them before and also to oppose themselves to the Government of this Church as himself well knoweth or verily believeth 10. Item That in all or most of such his Sermons and Exercises he hath taken occasion to traduce and enveigh against the Bishops and other governours under them in this Church 11. Item That he hath grown so far in hatred and dislike towards them as that at sundry times in his prayer at Sermons and namely Preaching at Banbury about a year since in such place as others well disposed pray for Bishops he prayed to this or like effect Because that they which ought to be pillars in the Church do bend themselves against Christ and his truth therefore O Lord give us grace and power all as one man to set our selves against them And this in effect by way of emphasis he then also repeated 12. Item that preaching at sundry times and places he usually reacheth at all occasions to deprave condemn and impugn the manner of Ordination of Bishops Ministers and Deacons sundry points of the Politie Government Laws Orders and rights Ecclesiastical and of the publick Liturgie of the Church of England contained in
quickly be perused and yet then no such effigiation was therein discovered which some nineteen weeks after became visible about the nineteenth of September following Surely had this pregnant straw gone out its full time of fourty weeks it would have been delivered of a perfect picture indeed whereas now miscarrying before that time wonder not if all things were not so complete therein 54. For the face therein was not so exact Not perfectly done as which might justly intitle heaven to the workmanship thereof Say not it was done in too small a scantling to be accurate for Deus est maximus in minimis Gods exquisitenesse appears the most in q Exod. 8. 18. modells Whereas when Witnesses were examined about this mock-miracle before the Archbishop of Canterbury Francis Bowen deposed that he believed that a good Artisan might have drawn one more curiously and Hugh Griffith himself attested that it was no more like Garnet than to any other man who had a beard and that it was so small none could affirm it to resemble him adding moreover that there was no glory or streaming raies about it which some did impudently report 55. However Garnet's beâ—tification occasioned by this mock-miracle this inspirited straw was afterward copied out and at Rome printed in pomp with many superstitious copartments about it as a coronet a crosse and nails more than ever were in the originall Yea this miracle how silly and simple soever gave the ground-work to Garnet's beatification by the Pope some moneths after Indeed Garnet complained before his death That he could not expect that the Church should own him for a Martyr and signified the same in his Letter to his dear Mistresse Anne but for her sirname call her Garnet or Vaux as you please because nothing of religion and onely practices against the State were laid to his charge It seemed good therefore to his Holinesse not to canonize Garnet for a solemn Saint much lesse for a Martyr but onely to beatificate him which if I mistake not in their heavenly heraldrie is by Papists accounted the least and lowest degree of celestiall dignity and yet a step above the Commonaltie or ordinary sort of such good men as are saved This he did to qualifie the infamie of Garnet's death and that the perfume of this new title might out-sent the stench of his treason But we leave this Garnet loth longer to disturb his blessednesse in his own place and proceed to such Church-matters as were transacted in this present Parliament 56. Evil manners prove often though against their will the parents of good laws Acts against Papists in Parliament but principally the Oath of Obedience as here it came to passe The Parliament begun and holden at Westminster the fifth of November and there continued till the 27 of May following enacted many things for the discovering and repressing of Popish Recusants extant at large in the printed Statutes Whereof none was more effectuall than that Oath of Obedience which every Catholick was commanded to take the form whereof is here inserted The rather because this Oath may be termed like two of Isaac's r Gen. 26. 20. 21. wells Esek and Sitnah Contention and Hatred the subject of a tough controversie versie betwixt us and Rome about the legall urging and taking thereof Protestants no lesse learnedly asserting than Papists did zealously oppose the same The form of which Oath is as followeth I A. B. doe truly and sincerely acknowledge professe testifie and declare in my conscience before God and the world That our Soveraigne Lord King James is lawfull and rightfull King of this Realm and of all other His Majesties Dominions and Countreys and that the Pope neither of himself nor by any authority of the Church or See of Rome or by any other means with any other hath any power or authority to depose the King or to dispose any of His Majesties Kingdomes or Dominions or to authorize any forraign Prince to invade or annoy Him or His Countâ—â— or to discharge any of His subjects of their allegiance and obedience to His Majestie or to give licence or leave to any of them to bear armes raise tumult or to offer any violence or hurt to His Majesties Royall Person State or Government or to any of His Majesties subjects within His Majesties Dominions Also I doe swear from my heart that notwithstanding any declaration or sentence of Excommunication or deprivation made or granted or to be made or granted by the Pope or his Successours or by any authority derived or pretended to be derived from him or his See against the said King His Heires or Successours or any absolution of the said subjects from their obedience I will bear faith and true allegiance to His Majestie His Heires and Successours and Him and Them will defend to the uttermost of my power against all conspiracies and attempts whatsoever which shall be made against His or Their Persons Their Crown and Dignity by reason or colour of any such sentence or declaration or otherwise and will doe my best endeavour to disclose and make known unto His Majestie His Heires and Successours all treasons and traiterous conspiracies which I shall know or hear of to be against Him or any of Them And I doe farther swear That I doe from my heart abhorre detest and abjure as impious and hereticall this damnable doctrine and position That Princes which be excommunicated or deprived by the Pope may be deposed or murthered by Their subjects or any other whatsoever And I do believe and in conscience am resolved that neither the Pope nor any person whatsoever hath power to absolve me of this Oath or any part thereof which I acknowledge by good and full authority to be lawfully ministred unto me and doe renounce all Pardons and Dâ—spensations to the contrary And all these things I doe plainly and sincerely acknowledge and swear according to these express words by me spoken and according to the plain and common sense and understanding of the same words without any equivocation or mentall evasion or secret reservation whatsoever And I doe make this recognition and acknowledgment heartily willingly and truly upon the true faith of a Christian So help me God This Oath was devised to discriminate the pernicious from the peaceable Papists Sure binde sure finde And the makers of this were necessitated to be larger therein because it is hard to strangle equivocation which if unable by might to break will endeavour by slight to slip the halter 57. No sooner did the newes thereof arrive at the ears of his Holiness The Pope his two Breve's against this Oath but presently he dispatcheth his Å¿ See K. James his Works pag. 250. Breve into England prohibiting all Catholicks to take this Oath so destructive to their own souls and the See of Rome exhorting them patiently to suffer persecution and manfully to endure martyrdome And because report was raised that the Pope wrote this
mutually censure each other yet many complained that this ceremony though left indifferent as hereafter to salvation was made necessary as here to preferment Yea this knee-mark of bowing or not bowing would be made the distinguishing character that hereafter all such should be condemned as halting in conformity who were not through paced in these addition all ceremonies 25. Many took exception at the hollownesse of the Oath in the middle thereof Second exception having its bowells puffed up with a windie c. a cheverel word which might be stretched as men would measure it Others pleaded for it as only inserted to save the enumeration of many mean Officers in the Church whose mention was beneath the dignity of an Oath and would but clog the same Yea since some have endeavoured to excuse the same by the interpretative c. incorporated into the body of the Covenant whereby people are bound to defend the priviledges of Parliament though what they be is unknown to most that take the same 26. But most took exception against that clause in the Oath Third and greatest exception we will never give any consent to alter this Church-government as if the same were intended to abridge the liberty of King and State in future Parliaments and Convocations if hereafter they saw cause to change any thing therein And this obligation seemed the more unreasonable because some of those Orders specified in the Oath as Archbishops Deans Archdeacons stand only established jure humano sive Ecclesiastico and no wise man ever denied but that by the same power and authority they are alterable on just occasion 27. Yet there wanted not others Endeavoured to be excused who with a favourable sense endâ—avoured to qualify this suspicious clause whereby the taker of this Oath was tied up from consenting to any alteration These argued that if the Authority Civil or Ecclesiasticall did not herein impose an Oath binding those that took it hereafter to disobey themselves and reject such orders which the foresaid Civil or Ecclesiastical power might afterwards lawfully enact or establish For seeing in all oaths this is an undoubted Maxime Quacunque forma verborum juratur Deus sic juramentum accipit sicut ille cui juratur intelligit none can probably suppose that the governors in this oath intended any clause thereof to be an abridgment of their own lawfull power or to debar their inferiours from consenting and submitting to such alterations as by themselves should lawfully be made Wherefore these words We will never give any consent to alter are intended here to be meant only of a voluntary and pragmaticall alteration when men conspire consent labour and endeavour to change the present government of the Church in such particulars as they doe dislike without the consent of their superiours 28. But the exception of exceptions against these Canons The â—ver activity of some Bishops is because they were generally condemned as illegally passed to the prejudice of the fundamentall liberty of the Subject whereof we shall hear enough in the next Parliament Mean time some Bâ—shops were very forward in pressing this Oath even before the time thereof For whereas a liberty was allowed to all to deliberate thereon untill the feast of Michael the Archangel some presently pressed the Ministers of their Diocesses for the taking thereof and to my knowledge enjoyned them to take this oath kneeling A ceremony to my best remembrance never exacted or observed in taking the Oath of Supremacy or Allegiance which some accounted an essay of their activity if providence had not prevented them 29. Many impressions of English-Bibles The importation of false printed Bibles printed at Amsterdam and moe at Edinburgh in Scotland were daily brought over hither and sold here Little their volumes and low their prices as beeing of bad paper worse print little Margent yet greater then the care of the Corrector many most abominable errata being passed therein Take one instance for all Jer. 4. 17. speaking of the whole â—nstead of because she hath been rebellious against mee saith the Lord. Common-wealth of Judah it is printed Edinburgh 1637. because she hath been religious against mee saith the Lord. Many complaints were made especially by the company of Stationers against these false printed Bibles as giving great advantage to the Papists but nothing was therein effected For in this juncture of time came in the Scotish Army and invaded the Northern parts of England What secret solicitations invited them hither is not my work to enquire Many beheld them as the only Physitians of the distempered State and believed that they gave not their Patient a visit on pure charity but having either received or being well promised their fee before 30. Soon after began the long lasting Parliament Parliament and Convocation bâ—gin so known to all posterity for the remarkable transactions therein The King went to the House privately by water many commending his thrift in sparing expences when two Armies in the bowels of the Land expected their pay from his purse Others distinguishing betwixt needlesse Pomp and necessary State suspected this might be misinterpreted as if the Scotch had frighted him out of that Ceremony of Majesty and some feared such an omission presaged that Parliament would end with sadnesse to him which began without any solemnity Abreast therewith began a Convocation though unable long to keep pace together the latter soon tyreing as never inspirited by commission from the King to meddle with any matters of Religion Mr. Warmistre a Clark for Worcester made a motion therein that they should endeavour according to the Leviticall Law to cover the pit which they had opened and to prevent their adversaries intention by condemning such offensive Canons as were made in the last Convocation But it found no acceptance they being loath to confesse themselves guilty before they were accused 31. This day hapned the first fruits of Anabaptisticall insolence The insolence of Anabaptists 1640-41 Jan. 18. when 80 of that Sect meeting at a house in St. Saviours in Southwark preached that the Statute in the 35. of Eliz. for the administration of the Common-Prayer was no good Law because made by Bishops That the King cannot make a good Law because not perfectly regenerate That he was only to be obeyed in Civill matters Being brought before the Lords they confessed the articles but no penalty was inflicted upon them 32. About this time Mr. Prinn The 3 Exiles brought home in Triumph Dr. Bastwick and Mr. Burton were brought out of durance and exile with great Triumph into London it not sâ—fficing their friends to welcome them peaceably but victoriously with bayes and rosemary in their hands and hats Wise men conceived that their private returning to the Town had signifyed as much gratitude to God and lesse affront to authority But some wildnesse of the looks must be pardoned in such who came suddenly into the light out of long darknesse
Script Britan. centur prima put out her Eyes out of Anger for interrupting him in his constant course of Chastity But surely some blind Monk having one of his Eyes put out with Ignorance and the other with Superstition was the first founder of this Fable Thus godly Saints in that Age were made Martyrs after their Death persecuted though in their Commendation with impudent and improbable Lies It is reported also of the same Iltutus that he turned e Idem ut prius Men into Stones Had it been Stones into Men converting stupid Souls into Christians by his Preaching it had been capable of an Allegoricall Construction whereas as now told it is a Lie in the literall and Non-sense in the mysticall meaning thereof 9. Sampson succeeds 521 Scholar to Iltutus Sampson Archbishop of Dole made by Dubritius Bishop at large f Armach de Brit. Ec. prim pag. 1130. sine titulo It seems in that Age all Bishops were not fixed to the Chair of a peculiar Church but some might sit down in any Vacant place for their Cathedrall and there exercise their Episcopall Authority provided it were without Prejudice to other Bishops Afterwards this Sampson was made Arch-Bishop of Dole in French Britain and in those dayes such was the Correspondency betwixt this Greater and that Lesser Britain that they seemed to possesse Learned men in common betwixt them Scarce am I reconciled to this Sampson Anno Dom. 521 for a Balaeus de Script Britan. in Sampson carrying away with him the Monuments of British Antiquity Had he put them out to the Bank by procuring severall Copies to be transcribed Learning thereby had been a Gainer and a Saver had he onely secured the Originals whereas now her Losse is irrecoverable Principall and Interest Authenticks and Transcripts are all imbezzelled Nor is the matter much whether they had miscarryed at home by Foes Violence or abroad by such Friends Negligence 10. It were a Sin to omit S t. Patern Paternus a Patern for all Bishops for three and twenty yeares a constant Preacher at Llan-Patern in Cardiganshire 540 His fatherlike Care over his Flock passeth with peculiar Commendation that he b Camden's Brit. in Cardiganshire govern'd his people by feeding them and fed his people by governing them Some yeares after the Place continued an Episcopall See and was extinguished upon Occasion of the Peoples barbarously murdering of their Bishop 11. St. Petrock comes in for his share Petrock the Captain of Cornish Saints from whom Petrock-stow 548 contracted Padstow in Cornwall is denominated One of great Piety and Painfulness in that Age. Afterward he is said to have gone to the East Indies all far Countreys are East Indies to ignorant people and at his return to be burried at Bodman in Cornwall That County is the Cornu-copia of Saints most of Irish extraction and the names of their Towns and Villages the best Nomenclator of the Devoutmen of this Age. If the people of that Province have as much Holinesse in their Hearts as the Parishes therein carry Sanctity in their Names Cornwall may passe for another Holy Land in publick reputation 12. Next S t. Petrock comes S t. Teliau The piety of S. Telian for it is pity to part two such intimate Friends 550 He was called by allusion to his Name c Harpâ—field his Ecc. Ang. pag. 41. c. 27. Helios which in Greek signifieth the Sun because of the Lustre of his Life and Learning But the Vulgar sort who count it no fault to miscall their Betters if they have hard Names called him Eliud one of that d Math. 1. 14 name was one of our Saviours Ancestors turning the Greek into an Hebrew word and understanding both alike He was Scholar to Dubritius and succeeded him in the Bishoprick of Landaffe A pious man constant Preacher and e Balaeus centuria prim num 58. zealous reprover of the reigning Sins of that time This is all the certain truth extant of him which some Monks counting too little have with their fabulous breath f In the book of his life extant in the Church of Landaffe blown up the Story of his Life to such a Bigness that the Credit thereof breaks with it's own Improbability Witnesse his Journey to Ierusalem full of strange Miracles where he had a Cymball given him excelling the sound of an Organ and ringing every hour of it's own accord No doubt a Loud one Loaden with Merits saith the g Flowers of the Saints pag. 151. Author I had thought nothing but Sin could burthen a Saint he departed this Life having his Memory continued in many Churches of South-VVales dedicated to him and is remembred in the Roman Kalender on the ninth of February 13. I had almost forgotten Congel Several other Worthies of the same Age. Abbot of Bangor who much altered the Discipline of that Monastery 580 Kentigern the famous Bishop of Ellwye in North VVales S t. Asaph his Successour in the same place In whose mouth this Sentence was frequent h Godwin in his Catal. of Bishops of S t. Asaph Such who are against the preaching of God's VVord envy the Salvation of Mankind As for Gildas surnamed the VVise their Contemporary wereserve his i Vide our Librar of British Histor num 1. Character for our Library of British Historians Many other worthy men flourished at the same time and a Nationall Church being a large Room it is hard to count all the Candles God lighted therein 14. Most of these men seem born under a Travelling Planet Pastours in this Age why in constant motion seldome having their Education in the place of their Nativity oft-times composed of Irish Infancy British Breeding and French Preferment taking a Coule in one Countrey a Crosier in another and a Grave in a third neither bred where born nor beneficed where bred nor buried where beneficed but wandring in severall Kingdomes Nor is this to be imputed to any humour of Inconstancy the running Gout of the Soul or any affected Unsetlednesse in them Anno Dom. 580 but proceeding from other weighty Considerations First to procure their Safety For in time of Persecution the surest place to shift in is constant shifting of Places not staying any where so long as to give mens Malice a steady aime to level at them Secondly to gain Experience in those things which grew not all in the same Soile Lastly that the Gospell thereby might be further and faster propagated When there be many Guests and little Meat the same Dish must go clean through the Board and divine Providence ordered it that in the Scarcity of Preachers one Eminent man travelling far should successively feed many Countries 15. To most of these Authours many written Volumes are assigned Books falsly fathered on British writers the Titles and Beginnings whereof you may find in our Country-men Bale and Pits who will perswade you
in the Darkness of Paganisme which others afterward enlightned with the Beams of the Gospel But as he is esteemed the Architect or Master-workman not who builds up most of the Wall but who first designeth the Fabrick and layeth the Foundation thereof in the same respect Augustine carrieth away the Credit of all that came after him because the primitive Planter of the Gospel amongst the Saxons And it is observeable that this Conversion was done without any Persecution yea considerable Opposition costing some Pain no Torture some Sweat no Bloud not one Martyr being made in the whole managing thereof Mean time the poor Christian Britans living peaceably at home there enjoyed God the Gospell and their Mountains little skilfull in and lesse caring for the Ceremonies al a mode brought over by Augustine and indeed their Poverty could not go to the Cost of Augustine's Silver Crosse Anno Dom. 600 which made them worship the God of their Fathers after their own homely but hearty Fashion not willing to disturb Augustine and his Followers in their new Rites but that he had a mind to disquiet them in their old Service as in the sequele of the History will appeare THE SEVENTH CENTURY Anno. Dom. AMICO SVO GR. B. SOcrates interrogatus quo Philtro Natura Sympathias conciliaret quidve esset in causa ut alii hominum primo occursu ament medullitus alii sibi mutuò sint infensi hanc rationem reddidit Deus inquit ab aeterno quicquid futurum esset animarum creavit creatas per immensum temporis spatium in uno cumulo collocavit collocatas corporibus prout indies generantur infundit Hinc est si contingat vel fortuitum consortium inter eos homines quorum animae in hoc acervo propinquiores quòd primo visu quasi veteris vicinitatis memores se invicem diligant dum isti primo intuitu antipathiae stimulis urgeantur quorum animae adversantes diametricè opponebantur Fateor commentum hoc Socraticum à Theologia abhorrere in Philosophia plurimis asystatis laborare Quod si ei subesset tantum veritatis quantum ingenii sanct ssimè voverem in hoc animarum cumulo Tuam Meam contiguas olim jacuisse cum Te primum conspectum animitus amarem à Te redamarer 1. MUch about this time Pope Gregory sent two Arch-Bishops Palls into England 601 the one for a Rog. Wendover Matth. Florileg and Roff. Histor London Why the Arch-bishops See was removed from London to Canterbury the other for York The former of these Cities had been honoured with an Arch-bishop's See some hundred yeares since King Lucius But at the instance of Augustine and by a new Order of the foresaid Gregory this Pall sent to London was removed thence to Canterbury whereof Augustine was made Arch-Bishop and there for the future fixed and confirmed for severall Reasons First London already had Lustre enough being the biggest City in Britain and it was needlesse to adde new Spirituall to her old Temporall Greatnesse which conjoyned might cause Pride in any one place whilest divided they might give Honour to two Cities Secondly London by reason of the Receit thereof was likely to prove the residing place for the English Monarch and it was probable that the Archiepiscopall Dignity would there be eclipst and out-shined by the Regall Diadem Thirdly had Augustine been Arch-Bishop of London he might have seemed to succed the British Arch-Bishops and to have derived some Right from them contrary to his Humour Anno. Dom. 601 who would Lead All but Follow None and therefore would not wear an Old Title but have a span-New Arch-Bishops Chaire carved out for himself Lastly Canterbury was the place wherein Christianity was first received by the Saxons and therefore deserved to be honoured to perpetuate the Memory thereof Thus London hereafter must be contented with the plain Seat of a Bishop the Mother being made a Daughter and must come behind Canterbury which did much wrong and perchance something trouble her But Churches have more Discretion and Humility then to break their Hearts about earthly Precedency and the matter is not much which See went first when living seeing our Age hath laid them both alike levell in their Graves 2. Augustine thus armed with Archiepiscopall Authority Augustine summons a Synod of Saxon and British Bishops to shew a Cast of his Office by the Aid of Ethelbert King of Kent called a Councill for the Saxon and British Bishops to come together in the Confines of the Wiccians and West-Saxons An indifferent Place for mutuall Ease in mid-way betwixt both haply presaging that as their distant Persons met on equall termes so their opposite Opinions might agree in some Moderation The particular Place was called AUGUSTINES AKE that is his Oak in our modern Dialect which a In his Translation of Bede 2 Book 2 Ch. Stapleton mistaken by the affinity of Wiccii or Veccii with Vectis the Latine name for the Isle of Wight seeketh near Southampton where indeed he may find many Oaks in the New Forest and yet misse the right one For this Oak stood in the Confines of b Camden's Britannian in Worcestershire VVorcester and Herefordshire though at this day Time hath confounded it Root and Branch and therefore this Meeting is in Latine called Synodus c Spelman in Concilus Anno 601. pag. 107. Vigorniensis Many solemn Entertainments we know were anciently made under d Gen. 18. 4. Trees and a Palm-tree served Deborah for her VVestminster-Hall wherein she judged e Iudges 4. 5. Israel But severall reasons are assigned why Augustine kept this Council under an Oak First so publick a place was free from Exceptions whereunto none were debarred Accesse Secondly being congregated under the view of Heaven and not pent within the Walles of a private House they were minded of clear fair and open Proceedings without secret Ends or sinister Intents Thirdly perchance some Pagan Saxons allured with Novelty would repair to the Council whose Icalousy was such as in no case they would come under a Roof for fear of f This reason is given by Sir Henry Spelman ut prius Fascination as hath been formerly observed Lastly Augustine knowing that the Pagan Britans performed their Superstitions under an g See first Century 3. Parag. Oak celebrated his Synod under the same in some Imitation and yet a Correction of their Idolatry As in a religious Parallel Pagan Temples had formerly by him been converted into Churches of Saints But when all is done the matter is not so clear but that the place called Augustine's Oak may as well be a Town as a Tree so called from some eminent Oak in at or near it as the Vine in Hampshire so named from Vines anciently growing there is a beautifull House and principall Seat where the Barons Sandes have their Habitation And what is most apposite for our purpose Sozomen calleth the Place where
Bodies first brought to be buried in Churches confirmed by the authority of Gregory the Great Bishop of Rome it was decreed that no Corpse either of Prince or Prelate should be buried within the Walls of a City but onely in the Suburbs thereof and that alone in the Porch of the Church and not in the Body Now Cuthbert Arch-bishop of Canterbury having built Christ-Church therein was desirous to adorn it with the Corpses of great Persons therein afterwards to be interred In pursuance of this his Design he durst not adventure on this Innovation by his own Power nor did he make his applications to the Pope of Rome as most proper to repeal that Act which the See Apostolick had decreed but onely addresseth himself to Eadbert King of Kent and from him partim precario partim etiam pretio partly praying partly paying for it saith my b Tho. Spot in his Hist of Canterbury Also Archiv Caniuariens cited by Antiq. Brit. in Cuthbert Authour obtained his Request Behold here an ancient Church-Canon recalled at the Suit of an Arch-bishop by the Authority of a King This Cuthbert afterwards handselled Christ-Church with his own Corpse whose Predecessours were all buried in S t. Augustines without the Walls of Canterbury Thus began Corpses to be buried in the Churches which by degrees brought in much Superstition especially after degrees of inherent Sanctity were erroneously fixed in the severall parts thereof the Porch saying to the Church-yard the Church to the Porch the Chancel to the Church the East-end to all Stand farther off for I am holier then you And as if the Steps to the High Altar were the Stairs to Heaven their Souls were conceived in a nearer degree to Happinesse whose Bodies were mounted there to be interred 28. About this time the Bill of fare of Monks was bettered generally in England The occasion of Monks their first drinking of wine in England and more liberty indulged in their Diet. It was first occasioned some twenty yeares since when Ceolwolphus formerly King of Northumberland but then a Monk in the Convent of Lindisfern or Holy Island c Roger. Hoved. in parte priori gave leave to that Convent to drink Ale and Wine anciently confined by Aidan their first Founder to Milk and Water Let others dispute whether Ceolwolphus thus dispensed with them by his new Abbatical or old Regal Power which he so resigned that in some cases he might resume it especially to be King in his own Convent And indeed the cold raw and bleak Situation of that place with many bitter Blasts from the Sea and no Shelter on the Land speaks it self to each Inhabitant there d 1 Tim. 5. 23 Drink no longer VVater but use a little VVine for thy Stomacks sake and thine often Infirmities However this locall Priviledge first justly indulged to the Monks of Lindisfern 760 was about this time extended to all the Monasteries of England whose primitive over-Austerity in Abstinence was turned now into a Self-sufficiency that soon improved into Plenty that quickly depraved into Riot and that at last occasioned their Ruine 29. This Year the English have cause to write with Sable letters in their Almanack 789 on this sad Occasion Danes their first arrivall in England that therein the Danes first invaded England with a considerable Army Anno Dom. 789 Severall Reasons are assigned for their coming hither to revenge themselves for some pretended Injuries though the true Reason was because England was richer and roomthyer then their own Countrey 30. It is admirable to consider what Sholes of people were formerly vented out of Cimbrica Chersonesus Denmark formerly fruitfull is now become barren of men take it in the largest a Otherwise strictly it containeth onely part of Denmark Continent to Germany extent for Denmark Norway and Swedeland who by the terrible Names of Gothes Ostro-Gothes Viâ—i-Gothes Huns Vandals Danes Nortmans overranne the fairest and fruitfullest parts of Christendome whereas now though for these last three hundred yeares the Swedish Warres in Germany excepted that Countrey hath sent forth no visible Numbers of People and yet is very thinly inhabited so that one may travell some hundreds of Miles therein through mere Desarts every man whom he meeteth having a Phoenix in his right hand Yea so few the Natives that some of their Garrisons are manned with Forreigners and their Kings sain to entertain mercenary Dutch and Scotch to manage their Warres 31. Strange Two reasons thereof that this Countrey formerly all on the giving should now be onely on the taking hand Some b Barklay in Icon animaâ—um impute their modern comparative Barrennesse to their excessive Drinking a Vice belike which lately hath infected that Nation drinking themselves past Goats into Stocks out of Wantonnesse into Stupidity which by a contracted Habit debilitateth their former Fruitfulnesse Others more c G. Tayl. in his Chronicle of Normandy truely ascribe their former Fruitfulnesse to their promiscuous Copulations with Women during their Paganisme which are not so numerous since Christianity hath confined them to the Marriage of one VVife 32. If I might speak according to my own Profession of a Divine soaring over Second Causes in Nature I should ascribe their ancient Populousnesse to Divine Operation The reason of reasons As the Widow her Oyle multiplyed till her Debts were satisfied and that effected for which the Miracle was intended which done the Increase thereof instantly ceased So these Northern Parts flowed with Crouds of People till their Inundations had payed the Scores of sinfull Christians and then the Birch growing no more when the wanton Children were sufficiently whipped the Procreativenesse of those Nations presently stinted and abated 33. The Landing of these Danes in England was ushered with many sad Prognosticks Bad presages of the Danes approach d Sim. Dunel Ranulphus Cestrensis alii Starres were seen strangely falling from Heaven and sundry terrible Flames appeared in the Skies From the firing of such extraordinary Beacons all concluded some new Enemie was approaching the Nation Serpents were seen in Sussex and Bloud reigned in some parts of the Land Lindesfern or Holy Island was the first that felt the Fury of these Pagans but soon after no place was safe and secure from their Cruelty whereof more hereafter 34. At this time the Arch-bishoprick of Canterbury was in part removed to Lichfield The Archepiscopal Pall removed to Lichfield five essentiall things concurring to that great Alteration 790 1. The Puissance and Ambition of Offa King of Mercia commanding in Chief over England He would have the brightest Mitre to attend the biggest Crown 2. The complying nature of Pope Adrian except any will call it his Thankfulnesse to gratifie King Offa for the large Gifts received from him 3. The easy and unactive Disposition of Iambert or Lambert Arch-bishop of Canterbury unlesse any will term it his Policy that finding himself unable to resist
suspect that Dunstan who could blow Coals elsewhere as well as in his Furnace though at distance vertually or rather viciously present had a Finger yea a Hand therein Heart-broken with these Rebellions 958 King Edwin died in the Flower of his Age. 5 Edgati 1 24. Edgar succeeds him Dunstan recalled by King Edgar and takes a double Bishoprick and recalls Dunstan home 959 receiving him with all possible Affection 2 Yea now Dunstan's Stomack was come down and he could digest a Bishoprick which his Abstemiousness formerly refused And one Bishoprick drew down another VVorcester and London not successively but both a-breast went down his Conscience Yea never Age afforded more Pluralist Bishops In this Kings reign Letine held b Vid. Antiq. Britan. p. 83. Lincoln and Leicester oswald a great Monk-monger of whom hereafter held York and VVorcester Aldulph his Successour in both Churches did the like pardoned yea praised for the same though Woolstan because no favourer of Monks is reproved for the like Plurality Thus two men though doing the same thing do not the same thing Bigamy of Bishopricks goes by Favour and it is condemnable in one what is commendable in another Anno Regis Edgari 2 Odo Severus Anno Dom. 959 Arch-bishop of Canterbury being ceremoniously to consecrate Dunstan Bishop of VVorcester used all the Formalities fashionable at the Consecration of an a Antiq. Britan ibidem Arch-bishop And being reproved for the same he answered for himself That he foresaw that Dunstan instantly after his death would be Arch-bishop of Canterbury And therefore a compendious way to spare Paines he onely by a provident Prolepsis ante-dated his Consecration Surely whosoever had seen the decrepit age of Odo the affection of King Edgar to Dunstan the affection of Dunstan to Dignity needed no extraordinary prophetical Spirit to presage that on the supposition of Dunstan's surviving him he should succeed him in the Arch-bishoprick of Canterbury 25. Yea King Edgar was so wholly Dunstanized Oswald's Law to eject secular Priests that he gave over his Soul Body and Estate to be ordered by him and two more then the Triumvirate who ruled England namely Ethelwald Bishop of Winchester and Oswald Bishop of Worcester This Oswald was the man who procured by the Kings Authority the Ejection of all Secular Priests out of Worcester and the placing of Monks in their Room which Act was called Oswald's Law in that Age. They might if it pleased them have stiled it Edgar's Law the Legislative Power being then more in the King then in the Bishop This Oswald's Law afterwards enlarged it self over all England Secular Priests being thrown out and Monks every where fixed in their rooms till King Henry the eighth his Law outed Oswald's Law and ejected those Drones out of their Habitations 26. King Edgar violated the Chastity of a Nun at Wilton Dunstan's disciplining of king Edgar Dunstan getting notice thereof refused at the Kings Request to give him his Hand because he had defiled a Daughter of God as he termed her Edgar hereby made sensible of his Sin with Sorrow confessed it and Dunstan now Arch-bishop of Canterbury enjoyned him seven years Penance for the same Monks endeavour to inforcea mock-Parallel betwixt David and Edgar Nathan and Dunstan herein Sure I am on David's profession of his Repentance Nathan presently pronounced Pardon b 2 Sam. 12. 13 the Lord also hath put away thy Sin thou shalt not die consigning him to be punished by God the Principall using an Undutifull Son Treacherous Servants and Rebellious Subjects to be the Instruments thereof but imposing no voluntary Penance that David should by Will-worship undertake on himself All that I will adde is this If Dunstan did septennary Penance to expiate every mortall Sin to use their own Termes he committed he must have been a Methusalah extremely aged before the day of his Death 27. More commendable was Dunstan's Carriage towards an English Count 12 who lived incestuously with his own Kinswoman 969 Dunstan admonished him once And carriage towards an incestuous Count. twice thrice nothing prevailed whereupon he proceeded to Excommunicate him The Count slighted his Excommunication conceiving his Head too high for Church-Censures to reach it King Edgar falsly informed desires Dunstan to absolve him and is denied Yea the Pope sends to him to the same Purpose and Dunstan persists in his c Osbern in vita Dunstani Refusall At last the Count conquered with Dunstan's Constancy and the sense of his own Sin came into a Nationall Council at Canterbury where Dunstan sate President active therein to substitute Monks in the places of Secular Priests on his bare Feet with a Bundle of Rods tendering himself to Dunstan's Chastisement This wrought on Dunstan's mild Nature scarce refraining from Teares who presently absolved him 28. Three things herein are remarkable Observations thereon First that Bribes in the Court of Rome may purchase a Malefactor to be innocent Secondly that the Pope himself is not so infallible but that his Key may misse the Lock and he be mistaken in matter of Absolution Thirdly that men ought not so with blind Obedience to obey his pretended Holinesse but that if with Dunstan here they see just Cause to the contrary it is no Mortall Sin to disobey his Commands 29. The Apprentiship of Edgar's Penance long since expired Edgar's Canons why by us here related he flourished in all Monarchicall Lustre sole Founder of many Co-founder of more Benefactor to most Abbeys in England Anno Dom. 969 And as he gave new Cases to most Monasteries repairing their outward Buildings so he gave new Linings to all Anno Regis Edgari 12 substituting Monks in stead of the Secular Priests whom he expelled Many Ecclesiasticall Canons were by him ordained which at large are presented in S t. Henry Spelman and which I have neither List nor Leisure to recount in this my History Our Women have a Proverb It is a sad Burden to carry a dead mans Child and surely an Historian hath no heart to take much Pains which herein are Pains indeed to exemplify dead Canons dead and buried long since as most relating to Monkery this Age wherein we live being little fond of Antiquity to know those things which were antiquated so many yeares since 30. Now though the Devotion of King Edgar may be condemned to be byassed to Superstition Edgar a most triumphant King yet because the Sincerity of his Heart sought to advance Gods Honour according to the Light in those dark dayes he appears one of the most puissant Princes that ever England enjoyed both in Church and Common-wealth I have read in a most fair and authentick guilded a Extant in the precious Library of S r. Tho. Cotton Manuscript wherein he stileth himself Gods Vicar in England for the ordering Ecclesiasticall matters a Title which at this day the Pope will hardly vouchsafe to any
the English he instantly and actually repealed for his brother William had put all the Land out of love and liking of fair promises the cruel Norman Laws Laws written in bloud made more in favour of Deer then of Men more to manifest the power and pleasure of the imposer then for the good and protection of the Subject wherein sometimes mens mischances were punished for their misdeeds Yea in a manner King Heary gave eyes to the blind in winter-nights I mean light to them who fomerly lived though in their own houses in uncomfortable darkness after eight a clock when heretofore the Curseu-bell did ring the knell of all the fire and candle-light in English families But now these rigorous Edicts were totally repealed the good and gentle Laws of Edward the Confessor generally revived the late Kings extorting Publicanes whereof Ranulf Flambard Bishop of Durham the principal closely imprisoned the Court-corruption by the Kings command studiously reformed adultery then grown common with the loss of virility severely punished Anselme from exile speedily recalled after his return by the King heartily welcomed by the Clergie solemnly and ceremoniously received he to his Church his lands and goods to him fully restored English and Normans lovingly reconciled all interests and persons seemingly pleased Robert the Kings elder brother though absent in the Holy-Land yet scarcely missed and so this Century with the first year of King Hearie's reign seasonably concluded The end of the eleventh Century CENT XII Anno Regis Hen. 1. 2 Anno Dom. 1101. JOHANNI FITZ-JAMES DE LEUSTON In Com. Dorset ARMIG NOn desunt in hoc nostro saeculo qui Librorum Dedicationes penè ducunt superstitiosum planè superfluum sic enim argutuli ratiocinantur Liber si bonus Patrono non indiget sno Marte pergat sin malus Patrono ne sit dedecori suo merito pereat Habeo tamen quod huic dilemmati possim regerere Liber Meus nec bonus nec malus sed quiddam medium inter utrumque Bonum ipse non ausum pronuntiare cum plurimis Mendis Laboret Malum alii spero non dijudicent cum Legentibus possit esse usui Sub hác dubiâ Conditione vel Adversariis nostris Judicibus opus hoc nostrum Patronum sibi asciscere potest debet Et sub alis Clientelae tuae qui tam MARTE praestas quà m MERCURIO foveri serìo triumphat 1. GRrave Anselme Arch-Bishop of Canterbury Hen. 1 2. espoused and married Maud daughter of Malcolme King of the Scots 1101 and S t Margaret his wife to Henry King of England The Hellish imprecation of Maud when married to King Henry Shee had been a professed Votary and was pressed by the importunity of her parents and friends for Politick ends to this marriage insomuch as in the bitterness of her soul able to appale the writer hereof seeing his ink out-black'd with her expression she devoted the fruit of her body to the Devil because they would not permit her to perform her promise of Virginity Thus a Hist Ang. in Hen. 1. anno 1101. Matthew Paris But the Reader reserveth his other ear for the relation of Eadmerus reporting this story after a different yea contrary manner as followeth 2. The aforesaid Maud when a Girle The story otherwise told by Eadmerus an eye and ear witness lived under the tuition and correction of Christian her Aunt and Abbess of Wilton at what time the Norman souldiers conquering the Kingdom did much destroy and more endanger virgins by their violence Christian therefore to preserve this her Neete clapt a black cloath on her head in imitation of a Nuns vail which she unwillingly ware in the presence of her Aunt but in her absence off it went from above her head to under her heals so that in despightful manner she used to tread and trample upon it Yea if Malcolme her father chanced to behold her wearing that mock-vail with rage he would rend it off cursing the causers of it and avowing that he intended her no votary but a wife to Count Alan Besides two grave Arch-Deacons sent down to Wilton to enquire into the matter reported that for ought they could learn from the Nuns there this Maud was never solemnly entered into their order Hereupon a Councel was called of the English Clergy wherein some grave men attested of their own knowledg that at the Norman conquest to avoid the fury of the souldiery many maids out of fear not affection for protection not piety made a Cloyster their refuge not their choice were Nuns in their own defence running their heads but without their hearts into a vail And in this case it was resolved by learned Lanckfranck that such virgins were bound by an extraordinary obligation above other women b Eadmerus Novorum lib. 5. pag. 57 58. Debitam castitati reverentiam exhibere Nullam Religionis continentiam servare which is in effect that they must be chaste wives though they need not be constant maids These things alledg'd and prov'd Anselme pronounced the Nunship of Maud of none effect and solemnly married her to King Henry However some infer the unlawfulness of this match fron the unhappiness of their children all their issue male coming to untimely deaths But sad events may sometimes be improved by mens censures further then they were intended by Gods Justice and it is more wisdom seriously to observe them to the instructing of our selves then rigidly to apply them to the condemning of others The rather because Maud the Empress their sole surviving childe seemed by her happiness to make reparation for the infelicity of all the rest 3. Next year a more solemn Synod was summoned by Anselme A grand Synod of the Clergy and Laytie with the Constitutions thereof with the Kings consent 1102 held at Westminster whereat 3. besides Bishops were present at Anselmes request from the King the chief Lay-Lords of the Land and this Reason rendred Forasmuch as that whatsoever should be determined by the Authority of the said Councel might be ratified and observed by the joynt care and solicitousness of both estates But whether the Lords were present as bare spectators and witnesses to attest the fair Transaction of matters which some will conceive to little or whether they had a power to vote therein which others will adjudg too much is not clearly delivered Here we insert the constitutions of this Synod And let none say that it is vain to look after the Cobwebs when the besom of Reformation hath swept them away seeing the knowledg of them conduce much to the understanding of that Age. 1. That the a Fadmerus Hist Novorum lib. 3. pag. 67. 68. Heresie of Symony be severely punished for which several Abbots were then and there deposed 2. That Bishops undertake not the Office of secular Pleas wearing an habit beseeming Religious Persons and not be like Lay-men in their Garments and that alwayes and every where
3. We can give no account of Wicliffs parentage The learning of Wicliffe birth place or infancy onely we finde an ancient a Camd Brit. in the Bishoprick of Darham family of the Wicliffs in the Bishoprick of Durham since by match united to the Brakeâ—buries persons of prime quality in those parts As for this our Wicliffe history at the very first meets with him a Man and full grown yea Graduate of b Balcus Cent. 6. numero â— Merton Colledg in Oxford The fruitfull soil of his natural parts he had industriously improved by acquired learning not onely skill'd in the fashionable Arts of that Age and in that abstruse crabbed divinity all whose fruit is thornes but also well versed in the Scriptures a rare accomplishment in those dayes His publique Acts in the Schools he kept with great approbation though the â—ccho of his popular applause sounded the Alarum to awaken the envy of his adversaries against him 4. He is charged by the Papists Wicliffe accused for ambition and discontent as if discontent first put him upon his opinions For having usurped the c Harpsfield 〈◊〉 Wicliffiana cap. 1. Headshiâ— of Canterbury Colledg founded by Simon Iselep since like a tributary brook swallowed upon the vastness of Christ-Church after a long suit he was erected by sentence from the Pope because by the Statutes onely a Monk was capable of the place Others add that the loss of the Bishoprick of Worcester which he desired incensed him to revenge himself by innovations and can true doctrine be the fruit where ambition and discontent hath been the root thereof Yet such may know that God often sanctifies mans weakness to his own glory and that wife Architect makes of the crookedness of mens conditions streight beams in his own building to raise his own honour upon them Besides these things are barely said without other evidence and if his foes affirming be a proof why should not his friends denial thereof be a sufficient resutation Out of the same mint of malice another story is coyned against him how Wicliffe being once gravell'd in publique disputation preferring rather to say nons then nothing was fore'd to affirm that an d Idem ibidem accident was a substance Yet me thinks if the story were true such as defend the doctrine of accidents subsisting in the sacrament without a substance might have invented some charitable qualification of his paradox seing those that defend falshoods ought to be good fellows and help one another 5. Seven years Wicliffe lived in Oxford The employment of Wicliff in Oxford in some tolerable quiet having a Professours place and a cure of soules On the week dayes in the Schools proving to the learned what he meant to preach and on the Lords day preaching in the Pulpit to the vulgar what he had proved before Not unlike those builders in the second Temple holding a c Nehemiah 4. 17. Sword in one hand and a Trowell in the other his disputations making his preaching to be strong and his preaching making his disputations to be plain His speculative positions against the Reall Presence in the Eucharist did offend and distaste but his practical Tenents against Purgatory and Pilgrimages did enrage and bemadd his adversaries so woundable is the dragon under the left wing when pinched in point of profit Hereupon they so prevailed with Simon Sudbury Arch-Bishop of Canterbury that Wicliffe was silenced and deprived of his benefice Notwithstanding all which he wanted nothing secretly supplied by invisible persons and he felt many a gift from a hand that he did not behold 6. Here it will be seasonable to give in a List of Wicliffes Opinions Difference in the number of Wicliffs opinions though we meet with much variety in the accounting of them 1. Pope a Harpsfield in Hist Wicliffiana p. 684. Gregory the eleventh observed eighteen principal Errours in his Books and Wicliffe is charged with the same b Fox Martyr p. 398. number in the Convocation at Lambeth 2. THOMAS c Idem p. 401. ARUNDEL Arch-Bishop of CANTERBURY in a Synod held at Preaching-Friers in London condemned three and twenty of his Opinions the ten first for heretical and the thirteen last for erroneous 3. In the Councel at Constance d Idem p. 414. five and fourty Articles of false Doctrines were exhibited against WICLIFFE then lately deceased 4. THOMAS WALDENSIS computeth fourscore Errours in him 5. JOHN e Harpsfield Hist Wicliffe pag 669. LUCKE Doctor of Divinity in Oxford brings up the account to two hundred sixty six Lastly and above all JOHN f In hystoria Hussitarum in Prâ—lâ—g Tâ—mi priâ—i COCLEUS it is fit that the latest Edition should be the largest swells them up to full three hundred and three Wonder not at this difference as if Wicliffe's Opinions were like the Stones on Salisbury-plain falsely reported that no two can count them alike The variety ariseth first because some count onely his primitive Tenets which are breeders and others reckon all the frie of Consequences derived from them Secondly some are more industrious to seek perverse to collect captious to expound malicious to deduce far distant Consequences excellent at the inflaming of a Reckoning quick to discover an infant or Emâ—rio-errours which others over-look Thirdly it is probable that in process of time Wicliffe might delate himself in supplemental and additional Opinions more then he at first maintained and it is possible that the Tenents of his followers in after ages might be falsely fathered upon him We will tie our selves to no strict number or method but take them as finde them out of his greatest adversary with exact Quotation of the Tome Book Article and Chapter where they are Reported THOMAS WALDENSIS accuseth WICLIFFE to have maintained these dangerous heretical OPINIONS To. Bo Art Chap. OF THE POPE 4 2 1 1 1. That it is blasphemy to call any Head of the Church save Christ alone 1 2 3 39 2. That the election of the Pope by Cardinals is a device of the devil 1 2 1 2 3. That those are Hereticks which say that Peter had more power then the other Apostles 1 2 1 4 4. That James Bishop of Jerusalem was preferred before Peter 1 2 3 41 5. That Rome is not the Seat in which Christ's Vicar doth reside 1 2 3 35 6. That the Pope if he doth not imitate Christ and Peter in his life and manners is not to be called the Successour of PETER 1 2 3 38 7. That the Imperial and Kingly authority are above the Papal Power 1 2 3 48 8. That the doctrine of the infallibility of the Church of Rome in matters of faith is the greatest blasphemy of Antichrist 1 2 3 54 9. That he often calleth the Pope Antichrist 1 2 3 32 10. That Christ mean't the Pope by the * Mat. 24. 15. abomination of Desolation standing in the holy place     OF POPISH
suit ad tantam violentiam prolapsum ut in Sedis Apostolicae nuncios Legatos manus temerè mitterentur sicut â—evissimè sactum est in persona dilecti filii Johannis de Oisis Palatii Apostolici causarum auditoris in praesato regno Nunlii collectoris nosiri quem audivimus ex hâc sola causa quod literas Apostolicas nostro nomine praesentabat fuisse per aliquos de ipso regno carceribus mancipatum Quae injuria nobis Apostolicae sedi illata animum nostrum affecit admiratione turbatione molestia singulari Miramur enim stupescimus dolemus quod tam FOEDILM TURPE FACINUS in illo regno commissum sit contrà sedem B. Petri Nuntios ejus praesertim cum literae illae nostrae nil aliud quam salutem animarum honorem regni per omnia paternas sanctas admonitiones continerent Fuit enim semper etiam apud gentiles qui nullam tenebant verae fidei rationem inviolabile nomen Nuncii atâ— Legati etiamsi ab hostibus mitterentur semper salvi hodiè apud Saracenos Turcos à quibusciam tutè destinantur legationes literae etiamsi illis ad quos deferuntur molestae sint injuriosae Et nuncius noster vir humanus moderatus Anno Dom. 1393. continua conversatione notissimus in regno Angliae quod devotione fidei cultu divino se jactat omnes alias Christianas rationes superare turpiter captus est nihil impium nec hostile deferens sed literas salutares justas Sed revereantur aliquando illi qui sic contumaciter superbè Ecclesiam Dei contemnent Sedis Apostolicae authoritatem nè super ipsos eveniat justa punitio ex Christi judicio qui cam instituit fundavit Caveant nè tot cumulatis offensis Deum irritent ad ultionem tarditatem supplicii gravitate compensent Non videbatur eis satis offendisse Deum Statuta condendo contra vicarium ejus contra Ecclesiam Ecclesiae caput nisi pertinacitèr perseverantes in malo proposito in Nuntium Apostolicum violentas manus injicerent Quod non dubitamus tuae Excellentiae quae Ecclesiae regni honorem diligit displicere certi sumus quod si fuisses in Anglia pro tua naturali prudentia pro side devotione quam geres erga nos Ecclesiam Dei illos incurrere in hunc furorem nullatenus permisisses Verùm cum non solum ipsis qui hoc fecerunt sed toti regno magna accederit ignominia dietim si perseverabit in errore accessura sit major generositatem tuam in qua valdè confidemus exbortamur affectuose rogamus ut circa haec provideas prout sapientiae tuae videbitur honori nostro Ecclesiae ac saluti regni convenire Datum Romae apud Sanctos Apostolos VI Kal. Junii Pontificatus nostri Anno 12 mo Give Winners leave to laugh and Losers to speak or else both will take leave to themselves The less the Pope could bite the more he roared and as it appears by his language he was highly offended thereat This penal Statute as a Rod was for many years laid upon the desk or rather lock'd up in the cupboard No great visible use being made thereof until the Reign of King Hen. 8. whereof hereafter 38. Since the Reformation More scar'd then hurt the professors of the Common-Law have taken much advantage out of this Statute threatning therewith such as are active in the Ecclesiastical jurisdictions as if their dealings tended to be the disherison of the Crown A weapon wherewith they have rather flourished then struck it being suspicious that that appearing sword is but all Hilt whose Blade was near drawn out as this charge hath never been driven home against them but herein let us hearken to the Learned judgment of S r Thomas Smith Secretary of State who well knew the interest of his Soveraign therein 39. Because the Court a Sir Thomas Smiths judgment herein which is called Curia Christianitatis is yet taken for an extern and foraign Court and differeth from the Politie and manner of Government of the Realm Com. wealth of Eng. 3. book 11 Chap. and is another Court as appeareth by the Act and Writ of Praemunire then Curia Regis aut Reginae yet at this present this Court as well as others hath her force power authority rule and jurisdiction from the Royal Majesty and the Crown of England and from no other foreign Potentate or power under God which being granted as indeed it is true it may now appear by some reason that the first Statute of Praemunire whereof I have spoken hath now no place in England seeing there is no pleading alibi quam in Curia Regis ac Reginae All I will add of this Statute is this That it hath had the hard hap not to be honoured with so many Readings therein as other Statutes Perhaps because not bringing in 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in proportion to the pains which must be laied out thereon and therefore I would invite some ingenious in our Common-Law and with such no doubt it aboundeth to bestow their learned endeavours thereon to their own honour and advancement of the truth in so noble a subject 40. Many poor souls at this time were by fear or flattery moved to abjure the truth 19. and promise future conformity to the Church of Rome 1395 In proof whereof The solemn form of an abjuration let not the Reader think much to peruse the following Instruments Anno Dom. 1395. First Anno Regis Ric. 2. 19. for the authentickness thereof being truly copied out of the Originals of the Tower Secondly because it conteines some extraordinary formalities of abjuration Lastly because the four persons mentioned therein have escaped M r Fox his observation seeing no drag-net can be so carefully cast as to catch all things which come under it a Ex Rotulâ— Clausaâ— de Anno Regni Regis decimo nono Richardi secundi membrana 18 Memorand quod primo die Septembris Anno Regni Regis Richardi Secundi post Conquestum decimo-nono Will. Dynet Nic. Taillour Nic. Poucher Will. Steynour de Notyngham in Cancellar ipsius Regis personaliter constituti sacra divisim prestiterunt sub eo qui sequitur tenore I WILLIAM DYNET be-for yhow worshipefull father and Lord Archbishop of Yhorke and Yhother Clergie with my free will and full avysede swere to God and to all his Sayntes upon this holy Gospells yat fro this day forwarde I shall worship ymages with preying and offeryng unto hem in the worschep of the sayntes that yey be made after And alsoe I shall never more despise pygremage ne states of holy Chyrche in no degree And alsoe I shall be buxum to the lawes of holy Chyrche and to yhowe as myn Archbishop and to myn oyer Ordinares and Curates and kepe yo lawes
posterity except they shut their coffers on purpose because there was nothing in them Sure I am there is no dashing on the credit of the Lady nor any the least insinuations of inchastity in that Instrument Praeclara Domina Serenissima Regina being the worst titles that are given her therein 25. Men may justly marvell what King Henry meant by this solemn and ceremonious Divorce What might be the King's designs in this divorce which the edge of the Ax Ann. Dom. 1536. or Sword was more effectually to perform the day after Ann. Regis Hē 8. 28. Her death being then designed Was it because He stood on this punctilio or criticisme of credit that He might not hereafter be charged with cruelty for executing His Wife that first He would be divorced from Her and so cannot be said to put His Queen but Anna Bollen to death Or did He first but barely intend Her divorce and afterwards suspecting this would not make sufficient avoidance in His bed to clear all claims took up new resolutions to take away Her life Or was it because He conceived the execution would only reach the root the Queen Her self and not blast the branch the Lady Elizabeth whom by this divorce He desired to render illegitimate Whatever His aimes were He got Her divorce confirmed both by Convocation and Parliament interesting all equally therein that hereafter none should accuse Him of this act but first they must condemn themselves However after-ages take the boldnesse to conceive that the greatest guilt of Anna Bollen was King Henry's better fancying of another which made Him the next day after Her death to mourn so passionately for Her in the embraces of a new and beautifull Bride the Lady Jane Seymour 26. But The Convocation bucksome to please the King in all things to return to the Convocation That Instrument of Divorce was no sooner tendred therein but all subscribed it The Papists willingly the Protestants faintly but all publickly Yea in this Convocation nothing was propounded in the King's name but it passed presently Oh the operation of the purge of a Praemunire so lately taken by the Clergie and an hundred thousand pounds paid thereupon How did the remembrance thereof still work on their spirits and made them meek and mortified They knew the temper of the King and had read the Text k Amos 3. 8. The lyon hath roared who will not fear Gardiner the fox durst not so much as bark to oppose the King nor the proudest in the place As for Edmond Bonner Arch-deacon of Leicester present and active in this Convocation I may say Bonner was no Bonney yet but a perfect Cromwellist and as forward as any to promote his designes 27. On the Friday following A Catalogue of erroneous opinions complained of in the Convocation Mr. Gwent the Prolocutour July 23. brought to the Upper House of Convocation a Book containing the Mala dogmata those erroneous doctrines then as he complained publickly preached printed and professed requesting reformation thereof that order might be taken against the future propagation of such dangerous positions Behold them here transcribed out of the Record partly for novelty-sake because to my knowledge never printed before and partly because though many wilde and distempered expressions be found therein yet they contain the Protestant Religion in oare which since by God's blessing is happily refined 28. The Protestation of the Clergie of the Lower House Erroneons opinions as then accounted complained of in the Convocation within the Province of Canterbury with declaration of the faults and abuses which heretofore have and now be within the same worthy special reformation IN very humble and reverent manner with protestation That we the Clergie of the Lower House within the Province of Canterbury nother in word deed or otherwise directly or indirectly intend any thing to speak attempt or doe which in any manner of wise may be displeasant unto the King's Highnesse our most dread Sovereign Lord and supreme Head of the Church of England but in all things according to the command of God to be most obedient to His Grace to Whom accordingly we submit our selves minding in no wise by any colourable fashion to recognize privily or apertly the Bishop of Rome or his usurped authority or in any wise to bring in defend or maintain the same into this noble Realm or Dominions of the same but that the same Bishop of Rome with his usurped authority utterly for ever with his inventions rites abuses ordinances and fashions to be renounced forsaken extinguished and abolished And that we sincerely addict our selves to Almighty God his laws and unto our said Severeign Lord the King our supreme Head in earth and His Laws Statutes Provisions and Ordinances made herewithin His Graces Realm We think in our consciences and opinions these errors and abuses following to have been and now to be within this Realm causes of dissention worthy speciall reformation It is to were 1. That it is commonly preached taught and spoken to the slander of this noble Realm disquietness of the people dammage of Christian souls not without fear of many other inconveniences and perils That the Sacrament of the Altar is not to be esteemed For divers light and lewd persons be not ashamed or aferde to say Why should I see the sacring of the high Masse Is it any thing else but a piece of bread or a little predie round Robin 2. Item That they deny Extreme Unction to be any Sacrament 3. Item That Priests have no more authority to minister Sacraments than the Lay-men have 4. Item That Children ought not in any wise to be confirmed of the Bishops afore they come to the age of discretion 5. Item That all Ceremonies accustomed in the Church which are not clearly expressed in Scripture must be taken away because they are mens inventions 6. Item That all those are Antichrists that doe deny the Lay-men the Sacrament of the Altar sub utrâque specie 7. Item That all that be present at Masse and doe not receive the Sacrament with the Priest are not partakers of the said Masse 8. Item That it is preached and taught That the Church that is commonly taken for the Church is the old Synagogue and that the Church is the congregation of good men onely 9. Item It is preached against the Letany and also said That it was never merry in England sithence the Letany was ordained and Sancta Maria Sancta Catharina c. sungen and said 10. Item That a man hath no Free-will 11. Item That God never gave grace nor knowledge of holy Scripture to any great estate or rich man and that they in no wise follow the same 12. Item That all Religions and Professions whatsoever they be are clean contrary to Christs religion 13. Item That it be preached and taught That all things ought to be commune and that Priests should have Wives 14. Item That Preachers will in no
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
us and with us unto Almighty God after this manner All holy Angels and Saints in heaven pray for us and with us unto the Father that for his dear son Jesu Christ his sake we may have grace of him and remission of our sins with an earnest purpose not wanting ghostly strength to observe and keep his holy commandements and never to decline from the same again unto our lives end And in this manner we may pray to our blessed Lady to Saint John Baptist to all and every of the Apostles or any other Saint particularly as our devotion doth serve us so that it be done without any vain superstition as to think that any Saint is more mercifull or will hear us sooner than CHRIST or that any Saint doth serve for one thing more than another or is parrone of the same And likewise we must keep Holy-daies unto God in memory of him and his Saints upon such daies as the Church hath ordained their memories to be celebrate except they be mitigated and moderated by the assent and commandment of Us the Supreme Head to the Ordinaries and then the Subjects ought to obey it Of Rites and Ceremonies As concerning the Rites and Ceremonies of Christ's Church as to have such vestments in doing Gods service as be and have been most part used as sprinkling of Holy water to put us in remembrance of our Baptism and the blood of Christ sprinkled for our redemption upon the Cross Giving of Holy-bread to put us in remembrance of the Sacrament of the Altar that all Christian men be one body mystical of Christ as the bread is made of many grains and yet but one loaf and to put us in remembrance of the receiving of the holy Sacrament and body of Christ the which we ought to receive in right charity which in the beginning of Christ's Church men did more often receive than they use now adaies to do Bearing of Candles on Candle-mas-day in memory of Christ the spiritual Light of whom Siemeon did prophecie as is read in the Church that day Giving of Ashes on Ash wednesday to put in remembrance every Christian man in the beginning of Lent and penance that he is but ashes and earth and thereto shall return which is right necessary to be uttered from henceforth in our Mother-tongue alwaies on the Sunday Bearing of Palms on Palm-Sunday in memory of the receiving of Christ into Hierusalem a little before his death that we may have the same desire to receive him into our hearts Creeping to the Crosse and humbling our selves to Christ on Good Friday before the Crosse and there offering unto Christ before the same and kissing of it in memory of our redemption by Christ made upon the Crosse Setting up the Sepulture of Christ whose body after his death was buried The hallowing of the Font and other like exorcismes and benedictions by the Ministers of Christs Church and all other like laudable Customes Rites and Ceremonies be not to be contemned and cast away but to be used and continued as things good and laudable to put us in remembrance of those spiritual things that they doe signifie not suffering them to be forgotten or to be put in oblivion but renewing them in our memories from time to time but none of these Ceremonies have power to remit sinne but onely to stirre and lift up our mindes unto God by whom onely our sinnes be forgiven Of Purgatorie Forasmuch as due order of charity requireth and the Book of Macca bees and divers antient Doctours plainly shewen That it is a very good and charitable deed to pray for Souls departed and forasmuch also as such usage hath continued in the Church so many years even from the beginning We will that all Bishops and Preachers shall instruct and teach Our people committed by us unto their spiritual charge that no man ought to be grieved with the continuance of the same and that it standeth with the very due order of charity a Christian man to pray for Souls departed and to commit them in our prayers to God's mercy and also to cause other to pray for them in Masses and Exequies and to give alms to other to pray for them whereby they may be relieved and holpen of some part of their pain But forasmuch as the place where they be the name thereof and kinde of pains there also be to us uncertain by Scripture therefore this with all other things we remit to Almighty God unto whose mercy it is meet and convenient for us to commend them trusting that God accepteth our prayers for them referring the rest wholy to God to whom is known their estate and condition Wherefore it is much necessary that such abuses be clearly putaway which under the name of Purgatorie hath been advanced as to make men believe that through the Bishop of Rome's Pardons Souls might clearly be delivered out of Purgatorie and all the pains of it Or that Masses said at Scala coeli or otherwhere in any place or before any Image might likewise deliver them from all their pain and send them straight to heaven And other like abuses 36. Nothing else of moment passed in this Convocation The Convocation dissolved and what acted in Parliament save that on the 20 of July Edward Bishop of Hereford July 20. brought in a Book containing the King's Reasons conceiving it unfit in Person or by Proxie to appear at the General Councel lately called by the Pope at Mantua afterward removed to Trent and then the Convocation having first confirm'd the King's Reasons was dissolved It was transacted in relation to Church or Church-men in the contemporary x See them in the Statutes at large Parliament 1. That Felons for abjuring Petty Treason should not have y Cap. 1. Clergie 2. That every Ecclesiastical and Lay-Officer shall be sworn to renounce the Bishop of Rome and his authority and to resist it to his power and to repute any Oath taken in the maintenance of the said Bishop or his authority to be void And the refusing the said Oath being tendered z Cap. 10. shall be adjudged High Treason 3. That Fruits during the vacation of a Benefice shall be restored to the next Incumbent a Cap. 11. whose charge for first shall begin from the first vacation 4. Which Spiritual persons shall be resident upon their Benefices and which not and for what causes 5. Release of such who have obtained Licences from b Gap 16. the See of Rome But all these are set down at large in the printed Statutes and thither we referre the Reader for satisfaction as to our History of Abbies to be informed about the Rebellion in the North occasioned in this year by these alterations in Religion 37. Towards the end of this year The birth bâ—eeding frist persecution far travelling of William Tyndal the faithfull servant of God Ann. Dom. 1536. Octob. 7. William Tyndall alià s c Balcus de script
not in obedient humylyte have undre the shadowe or color of the saide rule and habite vaynely detestably and also ungodly employed yea rather devowred the yerely revenues yssuing and comyng of the saide possessions in continuall in gurgitations and farcyngs of owr carayne bodyes and of others the supportares of owr voluptuose and carnal appetyte with other vayne and ungodly expensys to the manyfest subvertion of devocion and clennes of lyvyng and to the moost notable slaunder of Christs holy Evangely which in the forme of owr professyon we did ostentate and openly devaunt to kepe moost exactly withdrawyng thereby from the symple and pure myndys of yowr graces subjectes the onely truth and comfort which they oughte to have by the true faith of Christe And also the devyne honor and glory onely due to the glorious Majesty of God Almyghty steryng them with all perswasions ingynes and polyce to dedd Images and counterfett reliques for owr dampnable lucre Which our moost horryble abominacions and execrable persuacions of yowr graces people to detestable errours and our long coveryd Ipocrysie cloked with fayned sanctite We revolving dayly and continually ponderyng in owr sorrowfull harts and thereby perseyving the botomlas gulf of everlasting fyre redy to devowre us if persysting in this state of lyving we shulde depart from this uncertayn and transytory lâ—ffe constrayned by the intollerable anguysh of owr conscience callyd as we trust by the grace of God who wold have no man to perysh in synne with harts moost contrite and repentante prostrate at the noble feet of yowr moost royall Majestye most lamentably doo crave of yowr highnes of yowr abundant mercy to grant unto us moost greevous against God and yowr Highnes your most gracious perdon for owr saide sondry offences omyssyons and negligences comytted as before by us is confessed agaynst yowr Highnes and yowr most noble Progenitors And where yowr Hyghnes being Supreme hedd immediately aftre Christ of his Church in this yowr Roialme of England so consequently generall and onely Reformator of all religious persons there have full authority to correct or dyssolve at yowr Graces pleasure and libertye all Covents and religious companyes abusing the Rewles of their profession And moreover to yowr Highnes being owr soveraygn Lord and undoubted fownder of yowr said Monastery by dissolucion whereof apperteyneth onely the Oryginall title and propre inherytance as well of all other goods moveable and unmoveable to the said Monastery in any wyse apperteyning or belonging to be disposed and imployed as to yowr graces most excellent wysdeme shall seme expedyent and necessary Per me Franciscum Priorem Per me Johannem Sub-Priorem Per me Tho Smyth Per me Tho Golston Per me Rob Martin Per me Jacob Hopkins Per me Ric Bunbery Per me Johannem Pette Per me Jo Harrold Per me Tho Barly Per me Will Ward Per me Tho Atterbury Per me Will Fowler Other Resignations varying in their words met for the maine in the matter and were with all speed presented to the Kings Visitors As School-boyes hope to escape with the fewer stripes for being the first in untying their points those Convents promised to themselves the kindest usage which were forwardest in their Resignations though all on the matter fared alike 4. Yea Betwixt first and last no great difference John de Warboise so called from the place of his nativity in Huntingdon shire where my worthy friend Mr. William Johnson is well beneficed though the a Speed in his description of Huntingdon-shire first with his sixty Benedicti Monks who with solemn subscription renounced the Popes Supremacy and now as officious as any in surrendring his Convent to the Kings Visitors met with no peculiar and extraordinary civility above others of his Ordâ—r 5. Such Resignations seal'd and deliver'd the Visitors called for the Seales themselves which now had survived their own use having passed the last effectual Act and these generally made of silver were by the Kings Officers presently broken in pieces Such material Stamps being now abolished it will be charity to preserve their Impressions and exhibit them to posterity which here we shall endeavour rendring some probable reason how most of them referre to the Founders or scituation or some remarkable action therein The Seale of Armes of the Mitred Abbeys in England IN presenting of them The designe of the work I will not be confined to the strict termes of Blazoury the rather because some of their Armes may be presumed so antient as sitter to give Rules to than take them from our moderne Heraldry And what my pen cannot sufficiently describe therein the Reader may satisfie himselfe by his own eye To which these Cotes are presented in the last sheet of this Volume after the History of Waltham Abbey 1. I will make a method of my own beginning where the Sun ends in the West The Armes of Tavestocke Tavestock in Devon shire gave Varrey Or and Azure on a Chiefe Or two Mulletts Gules 2. Glassenbury gave Vert as I conjecture the Colour a Crosse Bottone Argent Of Glossenbury In the first Quarter the Woman with a Glory holding a Babe radiated about his head in her Armes because forsooth by the direction of the Angel * See the first Cent. Paragr 11. Gabriel their Church was first dedicated to the Virgin Mary 3. Middleton in Gloucester-shire gave Sable Of Middleton three Baskets Argent replenished with Loaves of Bread Gules Had the number of the Baskets been either Seven or Twelve some would interpret therein a reference to the Reversions preserved by Christ his command of the Loaves miraculously multiplied whereas now they denote the Bounty of that Abbey in relieving the poor 4. What Malmesbury in Wiltshire gave I cannot yet attain Of Malmsbury 5. Abingdon gave a Crosse flurt betwixt Martelletts Sable Of Abingdon much alluding to the Armes of our English Kings before the Conquest who it seems were great Benefactors thereunto 6. The Abbey of S. James in Reading Of Reading gave AZure three Scallop Shells Or. Here I know not what secret sympathy there is between S. James and Shells but sure I am that all Pilgrims that visit St. James of Compos-Stella in Spaine the Paramount Shrine of that Saint returned thence obsiti * Erasmâ—â— in his Dialogue called Peregrinatio Religionis eâ—go conchis all beshell'd about on their clothes as a religious Donative there bestowed upon them 7. The Abbey of Hide Of Hide juxta Winton gave Argent a Lyon rampant Sable on a cheiff of the second four Keyes Argent 8. Bataile Abbey in Sussex gave Gules a Crosse betwixt a Crown Or Of Battaile in the first and third Quarter A Sword bladed Argent hilted Or in the second and fourth Quarter thereof Hete the Armes relate to the Name and both Armes and Name to the fierce Fight hard by whereby Duke William gained the English-Crown by Conquest and founded this
Isabell Sackvile Lady Prioresse of Clarkenwell is an eminent instance of longevity in this kinde For 1. In the one and twentieth of King Henry the seventh she was a * To be seen in the pedegree of the Barl of Dorset Weaver fun Mon. pag. 429. Nun in Clarkenwell-Priory when a Legacy was bequeathed her as Niece by William Sackvile Esquire and must be then conceived fifteen years of age 2. She was the last Prioresse of Clarkenwell at the dissolution thereof 3. She died in the twelfth of Queen Elizabeth as appears by her Epitaph in Clarkenwell-Church and by Computation must be allowed Eighty years of age But farre older was that Monk or Nun I am * Attested by 〈◊〉 Pymme's Kinsman to Godfrey Bp. of Gloucester See his printed Paper assured of the Story not the Sex to whom Living in or neer Hampshire Mr. John Pymme then an Officer in the Exchequer paid the last payment of his Pension about the fift year of King James SECTION VI. DOMINO THOMAE TREVOR Juniori Equiti Aurato MVlti sunt praeproperi Haeredes qui nimiâ parentum vivacitate cruciantur Hi languidâ expectatione macrescunt postquam Rura Paterna spe vanâ devoraverant At Tu è contra Venerandi Patris tui Canitiem si fieri posset immortalem reddere conaris cum eam perpetuo Obsequio humilime colas quo efficacius Kardiacum ad Senectutem ejus elongandam nequit confici Non in Patris sed â—undi senescentis Annos inquiris cum Historiâ plurimum delecteris cujus ope si Praeterita cum Praesentibus conferantur conjectura de Futuris statui potest quo nomine hoc opus nostrum tibi non ingratum fore confido Deus â—e Lectissimâmque Conjugem beat prole patrizante non tam privato commodo quà m Bono Publico ne Respulica tantarum virtutum Haeredi destituatur Of the Erection Officers Vse Continuance and Abolishing of the Court of Augmentation DUring the scuffling for Abbey-land Augmentation Court when erected in the 27 year of King Henry the eighth the Court of Augmentation was set up by Act of Parliament to be a Court of Record and to have an authentick Great Seal besides a Privie Seal and several Officers appointed for management thereof with large fees allowed unto them I finde the same exemplified in a fair Vellum Manuscript which lately was Archbishop Parkers since the Lord Cokes whence I transcribed as followeth Sir Rich Sackvile Chancellor three hundred pounds yearly Fee forty pounds Diet and six shillings eight pence for every Seale Sir Jo Williams Treasurer three hundred and twenty pounds Fee Sir Will Cavendish Treasurer of the King's Chamber one hundred pounds Fee one hundred pound Dyet and ten pounds Boat-hire Sir Thomas Moyle Sir Walter Mildmay Generall Receivers to each two hundred pounds Fee and twenty pounds Diet. Rich Goodrich Attorney one hundred pounds Fee and twenty marks Diet. Jo Gosnall Solicitor eighty pound Fee Diet twenty marks Besides Masters and Surveyors of the woods Clerks Keepers of Records Ushers Messengers Assistants Carpenter and Mason to the Court Auditors Receivers Surveyors Woodwards for every County the totall summe of their Fees yearly amounting unto Seven thousand two hundred forty nine pounds ten shillings and three pence This Catalogue by the persons mentioned therein seems taken towards the end of Edward the sixt when the Court began to decline 2. It belonged unto this Court to order The imployment of the Offiâ—eâ—s in this Court survey and govern sell let set all Manours lands tenements rents services tythes pensions portions advowsons patronages and all hereditaments formerly belonging to Priories and since their dissolution to the Crown as in the printed Statute * An. 17 HeÌ„ 8. cap. 27. more largely doth appear All persons holding any Leases Pensions Corodies c. by former grants from the Covents came into the Court produced their Deeds and upon examination of the validity thereof had the same allowed unto them And although providence for themselves and affection to their kindred prompted many Fryers and Covents foreseeing their rottering condition to antedate Leases to their friends just at the dissolution yet were they so frighted with fear of discovery that very few frauds in that kinde were committed The Court was very tender in continuing any Leases upon that least legall consideration 3. But after some continuance of this Court Motives for the dissolution of this Court the King 's urgent occasions could not stay for the slow coming in of money from the yearly Revenues of Abbey-land insomuch that He was necessitated to sell out-right a great part of those Lands for the present advance of Treasure and thereby quickly was the Court of Augmentation diminished The King therefore took into consideration to dissolve it as superfluous wherein the Officers were many their Pensions great Crown profits thereby small and Causes therein depending few so that it was not worth the while to keep up a Mill to grinde that grist where the Toll would not quit cost It was therefore resolved to stop up this by stream that all causes therein should run in the antient channell of the former Courts of Westminster 4. Indeed in the 7 of King Edw. 6. Finally dissolved in the first year of Queen Mary a doubt did arise amongst the Learned in the Laws whether the Court of Augmentation the Commencement whereof was first had by authority of Parliament would legally be dissolved extinguished and repealed by the King's Letters Patents And the Officers thereof wonder not if they stickled for their own concernments did zealously engage on the Negative Wherefore it was enacted by Parliament That the King during His naturall life had present power by His Letters Patents to alter unite annex reduce or dissolve any of those new erected Courts by His own Letters Patents And the same Act was confirmed in the first year of Queen Mary when the short-lived Court of Augmentation was dissolved as which from the birth thereof 1535 to the extinguishing 1553 survived but eighteen years The Lands of Chanteries free Chappels and Colledges dissolved KIng Henry the eighth his expences like sandy ground Prodigality alwaies wanteth suddenly suckt up the large shower of Abbey lands and little signe or shew was seen thereof yea such the parching thirst of his pressing occasions that still they called aloud for more moysture for whose satisfaction the Parliament in the 38 year of His Reign put the Lands of all Colledges Chanteries and free Chappels in His Majesties full disposition 2. This King made three meals King Henry's three meals on Abbey-lands or if you will one meal of three courses on Abbey-lands besides what Cardinal Wolsey the King's Taster herein had eat before-hand when assuming smaller Houses to endow his two Colledges 1. When Religious Houses under two hundred pounds a yeare â— Anno 1535 were granted to Him by the Parliament 2. When all greater Monasteries â— 1538 3. When Colledges Chanteries and Free
The Lady Mary 28. after long Communication was content to come to Lees Ann. Dom. 1549 to the Lord Chancellours and then to Hunsdon but She utterly denied to come to the q q She loved to deale with the King her Brother eminus by Letters but in no wise comminus by discourse Besides she hated coming to the Court suspecting some harsh usage to her Person and jealous of being put into Restraint Court or Oking at that time The Lord Chancellor fell sore sick Aug. 13. with 40 more of his r r Lees in Essex a County generally not very healthfull where Agues sit as close and sometimes last as long as a new suit house that the Lady Mary came not thither at this time There were Letters sent to every Bishop to pull downe the Altars Nov. 19. There were Letters sent for the taking of certain Å¿ Å¿ Of these Francis Mallet last * * Sceletos Cant. MS. Master of Michael House in Cambridge was the chief He having leave from the Councell to officiate Masse onely in the presence of the Lady Mary presumed on the same liberty in her absence Whereupon he was notwithstanding his Ladies refusall to surrender him fetcht from her by force and committed to prison Chaplains of the Lady Mary Dec. 15. Edw. sexâ—i 4. for saying Masse which She denied Whaley was examined for perswading divers Nobles of the Realm to make the Duke of Somerset t t Now where the seeds sown and the foundation laid of the Protectours overthrow which ensued not long after Proâ—ector at the next Parliament Febr. 6. stood to the Denial the Earle of Rutland affirmed it manifestly The Bishop of Winchester after a long triall was deposed his Bishoprick 17. It seems some legall formalities were pretended wanting in Gardiner his deprivation For in my memory a Suit was commenced to overthrow a long Lease made by Bishop Poinet Gardiner's successour in Winchester on this point that Gardiner still remained lawfull Bishop but nothing therein was effected 23. Come we now to the saddest difference that ever happened in the Church of England The conception of non-conformity if we consider either the time how long it continued the eminent persons therein ingaged or the dolefull effects thereby produced It was about matters of conformity Alas that men should have lesse wisdome than locusts which when sent on God's errand Did not * * Joel 2. 8. thrust one another whereas here such shoving and shouldring and hoising and heavings and justleing and thronging betwixt Clergie-men of the highest parts and places For now non-conformity in the daies of King Edward was conceived which afterward in the Reign of Queen Mary but beyond Sea at Frankford was born which in the Reign of Queen Elizabeth was nursed and weaned which under King James grew up a young youth or tall stripling but towards the end of King Charles His Reign shot up to the full strength and stature of a man able not onely to coap with but conquer the Herarchie its adversary 24. Two opposite parties now plainly discovered themselves The favourers and opposers thereof driving on different interests Ann. Reg. Ed. 6. 4. under their respective Patrones Ann. Dom. 1550. Founders of Conformity 1. Such as remained here all the Reign of King Henry the eighth and weathered out the tempest of His tyrannie at open Sea partly by a politick compliance and partly by a cautious concealment of themselves 2. These in the daies of King Edward the sixt were possessed of the best preferments in the land 3. And retained many ceremonies practiced in the Romish Church conceiving them to be antient and decent in themselves 4. The authority of Cranmer and activity of Ridley headed this party the former being the highest the latter the hottest in defence of conformity Founders of Non-conformity 1. Such as fled hence beyond the Seas chiefly into Germany where living in States and Cities of popular Reformation they suck'd in both the aire and discipline of the place they lived in 2. These returning late into England were at a losse for meanes and maintenance onely supported with the reputation of being Confessors rendring their patience to the praise and their persons to the pity of all conscientious people 3. And renounced all ceremonies practiced by the Papists conceiving that such ought not onely to be clipt with the sheers but to be shaved with a raizor yea all the stumps thereof to be pluckt out 4. John Rogers Lecturer in S. Pauls and Vicar of S. Sepulchres with John Hooper afterwards Bishop of Glocester were Ring-leaders of this party This Iohn Hooper was bred in Oxford well skill'd in Latine Greek and Hebrew a little of the last would go farre in this Age and afterwards travelled over into Switzerland Yea he seemed to some to have brought Switzerland back with him in his harsh rough and unpleasant behaviour being grave into rigour and severe into surliness Yet to speak truth all Hoopers ill nature consisted in other mens little acquaintance with him Such as visited him once condemned him of over-austerity who repaired to him twice onely suspected him of the same who conversed with him constantly not onely acquitted him of all morosity but commended him for sweetness of manners which saith my Author Godwin in the Bishops of Glocester endeared him to the acquaintance of Bullinger This Hooper was preferred to be Bishop of Glocester by the special favour of his Patrone Iohn Earl of Warwick afterward Duke of Northumberland 25. The worst was Hooper refuseth to wear the Episcopal habit when Hooper came to be consecrated Bishop of Glocester he scrupled the wearing of certain Episcopall ornaments Rochet Chimere Square-cap c. producing a Letter from the Earl of Warwick omniprevalent then at Court in the declining of his Corrival the Duke of Somerset that he might be favourably dispensed with therein according to the tenour ensuing to Archbishop Cranmer AFter my most hearty commendations to your Grace these may be to desire the same that in such reasonable things wherein this beâ—rer my Lord Elect of Glocester craveth to be born withall at your hands you would vouch safe to shew him your Graces favour the rather at this my instance Which thing partly I have taken in hand by the Kings Majesties own motion The matter is weighed by His Highnesse none other but that your Grace may facilely condescend thereunto The principall cause is that you would not charge this said Bearer with an Oath burdenous to his conscience And so for lack of time I commit your Grace to the tuition of Almighty God Your Graces most assured loving friend July 23. John Warwick What this Oath was because not expressed is variously conjectured Parsons to render Hooper more odious will have it the Oath of Supremacy which in my opinion is improbable it being utterly unlikely that the King would dispense with any from taking Oath
wherein His owne Dignity was so neerly concern'd I conceive it the Oath of Canonical obedience to the Archbishop which consequentially commanded such ceremonies which Hooper was willing to decline For in the Kings next Letter wrote thirteen daies after to the same purpose there is mention onely of offensive Rites and Ceremonies and of no Oath at all as coincident with the former and obligatory to such Canonical observances But see the Letter RIght Reverend Father and right trusty and well-beloved We greet you well Whereas We by the advice of Our Councel have called chosen Our right well-beloved and well-worthy Mr. John Hooper Professor of Divinity to be Our Bishop of Glocester as well for his great learning deep judgment and long study both in the Scriptures and other profound learning as also for his good discretion ready utterance and honest life for that kinde of vocation c. From consecrating of whom We understand you doe stay because he would have you omit and let passe certain Rites and Ceremonies offensive to his conscience whereby ye thinke you should fall in Praemunire of Laws We have thought good by advise aforesaid to dispense and discharge you of all manner of dangers penalties and forfeitures you should run into and be in any manner of way by omitting any of the same And these Our Letters shall be your sufficient warrant and discharge therefore ¶ Given under Our Signet at our Castle of Windsor Aug. 5. the fourth year of Our Reign All would not doe Resolute Ridley stood stifly to his tackling and here was old bandying of the businesse betwixt them and Arguments urged on both sides Pro. 1. The Ornaments were indifferent of themselves and of antient use in the Church 2. Being enjoyned by lawfull authority they became necessary not to salvation but to Church-unity and it was scandalous to decline them 3. It would bring the Papist over to our Church beholding all things by them used not totally abolished by a spirit of contradiction but some decent correspondencies still moderately continued 4. It would cast a slurre on the credit of such Bishops who formerly had used those Ornaments as more remisse in Religion than such as refused them 5. Those that have stubborn wills pretend too often to tender consciences nor ought a private person to be indulged with the disturbance of the publick uniformity of the Church Con. 1. The best thing that could be said of them was that they were uselesse being otherwise ridiculous and superstitious 2. Cursed be he that removes the bound-marks Grant them indifferent in themselves and left so by Divine Wisdome it was presumption in man to stamp necessity upon them 3. Too much of the Serpent nothing of the Dove herein to offend those within to invite those without to the Church driving Protestants thence to draw Papists thither 4. The credits of some good men were not to be preserved by destroying the consciences of others 5. Hooper put himself upon the triall of the Searcher of hearts that no obstinacie but meer conscience made him refuse those Ornaments In a word all those Arguments which later Ages have more amply enlarged more clearly explained more cunningly improved more violently enforced were then and there first solidly propounded and solemnly set down on both sides Posterity in this matter having discovered no new Mine but onely refined what formerly was found out in this Controversie 26. At last the great Earl of Warwick deserted his Chaplain in open field But is forced at last to shift for himself Indeed he had higher things in his head than to attend such trifles not so much to procure a Mitre for his Chaplain as a Crown for himself even then secretly laying a design to derive the Scepter into his own family Yea Hooper was sent to prison and kept some daies in * His imprisonment not mention'd in Mâ— Fox but in the Tâ—oubles of Frankford pag. 35. durance till at last he condescended to conform himselfe in his habit to the rest of his brethren and so was consecrated Bishop of Glocester 27. But that which most opens the mouthes of Papists Defended for keepiâ—g Worcester in Commendam and other adversaries against Hooper is because he who scrupled the poor Bishoprick of Glocester afterward held the wealthy Bishoprick of Worcester in Commendam with it We read of a b Jos 7. 21. wedge of gold and little wedges say they widen mens consciences for the receiving of greater yea thus the haters of marriage first become guilty of bigamie But let such know First that the Dioceses of Glocester and Worcester lie both contiguous together Secondly many single Bishopricks in England are larger than both for extent in Land and number of Parishes Thirdly no worse a man than S. Dunstan himself had the Bishoprick of Worcester and London with it at the same time being farre more distant and remote Fourthly it is not the having of two Bishopricks together but the neglecting of one is the sin whereas Hooper in preaching and visiting afforded double diligence in his double Diocess 28. The mention of Hooper his holding of the Bishoprick of Worcester in Commendam Why Caâ—imer was not restored to the Bishoprick of Worsester mindes me of a difficulty which though I cannot answer I must not omit It is this Seeing that Latimer was outed of that Bishoprick in the daies of King Henry the eighth on the account of the Six Articles why was he not restored to the same under King Edward the sixt especailly seeing Nicholas Heath his successour was legally deprived and the place actually void Whereas on the contrary Hugh Latimer continued Hugh Latimer without any addition of preferment Here first we must largely trade in negatives It was not for any want of favour from the King seeing he stood rectus in Curia in relation to His Majesty Nor was it because his down-right Sermons disobliged the Courtiers who generally delight in soft preaching as in c Mat 11. â— soft cloathing Nor was it out of sullennesse because he would not be bedded again with that wife which though unwillingly had in his absence embraced another Nor have we any cause to suspect Latimer of Hoopers opinion as distasting Ceremonies and so obstructing his advancement But we impute it either to his conscience oft-times sharpest in the bluntest men because he would not be built on the ruines of another especially knowing Heath one of a meek and moderate nature Or to his age who Barzillai d 2 Sam. 19. 35. like was superannuated for earthly honour Alas what needed a square cap over the many night-caps which age had multiplied on his Reverend head Or because he found himself not so fit for government better for preaching than ordering Ecclesiastical affairs Or lastly because he propherically foresaw that the ingratitude of the English Nation would shorten their happinesse and King Edwards life and he was loth to come into a place onely to
Reign wherein no Church-matter was medled with save that therein a Subsidie granted by the Clergy was confirmed Such moneys being the Legacie of course which all Parliaments fairly coming to a peaceable end bequeath to their Sovereign As for the Records of this Convocation they are but one degree above blanks scarce affording the names of the Clerks assembled therein Indeed they had no Commission from the King to meddle with Church-businesse and every Convocation in it self is born deaf and dumb so that it can neither hear complaints in Religion nor speak in the redresse thereof till first Ephata be thou opened be pronounced unto it by Commission from Royall Authority 9. Now The true reason thereof the true reason why the King would not intrust the diffusive body of the Convocation with a power to meddle with matters of Religion was a just jealousie which He had of the ill affection of the major part thereof Ann. Dom. 1553. who under the fair rinde of Protestant profession Ann. Reg. Ed. 6. 7. had the rotten core of Romish superstition It was therefore conceived safer for the King to relie on the ability and fidelity of some select Confidents cordiall to the cause of Religion than to adventure the same to be discussed and decided by a suspitious Convocation 10. However Forty two Articles of Religion and the Kings Catechisme this barren Convocation is intituled the parent of those Articles of Religion fourty two in number which are printed with this Preface Articuls de quibus in Synodo Londinensi Anno Domini 1552. inter Episcopos alios eruditos viros convenerat With these was bound a Catechisme younger in age as bearing date of the next year but of the same extraction relating to this Convocation as authour thereof Indeed it was first compiled as appears by the Kings Patent prefix'd by a single Divine * ◠pio quodam crudito viro conscipto in the Kings Patent Consented and not consented to by the Convocation charactred pious and learned bu◠afterwards perused and allowed by the Bishops and other learned men understand it the Convocation and by Royall Authority commended to all Subjects commanded to all School Masters to teach it their Scholars 11. Yet very few in the Convocation ever saw it much lesse explicitly consented thereunto but these had formerly it seems passed over their power I should be thankfull to him who would produce the originall instrument thereof to the select Divines appointed by the King in which sense they may be said to have done it themselves by their Delegates to whom they had deputed their authority A case not so clear but that it occasioned a cavill at the next Convocation in the first of * See more thereof in the next year Queen Mary when the Papists therein assembled renounced the legality of any such former transactions Pretious King Edward the sixt now changed his Crown of Gold for one of Glory July 6. we will something enlarge our selves The death of K. Edward the sixt who was not cut out of His Mothers belly as is commonly reported to give posterity His true Character never meeting more virtues in so few years For His Birth there goeth a constant tradition that Caesar-like He was cut out of the belly of His Mother Jane Seymour though a great person of Honour deriving her Intelligence mediately from such as were present at Her Labour assured me of the contrary Indeed such as shall read the calm and serene style of that Letter which I have seen written though not by for that Queen and signed with Her own Signet after Her delivery cannot conjecture thence that any such violence was offered unto Her But see the Letter RIght trusty and welbeloved Queen Ianes Letter after Her Delivery to the Lords of the Councell We greet you well and forasmuch as by the inestimable goodnesse and grace of Almighty God We be delivered and brought in Childe-bed of a PRINCE conceived in most lawfull Matrimony between my Lord the Kings Majestie and Vs. Doubting not but that for the love and affection which you bear unto Vs and to the Common-wealth of this Realm thi◠knowledge shall be joyous and glad tidings unto you We have thought good to certifie you of this Iame To the intent ye might not onely render unto God condigne thanks and praise for so great a benefice but also continually pray for the long continuance and preservation of the same here in this life to the honour of God joy and pleasure of my Lord the KING and Vs and the universall weal quiet and tranquility of this whole Realm a a Extant in Sir Tho. Cottons Library sub Ner. cap. 10. ¶ Given under our Signet at my Lords Manour of Hampton-Court the 22 day of October And although this Letter was soon after seconded with b Extant ibid. another of a sadder subject here inserted subscribed by all the Kings Physitians yet neither doth that so much as insinuate any impression of violence on Her person as hastening Her death but seems rather to cast the cause thereof on some other distemper THese shall be to advise your Lordships of the Queens estate Yesterday afternoon She had a natural Lax A sadder Letter of Her Physitians unto them by reason whereof She began to lighten and as it appeared to amend and so continued till towards night All this night She hath been very sick and doth rather appare than amend Her Confessour hath been with Her Grace this morning and hath done that to his office appertaineth and even now is preparing to minister to Her Grace the Sacrament of Unction ¶ At Hampton-Court this Wednesday morning at eight a clock Your Lordships at Commandement Thomas Cutland Robert Karhold Edward Bayntam John Chambers Priest William Butts George Owen Impute we here this Extreme Unction administred to Her partly to the over-officiousness of some superstitious Priest partly to the good Ladies inability perchance insensible what was done unto her in such extremity otherwise we are confident that Her judgment when in strength and health disliked such practices being a zealous Protestant Which Unction did her as little good as the twelve Masses said for Her soul in the City of London at the Commandement of the Duke of Norfolk whether he did it to credit their Religion with the countenance of so great a Convert or did it out of the Nimiety of his own Love and Loyaltie to the Queen expressing it according to his own judgment without the consent if not against the will of the Queens nearest kindred 12. But leaving the Mother Prince Edw. towardlinesse in learning let us come to the Son who as he saith of himself in the Manuscript of His Life was for the first six years bred and brought up amongst the Women and then consigned to masculine Tuition under Doctor Richard Cox and Sir John Cheekè who taught Him Latine and John Belmain who
all due and wonted Ecclesiasticall monition declared so requiring it conceived it to belong unto us to provide for the eternall Salvation both of our selves and such as are committed to our charge by all means possible for us to obtain Wherefore stirred up by the examples of our Predecessours who have lived in the like times that faith which in the Articles under-written we believe to be true and from our souls profess to the praise and honour of God and the discharge of our duty and such souls as are commited unto us we thought in these presents publiquely to insert affirming and avowing as God shall helpe us in the last day of judgement First that in the Sacrament of the Altar by the vertue of Christs assisting after the word is duly pronounced by the Priest the naturall Body of Christ conceived of the Virgin Mary is really present under the species of bread and wine also his naturall bloud Item that after the Consecration there remains not the substance of Bread and Wine nor any other substance save the substance of God and man Item that the true body of Christ and his true bloud is offered a propitiatory sacrifice for the Quick and Dead Item that the supreme power of feeding and governing the militant Church of Christ and of confirming their Brethren is given to Peter the Apostle and to his lawfull Successours in the See Apostolike as unto the Vicars of Christ Item that the Authority to handle and define such things which belong to faith the Sacraments and Discipline Ecclesiasticall hath hitherto ever belonged and only ought to belong unto the Pastors of the Church whom the holy spirit hath placed in the Church of God and not unto lay-men Which our Assertion Affirmation and faith We the lower Clergy aforesaid so represent the aforesaid considerations unto your Fatherhoods by the Tenor of these Presents humbly requesting that because we have not liberty otherwise to notifie this our Judgement and intention to those which in this behalf are concerned you who are Fathers would be pleased to signifie the same to the Lords in Parliament wherein as we conceive you shall performe an office of Charity and Piety and you shall provide as it is meet for the safety of the flock committed to your charge and shall discharge your duty towards your own soul This remonstrance exhibited by the lower house of Convocation to the Bishops was according to their Requests presented by Edmond Bonner B p. of London to the Lord Keeper of the broad Seal of England in the Parliament Marc. 3. and as the said Bishop in the eighth Session reported he generously and gratefully received it But we finde no further news thereof save that in the 10. Session an account was given in by both Universities in an Instrument under the hand of a Publique Notary 10. wherein they both did concur to the Truth of the aforesaid Articles the last only excepted 10. But we may probably conceive that this Declaration of the Popish Clergy hastened the Disputation appointed on the last of March in the Church of Westminster The Disputations betwixt the Papists and Protestants at Westminster wherein these questions were debated 1. Whether Service and Sacraments ought to be celebrated in the vulgar tongue 2. Whether the Church hath not power to alter Ceremonies so all be done to edification 3. Whether the Mass be a propitiatory sacrifice for the Living and the Dead Popish Disputants Moderators Protestant Disputants * There is some difference in the Number and Names of Both Parties Mr. Fox neither agreeth with Mr. Camden nor with himself White Watson Baynes Scot. Bps. of Winchester Lincolne Covent and Lichfield Chester D r. Cole Deane of Pauls D r. Langdale D r. Harpsfield D r. Cheadsey Arch-Deac of Lewes Canterbury Middlesex Nicholas Heath B p. of York S r. Nicholas Bacon Lord Keeper of the great Seal John Scory late B p. of Chichester David Whitehead Robert Horne Edmond Gwest Edwine Sands John Aelmer Edmond Grindall John Jewell The passages of this Disputation whereof more Noise then fruit and wherein more Passion then Reason Anno Dom. 1458. Cavils then Arguments are largely reported by M r. Fox It was ordered that each side should tender their Judgements in writing to avoid verball extravagancies as also in English for the better information of the Nobility and Gentry of the house of Parliament their Auditors and that the Papists should begin first and the Protestants answer them But in the second dayes disputation this order was broken by the Popish Bishops who quitting their Primacy to the Protestants stood peremptorily upon it that they themselves would deliver their Judgements last Alledging in their behalf the fashion of the Schools that because they had the negative on their side the others ought first to oppose Citing also the Custome of the Courts at Westminster where the plaintiffe pleadeth before the defendant conceiving themselves in the nature and notion of the Later because maintaining those opinions whose Truth time out of minde were established Chester more open then the Rest plainly confessed that if the protestants had the last word they would come off cum Applausu Populi with applause of the People which themselves it seems most desired Whereby it appears what Wind they wished for not what was fittest to fanne the truth but what would blow them most reputation In this Refusal to begin Winchester and Lincolne behaved themselves faucily and scornfully the rest stiffly and resolutely only Feckenham Abbot of Westminster who it seems the second day was added to the Popish Disputants carried it with more meeknesse and moderation Hereupon the Lord Keeper cut off this conference with this sharp Conclusion Seeing my Lords we cannot now hear you you may perchance shortly hear more of us 11. Yet need we not behold the frustration of this meeting The Papists complain of partial usage as a private Doome peculiarly to this conference alone but as the generall Destiny of such publike Colloquies which like Sicamore-trees prove barren and which the larger the Leaves of the Expectation the less the fruits of Successe The Assembly dissolved it were hard to say which were lowder the Papists in Complaining or the Protestants in Triumphing The former found themselves agrieved that they were surprised of a sudden having but two dayes warning to provide themselves That Bacon the Moderator though well skil'd in matters of Equity ignorant in matters of Divinity was their Zealous Enemy to whom the Arch-Bishop was added only for a stale That to call such fundamentall points of Doctrine into question would cause an unsetlednesse in Religion of dangerous consequence both to single souls and to the Church in generall That it was unlawfull for them owing obedience to the Sea Apostolike without leave of his Holinesse first obtained to discusse these truthes long since decided in the Church 13. The Protestants on the other side slighted the Papists Plea of want
in her Religion And yet some not more knowing of Councells but more daring in Conjectures than others who love to feiga what they cannot finde that they may never appear to be at a loss avouch that the Pope promised to revoke the Sentence against her mother Anne Bollens marriage to confirme our English Lithurgie by his authority to permit the English the Communion under both kinds provided she would own the Popes Primacy and cordially unite her self to the Catholike Church Yea some thousands of Crowns but all in vain were promised to the effectors thereof wherein his holinesse seemingly liberal was really thrifty as knowing such his Sums if accepted would within one year return with an hundred fold increase 41. Scipio a Gentleman of Venice The contents of Scipio his Letter to Mr. Iewell formerly familiar with M r. Jewel whilst he was a student in Padua wrot now an expostulating letter unto Him being lately made Bishop of Sarisbury Wherein he much admired that England should send no Embassadour nor message or letter to excuse their Nations absence from the general appearance of Christianity in the Sacred Councell of Trent He highly extolled the antiquity and use of General Councels as the only means to decide controversies in Religion and compose the distractions in the Church concluding it a Superlative Sin for any to decline the authority thereof 42. To this M r. Jewel returned a large and solemn answer Anno Dom. 1563. Now although he wrote it as a private person Anno Regin Eliza. 5. yet because the subject thereof was of publick concernment The sum of Mr. Jewels answer take the principall Heads thereof a See it at large at the end of the History of the Councell of Trent First That a great part of the world professing the name of Christ as Greeks Armenians Abessines c. with all the Eastern Church were neither sent to nor summoned to this Councell Secondly That Englands absence was not so great a wonder seeing many other kingdoms and free-states as Denmarke Sweden Scotland Princes of Germany and Hanse-Towns were not represented in this Councel by any of their Embassadors Thirdly That this pretended Councell was not called according to the ancient custome of the Church by the Imperiall Authority but by Papall usurpation Fourthly That Trent was a petty place not of sufficient receit for such multitudes as necessarily should repair to a generall Councell Fifthly That Pope Pius the fourth by whose command the Councel was re-assembled purchased his place by the unjust practises of Simony and bribery and managed it with murder and Cruelty Sixthly That repairing to Councells was a free-act and none ought to be condemned of Contumacy if it stood more with their conveniency to stay at home Seventhly That anciently it was accepted as a reasonable excuse of holy Bishops absenting or withdrawing themselves from any Councell if they vehemently suspected ought would be acted therein prejudiciall to the Truth lest their though not active included concurrence might be interpreted a countenancing thereof Eightly Our English Bishops were imployed in feeding their flocks and governing their Churches and could not be spared from their charge without prejudice to their consciences Ninthly The members of the Councell of Trent both Bishops and Abbots were by oath pregaged to the Pope to defend and maintain his authority against all the world Lastly in what capacity should the English Clergy appear in this Councell They could not as free-persons to debate matters therein beeing pre-condemned for Hereticks by Pope Julius They would not come as Offendors to hear the Sentence pronounced against themselves which they had heard of before What effect this Letter produced I finde not sure I am no Papists as yet have made an effectuall refutation of the reasons rendered therein 43. The Bells of S t. Peters in Westminster had strangely rung the changes these last thirty yeers Westminster Col. Church re-sounded by Q Eliz. Within which time first it was a stately and rich Covent of Benedictine Monks Secondly it was made a Collegiate Church of Dean and Prebendaries by King Henry the eighth Thirdly by the same King is was made an Episcopall See and Thomas Thirby who having roasted the Churches Patrimony surrendred it to the spoile of Courtiers the first and last Bishop thereof Fourthly Queen Mary re-seated the Abbot and Monks in the possession thereof who were outed after her Death Lastly this yeer Queen Elizabeth converted it again into a Collegiate Church founding therein maintenance for one Dean twelve Prebendaries as many old souldiers past service for Almsmen and fourty Scholars who in due time are preferred to the Universities so that it hath proved one of the most renowned Seminaries of Religion and learning in the whole nation 44. Pope Pius though unsuccessfull in his addresses last yeer to the Queen 1561 yet was not so disheartened The Pope trieth again in â—am to reduce the Queen but that once more he would try what might be effected therein To which purpose he imployed the Abbot of Martinegi with most loving letters unto her desiring leave to come over into England But the Queen knowing it less difficulty and danger to keep him Anno Dom. 1562. then to cast him out of her Dominions forbad his entrance into the Realme as against the Laws of the Land So that he was fain to deliver his Errand and receive his answer and that a deniall at distance in the Low-Countries As little successe had the Bishop of Viterbo the Popes Nuncio to the King of France secretly dealing with S r. N. Throgmorton the Queens Agent there to perswade her to send Embassadors to the Councell of Trent which for the reasons afore mentioned was justly refused 45. S r. Edward Carne the Queens Leger at Rome The death of Sr. Edward Carne Doctor of Civill Law Knighted by the Emperour Charles the fifth pretended that as the Queen would not suffer the Popes Nuncio to come into England so the Pope would not permit him to depart Rome Whereas indeed the cunning old man was not detained but detained himself so well pleased was he with the place and his office therein Where soon after he died the last Leger of the English Nation to Rome publickly avowed in that imployment 46. This yeer the Spire of Pauls-Steeple covered with lead strangely fell on fire Pauls Steeple burnt down attributed by severall Persons to sundry Causes Some that it was casually blasted with lightning others that it was mischevously done by Art Magick And others and they the truest done by the negligence of a Plummer carelessly leaving his coals therein The fire burnt for five full hours in which time it melted all the lead of the Church only the stone Arches escaping the fury thereof but by the Queens bounty and a Collection from the Clergy it was afterwards repaired only the blunt Tower had not the top thereof sharpned into a Spire as before 47.
very yeer these three were cited to appear before Edmuna Grindall BP Their judgements of the Queen of London one who did not run of himself yea would hardly answer the spur in pressing conformity the BP asked them this question Have we not a godly Prince a The Register of 〈◊〉 pag. 33. speak is she evill To which they made their severall answers in manner following William White What a question is that the fruits do shew Thomas Rowland No but the Servants of God are persecuted under her Robert Hawkins Why this question the Prophet answereth in the Psalms How can they have understanding that work iniquity spoyling my peoplâ— and that extoll vanity Wonder not therefore if the Queen proceeded severely against some of them commanding them to be put into Prison though still their Party daily increased 11. Nicholas Wotton died this year Dean at the same time of Canterbury and Yorke The death of Dr. Wotton so that these two Metropolitan Churches so often contesting about their Priviledges were reconciled in his preferment He was Doctour of both Laws and some will say of both Gospels who being Privie Councellour to King Henry the Eighth Edward the Sixth Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth never overstrained his conscience such his oylie compliance in all alterations However he was a most Prudent man and happily active in those many Embassies wherein he was employed 12. The Romanists were neither ignorant not to observe 9. 1568 Harding and Saunders Bishop it in England nor idle not to improve the advantage lately given them by the discords betwixt the Bishops and Nonconformists And now to strengthen their Party two most active fugitive Priests Thomas Harding and Nicholas Saunders return into England and that Episcopall power which they had lately received from the Pope they largely exercised on the Papists 1. Absolving all English in the Court of Conscience who returned to the bosome of their Church 2. Dispensing with them in cases of irregularity saving such which proceeded from wilfull murder 3. Even from irregularity of heresie b Camdens Eliz. in this year on condition that the Party to be absolved refrained three years from the Ministery of the Altar Very earnest they were in advancing the Catholick Cause and perverted very many to their own Erroneous opinions 13. Mary Queen of Scots 10. May 17. ill used at home by her own Subjects made an escape into England Q of Scots comes into England and landed at Wirkington in Cumberland the Statepart of whose sufferings we leave to Civill Historians confining our selves to the imprinted passages concerning Religion beginning with her letter to the Pope Most Holy Father Anno Dom. 1568. Anno Regin Eliza. 10. AFter the kissing of your most holy feet Her letter to Pope Pius Quintus hi herâ—o never printed the Copy whereof was as with many other rarities bestowed on me by James Arch-Bishop of Armagh I having been advertised that my Rebels and their Fautours that retain them in their Countries Nove 30. have wrought so effectually by their practises that it hath been related unto the King of Spain my Lord and good Brother that I am become variable in the Catholick Religion although I have within some dayes past written to your Holinesse devoutly to kiss your feet and recommending me unto you I do now again most humbly beseech you to hold me for a most devout and a most obedient Daughter of the Holy Catholick Roman Church and not to give faith unto those reports which may easily come or shall hereafter come to your ears by means of the false and calumnious speeches which the said Rebels and other of the same Sect have caused to be spread abroad that is to say that I have changed my Religion thereby to deprive me of your Holinesse grace and the favour of other Catholick Princes The same hath touched my heart so much that I could not fail to write again of new to your Holinesse to complain and bemoan my self of the wrongs and of the injuries which they do unto me I beseech the same most humbly to be pleased to write in my favour to the devout Christian Princes and obedient sons of your Holinesse exhorting them to interpose their credit and authority which they have with the Queen of England in whose power I am to obtain of her that she will let me go out of her country whither I came secured by her promises to demand aid of her against my Rebels and if neverthelesse she will retain me by all means yet that she will permit me to exercise my Religion which hath been forbidden to me for which I am grieved and vexed in this Kingdom insomuch as I will give you to understand what subtilties my Adversaries have used to colour these calumniations against me They so wrought that an English Minister was sometimes brought to the place where I am streightly kept which was wont to say certain prayers in the vulgar tongue and because I am not at my own liberty nor permitted to use any other Religion I have not refused to hear him thinking I had committed no errour Wherein neverthelesse most Holy Father if I have offended or failed in that or any thing else I ask misericordia of your Holinesse beseeching the same to pardon and to absolve me and to be sure and certain that I have never had any other will then constantly to live the most devout and most obedient Daughter of the Holy Catholick Roman Church in which I will live and die according to your Holinesse advises and precepts I offer to make such amends and pennance that all Catholick Princes especially your Holinesse as Monarch of the world shall have occasion to rest satisfied and contented with me In the mean time I will devoutly kiss your Holinesse feet praying God long to conserve the same for the benefit of his Holy Church Written from Castle a a The Lord Scroop his house in Yorke shire where Sr. Fra. Knowls was her keeper Boulton the last of November 1568. The most devout and obedient Daughter to your Holinesse the Q of Scotland Widdow of France MARIA I meet not with the answer which his Holinesse returned unto her and for the present leave this Lady in safe custody foreseeing that this her exchange of letters with Forraign Princes and the Pope especially will finally cause her destruction 14. Thomas Young Arch-Bishop of Yorke died at Sheffield June 26. Anno Regin 11. The death of T 〈◊〉 Arch 〈◊〉 of York and was buried in his own Cathedrall He plucked down the great Hall at Yorke built by Thomas his predecessour five hundred yeers before so far did plumâ—i sacra fames desire to gain by the leade prevail with him Yet one presumeth to avouch that all that lead in effect proved but dross unto him being a S. 〈◊〉 Harington in his addition to Bp. Godwins catalogue in fine defeated of the
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
displicuisse videatur idque non tam praesract â voluntate quam tenera conscientiâ cujus tantam esse vim magni authores optimi quique viri scripserunt ut quicquid eâ vel reclamante vel errante vel haesitante fiat non leve peccatum esse statuerint Acut quod verum est ingenuè humiliter attendamus illud omnium qued unum agitur vel necessario silentio vel voluntariâ oblectatione obruamus Si laudabile est vitam non modo abomni crimine sed suspicione criminis liberam traduxisse traduxit si bonestum Religionem ab omni non modo Papistica corruptela sed à schismatica pravitate integram conservare conservavit si Christianum non modo propter justitiam persecutionem passum esse sed per caeter as nationes propter Evangelium oberrasse passus est oberravit Quae cum ita sint Regina Clementissima omnes hae nostrae voces ad Celsitudinem Tuam profectae hoc unum demississimè quà m fieri potest subjectissimè comprecantur idque per singularem naturae Tuae bonitatem per anteactae Tuae vitae consuetudinem per pietatem Regiam in subditos per charitatem Christianam in inimicos perque eam qua reliquos omnes privatos Principes excellis lenitatem ut velis Majestatem Tuam mansuetudine justitiam misericordiâ iramplacabilitate offensionem indulgentiâ mitigare Archiepiscopum maerore sractum debilitatum non modo extollere jacentem sed Ecclesiam ipsi ipsum Ecclesiae Tuis civibus suis fratribus exteris nationibus denique pijs omnibus tandem aliquando restituere Quod si fecerit Majestas Tua vel potiùs cùm fecerit quod enim summè cupimus summè etiam sperare jucundum est non dubitamus quin illum Reverendissimum Patrem supplicem abjectum non tam à pedes quà m ad nutûs Tuos perpetuò sis habitura Ita Celsitati Tuae persanctè pollicemur nobis neque in Ecclesia constituenda curam neque in Religione propagandâ studium neque in Schismatibus tollendis diligentiam neque in hoc beneficio praecipuè recolendo memoriam neque in ferendo quas debemus gratias gratam animi benevolentiam ullo unquam tempore defuturam Dominus Jesus Majestatem Tuam ad Reipublicae tranquillitatem ad Ecclesiae conservationem ad suae veritatis amplificationem omni foelicitatis genere diutissimè prosequatur This petition though presented with all advantage found no other entertainment than delays which ended in a final deniall it being daily suggested to the Queen that Grindal was a great patrone of prophesyings now set up in severall parts of the land which if permitted to take place would in fine prove the bane of the Church and Commonwealth 2. These prophesyings were founded on the Apostles a 1 Cor. 14. 13. precept The model and method of prophesyings For ye may all prophesie one by one that all may learn and all be comforted but so as to make it out they were fain to make use of humane prudential additions modelling their prophesyings as followeth 1. The Ministers of the same precinct by their own appointment not strictly standing on the old division of Deanries met at the principal place therein 2. The junior Divine went first into the pulpit and for halfe an hour more or less as he could with clearness contract his meditations treated upon a portion of Scripture formerly by a joynt-agreement assigned unto him After him foure or five moe observing their seniority successively dilated on the same text 3. At last a grave Divine Anno Dom. 1580. Anno Regin Eliza. 23. appointed on purpose as Father of the Act made the closing sermon somewhat larger then the rest praising the pains and performance of such who best deserved it meekly and mildly reproving the mistakes and failings of such of those if any were found in their Sermons Then all was ended as it was begun with a solemn prayer and at a publick refection of those Ministers together with many of the Gentry repairing unto them the next time of their meeting was appointed text assigned Preachers deputed a new Moderator elected or the old one continued and so all were dissolved This exercise proved though often long seldome tedious and peoples attentions though travelling farr were little tired because entertained with much variety 3. However The inconveâ—â—â—â—s of 〈◊〉 â—e yings 〈◊〉 or suspected some inconveniences were seen and more foreseen by wise or at least suspected by fearfull men if these prophesies might generally take place in the land 1. Many modest Ministers and those profitable Preachers in their private Parishes 〈◊〉 were loath to appear in this publick way which made them underservedly sleighted and neglected by others 2. Many young men of more boldness than learning readiness than solidity carried away the credit to the great disheartning of those of more age and ability 3. This consort of Preachers kept not always time and tune amongst themselves much jarring of personal reflections often disturbing their harmony 4. Many would make impertinent excursions from their text to inveigh against the present discipline and government of the Church Such-Preachers being more plausible to the people generally best pleased with them who manifest their displeasure against the present authority 5. A wise person was often wanting to moderate the Moderator partially passing his censures rather according to affection than judgement 6. People factiously cried up some one Minister some another to the disgrace of Gods Ordinance 7. These prophesyings being accounted the faires for spiritual merchandizes made the weekly markets for the same holy commodities on the Lords day to be less respected and Ministers to be neglected in their respective Parishes 8. In a word the Queen was so perfectly prepossessed with prejudice against these prophesyings as if they foretold the rise of schisme and faction that she was implacably incensed against Arch-Bishop Grindal as the principal Patrone and promoter thereof However the good Arch-Bishop to vindicate himself and state the usefulness of these prophesyings wrote a large letter to the Queen and allthough we cannot exactly tell the just * To the day and moneth being confident this was the year time thereof yet knowing it will be welcome to the pious reader at any time here we present the true copie thereof WIth most humble remembrance of bounden duty to your Majesty The most remarkable letter of Arch-Bishop Grindall in defence of Prophesies and Church jurisdiction It may please the same to be advertized that the speeches which it pleased you to deliver unto me when I last attended on your Highness concerning the abridging the number of Preachers and the utter subversion of all learned exercises and conferences amongst the Ministers of the Church allowed by the Bishops and Ordinaries have exceedingly dismayed and discomforted me not so much for that the said speeches founded very hardly against my own person
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
to return into his native Land and died quietly neere the City of London 6. The second The death of Nicholas Harpsfield Nicholas Harpsfield bred first in Winchester School then New Colledge in Oxford where he proceeded Doctor of Law and afterward became Arch-Deacon of Canterbury Under King Edward the 6 th he banished himself under Queen Mary he returned and was advanced And under Queen Elizabeth imprisoned for denying Her Supremacy Yet such was his milde usage in restraint that he had the opportunity to write much therein and amongst the rest his Ecclesiastical History no less learnedly then painfully peformed and abating his Partiality to his own Interest well deserving of all posterity He wrote also six dialogues in favour of his Religion but because in durance he durst not set it forth in his own but under the Name of Alan Cope Yet lest truth should be conceal'd and friend defraud friend of his due praise he caused these Capitall Letters to be ingraved at the end of his Book A. H. L. N. H. E. V. E. A. C. Hereby mystically meaning Auctor Hujus Libri Nicholaus Harpesfeldus Edidit Verò Eum Aalnus Copus He died this year at London in prison after 20. years restraint leaving behind him the general reputation of a Religious man 7. The third The death of Gregory Martin Gregory Martin born at Macfield in Sussex bred with Campian in St. Iohns Colledge in Oxford Tutor to Philip Earl of Arundel eldest son to Thomas Duke of Norfolke Afterwards he went over beyond Sea and became Divinity Professor in the Colledge of Rhemes died there October 28. and is buried with a large Epitaph under a plain monument 8. I shall now withdraw my self Letter History best History or at leastwise stand by a silent spectator whilst I make room for far my betters to come forth and speak in the present controversie of Church Government Call it not Cowardize but count it Caution in me if desirous in this difference to lie at a close-guard and offer as little as may be on either side Whilst the Reader shall behold the Masters of Defence on both sides engaged therein in these following letters of State Baronius the great Roman Annalist was wont to say Epistolaris Historia est optima Historia that is the best History which is collected out of Letters How much of the Acts of the Apostles especially for the regulation of time is contained in the Epistles of S t. Paul Of the Primitive History the most Authenticall part is what is gathered out of the letters of the Fathers and in like manner the true estate of Ecclesiasticall affairs in the dayes of Queen Elizabeth may be extracted out of the following despatches and their returns exhibiting the inclinations of their Authors in pure Naturalls without any adulterated addition and therefore the surest for others instruction and safest for my own protection 9. But one thing I must clear in our entrance thereon Objection against Letter want of Date answered in excuse that these Letters are Dateless as to the day and moneth a great omission which I have seen in many Originalls whose Authors so minded the matter that they neglected the time the present dispatching of them being date enough to their purpose though now the want thereof leaves Posterity at a loss A Blew Coat without a Badge is but a white Coat in effect as nothing informing the Beholder to what Lord the Bearer thereof doth relate And as little instructive will some say are these Letters as to the point of Chronologie But be it known that no Readers stomack can be so sharp set on Criticalness of Chronologie Anno. Dom. 1583. but that being fed with the certainty of the year He will not be famisht with the uncertainty of the moneth or day Anno Regin Eliza. 26. Indeed as such whose names are casually omitted in the Register may recover the truth of their age by a Comparative Computation of their years who were born about the same time so by the mixture and comparing of these dateless Letters with those having date of secular affairs I could Competently have collected and inserted the time save that I loath to obtrude any thing conjecturall on the readers belief But we must begin with the ensuing Petition as the ground-work of all the rest The Ministers of Kent to the Privie Councel MAy it please your Honours of your great and wonted favour towards the distressed The petition of the Kentish Ministers to consider these following Whereas we have been called to subscribe in the County of Kent to certain Articles propounded by my Lords Grace of Canterbury unto the Ministers and Preachers The first concerning Her Majesties authority The second concerning no contrariety to the word of God in the Book of Common-Prayer and administration of the Sacraments the book of ordering Bishops Priests and Deacons And the third that we beleeve all things in the book of the Articles of Religion to be agreeable to the word of God Whereupon all have most willingly offered to subscribe unto the other two And being pronounced in the open Court Contumaces reservata poenâ and so refer'd to answer at Law the 11 and 13 of February Which we feared would be prosecuted with much trouble and no resolution to our consciences we amongst the rest repaired with that carefull avoiding that we could of offence to his Lordships Grace to whom when we had the first day made known some of our doubts concerning the first book only many moe in number and as great in weight concerning the first and second and some concerning the third remaining beside we have upon our refusall and record taken by publick notary of one point only from every particular refuser which moved him thereunto and one place of Scripture adjoyned without collection or the reason of the same been suspended from our Ministery by which occasion as we fear that that account which hath been made of the consequence of our cause both in publick sermons and pronouncing of sentence against us namely that in denying to subscribe to the two aforesaid Articles we separated our selves from the Church and condemned the right service of God in prayer and administration of the Sacraments in the Church of England and the Ministry of the same and disobeyed Her Majesties Authority hath been intimated to your Honours So we think it our bound duties most humbly on our knees to beseech your Honours to know and make manifest in our behalf to Her Majesty that which we before the Lord in simplicity protest we in all reverence judge of the authority which is established and the persons which were Authors of those books that they did not only speak but also did highly to the glory of God promote the true Religion of God and the Glorious Gospell of Jesus Christ and that we so esteem of those books and there is nothing in them to cause us to separate our selves
The Privie Councellers Letter to the Arch Bishop in favour of the noncomformists some Parsons of Churches some Vicars some Curates but all Preachers whereby some were deprived of their livings some suspended from their Ministry and preaching yet we have forborn to enter into any particular examination of such complaints thinking that howsoever inferior officers as Chancellours Commissaries Arch-Deacons and such like whose offices are of more value and profit by such like kinde of proceedings might in such sort proceed against the Ministers of the Church Yet your Lordship the Arch-Bishop of that province of Canterbury have besides your generall Authority some particular interest in the present Jurisdiction of sundry Bishopricks vacant And you also the Bishop of London both for your own authority in your Diocess and as head Commissioner Ecclesiastical would have a pastorall over the particular officers to stay and temper them in their hasty proceedings against the Ministers and especially against such as doe earnestly profess and instruct the people against the dangerous sects of Papistry But yet of late hearing of the lamentable estate of the Church in the Country of Essex that is of a great number of zealous and learned Preachers there suspended from their Cures the Vacancy of the place for the most part without any Ministry of Preaching Prayers and Sacraments And in some places of certain appointed to those void Rooms being persons neither of learning nor of good name and in other places of that County a great number of Parsons occupying the Cures being notoriously unfit most for lack of learning many charged or chargable with great and erroneous faults and drunkenness filthiness of life gamsters at Cards haunting of Ale-houses and such like against whom we hear not of any proceedings but that they are quietly suffered to the slander of the Church to the offence of good people yea to the famishing of them for lack of good teaching and thereby dangerous to the subverting of many weaklings from their duties to God and the Queens Majesty by secret Jesuits and counterfet Papists And having thus in a generall sort heard out of many parts of the like of this lamentable estate of the Church yet to the intent we should not be deceived with the Generality of reports we sought to be informed of some particulars namely of some parts of Essex and having received the same credibly in writing we have thought it our duties to her Majesty and the Realm for the Remedy hereof without intermedling our selves with your Jurisdiction Ecclesiasticall to make report unto your Lordships as persons that ought most specially to have regard thereto as we hope you will and therefore have sent you herewith in writing a Catalogue of the names of persons of sundry natures and conditions that is one sort being reported to be learned zealous and good preachers deprived and suspended and so the Cures not served with meet Persons The othersort a number of Persons having Cures being in sundry sorts far unmeet for any offices in the Church for their many defects and imperfections and so as it seems by the reports have been and are suffered to continue without reprehension or any other proceedings against them and thereby a great number of Christian people untaught A matter very lamentable in this time In a third sort a number having double livings with Cure and so not resident upon their Cures But yet enjoying the benefit of their Benefices without any personall attendance upon their Cures Against all these sorts of lewd and evill and unprofitable corrupt members we hear of no inquisition nor of any kinde of proceeding to the Reformation of those horrible offences in the Church but yet of great diligence yea and extremity used against those that are known diligent Preachers Now therefore we for the discharge of our duties being by our vocation under her Majesty bound to be carefull that the universall Realm may be well governed to the honour and glory of God and to the discharge of her Majesty being the principal governor over all her subjects under Almighty God do most earnestly desire your Lordships to take some charitable consideration of these causes that the people of the Realm may not be deprived of their Pastors being diligent learned and zealous though in some points Ceremoniall they may seem doubtfull only in Conscience and not of wilfulness Nor that their Cures be suffered to be vacant without good Pastors nor that such as be placed in the Rooms of Cures be insufficient for learning or unmeet for their conversation And though the notes which we send you be only of Parsons belonging to Essex yet we pray you to look into the rest of the Country in many other Diocesses for we have and do heare daily of the like in generality in many other places but we have not sought to have their particulars to manifestly delivered of other places of Essex or rather to say the truth of one corner of the Country And we shall be most glad to hear of your cares to be taken for remedy of these Enormities so as we be not troubled hereafter or hear of the like complaints to continue and so we bid your Lordships right heartily farewell Your Lordships Loving friends Will. Burleps George Shrewsbury A. Warwick R. Leicester C. Howard I. Croft Chr. Hatton Fra. Walsingham Amongst these Privy Councellors I miss one who was mainly materiall namel S r. Francis Knowls treasurer of the Queens Household and K nt of the Garter Father in law to the Earl of Leicester and no less considerable in himself then in his relations this Knight being bred a banished man in Germany during the Reign of Queen Mary and conversing with M r. Calvin at Geneva was never after fond of Episcopacy and though now casually absent from the Councell Board was a great Patron of the Nonconformists But see the Arch-Bishops answer to their letter IT may please your good Lordships to be advertized The Arch-Bishops answer to the Privy Councellours Letter that I have received your letters of the twentieth of this moneth with a Schedule inclosed therein concerning certain Ministers in Essex whereunto as yet I cannot make any full answer by reason of the absence of my Lord of London to whom the letter is also directed and the parties therein named best known as being in his Diocess Nevertheless in the mean time I thought it my part to signifie unto your Lordships that I hope the information to be in most parts unjust Certain men being in and about Mauldon because they cannot have such among them as by disorderliness do best content their humours did not long since in like manner in a generality make an information to the same effect which coming to mine and others hands of the Ecclesiastical commission we did direct our letters to some of the principal of them by name requiring them to exhibite unto us at the beginning of this next tearm now next ensuring the names of
swearing were so great a grievance Nihil analogum nothing like unto it which may amount to as much shall hereafter be substituted in the room thereof 62. Let it not here be forgotten Nonconformists persecuted in the Star-Chamber that because many did question the legality and Authority of the High Commission Arch-Bishop Whitgiâ—t so contrived the matter that the most sturdy and refractory Non-conformists especially if they had any visible Estates were brought into the Star-Chamber the power whereof was above dispute Where some of them besides imprisonment had very heavie fines imposed upon them And because most of the Queens Councel were present at the Censures This took off the Odium from the Arch-Bishop which in the high Commission lighted chiefly if not only upon him and fell almost equally on all present therein 63. John Fox this year ended his life The death of Mr. Fox to whom in some respect our History of him may resemble it self For he in his lifetime was so large a reliever of poor people to and above his estate that no wonder if at his death with some Charitable Churles he bequeathed no Legacies unto them Thus have we been so bountifull in describing the life and transcribing the Letters of this worthy Confessor that the Reader will excuse us if at his death we give no farther Character of his piety and painfulness Only let me adde that whereas there passeth a Tradition grounded on good Authority that M r Fox fore-told the ruine and destruction of the Invincible so called Armado in the eighty eight The story is true in its selfe though he survived not to see the performance of his own prediction 64. Nor will it be amiss to insert his Epitaph as we finde it on his Monument in S. Giles nigh Cripple-Gate in London Christo S. S. Johanni Foxo Ecclesiae Anglicanae Martyrologo fidelissimo Antiquitatis Historicae Indagatori sagacissimo Evangelicae veritatis propugnatori acerrimo Thaumaturgo admirabili qui Martyres Marianos tanquam Phoenices ex cineribus redivivos praestitit 65. His dear friend D. Laurence Humfrey And of D. Humfrey may be said to die with him though his languishing life lasted a year longer so great his grief to be parted from his fellow-Collegue bred together in Oxford and banished together into Germany But see more of his character in the year 1596 where by mistake which here I freely confess his death is inserted 66. About this time M r William Lambert finished his Hospital at Greenvich The first Protestant Hospitall founded and endowed by him for poor people He was the first Protestant who erected a charitable House of that nature as our * Camd. Brit. in Kent Antiquary observeth though I cannot wholly concur with his observation seeing King Edward the sixt founded Christ-Church and S t. Thomas Hospital 67. Indeed now pardon a short digression began beautifull Buildings in England Beautifull Buildings begin in England as to the generality thereof whose Homes were but homely before as small and ill-contrived much Timber being needlesly lavished upon them But now many most regular Pieces of Architecture were erected so that as one saith they began to dwell latiùs and lautiùs but I suspect not Laetiùs Hospitallity daily much decaying 68. Amongst other Structures Wimbleton House in Surrey was this yeer begun and finished the next as appeareth by an inscription therein by S t. Thomas Cecil afterward Lord Burghley On the self same token that many years after Gondomar treated therein by the Lord with a plentiful feast was highly affected with his entertainment and much commended the uniformity of the fabrick till the DATE thereof shewed unto him dashed all as built when the Spanish Armado was defeated 69. Indeed at this time there was more uniformity in the Buildings Non-conformists stirr than conformity in the Church behaviour of men the sticklers against the Hierarchy appearing now more vigorous though for a time they had concealed themselves SECTION VII To M r. Hamond Ward and M r. Richard Fuller of London Merchants IT is usuall for the Plaintiffe to put two or three names upon the same Writ taken out of the Upper-Bench alwayes provided the persons dwell in the same County and this is done to save Charges My thanks doth here imbrace the same way of thrift That so the small stock of my History may hold out the better amongst my many Friends and Favourers And this my Ioynt-Dedication is the more proper because you live in the same City are of the same profession and if not formerly this may minister the welcome occasion of your future acquaintance BUt now a Session of Parliament was held at Westminster A Sixteen sold Pâ—â—â—â—ion presented by the Commons to the Lord in Parliament wherein the House of Commâ—ns presented to the Lords Spirituall and Temporall a Petition Complaining how many Parishes especially in the North of England and Wales were destitute of Preachers and no care taken to supply them Sixteen were the particulars whereof the six first were against insufficient Ministers very earnestly pressing their taking the same into their serious consideration for speedy redress of the grievances therein contained 7. That no oath or subscription might be tendered to any at their enterance into Ministry but such as is expressely prescribed by the statutes of this Realm except the oath against corrupt entring 8. That they may not be troubled for omission of some rites or portions prescribed in the Book of Common-Prayer 9. That they may not be called and urged to answer before the officials and Commissaries but before the Bishops themselves 10. That such as had been suspended or deprived for no other offence but only for not subscribing might be restored and that the Bishops would forbear their Excommunication ex officio mero of godly and learned Preachers not detected for open offence of life or apparent errour in doctrine 11. That they might not be called before the High-Commission or out of the Diocess where they lived except for some notable offence 12. That it might be permitted to them in every Arch-Deaconry to have some common exercises and conferences amongst themselves to be limited and prescribed by the Ordinaries 13. That the High censure of Excommunication may not be denounced or executed for small matters 14. Nor by Chancellours Commissaries or officials but by the Bishops themselves with assistance of grave persons 15. 16 That Non-residency may be quite removed out of the Church or at least that according to the Queens Injunctions Artic. 44. No Non-resident having already a licence or faculty may enjoy it unless he depute an able Curate that may weekly preach and catechize as is required in her Majesties injunctions Of all these particulars the house fell most fiercely on the Debate of Pluralities and the effect thereof Non-Residents 2. Arch-Bishop Whitgift pleaded The Arch-Bishops pleasâ—r Nonresidents that licences for Non-Residency were at the present but seldome granted
that they are more carefull to wash their own faces then busie to throw durt on others Any man may be witty in a bitting way and those that have the dullest brains have commonly the sharpest teeth to that purpose But such carnall mirth whilst it tickles the flesh doth wound the sâ—ul And which was the main these base books would give a great advantage to the generall foe and Papists would make too much use thereof against Protestant religion especially seeing an a Jude 9. Arch-Angell thought himself too good to bring and Sathan not bad enough to have railing speeches brought against him 20. Buâ— leaving private men to abound in their own sense how highly the state as it then stood distasted these books The instruments embyed in making thâ—se Books heavily punished will plainly appeâ— by the heavie censures inflicted on such as were but accessatie thereunto To pass by John Henry and John Vdall ministers accused for making some of them of whom in due place together with the Printers and Humphry Newman a Cohler chief disperser of them The Starâ—-Chamber deeply sined S r. Richard Knightly and S r. 〈◊〉 Wigstow for entertaining and receiving the Press Gentlemen whom their b Sr. G Paâ— in the liâ—e of Arch Bishop Whitgist pag. 40. adversâ—rtâ—s allow qualified with piety gravity and wisdome which made many admire how their discretion could be deluded and more bemoan that their goodness should be abusedâ—y others who had designes upon them Here â—rch-Bishop Whitgist bestirr'd himself to improve his interest with the Queen c Camdens Elizabeths in Anno 1588. till his importunity had angred her till his importunity had pleased her again that they might be delivered out of prison and eased of their fines which upon their submission was performed Whose mildness to mediate for his adversaries as it was highly commended by some so there wanted not those who imputed his moderation therein to declining of envie gaining of applause and remorse of his own conscience for over rigorous proceedings it being no charity to cure the wound he hath caused and solicit the remitting of those fines which he had procured to be imposed Thus impossible it is to please froward spirits and to make them like the best deed who dislike the doer thereof and if any desire to know the motions and stages of the Press which printed these books know it was first set up at d Sr. G. Paul pag. 39. Moulâ—y near Kingston in Surrey thence conveyed 〈◊〉 Fausly in Northamotonshire thence to Norton and afterwards to Coventry Hence it was removed to Welstone in Warwick-shire whence the Letters were sent to another Prâ—ss in or near Manchester and there discovered by Henry Earle of Daâ—by in the printing of more work for the Câ—oper No wonder then if many 〈◊〉 were committed by this call it as you please Pâ—lgrâ—me or Vagabond Press when it self was ever in a wandring and stragling condition 21. A 〈◊〉 of the Prâ—shyterians of the Warwick-shire Classes Acts of the Synod of Coventry was call'd at Coventry aiâ— oectmo quartâ— that is on the 10 th of April wherein the questions brought the last year from the Brethren of Cambridge Synâ—d were resolved in manner as followeth 1. That e e Transcribed out of Bp. Bancrofts book called Englands Scotizing for Discipline by practise p 86. and 87 who may seem have had the orignall in latin private Baptisme was unlawfull 2. That it is not lawfull to read Homilies in the Church 3. That the signe of the Cross is not to be used in Baptisme 4. That thâ— faithfull ought not to communicate with unlearned Ministers although they may be present at theiâ— service if they come of purpose to hear the sermon the reason is because Laymen as well as Ministers may read publick service 5. Thaâ— the calling of Bishops c. is unlawfull 6. That as they deal in causes Ecclesiasticall there is no duty belonging unto nor any publickly to be given them 7. That it is not lawfull to be ordained Ministers by them or to denounce either â—uspensions or excommunications sâ—nt from them 8. That it is not lawfull to rest in the Bishops deprivat on of any from the Ministry except upon consultation with the neighbour Ministers adjoyning and his flock it seems so good unto them but that he continue in the same untill he be compell'd to the contrary by civill force 9. That it is not lawfull to appear in a Bishops Court but with protestation of their unlawfulness 10. That Bishops are not to be acknowledged either for Doctors Elders or Deacons as having 〈◊〉 ordinary calling 11. That touching the restauration of their Ecclesiasticall Discipline it ought to be taught to the people as occasion shall serve 12. That as yet the people are not to be solicited publickly to the practise of the Discipline till they be better instructed in the knowledge of it 13. That men of better understanding are to be allured privately to the present embracing of the Discipline and practise of it as far as they shall be well able with the peace of the Church Likewise in the same assembly the aforesaid Book of discipline was approved to be a draught essentiall and necessary for all times and certain articles devised in approbation and for the manner of the use thereof were brought forth treated of and subscribed unto by M r. Cartwright and others and afterwards tendered far and near to the severall Classes for a generall ratification of all the Brethren 22. Now if Rebeccah found her self strangely affected when a Gen. 25 22. The English Church distracted bâ—twiâ—â— contrary disciplines twinns strugled in her wombe the condition of the English Church must be conceived sad which at the same time had two disciplines both of them pleading Scripture and Primitive practise each striving to support it self and suppress it's rivall The Hierarchy commanded by authority established by law confirmed by generall practise and continued so long by custome in this land that had one at this time lived the age of Methuselah he could not remember the beginning thereof in Britain The Presbytery though wanting the stamp of authority claiming to be the purer metall founded by some Clergie men favoured by many of the Gentry and followed by more of the Common sort who being prompted with that naturall principle that the weakest side must be most watchfull what they wanted in strength they supplied in activity But what won them most repute was their Ministers painfull preaching in populous places It being observed in England that those who hold the Helme of the pulpit alwayes steere peoples hearts as they please The worst is that in matters of fact all relations in these times are relations I mean much resent of party and interest to the prejudice of truth Let me minde the Reader to reflect his eye on our Quotations the Margin in such cases being as materiall as the Text as conteining the authors
the Book of Common-Prayer as namely the use of the Surplis the Interrogatories to God-Fathers c. in the name of the Infants the Cross in Baptism the Ring in Marriage the Thanksgiving after Child-birth Burials by Ministers the Kneeling at Communion some points of the Letany certain Collects and Prayers the reading of portions of Scripture for the Epistle and Gospel and the manner of Singing in Cathedral Churches and others 13. Item That preaching at the Baptizing of one of Job Throgmortons children he spoke much of the unlawfulness and in derogation of the Government Politie Laws and Liturgy Ecclesiastical of this Realm and to the justification of a Government by Elderships in every Congregation and by Conference and Synods c. abroad as Divine Institutions commanded by Christ and the onely lawful Church-government seeking to prove and establish such Elderships out of that word in one of the Psalms where Thrones are mentioned 14. Item That by toleration and impunity he did grow so confident and withal implacable against the Laws Government and Orders of this Church of England that he could not endure M r Bourdman and others preaching sundry times at Warwick to speak in defence thereof but took upon him to confute in sundry Sermons there these things which the said Bourdman had truly and dutifully in that behalf spoken and delivered 15. Item That in his Sermons at Warwick and elsewhere within the said time he often delivered many frivolous strange and undiscreet positions as namely that to kneel down and pray when a man comes into the Church to pray there privately was but to offer the sacrifice of fools That it was requisite all the hearers that were able should stand upon their feet during Sermons and discoursing about women and their child-birth c. did speak thereof so indiscreetly and offensively that sundry of them in great grief had conspired to have mischieved him with stones in the open streets 16. Item That by his perswasions privately and publickly delivered sundry persons in and about Warwick were appointed to impugn both in words and deeds the Laws Orders and rights prescribed by the Book of Common-Prayer insomuch as both his own wife by his procurement and consent refused after child-birth to come and give thanks in such place of the Church and in that solemn manner as thereby is prescribed and some other women also of that Town by such perswasion and example did use the like contempt 17. Item That sundry times or at least once when he communicated at the Lords Supper there he sate or stood upon his feet and divers others induced by his perswasions and example both then and at other times did the like And that at other times there or in other places where he hath communicated both himself and others as he had appointed or perswaded afore did walk along and receive the Sacrament of the Ministers as they passed by him 18. Item That for these and such like disorders he was presented to the Bishop of Wigorne his Ordinary Before whom being convented in the Consistory there he spake to the justification and upholding of such doing of his and of others and there very publickly and offensively affirmed and disputed That the Book of Common-Prayer c. is not established by Law 19. Item That when by authority from the said Bishop for his contempt he was suspended from preaching ab omni functione Ministerii he appealed from the said suspension yet did not prosecute within a year after whereby the cause being according to Law remitted again to the Bishop he the said Thomas Cartwright according to the former proceedings falling again into the sentence of suspension which was also intimated and made known unto him nevertheless in contempt of the Authority Ecclesiastical he hath preached at Warwick Coventry and elsewhere since the said time 20. Item When one of his men-servants had committed Fornication and gotten a bastard in his house he taking upon him the authority of the Ordinary did appoint unto the delinquent a publick form of penance or satisfaction in Saint maries-Maries-Church at Warwick and caused him to perform the same 21. Item Since his placing at Warwick he with others at such times as they thought fit have agreed to have and so have had divers publick Fasts without the Queen her Authority and have invited and perswaded both sundry persons to be there present and also certain to preach to the number of three four or five successively one after another being all noted to be such as mislike and impugn sundry points of the Laws Government and Liturgy Ecclesiastical of this Church of England In which Sermons both he the said Cartwright and such others also as then preached did impugn and enveigh against the present Laws Government Politie and Liturgy Ecclesiastical of this Church of England 22. Item That from time to time since his aboad in Warwick by his practice and dealing he hath nourished a faction and heart-burning of one inhabitant there against another severing them in his own and his followers speeches by the names of The Godly or Brethren favoâ—ring sincerity and The Profane 23. Item That he doth know or credibly heard who were the penners printers or some of the dispersers of the several Libels going under the name of Martin Mar-Prelate of the Demonstration of Discipline of Diotrephes and such like books before it was known to Authority and yet in favour of such and contempt of good laws did not manifest the same to any who had authority to punish it 24. Item that being asked his opinion of such books he answered thus in effect or somthing tending this way viz. meaning the Bishops and others there touched would not amend by grave books and advertisements and therefore it was meet they should thus be dealt with to their further reproach and shame 25. Item that for and in the behalf of the Church of England he penned or procured to be penned all or some part of a little book intituled in one part Disciplina Ecclesiae sacra Verbo Dei descripta and in the other part Disciplina Synodicaex Ecclesiarumusu c. And after it was perused by others whom he first acquainted therewith he recommended the same to the censures and judgements of moe brethren being learned Preachers and some others assembled together by his means for that and other like purposes Which after deliberation and some alterations was by them or most of them allowed as the only lawfull Church government and fit to be put in practice and the wayes and means for the practising thereof in this Realm were also then or not long after agreed or concluded upon by them 26. Item that for the better and more due practise of it within the space of these seven six five foure three two or one year last past the said Thomas Cartwright and sundry others as aforesaid according to former appointment and determinations by them made have met in Assemblies termed Synods more general
on the first day were called in Chappel 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
supreme head of the Church and charged her as she would answer it at Gods Tribunall to take care of Christ his Evangil in suppressing the Popish Prelates who withstood the same But how long trow did you this continue Even till by her authority the Popish Bishops were repressed and Knox with his adherents being brought in made strong enough Then began they to make small account of her supremacy when according to that more light wherewith they were illuminated they made a farther reformation of themselves How they used the poore Lady my Mother is not unknowne and how they dealt with me in my minority I thus apply it My Lords the Bishops I may * This be said putting his hand to his bat thank you that these men plead thus for my Supremacy They think they cannot make their Party good against you but by appealing unto it but if once you were out and they in I know what would become of my Supremacy for NO BISHOP NO KING I have learned of what cut they have been who preaching before me since my coming into England passed over with silence my being Supreme Governour in causes Ecclesiasticall Well Doctour have you any thing else to say Dr. Reyn. No more if it please your Majesty His Majesty If this be all your Party hath to say I will make them conforme themselves or else I will harrie them out of the Land or else doe worse Thus ended the second dayes Conference Jan. 18 and the third began on the Wednesday following many Knights Civilians and Doctours of the Law being admitted thereunto because the High Commission was the principall matter in debate His Majesty I understand that the parties named in the High Commission are too many and too mean and the matters they deale with base such as Ordinaries at home in their Courts might censure Arch-b of Cant. It is requisite their number should be many otherwise I should be forced often-times to sit alone if in the absence of the Lords of the Council Bishops and Judges at Law some Deanes and Doctours were not put into that Commission whose Attendance I might command with the more Authority I have often complained of the meannesse of matters handled therein but cannot remedy it For though the Offence be small that the Ordinary may the Offender oft-times is so great and contumacious that the Ordinary dâ—re not punish him and so is forced to crave help at the High Commission A nameless L d. The Proceedings in that Court I dare not guess him for fear of failing are like the Spanish Inquisition whereiu men are urged to subscribe more than Law requireth and by the Oath ex officio forced to accuse themselves being examined upon twenty or twenty four Articles on a sudden without deliberation and for the most part against themselves In proof hereof he produced a Letter of an antient honourable Counsellour An. 1584. verifying this usage to two Minsters in Cambridge shire Arch-b of Cant. Your Lordship is deceived in the manner of proceeding For if the Article touch the Party for Life Liberty or Scandall he may refuse to answer I can say nothing to the particulars of the Letter because twenty yeares since yet doubted not but at leisure to give your Lordship satisfaction L d. Chancel There is necessity Here we omit a discourse about Subscription because not methodiz'd into the Speech of severall persons and use of the Oath Ex officio in divers Courts and Causes His Majesty Indeed civil Proceedings onely punish Facts but it is requisite that Fame and Scandals be looked unto in Courts Ecclesiasticall and yet great moderation is to be used therein 1. In gravioribus criminibus 2. In such whereof there is a publique Fame caused by the inordinate demeanour of the Offender And here he soundly described the Oath ex officio for the ground thereof the Wisdome of the Law therein the manner of proceeding thereby and profitable effect from the same Arch-b of Cant. Undoubtedly your Majesty speaks by the speciall assistance of Gods Spirit BP of Lond. I protest my heart melteth with joy that Almighty God of his singular mercy * This he spake on his knee hath given us such a King as since Christs time the like hath not beene Then passed there much discourse between the King the Bishops and the Lords about the quality of the Persons and Causes in the High Commission rectifying Excommunications in matters of lesse moment punishing Recusants providing Divines for Ireland Wales and the Northern Borders Afterwards the four Preachers were called in and such alterations in the Lyturgie were read unto them which the Bishops by the Kings advice had made and to which by their silence they seemed to consent His Majesty I see the exceptions against the Communion-book are matters of weakness therefore if the persons reluctant be discreet they will be won betimes and by good perswasions If indiscreet better they were removed for by their factions many are driven to be Papists From you Dr. Reynolds and your Associates I expect obedience and humility the marks of honest and good men and that you would perswade others abroad by your example Dr. Reyn. We here do promise to performe all duties to Bishops as Reverend Fathers and to joyne with them against the common Adversary for the quiet of the Church Mr. Chader I request * This he spake kneeling the wearing of the Surplice and the Cross in Baptism may not be urged on some godly Ministers in Lancashire fearing if forced unto them many won by their preaching of the Gospel will revolt to Popery and I particularly instance in the Vicar of Ratsdale Ar-b of Cant. You could not have light upon a worse for not many yeares agoe as my Lord * Who being there present averred the same Chancellor knowes it was proved before me that by his unreverent usage of the Eucharist dealing the Bread out of a Basket every man putting in his hand and taking out a piece he made many loath the Communion and refuse to come to Church His Majestie It is not my purpose and I dare say it is not the Bishops intent presently and out of hand to enforce these things without Fatherly Admonitions Conferences and Perswasions premised but I wish it were examined whether such Lancashire Ministers by their paines and preaching have converted any from Popery and withall be men of honest Life and quiet Conversation If so let Letters be written to the Bishop of * This was Râ—ch Vaughan afterwards Bishop of Lond. Chester who is grave and good man to that purpose that some favour may be afforded unto them and let the Lord Arch-bishop write the Letters BP of Lond. If this be granted the copie of these Letters will flie all over England and then all non conformists will make the like request and so no fruit follow of this Conference but things will be worse than they were before I desire therefore a
with sophistical Qualifications So that he was accused to aime neither at the Satisfaction of the Learned Ann. Dom 1611. Ann. Regis Jac. 9 whom he had formerly offended nor the Safety of the Ignorant whom he might hereafter deceive but meerly his own Security for the present His grand Evasion was this That what he had wrote before was but probably propounded not dogmatically delivered But alas how many silly Souls might easily be infected mistaking his slenting Problemes for downright Positions In a word he took not out any Venome but put in more Honey into his Opinions which the corruption of Mans Nature would swallow with more greedinesse And how dangerous it is for wit-wanton Men to dance with their nice Distinctions on such Mysticall Precipices where Slips in jest may cause deadly Downfalls in earnest the Roman Orator doth in part pronounce Mala est impia consuetudo contra Deum disputandi sive seriò id fit sive simulatè 5. Now King JAMES being as little Satisfied in Judgment with the Writings of Vorstius in his own Defence K. James setteth forth a Declaration against Vorstius siâ—st written in French Since by His leave Translated into English and amongst His other Works as ill pleased in Point of Honour with the doings of the States in return to His Request gave Instructions to His Ambassadour to make Publick Protestation against their Proceedings which Sir Ralph Wynwood in Pursuance of his Masters Command most solemnly performed Nor did His Majesties Zeal stop here with Joash King of Israel smiting onely but thrice and then desisting but after His Request Letter and Protestation had missed â—heir Desired effect He wrote in French a Declaration against Vorstius A Work well beseeming the DEFENDOR OF THE FAITH by which Title to use His Ambassadours Expression He did more value Himself than by the Style of KING OF GREAT BRITAIN Once I intended to present the Reader with a Brief of His Majesties Declaration till deterred with this Consideration that although great Masses of Lead Tinne and meaner Metals may by the extraction of Chymists be epitomized and abridged into a Smaller quantity of Silver yet what is altogether Gold already cannot without extraordinary damage be reduced into a Smaller Proportion And seeing each word in His Majesties Declaration is so pure and pretious that it cannot be lessened without losse we remit the Reader to the same in His Majesties Works And so take our Leave of Verstius for the present whose Books by the KING's Command were publickly burnt at St. Paul's Crosse in London and in both Universities 6. But leaving this Outlandish let us come to our English Vorstius though of farre lesse Learning The character of Bartholomew Legate of more Obstinacy and dangerous Opinions I mean that Arrian who this year suffered in Smithfield His name Bartholomew Legate native County Essex person comely complexion black age about fourty years Of a bold spirit confident carriage fluent tongue excellently skilled in the Scriptures and well had it been for him if he had known them lesse or understood them better whose ignorance abused the Word of God therewith to oppose God the Word His conversation for ought I can learn to the contrary very unblameable And the poyson of Hereticall Doctrine is never more dangerous than when served up in clean cups and washed dishes 7. King JAMES caused this Legate often to be brought to Him Discourse beâ—twixt K. James and Legate and seriously dealt with him to endevour His conversion One time the KING had a designe to surprize him into a Confession of Christs Deity as His Majesty afterwards declared to a right reverend g James Archbishop of Armagh from whose mouth I had the Relation Prelate by asking him Whether or no he did not daily pray to Jesus Christ Which had he acknowledged the KING would infallibly have inserted that Legate tacitly consented to Christs Divinity as a searcher of the hearts But herein His Majesty failed of His expectation Legate returning That indeed he had prayed to Christ in the daies of his ignorance but not for these last seven years Hereupon the KING in choler spurn'd at him with His foot Away base Fellow saith He it shall never be said that one stayeth in My presence that hath never prayed to our Saviour for seven years together 8. Often was he covented before the Bishops in the Consistory of St. Pauls Bishop King gravâ—llâ—â—h him with a place of Scripture where he persisted obstimate in his Opinions flatly denying the Authority of that Court. And no wonder that he slighted the power of earthly Bishops denying the Divinity of Him Who is h 1 Pâ—t 2. 25. The Shepheard and Bishop of our souls The dispatation against him was principally managed by John King Bishop of London who gravelled and utterly confuted him with that place of Scripture John 17. 5. And now O Father glorifie thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was This Text I say was so seasonably alledged so plainly expounded so pathetically enforced by the eloquence and gravity of that Bishop qualities wherein he excelled that it gave marvellous satisfaction to a multitude of people there present that it is conceived it happily unproselyted some inclinable to his Opinions though Legate himself remained pertinatious both against the impressions of Arguments and Scripture daily multiplying his enormous Opinions It is the happinesse nature indulgeth to monsters that they are all barren whereas on the contrary monstrous positions are most procreative of the like or worse than themselves 9. Before we set down his pestilent Opinions Wholsome caution premised before the naming of Legate's blasphemies may Writer and Reader sence themselves with prayer to God against the infection thereof lest otherwise touching such pitch though but with the bare mention defile us casually tempting a temptation in us and awaking some corruption which otherwise would sleep silently in our souls And if notwithstanding this our caution any shall reap an accidental evil to themselves by reading his damnable Opinions my pen is no more accessary to their harm than that Apothecarie is guilty of murder if others out of a licourish curiosity kill themselves with that poyson which he kept in his shop for soveraigne use to make Antidotes thereof His damnable Tenets were as followeth 1. That the Creed called the Nicene Creed and Athanasius Creed contain not a Profession of the true Christian Faith 2. That Christ is not God of God begotten not made but begotten and made 3. That there are no Persons in the Godhead 4. That Christ was not God from everlasting but began to be God when he took flesh of the Virgin Mary 5. That the world was not made by Christ 6. That the Apostles teach Christ to be Man onely 7. That there is no generation in God but of creatures 8. That this assertion God to be made Man is contrary
in the main agreeing together Quod duo stent Libri clausi Anglis Regiâ in ARA Lumina caeca duo Pollubra sicca duo An clausum caecúmque Dei tenet Anglia cultum Lumine caeca suo sorde sepulta suâ Romano ritu dum Regalem instruit ARAM Purpuream pingit * aliâ—s Religiosa Luxuriosa Lupam 42. Mr. George Herbert of Trinity-Coll in Cambridge made a most ingenious retortion of this Hexastick which as yet all my industry cannot recover Yet it much contenteth me that I am certainly informed that the posthume Remains shavings of Gold are carefully to be kept of that not lesse pious than witty writer are shortly to be put forth into Print when this his Anti pelvi Melvi But now at last Melvin his liberty was procured by the intercession of the chief of the Reformed in France Ann. Reg. Jac. 13 Ann. Dom. 1615. and being released he afterwards became Professour at Sedan in the Duke of â—ovillion his Countrey Here he ceased not to traduce the Church of England against which he wrote a scroale of Saphicks entituled TAMICHAMI-CATEGERIA 43. This year Thomas Bilson The death of Bishop Bilson Bishop of Winchester who carried Prelature in his very aspect ended his life first School-Master then Warden of Winchester afterwards Bishop of Worcester and lastly of Winchester A deep and profound Scholar excellently well read in the Fathers principally shewed in his Defence of Christ his descent into Hell 44. By the way Campian his falshood it is a falshood what Campian writes confidently that Cheney Bishop of Gloucester had affirmed unto him Namely that concerning this Article it was moved in a Convocation at London Quemadâ—odum sine tumultu penitus eximatur de Symbole How it might without any noise be wholly taken out of the Creed For no such debate appeateth upon Record in our Convocations and as for Campian his single affirmation is of no validity 45. Marcus Antonius de Dominis 1616. Dec. 6. Archbishop of Spalato Archbishop of Spalato came over into England was here courteously welcomed and plentifully preferred of whose hypocrisie and ingratitude largely b viz anno 1622. hereafter 46. King JAMES went into Scotland to visit His native Countrey Mar. 14. The King goes into Scotland with a Princely train In his passage thither He was much affected with a Sermon which one of his Chaplains preached upon this Text c Gen. 13. 2 3. Gen. 13. 2 3. And Abraham was very rich in cattell in silver and in gold And he went on his journeys from the South even to Bethell to the place where his Tent had been at the beginning As for His entertainment in Scotland we leave it to their Historians to relate For may my pen be plindered by the Borderers or Mosse-Troopers if offering to crosse Tweed into another Countrey 47. This year died Doctor William James The death of Bishop James born in Cheshire Master first of the University-Colledge then Dâ—an of Christ-Church in Oxford Chaplain to Robert Dudley Earle of Leitester and Confessour to him at his death and at last made Bishop of Durham He expended much on the repairing of the Chappel of Durham-house in the Strand and in his younger daâ—es was much commended for his hospitality 48. Two other prime Prelates accompanied him to the other world Bishop Robinson and Bishop Bennet Dr. Henry Robinson Provest of Queen-Colledge in Oxford Bishop of Carlisle of great temperance milde in speech but weak in constitution The other Robert Bennet Fellow of Trinity-Colledge in Cambridge Chaplain to the Lord Burleigh termed by a great Divine Eruditus Beneâ—ictus Bishop of Hereford well-deserving of his See whose Houses he repaired 49. Doctor Mocket Doctor Mocket his Translation of our English Liturgie Warden of All-Souls in Oxford Chaplain to George Abbot Archbishop of Canterbury set forth a Book in pure Latine containing The Apologie of the Church of England The greater and lesser Catechisme The nine and thirty Articles The Common Prayer The Ordination of Bishops Priests and Deacons The Politie or Government of the Church of England As for the Homilies too tedious to be translated at large he epitomized them into certain Propositions by him faithfully extracted 50. No sooner appeared this Book in print Cavilled at by many but many faults were found therein Indeed it fared the worse for the Authour the Authour for his Patron the Archbishop against whom many Bishops began then to combine Some accused him of presumption for undertaking such a task without d Yet â—um Privilegio is prefixt on the first page Commission from the KING it being almost as faâ—all for Private persons to tamper with such Publick matters Ann. Dom. 1617 Ann. Reg. Jac. 15 as for a Subject to match into the blood-Royal without leave of his Soveraigne Others complained that he enlarged the liberty of a Translatour into the licence of a Commenter and the Propositions out of the Homilies by him collected were made to lean to the judgment of the Collectour James Montague Bishop of Winchester a potent Courtier took exceptions that his Bishoprick in the marshalling of them was wronged in the method as put e In his Politica Ecclesiae Angl. cap 5. p. 314. The pinching accusation after any whose Bishop is a Privie Counsellour 50. But the main matter objected against it was That this Doctor was a better Chaplain than a Subject contracting the Power of his PRINCE to enlarge the Priviledge of his Patron allowing the Archbishop of Canterbury's power to confirm the Election of Bishops in his Provinces citing f ibid. pag. 309. for the same the 6â— Canon of the first Nicene Councell established by Imperiall authority If any be made a Bishop without the censent of his Metropolitan he ought not to be a Bishop 51. This was counted an high offence to attribute an obliging authority either to Canon or Civil Law Imperiall Decrees command not in England both which if crossing the Common Law of the Land are drowned in their passage as they saile over from Callis to Dover and K. JAMES justly jealous of his own Prerogative approved not such a confirming power in the Archbishop wich might imply a Negative Voice in case he disliked such Elects as the KING should recommend unto him 52. Hereupon On the burning of his Book Dr. Mocket dyeth Doctor Mocket his Book was ceasured to be burned which was done accordingly Now although the imperfections and indiscretions of this Translatour might be consumed as dross in the fire yet the undoubted truth of the Articles of the English Church therein contained as Flame-free and perfectly refined will endure to all eternity The Doctor took this censure so tenderly especially so much defeated in his expectation to finde punishment where he looked for preferment as if his life were bound up by sympathy in his Book he ended his daies soon after 53.
their recreations on the Sunday the Papists in this Realm being thereby perswaded that no honest mirth or recreation was tolerable in our Religion Whereupon the Court being then at Greenwich He set forth a Declaration to this effect That for His good peoples lawfull recreations His pleasure was that after the end of Divine Service they should not be disturbed letted or discouraged from any lawfull recreations Such as dancing either of men or women archerie for men leaping vaulting or any such harmless recreations Nor from having of May-games Whitsun-ales or Morice-dances and setting up of May-poles or other sports therewith used so as the same be had in due and convenient time without impediment or let of Divine Service and that women should have leave to carry rushes to the Church for the decoring of it according to their old custome withall prohibiting all unlawfull games to be used on the Sundaies onely as bear-baiting bull-baiting interludes and at all times in the meaner sort of people by Law prohibited bowling 59. But when this Declaration was brought abroad The various effects thereof it is not so hard to believe as sad to recount what grief and distraction thereby was occasioned in many honest mens hearts who looked on it not as locall for Lancashire but what in processe of time would enlarge it self all over a So it was in the Reign of King Charles Anno 1633. England Some conceived the recreations specified impeditive to the observation of the Lords day yea unsuitable and unbeseeming the essentiall duties thereof But others maintained that if private mens speeches must not be pressed to an odious construction much more men were bound candidly to interpret the Acts of Authority and in charity must presume and be perswaded that religious Princes will command nothing what they conceive either to be unjust or not expedient all things considered They considered moreover which was mainly material that this Declaration was not dogmatical or doctrinal to say or averre these things to be Theologically lawfull but it was Edictum Civile what the King thought fit upon just reasons to permit without restraint or punishment The hardnesse of mens hearts on one side which will break loose though restrained and the hope of gaining others on the other side by a favourable allowance might be just motives in Authority to give way to things civiliter that they may be done impunè and yet not prejudice any point of Religion and not be done licitè as in Divorces extra casum adulterii Usurie c. 60. But the difficulty was encreased Reasons of the reâ—aâ—ers to publish this Declaration when Ministers daily feared to be urged upon their Canonicall obedience to promulgate and publish the said Declaration in their Parish Churches which some resolved flatly to refuse especially such who formerly had strictly preached and pressed the observation of the Lords-day alledging for and applying to themselves that place of Saint Paul b Gal. 2. 18. For if I build again the things which I have destroyed I make my self a transgressour Besides this they enforced the Reasons following for their Recusancie Yea though the KING Himself should enjoyn them on their Alleageance 1. That the publishing of this Declaration would be interpretativè an approbation thereof whereas on the contrary they are c Ephes 5. 11. commanded to have no fellowship with the unfruitfull works of darkness but rather to reprove them 2. That hereby they should draw a just woe upon them pronounced by the Prophet d Isa 10. 1. Woe unto them that decree unrighteous decrees and that write grievousness which they have prescribed Where as the e Junius Piscator on the place Learned interpret even publick Notaries which are but instrumental are threatned with a curse 3. That the promulgation of a Law is de essentia Legis so that people would neither take notice of this Declaration nor liberty by it till it were published and so the Publisher should per se be a Promoter of a sin 4. That Obedience to Authority obligeth onely in licitis honestis and the f 2 Cor. 13. 10. Apostle confesseth That he himself had power to edification and not to destruction whereunto the publishing thereof did manifestly tend 61. On the other side The Arguments for the lawful publishing of the Declaration some learned and pious Ministers who in their judgments were convinced that some of the aforesaid recreations were incompatible with the sanctification of the Sabbath notwithstanding in case His MAJESTY should enjoyn it on serious deliberation resolved in obedience to the KING publickly to read or cause the reading of the Declaration not looking at the contents therein but at the Authority commanding the publication thereof the rather because no Subscription was required or Vocall assent to approve what therein was contained to be just or affirm it to be true but a bare ministerial declaring of the KING's will and pleasure therein which they conceived themselves bound in conscience to perform for the Reasons ensuing 1. The refusal well observed doth resolve into a principle which would take away the necessity of Obedience universally when the Partie commanded can pretend the Magistrate ought not to command him any such thing and if the PRINCE must suspend His Edicts upon each Subjects doubt He should never set forth any considering the variety of judgments and the distractions which are in His Subjects 2. A Sheriffe may yea must disperse the KING his Proclamations which he liketh not and a Clerk at the command of his Master a Justice of Peace may lawfully write the Mittimus of that person to Prison whom in his parricular judgment he conceiveth to be innocent and what is most proper to our purpose because a religious instance a Minister without any sin may safely pronounce an Excommunication legally delivered unto him though in his own private conscience he be convinced that the Partie is unjustly excommunicated 3. There are many precedents hereof in antiquity A Father g Optatus Melâ—vitanus lib. 7. gives this censure that when the Jewes commanded by Antiochus gave up the Divine Books to His Officers to be destroyed it was Peccatum imperantis minantis non populi cum dolore tremore tradentis A sinne of Him that commanded and threatned it not of the people who surrendred up those Volumes with fear and sorrow And Saint h Contra Faustum lib. 22. cap. 75. Augustine resolveth it in the case of a Christian Souldier fighting under a sacrilegious Emperour that though he be not satisfied in the lawfulnesse of the commands he may notwithstanding lawfully obey Ita ut fortasse reum faâ—iat Regem iniquitas imperandi innocentem militem ostendat ordo serviendi And what is most apposite to the matter in hand because the Edict of a godly Emperour seriously distasted by a godly Bishop Mauritius set forth a command That no Souldier should be admitted into a Monasterie and
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
a more pleasant tune from barking for food to the blessing of those who procured it Nor let any censure this a digress from my History for though my estate will not suffer me with * Job 29. 15. Job to be eyes to the blind and feet to the Iame I will endeavour what I can to be a Tongue for the Dumbe SECTION XI To the Noble Lady Elianor Roe relict to the Honorable Sr. Thomas Roe Madam I finde that my name-sake * * Hackluits voyages 3. part pag. 825. Thomas Fuller was Pilot in the ship called the Desire wherein Captain Cavendish surrounded the world Far be it from me to compare these my weak undertakings to his great adventures Yet I may terme this my Book the Desire as wherein I desire to please and profit all justly to displease none Many rocks and storms have I passed by Gods blessing and now am glad of so firme an Anchorage as a Dedication to your Ladiship I believe Madam none of your Sex in our Nation hath travelled farther them your self Yet this Section of our History may afford you a rarity not seen before I know you have viewed the Tombe of St. Polycarpus but here the Herse is presented unto you of one whose death cannot be paralell'd in all particulars 1. LAtely certain Delegates from the Vniversity of Oxford pleaded their Priviledges before the Committee of Parliament Anno Regis Carol. 24. that they were onely Visitable by the King Anno Dom. 1648. and such who should be deputed by him Great alterations by the Visiters in Oxford But their allegations were not of proof against the Paramount power of Parliament the rather because a passage in an Article at the Rendition of Oxford was urged against them wherein they were subjected to such a visitation Whereupon many Masters were ejected their Places new Heads of Houses made and soon after new Houses to those Heads which produced great alteration 2. Come we now to the Church-part of the Treaty in the Isle of Wight Clergiemen meeting in the Isle of Wight as the sole Ecclesiastical matter remaining Anno Dom. 1648. Here appeared of the Divines chosen by the King Anno Regis Eliza. 24. James Vsher Arch-Bishop of Armagh Brian Duppa Bishop of Salisbury Doctor Sanderson Doctor Shelden Doctor Henry Ferne As for Doctor Brounrig Bishop of Exeter when on the way he was remanded by the Parliament because under restraint and it was reported that D. Prideaux Bishop of Worcester wanted the more the pitty wherewith to accommodate himself for the journey M r Steven Marshall M r Joseph Caryll M r Richard Vines and M R Lazarus Seaman were present there by appointment from the Parliament 3. It was not permitted for either side All matters managed in writing personally to speak but partly to prevent the impertinencies of orall debates partly that a more steddy aime might be taken of their mutual Arguments all things were transacted in scriptis His Majesty consulted with his Chaplains when he pleased The Kings Writings were publickly read before all by M r Philip Warwick and M r Vines read the Papers of his Fellow-Divines the substance whereof we come here to present 4. His Majesty began The effect of his majesties first paper the effect of whose first Paper was to prove Octo. 2. that the Apostles in their own persons by Authority a Joh. 20. 21. derived from Christ exercised their power in Ordinations giving Rules and Censures 2. That Timothy and b Tit. 1. 5. Titus by Authority derived from the Apostles did or might actually exercise the same power in the three Branches specified 3. That the Angels of the seven Churches Rev. 2. 3. where so many persoae singulares of such as had a Prelacy as well over Pastors as People From the premises his Majesty inferred that our Bishops succeed to the function of the Persons afore named The rather because the same plainly appeareth out of the History of the Primitive Church the writings of Ignatius and other ancient Authors In conclusion his Majesty desired to be satisfied from them what were the Substantials of Church-government appointed by Christ and his Apostles and in whose hands they are left and whether they binde to a perpetual observation thereof or may upon occasion be altered in whole or in part 5. The next day the Parliament-Divines put in their Answer to the Kings Paper The Parliament-Divines answer thereunto wherein they confessed Octo. 3. that the places of Scripture cited by him proved in those Persons by him named a power respectively to do the three things specified But they utterly denied that the foresaid Persons were Bishops as distinct from Presbyters or exercised the Government in that sense 1. To the Instance of the Apostles they answered that they had an extraordinary calling and so nothing thence can be inferrred to prove modern Bishops 2. That Timothy and Titus were Evangelists and the f 2 Tim. 4. 5. first is expressly so termed nor could they be Bishops who resided not in one Diocess but often removed from place to place 3. That the denomination of the Angels of the Churches being Allegorical no firme Argument can be taken thence nor weight laid thereon Besides those Epistles of S. John though directed to One were intended to the whole body of the Church They denyed that the Apostles were to have any successours in their Office affirming but two standing Officers in the Church Presbyterians Deacons They cited Philippians I. I. I Tim. 3. 8. for the proof thereof where there is no mention of Bishops as distinct from Presbyters but of the two Orders only of Bishops or Presbyters and Deacons 6. As for the succeeding ages to the Apostles seeing Scripture reacheth not unto them they can but beget a humane Faith which is uncertain and fallible Besides such the darkness of those Times in respect of Church-History that little certainty can be thence extracted Yet it appeareth in Clement himself that he useth the same word for Bishop and Presbyter and as for Ignatius his Epistles little credit is to be given unto them 7. Lastly there is a great difference between Primitive Episcopacy and the Present Hierarchie as much enlarged in their Power and Priviledges by many Temporal accessions whereof no shaddow or pretence in Scripture In conclusion they humbly besought his Majesty to look rather to the Original of Bishops in holy Writ then to their succession in Humane History 8. As to the point of Substantials in Church Government appointed by Christ wherein his Majesty desired satisfaction the return was short and generall that such Substantials were in the Scripture not descending to any particulars Whether out of policy foreseeing it would Minister matter of more debate or obedience to the Parliament as aliene from the work they were designed for who were only to oppose Episcopacy as qualified in the Bill presented to his Majesty 9. Three days
of much Uncleannesse it being appliable to them what the Apostle speaketh of others d Ephes 5. 12. It is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret And one may justly admire how these Canonists being pretended Virgins could arrive at the knowledge of the Criticismes of all Obscenity so that chast Love may lye seven and seven yeares in the undefiled Marriage bed and be utterly ignorant what the Language of Lust meaneth in such filthy Canons Yea when such Love by the help of an Interpreter shall understand the same it would blush for Shame were it not that that Red would be turned into Palenesse as amazed at so horrid Uncleanness 25. Some five yeares after 755 Kenulphus The Charter of Kenulphus to the Abbot of Abbington King of West-Saxons conferred large Priviledges on the Monastery of Abbington We will recite so much of his e Cited by Stanford l. 3. fol. 111. and this Charter was pleaded primo Hen. 7. fol. 23. 25. Charter as concerns us because usefull to shew the Power which Kings in that Age had in Ecclesiasticall Matters Kenulphus Rex c per liter as suas patentes consilio consensu Episcoporum Senatorum gentis suae largitus fuit Monasterio de Abbindon in Comitatu Barke ac cuidam Richino tunc Abbati Monasterii c. quandam ruris sui portionem id est quindecim Mansias in loco qui à ruricolis tunc nuncupabatur Culnam cum omnibus utilitatibus ad eandem pertinentibus tam in magnis quam in modicis rebus in aeternam haereditatem Et quod praedictus Richinus c. ab omni Episcopali jure in sempiternum esset quietus ut inhabitatores ejus nullius Episcopi aut suorum Officialium jugo inde deprimantur sed in cunctis rerum eventibus discussionibus causarum Abbatis Monasterii praedicti decreto subjiciantur Ita quod c. Kenulphus King c. by his Letters Patents with the advice and consent of the Bishops and Counsellours of His Country hath given to the Monastery of Abbindon in the County of Barks and to one Richine then Abbot of the Monastery c. a certain portion of his land that is to say fifteen Mansions in a place which then of the Inhabitants was called Culnam with all Profits to the same belonging as well in great as mean matters Anno Dom. 755 as an inheritance forever And that the aforesaid Richine c. should be for ever acquit from all Episcopal jurisdiction that the Inhabitants thereof be thenceforth oppressed with the yoke of no Bishop or his Officials but in all events of matters and discussions of causes they be subject to the decree of the Abbot of the aforesaid Monastery So that c. From this Charter S t. Edward a His Reports part 5. fol. 9. Cook the Kings Attorney inferreth that King Kenulphus had Ecclesiasticall Jurisdiction in himself in that he had power to discharge and exempt this Abbot from the Iurisdiction of the Bishop Which Ecclesiasticall Iurisdiction was alwayes invested in the Imperiall Crown of England and therefore the Statute made under Henry the eighth concerning the Kings Spirituall Authority was not introductory of a new Law but declaratory onely of an old 26. But Father Parsons for he it is who stands under the Vizard of the Catholick Divine The Cavills of Parsons against S t. Edw. Cook confuted in a Book wrote of set purpose against Master Attorney in this point will by no means allow King Kenulphus any Ecclesiasticall Power but by many Fetches seeks to evade so pregnant a Proof Arg. 1. First he b Catholick Divine alias Parsons in his answer to the Kings Attorney p. 95 96 c. pleadeth that in this Charter Kenulphus did not exempt the Abbot from all Iurisdiction Spirituall of the Bishop but from some Temporall Interest or Pretense which perhaps the Bishop of the Diocese claimed over the Lordship of Culnam Answ Perhaps commend not his Modesty but thank his Guiltinesse for his timorous Assertion saith he but how doth this appeare for he bringeth no proof and if he affirmeth it on free cost we can confute it as cheap by denying it Arg. 2. Secondly saith he the King exempted the Abbot ab omni Episcopali jure that is from all Right of the Bishop and not Iurisdiction Answ Sharp Wit to cut so small a Mote in two parts for no purpose seeing jus and Iurisdiction are often known to import the same sense Arg. 3. Thirdly he objecteth the words no way seem fitly to agree to be spoken of the Bishops Ecclesiasticall Iurisdiction which run thus That the Abbot should be quiet from the Bishops Right and that the Inhabitants from thenceforward should not be oppressed by the Yoke of the Bishops officers Answ Why what Incongruity but that these words may be spoken as they are of Ecclesiasticall Iurisdiction Is the word Yoke too course a Phrase to be applied to the Bishops Spirituall Power as they sometimes did manage it I appeale to those who felt it for no Yoke is heavy to him that puts it on but to those who bear it Mark by the way the word he rendereth Officers is in the Charter not Officiarii Lay-Latine but Officiales which is Church-language and the very dialect of the Court-Christian and should be translated Officials to whom Bishops committed their Spirituall Power But Parsons knew well how to lay his Thumb on what he would not have seen Arg. 4. Fourthly Howsoever it were it is manifestly false saith he that this Ecclesiasticall Iurisdiction of King Kenulphus was derived from his Crown it might be he had it from the Pope which is most likely Answ Which is most unlikely for no Clause in the Charter relates to any delegate power and yet such a Passage might easily have been inserted yea could not justly have been omitted if he had claimed his Iurisdiction by Deputation from the Pope Arg. 5. Lastly which he saith seemeth to convince the whole matter and decide the very Case one a Harpsfield Hist Aug. seculo primo c. 9. ex Mariano Scoto Rethurus Abbot of Abbington went afterwards to Rome to obtain confirmation of the Priviledges of his Monastery from the See Apostolick Answ What of this This post-fact of Rethurus argues no Invalidity in Kenulphus his former Grant but rather shews the over-Officiousnesse of a pragmaticall Abbot who to ingratiate himself with the Pope craved of him what he had before Yea such cunning Compliance of the Clergy with his Holinesse by degrees fixed in him a supposed Ecclesiasticall Power paramount which really he never had nor rightly ever ought to have See here the King's Power in Church-matters in conferring Ecclesiasticall Priviledges and this single Threed we will twist with another Instance so strong that the Iesuites Art shall be unable to break it in sunder 27. By the Constitution of Augustine 758 first Arch-bishop of Canterbury