Selected quad for the lemma: book_n

Word A Word B Word C Word D Occurrence Frequency Band MI MI Band Prominent
book_n church_n great_a read_v 2,510 5 6.0813 4 true
View all documents for the selected quad

Text snippets containing the quad

ID Title Author Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication) STC Words Pages
A42557 The History of the Church of Great Britain from the birth of our Saviour untill the year of our Lord, 1667 with an exact succession of the bishops and the memorable acts of many of them : together with an addition of all the English cardinals, and the several orders of English monks, friars and nuns in former ages. Geaves, William.; Geaves, George.; Gearing, William.; G. G. 1674 (1674) Wing G440; ESTC R40443 405,120 476

There are 37 snippets containing the selected quad. | View lemmatised text

The Conclusion was this That the Bishops should Consult whether unto the Rubrick of the General Absolution these words Remission of sins might not be added for explanation-sake To the point of Private Baptism the Archbishop of Canterbury said the Administration thereof by women and Lay-persons is not allowed in the Practice of the Church c. The King answered the words of the Book cannot but intend a permission of such persons to Baptise The Bishop of Worcester said that the Compilers of the book did not so intend them as appeareth by their contrary practice The Bishop of London said those men intended a permission of private persons to baptise but in case of necessity Here he spake much of the necessity of Baptism The King answered this necessity of Baptism I so understand that it is necessary to be had if lawfully to be had i. e. Ministred by lawful Ministers by whom alone and no private person in any case it may be administred The result was this To consult whether in the Rubrick of Private baptism these words Curate or lawful Minister may not be inserted For the point of Excommunication His Majesty propounded whether in causes of lesser moment the name might not be altered and the same censure retained Secondly whether in place thereof another coertion equivalent thereunto might not be invented Which all sides yielded unto and so was an end of the first dayes conference On Monday January 16. they all met in the same place with all the Deans and Doctors aforementioned Patrick Galloway Minister of Perth in Scotland admitted also to be there and Prince Henry sate on a Stool by his Father After the King had made a pithy speech to the four opposers of conformity He willed them to begin Then Dr. Rainolds said All things disliked or questioned may be reduced to these four heads I. That the Doctrine of the Church might be preserved in purity according to God's word II. That good Pastors might be planted in all Churches to preach the same III. That the Church-government might be sincerely Ministred according to God's word IV. That the book of Common-prayer might be fitted to more encrease of Piety For the first he desired that the book of Articles of Religion concluded on 1562. might be explained where obscure enlarged where defective viz. Art 16. where it is said After we have received the Holy Ghost we may depart from Grace Those words may be explained with this addition yet neither totally nor finally He propounded also that the nine Assertions concluded on at Lambeth might be inserted into the Book of Articles Some other things also he added The Bishop of London speaks passionately against Dr. Rainolds for which the King reproveth him As for Private Baptism His Majesty said he had already with the Bishops taken order for the same Then came they to Confirmation And after some debate thereon betwixt Dr. Rainolds and the Bishops of London and Winchester his Majesty said he intended not to take confirmation from the Bishops which they had so long enjoyed seeing as great reason that none should confirm as none should Preach without the Bishop's License Dr. Rainolds said It were well if this proposition might be added to the book of Articles The Intention of the Minister is not of the Essence of the Sacrament He urged again that the nine Orthodoxal Assertions concluded at Lambeth may be generally received The King thought it unfit to thrust into the book of Articles every position Negative which would swell the book into too great a volume And as to the nine Assertions his Majesty said he knew not what they were The Bishop of London told the King the occasion of them He answered the better course would be to punish the broachers of false Doctrine than to multiply Articles Then Dr. Rainolds requested that one Uniform Catechism may be made and none other generally received His Majesty thought the Doctor ' s request very reasonable yet so that the Catechism may be made in the fewest and plainest affirmative terms that may be And herein said he I would have two Rules to be observed 1. That curious and deep questions be avoided in the fundamental instruction of a people 2. That there should not be so general a departure from the Papists that every thing should be accounted an errour wherein we agree with them Dr. Rainolds said Great is the profanation of the Sabbath day and contempt of your Majestie 's Proclamation which I earnestly desire may be Reformed This motion found an unanimous consent Then the Doctor desired that the Bible be New Translated c. His Majesty answered that he never yet saw a Bible well-translated in English and he wished some special pains were taken for an Uniform Translation which should be done by the best Learned in both Universities then reviewed by the Bishops presented to the Privy Council lastly ratified by Royal Authority to be read in the Church and none other Dr. Rainolds moved also that unlawful and Seditious Books be suppressed The Lord Cecil that these had done much mischief but especially one called Speculum Tragicum His Majesty said that was a dangerous book indeed Concerning the planting of Learned Ministers in every Parish His Majesty said he had consulted with his Bishops about it whom he found willing and ready herein The Bishop of London moved that there might be a praying Ministry among us saying that men now thought it is the onely duty of Ministers to spend their time in the Pulpit His Majesty well liked his motion His second motion was that until Learned men may be planted in every Congregation Godly Homilies may be read therein The King liked this motion especially where the living is not sufficient to maintain a Learned Preacher Also where were multitudes of Sermons he would have Homilies read divers times The Plain●iffs confessed A Preaching Ministry is best but where it may not be had Godly Prayers and exhortations do much good The Bishop's last motion was that Pulpits may not be made pasquils wherein every discontented person may traduce his Superiors His Majesty approved thereof Then Dr. Rainolds came to Subscription as a great impeachment to a Learned Ministry and therefore entreated it might not be exacted as heretofore for which many good men are kept out though otherwise willing to subscribe to the Statutes of the Realm Articles of Religion and the King's Supremacy He objected against the enjoyning of the Apocrypha Books to be read in the Church some Chapters therein containing manifest errours repugnant to Scripture His Majesty said he would not have all Canonical books read in the Church nor any Chapter out of the Apocrypha wherein any errour is contained The next scruple against Subscription was because it was twice set down in the common-prayer-Common-prayer-book Jesus said to his Disciples when by the Text in the Original it is plain that he spake to the Pharisees His Majesty answered let the word Disciples be omitted and
Leases from Colledges and Hospitals Now some sixty Fifth-monarchy men under the conduct of one Thomas Venner a Cooper broke forth into Rebellion This Venner was a Preacher to a Conventicle of that opinion in Coleman-street in London Such was the madness of these men that they believed that They and the rest of their judgement were called by God to reform the world and make all the earthly powers which they called Babylon subservient to the Kingdom of Jesus and in Order thereunto never to sheath their swords till the carnal powers of the world were subdued They were taught and believed that one of them should subdue a Thousand making account when they had done their work in England to go into France Spain Germany and other parts of the world there to prosecute their pretended holy design The place where they plotted and continued their conspiracy was the meeting-place for their devotion and thither they had at several times convayed arms On Sunday January 6. which was the day before their excursion they were very late at their Assembly which made one Martin the Landlord of the House inquisitive after their doings He peeping through a chink in their door saw them arming themselves with Back breast and head-piece and thereupon immediately gave notice to the next Officers Half an hour after they came down and first marched to S. Thomas the Apostle to call some of their party from thence to Bishops-gate and after to White-cross-street They escaped to S. John's Wood and from thence to Canc-wood betwixt High-gate and Hampsted On Wednesday morning the Rebels came again into London and divided themselves into two parties one whereof about five or six in the morning appeared about Leaden-hall and from thence marched to little Eastcheap where they fought desperately but were dispersed by the trained bands Venner and another ●●rty came to my Lord Mayor's house thinking to have taken him Prisoner but missing him they marched into Woodstreet where Colonel Corbet and nine of his party charged through the Rebels and broke them They fought with admirable courage and if they had not been hindred from encreasing their numbers a Thousand men so resolved might have done much mischief Venner himself was much wounded before he was taken and about five or six were killed that refused quarter About eight or ten dayes after Venner with about sixteen or seventeen of the most notorious were arraigned at Justice-hall in the old Baily found guilty and executed in several parts of London About this time there was a conference at the Savoy between divers Episcopal and Presbyterian Divines about the Church discipline but to little effect A new Parliament was called which assembled at Westminster May 8. 1661. In the first Session whereof an Act was passed Entitled An Act for disenabling all Persons in Holy Orders to exercise any temporal jurisdiction or Authority Repealed The Bishops were brought to sit again as Peers in the House of Lords and their Ecclesiastical jurisdiction restored to them The Parliament explained a clause contained in an Act of Parliament made in the seventeenth year of King Charles the first Entitled An Act for Repeal of a branch of a Statute Primo Elizabethae concerning Commissioners for causes Ecclesiastical At the second Session of this Parliament an Act was made against Quakers and others denying to take a Lawful Oath with several penalties to be inflicted on them for several offences An Act was also passed for Uniformity of publick Prayers and Administration of Sacraments and other Rites and Ceremonies and of ordering and consecrating Bishops Priests and Deacons in the Church of England The King's Majesty according to his Declaration of the 25th of October 1660. had granted his Commission under the Great Seal of England to several Bishops and other Divines to review the Book of Common-Prayer and to prepare such additions and alterations as they thought fit to offer And afterwards the Convocations of both the Provinces of Canterbury and York being by His Majesty called and assembled His Majesty was pleased to Authorize and require the Presidents of the said Congregation and other the Bishops and Clergy of the same to review the said Book of Common-Prayer and the Book of the Form and manner of making and Consecrating of Bishops Priests and Deacons c. Since which time upon full and mature deliberation they the said Presidents Bishops and Clergy of both Provinces having accordingly reviewed the same Books and made some alterations which they thought fit to be inserted to the same and some additional Prayers to be used upon proper and emergent occasions and having presented the same unto His Majesty in Writing in one Book entitled The Book of Common-Prayer and other Rites and Ceremonies of the Church according to the use of the Church of England together with the Psalter or Psalms of David pointed as they are to be sung or said in Churches and the form and manner of making Ordaining and Consecrating of Bishops Priests and Deacons All which His Majesty having duly considered fully approved and allowed the same and recommended to this present Parliament then sitting and yet continuing to sit that the said Book of Common-Prayer c. be the Book which shall be appointed to be used by all that officiate in all Cathedral and Collegiate Churches and Chappels and in all Chappels or Colledges and Halls in both the Universities and the Colledges of Eaton and Winchester and in all Parish-Churches and Chappels within the Kingdom of England Dominion of Wales and Town of Berwick upon Tweed and by all that make or consecrate Bishops Priests or Deacons in any of the said places under such sanctions and penalties as the Houses of Parliament shall think fit And accordingly it was Enacted by the King's Majesty and both Houses of Parliament That Morning and Evening Prayers in the said Book contained should upon every Lord's day and upon all other days and occasions and at the times therein appointed be openly and solemnly read by all and every Minister and Curate in every Church Chappel or other place of publick worship within this Realm of England and places aforesaid It was also Enacted by the Authority aforesaid That every Parson Vicar or other Minister whatsoever who then had and enjoyed any Ecclesiastical Benefice or Promottion within this Realm of England c. should in the Church Chappel or place of publick worship belonging to his said Benefice or Promotion upon some Lord's day before the Feast of St. Bartholomew which should be in the year of our Lord God one thousand six hundred sixty two openly publickly and solemnly read the Morning and Evening Prayer appointed to be read by and according to the said Book of Common-Prayer at the times thereby appointed and after such reading thereof openly and publickly before the Congregation there assembled declare his unfeigned Assent and Consent to the use of all things in the said Book contained and prescribed in these words and no other I A.
Edbertus King of Northumberland 5. Ethelred King of Mercia 6. Kenred King of Mercia 7. Offa King of East Saxons 8. Sebbi King of East Saxons 9. Sigebert King of East Angles Ina builded the Abbey at Glastonbury in the 32 year of his Reign Sir H. Spelm. in conciliis besides his bounty to other Churches he bestowed on the Church of Glastonbury two thousand six hundred pounds weight in the Utensils thereof of massy Gold and Silver He was the first King of this Land that granted a penny out of every fire-house in England to be paid to the Court of Rome which was called long after Rome-scot or Peter-pence and was to be paid on St. Peters day After this he went to Rome in Pilgrimage in the fellowship of poor Men and there built a School for the English and a Church adjoyning to it to bury their dead But Winnifrid an English Man about this time converted to Christ the Provinces of Franconiae and Hassia in Germany About the same time flourished Bede a Presbyter in the Monastery of Weremouth near Durham he was born at Girwy now in the Bishoprick of Durham brought up by St. Cuthbert and was the profoundest Scholar of his Age for Latine Greek Philosophy History Divinity Mathematicks Musick and what not Homilies of his making were read in his life-time in the Christian Churches a dignity afforded to him alone He wrote the Ecclesiastical History and dedicated it to Ceolwolfus King of Northumberland He is generally sirnamed Venerable and is still acc●unted worthy of that Title He was credulous in believing of false Miracles and slipped into some corruptions of the times as Chrism and Confession yet even in these he differed from the latter times In the Articles of positive Doctrine he was clear He did observe and deplore the growing corruptions of the Church for in an Epistle to Ecbert he did not approve the specious and specious buildings of Monasteries and else-where he saith Let the Reader behold with tears a thing worthy of tears how far the Church s●ideth daily into a worse or to speak moderately into a weaker estate He wrote many Books as John Bale testifieth He lived 72 years and died Anno 734. At that time began the general viciousness of the Saxons occasioned by the uncleanness of Ethelbald King of Mercia whose unlawful lust made no difference of Places or Persons Castles or Cloisters Then Boniface an English Man having boldly reproved Ethelbald for Adultery and Tyranny was forced by that King who sought his life to fly to Rome from whence Gregory the second Bishop of Rome sent him into Germany to convert the Saxons He caused the Monastery of Eulda to be built in favour of the English and was slain at Borna being Bishop of Mentz Afterwards Ethelbald reformed himself and not onely so but with Cuthbert Archbishop of Canterbury called a Council at Cliffe in Kent the Acts of this Synod were 31 Canons four whereof I shall set down as being the chief I. That the Priests learn and teach to know the Creed Lord's Prayer and words of Consecration in the Eucharist in the English Tongue II. That the Lord's day be honourably observed III. That the sin of drunkenness be avoyded especially in the Clergy IV. That Prayers be publikely made for Kings and Princes King Ethelbald and Offa were present and they two with many Dukes and Counts confirm the Decrees with their subscriptions About the year 755 Kenulphus King of West Saxons conferred large priviledges on the Monastery of Abbingdon in Bark-shire Anno 758. Bodies were first brought to be buried in Churches which by degrees brought in much superstition In the year 789 the Danes first invaded England with a considerable Danes their first arrival i● England Army The landing of these Danes in England was ushered with many sad Prognosticks Stars were seen strangely falling from Heaven and sundry terrible flames appeared in the Skies Serpents were seen in Sussex and blood reigned in some parts of this Land Lindesfern or Holy Island was the first that felt the fury of these Pagans but soon after no place was secure from their cruelty At this time the Archbishoprick of Canterbury was in part removed to Lichfield by reason of the Puissance and Ambition of Offa King of Mercia commanding in chief over England Ethelbert King of the East Saxons went to Marry the Daughter of Offa and Offa perfidiously caused him to be murdered After which he gave the tenth part of all that he had unto the Church and several Lands to the Church of Hereford and then he went to Rome and there confirmed and enlarged to Pope Adrian the gift of Peter-pence Then was the corps of St. Alban in pompous manner taken up enshrined and adored by the spectators Offa being at Rome procured the Canonization of St. Alban the absolution of his own sins and many murders and visited and endowed the English Colledge there and then returning home he Founded the Monastery of St. Albans bestowing great Lands and liberties upon it as freeing it from the payment of Peter-pence Episcopal jurisdiction and the like Next year Offa died and was buried at Bedford Then flourished Alcuinus or Albinus Scholar to Venerable Bede and Tutor to Charles the Great who in an Epistle written to him calleth him Master of whom Trithemius give 's this character Vir in divinis R. Hoved●n Annal. part ● Scripturis eruditissimus insecularium literarum peritia nulli suo tempore secundus He opposed the Canons of the second Ni●ene Council wherein the Superstitious adoration of Images was enjoyned He wrote divers Books against the Errors of Felix and Eliphant Felix in reading them wrote a Recantation to the Presbyters and Deacons of his Church His Books de Trinitate are written so clearly that Sixtus Senensis saith they were written by John Calvin and published in the name of Alcuinus but Dr. James saith that ancient Copies thereof were in the Prince's library at St. James and they were Printed at Lions Anno 1525. when Calvin had not begun to write Egbert King of the West Saxons in the year 800. having vanquished Tho. Cooper Mercia Kent Essex and Northumberland made himself sole Monarch of England and fixed the supreme Sovereignty in himself and posterity For though afterward there continued some petty Kings as Kenulph King of Mercia c. yet they shined but dimly and in the next Age were utterly extinguished Egbert commanded this Land to be called Anglia and the Inhabitants Angles or English Men. CENT IX ANno 801. the Archbishoprick was restored to Canterbury at the instance of Kenulph King of Mercia Then Ethelard the Archbishop called a Synod at Clivesho in Kent where by power from the Pope he riveted the Archbishoprick into the City of Canterbury The subscriptions in this Council were the most formal and solemn of any so Antient. There was likewise at Celichyth an eminent Council under Wolphred who succeeded Ethelard Archbishop of Canterbury King
Heylins History of Queen Eliz. Cures which filled the Church with an Ignorant Clergy whose Learning went no further than the Liturgy or the Book of Homilies but otherwise conformable which was no small felicity to the Rules of the Church And on the other side many were raised to great preferments who having spent their time of exile in such Forreign Churches as followed the platform of Geneva returned so disaffected to Episcopal Government unto the Rites here by Law established as not long after filled the Church with most sad disorders On which account we find the Queens Professor in Oxford among the Non-conformists and Cartwright the Lady Margaret's in Cambridge VVhittingham the Ring-leader of the Franckfort dividers was preferred to the Deanery of Durham Sampson to the Deanery of Christ-church and within few years after turned out for a rigid Non-conformist Hardiman one of the first twelve Prebendaries of the Church of VVestminster deprived soon after for throwing down the Altar and defacing the Vestments of the Church Whether it were by the Pope's instigation or by by the ambition of the Daulphin who had then Married the Queen of Scots the Scottish Queen assumeth unto her self the Style and Title of Queen of England quartereth the Armes thereof upon all her Plate and in all Armories and Eschutcheons as she had occasion A folly that Queen Elizabeth could never forget nor forgive and this engaged her the more resolutely in that Reformation so happily begun And to that purpose she sets out by advice of her Council a certain Body of Injunctions accommodated to the temper of the present time wherein severe course was taken about Ministers Marriages the use of Singing and the Reverence in Divine Worship to be kept in Churches the posture of the Communion-table and the Form of Prayers in the Congregation By the Injunctions she made way to her Visitation Executed by Commissioners in their several Circuits and regulated by a Book of Articles printed and published for th●● purpose Proceeding by which Articles the Commissioners removed all carved Images out of the Church which had been abused to Superstition defacing also all such Pictures Paintings as served for the setting forth feigned Miracles They enquired also into the life and doctrine of Ministers their diligence in attending their several Cures the decency of their apparel the respect of the Parishioners toward them the reverent behaviour of H●yli●'s Hist of Q. Elizab. all manner of persons in God's Worship c. by means whereof the Church was setled and confirmed in so good an Order that the work was made more easie to the Bishops when they came to Govern than otherwise it could have been In London the Visitors were Sir Richard Sackvil Father to Thomas Earl of Dorset Robert Horn soon after Bishop of VVinchester Doctor Huick a Civilian and one Salvage a Common Lawyer who calling before them divers Persons of every Parish gave them an Oath to enquire and present upon such Articles and Injunctions as were given unto them In pursuance whereof they burnt in St. Paul's Church-yard Cheapside and other places of the City all the Roods and other Images which had been taken out of the Churches And in some places the Copes Vestments Altar-cloathes Books Banners Sepulchres and Rood-lofts were burned altogether A Peace being concluded betwixt England and France although Queen Elizabeth had just cause to be offended with the young King Francis the Second for causing the Queen of Scots his Wise to take upon her self the Title and Armes of England yet she resolved to bestow a Royal obsequy upon the King deceased which was performed in St. Paul's Church on the eighth and nineth of September in most solemn manner Kellison the Jesuite and Parsons from him slaunderously affirmed That Archbishop Parker was consecrated at the Nags-head Tavern in Cheapside This slaunder was raised on this occasion In order to his Consecration the first thing to be done after the passing the Royal Assent for ratifying the election of the Dean and Chapter was the confirming it in the Court of the Arches according to the usual form in that behalf Which being accordingly done the Vicar General the Mason's Consecration of Bishops in the Church of England lib. 3. cap. 4. Dean of the Arches the Proctors and Officers of the Court whose presence was required at this Solemnity were entertained at a Dinner provided for them at the Nags-head Tavern in Cheapside for which though Archbishop Parker paid the shot yet shall the Church be called to an after-reckoning But the Records of the Archbishoprick declare that he was Consecrated in the Chappel within his Mannor of Lambeth These slaunderers knew right well that nothing did more justifie the Church of England in the eye of the World than that it did preserve a Succession of Bishops and consequently of all other sacred Orders in the Ministration without which as they would not grant it to be a Church so could they prove it to be none by no stronger Argument than that the Bishops or the pretended Bishops rather in their Opinion were either not Consecrate at all or not Canonically Consecrated as they ought to be And now we may behold the face of the Church of England as it was first setled and established under Queen Elizabeth The Government of the Church by Archbishops and Bishops These Bishops nominated and elected according to the Statute in the twenty sixth of King Henry the Eighth and Consecrated by the Ordinal confirmed by Parliament in the fifth and sixth year of King Edward the Sixth never appearing publickly but in their Rotchets nor Officiating otherwise than in Copes of the Altar the Priests not stirring out of doors in their square Caps Cowns or Canonical Coats nor Executing any Divine Service but in their Surplice The Doctrine of the Church reduced Heylin Hist of Q. Elizab. unto it's antient purity according to the Articles agreed upon in Convocation Anno 1552. The Liturgy conform to the Primitive paterns The Festivals preserved in their former dignity observed with their distinct Offices peculiar to them the weekly Fasts the time of Lent the Embring weeks and Rogation severely kept not now by vertue of the Statute as in the time of King Edward but as appointed by the Church in her publick Calendar before the Book of Common-Prayer The Sacrament of the Lord's Supper celebrated in a Reverend manner the Table seated in the place of the Altar In the Court the Liturgy was officiated every day both Morning and Evening not onely in the publick Chappel but the private Closet celebrated in the Chappel with Organs and other Musical Instruments and the most excellent voices both of men and children that could be got in all the Kingdom The Gentlemen and Children in their Surplices and the Priests in Copes as oft as they attended the Divine Service at the Altar The Altar furnished with rich Plate two fair gilt Candlesticks with Tapers in them and a Massy Crucifix in
and other places that there were thought to be Butchered no less than an hundred thousand of the natural Franch between the first of March and the twentieth of August then last past that with the like violence they had caused to be spoiled and imprisoned such of her Majestie 's Subjects as Traded in the Ports of Bretaign and such as sought to preserve themselves to be killed their goods and Merchandize to be seized without charging any other crime upon them but that they were Hugonots and that in consideration of the premises she could do no less than endeavour the preserving the Reformed Religion from an universal destruction and the maintaining her own Subjects and Dominions in peace and safety The ayd amounting to six thousand men was divided into two equal parts of which the one was destined to the defence of Roven and Deep then being in the hands of the Confederates the other to take possession of the Town of New-haven which by the Inhabitants was joyfully surrendred to the English The Lord Ambrose Dudley the eldest Son then living of the late Duke of Northumberland she sent to command that place whom on Decemb. 26. She had created Lord Lisle and Earl of Warwick where he was solemnly received with a peal of Ordnance A petit Rebellion hapned in Merton-colledge in Oxford The Wardenship of that house being voyd by the death of Gervase one Man is chosen to the place one Hall and his Popish faction opposed his admission and raised such a persecution that it was poenal for any to be a Protestant Archbishop Parker hearing of it summoneth Hall to appear before him but the seal of the citation was torn off by some of that party Hereupon the Archbishop made a solemn visitation of that Colledge wherein all were generally examined Man confirmed Warden Hall justly expelled his party publickly admonished the young Scholars relieved Papists curbed and suppressed Protestants countenanced and encouraged in the whole University Now many strange whispers were abroad and no small hopes conceived by those of the Popish faction for suppressing the Protestants in all parts of the Kingdom and setting up their own Religion as in former times of the plot were Arthur Pool younger brother to Reginald Pool the late Cardinal Legate and Geoffry Fortescue who had married his sister and others The substance of their charge was a design of levying War against the Queen c. with a particular intention of advancing the Queen of Scots to the Crown of England and Pool himself unto the Title of Duke of Clarence All which they Confessed upon the Indictment and did all receive the sentence of death but were all afterwards pardoned by the Queen out of that great respect which she bare to their Royal Extraction Then was that elegant discourse published by Bishop Jewel Entitled The Apology of the Church of England first writ in Latine translated presently into English French Italian Dutch and at last in Greek to the publishing whereof he was much encouraged by Peter Martyr with whom he had spent the greatest part of his time when he lived in exile But Martyr lived onely to see the Book which he so much longed for dying at Zurich on the twelfth of November following and laid into his grave by the Magistrates and people of that City with a solemn funeral The five Bishopricks erected by King Henry the eighth were so impoverished in this Queen's Reign that the new Bishops were necessitated to require the benevolence of their Clergy at their first coming to them to furnish their Episcopal houses and to enable them to maintain some tolerable degree of Hospitality in their several Diocesses The Parliament called January 12. 1562. passed an Act for Assurance of the Queen 's Royal power over all Estates and Subjects in her Dominions In which it was provided That no man Residing in the Queen's Dominions should from thence-forth either by-word or writing c. endeavour willingly to maintain the power and jurisdiction of the Bishop of Rome heretofore usurped within this Realm It was also enacted that none should be admitted unto Holy Orders or to any Degree in either of the Universities or to be Barrester or Bencher in any of the Inns of Court or to Practise as an Attourney c till He or They should first take the Oath of Supremacy on the Holy Evangelists with a power given to every Archbishop and Bishop within this Realm and the Dominions of the same to Minister the said Oath to all and every Spiritual Person in their proper Diocesses as well in places exempt as els-where It had been declared by the Bishops and Clergy assembled at the same time in their Convocation To be a thing plainly repugnant to the word of God and the Custom of the Primitive Church to have publick Prayer in the Church or to administer the Sacraments in a Tongue not understood by the People therefore it was Enacted That the Bishops of Hereford S. David's Bangor Landaff and S. Asaph should take care for Translating the whole Bible with the common-prayer-Common-prayer-book into the Welch Tongue The like care was also taken for Translating the Books of Homilies Then were the Nine and thirty Articles composed in the Convocation The 39. Articles compiled in Convocation at London published soon after both in English and Latine with this following Title viz. Articles agreed upon by the Archishops and Bishops of both Provinces and the whole Clergy in the Convocation holden at London Anno 1562. for the avoyding of Diversities of opinions and establishing consent touching true Religion These Articles came forth much about the time that the Decrees of the Council of Trent were published Many of which Decrees begin with lying and all end with Cursing threatening Anathema's to all dissenters Anno 1571. the Parliament confirmed these Articles so far that every Clerk should before Decemb. 25. next following subscribe the same And hereafter every person promoted to an E●clesiastical living should within a time prefixed in the time of Divine Service publickly read and profess his consent to the same on pain of deprivation ipso facto if omitted This subscription was extended only to men of Ecclesiastical Function After the return of the Queen of Scots out of France into Scotland Besides the Ratifying the Act of Oblivion formerly condescended to in the Treaty at Edenburgh there were also past some other Acts viz. one Act for repairing and upholding Parish Churches and the Church-yards of the same for burial of the dead Another against letting Parsonages Gleabes or Houses into long Leases or Fee But on the other side no safety or Protection could be found for the Queen 's own Religion no not so much as the Chappel Royal or the Regal City In contempt whereof a force was violently committed in the moneth of August in the Chappel of the Palace of Holy-rood house where certain of the Queen's servants were assembled for their own devotions the doors broke open some of
and her Boxes searched Fourteen of the Conspirators were Arraigned Condemned of High-treason and executed Afterwards in the Star-chamber sentence was pronounced against the Queen of Scots And in a Parliament presently following the Lords petition the Queen that the sentence passed against her may presently be promulged The King of Scots and the King of France sollicit for her life But when this would not prevail L' Aubespine the French Ambassador thinks no way so effectual for saving the Queen of Scots life as to take away the life of Queen Elizabeth The plot was discovered And at length the Sentence against the Queen of Scots was put in execution and she ended her doleful life at Fothringhay Castle She was buried in the Quire of Peterborough and Doctor Wickham Bishop of Lincoln Preached her Funeral-sermon Some twenty yaars after King James caused her Corps to be solemnly removed from Poterborough to Westminster where in the South-side of the Chappel of King Henry the Seventh he erected a stately Monument to her Memory The Earl of Leicester having raised great offence is called home again into England by the Queen giveth over his Government and the free Administration of his Government is left to the States Now Conformity was pressed to the height The power of the High Fuller Church Hist in An. 1537. Commission began to extend far and penalties to fall heavy on offenders whereupon the favourers of Non-conformists much opposed it in their Printed Books some questioning the Court as not warranted by Law others taxing their proceedings as exceeding their Commission But the most general exception against the High Commission was this That proceeding Ex Officio mero by way of enquiry against such whom they suspected they tendred unto them an Oath which was conceived unjust that in cases criminal a party should be forced to discover what might be penal to himself The lawfulness of which Oath was learnedly canvassed with arguments on both sides Because many did question the Legal●ty and Authority of the High Commission Archbishop Whitgift so contrived the matter that the most sturdy 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 heavy fines imposed on them And because most of the Queens Council were present at the Censures this took off the odium from the Archbishop This year died Mr. John Fox the Industrious compiler of the Acts and Monuments of the Church and was buried at St. Giles near Cripplegate in London It is said he foretold the destruction of the Invincible so called Spanish Armado in the year 1588. which came so to pass though he survived not to see the performance of his own prediction About this time Mr. William Lambert finished his Hospital at Greenwich Camd Brit. in Kent founded and endowed by him for poor people He was the first Protestant who erected a charitable house of that nature saith Camden But King Edward the Sixth ●ounded Christ-church and St. Thomas Hospital Now the sticklers against the Hierarchy appeared more vigorous though for a time they had concealed themselves The Parliament now sitting a● Westminster the House of Commons presented to the Lords 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 Of all the particulars the House fell most fiercely on the debate of pluralities and Non-residents The Arch-bishop pleads for Non-residency in divers cases He affirmed whatever was pretended to the contrary that England then flourished with able Ministers more than ever before yea had more than all Christendom besides The Lord Grey rejoyned to this Assertion saying That England had more able Ministers than all the Churches in Christendom was onely to be attributed to God who now opened the hearts of many to see into the truth and that the Schools were better observed The Lord Treasurer seemed to moderate betwixt them Matters flying thus high the Archbishop with the rest of the Clergy Petition the Queen To the Petition were annexed a Catalogue of those inconveniences to the State present State to come Cathedral Churches Universities to her Majesty to Religion in case pluralities were taken away Nothing was effected in relation to this matter but things left in statu quo prius at the dissolution of this Parliament This year died Richard Barnes Bishop of Durham In the year 1588. when there was a Treaty of Peace between England and Spain out cometh their Invincible Navy and Army perfectly appointed for both Elements Land and Water to Sayl and March compleat in all Warlike Equipage but that great Fleet was wonderfully defeated by the English and dissipated by stormy Winds and many of the Spaniards were Barbarously butchered by the Irish For the happy success of this action Queen Elizabeth appointed Prayers and Thanksgivings over all the Churches in England and she with a great Train of the Nobility came into St. Pauls Church where the Banners taken from the Enemy were placed in view and there in most humble manner gave thanks to Almighty God the giver of all Victory About this time many Papists were committed to custody in Wisbych Castle At this time many Libels flew abroad thus named 1. The Epitome 2. The Demonstration of Discipline 3. The Supplication 4. Diotrephes 5. The Minerals 6. Have ye any work for the Cooper 7. More work for the Cooper 8. Martin Senior Mar-prelate 9. Martin Junior Mar-prelate The main drift of these Pamphlets was to defame the English Prelates scoffing at them for their Garb Gate Apparel Vanities of their Youth natural Defects and personal Infirmities It is strange how secretly they were Printed how speedily Dispersed how generally Bought how greedily Read how firmly Believed especially of the Common sort Some precise men of that side thought these jeering pens well employed but these Books were disclaimed by the more descreet and devoutsort of men And how highly the State distasted these Books will appear by the heavy censures inflicted on such as were but accessary thereunto To pass by John Vdal and John Penry Ministers accused for making some of them together with the Printers and Humfry Newman a Cobler chief disperser of them The Star-chamber deeply fined Sir Richard Knightly and Sir 〈…〉 Wigston for entertaining and receiving the press Gentlemen But upon their submission they had their liberty and were eased of their fines A Synod of the Presbyterians of the Warwick-shire Classis was called at Cov●ntry wherein the questions brought the last year from the Brethren of Cambridge-Synod were thus resolved I. That private Baptism was unlawful Ep. ●●●cro●t's Book called Englands Sco●izing for Discipline by practice II. That it is not lawful to read H●miles in the Church III. That the sign of the cross is not to be used in Baptism IV.
Queen and Her Council finding both the Jesuites and the Secular 〈◊〉 Ba●●●● Chron. Priests dangerous to this Common Wealth both the one and the other commandeth them to depart out of the Kingdom presently The last Parliament in this Queen's Reign was now begun at Westminster and dissolved the Moneth next following In this Parliament it was Enacted That overseers of the poor should be nominated yearly in Easter-week under the Hand and Seal of two Justices of peace and that these with the Church-wardens should take care of the poor binding out of Apprentices c. As also That the Lord Chancellor should award Commissions under the great Seal into any part of the Realm as cause should require to the Bishop of every Diocess and his Chancellor c. to enquire by oathes of twelve men into the misemployment of any lands or goods given to pious uses Francis Godwin D. D. Subdean of Exeter son of Thomas Godwin Bishop of Bath and Wells was made Bishop of Landaff He was born in the fourth year of Queen Elizabeth and was made a Bishop within Her Reign Anno 1601. Now came forth a notable book against the Jesuites written Scholastically by Watson a secular Priest consisting of ●en Quodlibets each whereof is subdivided into as many Articles which discovereth the Jesuites in their Colours Anno 1602. died Herbert Westphaling Bishop of Hereford being the first Bishop of that foundation a man very pious and of such gravity that he was scarce ever seen to laugh There died also Alexander Nowel D. D. and Dean of S. Paul's in London He fled into Germany in the Reign of Queen Mary and was the first of English exiles that returned in the days of Queen Elizabeth an holy and Learned Man He bestowed two hundred pound a year rent on Brazen-nose Colledge wherein he was educated for the maintenance of thirteen Students He died at ninety years of age a single man fresh in his youthful Learning his eyes were not dim nor did he ever make use of Spectacles Mr. William Perkins who was born in the first died also in the last year of Queen Elizabeth Gregory Sayer also and William Harris two Popish Writers bred the one at Cambridge the other at Oxford died this year beyond the Seas At this time the City of Geneva was in a low estate for the Duke of Savoy addicted to the Spanish faction had banished all Protestants of his Dominions By the Liberal example of Archbishop Whitgift large summes of Money were Collected and seasonably sent over for the Relief of Geneva Queen Elizabeth the mirrour of her Sex and Age died having Reigned over this Kingdom above fourty years Her Corps were Solemnly interred under a fair Tomb in Westminster Abbey Now the Defenders both of Episcopacy and Presbitery with equal hopes of success make besides private and particular Addresses publick and visible Applications to King James the first to continue the last to set up their Government Dr. Thomas Nevil Dean of Canterbury sent by Archbishop Whitgift to his Majesty in the name of the Bishops and Clergy of England brought back a well-come answer which was to uphold the Government of the Late Queen as she left it setled Then Watson a Secular Priest with William Cleark another of his Profession having fancied a notional Treason impart it to George Brook These break it to Brook's brother the Lord Cobham to the Lord Gray of Wilton and Sir Walter Rawleigh besides some other discontented Knights Watson devised an Oath of secre●y for them all The ends they propounded to themselves were to kill the King raise Rebellion alter Religion and procure a Forreign invasion c. The treason was discovered The two Priests alone with G. Brook were executed the rest were pardoned No sooner was King James setled on the English throne but Mr. Cartwright presented unto him his Latine Comment on Ecclesiastes and died soon after Mr. Dod Preached his funeral Sermon Now there being a general expectation of a Parliament to succeed the Presbterian party went about to get hands of the Ministers to a petition which they intended seasonably to present to the King and Parliament A conference was appointed at Hampton-Court which began on January 14. 1603. The names of the Persons which were employed therein are as follow For Conformity Archbishop of Canterbury Whitgift Bishops of London Durham Winchester Worcester S. David's Chichester Carlile Peterborow Bancroft Mathew Bilson Babington Rudd Watson Robinson Dove Deans of The Chappel Christ-Church Worcester Westminster S. Paul's Chester Sarisbury Windsor Doctor Field King Against Conformity Doctor Reinolds Sparks Master Knewstubs Chadderton Moderator King James Spectators All the Lords of the Privy Council On the first dayes Conference the Bishops and five of the Deans were called in severally by themselves then the King reduceth some special points wherein he desireth to be satisfied to three Heads 1. Concerning the Book of Common Prayer c. used in the Church 2. Excommunication in Ecclesiastical Courts 3. The providing of fit and able Ministers for Ireland In the common-prayer-Common-prayer-book he required satisfaction about three things 1. About Confirmation 2. Absolution 3. Private Baptism Touching Confirmation he said he abhorred the abuse wherein it was made a Sacrament or Corroboration to Baptism As for Absolution he said he had heard it likened to Pope's Pardons And Concerning Private Baptism he would be satisfied if called private from the place or if so termed that any besides a Lawful Minister may Baptize which he disliked Concerning excommunication he offered two things to be considered of 1. The Matter 2. The Persons For the first whether it were executed in light Cases which causeth the undervaluing thereof For the persons he would be resolved why Chancellors and Commissaries being lay men should do it and not rather the Bishops themselves c. As for providing Ministers for Ireland he said he would refer it in the last dayes Conference to a Consultation The Archbishop of Canterbury answered that Confirmation hath been used in the Catholick Church ever since the Apostles The Bishop of London That it is an Apostolical Institution named in express words Heb. 6. 2. The Bishop of Carlile Learnedly urged the same And the Bishop of Durham urged something out of S. Mathew 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 Lordship should consider whether it might not without alteration be entitled an Examination with a Confirmation As for Absolution the Archbishop told His Majesty that it is clear from all Superstition as it is used in the Church of England as will appear on the Reading both of the Confession and Absolution following it in the beginning of the communion-Communion-book Here the King perused both liked and approved them The Particular and Personal Absolution in the Visitation of the sick was also Read by the Dean of the Chappel and approved by the King
from certain San osatenian Hereticks in Poland and became infected therewith Hereupon he set sorth two Books the one entitled TRACTATVS THEOLOGICVS DE DEO dedicated to the Land-grave of HESSEN the other EXEGESIS APOLOGETICA dedicated to the States both of them stuffed with many dangerous Positions concerning the Deity This Wretch debased the Purity of God assigning him a material body confining his Immensity as not being every where shaking his Immutability as if his Will were subject to change darkening his Omnisciency as uncertain in future contingents with many more monstrous Opinions Notwithstanding all this the said Vorstius was chosen by the Curators of the University of Leyden to be their publick Divinity-Professor in the place of Arminius lately deceased and to that end the States General by their Letters sent and sued to the Count of TECKLENBOVRGH and obtained of him that Vorstius should come from Steinford and become publick Professor in Leyden King James being this Aucumn in his hunting Progress did light upon and perused the aforesaid Books of Vorstius he observed the dangerous Positions therein determining speedily to oppose them Hereupon he presently dispatched a Letter to Sir Ralph Winwood his Ambassador Relident with the States requiring him to let them understand how highly he should be displeased if such a Monster as Vorstius should be advanced in their Church This was seconded with a large Letter of his Majesties to the States dated October the sixth to the same effect But the States entertain not the motion of King James against Vorstius according to expectation They said That if Vorstius had formerly been faulty in offensive expressions he had since cleared himself in a n●w Declaration For lately he set forth a Book entitled A Christan and modest Answer but he gave no satisfaction in his new Declaration King James therefore gave Instructions to his Ambassador to make publick protestation against their proceedings which Sir Ralph Winwood most solemnly performed And after his Majesties Request Letter and Protestation had missed their desired effect he wrote in French a Declaration against Vorstius which since by his leave hath been translated into English among his other Works Vorstius his Books were also by the King's Command publickly burnt at St. Paul's-cross in London and in both Universities The same year in March Bartholomew Legate an Arrian was burnt in Smithfield for denying the Deity of the Son of God and holding that there are no Persons in the Godhead with many other damnable Tenets In the next month Eaward Wightman of Burton upon Trent was burnt at Litchfield for holding ten several Heresies viz. those of Ebion Cerinthus Valentinian Arrius Macedonius Simon Magus Manes Manicheus Photinus and of the Anabaptists Only a Spanish Arrian who was condemned to die was notwithstanding suffered to linger out his Life in Newgate where he ended the same This year died Richard Sutton the Founder of Charter-house Hospital Esquire The Manors which in several Counties he setled for the maintenance of this Hospital were these 1. Balsham Mannor in Cambridge-shire 2. Blastingthorp Mannor in Lincoln-shire 3. Black-grove Mannor in Wilt-shire 4. Broad-Hi●ton Land in Wilt-shire 5. Castle-Camps Mannor in Cambridge-shire 6. Chilton Mannor in Wilt-shire 7. Dunby Mannor in Lincoln-shire 8. Elcomb Mannor and Park in Wilt-shire 9. Hackney Land in Middlesex 10. Hallingbury-Bouchers Mannor in Essex 11. Missunden Mannor in Wilt-shire 12. Much-Stanbridge Mannor in Essex 13. Norton Mannor in Essex 14. Salthrop Mannor in Wilt-shire 15. South-minster Mannor in Essex 16. Tottenham Land in Middlesex 17. Vfford Mannor in Wilt-shire 18. Watelscot Mannor in Wilt-shire 19. Westcot Mannor in Wilt-shire 20. Wroughton Mannor in Wilt-shire Anno 1612. On November the sixth died Prince Henry of a burning Fever He was generally lamented of the whole Land both Universities publishing their Verses in print Prince Henry's Funerals are followed with the Prince Palatine's Nuptials solemnized with great state Anno 1613. Nicholas Wadham Esquire of Merrifield in the County of Sommerset bequeathed by his Will four hundred pounds per annum and six thousand pounds in Money to the building of a Colledge in Oxford leaving the care of the Whole to Dorothy his Wife This year the same was finished built in a place where formerly stood a Monastery of the Augustine Friars This year Anthony Rudd Bishop of St. Davids ended his Life Some three years since on the death of King Henry the Fourth Isaac Causabon that learned Critick was fetcht out of France by King James and preferred Prebendary of Canterbury Presently he wrote First to Fr●nto Duraeus his learned Friend then to Cardinal Perron in the just vindication of our English Church After these he began his Exercitations on Baronius his Ecclesiastical Annals which more truly may be termed The Annals of the Church of Rome He died and was buried in the South-Isle of Westminster-Abby His Monument was erected at the cost of Thomas Morton Bishop of Durham Anno 1614. Mr. John Selden set forth his Book of Tithes wherein he Historically proveth that they were payable jure humano and not otherwise Many wrote in answer to his Book Anno 1616. Mr. Andrew Melvin was freed from his imprisonment in the Tower whither he had been committed for writing some Satyrical Verses against the Ornaments on the Altar in the King's Chappel He afterwards became a Professor at Sedan in the Duke of Bovillon's Country Here he traduced the Church of England against which he wrote a Scroll of Saphicks entitled TAMI-CHAMI-CATEGERI● When first brought into the Tower he first found Sir William Seymour afterwards Marquess of Hertford and Duke of Sommerset there imprisoned for marrying the Lady Arabella so nearly allyed to the Crown without the King's consent To whom Melvin sent this Distick Causa mihi tecum communis carceris Ara Regia Bella tibi Regia sacra mihi Anno 1615. died Thomas Bilson Bishop of Winchester a profound Scholar well read in the Fathers Anno 1616. Marcus Antonius de Dominis Archbishop of Spalato came over into England The same year King James went into Scotland with a Princely Train to visit his native Country This year died Doctor William James Bishop of Durham Two other prime Prelats also followed him viz. Doctor Henry Robinson Bishop of Carlisle and Robert Bennet Bishop of Hereford termed saith Mr. Fuller Erudit us Benedictus Doctor Mocket Warden of All-Souls in Oxford set forth a Book in pure Latin containing The Apology of the Church of England The greater and lesser Catechism The nine and thirty Articles The Common-prayer The Ordination of Bishops Priests and Deacons The Polity or Government of the Church of England He epitomized the Homilies into certain Propositions faithfully extracted The Book fared the worse for the Author the Author had for his Patron the Archbishop against whom many Bishops began then to combine Dr. Mocket's Book was censured to be burnt which was done accordingly soon after he ended his life Anno 1617. died Robert Abbot Bishop of Salisbury
B. do here declare my unfeigned Assent and Consent to all and every thing contained and prescribed in and by the Book entitled The Book of Common Prayer and Administration of the Sacraments a●d other Rites and Ceremonies of the Church according to the use of the Church of England together with the Psalter or Psalmes of David pointed as they are to be sung or said in Churches and the form or manner of making Ordaining and Consecrating of Bishops Priests and Deacons And that all and every such Person who should without some lawful impediment to be allowed and approved of by the Ordinary of the place neglect or refuse to do the same within the time aforesaid c. should within one moneth be deprived ipso facto of his spiritual promotions and that thenceforth it should be lawful to and for all Patrons and Donors of all and singular the said spiritual Promotions or of any of them according to their respective Rights and Titles to present or collate to the same as though the person or persons so offending were dead And it was further Enacted That every Person henceforth to be promoted to any Ecclesiastical Benefice should read the Common-Prayer and declare his Assent and Consent thereto within two moneths next after that he shall be in actual possession of the said Ecclesiastical Benefice or Promotion and upon neglect or refusal to be deprived as aforesaid And that Incumbents of Livings keeping Curates shall read the same once every moneth upon pain to forfeit the sum of five pounds to the use of the poor of the Parish for every offence It was also Enacted That every Dean Canon and Prebendary of every Cathedral or Collegiate Church and all Masters and other Heads Fellows Chaplains and Tutors of or in any Colledge Hall Hospital and every publick Professor and Reader in either of the Universities and in every Colledge else-where and every Parson Vicar Curate Lecturer c. and every School-master keeping any publick or private School and every person instructing or teaching any youth in any House or private family as a Tutor or School-master c. should before the Feast of St. Bartholomew in the year aforesaid subscribe the Declaration following scilicet I A. B. do declare that it is not lawful upon any pretence whatsoever to take up Arms against the King and that I do abhor that traiterous position of taking Arms by his Authority against his person or against those that are Commissioned by him and that I will conform to the Liturgy of the Church of England as it is now by Law established and I do declare that there lies no obligation upon me or on any other person from the Oath commonly called the Solemn League and Covenant to endeavour any change or alteration of Government either in Church or State and that the same was in it self an unlawful Oath and imposed upon the Subjects of this Realm against the known Laws and liberties of this Kingdom The penalty for failing in subscribing was for Deans Vicars Schoolmasters to be deprived of their Ecclesiastical promotions Schools and Lectures to be void as if such person so failing were naturally dead Provided always That from and after the 25th day of March which shall be in the year of our Lord God 1682. there shall be omitted in the said declaration so to be subscribed and read it being enjoyned to be openly and publickly read by every Minister c. upon some Lords day within three moneths after his subscription in the presence of the Congregation there assembled these words following scil And I do declare that I do hold there lies no obligation upon me or on any other person from the Oath commonly called the Solemn League and Covenant to endeavour any change or alteration of Government either in Church or State and that the same was in it self an unlawful Oath and imposed upon the Subjects of this Realm against the known Laws and liberties thereof So as none of the persons aforesaid shall from thenceforth be at all obliged to subscribe or read any part of the said declaration or acknowledgement It was further Enacted That persons not ordained Priests or Deacons according to Episcopal ordination shall not hold any Ecclesiastical promotion nor shall consecrate and administer the holy Sacrament of the Lord's Supper upon pain to forfeit for every offence the sum of one hundred pounds one moyety thereof to the King the other moyety thereof to be equally divided between the poor of the Parish where the offence shall be committed It was also Enacted That no other Form or Order of Common-Prayers Administration of Sacraments Rites or Ceremonies should be used openly in any Church Chappel or publick place And it was further Enacted That if any person who is by this Act disabled to Preach any Lecture or Sermon shall during the time that he shall continue and remain so disabled Preach any Sermon or Lecture that then for every such offence the Person and Persons so offending shall fuffer three moneths imprisonment in the common Goal without Bayl or Mainprize It was also Provided That at all and every time and times when any Sermon or Lecture is to be Preached the Common-Prayers and Service in and by the said Book appointed to be read for that time of the day shall be openly publickly and solemnly read by some Priest or Deacon in the Church Chappel or place of publick worship where the said Sermon or Lecture is to be Preached and that the Lecturer then to Preach shall be present at the reading thereof It was further Enacted That the Laws and Statutes formerly made for Uniformity of Common-Prayer should continue to be in force and to be executed for punishing offendors against this Law Hereupon many hundred Ministers with divers Lecturers and School-masters left their places refusing to conform Another Act was also passed for restoring of all such Advousons Rectories Impropriate Glebe-lands and Tithes to his Majesties loyal Subjects as were taken from them and making void certain charges imposed on them upon their compositions for delinquency by the late usurped Power Another Act was passed for preventing Abuses in printing Seditious Treasonable and Unlicensed Books and Pamphlets and for regulating of Printing and Priming-presses Pamphlets and Books prohibited to be Printed Published or Sold were Heretical Seditious or Shismatical Books or Pamphlets wherein any Christian Doctrine or Opinion shall be asserted or maintained which is contrary to Christian Faith or to the Doctrine or Discipline of the Church of England or which shall or may tend or be to the scandal of Religion or the Government or Governours of the Church State or Common-wealth or of any Corporation or particular person or persons whatsoever none shall import publish sell or dispose any such Book or Books or Pamphlets nor shall cause or procure any such to be published or put to sale or to be bound stitched or sewed together In the fifteenth year of his Majestie 's Reign
foundation of a fair and sumptuous building but at the time of his death left it unperfected 41 Hadrian de Castello 42 Thomas Wolsey 43 Iohn Clerk 44 William Knight 45 William Barlow 46 Gilbert Bourn 47 Gilbert Berkley 48 Thomas Goodwyn 49 Iohn Style 50 Iames Mountague He gave a thousand pounds towards the reparation of the Abbey-church of Bath and lies there interred 51 Arthur Lake 52 VVilliam Laud. 53 Leonard Maw 54 VValter Curle 55 VVilliam Piers 56 Creeton 57 Mews Bishops of Devonshire Cornwal and Crediton c. Two hundred years the West Countrey was subject unto the Bishop of Sherborn viz. from the year 705. to the year 905. at which time one Bishoprick was erected at VVells in Sommerset-shire another in Cornwal a third in Devonshire 1 The See of Athelstan Bishop of Cornwal was for a while at St. Petrocks in Bodmyn and afterwards St. Germans The Successors of Athelstan in Cornwal were these 2 Conanus 3. Ruyodocus 4 Aldredus 5 Brytwyn 6 Athelstan Anno 966. 7 VVolfi 8 VVoronus 9 VVolocus 10 Stidio 11 Aldredus 12. Burwoldus Bishops of Devonshire 1 VVerstan He placed himself first at Tawton but soon after removed to Crediton now called Kyrton 2 Putta 3 Eadulphus 4 Ethelgarus 5 Algarus 6 Alfwold 7 Sydemanus 8 Alfredus 9 Alwolfus All these sate and were buried at Crediton 10 Luyngus This man upon the death of Burwoldus Bishop of Cornwal his Vnkle procured the County of Cornwal to be added unto his Diocess and afterwards became Bishop of VVorcester Bishops of Excester King Edward the Confessor coming to Excester together with his Queen took order that the Monks of St. Peter ' s in that City should be placed at VVestminster and removed the Episcopal See from Crediton to Excester 1. Leofricus was the first Bishop The King taking the Bishop by his right hand and the Queen by the left led him up unto the Altar of his new Church and there placed him in a Seat appointed for him He obtained of the same King much good Land and many Priviledges for this Church 2. Osbert a Norman 3 William VVarewest a Chaplain both to the Conqueror and his two Sons VVilliam and Henry 4 Robert Chichester 5 Robert VVarewest 6 Bartholomew Iscanus so called of Isca which is one of the antient names of this City 7 Iohn the Chaunter of this Church and Subdean of Sarum 8 Henry Marshal 9 Simon de Apulia 10 VVilliam Brewer 11 Richard Blondy 12 VValter Bromscomb 13 Peter Quivil 14 Thomas Bitton 15 VValter Stapleton 16 James Berkley of the Noble house of the Lord Berkley 17 John Godly 18 Thomas Brentingham 19 Edmond Stafford Brother to Ralph Earl of S●afford 20 Iohn Keterich 21 Iames Cary 22 Edmond Lacy 23 George Nevil Brother to Richard the Great Earl of VVarwick by whose help especially Edward the Fourth obtained the Crown 24 Iohn Booth 25 Peter Courtney 26 Richard Fox 27 Oliver King 28 Richard Redman 29 Iohn Arundel 30 Hugh Oldham 31 Iohn Vosei Of 22. Lordships and Mannors which his Predecessors had left unto him of a goodly Revenue he left but seven or eight and them also leased out And whereas he found fourteen Houses well-furnished he left only one House bare and without furniture and yet charged with sundry Fees and Annuities 32 Miles Coverdale 33 Iames Turber●ill 34 VVilliam Alley 35 VVilliam Bradbridge 36 Iohn Wolton 37 Gervase Babington 38. William Cotton 39. Valentine Cary 40. Ioseph Hall 41. Ralph Brownrigg 42. Iohn Gauden 43. Seth Ward 44. 〈…〉 Sparrow Bishops of the East-Angles Sigebert King of the East-Angles returning out of France where he lived in banishment and obtaining his Kingdom brought with him one Felix a Burgundian with whom he h●d lived familiarly during the time of his Exile and made him Bishop of the East-Angles who converting the people to the Faith of Christ had his See at Dunwich Bishops of Dunwich were these 1 Felix 2. Thomas his Successor 3. Bregilsus 4. Bisus He waxing old and crazy divided his See into two parts one part he appointed to be the Jurisdiction of a Bishop that should have his See at Elmham in the other he continued as also did divers of his Successors which were these following 5. Acca 6. Astwolphus 7. Eadfarthus 8. Cuthwenus 9. Aldberthus 10. Eglasius 11. Herdredus 12. Aelphunus 13. Tydferthus 14. Weremundis 15. Wyredus Bishops of Elmham were these 1. Bedwyn 2. Northbert 3. Headulacus 4. Edelfridus 5. Lanferthus 6. Athelwolph 7. Humferthus 8. Sybba 9. Alherdus 10. Humbiretus By reason of the great troubles of those times in the Danish wars these Sees stood void almost an hundred years Anno 955. in the time of King Edwy 1. One Athulfus was ordained Bishop of the East-Angles at Canterbury and had his Seat at Elmham After him succeeded these 2. Alf●idus 3. Theodredus the First 4. Theodredus the Second 5. Athelstan 6. Algarus 7. Alwynus 8. Alfricus 9. Alyf●eius 10. Stigandus 11. Grinketellus 12. Egelmare All these until the time of King William the Conqueror had their Sees at Elmham Bishops of Thetford 1. Arfastus was the first Bishop who was Chaplain to the Conqueror 2. William Herbert was the second and last Bishop of Thetford Bishop● of Norwich 1. William Herbert translated that See from Thetford to Norwich and was the first Bishop of Norwich He built there the Cathedral Church at his own charge which he dedicated to the holy Trinity endowing it with great Lands and Possessions Books and all other necessaries and on the North-side of the Church he founded a stately Palace for himself 2. Everard 3. William Turbus In his time the Cathedral Church at Norwich was burnt with fire 4. John of Oxford This man finished the Church which Herbert left unperfected and repaired that which by fire was lately defaced The same year he died the Church was again defaced with fire 5. John de Gray After the death of John de Gray the See was void for seven years 6. Pandulfus the Pope's Legat. After his death the See was void three years 7. Thomas de Blundevil 8. Radulphus 9. William de Raleigh The Bishoprick was then void by the space almost of three years 10. Walter de Suffield He founded the Hospital of St. Giles in Norwich endowing it with Lands and great Possessions He built also the Chappel of our Lady in the Cathedral Church and in the same Chappel was also buried 11. Simon de Wanton 12. Roger de Skyrwing In his time was a dangerous Sedition between the Citizens of Norwich and the Monks of the Cathedral Church 13. William Middleton 14. Ralph de Walpool 15. John Salmon 16. William Armyn 17. Anthony de Beck He used his Monks too rigorously and was poysoned by his own Servants 18. William Bateman He forced the Lord Morley to carry a burning Taper in his hand through the streets of Norwich unto the High Altar for killing certain Deer in one of his Parks and beating his
Colony of London which some count Colchester and others Maldon in Essex Sacerdos a Priest both by his proper Name and Office Arminius a Deacon Anno 313. In the Synod of Nice held in Bithynia Anno 325. British Bishops were present being summoned to suppress Arianism and to establish an uniformity of the observation of Easter as Athanasius and Hilary Bishop of Poictiers do testify At the Council of Sardis in Thracia called by Constantius and Constans Sons to Constantine the Great were present the Bishops of Britain who concurred with the rest to condemn the Arrians and acquit Athanasius The British Bishops were also present at the Council of Ariminum assembled in Italy Theodoret tells us that he wrote an Epistle to all Churches concerning Theodoret Eccles Hist l. 1. c. 10. the Council of Nice wherein he saith there were then many Churches in Britain c. About the year 360. Hilary Bishop of Poictiers among diverse others dedicated his Book De Synodis fidei Catholicae contra Arianos Socrat. Scholast l. 2. c. 6. 7. to the Bishops of the Provinces of Britain during his exile for the Orthodox Faith commending them for their constancy in the profession of that Faith And by the testimony of Athanasius it appeareth that Sozom. l. 3. c. 11. 12. the Britains then had not onely Churches professing the Orthodox Faith but Bishops famous for their Piety and Learning summoned to forreign Councils in remote parts for debating and deciding the highest Articles of the Christian Faith In the year 383. Maximus a Christian and Orthodox Prince governed Du Moul. resp ad Card-du Perro● lib. 7 ca. 5. Britain for then all that part of the Island which was subject to the Romans was Christian Not long after the Empire being fallen in the West and torn by the Gothes Francs Vandals and Burgundians the Romans forsook the Isle of Britain which moved the Natives to commit the Kingdome to one Constantine a Britain as one descended from their Nation and a Christian vertuous man About the year 400. Chrysostome gives this testimony concerning the Chrysost oper tom 5. Britains Embracing of the Gospel Nam et Britaniae Insuae extra hoc mare sitae et q●ae in ipso oceano sunt vertutem verbi senserunt sunt etiam illic fundatae Ecclesiae c. Illius inquam verbi quod tunc dictum quod ●t in omnium animabus inque omnium labiis plantatum Which he seconded in another Sermon of the Feast of Pentecost CENT V. ABout the year 412 Pelagius born in Britain began to broach his Herefies publickly The same day w●●reon Pelagius was born in Britain St. Augustine was also born in Africk divine providence so ordering it that the poison and the Antidote should be Twins in a manner in respect of the same time as Dr. Fuller well observeth In the year 446. the Pelagian Heresie spread over Britain and the British Churches being defiled thereby King Vortigern for the maintaining the truth sent for German Bishop of Auxerre and Lupus Bishop of Troys in Champagne out of France men famous for their doctrine and counsel who refuting this Heresie gained unto themselves a reverent esteem among the Britains but chiefly German who in a Chappel neer unto St. Albans did openly out of the pulpit preach God's word sincerely to the people This conference was held at St. Albans even where at this day a small Chappel is extant to the honour of St. German Gemanus having baptized multitudes of Pagan converts in the river Alen marched with an Army of them against the Pagans whom he found in the North-East of Wales Here he chose an hollow dale surrounded with Usser de Prit Eccles prim●rd p. 333. hills near the Village called at this day by the English Mold by the British Guidcrue in Flintshire where the field at this day retains the name of Mees Garmon or German's field Here Germanus placed his men in ambush with instructions that a Signal given they should all shout Hallelujah three times with their might which all was done accordingly Hereat the Pagans without striking a stroak confusedly ran away and many were drowned for speed in the river Alen. After this victory Germanus prepared for his return After Germanus and Lupus were returned home into their native countrey Pelagianism began to sprout again in Britain and after three years Germanus came again with Severus into Britain and the Pelagian Heresie was again condemned in a second Synod having been before condemned in a Synod at London Germanus having setled B●itain in good order returned to his own countrey where he presently died after his return and by God's blessing on his endeavours that Heresie was so cut down in Britain that it never generally grew up again About the year 453. Hengist Captain of the Saxons who came to help the Britans against the Scots and Picts who having married his own daughter to Vortigern had murthered his sovereign Lord Constans and invaded his Crown being called in for his help came with diverse ships of stout Saxon Souldiers who under pretence of protecting them from the Picts intended to plant themselves in the North part of Britain which when the Britans saw and fearing their own ruin they desired the King that he would drive them out of his Kingdome The Nobles also of his Realm did inveigh much against the King's marriage with a Pagan Woman Whereupon Anno 454. they utterly deserted King Vortigern and unanimously chose Vortimer his son to be their King who following their counsel began to expell the Barbarians and chasing them as far as the Derwent he slew many of them Vortigern also fled with them But in the year 460 Prince Vortimer died being poisoned by Rowen his Mother in law with whom the hope of the Britains was extinguished Hereupon Hengist returning into Britain with new forces treacherously slew most of the British Nobles at a pretended Treaty for peace between both Nations And the Saxons being enemies to Christian Religion and bent upon the possession of such a fruitful Coun●rey exercised great cruelty upon the Inhabitants destroyed Churches and all Ecclesiastical things burnt the holy Scriptures slew the Ministers in the Churches endeavouring to supplant Christian Religion Vortigern had before caused Vodinus Henr. Hunting● Lib. 2 Arch-Bishop of London to be put to death because he reproved him for calling in the Saxons and marrying a Pagan Woman and now Theanus Bishop of London and Thaodiceus Bishop of York with others were Galsr 〈◊〉 lib. 12. forced to fly into remote places for the preservation of their lives Thus God sent down his heavie judgements upon the Britains for their Sins as Gildas writeth Britones propter avaritiam rapinam Principum propter iniquitatem injustitiam Judicum propter desidiam praedicationis Episcoporum propter luxuriam malos mores populi perdidisse patriam that is the Britans for the covetousness and oppression of the Princes for the
in Oxford-shire was made the seate of Birinus his Bishoprick Sussex and the Isle of Wight also were converted About this time Honorius Arch-Bishop of Canterbury divided England so much thereof as was Christian into Parishes Anno 640. the first lent began in those parts of England which obeyed the Roman celebration of Easter Oswald King of Northumberland fighting at Maserfield since Oswastrey in Shrop-shine against Penda the Pagan Prince of Mercia was Fabian ●●●nic part● 5. overthrown slain and his Bodie most barbarously abused and chopped in pieces Oswy his younger brother recovered his Kingdome after one year and buried his head in the Church-yard of Lyndesar Sigebert was perswaded by his Monks to enter into a Cloister his end was lamentable for when he had given over his Kingdome to his Cousin Egrick the forenamed Penda entred his Kingdome with an Army his subjects forced him to go into the field where both he and Egrick were slain Others say he was murdered by two Villains Penda Prince of Mercia having married Alfreda Daughter of Oswy King of Northumberland renounced Paganism embraced Christianity and propogated it in his Dominions Indeed Penda his father that persecutor of piety was yet alive and survived ' two years after pers●●ting an Heathen till death but mollified to permit a toleration of Christianity in his Subjects From Colmkil as a most famous Seminary of learning at that time sprang forth those who not onely did resist the beginnings of Anti-Christian pride at home and in our neighbour-Country but they sowed the seed of the Gospel in other in other Nations Such was that samous Rumold who was called Mechlinensis Apostolus Gallus brought Helvetia from Pappas in histor convers Gent. Paganism as Pa●pas witnesseth built sundry Monasteries there Calumban a man of excellent holiness and learning lived sometime in Bangor and thence went into Burgundy where he began the Monasterie Lux●vien and taught the Monks of his own Country especially to live by the works of their own hands Also because he rebuked Theodorick for Platina in Bonifacio quarto his leacherous life he was forced to flie and visited sundry parts of Germany thence he went into Italy and began another Abby on the Appennine Hills beside Bobium in Tuscany Levin also turned many to the faith about Ghent and Esca Furseus and his brother Fullan with two Presbyters Gobban and Dicul obtained land from Sigebert King of Essex and built the Abby of Cnobsherburg and passing into France he began the Abby at Latiniac where he died Diuma was ordained first Bishop of Mercia where he converted many to the Faith in the reign of the Christian Penda and for his rare gifts the Bishoprick of Middlesex was committed to his charge unto whom succeeded Cella a Scot. Also Florentius went to Argentine or Strausburg and was the first Bishop thereof he opened the first School in Alsatia about the year 669. Kilian the first Bishop of Wortsburg did first instruct the people of East France in the Christian Faith Anno. 668. Colonat a Priest and Thomas a Deacon followed him in all his Travels Burcard succeeded to whom King Pippin gave a Dukedome and from thence among all the Bishops of Germany onely the Bishop of Wortsburg carieth a Sword and Priests Gown in his badge Unto these Scots John Pappas joyneth some Britans as Willibrod Reformer of Frisia and two brethren Evaldi the one Sir named the Black the other the White John Pappas saith they converted the Westphalians to the Christian Faith and suffered Martyrdome near Bremen John Bale sheweth their Death Pope Agatho sent John the Arch-chaunter of St. Peters in Rome into England to compose the difference betwixt Honoricus and Wilfrid the two Archbishops and withal to deliver them the Acts of Pope Martin the first and to teach them to sing the Liturgy according to the custom of Rome Bencdictus Biscopius a Nobleman of England went to Rome in the service of the Church and brought many Books into the Monasteries of Tinmouth and Wirmouth The first Glass in this Island is said to be his gift Mark what Beda saith of the custom in those dayes Then they never came into a Church but onely for hearing the Word and Prayer no word of the Mass the King would come with five or six and he stayed till the Prayer was ended All the care of these Doctors was to serve God not the World to feed Souls not their own Bodies wherefore in those dayes wheresoever a Clerk or Monk did come he was received as a Servant of God If he were seen journeying they were glad to be signed with his Hand or blessed with his Mouth and they gave good heed unto the words of his Exhortation And on the Lord's day they came in Flocks to the Church or Monasteries not to refresh their Bodies nor to hear Masses but to hear the Word and if any Priest entred into a Village ineontinently all the People would assemble being desirous to hear the Word of Life for neither did the Priests go into Villages upon any other occasion except to Preach or visit the Sick or to feed Souls At that time the Clergy and Monks in England had liberty to Marry Then Theodorus who succeeded Deus-dedit Bishop of Canterbury brought many Books thither erecting a well-furnished Library and teaching his Clergy how to make use thereof He rigorously pressed Conformity to Rome in the observation of Easter and to that purpose a Council was called at Hartford here Easter was setled according to the Romish Rite In this Synod nine other Articles were concluded of as Stapleton hath thus Translated them out of Bede Lib. 4. c. 5. I. That no Bishop should have ought to do in another's Diocess but be contented with the charge of the people committed unto him II. That no Bishop should any-wise trouble such Monasteries as were Consecrated and given to God nor violently take from them ought was theirs III. That Monks should not go from one Monastery to another unless by the leave of their own Abbot but should continue in the obedience which they promised at the time of their conversion and entrance into Religion IV. That none of the Clergy for saking his own Bishop should run up and down where he lists nor when he came any whither should be received without Letters of Commendation from his Diocesan c. V. That such Bishops and Clerks as are strangers be content with such Hospitality as is given them and that it be lawful for none of them to execute any Office of a Priest without the permission of the Bishop in whose Diocess they are known to be VI. It hath seemed good to us all that a Synod and Convocation should be Assembled once a year on the first day of August at the place called Clofeshooh VII That no Bishop should ambitiously prefer himself above another but should all acknowledge the time and order of their cons●cration VIII That the number of the Bishops should be
in those parts About a year after that memorable overthrow viz. Anno 879. in a Battel at Kinwich in Devon-shire Halden and some of the chief Leaders of the Danes received their death's wound and ended their lives hereupon the daunted and dispersed Danes humbly present their termes of Peace to King Alfred with Pledges and Hostages that they would either depart the Land or become Christians which was accepted by him Guthrun their new King upon the death of their other Leaders with thirty Noble-men and almost all his People received Baptism in the new Castle of Athelney where King Alfred was Godfather to him and gave him the name of Athelstane and upon a confederation between them Alfred did assign unto him the Provinces of the East-Angles and Northumberland Vt eas sub fidelitate Regis jure haereditario foveret quas pervaserat latrocinio that he might enjoy that by right which before he usurped by rapine and unto the new-baptized Nobles he gave many large and rich gifts This truce or league was about the ninth Lamb. Archa● fol. 49. year of his Reign and thus beginneth Faedus quod Aluredus Gythrudus Reges ex sapientum Anglorum atque eorum omnium qui orientalem incolebant Angliam consulto ferierunt in quod praeterea singuli non solum de seipsis verumetiam de natis suis ac nondum in lucem editis quotquot saltem misericordiae divinae aut Regiae velint esse participes jurarunt That is they did by a solemn Oath ratifie this League as well for themselves as for those that were then born and unborn that would be partakers of mercy from God or the King Then having set bounds to his Dominions certain Comitial Lawes and Ordinances were made between them enlarged and amplified by their Senators Before all things they proposed and preferred the strict and holy worshipping of Almighty God and abandoning all barbarous Idolatry next they took care for the Enacting Registring and Enrolling of Moral Laws for containing of Subjects in their several duties and due obedience and therefore they first decreed That the peace of the Church within her Walls as it was then delivered by the hand of King Alfred should be piously and inviolably observed They proceeded to the promotion and propagation of the Christian Faith and the abolition of all Paganism and Heathenish Rites for coertion of Clearks and Men in Holy Orders if they committed any Perjury Fornication or other Offences or were unconformable in the celebration of Festival-days times of Abstinence or other Orders and Injunctions of the Church prohibiting Merchandising and secular Negotiations upon the Lord's day In all which the Impositions of Penalties and Punishments upon an English Man and a Dane were differenced one from the other They also provided for the exilement of Witches Wizzards common Strumpets and other lewd Creatures with other good Laws for avoiding of Homicides and for preservation of Peace and Government and maintenance of each Man 's right of property in this their National commixture This adjured League quieted the Civil discords of the Danes and Saxons for the space of four years until the twelfth year of Alfred's Reign And afterwards the continual inrode of the stragling unbaptized Danes issuing out of France and other places who vexed that Eastern part of the Land molested this good King untill his Death This King divided his moveables into equal portions the one he appointed for uses Secular and divided it into three parts one for his Family another for building of new Works and a third he reserved for strangers The other half he dedicated unto uses Ecclesiastical and divided it into four portions one for relief of the Poor another to Monasteries the third to the Schools in Oxford where he had erected a School for Grammar another for Philosophy and a third for Divinity whereas before they had neither Grammar nor Sciences because Pope Gregory I. gave in command that Britain should have no Schools for fear of Heresies but onely Monasteries The Regents in the University and Readers in the Divinity-School were Neoth a worthy Divine and Grimbald well-skilled in Divinity In Grammar and Rhetorick the Learned Asserius who wrote the life of this King In Logick Musick and Arithmetick the Reader was John a Monk of St. Davids In Geometry and Astronomy read John a companion of Grimbald a Man Witty and Learned at which Lectures this famous King Alfred was present He gave many pensions to Scholars Learned Men in all Arts to instruct his Subjects in Religion and all kinds of Learning He contributed much to the relief of distressed Churches without his Realm He protected his Realm from oppression and injustice by his Sheriffs Justices and other Officers whose proceedings he frequently examined punishing them severely when they had judged or injured others contrary to Law out of Malice Corruption or Partiality He divided the Day and Night into three parts one eight hours he allowed himself for Eating Drinking Sleeping and Recreation another eight hours he spent in hearing Causes and in doing Justice and the rest of his time spent in Prayer Reading the Scriptures Meditation and other pious Exercises And for the instructing his Subjects in the Holy Scriptures he began to Translate the Psalmes of David himself into the English Tongue but being prevented by Death did not finish it He gathered Psalmes and Prayers together into a little Book which he called a Manual or Hand-book which he always caried about him He was the first lettered Bish Godwin Catal. Prince in this Kingdom since it had it's denomination of England and was disciplined under the care of Plegmundus a Man of eminent Parts and Learning who was born in Mercia and from the solitary life of an Heremite in the Isle of Chester was called to be Tutor to this Noble Prince A little after his Inauguration to the Kingdom he had the comfortable service and attendance of Werefridus who was consecrated Bishop of Worcester on Whitsunday Anno 872. for at his command he Translated the Dialogues of Gregory out of the Latin into the Saxon or English Dialect he had all the helps advice and instructions of Plegmundus his Tutor who was afterward Consecrated Archbishop of Canterbury Asserius as himself affirmeth abode with the King in his Court by the space of eight Moneths before his return into Wales in which time he constantly read divers Books unto him for it was his custom both day and night amidst all other impediments both of Mind and Body to be ever versed in reading Books himself or hearing them read by others This unparallelled King died Anno 900. after he had reigned 29 years and six moneths having fought 56 Battels with the Pagan Danes His Epitaph is the Epitome of his life which the happiness of thankful times have dedicated to him as a Monument of his eternal fame and here followeth out of the Works of a Modern Chronographer Nobilit as inimica tibi probitatis
by King Edgar as most just and reasonable He established Laws Ecclesiastical as well as Civil Canutus went on pilgrimage to Rome and there founded an Hospital for English Pilgrims He shrined the body of Bernius and gave great Lands to the Cathedral Church of Winchester He builded St. Bennet's in Norfolk which was before an Hermitage Also St. Edmond's-bury which King Athelstane ordained before for a Colledge of Priests he turned to an Abbey of Monks of Saint Bennet's Order Two of his Sons succeeded him first his base Son called from his swiftness Harold Harefoot a man of a cowardly disposition He reigned but four years and the Kingdom fell to Hardiknout King of Denmark his Brother who when he had reigned two years being drunk at Lambeth suddenly was stricken dumb and fell down to the ground and within eight dayes after died without issue of his Body Thus ended the Danish Kings which Danes had vexed and wasted the Land two hundred fifty five years When England was freed from the Danes they sent into Normandy inviting over Edward the Confessor and brother to King Edmond He was crowned Anno 1045. In his time was the Law made which concerned the King's Oath at Coronation Mathew Paris describes the Manners of the Countrey at his coming thus The Nobles were given to gluttony and leachery they went not to Church in the morning but only had a Priest which made haste with the Mass and Mattens in their chambers and they heard a little with their ears The Clergy were so ignorant that if any knew the Grammar he was admired by them most men spent nights and dayes in carousing In his dayes England injoyed Halcion dayes free from Danish invasions The Ecclesiastical Laws made by this King in his reign were I. That every Clerk and Scholar should quietly enjoy their goods and possessions II. What solemn Festivals people may come and go of without any Law-suits to disturb them III. That in all Courts where the Bishop's Proctor doth appear his case is first to be heard and determined IV. That guilty folk flying to the Church should there have protection not to be reproved by any but the Bishop and his Ministers V. That Tithes be paid to the Church of Sheep Pigs Bees and the like VI. How the Ordal was to be ordered for the trial of guilty persons by fire and water VII That Peter-pence or Rome-scot be faithfully paid to the Pope This King is reported to have entailed by Heaven's Consort an hereditary vertue on his Successors the Kings of England only with this condition that they continue constant in Christianity to cure the King 's Evil. In this King's reign lived Marianus Scotus that wrote much of the deeds of the Kings of England King Edward died childless Harold the Son of Earl Godwin succeeded him Indeed the undoubted right lay in Edgar Atheling Son to Edward the Outlaw Grandchild to Edmond Iron-side King of England But he being young and tender and of a soft temper and Harold being rich and strong in Knights the Nobles chose Harold to be their King As soon as he was crowned he established many good Laws especially such as were for the good of the Church and for the punishment of evil-doers Harold was slain in a battel near Hastings in Sussex and William Duke of Normandy obtained the Crown of England by conquest within a few years he made a great alteration in England the most part of his Knights and Bishops were Normans and many English with Edgar fled into Scotland where King Malcolm had married Edgar's Sister Margaret They incited Malcolm to invade England and he entred into the North part At last a peace was concluded and a Mark-stone was set up in Stanmoor as the mark of both Kingdoms with the Pourtraict of both Kings on the sides of the Stone Although then corruptions crept into the Church by degrees and divine worship began then to be clogged with superstitious Ceremonies yet that the Doctrine remained still entire in most material points will appear by an Induction of the dominative Controversies wherein we differ from the Church of Rome as Fuller in his Church-History of Britain hath observed I. Scripture generally read For such as were with the holy Bishop Aidan either Clergy or Laity ●ed 〈◊〉 hist lib. 3. ca. 5. were tyed to exercise themselves in reading the holy Word and in singing of Psalms II. The Original preferred For Ricemath a Britain a right learned and godly Clerk Son to Sulgen 〈◊〉 in Chron. of 〈◊〉 Bishop of St. David's flourishing in this Age made this Epigram on those who translated the Psalter out of the Greek so taking it at the second hand and not drawing it immediately from the first vessel Ebreis nablam custodit litera signis Pro captu quam quisque suo sermone latino Edidit innumeros lingua variante libellos Ebreumque jubar suffuscat nube latina c. This Harp the holy Hebrew Text doth tender Which to their power whil'st every one doth render In Latine tongue with many variations He clouds the Hebrew rays with his translation Thus liquors when twice shifted out and pour'd In a third vessel are both cool'd and sowr'd But holy Jerome Truth to light doth bring Briefer and fuller fetcht from the Hebrew Spring III. No Prayers for the dead in the modern notion of Papists For though we find prayers for the dead yet they were not in the nature of propitiation for their sins or to procure relaxation from their torments but were only an honourable commemoration of their memories and a Sacrifice of thanksgiving for their salvation IV. Purgatory then not perfected though newly invented For although there are frequent Visions and Revelations in this Age pretended thereon to build Purgatory which had no ground in Scripture yet it stood not then as now it stands in the Romish belief V. Communion under both kinds For Bede relateth that one Hildmer an Officer of Egfride King of Northumberland entreated our Cuthbert to send a Priest that might minister the Sacrament of the Lord's Body and Blood unto his Wife that then lay a dying And Cuthbert himself immediately before his own departure out of this life received the communion of the Lord's Body and Blood So that the Eucharist was then administred entire and not maimed as it is by the Papists at this day And though the word Mass was frequent in that Age yet was it not known to be offered as a propitiatory Sacrifice for the quick and dead King William to testifie his thankfulness to God for his Victory founded in that place Battel-Abbey endowing it with Revenues and large immunities The Abbot whereof being a Baron of Parliament carried a pardon in his presence who casually coming to the place of execution had power to save any Malefactor The abby-Abby-Church was a place of safety for any Fellon or Murtherer Here the Monks flourished in all abundance till the dayes of Henry the Eighth Then Dooms-day Book was
thousand Marks besides two thousand Marks yearly out of the Bishoprick This Grant of first-fruits of Benefices to Boniface made way N. B. for Popes appropriating first-fruits and Annats to themselves soon after About this time was Edmond Archbishop of Canterbury Canonized for a Saint by the Pope to gratifie the King and facilitate the imposing and levying of his Papal exactions upon the Clergy and Realm The Bishops and Clergy of the Province of Canterbury to avoid the turbulent visitation and exactions of Archbishop Boniface made a Tax and Collection to defray the expenses of their Appeals and oppositions against him in the Court of Rome Some Abbots and Convents perceiving that Robert Grosthed and other Bishops intended to vex and oppress them by their new powers to visit them derived from the Pope combined together to make a common purse to oppose and withstand them by Appeals to the Pope whom they hoped would back them for Money as the Bishops combibined together to withstand the Archbishop's Visitation in his Province Notwithstanding this combination the Bishop of Lincoln proceeded to Visit both the Monasteries and Nunneries in his Diocess with great severity and Tyranny But although Robert Grosthed at first was a great stickler for the Pope and an oppressor of the Nobility and Laity of his Diocess with his Visitations appeals to Rome and Excommunications yet afterwards he opposed the Pope's Provisions directed to him for which the Pope suspended him from his Bishoprick Whereupon he sent a notable Letter to Pope Innocent rendring him the reasons why he was not bound to obey his unjust Letters and Provisions as most contrary to the Doctrine and Practice of Christ and his Apostles tending to the ruine of Peoples Souls and that no Bishop or other Person was bound to obey any of the Pope's Mandates as Apostolical but what were warranted by the Doctrine and Practice of Christ and his Apostles The Letter is to be seen at large in Mr. Prynne's late History of Pope's Usurpations c. Tom. 2. A little before his death this Robert Grosthed called some of his Clergy to him and by strong reasons and arguments informed them That the Pope was Antichrist because he was a destroyer of Souls c. Matthew Paris gives this character of him Migravit ab hujusmode mundi quem nunquam dilexit exilio sanctus Lincolniensis Episcopus Robertus secundus apud Bugedonam manerium suum in nocte sancti Dionysii Papae Regis Redargutor manifestus Praelatorum correptor Monarchorum corrector Presbyterorum director Clericorum instructor Scholarium sustentator Populi praedicator Incontinentium persecutor Scripturarum sedulus perscrutator diversarum Romanorum malleus contemptor in mensa refectionis corporalis dapsilis copiosus civilis hilaris affabilis in mensa vero spirituali devotus lacrymosus contritus in officio Pontificali sedulus venerabilis indefatigabilis Vide Ranulph C●strens Polychron lib. 7. ca. 36. H●ur de Knighton de eventib Angliae Lib. 2. ca. 36. He died Anno 1253. Of which year Matthew Paris gives this Character Transiit igitur annus ille Papae Papalibus augurialis The Pope being much incensed against Grosthed wrote a Letter to the King of England to cause his bones to be digged up and to be cast out of the Church whereupon the Bishop's ghost appeared unto him that night expostulated with him pricked him in the side and haunted him till his death The Canons of Lincoln chose Henry of Lexinton to succeed him who was then Dean of the Church of Lincoln the King approved of his Election being Consecrated soon after by Bishop Boniface beyond the Seas Then the King issued out a Writ to the Bishop of Chichester to publish throughout his Diocess the priviledges he had granted to all such who should cross themselves for the holy Land being the same in termes with those the year before sent to the Archbishop of York to publish the Writ running in the same forme In the 38●h year of King Henry the third the Archbishops and Bishops having agreed to grant the King a Disme toward the relief of the holy Land by advice of the King's Council in Parliament appointed it to be collected by the Bishops of Norwich and Chichester and Abbot of Westminster for which they assigned them an annual stipend In August following the King issued forth Pa●ents to the Archbishops Bishop● Abbots c. in Ireland specially to promote this Croysado and Disme in Ireland and to assist those sent thither to promote it whereof one was the Pope's Subdeacon The King being in France issued his precept to the Barons of the Exchequer to issue Moneys for the repair of the Church of Westminster which he intended to have consecrated before his voyage to the holy Land He issued Writs to enquire of the real values of the Manors Lands 〈◊〉 's Hist Tom. 2. Rents and Revennes of Religious persons in nature of Dooms-day Book that he might the better improve them when they fell into his hand by vacancies or deaths of Abbots and Priors towards the debts he contracted by his forreign Wars Matthew Paris tells us of strange forgeries and devices set on foot by the Pope and his Agents to oppress the Clergy of England and involue them in bonds and debts to the Pope and King who served each others turns and that by the treachery of the Bishop of Hereford and and others to ingratiate themselves with both And the Bishop of Hereford and Rustand the Pope's Legate oppressed the Clergy of England that year 1254. and great complaints were made against them The King being unable by his absence to be personally present at the Feast of St. Edward at Westminster which he annually consecrated constituted several persons to solemnize this Feast and make Offerings Processions and give almes in his stead and commanded the Parishoners of St. Margaret and the Londoners to go to Westminster in Procession with Wax Tapers and other formalities for the honour of this Saint and holy-day The King in the 39th year of his Reign sent a pious Writ to the Ci●tercians and other Abbots in their general Assembly to make a special devout Prayer unto God for him his Queen and Children The Bishop Elect of Winton having forcibly and unjustly by his power deprived the Prior of Winton and thrust another into his place without his due Election the deprived Prior thereupon Appealed to the Pope and Court of Rome where he expected to be restored with great confidence but to shew how much more prevalent Money then was in that corrupt Court than Justice this intruder was confirmed and he returned after great expence frustrate of his expectation having some Manors assigned him for his support during life ou● of which the Pope had an annual pension of 365. Marks to support 〈◊〉 Table The Jews of Lincoln having crucified a Christian Child to the great dishonour and disgrace of Jesus Christ the King appointed special Justices
fifty years four Months and odd dayes whose Body was solemnly buried at Westminster Richard the second born at Burdeaux the Son of Edward called The black Prince being but eleven years old succeeded his Grandfather in the Kingdom In the first year of his Reign Pope Gregory fendeth his Bull by the hands of one Ed nund Stafford directed to the Chancellor and University of Oxford rebuking them sharply for suffering so long the Doctrine of John Wickliff to take root At the same time also he directed Letters to Simon Sudbury Archbishop of Canterbury and to William Courtney Bishop of London with the Conclusions of John Wickliff therein enclosed commanding them to cause the said Wickliff to be apprehended and cast into prison and that the King and the Nobles of England should be admonished by them not to give any credit to the said John Wickliff or to his Doctrine in any wise Wickliff was summoned personally to appear before the Archbishop and the rest of the Bishops at his Chappel at Lambeth He came accordingly when in comes a Gentleman and Courtier named Lewis Clifford on the very day of examination commanding them not to proceed to any definitive sentence against the said Wickliff The Bishops affrighted Linwood's provi●● lib. ● fol. 183. proceeded no farther onely the Archbishop summoned a Synod at London in which he made four Constitutions three whereof concerned Confession grown now much into disuse by Wickliff's Doctrine The Popish Bishops and Monks obtained of King Richard that Wickliff should be banished out of England He therefore repairing into Bohemia brought a great Light to the Doctrine of the Waldenses where John Husse being but yet a young man had diverse Conferences with Comen histor Sclavon Eccles him about diverse divine matters But at length he was recalled home again from Exile and the year before he died he wrote a Letter to John Husse Encouraging him to be strong in the grace that was given to him to fight as a good Souldier of Jesus Christ both by word and work Doctrine and conversation c. John Husse hereby took heart very daringly in the University Church at Prague to inveigh against the overflowing abominations of the times and not onely at Prague but throughout the whole Kingdom of Bohe●●ia did he Preach against them The same year Jerome of Prague returning out of England and carrying Wickliff's Books with him rooted up the then prevailing error with the like boldness in the Schools as John Husse did in the Church Wickliff died the last of December 1387. and was buried in his Church of Lutterworth in Leicester-shire In the second year of the Reign of King Richard the second a Parliament was called at Westminster where the Laity moved That no Officer of the Holy Church should take pecuniary sums more or less of the people for correction of sins but onely enjoyn them Spiritual penance which would be more pleasing to God and profitable to the Soul of the offonder The Clergy stickled hereat for by this craft they got their gain But here the Ex Ro●ul●s ● T●●●i L●nd King interposed That Prelates should proceed herein as formerly according to the Lawes of the Holy Church and not otherwise Yea diverse things passed in Parliament in favour of the Clergy As That all Prelates and Clerks shall from hence-forth commence their Suits against Purveyors and Buyers disturbing them though not by way of crime by actions of Trespass and recover treble damages Also That any of the King's Ministers arresting people of the Holy Church in doing Divine Service shall have imprisonment and thereof be ransomed at the King's will and make gree to the parties so arrested In the Parliament held at Glocester the same year the Commons complained that many Clergy-men under the notion of Sylva caedna lop-wood took Tithes even of Timber it self requesting that in such cases Prohibition might be granted to stop the proceedings of Court Christian But this took no effect Then the Archbishop of Canterbury inveighed as bit●erly of the Franchises infringed of the Abbey-Church of Westminster wherein Robert de Hanley Esquire with a Servant of that Church were both horribly slain therein at the High Altar even when the Priest was singing high Mass and pathetically desired reparation for the same Complaints were also made against the extortion of Bishops Clerks to which as to other abuses some general Reformation was promised In the next Parliament called at Westminster one of the greatest grievances of the Land was redressed namely Forreigners holding of Ecclesiastical Benefices for many Italians had the best livings in England by the Pope collated on them yea many great Cardinals resident at Rome were possessed of the best Prebends and Parsonages in the Land who generally farmed out their places to Proctors their own Countreymen and by this means the wealth of the Land leaked out into Forreign Countries to the great impoverishing of this Land Therefore the King and Parliament now enacted That no Aliens should hereafter hold any such preferments nor any send over unto them the Revenues of such Benefices Then burst forth the dangerous rebellion of Wat Tyler and Jack Sir Rich. Baker's Chron. in Rich. 2. Straw with thousands of their wicked company who burnt the Savoy the Duke of Lancaster's house from the Savoy they went to the Temple where they burnt the Lawyers lodgings with their Books and Writings also the house of St. Johns by Smithfield they set on fire which burned for seven days together Then came they to the Tower where the King was lodged where they entred and finding there Simon Sudbury Archbishop of Canterbury and Lord Chancellor and Sir Robert Hales Lord Treasurer they led them to the Tower-hill and there in most cruel manner struck off their Heads as also of diverse others Neither spared they Sacred places for breaking into the Church of the Augustine Friars they drew forth thirteen Flemmings and beheaded them in the open Streets as also seventeen others out of others Churches They committed outrages afterwards at St. Albans cancelling the antient Charters of the Abbots and Monks there At the same time there were gathered together in Suffolck to the number of fifty thousand by the instigation of one John Wraw a lewd Priest These destroyed the Houses of the Lawyers they beheaded Sir John Cavendish the Lord Chief Justice of England and set his Head upon the Pillory in St. Edmunds-bury Then Henry Spencer the valiant Bishop of Norwich gathered together a great number of Men Armed with which he set upon the Rebels discomfited them and took John Littester and their other Chieftaines whom he caused all to be Executed and by this means the Countrey was quieted Jack Straw John Kirkby Alane Tredder and John Sterling lost their Heads Wat Tyler was slain by William Walworth Lord Mayor of London These had to their Chaplain a wicked Priest called Stowes Chro in Rich. 2. John Ball who counselled them to destroy all
University under the notion of a Visitor The Archbishop angry at the affront fairly retreated re infecta to London King Henry at the joynt instances of both parties summoned them to Lambeth to hear and determine the Controversie where the King pronounced sentence on the Archbishop's side Afterward the King confirmed the same with the consent of the Lords and Commons in Parliament as in the Tower-Rolls doth plainly appear The King though courteous was not servile to the Pope and the Clergy terrified with the wavering doubtfulness of the King granted him a tenth every year for diverse years King Henry the fourth is not observed as all English Kings before Fuller Church Hist of Brit. and after him to have erected and endowed any one entire house of Religion as first or sole-founder thereof though a great Benefactor to the Abby of Leicester and Colledge of Fothringhay in Northamptonshire His picture is not so well known by his Head as his Hood which he weareth upon it in an odd fashion peculiar to himself He died Anno 1413. Henry the fifth his Son succeeded in the Kingdom An universal Synod of all the Bishops and Clergy was called at London where among other weighty matters it was determined That the day of St. George and also of St. Dunstan should be a double Feast in holy Church At the Petition of the Commons in Parliament to the King all Irish Rotul in Turri Lond. begging Priests called Chamberdakyns were ordered to depart the Realm by Michaelmas following upon pain of loss of goods and imprisonment during the King's pleasure In the beginning of this King's Reign arose Sir John Oldcastle who Camd. Brit. in Kent Married Joan de la Pole Baroness of Cobham the Lord whereof he became a Man saith one Regi propter probitatem charus acceptus in great favour with King Henry the fifth for his honesty and likewise renouned for his valour and great skill in feats of Armes who sent into the Diocesses of London Rochester and Hereford some to publish the truth of the Gospel without the leave and License of the Ordinaries who were especially in their Sermons to confute the Doctrine of Transubstantiation the Popish Sacrament of Penance Peregrinations worshipping of Images the Keys usurped by the Church of Rome At that time there resorted to the Synod in London twelve Inquisitors for Heresie whom they appointed at Oxford the year before to search out for Hereticks withall Wickliff's Books who brought two hundred forty six Conclusions which they had collected as Heresies out of the said Books The Names of the Inquisitors were these John Witnam a Master in New Colledge John Langdon Monk of Christ-church in Canterbury William Vfford Regent of the Carmalites Thomas Clayton Regent of the Dominicks Robert Gilbert Richard Enthisdale John Luck Richard Sindisham Richard Fleming Thomas Rotborn Robert Rouberry Richard Grafdale who all concluded that the chief favourers of Wickliff's Doctrine were to be first dealt against The Lord Cobham was complained of by the General Proctors to be the chief principal abettor of suspected Preachers contrary to the mind of the Ordinaries and to have assisted them by force of Armes The King sent for the Lord Cobham and when he was come he admonished him secretly to submit himself to his Mother the holy Church Unto whom he made this Answer You most Worthy Prince saith he I am always ready to obey forasmuch as I know you a Christian Prince and the Minister of God bearing the Sword to the punishment of evil do●rs and safeguard of them that do well Vnto you next unto my eternal God owe I most reverence and submit thereunto as I have done ever all that I have either of Nature or Fortune ready at all times to fulfill whatsoever You in the Lord command me But as touching the Pope and his Spiritualty I owe them neither Suit nor Service forasmuch as I know him by the Scriptures to be the Great Antichrist the Son of Perdition the open Adversary of God The King having heard this would talk no longer with him but utterly left him And the Archbishop resorting to the King he gave him authority to Cite him Examine and Punish him according to their Decrees The Archbishop Cited him to appear before him at the Castle of Leeds in Kent and because he appeared not he Excommunicated him Then the Lord Cobham wrote a draught of the Confession of his Faith and Sealed it with his own Hand in which he answered the four chiefest Articles that the Archbishop laid against him and that done he took the Copy with him and went therewith to the King who would not receive it but commanded it to be delivered to those who should be his Judges Then he desired in the King's presence that an hundred Knights and Esquires might be suffered to come as upon his Purgation which he knew would clear him of all Heresies Moreover he offered himself after the Law of Armes to fight for Life or Death with any man living Christian or Heathen in the quarrel of his Faith the King's Majesty and the Lords of his Council excepted and furthermore protested That he would obey all manner of Laws agreeable to the Word of God yet for all this the King suffered him to be summoned personally in his own Privy-chamber He appeared before the Archbishop sitting in the Chapter-house of Pauls with Richard Clifford Bishop of London Henry Bullinbrook Joh. Capgrave lib. 2. de nobilib Henrici● Bishop of Winchester He professed That the Pope was true Antichrist That he is his Head and that the Popish Bishops were his Members the Friars his Tayl. And as touching the other Points saith he they are Ordinances of the Church of Rome made against the Scriptures after it grew rich and the poison had dispersed it self therein and not before Another Annalist saith That he had openly said in Parliament that it would never be well in England till the Pope's power were banished beyond the Seas The Archbishop read a Bill of Condemnation against him after which Bill read the Lord Cobham said with a cheerful countenance Though you judge my Body which is but a wretched thing yet I am sure ye can do no harm to my Soul no more than Satan could do to the Soul of Job And as concerning these Articles I will stand to them to the very death by the grace of my eternal God And after a short instruction to the people he fell down upon his Knees holding up his Hands and Eyes to Heaven And prayed God to forgive his Prosecutors The Lord Cobham was condemned to dye being led back to the Tower he escaped out of the Tower and fled into Wales where he continued by the space of four years In January 1414. Sir Roger Acton Knight Mr. John Brown and John Beverley a Minister suffered Martyrdom in the Fields of St. Giles with thirty six more Some say that Sir Roger Acton was hanged naked at Tyburn saving that
collected together John Fisher Bishop of Rochester was beheaded soon after the Pope Anno 1535. had made him Cardinal of St. Vitalis He was Chaplain and Confessor to the Lady Margaret Countess of Richmond at whose Instance and by whose advice she founded and endowed Christ's and St. John's Colledge in Cambridge He died in the seventy seventh year of his Age on June 22. Sir Thomas Moor was beheaded the next month after Bishop Fisher and was buried at Chelsey He was a great Enemy to the Protestants On June the eighth began a Parliament which was dissolved on July the eighteenth following A parallel Convocation began the day after wherein the Lord Cromwel Prime Secretary sate in State above all the Bishops as the King's Vicar or Vicegerent General in all Spiritual matters Deformi satis spectaculo saith Bishop Godwin indocto Laico Godwin Annals Anno 1536. caetui Praesidente Sacratorum Antistitum omnium quos ante haec tempora Anglia unquam habuisset doctissimorum But the Lord Cromwel had in Power and Policy what he wanted in Learning In that Convocation the said Lord tendered unto them an Instrument to be publickly signed by all the Convocation concerning the nullity of the King's Marriage with the Lady Anna Bolen Some ten dayes before Archbishop Cranmer had pronounced it invalid frustrate and of none effect at Lambeth No particular cause is specified in that sentence Sure I am there is no dashing on the credit of the Lady nor any the least insi●uation of unchastity in that Instrument Praeclara Domina Serenissima Regina being the worst Titles that are given her therein King Henry got her Divorce confirmed both by Convocation and Parliament She was beheaded May 19. 1536. The King on the next day was married to the Lady Iane Seymour Soon after by little and little began the ruine of the Abbeys and Religious Houses for all Religious Houses whose possessions in yearly revenue exceeded not the sum of two hundred pounds were suppressed and dissolved and all their Sites and Possessions whatsoever were given for ever to the King The Clergy also at the same time of their own accord and to insinuate themselves into grace and favour with the King composed and published in printed Books certain Articles for the ordering and governing of the Church in which mention was made of three Sacraments only and the rest of them which former times did superstitiously receive and maintain were left out of the said Books These proceedings of the King and Clergy against the Pope and Holy Church were so generally disliked by the rude and ignorant people that they openly affirmed that the King's Council irreligiously directed him amiss and that the temporizing Clergy of the Land practised by all means possible to extinguish all Devotion and utterly to subvert all the ancient Rites Ceremonies and commendable Government of the Church And the unruly people in Lincoln-shire to the number of twenty thousand assembled themselves in Arms taking upon themselves to frame better Orders for the governing of the Church and Common-wealth But the King approaching near them with an Army they ran away and Doctor Mackarel their Ring-leader with some others were shortly after apprehended and executed Then there arose another Insurrection in the North and the number of those Rebels exceeded the number of forty thousand men who termed themselves The holy Pilgrims who intended nothing but the establishing of true Religion and the reformation of great abuses which defaced the Government of the Church The King's Army drawing near upon the faithful promise of the Dukes of Norfolk and Suffolk that commanded his Army that the King should pardon them the Rebels left the field and quietly departed to their own houses Now the King waxed more absolute in his Government especially concerning his Clergy and the ordering of the Church William Tindal who translated the New Testament in English and the five Books of Moses with many other godly Works was burned at the Town of Filford in Flaunders by vertue of the Emperor's Decree made in the Assembly at Ausburgh He was first strangled and after consumed with fire At the Stake he cried with a loud voice Lord open the King of England ' s eyes The King began with a little Book of Articles for the instruction of the people bearing this Title Articles devised by the King's Highness to establish Christian quiet and unity among the people It contained the Creed three Sacramen●s Baptism the Eucharist and Penance how Images might safely be worshipped and how Saints departed ought to be reverenced that the Parsons should teach their people that Christ is their only Mediator and how the Ceremonies of holy Water holy Bread Candles c. should without superstition be used It took away also the abuses which arose upon the imagination of Purgatory as Masses for Souls departed Pardons c. Not long after these Articles certain other Injunctions were also given out about the same year whereby a number of Holy-dayes were abrogated especially such as fell in Harvest-time Other Injunctions were also given out by the King concerning Images Relicks and blind Miracles for abrogating of Pilgrimages Also for the Lord's Prayer Creed and ten Commandements and the Bible to be done into English Anno 1538 the Parsons of Churches and the Parishes together were bound to provide in every Parish Church a Bible in English Also for every Parishioner to be taught by the Minister to understand and say the Lord's Prayer and Creed in their own vulgar tongue with other necessary Injunctions as for the free preaching of the Word of God against Images Pilgrimages Avies Suffrages of Saints c. and for a Register-book to be kept in every Church This year was Friar Forrest burned quick hanging in Chains in Smithfield for denying the King's Supremacy with this Forrest was Darvel Gatheren an abominable Idol of Wales burned The First-fruits Office first s●t up in 〈◊〉 Great was the King's profit at this time from the Office for the receipt of Tenths and First-fruits which was now first set up in London Such moneys were formerly paid to the Pope who had his Collectors in every Diocess which sometimes by Bills of Exchange but generally in specie to the great impoverishing of the Land yearly returned the Tenths and First-fruits of the English Clergy to Rome The Pope being now dead in England the King was found his Heir at Common Law as to most of the power and profit the other had usurped But now as the Clergy had changed their Landlord so their Rents were new rated Commissioners being employed in all Counties the Bishop of the Diocess being alwayes one of them to value their yearly Revenue that so their Tenths and First-fruits may be proportioned accordingly These Raters were the chiefest in all Counties under the degrees of Barons These Commissioners were impowred by the King to send for the Scribes and Notaries of all Bishops and Archdeacons to swear the Receivers
Fuller Church history and Auditors of Incumbents to view their register-Register-books Easter-books and all other Writings and to use all other wayes to know the full value of Ecclesiastical preferments with the number and names of persons enjoying the same They were to divide themselves by Three and Three allotting to every number so many Deaneries and to enquire the number and names of all Abbies Monasteries Priories Brotherships Sisterships Fellowships c. Houses Religious and Conventual as well CHARTER-HOVSE as others these Carthusians being specified by name because pretending priviledge of Papal exemption and meeting together to certifie into the Exchequer at the time limited in their Commission the true value of such places or preferments This work took up some years in the effecting thereof Devon-shire and Sommerset were done in the twenty seventh Stafford-shire and many other Counties in the thirty fourth year of King Henry the Eighth and most of Wales not till the Reign of King Edward the Sixth In Ireland the Commissioners found the work so troublesome that they never came into the County of Kerrey the South-West extremity of that Island so that the Clergy thereof are put into their Benefices without any payments But in England all were unpartially rated and Vicaridges valued very high according to their present Revenue by personal Requisites Idem ibid. In that Age he generally was the richest Shepherd that had the greatest Flock where Oblations from the living and Obits for the dead as certainly paid as predial Tithes much advanced their Income In consideration whereof Vicaridges mostly lyinig in Market-Towns and populous Parishes were set very high though soon after those obventions sunk with superstition And the Vicars in vain desired a proportionable abatement in the King's Books which once drawn up were no more to be altered Now Queen Mary did by Act of Parliament exonerate acquit and discharge the Clergy from all First-fruits As for Tenths the same Statute ordered them to be paid to Cardinal Pool who from the same was to pay the Pensions allowed to Monks and Nuns by her Father at the dissolution of Abbeys yet so that when such persons who were but few and aged all named in a Deed indented should decease all such payments of the Clergy reserved Nomine Decimae should cease and be extinct for ever But her Sister Queen Elizabeth succeeding her was exact to have Vide 〈◊〉 1 El●● cap. 4. her Dues from the Clergy Sir Christopher Hatton who was Master of this First-fruits Office was much indebted to her for Moneys received All which Arrears her Majesty required so severely and suddenly from him that the grief thereof cost him his life I say this Queen in the first of her Reign resumed First-fruits and Tenths only with this case to Parsonages not exceeding ten Marks and Vicaridges ten pounds that they should be freed from First-fruits In the months of October and November Anno 1538. the Abbeys and Monasteries in England were dissolved Cromwel being made General Visitor employed Richard Layton Thomas Lee William Detre Doctors of the Law Doctor John London Dean of Wallingford with others giving them instruction in eighty six Articles for visiting Monasteries every where by which they were to enquire into the government behaviour and education of the persons of both Sexes to find out all their offences and to this purpose give them encouragements to accuse both their Governors and each other To command them to exhibit their Mortmains Evidences and Conveyances of their Lands to produce Lord Herbert in vit Henr. 8. their Plate and Money and give an Inventory thereof The King also gave forth Injunctions to be observed some tending to the establishing of his Supremacy Some touching the good Government of the Houses As that no Brother go out of the Precinct That there be but one entrance That no Woman frequent the Monks nor any Man the Nuns c. And some for Education As that a Divinity-lecture be every where read and frequented That the Abbot daily expound some part of the Rule of their Order shewing yet that these Ceremonies are but Introductions to Religion which consisteth not in Apparel shaven Heads c. but in purity of mind That none shall profess or wear the Habit till twenty four years of age That no feigned Relicks or Miracles be shewed no Offerings to Images c. Lee and the rest at their return gave that account of their feigned Miracles and Relicks as well as sinful and sluggish life of the Religious O●ders as not only Cromwel said their Houses should be thrown down to the foundation but the whole Body of the Kingdom when it was published to them became so scandalized thereat as they resolve if the King ever put it into their hands to give remedy thereunto Yet were not all alike criminal for some Societies behaved themselves so well as their life being not only exempt from notorious faults but their spare times bestowed in writing Books Painting Carving Graving and the like Exercises their Visitors became Intercessors for them But these being not many were at last involved in the common fate Not long after this the King caused all Colledges Chantries and Hospitals to be visited not omitting to take a particular survey of all the Revenues and Diguities Ecclesiastical within his Kingdom which was returned to him in a Book to be kept in the Exchequer Then King Henry sent Fox Bishop of Hereford to the Protestant Princes in Germany assembled at Smalcald to exhort them to an unity in Doctrine wherein he offered his assistance by conference with their Divines Immediately after the ruine of Monasteries in the Month of November followed the condemnation of John Lambert that faithful Servant of Christ On a set day Lambert was brought forth where he had not only the King 's fierce countenance against him but also ten Disputers against him from twelve of the clock till five at night among which were the Archbishop Stephen Gardiner C. Tunstal Bishop of Durham and J. Stokesley Bishop of London Through Winchester's perswasion to gratifie the people the King himself condemned Lambert and commanded Cromwel to read the Sentence He was burned in Smithfield where he suffered most horrible torments before he expired The King after the burning of many Images caused the bones of Thomas Becket Archbishop in the time of Henry the Second to be burned He also seized on that immense Treasure and Jewels that were offered to his Shrine there being few since the time of Henry the Second that passed to Canterbury that did not both visit his Tomb and bring rich Presents to it Among which there being one Stone eminent which it was said Lewis the Seventh coming hither on Pilgrimage from France Anno Dom. 1179. bestowed Our King wore it in a Ring afterwards The number of Monasteries first and last suppressed in England and Wales were as Mr. Camden accounts them six hundred forty five whereof these had voices among the Peers The
Lords and others who onely had the power to reform the same because they could not question those who had so miserably invaded the Churches patrimony without condemning of themselves Stephen Gardiner Bishop of Winchester having long lain Prisoner in the Fleet was enlarged and permitted to return to his Diocess where contrary to the promise made at his enlargement he shewed himself cross to the King's proceedings in case of Images and other things that he was sent Prisoner to the Tower where he abode till he was set at liberty by Queen Mary Notwithstanding the King's great care to set forth one uniform order of Administring the holy Communion in both kinds yet among the inferior Priests and Ministers of Cathedral and other Churches in this Realm there arose variety of Factions in Celebrating the Communion Service and Administra●ion of the Sacraments and other Rites of the Church Some followed the Order of the King's proceedings others patchingly used some part of them onely but many causelesly contemning them all would still continue in their former Popery Moreover many of those who had been licensed appeared as active in Preaching against the King's proceedings as any of the unlicensed Preachers had been found to be Which being made known to the King and the Lords of the Council it was advised that a publick Liturgy should be drawn and confirmed by Parliament which was done An. 1548. and in the next year a penalty was imposed by Act of Parliament on such who should deprave or neglect the use thereof The King caused those Godly Bishops and other Learned Divines whom he had form●rly imployed in drawing up the order for the holy Communion to frame a publick Liturgy containing the order of Morning and Evening Prayer together with a Form of Ministring the Sacraments and for the celebrating of all publick Offices in the Churches This was done accordingly Some exception being taken at it by Mr. Calvin abroad and some zealots at home the Book was brought under a review and by Statute in Parliament it was appointed it should be faithfully perused explained and made fully perfect And here take notice that those who had the chief stroke in this Affair were before-hand resolved that none but English Heads or hands should be used therein Calvin offered his assistance to Archbishop Cranmer as himself confesseth but he refused the offer And though it was thought necessary for the better seasoning of both Universities in the Protestant Reformed Religion that Martin Bucer and Peter Martyr two eminent Divines of Forreign Churches should be invited to come over yet had the Liturgy passed the approbation of the King and Council if not both Houses of Parliament before their coming Which being finished they all subscribed it except Doctor Day Bishop of Chichester Then in Parliament it was enacted that all such positive Lawes and Ordinances as prohibited the marriages of Priests and pains and forfeitures therein contained should be repealed In this Parliament also it was enacted that no person should from thence-forth take or carry away any Tithe or Tithes which had been received or paid within the space of fourty years next before the date thereof c. under the pain or forfeiture of the Treble value of the Tithes so taken or carried away To which a clause was also added enabling the said Parsons Vicars c. to enter upon any man's Land for the due setting out of his Tithes and carrying away the same without molestation There also passed another Act for Abstinence from flesh upon all such days as had been formerly taken and reputed for fasting-dayes viz. fall Fridays and Saturdays in the year the time of Lent the Ember-days the Eves or Vigils of such Saints as had been anciently used for Fasts by the Rules of the Church On Septemb. 5. 1548. Doctor Farrar's was consecrated Bishop of S. Davids as Doctor Heylin noteth and not in the year 1547. as Mr. Fox makes it nor in 1549. as Bishop Godwin saith The Lord Protector pulled down two Churches two Chappels and three Episcopal Houses for the materials of the building of his new intended Palace called Sommerset-house About this time there arose a sort of men who were termed Gospellers against whom Bishop Hooper inveigheth in the Preface to his Exposition on the ten Commandments Some Anabaptists also discovered themselves Some of the Chiefs of them were convented before the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Bishop of Westminster Doctor Cox Almoner to the King and others and being convicted of their errours some of them were dismissed only with an Admonition some sentenced to a Recantation and others among which I find one Champney's condemned to bear their Faggots at S. Paul's Cross Then brake forth two dangerous Rebellions one in Devonshire the other in Norfolk That of Devonshire was found to be chiefly raised in maintenance of their old Religion On Whitsun Munday being next day after the first exercising of the publick Liturgy some few of the Parishioners of the Parish of Sampford-Courtney compelled their Parish-Priest who is supposed to have invited them to that compulsion to let them have the Latine Mass as in former-times These being seconded with many others Henry Arundel Esquire Governour of the Mount in Cornwal Winslade and Coffin Gentlemen headed them The seditious exceeding the number of ten thousand march in a full body to Exeter They send their demands to the King among which one more specially concerned the Liturgy It was demanded by the Rebels That forasmuch as we constantly believe that after the words of Consecration spoken by the Priest being at Mass there is very really the Body and Blood of our Saviour Jesus Christ God and man and that no substance of Bread and Wine remaineth after but the very self-same body that was born of the Virgin Mary and was given upon the Cross for our Redemption Therefore we will have Mass Celebrated as it was in times past without any man Communicating with the Priests forasmuch as many presuming unworthily to receive the same put no difference between the Lord's body and other kind of meat c. To which demand of theirs the King thus answered viz. that for the Mass I assure you no small study nor Travel hath been spent by all the Learned Clergy therein and to avoyd all contention it is brought even to the use that Christ left it as the Apostles used it as the Holy Fathers delivered it indeed somewhat altered from that to which the Popes of Rome for their lucre had brought it And although saith he you may hear the contrary from some Popish evil men Yet we on our Honour assure you that they deceive abuse you and blow these opinions into your Heads to finish their own purposes But this answer satisfying not they marched with all their forces to the siege of Exeter carrying before them in their march the Pix or Consecrated Host under a Canopy with Crosses Banners Candlesticks Holy-bread and Holy-water c. But the Lord
Gray and the Lord Russel with forces conjoyned so strongly charged the Rebels that they beat them out of their works and then forced them with great slaughter to raise their siege After the like success in some following fights the Lord Russel enters that City on August 6. where he was joyfully received by the half-starved Citizens Miles Coverdale gave publick thanks to God for the Victory in the view of Exeter and soon after was made the Bishop thereof Arundel Berry Winslade and Coffin were sent to London and there executed Six Popish Priests were hanged and the Vicar of S. Thomas one of the Grand Incendiaries hanged on the top of his own Steeple apparrelled in his Popish Weeds with his Beads at his Girdle The Norfolk Rebellion brake forth on June 20. and that especially for a grievance about Enclosures The Rebels had gotten one Robert Ket a rich Tanner of Wimondham for their Leader and were grown to a Body of twenty thousand seating themselves at Moushold near Mount Surrey where they carried a face as it were of Justice and Religion for they had one Coniers an idle fellow to be their Chaplain who read solemn Prayers to them Morning and Evening Sermons also they had often And as for Justice they had a bench under a Tree which Tree was called by them and so hath ever since been called the Tree of Reformation where Ket usually sate and with him two Companies of every Hundred whence their Companies had been raised to hear complaints and give judgement They sent certain complaints to the King requiring he would send a Herrald to them to give them satisfaction The King returned this answer that in October following he would call a Parliament wherein their complaints should be heard and their grievances should be redressed requiring them in the mean time to lay down Arms and return to their houses and thereupon granting them a general pardon But this not satisfying the seditious hereupon they first assaulted the City of Norwich took it and made Thomas Cod the Mayor of Norwich attend them as their servant At length He and others of the Gentry detained Prisoners in Ket's Camp were admitted to the Counsels of the Rebels for the better credit thereof Doctor Matthew Parker afterward Archbishop of Canterbury getting up into the Oak of Reformation Preached to the Rebels of their Duty and Obedience where his life was in danger many Arrows being Shot at him Conyers set the Te Deum during the singing whereof the Doctor withdrew and went to his own house William Par Marquess of Northampton with the Lords Sheffield and Wentworth Sir Anthony Denny Sir Ralph Sadler and other persons of Honour is sent to quell this Rebellion But success sailed them the Lord Sheffield was barbarously butchered Sir Thomas Cornwallis taken prisoner and the City fired by the Rebels but the clouds melting into tears pittying the Cities calamity quenched the flames and the Marquess quitting the service returned to London Then was John Dudley Earl of Warwick sent to undertake the task and was attended by the Marquess of Northampton Coming to Norwich he easily entred the City and entertained the Rebels with many Sallies with various success but generally the Earl of Warwick came off with the better The Rebels deserted Moushold-hill and came down into Dussing-dale Here their superstition fancied themselves sufficiently fenced by the vertue of an old prophecy Hob Dick and Hick with Clubs and Clouted Shun Sall fill uy Dussmdale with blood of slaughtred bodies soon In this place was a bloody battel two thousand of the Rebels were slain in the fight and chase the Residue of them scattered all over the Countrey the Principals of them taken and Executed Robert Ket hanged on Norwich-Castle William his brother on the Top of Wimondham steeple nine of his followers on as many boughs of the Oak where Ket held his Courts On August XXIX a solemn thanksgiving was made to God for their deliverance in the City of Norwich and is Annually observed As for the Rebellion at the same time in York-shire it was soon quelled on the Execution of Omler and Dale the chief promoters thereof These things quickned the Lords of the Council to a sharper course against all those whom they suspected not to advance the publick Liturgy Among whom none was more distrusted than Bishop Bonner of London who is commanded to attend the Lords of the Council on Aug. 11. by whom he was told that by his negligence not only many people within his Diocess forgat their duty to God in frequenting the Divine Service than by Law established but divers others despising the same did in secret places often frequent the Popish Mass Therefore he is commanded to Preach against the Rebels at Paul's Cross on Septemb. 1. and there to shew the unlawfulness of taking Arms on pretence of Religion But on the Contrary he spent most part of his Sermon in maintenance of the Cross Carnal and Papistical presence of Christ's body and bloud in the Sacrament of the Eucharist complaints whereof being made a Commission is Issued out to the Archbishop of Canterbury the Bishops of Rochester and Peterborough Sir Thomas Smith and Doctor May before whom he was convented at Lambeth where after many shifts on his part and much patience on theirs he is taken pro confesso and in the beginning of October deprived of his Bishoprick To whom succeeded Doctor Nicholas Ridley Bishop of Rochester There passed an Act of Parliament in the following Session which took beginning Novemb. 4 for taking down of such Images as were still remaining in the Churches as also for the bringing in of all Antiphonaries Missals Breviaries Offices Horaries Primars and Processionals with other Books of false and superstitious worship The Tenour of which Act signified to the Subject by the King's Proclamations and seconded by the Missives of Archbishop Cranmer to the Suffragan Bishops requiring them to see it diligently put in execution Also the Bishops were required to punish all those that refused to give to the charge of bread and wine for the Communion Now was there no further opposition against the Liturgy by the Romish party during the rest of the King's Reign But then there started up another faction as opposite to the publick Liturgy as were those of Rome The Archbishop and the rest of Prela●es which co-operated with him in the work of Reformation were resolved now to go forwards with a Reformation in point of Doctrine And therefore Letters were directed by Archbishop Cramner to Martin Bucer and Peter Martyr two eminent Divines Martyr came over in Heylin ●s Hist Edw. VI. the end of November and having spent sometime with the Archbishop in his house at Lambeth was dispatched to Oxford where he was made the King's Professour for Divinity and about two years after made Canon of Christ-Church His readings were so much disliked by some of that University that a publick disputation was shortly had betwixt him and some of
those that disliked his doings about some points in the Sacrament Doctor Cox Chancellour of the University assisted by Mr. Morrison a right learned man being Moderators declared that Martyr had sufficiently answered all Arguments which were brought against him by Chadsey the chief of the opponents and the rest of those who disputed with him Bucer came not over till June and being here receives letters from Mediis consiliis vel Authoremesse vel Approbatorem Calvin Epist. ad Bucer Calvin by which he was advised to take heed of his old fault for a fault he thought it which was to run a moderate course in his Reformations The first thing that Bucer did after his coming hither was to acquaint himself with the English Liturgy translated for him into Latine by Alexander Alesius a Learned Scot and generally well approved of by him as to the main Frame and Body of it Of this he gives an account to Calvin Having received a courteous entertainment from the Lord Protector and being heartily well-commed by Archbishop Cranmer he is sent to take the Chair at Cambridge But he had not held that place long when he left this life deceasing on January 19. Anno 1550. to the great loss and grief of that University Calvin writes to the Protector to this effect That the Papists would grow more insolent every day than other unless the difference were composed about the Ceremonies But how not by reducing the Opponents to Conformity but by encouraging them rather in their opposition John Rogers Lecturer in S. Paul's and John Hooper Vicar of S. Sepulchres The Founders of Non-conformity were founders of Non-conformity This John Hooper was bred in Oxford well-skilled in Latine Greek and Hebrew and afterwards travelled over into Switzerland He was preferred to be Bishop of Glocester by the favour of his Pa●ron John Earl of Warwick afterwards Duke of Northumberland But when Hooper came to be consecrated Bishop of Glocester he scrupled the wearing of certain Episcopal Ornaments Rochet Chimere Square Cap c. producing a letter from the Ea●l of Warwick that he might be favourably dispensed with therein The King also thirteen dayes after wrote to Archbishop Cranmer to the same effect All would not do Resolute Bishop Ridley stood stiffly to his tackling and here was bandying of the business betwixt them and arguments urged on both sides The Earl of Warwick deserted his Chaplain and Hooper was sent to prison and kept sometime in durance till he condescended to conform himself in his habit and so was consecrated Bishop of Glocester After this Hooper bare a great grudge against Ridley who enforced him thereunto but God's providence sanctified their sufferings afterwards into an agreement We must not forget that this earnest contest was not about the vocation but about the vestments of Bishops Thus we have the first beginning of that opposition which hath continued ever since against the Liturgy c. and other Rites and Usages of the Church of England About this time John a Lasco free Baron of Lasco in Poland with his Congregation of Germans and other strangers took Sanctuary this year in England hoping that here they might enjoy that liberty of conscience and safety for their goods and persons which their own Countrey had denyed them The King gratiously vouchsafed to give them both entertainment and protection assigned them the west part of the Church belonging to the late dissolved house of Augustine-friars for the exercise of Religious Worship made them a Corporation consisting of a Superintendent and four other Ministers with power to fill the vacant places by a new Succession whensoever any of them should be voyd by death or otherwise the parties by them chosen to be approved by the King and Council He commanded the Lord Mayor of London the Aldermen and Sheriff● thereof as also the Archbishop of Canterbury and all other Bishops of this Realm not to distrub them in the free exercise of their Religion and Ecclesiastical Government although they differed from the government and forms of Worship established in the Church of England All which he granted by his Letters Patents This John a Lasco quickly publisheth a book Entitled Forma Ratio totius Ecclesiastici Ministerii wherein he maintains the use of sitting at the Holy Communion contrary to the custom of the Church of England to the encouragement of those who impugned her Orders A controversie moved by Bishop Hooper touching the Episcopal Habit was presently propagated among the rest of the Clergy touching Caps and Surplices And in this quarrel John a Lasco engageth countenancing those that refused to wear them and Writing to Martin Bucer to declare 〈◊〉 Hist 〈◊〉 VI. against them But that Moderate and Learned Man severely repr●hended him and solidly answered all his Objections Which being sent to him in the way of letter was afterward Printed and dispersed for keeping down that opposite humour This controversie was countenanced by Peter Martyr for besides his judgement which he gives of these things in some of his Epistles about things of this nature he hath told us of his own practice in one of his Epistles Dated at Zurick Novemb. 4. 1559. being more than five years after he had left this Kingdom That he had never used the Surplice when he lived in Oxford though he were then a Canon of Christ-church and frequently present in the Quire While this controversie was on foot between the Bishops and the Clergy John Rogers one of the Probends of S. Paul's and Divinity Reader of that Church then newly return'd from beyond the Seas could never be perswaded to wear any other than the round cap when he went abroad And being further pressed unto it he thus declared himself That he would never agree to that point of Conformity but on this condition that if the Bishops did require the Cap and Tippet c. then it should also be declared that all Popish Priests for a distinction between them and others should be constrained to wear upon their sleeves a Chalice with an Host upon it Nay such peccancy of humour began then to break out that it was Preached at Pauls Cross by one Steven Curate of Katherine Cree-Church Stow's Chro. Edw. VI. That it was fit the names of Churches should be altered and the names of the dayes in the Week changed that Fish-dayes should be altered and the Lent kept at any other time except onely between Shrovetide and Easter John Stow saith that he had seen the said Steven to leave the Pulpit and Preach to the People out of an high Elm which stood in the midst of the Church-yard and that being done to return into the Church again The wings of Episcopal Authority had been so clipped that it was scarce able to fly abroad the sentence of Excommunication had not been in use since the first year of this King which occasioned not onely these disorders among the Ministers of the Church but also tended to the
Calvin and his followers at some parts thereof The Liturgy so reviewed was ratified by Act of Parliament in the year following By the learned Writings of Erasmus and Melancthon together with the Augustan Confession a Book of Articles being thought necessary to be composed the Composers of those Articles were much directed using them as subservient Helps to promote the service Now followed the fatal Tragedy of the Duke of Sommerset and we must recoyl a little to fetch forward the cause thereof Thomas Seymour Baron of Sudely and Lord Admiral the Protector 's younger Brother had married the Lady Katherine Par the Relict of King Henry the Eighth A contest arose between their Wives about place The Women's discords derived themselves into their Husbands hearts whereupon not long after followed the death of the Lord Thomas Seymour arraigned for designing to translate the Crown to himself Soon after the Lords of the Council accuse the Protector of many high offences his greatest Enemy and Accuser was John Dudley Earl of Warwick Hereupon he was imprisoned at Windsor yet he was acquitted though outed his Protectorship restored and continued Privy Counsellor But after two years and two months his Enemies assault him afresh He was indicted of Treason and Felony he was condemned for Felony by a new made Statute for plotting the death of a Privy Counsellor namely the Earl of Warwick Here a strange oversight was committed that he craved not the benefit of the Clergy which could not legally be denied him Not long after he was beheaded on Tower-hill with no less praise for his piety and patience than pity and grief of the beholders In the beginning of the year 1551. happened a terrible Earthquake at Croydon and some other Villages thereabouts in the County of Surrey Afterwards six Dolphins were taken up in the Thames three at Queenborough and three near Greenwich the least as big as any Horse Their coming up so far beheld by States-men as a presage of those storms and Tempests which afterwards befel this Nation in the death of King Edward and the tempestuous Reign of Queen Mary But the saddest presage of all was the breaking out of a Disease c●ll●d the Sweating-sickness appearing first at Shrewsbury on April 15. and afterwards spreading by degrees over the Kingdom wherewith if any man were attacqued he died or escaped within nine or ten hours if he slept as most persons desired to do he died within six hours if he took cold he died within three hours Sir Michael Stanhop Sir Thomas Arundel Sir Ralph Vane and Sir Miles Partridge were arraigned and condemned to dye The two first were beheaded and the two last hanged at what time they solemnly protested taking God to witness that they never practised Treason against the King c. Vane adding after all the rest that his Blood would make the pillow of the Earl of Warwick lately made Duke of Northumberland uneasie to him Then fifty six Articles are drawn up against Robert Farrars Bishop of St. Davids and a Commission issued March 9. to enquire into the merit of those Articles charged against him on the return whereof he is indicted of a Praemunire at the Assizes at Carmarthen committed thereupon to prison where he remained all the rest of King Edward's time never restored to liberty till he came to the Stake in Queen Maries Reign On the twenty ninth of January 1552. The Bishoprick of Westminster was dissolved by the King's Letters Patents by which the County of Middlesex which had before been laid unto it was restored unto the See of London The Book of Articles made in the Synod at London may be truly said to be the work of that Convocation though many Members of it never saw the same till the Book was published in regard as Mr. Philpot saith that they had a Synodical Authority to make such spiritual Laws Fox Acts and Monuments fol. 1282. as to them seemed to be necessary or convenient for the use of the Church Moreover the Church of England for the first five years of Queen Elizabeth retained these Articles and no other as the publick Tenents of the Church in point of Doctrine which she had not done had they been commended to her by a less Authority than a Convocation These R●giâ authoritate in lucemed●ti Articles were confirmed and published for such by the King's Authority as appears further by the Title in due form of Law And so it is resolved by Philpot in behalf of the Catechism which came out Anno 1553. with the approbation of the said Bishops and learned Men. The Liturgy being setled and confirmed in Parliament was by the King's command translated into French for the use of the ●sles of Guernsey and Jersey and such as lived within the Marches and command of Calais But no such care was taken for Wales till the fifth year of the Reign of Queen Elizabeth nor of the Realm of Ireland from that time to this as Doctor Heylin observeth Then that which concerns as well the nature as the number of such Feasts and Fasts as were thought fit to be retained were determined and concluded on by an Act of Parliament Which Statute though repealed in the first of Queen Mary and not revived till the first year of the Reign of King James yet in effect it stood in force and was more punctually observedin the time of Queen Elizabeth's Reign than after the reviving of it The next care was that Consecrated places should not be profaned by fighting and quarrelling as they had been lately since the Episcopal Jurisdiction and the ancient Censures of the Church were lessened in Authority and reputation This Parliament ending on April 15. the Book of Common-prayer was printed and published which had been therein authorized And the time being come which was set for the officiating it there appeared much alteration in the outward solemnities of Divine service to which the people had formerly been so long accustomed For by the Rubrick of that Book no Copes or other Vestures were required but the Surplice only whereby the Bishops must forbear their Crosses and the Prebends of St. Paul ●s leave off their Hoods To give a beginning hereunto Bishop Ridley then Bishop of London did the same day officiate the Divine service of the Morning in his Rochet only without Cope or Vestment he preached also at St. Paul's in the afternoon the Lord Mayor Aldermen and Companies in their best Liveries in their Companies being present at it the Sermon tending for the most part to the setting forth the said Book of Common-prayer and to acquaint them with the Reasons of such alterations as were made therein On the same day the new Liturgy was executed also in all the Churches of London Not long after the upper Quire in St. Paul's Church where the high Altar stood was broken down and all the Quire thereabout and the Communion-table was placed in the lower part of the Quire where the Minister
Nature and Polity that a Woman should be declared to be the Supreme Head on Earth of the Church of England But the Queen declined the Title of Head and assumed the name of Governor of the Church of England This Act having easily passed the House of Commons found none of the Temporal Lords in the House of Lords to oppose it save onely the Earl of Shrewsbury and Anthony Brown Viscount Montacute As for the Bishops there were but fourteen and the Abbot of Westminster then alive of whom four being absent the rest could not make any considerable opposition In the Convocation of the Clergy there passed certain Articles of Religion which they tendered to the Parliament which were these I. That in the Sacrament of the Altar by the vertue of Christ assisting after the word is duly pronounced by the Priest the natural Body of Christ conceived by the Virgin Mary is really present under the Species of Bread and Wine also his natural Blood II. That after the Consecration there remains not the substance of Bread and Wine nor any other substance save the substance of God and Man III. That the true Body of Christ and his true Blood is offered a propitiatory Sacrifice for the quick and dead IV. 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 lawful Successors in the See Apostolick as unto the Vicars of Christ. V. That the Authority to handle and define such things which belong to Faith the Sacraments and Discipline Ecclesiastical hath hitherto ever belonged and onely 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 This Remonstrance exhibited by the lower house of Convocation to the Bishops was according to their Requests presented by Edmond Bonner Bishop of London to the Lord Keeper of the Broad-seal of England in the Parliament Both Universities did concur to the truth of the foresaid Articles the last onely excepted This Declaration of the Popish Clergy hastened the disputation appointed on the last of March in the Church of Westminster wherein these Questions were debated I. Whether Service and Sacraments ought to be celebrated in the vulgar Tongue II. Whether the Church hath not power to alter Ceremonies III. Whether the Mass be a propitiatory Sacrifice for the living and the dead Popish Disputants White Bishop of Winchester Watson Bishop of Lincoln Baynes Bishop of Coventry and Litchfield Scot Bishop of CHESTER Protestant Disputants John Scory late Bishop of Chichester David Whitehead Robert Horn. Edmond Gwest Edwyn Sandys John Elmer Edmond Grindal John Juel Moderators Nicholas Heath Archbishop of York Sir Nicholas Bacon Lord Keeper of the Great Seal Besides the Disputants there were present many of the Lords of the Queens Council with other of the Nobility as also many of the lower House of Parliament For the manner of their conference it was agreed it should be performed in writing and that the Bishops should deliver their Reasons in writing first Many differences arose between them so that the conference broke off and nothing was determined The Bishops of Lincoln and Winchester thought meet that the Queen and the Authors of this defection from the Church of Rome should be Excommunicated who for this cause were imprisoned Then a Peace being made was Proclaimed over all England betwixt the Queen of England the King of France the Daulphin and the Queen of Scots The Parliament being dissolved by Authority of the same the Liturgy was forthwith brought into the Churches in the Vulgar Tongue the Oath of Supremacy offered to the Popish Bishops and others of the Ecclesiastical profession which most of them had sworn unto in the Reign of King Henry the Eighth All the Bishops refused except Anthony Bishop of Landaff As many as refused were turned out of their Livings Dignities Bishopricks In the Sees of the Prelates removed were placed Protestant Bishops Matthew Parker was made Archbishop of Canterbury who was Consecrated by three that formerly had been Bishops namely William Barlow of Bath and Wells John Scory of Chichester and Miles Coverdale of Exeter And being Consecrated himself he afterward Consecrated Edmond Grindal Bishop of London Richard Cox Bishop of Ely Edwyn Sandys Bishop of Worcester Rowland Merick Bishop of Bangor Thomas Young Bishop of St. David's Nicholas Bullingham Bishop of Lincoln John Juel Bishop of Salisbury Richard Davis Bishop of St. Asaph Edward Guest Bishop of Rochester Gilbert Barkley Bishop of Bath and Wells Thomas Bentham Bishop of Coventry and Litchfield William Alley Bishop of Exeter John Parkhurst Bishop of Norwich Robert Horn Bishop of Winchester Richard Cheiney Bishop of Glocester Edmond Scambler Bishop of Peterborough William Barlow Bishop of Chichester John Scory Bishop of Hereford Thomas Young Archbishop of York James Pilkinton Bishop of Durham John Best Bishop of Carlile and William Dounham Bishop of Chester Nicholas Health Archbishop of York lived privately many years in his Mannor of Chobham in Surrey never restrained to any one place and died in great favour with the Queen who bestowed many gratious visits upon him during his retirement Tonstal of Durham spent the remainder of his time with Archbishop Parker by whom he was kindly entertained and honourably buried The like civility was afforded to Thurlby Bishop of Ely in the same house and unto Bourn of Wells by the Dean of Exon in which two houses they both died about ten years after White though at first imprisoned for his faults after some cooling himself in the Tower of London was suffered to enjoy his liberty and to retire himself to what friend he pleased Which favour was vouchsafed unto Turbervil also who being a Gentleman by extraction wanted not friends to give him good entertainment Watson of Lincoln after a short restraint spent the remainder of his time with the Bishops of Rochester and Ely till having practised against the State he was shut up in the Castle of VVisbich where at last he died Oglethorp died soon after his deprivation of an Apoplexy Bayn of the Stone and Morgan in December following Pool enjoyed the like freedom and died in a good old age Christopherson lived on his Estate Bonner alone was doomed to a perpetual imprisonment the prison proving to that wretch saith Dr. Heylin his greatest Sanctuary whose horrid Butcheries had otherwise exposed him to the popular sury We find no more to have been deprived of their preferments than fourteen Bishops six Abbots Priors and Governors of Religious Orders twelve Deans and as many Archdeacons fifteen Presidents or Masters of Colledges fifty Prebendaries of Cathedral Churches and about eighty Parsons or Vicars The whole number not amounting to two hundred men which in a Realm consisting of nine thousand Parishes and twenty six Cathedral Churches could be no great matter But there was not a sufficient number of Learned men to supply the Dr. P.
excluded out of England by consent of Parliament The greatest obstacle to the Nuncio's coming was partly laid by the indiscretion of some Papists in England and partly by the precipitancy of the Pope's Ministers in Ireland for sundry ill-disposed persons upon the noise of the Nuncio's coming not onely brake the Laws made against the Pope and his Authority but spread abroad slaunderous reports that the Queen was at the point to change her Religion and alter the government of the Realm Some also had practised with the Devil by Conjurations Charms and casting of Figures to be informed in the length of her Majesties Reign And on the other side the Pope's Legate being at the same time in Ireland joyned himself to some desperate Traitors who stirred up rebellion there and as much as in him was had deprived the Queen of all Right and Title to that Kingdom Upon which grounds it was carried clearly at the Council-boord against the Nuncio notwithstanding the Intercession of the French the Spaniard or the Duke of Alva Yet notwithstanding the Emperor Ferdinand sends to perswade the Queen to return to the old Religion at least that she would set apart some Churches to the use of the Catholicks To whom she answered That she had setled her Religion on so sure a Bottom that she could not easily be changed And for granting Churches to the Papists it did not consist with the Polity and good Laws of the Land Then divers abuses arising in the Church Archbishop Parker found it necessary to have recourse unto the power which was given to him by the Queen's Commission and by a clause of the Act of Parliament For the Vniformity of Common-Prayer and service in the Church c. As one of the Commissioners for causes Ecclesiastical he was authorized with the rest of his Associates To reform redress order correct and amend all such Errors Heresies Schismes Abuses Offences Contempts and Enormities whatsoever as might from time to time arise in the Church of England And in the passage of the Act forementioned it was provided That all such Ornaments of the Church and the Ministers thereof should be retained as were in the Church of England by Authority of Parliament in the second year of King Edward the Sixth untill further order should be taken therein from the Queen's Majesty c. And also if there shall happen any contempt or irreverence to be used in the Rites of the Church by the misusing of the Orders of the said Book of Common-Prayer the Queen might by the advise of the Commissioners or Metropolitan ordain or publish such further Ceremonies or Rites as should be most for the advance of God's glory the edifying the Church c. Hereupon the Archbishop by the Queen's consent and the advice of some of the Bishops sets forth a certain Book of Orders to be diligently observed and executed by all persons whom it might concern In which it was provided That no Parson Vicar or Curate of any Heylin Hist of Q. Elizab. An. Reg. 3. exempt Church should from thenceforth attempt to conjoyn by solemnization of Matrimony any not being of his or their Parish-church without good Testimony of the Bains being ask'd in the several Churches where they dwell or otherwise were sufficiently Licensed That no other days should be observed as Holy-days and Fasting-days but onely such as be expressed in the Calendar lately set forth by the Queen's Authority That neither the Curates or Parents of Children which are brought to Baptism should answer for them at the Font but that the antient use of Godfathers and Godmothers should still be retained and that in all such Churches in which the steps to the Altar were not taken down the said steps should remain as before they did That the Communion-Table should be set in the said place where the steps then were or had formerly stood and that the Table of the Decalogue should be fixed upon the wall over the said Communion-Table This year the Merchants Tailors School in London was founded first by the Master Wardens and Assistants of the Company of Merchants Tailors whence it had the name and by them founded for a Seminary to St. John's in Oxford built and endowed at the sole costs of one of their Livery But of a far more private nature was the Foundation of another Grammar School in the Town of Sandwich built at the charge of Sir Roger Manwood and endowed with forty pound per annum The Council of Trent being now opened it was said in that Council that i● was good to let the Protestants alone and not name them alledging the danger of moving ill humors in a Body which was then quiet To give a safe conduct to the English-men which neither They nor any of them did require were a great indignity They were content it should be given to the Scots because their Queen would demand it but so as that the demand should first be made But the English Protestant Bishops would not venture themselves into that Council on such weak assurance considering how ill the safe conduct had been formerly kept to John Hus and Jerom of Prague at the Council of Constance And the Queen kept the Papal party safe from gadding thither Then Scipio a Venetian Gentleman formerly acquainted with Master Jewel whil'st he was a Student at Padua wrote now an expostulating Letter unto him being lately made Bishop of Sarisbury in which he much admireth that England should send no Ambassador nor Letter nor Message to excuse their Nation 's absence from the General Appearance of Christianity in that Council c. Bishop Jewel returned him such an Answer that neither Scipio himself nor any other of that party durst reply upon him The Answer is to be found at large at the end of the History of this Council Translated by Sir Nathanael Brent At this time it was advised by Lewis Prince of Conde the Cardinal Chastilion and other principal leaders of the Protestant party in France that they should put themselves under the protection of the Queen of England who had not long before so seasonably relieved the Scots in the like distress The Queen had been secretly advertised of all passages there by Sir Nicholas Throgmorton her Majestie 's Resident in that Kingdom It being agreed on between them that the Queen should supply the Prince of Conde and his Associates with a sufficient quantity of Money Corn and Ammunition for the service of the French King against the practices of the House of Guise and that the Town of New-haven should be put into her Majestie 's hands to be garrisoned by English Souldiers Immediately a manifest was published in the name of the Queen wherein was declared that she had observed how the Guisian Faction in the names of the Queen-Mother of France and the young King had endeavoured to root out the Professors of the Reformed Religion and what massacres had been made at Vassey Paris Sene Tholouse Bloys Touers Angier
the Company haled to the next prison and the rest dispersed the Priest escaping with difficulty by a private passage the Queen being then absent in the North. In France the City and Castle of Cane besieged by the confederate forces both French and English was finally surrendred to the Admiral Chastilion to the use of the Princes After which followed the surrendry of Baieux Faleise S. Lod's and divers other Towns and Castles The Town of Har●flew on the Seine was gallantly taken by the help of the English of Newhaven on the tenth of March and garrisoned by such Souldiers and Inhabitants as were sent from thence These successes amazed the Guisian faction that they agreed unto an Edict of Pacification by the which the French forces were restored to the King's Favour the Hugonots to the free exercise of their own Religion But they must buy this happiness by betraying the English whom they had brought into the Countrey and joyn their forces with the rest to drive them out of New-haven if they would not yield it on demand The French closely besiege the Town and the Plague raging sore among the English they capitulate and leave the Town to the French on July the twenty ninth and carry the Plague with them into England The Pope was so incensed against Queen Elizabeth that he dispatched a commission to the Fathers of Trent to proceed to an excommunication Hist Concil 〈◊〉 of the Queen of England But the Emperour Ferdinand wrote Letters both to the Pope and to the Legates in which he signified unto them That if the Council would not yield that fruit which was desired at least they should not give occasion to the Hereticks to unite themselves more which certainly they would do in case they proceeded so against the Queen of England by means whereof they would undoubtedly make a league against the Catholicks Hereupon the Pope desisted at Rome and revoked his Commission sent before to the Legates at Trent The Plague brought out of France by the Garrison Souldiers of New-haven had so dispersed it self and made such desolation in many parts of England that it swept away above twenty thousand of the City of London which was the greatest at that time which any man living could remember Soon after this the Queen makes peace with France Then the Queen went in progress to take the pleasures of the Countrey and visited the University of Cambridge where being with all kinds of honour received by the Students and delighted with Comedies Tragedies and Scholastical disputations she survayed every Colledge and in a Latine Oration takes her leave of Cambridge giving them encouragement to pursue their Studies The English Bishops being impowered by their Canons began to shew their Authority in urging the Clergy of their Diocesses to subscribe to the Liturgy Rites and discipline of the Church and such as refused the same were branded with the name of Puritans The Non-conformists in this Age were divided into two Ranks some mild and moderate contented onely to enjoy their own conscience Others fierce and fiery to the di●turbance of Church and State saith Fuller Among the former was Father John Fox for so Queen Elizabeth termed him summoned to subscribe by Archbishop Parker The old man produced the New Testament in Greek To this saith he will I subscribe But when a subscription to the Canons was subscribed of him he refused it saying I have nothing in the Church save a Prebend at Salisbury and much good may it do you if you will take it away from me However such respect did the Bishops most formerly his fellow-exiles bear to his Age parts and pains that he continued his place till the day of his death With Mr. Fox we may joyn his dear friend Laurence Humfery who was Regius Prof●ssor of Divinity in Oxford But such was his quiet carriage that notwithstanding his non-subscribing he kept his Professors place and Deanery of Winchester as long as he lived A second sort of Non-conformists were fierce sticklers against Church-discipline we will begin with Anthony Gilby bred in Christ's Colledge in Cambridge His fierceness against the Ceremonies ●ake from his own pen They are saith he known Liveries of An●●christ accursed leaven of the blasphemous popish Priest-hood cursed patches of Popery and Idolatry c. William Whittingham succeeds who after his return from his exile in Germany was made Dean of Durham Christopher Goodman is the third who wrote a book stuffed with much dangerous Doctrine wherein he maintained that Sir Thomas Wait was no Traitor that his cause was God's c. These three saith Mr. Fuller were the Antesignani of the fierce Non-conformists for David Whitehead is not mentioned with them Yet find we none of them silenced Onely we meet with Thomas Sampson Dean of Christ-church in Oxford who was displaced out of his Deanery for his Non-conformity This Deanery was then conferred on Dr. Thomas Godwin Chaplain in Ordinary to the Queen who was after advanced to the Bishoprick of Bath and Wells who was Father to Francis Godwin late Bishop of Landaff the Author of the Catalogue of the English Bishops Bullinger and Gualter two Divines of Switzerland men eminent in all points of Learning being sollicited by some zealous brethren to signifie their judgement in the present controversie about the Habit of the Clergy return an approbation of it but send the same enclosed to Sandy's Horn and Grindal Now the Queen thought fit to make a further signification of Her Royal Pleasure legally declared by Her Commissioners for causes Ecclesiastical according to the Acts and Statutes made in that behalf The Archbishop is thereupon required to consult together with such Bishops and Commissioners as were next at hand upon the making of such Rules and O●ders as they thought necessary for the peace of the Church with reference to the present estate thereof Which being accordingly performed presented to the Queen and by her approved the said Rules and Orders were set forth and published in a certain Book Entitled Advertisements partly for due Order in the publick Administration of the Common-prayers and using the holy Sacraments and partly for the Apparel of all Persons Ecclesiastical by vertue of the Queen's Majestie 's Letters Commanding the same January fifteenth c. In this year 1564. died the Emperour Ferdinand and Mr. John Calvin What Peter Lombard was esteemed to be in the Schools at Rome the same was Calvin reckoned to be in all those Churches which were Reformed according to the Zuinglian Doctrine in the point of the Sacrament Yet the Royal and Prelatical Divines conceived otherwise H●y●in's Hist of Q. 〈◊〉 of him saith Dr. Heylin and the learned Adrian Seravia though by birth a Dutch●an Yet being once preferred in the Church of England could not endure to be called Calvinian About the middle of February the Lord Darly came to the Court of Scotland who being not fully twenty years old of lovely person sweet behaviour and a most
the Queen whom he had heard to be one of the Innovators Being cast into the Tower of London he slew one of his Keepers with a Billet which he snatched up out of the Chimney for which he was condemned of murther had his right hand cut off and nailed to the Gallows and then he was hanged In the year 1574. certain Ministers of London were deluded by a Maid which counterfeited her self to be possessed of the Devil So powerful was the party of the Non-conformists grown at this time that Doctor Humfrey then President of Maudlins and Mr. John Fox himself both which scrupled subscription in some particulars were deserted by them as luke-warm and remiss in the cause Coleman Burton Hallingham Benson out-did all of their own Opinions Then died Matthew Parker Archbishop of Canterbury an excellent Antiquary a great Benefactor to Bennet-colledge in Cambridge on which he bestowed many Manuscripts Edmond Grindal succeeded him in his place Not long after died James Pilkinton Bishop of Durham He was as appeareth by many of his Letters a great conniver at Non conformity The same year died Edward Deering an eminent Divine born of an ancient Family in Kent bred Fellow of Christ's-colledge in Cambridge a pious and painful Preacher but disaffected to Bishops and Ceremonies Rowland Jenkes a Popish Bookseller was indicted at the Summer-Assizes in Oxford for dispersing of scandalous Pamphlets defamatory to the Queen and State Then the Queen laboureth to compound the Netherland differences but it had little effect She relieveth the Estates and the Prince of Orange with twenty thousand pounds of English money upon condition they should neither change their Religion nor their Prince nor receive the French into the Netherlands Then one Cuthbert Mayn a Priest was drawn hanged and quartered at Launston in Cornwal for his obstinate maintaining of the Papal power and Trugion a Gentleman of that Countrey which had harboured him was turned out of his Estate and condem●ed to perpetual imprisonment In this year 1577. died Nicholas Bullingham Bishop of Worcester And the same year died William Bradbridge Bishop of Exeter and Edmond Guest Bishop of Salisbury Anno 1579. died Richard Cheiney Bishop of Bristol Robert Horn Bishop of Winchester succeeded Thomas Centham Bishop of Coventry and Litchfield followed him And not long after died Richard Cox Bishop of Ely Now the Sect called The Family of Love began to grow so numerous that the Privy Council thought fit to endeavour their suppression They perswaded their followers That those only were elected and to be saved which were admitted into that Family and all the rest Reprobates and to be damned and that it was lawful for them to deny upon their Oath before a Magistrate whatsoever they list Of this Fanatical vanity they dispersed Books among their followers translated out of the Dutch Tongue into English which they entitled The Gospel of the Kingdo● Docu●ental Sentences The Prophesy of the Spirit of Love The pub●ishing of Peace upon Earth The Author was Henry Nic●olas of L●rden who blasphemously said That he did partake of God and God of his Humanity This Man came over into England in the Reign of King Edward the Sixth joyned himself to the Dutch Congregation in London where he seduced many Artificers and silly Women among The Ab●●ration may be read in F●●●er church Hist ●● A● 1580. whom two Daughters of one Warwick to whom he dedicated an Epistle were his principal P●rverts Mr. Martin Micronius and Mr. Nicholas Charineus then the Ministers of the Dutch Congregation zealously confuted his errors but it seems their Antidotes pierced not so deep as his Poysons The Privy Council now tendred unto them an Abjuration but with what success we find not The Queen commanded by Proclamation That the Civil Magistrate should be assistant to the Ecclesiastical for the timely suppressing of them and that their Books should be burnt Then divers Seminary Priests were sent forth into several parts of England and Ir●land to administer as they pretended the Sacraments of the Romish Religion and to preach But the Queen and her Council found that they were sent under-hand to withdraw the Subjects from their Allegiance and Obedience due to their Prince to bind them by Reconciliation to perform the Pope's Commandements to raise intestine Rebellion under the Seal of Confession and flatly to execute the Sentence of Pope Pius the Fifth against the Queen To these Seminaries for as much as there were sent daily out of England from the Papists very many Boys and young Men of all sorts and admitted into the same making a Vow to return and others from thence crept secretly into England there came forth a Proclamation in the month of June That whosoever had Children Pupils Kinsmen or others in the parts beyond the Seas should after ten dayes deliver their names to the Ordinary and to those which returned not they should not directly or indirectly supply any money That no Man should entertain in his ho●se or lodge Priests sent forth of the Seminaries and Jesuits or cherish and relieve them And whosoever did the contrary should be accounted a favourer of Rebels c. But Robert Parsons and Edmond Campian Jesuits living at Rome 〈◊〉 's Hist of Queen E●i Anno 1580. obteined of the Pope license to come over into England Parsons was born in Sommerset-shire of Baliol-colledge in Oxford a man of a fierce nature and rude behaviour he professed openly the Protestants Religion until he was for his dishonesty expelled the University then fled he to the Papists Campian was born in London and bred in St. John's-colledge in Oxford one of a sweet nature and fluent tongue These two notably advanced the Roman cause● travelling up and down the Countrey secretly and to Popish Gentlemens houses in disguised habits sometimes of Souldiers sometimes of Gentlemen sometimes of Ministers of the Word sometimes of Apparitors Campian by a Writing set forth challenged the Ministers of the English Church to a Disputation and published a Book in Latin of ten Reasons for maintenance of the Doctrine of the Church of Rome and Parsons another virulent Book in English against Chark who had written soberly against Campian's challenge But to Campian's Reasons Whitaker answered soundly He was taken a year after and put to the rack and afterwards being brought forth to dispute hardly maintained the expectation raised of him Parsons hardly escaping at Norwich in Cheshire politickly returneth to Rome This year Edmond Grindal Archbishop of Canterbury groaning under the Queens displeasure was forbidden access to the Convocation But a Petition was drawn up in the name of the whole Convocation for the restitution of the Archbishop by Toby Matthew Dean of Christ-church This Petition after delayes ended in a final denial it being daily suggested to the Queen that Grindal was a great Patron of Prophecyings now set up in several parts of the Land which if permitted would in fine prove the bane of the Church and State These
That the faithful ought not to communicate with unlearned Ministers although they may be present at their service c. V. That the calling of Bishops is unlawful VI. That as they deal in Causes Ecclesiastical there is no duty belonging unto nor any publickly to be given them VII That it is not lawful to be Ordained Ministers by them or to denounce either Suspensions or Excommuntcations sent from them VIII That it is not lawful to rest in the Bishop's deprivation of any from the Ministry c. IX That it is not lawful to appear in a Bishop's Court but with protestation of their unlawfulness X. That Bishops are not to be acknowledged either for Doctors Elders or Deacons as having no ordinary calling XI That touching the restauration of their Ecclesiastical Discipline it ought to be taught to the people as occasion shall serve XII That as yet the people are not to be solicited publickly to the practice of the Discipline till they be better instructed in the knowledge of it XIII That men of better understanding are to be allured privately to the present embracing of the discipline and practice 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 essential 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 Master Cartwright and others and afterwards tendred far and near to the several Classes for a general ratification of all the brethren After a solemn humiliation of the Ministers at Northampton one Mr. Johnson formerly a Non-conformist but afterwards falling from that side discovered many passages to their disadvantage in the High-commission Court This year also the Popish Clergy set forth a Book called the Admonition Watson Q●od●●●t● d●spe●sed among the Papists and much cried up But the Spanish Navy presently miscarying after it's publishing Rarsons procured the whole impression to be burnt save some few sent abroad aforehand to his friends that it might not remain a monument of their falshood This year died Edwyn Sandys Archbishop of York an excellent Preacher and of a pious Life and Dr. Laurence Humfrey President of Magdalen Colledge On September 1. 1596. Mr. Cartwright was brought before the Queen's Commissioners there to take his Oath and give in his positive answer to divers Articles objected against him The Articles were tendred to him in the Consistory of St. Paul's before John Elmar Bishop of London the two Lord Chief Justices Justice Gawdy Serjeant Puckering afterward Lord Keeper and Attorney General Popham The Commissioners assured him on their credits that by the Laws of the Realm he was to take his Oath and to answer as he was required But Mr. Cartwright pleaded That he thought he was not bound by the Laws of God so to do Hereupon he was sent to the Fleet unto the rest of his Brethren Now the main pillars of the Presbyterian party being some in Prison more in Trouble all in Fear applied themselves by their secret solicitors to James King of Scotland and procured his Letter to the Queen in their behalf But this Letter prevailed little But Archbishop Whitgift on Mr. Cartwright's general promise to be quiet procured his dismission out of the Star-chamber and prison wherein he was confined And henceforward Mr. Cartwright became very peaceable Then one Hacket born at Owndle in Northampton-shire undertook to be a discoverer of and Informer against Recusants a confident Fellow one that was great with Wigginton and that Faction Always Inculcating that some extraordinary course must be presently taken with the obstructors of the Genevian discipline Once he desperatley took his dagger and violently struck it into the picture of the Queen He pretended also Revelations Immediate Raptures and Discourses with God as also to Buffetings of Satan attesting the truth thereof with most direful Oathes and Execrations He railed also against Archbishop Whitgift and Chancellor Hatton with other privy Counsellors pretending himself sent from Heaven to reform Church and State He gave it out that the principal Spirit of the Messias rested in him and had two Attendants Edmond Coppinger the Queen's Servant and one of good descent for his Prophet of Mercy And Henry Arthington a York-shire Gentleman for his Prophet of Judgment These Proclaimed in Cheap-side That Christ was come in Hacket with his fan in his hand to purge the godly from the wicked c. They cried Repent Repent c. The next day all three were sent to Bridewel Hacket was arraigned drawn hanged and quartered continuing even at his death his blasphemous assertions Coppinger starved himself to death in prison Arthington made his Recantation in a publick writing and became the object of the Queen's mercy This accident was unhappily improved against the Non-conformists and rendred them so hated a● Court that for many months together no favourite durst present a petition in their behalf to the Queen being loth to lose himself to save others The same day wherein Hacket was executed Mr. Stone Parson of F●ller Church Hist C●nt 16. l. 9. Warkton in Northampton-shire by vertue of an Oath tendred him the day before by the Queen's Attorney and solemnly taken by him was examined by the Examiner for the Star-chamber in Grays Inn from six a clock in the morning untill seven at night to answer unto thirty three Articles but could onely effectually depose to some of them but by his confession he discovereth the meetings of the Brethren with the circumstances thereof the Classes more formally setled in Northampton-shire than any where else in England When the news of Mr. Stone 's answer was brought abroad he was generally censured by most of his party So that he found it necessary in his own vindication to impart the reasons of his Confession to such as condemned him if not for a Traitor at least for a coward in the cause What satisfaction this gave to his party I know not Certainly the Bishop till his dying day beheld him as an ingenuous man carrying his conscience with the reason thereof in his own breast He was permitted peaceably to possess his Parsonage being none of the meanest though he continued a stiff Non-conformist onely quietly enjoying his own opinion He died an old man at Warkton Anno 1617. Stone 's discovery marred for the future all their formal meetings as Classically or Synodically methodized Then began the foundation of an University in Dublin in Ireland Henry Vsher then Archdeacon of Dublin afterwards Archbishop of Armagh and Unckle to James Vsher late Archbishop thereof took a journey into England and procured the Mortmain from Queen Elizabeth who graciously granted it naming the corporation Collegium Sanctae ac Individuae Trinitatis ex fundatione Reginae Elizibethae juxta Dublin The Lord Burgley is appointed first Chancellor of the University Sir William Fitz-Williams
Lord Debuty of Ireland issued out his Letters to all the Counties in Ireland to advance so good a design The Irish Papists were very bountiful thereunto The Mayor and Aldermen of Dublin Sir Warham St. Leger Sir Francis Shane Robert D'eureux Earl of Essex afterwards Lord Lieutenant of Ireland and second Chancellor of this University were Benefactors to it King James confirmed the revenues of this Colledge in perpetuum endowing it with good Lands in the Province of Vlster Adam Loftus Archbishop of Dublin and Chancellor of Ireland was the first Master of the Colledge Mr. Luke Chaloner received and disbursed the moneys had the oversight of the Fabrick which he faithfully procured to be finished The first stone in this foundation was laid March 13. 1591. and in the year 1593. Scholars were first admitted and the first of them James Vsher since Bishop of Armagh that mirrour of Learning and Religion Now began a sad contest betwixt Mr. Richard Hooker Master and Mr. Walter Travers Lecturer of the Temple Hooker was born in Devonshire bred in Oxford Fellow of Corpus Christi Colledge one of a solid Judgment and great Reading A great defender both by Preaching and Writing of the Discipline of the Church of England yet never got nor cared to get any eminent dignity therein Mr. Travers was bred up in Trinity Colledge in Cambridge Travers travelling to Geneva contracted familiarity with Beza and other forreign Divines Then returned He and commenced Batchelor of Divinity in Cambridge and after that went beyond Sea again and at Antwerp was ordained Minister by the Presbytery there where he continued some years and Preached with Mr. Cartwright unto the English Factory of Merchants untill at last he came over into England and for seven years together became Lecturer in the Temple refusing all presentative preferment to decline subscription and lived Domestick Chaplain in the house of the Lord Treasurer Cecil being Tutor for a time to Robert his Son afterwards Earl of Sarisbury Yea now so great grew the credit of Mr. Travers that by the advice of Mr. Andrew Melvin he and Mr. Cartwright were solemnly sent for to be Divinity-professors in the University of St. Andrews This proffer being joyntly refused Travers quietly continued Lecturer in the Temple till Mr. Hooker became the Master thereof Mr. Hooker's voice was low stature little gesture none at all standing still in the Pulpit His stile was long and pithy so that when the copiousness of his stile met not with proportionable capacity in his Auditors it was unjustly censured for tedious and obscure His Sermons were for the most part on Controversies and deep points of School-divinity Mr. Travers his utterance was graceful gesture plausible matter profitable and method plain But these two Preachers acted with different Principles and clashed one against another so that what Mr. Hooker delivered in the Fore-noon Mr. Travers confuted in the After-noon Here Archbishop Whitgift interposed his power and silenced Travers from Preaching in the Temple or any where else Travers Petitions the Lords of the Council his Petition is publickly extant in Print with Master Hooker's answer thereunto But Mr. Travers notwithstanding his friends at Court was over-born by the Archbishop Adam Loftus Archbishop of Dublin and Chancellor of Ireland invited him over to be Provost of Trinity Colledge in Dublin Embracing the motion he accepted the place and continued some years therein till for fear of their Civil Wars he returned into England and lived here many years after very obscurely In the year 1592. In London more than ten thousand died of the Plague and among them Reverend Mr. Richard Greenham He was one that always bitterly inveighed against Non-residents he ended his days at Christ Church in London Mr. Vdal was indicted and arraigned at Croidon for defaming the Queen her Government in a Book by him written and entitled A Demonstration of the Discipline which Christ hath prescribed in his Word for the Government of his Church in all times and places unto the World's end But the mortal words as they may be termed are in the Preface of the Book written To the supposed Governours of the Church of England Archbishops Bishops c. and are inserted in the Body of his indictment To this Indictment he pleaded Not guilty denying himself to be the Author of the Book Next day he was cast by the Jury but was remanded to the Marshalsey March following he was brought again to the bar before the Judges to whom he had privately presented a Petition with all advantage but it found no entertainment insomuch that in this moneth of March he at the Assizes held in Southwark was there condemned to be executed for a Felon Various were mens Censures on these proceedings against him The proof was not pregnant saith Mr. Fuller and it is generally believed that he made onely the Preface out of which his indictment was chiefly framed and not the body of the Book laid to his charge But without any other sickness save heart-broken with sorrow he died peaceably in his bed The Ministers of London flocked to his Funeral and he was decently interred in the Church-yard of St. George in Southwark not far from Bishop Bonner's grave He was Father to Ephraim Vdal a pious and solid Divine but in point of Discipline differing in Opinion from his Father Anno 1593. Henry Barrow Gentleman and John Greemoood Clerk were condemned and executed at Tyburn for writing certain Seditious Pamphlets And not long after John Penry a Welch-man was arraigned and condemned of Felony at the King's Bench Bar for being a principal penner and publisher of a Libellous Book called Martin-mar-prelate and executed at St. Thomas Waterings This year Queen Elizabeth took her last farewel of Oxford where a Sir John Haringt addit supply to Bish Godwin p. 134. Divinity-Act was kept for her Next day her Highness made a Latin Oration to the Heads of Houses in which she gave a check to Dr. Rainolds for his Non-conformity The same year died John Piers Archbishop of York highly esteemed by Queen Elizabeth whose Almoner he was many years and John Elmar Bishop of London He was one of a low stature but stout spirit a witty man a stiff-champion of the Church-discipline on which account none was more mocked by Martin-mar-prelat or hated by Non-conformists Of the Papists died Anno 1594. two principal pillars beyond the Seas first William Rose bred in Winchester-school then in New-colledge in Oxford He went to Rome and there solemnly abjured the Protestant Religion from Rome he removed to Rhemes in France where he became Professor of Divinity and Hebrew in the English Colledge He died at Antwerp in the fiftieth year of his Age as he was making a Book called Calvino-Turcismus which after by his dear friend William Gifford was finished set forth and dedicated to Albert Duke of Austria Cardinal William Allen died also the same year The King of Spain bestowed on him an Abbey in the
quietly digested the Ceremonies of the Church About this time a Petition called the Millenary Petition for Reformation was solemnly presented to his Majesty in the name of the Ministers of the Church of England desiring Reformation of certain Ceremonies and abuses of the Church Subscribed Your Majesties most humble Subjects the Ministers of the Gospel that desire not a disorderly Innovation but a due and godly Reformation The Episcopal party gave this Petition a lash some with their Pens more with their Tongues The Universities were justly netled thereat Cambridge passed a Grace in their Congregation That whosoever in their Vniversity should by word or writing oppose the received Doctrine and Discipline of England or any part thereof should be suspended from their former and excluded from all future Degrees Oxford followed making a sharp and strong confutation of the Petition After his Majesty had discountenanced it some of the opposite party maintained That now the property thereof was altered from a Petition to a Libel Soon after died Archbishop Whitgift of the Palsey and was buried at Croidon the Earl of Worcester and Lord Zouch his Pupils attending his Herse and Bishop Babington his Pupil also made his Funeral Sermon Richard Bancroft Bishop of London brought up in Jesus-colledge succeeded him in the Archbishoprick Now a Parliament was assembled in which it was enacted That neither the King himself nor his Successors should be capable of any Church-land to be conveyed unto them otherwise than for three lives or twenty one years Thus the King was pleased to bind himself for the liberty of the Church and hereby he eased himself of many troublesome Suitors In the Convocation many Canons were made A Book of Canons was compiled not only being the sum of the late Queens Articles Orders of her Commissioners Canons of 1571. and 1597. which were in use before but also many more were added the whole number amounting unto 141 An explanation was made in one of the Canons of the use of the Cross in Baptism Bishop Rudd of St. Davids opposed the Oath of Simony Anno 1564. the Family of Love presented a tedious Petition to King James wherein by fawning expressions they seek to insinuate themselves into his Majesties good opinion We find not what effect this Petition produced This year died two Romanists beyond Sea much lamented one Richard Hall bred in Christ's-colledge in Cambridge whence he ran over to Rome and after died Canon and Official at St. Omers Cathedral The other Humfrey Ely born in Hereford-shire Fellow of St. John's-colledge in Oxford whence going beyond Sea at Rome he commenced Doctor of Law and afterwards died Professor thereof in the University of Ponta M●u●an in the Dutchy of Lorrain Now the Romish Cotholicks despairing of getting any free and publick exercise of their Religion some of them entred into a devilish Conspiracy to blow up the Parliament House with Gunpowder In this Plot were engaged Robert Catesby Thomas Piercy Sir Everard Digby Francis Tresham Thomas Winter John Wright Christopher Wright Ambrose Rookwood Robert Keys Robert Winter John Grant Thomas Bates Catesbies man Guido Faux The principal Contriver of this Plot was Robert Catesby a Gentleman of good account in Northampton-shire who drew in many other Papists to assist him Gerard tyeth them together with an Oath of secrecy Garnet and Tismond encourage the design But here an important scruple was injected how to part their Friends from their Foes in the Parliament Here Garnet instead of untying cut this knot asunder That in such a case as this it was lawful to kill Friend and Foe together Now though these Plotters intended at last with honour to own the Action when success had secured all things yet they purposed when the blow was first given to father the fact upon those that were called Puritans But for the discovery of this Plot God's Providence so ordered it that a Letter was framed and sent to the Lord Mounteagle brought him by one of his Footmen which he received from an unknown man in the street in manner following My Lord out of the love I bear to some of your Friends I have a care of your preservation Therefore I would advise you as you tender your life to forbear your attendance at this Parliament for God and man have concurred to punish the wickedness of this time And think not slightly of this advertisement but retire your self into your Countrey where you may expect the event in safety for though there be no appearance of any stir yet I say they shall receive a terrible blow this Parliament and yet they shall not see who hurts them This counsel is not to be contemned because it may do you good and can do you no harm for the danger is past as soon as you have burnt the Letter And I hope God will give you the grace to make use of it to whose holy protection I commend you The Lord Mounteag'e communicates the Letter to the Earl of Sarisbury He to the King who on the second perusal expounded the mystical blow meant therein must be by Gunpowder and gives order for searching the Rooms under the Parliament House The first search about evening discovered nothing but Percie 's Cellar full of Wood and Johnson his man under that name was Faux disguised attending therein At midnight a more strict and secret search was made by Sir Thomas Fuller Church Hist Knevet Gentleman of his Majesty's Privy Chamber and others in the Vault under the Parliament House There was quickly discovered a pile of fewel faced over with Billets lined under with thirty six Barrels of Powder besides Iron bars to make the force of the sire more effectual Guido Faux was apprehended in the outward room with a dark Lanthorn in his hand and three Matches ready to give fire to the Train Mean-time Catesby Percy Rookwood both the Wrights and Thomas Winter were hovering about London to attend the issue of the matter They and their Servants post down into the Countrey through Warwick-shire Worcester-shire into Stafford-shire Sir Richard Verney High Sheriff of Warwick-shire chased them from thence and Sir Robert Walsh Sheriff of Worcester-shire overtook them at Holbeck in Stafford-shire the House of Mr. Stephen Littleton where upon their resistance the two Wrights were killed Rookwood and Thomas Winter grievously wounded Percy and Catesby setting back to back fought desperately against all that assaulted them after many Swords drawn upon them they were both slain with one shot of a Musquet Francis Tresham was taken about the Court and sent to the Tower where he confessed all and within a few dayes after died of the Strangury The rest were solemnly arraigned convicted condemned at London Jan. 30. First Sir Everard Digby Robert Winter Grant and Bates were hanged drawn and quartered at the West-end of St. Paul's Three of them but especially Sir Everard Digby died very penitently Grant expressed most obstinacy at his death The next day Thomas Winter Ambrose
Bishop might be sent over into England there to ordain Priests give Confirmation and exercise Episcopal jurisdiction Among others Matthew Kellison and Richard Smith were presented Not long after Pope Vrban the Eighth created Richard Smith Bishop of Calcedon and sent him into England with Episcopal Authority over the Priests within the English Dominions King James after he had been troubled with a Tertian Fever four weeks at Theobalds called unto him his onely Son Prince Charles to whom he recommended the protection of the Church of England c. and died on the seven and twentieth day of March He Reigned twenty two years and three days The sad news of King James his death was brought to White-hall when Dr. Laud Bishop of St. David's was Preaching therein This caused him to break off his Sermon in the midst thereof out of civil compliance with the sadness of the Congregation And the same day was King Charles Proclaimed at Whitehall Shortly after King James his death Bishop Laud delivered to the hands of the Duke of Buckingham brief memorables of the Life and Death of King James On May fourteenth following King James his Funerals were performed very solemnly in the Collegiate-church at Westminster King Charles in his own person mournfully attended the Funerals of his Father Dr. Williams Lord Keeper and Bishop of Lincoln Preached the Sermon taking for his Text 2 Chron 9. 29 30 and part of vers 31. containing the happy Reign quiet Death and stately Burial of King Solomon In this Sermon he made a parallel between two peaceable Princes King Solomon and King James adding that Solomon's vices could be no blemish to King James who resembled him onely in his choycest vertues Doctor Preston still continued and increased in the favour of the King and the Duke of Buckingham Then a Book came forth called Apello Caesarem made by Mr. Mountague then Fellow of Eaton upon this occasion He had lately written Satyrically enough against the Papists in confu●ation of The Gagger of the Protestants Now two Divines of Norwich Diocese Mr. Yates and Mr. Ward inform against him for deserting our Cause instead of defending it Mr. Mountague in his own Vindication writes a second Book licensed by Francis White D●an of Carlile finished and partly Printed in the Reign of King James Many bitter passages in this his Book gave great exception At that time a Schedule was delivered to the Duke wherein the names Rushw Collect An. 162● ● of Ecclesiastical persons were written under the letters of O and P O standing for Orthodox and P. for Puritans for the Duke commanded that the names of eminent persons to be presented unto the King should be thus digested under that partition On Sunday June 12. Queen Mary landed at Dover Next day the King coming from Canterbury met her at Dover Thence his Majesty conducted the Queen to Canterbury and the same Evening the Marriage was there consummated On June 16. the King and Queen came both to London A Chappel at Sommerset-house was built for the Queen and her Family with conveniences thereto adjoyning for Capuchin Friers who were therein placed and had permission to walk abroad in their Religious habits Then began a Parliament at London wherein the first Statute agreed upon was for the more strict observation of the Lord's day Sir Edward Coke went to the House of Peers with a message from the Commons desiring their concurrence in a petition concerning Religion and against Recusants which being agreed to and presented to the King his Majesty answered That he was glad that the Parliament was so forward in matters of Religion and assured them they should find him as forward Mr. Richard Mountague was brought to the Bar of the Commons House for his Book fore-mentioned which was Printed and dedicated to King Charles But the King res●ued him from the House of Commons by taking Mr. Mountague's business into his own hand The Plague increasing in London the Parliament removed to Oxford where Doctor Chalenor died of that infection The Parliament to prevent the growth of Popery presented a petition to his Majesty containing sixteen particulars to which they received a satisfactory answer from the King Mr. Mountagues cause was recommended to the Duke of Buckingham by the Bishops of Rochester Oxford and St. Davids as the cause of the Church of England They affirm boldly that they cannot conceive what use there can be of Civil Government in the Common-wealth or of external Ministry in the Church if such fatal Opinions as some are which are opposite to those of Mr. Mountague be publickly taught and maintained But other Learned men were of a different judgement At Oxford in a late Divinity disputation held upon this Question Whether a Regenerate man may fall away totally and finally from Grace The Opponent u●ging the Appeal to Caesar the Doctor of the Chair handled the Appellator very roughly saying That he was a man that studied phrases more than matter That he understood neither Articles nor Homilies or at least perverted both That he attributed he knew not what vertue to the sign of the Cross and concluded with an Admonition to the Juniors That they should be wary of reading that and the like Books The King according to his late answer to the Parliament at Oxford issued out a Commission to the Judges to see the Law against Recusants put in Execution This was read in all the Courts of Judicature at Reading where Michaelmas Term was kept and a letter directed to the Archbishop of Canterbury to take special care for the discovery of Jesuites Seminary Priests c. within his Province In this and the next year many Books from persons of several abilities and professions were written against Mr. Mountague by Dr. Sutcliff Dean of Exeter Mr. Henry Burton Mr. Yates a Minister of Norfolk his Book he entitled Ad Caesarem ibis Dr. Carleton Bishop of Chichester Anthony Wotton Divinity-professor in Gresham Colledge and Mr. Francis Rowse a Lay-man His Majesty sensible of his Subjects great distast at Mr. Mountague's Book resolved to leave him to stand or fall according to the justness of his Cause The Duke imparted as much to the Bishop of St. David's who conceived it of such ominous concernment that he entred the same in his Diary viz. I seem to see a cloud arising and threatning the Church of England God for his mercy dissipate it The King issued forth a Proclamation Whereby he commanded the return within limited time of all such Children of Noble-men and other his natural Subjects who were now breeding up in Schools and Seminaries and other Houses of the Popish Religion beyond the Seas That their Parents Tutors and Governors take present order to recal them home and to provide that they return by the day prefixt at the utmost severity of his Majestie 's Justice He commanded further That no Bishop Priest or any other person having taken Orders under any Authority derived from the See of
gratitude to his memory and retained his youthful and Poetical studies fresh in his old age Mr. Richard Mountague one of a differing judgement succeeded in his See At the same time the Rich Parsonage of Stanford-rivers in Essex was conferred on Dr. Manwaring as voyd by Bishop Mountague's preferment A Proclamation came forth declaring the King's pleasure for proceedings with Popish Recusants and directions to his Commissioners for making Compositions for two parts of three of their estates which by Law were due to His Majesty Nevertheless for the most part they got off upon easie terms by reason of compositions at undervalues Dr. Barnaby Potter is now made Bishop of Carlile This was seconded with another Proclamation commanding that diligent search be made for all Priests and Jesuites particularly the Bishop of Calc●don and others that have taken Orders by Authority from the See of Rome that they be apprehended and committed to the Gaol of that County where they shall be found Smith the titular Bishop of Calc●don hereupon conveyed himself over into France where he became a confident of Cardinal Richlieu's This year died Toby Mathew Archbishop of York George Mountain succeeded him but died a few moneths after During the sitting of t●e Parliament one Dr Leighton a Scottish man presented a Book unto them exciting the Parliament and people to kill all the Bishops and to smite them under the fifth Rib. He bitterly inveighed against the Queen calling her a Daughter of Heth a Canaanite and Idolatress and Zions plea was the specious title of his Pamphlet for which he was sentenced in the Star-chamber to be whipt and stigmatized to have his ears cropt and nose slit which censure was inflicted on him On August 23. 1628. The Duke of Buckingham was Murthered at Portsmouth by one Lieutenant Felton After the death of the Duke the King highly favoured Dr. Laud Bishop of London to whom he sent many gratious messages Some three years since certain Feoffees were legally setled in trust to purchase in Impropriations with their own and other well-disposed persons money and with their profit to set up and maintain a constant Preaching Ministry in places of greatest need where the word was most wanting The Feoffes were twelve in number diversly qualified Doctors in Divinity William Gouge Richard Sibbs Charles Off-spring John Davenport of Lincolns Inne Ralph Eyre Sa. Brown C. Sherland of Grays Inne John White of the Middle Temple Citizens John Gearing Richard Davis Geo. Harwood Francis Bridges It is incredible what large summs were advanced in a short time toward so laudable a work In March Bishop Davenant preaching his course on a Sunday in Lent at White-hall before the King and Court In his Sermon he was conceived to fall on some forbidden points insomuch that his Majesty manifested much displeasure thereat for which he is convented before the Council where Dr. Harsenet Archbishop of York aggravated his offence His answer was that he had delivered nothing but the received Doctrine of our Church established in the seventeenth Article and that he was ready to justifie the truth of what he had then taught Their answer was the Doctrine was not gain-said but his Highness had given Command these questions should not be debated and therefore he took it more offensively that any should be so bold as in his own hearing to break his Royal Commands Here the Archbishop of York aggravated the offence from many other Circumstances His Reply was on●ly this That he never underst●od that his Majesty had forbid a handling of any Doctrine comprised in the Articles of ou● Church but onely raising of new questions or adding of new sense thereunto which he had not done nor ever should do An●o 1630. died Thomas Dove Bishop of Peterborough The Nonconformists complained of his severity in asserting Ecclesiastical discipline He was an aged man being the onely Queen Elizabeth's Bishop that died in the Reign of King Charles Anno 1631. began great discontents to grow in the University of Oxford 〈◊〉 Church 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1●31 Many conceived that Innovations defended by others for Renovations and now onely reduced as used in the primitive times were multiplied in Divine Service Whereat offended they in their Sermons brake forth into what was interpreted bitter invectives Dr. Smith Wa●den of Wadham-colled●e convented Mr Thorn of Baliol-colledge and Mr. Fo●d of Magdalen hall as offenders against the King's Instructions and ordered them to bring in the Copies of their Sermons Bishop Laud procured the cause to be heard before the King at Woodstock and 1. The Preachers complained of were expelled the University 2. The Proctors were deprived of their place for accepting their Appeal 3. Dr. Pride●ux and Dr Wilkinson were sh●ewdly checked for engaging in their behalf The expulsion of these Preachers encreased the Differences in Oxford This year died that eminent Preacher Mr. Arthur Hildersam After he had entred into his Ministry he met with many troubles He was silenced by the High Commission in June Anno 1590. and restored by the High Commission in January 1591. He was silenced by Bishop Ch●derton April 24 1605. restored by Bishop Barlow in January 1608. Silenced by Bishop Neile in November 1611. restored by Dr. Ridley June 20. 1625. Silenced by the Court at Leicester Mar. 4. 1630. restored by the same Court 1631. He was Minister of Ashby de la Zou●h forty and three years The same year died Robert Bolton M●nister of Broughton in Northampton-shire an Authoritative Preacher Now a Bill was exhibited in the Exchequer-chamber by Mr. Noy the Attourney-general against the Feoffees for Impropriations It was charged against them that they diverted the Charity wherewith they were intrusted to other uses That they generally preferred Nonconformists to the Lectures of their erection The Court condemned their proceedings as Dangerous to the Church and State pronouncing the Gifts Feoffments and contrivances made to the use aforesaid to be illegal and so dissolved the same confiscating their money to the King's use About this time died Samuel Harsenet Archbishop of York He lies buried at Chigwel Church in Essex where he built a School Now the Sabbatarian controversie began to be revived Theophilus Bradburn a Minister of Suffolk had five years before set forth a book Entitled A defence of the most ancient and Sacred Ordinance of God the Sabbath-day Francis White now Bishop of Ely was employed by his Majesty to confute Mr. Bradburn's erroneous opinion In the writing whereof many strict people were offended at some expressions dropping from his pen. Hereupon many Books were wrote and controversies on this subject were multiplied These were distinguished into three several opinions Sabbatarians Moderate men Anti-sabbatarians In Sommerset-shire some of the Justices were offended at the keeping of Wakes Church-ales c. on the Lord's day which occasioned many disorders to be committed They moved the Lord Chief-justice Richardson and Baron Denham then in their circuit in the Lent-vacation to make some order therein These in
compliance with their desire make an Order to suppress such Revels in regard of the manifold inconveniences daily arising thereby enjoyning the Constables to deliver Sir Rich. Baker's Chro. a Copy thereof to the Minister of every Parish who on the first Sunday in Feburary and likewise the two first Sundays before Easter was to pub●ish the same every year This was looked upon by the Bishops as an Usurpation of Ecclesiastical jurisdiction and they therefore procured a Commission directed to the Bishop of Bath and Wells and other Divines and to enquire into the manner of publishing this Order and the carriage of the Judges in the Business Notwithstanding which the Chief-justice at the next Assizes gave strict charge against the Revels requiring an account of the pub●ication and execution of the former order punishing some persons for the breach thereof This Order was af●erward revoked And hereupon the Justices of that County made an humble supplication to the King for suppressing the foresaid Assemblies In this juncture of time a Declaration for sports on the Lord's day published in the Reign of King James was revived and enlarged This gave great distast to many and some Ministers were suspended and some deprived ab officio beneficio and more vexed in the High-commission All Bishops urged not the reading of the Book with rigour alike nor punished the refusal with equal severity The thickest complaints came from the Diocess of Norwich and of Bath and Wells Much was the Archbishop's moderation in his own Diocese silencing but three in whom also a concurrence of other Non-conformities through the whole extent thereof Here it is much to be lamented that such who at the time of the Sabbatarian controversie were the strictect observers of the Lord's day are now become in another extreme the greatest neglecters yea contemners thereof Now such Irish Impropriations as were in the Crown were by the King restored to the Church to the great Diminishing of the Royal Revenue And Archbishop Laud was a worthy Instrument in moving the King to so pious a work A Convocation concurrent with a Parliament was called and held at Dublin in Ireland wherein the Nine and thirty Articles of the Church of England were received in Ireland for all to subscribe to Dr. William Juxon Bishop of London was made Lord Treasurer of England whose carriage was so discreet in that place that it procured a general love to him Anno 1635. Archbishop Laud kept his Metropolitical Visitation and hence-forward Conformity was more vigorously pressed than before Now many differences about Divine Worship began to arise and many Books were written pro and con One controversie was about the Holyness of our Churches Another about Adoration towards the Altar A Controversie was also started about the posture of the Lord's Boord Communion-table or Altar This last controversie was prosecuted with much needless animosity Indeed if moderate men had had the managing of these matters the accommodation had been easie In June Anno 1636. Mr. Prynne Dr. Bastwick and Mr. Burton were sentenced in the High-commission-court Some three years since Mr. Pyrnne set forth a Book called Histrio-mastrix for which he was censured to lose his ears on the Pillory and for a long-time after two removals to the fleet Imprisoned in the Tower whence he dispersed New Pamphlets against the established Discipline of the Church of England for which he was indited in the Star-chamber Dr. John Bastwick set forth a Book Entitled Flagellum Pontificis Episcoporum latialium in a fluent Latine Style He was accused in the High-commission committed to the Gate-house where he wrote a second Book taxing the injustice of the proceedings of the High-commission for which he was indited in the Star-chamber Mr. Burton Preached a Sermon on the last fifth of November On Prov. 24. 21. My son fear thou the Lord and the King and meddle not with them that are subject to change This Sermon was afterwards Printed charging the Prelats for Introducing several Innovations in Divine Worship for which as a Libel he was indited in the Star-chamber Mr. P●ynne's Plea is rejected and his answer refused so is Dr. Bastwick's and Mr. Burton's is cast out for imperfect The Censure of the Court was that they should lose their ears in the Palace-yard at Westminster fining them also five thousand pounds a man to his Majesty and perpetual Imprisonment in three remote places The Lord Finch added to Mr. Prynne's Censure that he should be branded in each Cheek with S. L. for a slanderous Libeller to which the whole Court agreed Two days after three Pillories were set up in Palace-yard or one double one and a single one at some distance for Mr. Prynne as the chief offender Mr. Burton first suffered making a long speech in the Pillory not entire but interrupted with occasional expressions His ears were cut so close that the Head-artery being cut the blood abundantly streamed down upon the Scaffold at which he did not shrink at all Dr. Bastwick succeeded him His friends highly commended the erection of his mind over pain and shame Others conceived that anger in him acted the part of patience as to the stout undergoing of his sufferings The Censure was with all rigour executed on Mr. Prynne commended more for his kindly patience than either of his Predecessors in that place Not long after they were removed Mr. Prynne to Carnarvan-castle in Wales Dr. Bastwick and Mr. Burton the one to Lancaster-castle the other to Lanceston in Cornwal The two latter again were removed one to the Isle of Scilly the other to the Isle of Gernezey and Mr. Prynne to Mount-orguile-castle in Jersey Next came the Bishop of Lincoln to be Censured in the Star-chamber The Bishop of Lincoln censured After the great Seal some ten years since taken from him he retired himself to Bugden in Huntington-shire where he lived very hospitably and had great concourse Among others Sir John Lamb Dean of the Arches formerly a favourite of the Bishop of Lincoln fetcht off from being prosecuted in Parliament and Knighted by his means with Dr. Sibthorp Allen and Burden two Proctors came to visit him and being at dinner with him there was much discourse about Nonconformists The Bishop knowing these to be busie men in the prosecution of such advised them to take off their heavy hand from them informing them that the King intended to use them hereafter with more mildness c. adding that He had communicated this unto him by his own mouth A few years after Sir John Lamb upon some difference with the Bishop informed against him for revealing the King's secrets whereupon an Information was put in against him in the Star-chamber unto which Bishop Williams by good advice of Counsel did plead and demurre as containing no matter fit for the Cognisance of that Court as concerning word spoken of matters done in Parliament and secrets pretended to be revealed by him a Privy-counsellour and Peer of Parliament and
by Hamilton for such as were Assessors to him took up all their time betwixt their first meeting and their dissolution which was by proclamation solemnly declared on the twenty ninth of the same month But notwithstanding the said dissolution the Members of the said Assembly continued their Session and therein passed many Acts for the utter overthrow of the Polity and Government of the Church They not only excommunicated the Bishops and their Adherents but condemned the very Function it self to be Antichristian and utterly to be abolished out of the Church The like censure also they passed on the service-Service-book and the Canons with the five Articles of Perth and all the Arminian Tenets in case of Predestination and declared all men subject to excommunication and all other censures of the Church who should refuse to yield obedience to all their determinations And albeit his Majesty by the same Proclamation had commanded all his Subjects not to yield obedience to any of their Acts and Ordinances yet those of the Assembly were resolved to maintain their Authority and not only the Bishops and Clergy but also as many of the Laity as had refused to subscribe to the Acts thereof were deprived of their Offices and Preferments banished their Country and forced to fly into England or other places the King being unable to protect them from the power and malice of their Adversaries The King now thinks of raising an Army against the Scots and a Sir Rich. Baker●s Chron. Loan for the King's assistance against the Scots is subscribed by many Lords of the Council and Bishops c. Cardinal Richlieu was no small Incendiary in this business betwixt the King and Scots who sent his Chaplain and Almoner Mr. Thomas Chamberlain a Scotch-man to assist the Confederates in advancing the business and to attempt all wayes of exasperation and not to depart from them till he might return with good news in this project About the latter end of this year died John Spottiswood Archbishop of St. Andrews at London and was buried near unto King James in the Abbey-church of Westminster The King began his journey towards the North on March twenty seven his Army being advanced before the chief command whereof was committed to the Earl of Arundel The Scots presented a Petition to the King at his Camp near Berwick And Commissioners being on both sides appointed they came at last to this conclusion on June 17. viz. first That his Majesty should confirm whatsoever his Commissioner hath already granted in his Majesties name and that from thenceforth all matters Ecclesiastical should be determined by the Assemblies of the Kirk and all matters civil by the Parliament and to that end a General Assembly to be indicted on the sixth of August and a Parliament on the twentieth of the same month in which Parliament an Act of Oblivion was to pass for the common peace and satisfaction of all parties that the Scots upon the publication of the accord should within forty eight hours disband all their Forces discharge all pretended Tables and Conventicles restore unto the King all his Custles Forts and Ammunition of all sorts the like restitution to be made to all his good Subjects of their liberties lands goods c. taken and detained from them since the late pretended General Assembly at Glascow that thereupon the King should presently recal his Fleet and retire his Land-forces and cause restitution to be made to all persons of their goods detained and arrested since the first of February But as for the proceedings of the Assembly at Glascow they seem to have been left in the same condition in which they stood before his Majesties taking Arms. And the King doing nothing to the abrogating of them when he was in the Head of a powerful Army he could not expect that the Scots could yield to any such abrogation when he had no such Army to compel obedience And this immediately appeared on his Majesties signing the Agreement and discharging his Army thereupon For the Covenanters upon the declaration of this accord produced a Protestation First Of adhering to their late General Assembly at Glascow and to all the proceedings there especially the sentences of Deprivation and Excommunication of the sometimes pretended Bishops of that Kingdom as they were termed Secondly Of adhering to their solemn Covenant and declaration of the Assembly whereby the Office of Bishops is abjured Thirdly That the Bishops have been malitious Incendiaries of his Majesty against this Kingdom by their wicked calumnies and that if they return to this Kingdom they be esteemed and used as accursed c. Fourthly That all the entertainers of the excommunicated Bishops should be orderly proceeded against with Excommunication conform to the Acts and Constitutions of this Kirk They continued their Meetings and Consultations as before they did maintained their Fortifications at Leith the Port-town to Edenborough and kept their Officers and Commanders in continual pay His Majesty hereupon sent for some of the Chiefs of them to come unto him to Berwick but was refused in his Commands The Earls of Kinnoul and Traquair Chief Justice Elphinston and Sir James Hamilton all Privy Counsellors were pulled violently out of their Coach on a suspition that some Bishops were disguised among them that the King might have some cause to suspect that there could be no safety for him in such a place and among people so enraged notwithstanding his great clemency toward them in the pacification In this condition of Affairs his Majesty returned toward London in the Heylin's Hist of Archbish Laud. part 2. end of July 1639. leaving the Scots to play their own game as they listed having first nominated Traquair as his High-Commissioner for managing both the Assembly and the following Parliament In the first meeting of the two they acted over all the parts they had plaid at Glascow to the utter abolition of Episcopacy and the ruine of all that adhered to it their actings in it being confirmed in his name by the High-Commission The news whereof caused the King to send for the Lord Wentworth out of Ireland who was presently made Lord Lieutenant of Ireland and not long after with great solemnity created Earl of Strafford in the County of York As Lord Lieutenant he had power to appoint a Deputy that he might the better attend the service here without any prejudice to that Kingdom which Office he committed to Wansford a York-shire Gentleman whom he had took along with him into Ireland at his first going thither His Majesty was pleased to commit the conduct of the Scottish Affairs to a Juncto of three namely the Archbishop of Canterbury the Earl of Strafford and the Marquiss of Hammilton These three move his Majesty to call a Parliament and it was concluded that a Parliament should be called on April 13. 1640. In the mean time the Lord Lieutenant held a Parliament in Ireland and so governed the affair that an Army of eight thousand
on Friday night January 24. 1639. he dreamed that his Father who died 46. years before came to him being to his thinking seemingly well and cheerful that his Father asked him what he did there that after some speech he demanded of his Father how long he would stay there and that his Father made this answer he would stay till he had him along with him Which made such an impression on him that he thought fit to remember this in his Breviate A brute being spread abroad That the late Parliament had been dissolved by his procurement a paper was pasted up at the Exchange by John Lilburn animating the Apprentices to sack his House at Lambeth on the Monday following and that night we was assaulted by five hundred of the Rabble who strove to force an entrance but were repulsed And having fortified his House with some pieces of Canon he with-drew to his Chamber at Whitehall till the Rage of the people was blown over Some of the principal Actors in this Sedition being apprehended and committed to the Goal in Southwark were forcibly delivered by others of their Accomplices who brake open that and all other Prisons in that precinct for which one Benstead one of the Ring leaders was retaken arraigned condemned hanged drawn and quartered on May 21. Yet for all this Libels were scattered against the Archbishop in most parts of the City And his Majesty being then newly gone in person with an Army against the Sco●s about the end of August a paper was dropt in Covent-garden encouraging the Souldiers and Apprentices to fall upon him yet was there no tumult raised upon it Then he gave order that the High-commission should be kept at St. Paul's and the Commissioners sitting there on October 22. were violently assaulted by a mixt multitude of Sectaries to the number of two thousand crying out They would have no Bishops nor High Commission In which tumult having frighted away the Judges Advocates and Officers of the Court they brake down all the seats and benches which they found in the Consistory so that a guard was set upon that Church as before at Westminster not onely at the next sitting of the said Commissioners but at the first meeting of the Convocation which soon after followed The Scots were now entred the Realm in hostile manner and having put by his Majesties Forces at a place called Newbourn they passed over the Tine and presently made themselves Masters of the strong Town of New-castle his Majesties Forces not very far distant Many of the King 's own Souldiers in their marchings through the Countrey brake into Churches pulled up the Rayles threw down the Communion Tables defaced the Common-Prayer Books tore the Surplices c. The Scots set forth a Remonstance wherein it was declared That their Propositions and desires could find no access unto the ears of the Gratious King by reason of the powerful Diversion of the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Deputy of Ireland c. who did onely side in all matters of Temporal and Spiritual Affairs c. This Remonstrance was seconded with another Pamphlet called The Intention of the Army They signified therein that they had no design to wast the goods of the People of England or spoil their Countrey but onely to become petitioners to his Majesty to call a Parliament and to bring the said Archbishop and Lord Lieutenant to their condign punishments And that the English might the better see whom they chiefly aimed at a Book was published by the name of Laudensium Autocatacrisis or the Canterburians self-conviction Upon this his Majesty was assaulted by a Petition from some Lords in H●ylin Hist of Archbi●h ●aud the South wherein complaint was made of the many inconveniences which had been drawn on this Kingdom by the King's ingagings against the Scots as also of the growth of Popery of the pressing of the present payment of Ship-money the dissolving of former Parliaments Monopolies Innovations and some other grievances among which the Canons which were made in the late Convocation could not be omitted For remedy whereof His Majesty is desired to call a Parliament c. Subscribed by divers of the Nobility presented to the King at York on September 3. and seconded by another from the City of London to the same effect The King therefore resolves to hold a Parliament and on November 3. 1640. that long lasting Parliament began A Letter was writ to the Archbishop of Canterbury advertising That the Parliament of the twentieth year of King Henry the Eighth which began in the fall of Cardinal Wolsey continued in the Diminution of the Power and Priviledges of the Clergy and ended in the dissolution of the Abbies and Religious Houses was begun on the third day of November and therefore that for good-luck-sake he would move the King to respite the first sitting of it for a day or two longer But the Archbishop hearkned not to this advertisement and the Parliament began at the time appointed On the morrow after began the Convocation at St. Paul's Church handselled at their first meeting by the news of the Decease of Dr. Neile Archbishop of York But litle was done in this Convocation but that a motion was made by Mr. Warmstrey a Clerk for Worcester That they should endeavour according to the Levitical Law to cover the pit which they had opened and to prevent their Adversaries intention by condemning such offensive Canons as were made the last Convocation But they were loth to confess themselves guilty before they were accused Soon after Mr. Prynne Dr. Bastwick and Mr. Burton were discharged out of prison and brought with great Triumph into London Bishop Williams and Mr. Osbaston being remitted their fines were restored to their Livings and Liberty Doctor Pocklington and Doctor Bray were censured the former for Preaching and Printing the latter for Licensing two Books one called Sunday no Sabbath the other The Christian Alter Not many days after the Earl of Strafford was impeached of High Treason by Mr. Pym in fourteen Articles The Earl was forthwith Sequestred the House and committed to the Black Rod and sent not long after to the Tower December 18. Archbishop Laud and Bishop Wren were voted by the Commons Guilty of High Treason and a charge was immediately brought in against Bishop Laud upon the Reading of which on March 1. he was sent to the Tower The same moneth Alderman Pennington with a great multitude out of London petitioned the House against Episcopal Government and the Rites and Ceremonies of the Church A Committee was appointed to consider of matters of Religion setled in the Upper House of Parliament Ten Earls ten Bishops ten Barons At the same time the Lords appointed a Sub-committee to prepare matters fit for their cognizance the Bishop of Lincoln having the Chair in both authorized to call together divers Bishops and Divines to consult together for correcting what was amiss and to settle peace viz. The Archbishop of Armagh The
then actually restored to that See Having performed the obsequies of her Brother on the ninth and tenth she removes her Court to Whitehal on September she passeth thence to the Tower by Water attended by her Sister and a great Train of Noble Ladies and made her return through the principal Streets of the same City on the last of the same moneth in a most stately manner and the next day proceeded in like pomp to the Abbey-Church at Dr. P. Heylins History of Queen Mary Westminster where she was met by the Silver Crosses and eighty Singing-men all in rich Coaps so sudden a recruit was made of these sacred Vestments among whom went the new Dean of Westminster Dr. Weston and diverse Chaplains of her own each of them bearing in their hand some ensign or other After them marched ten Bishops which were all as remained of her perswasion with their Miters rich Coaps and Crosier-staves The Sermon was preached by Doctor Day whom she had restored to the See of Chichester The solemnity of the Coronation was performed by the Bishop of Winchester the new Lord Chancellor Cranmer Archbishop of Canterbury being then committed to the Tower Till this time none was more dear to her than her Sister the Lady Elizabeth but after her Coronation she estranged her self from her She preferred Henry Ra●cliff Earl of Sussex to the society of the Garter which honour she conferred on his Son Thomas after his decease and to be covered in her presence at all times and places according to the custom of the Grandees in the Realm of Spain She also advanced the Earl of Arundel to the Office of Lord Steward She made Sir Edward Hastings Master of the Horse and Knight of the Garter and afterwards Lord Chamberlain of the Houshold and Lord Hastings of Loughborough She honoured Sir John Williams with the Title of Lord Williams of Thame She preferred Sir Henry Jerningham to be Captain of her Guard and afterwards Sir Thomas Tresham was created Lord Prior of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem She preferred her old Servants Hopton her old Chaplain to the See of Norwich Rochester to be Comptroller of her Houshold Inglefield to be Master of the Wards and Walgrave to be Master of the Wardrobe Sir John Gage a zealous Papist was made Lord Chamberlain of her Houshold when she came first to the Tower Bishop Bonner was discharged of the Marshalsey and Bishop Tunstal from the King's Bench within two days after Bonner is restored to his See of London and Tunstal to Durham and an Act of Parliament procured for the restoring of the Church of Durham to all its Lands and Jurisdictions of which it stood divested by the late Act of Dissolution made in the last year of the deceased King Coverdale was displaced from the See of Exeter Scory from that of Chichester and Hooper from the Commendatory of the See of Worcester to which Sees Voisy Day and Heath were again restored The like course also followed for the depriving of all Deans Dignitaries and Parochial Ministers who had succeeded into any of those preferments during the Reign of the two last Kings Doctor Cox was on August 5. brought to the Marshalsey and spoiled of his Deaneries of Christ-church and Westminster to make room for Doctor Richard Marshal in the one and Doctor Hugh Weston in the other Peter Martyr coming from Oxford to London where for a time he was commanded to keep his House but was soon after suffered to return into his own Countrey A Letter was sent at the same time to the Mayor of Coventry to set at liberty Hugh Simons if he would recant his Sermon or else to stay him A little before Mr. Bradford Mr. Vernon and Mr. Beacon Preachers● were committed to the Tower A Letter was sent to the Sheriffs of Buckingham and Bedford for the apprehending Mr. Fisher Parson of Amersham Another Letter was sent to the Bishop of Norwich not to suffer any to Preach or Expound openly the Scriptures without special License from the Queen Mr. John Rogers Preacher was confined to his own house Hooper and Coverdale being cited to appear before the Lords of the Council did appear Hooper was committed to the Fleet and Coverdale commanded to attend the pleasure of the Lords Fisher of Amersham and Hugh Sanders Vicar of St. Michaels in Coventry appeared also before the Council Hugh Latimer appeared also and was committed to the Tower Doctor Bourn Archdeacon of London Preaching at Pauls Cross in favour of Bishop Bonner there present at the Sermon inveighed against some proceedings in the time of the late King Edward which so incensed the people that a great tumult arose upon it some pelting with Stones others crying aloud Pull him down and one who could never be known flinging a Dagger at his Head which after was found sticking in a post of the Pulpit The Preacher with difficulty was secured in a School adjoyning By reason of which tumult the Lords of the Council with the Lord Mayor and Aldermen took order that every Housholder should cause their Children and Apprentices to keep their own Parish-churches upon Holidays order was taken for preventing the like Tumult on the Sunday following A Sermon was Preached at the Cross by Doctor Watson who afterwards was Bishop of Lincoln for whose security many Lords of the Council were there present and Jerningham Captain of the Guard with two hundred of his Yeomen standing round about the Pulpit with their Halberts Then care was taken that nothing should be Preached in private Churches contrary to the Doctrine which was and should be Taught at the Cross by them which were appointed to it It was further ordered that every Alderman in his Ward should send for the Curates of every Church within their Liberties and warn them not onely to forbear Preaching themselves but also not to suffer any other to Preach or make any open reading of Scripture in their Churches unless the said Preachers were severally Licensed by the Queen For eight weeks after the Proclaiming of Mary Queen Protestantism and Popery were together set on foot the former hoping to be continued the latter labouring to be restored Seeing by the fidelity of the Norfolk and Suffolk Protestant Gentry the Queen was much advantaged for the speedy recovering of her Right they conceived that as she by them had regained the Crown so they under her should enjoy their Consciences The Papists put their Ceremonies in execution presuming on the Queens private practice and publick countenance The Queen on August 18. puts forth a Proclamation declaring her self for the Popish Religion which she resolves to observe for her self wishing her Subjects to follow her example yet that she mindeth not to compel any thereunto until such time as further order by common Assent may be taken therein forbidding all her Subjects to move Seditions at their perils and the Printing of any Book Rhyme Enterlude or Treatise without her special License for the same and
likewise to Preach or by way of reading in Churches or other publick or private places except in Schools of the Universities to Interpret or Teach any Scripture or any points of Doctrine concerning Religion Hereupon many of the people in divers places received their old Religion erected again their Altars and used the Mass and Latin Service as was wont to be in King Henrie's time In Cambridge the Vice-chancellor chalenged one Peirson on Octob. 3. for officiating the Communion in his own Parish Church in the English Tongue and on the 26. displaced Doctor Madew Master of Clare-hall for being Married In like manner some of the Popish party in King's Colledge on the 28th of the same moneth officiated the Divine Service in the Latin Tongue At Oxford John Jewel was chosen to pen the first gratulatory Letter to the Queen in the name of the University an Office imposed on him by his Enemies Doctor Tresham a Van-eurrier before authority repaired the great Bell in Christ-church and named it Mary Harley Bishop of Hereford and Taylor of Lincoln two of the last of King Edward's Bishops were present at the opening of the Parliament Octob. 10. But no sooner was the Mass begun though not then restored by any Law than they left the Church For which the Bishop of Lincoln being first examined and making profession of his Faith prevented the malice of his enemies by a timely Death And Harley upon information of his Marriage was presently excluded from the Parliament-house and not long after from his Bishoprick also Hereupon Bishop Barlow of Wells and Scory of Chichester passed beyond the Seas followed not long after by Bishop Poinet of Winchester On November 3. Archbishop Cranmer was arraigned at the Guild-hall in London with the Lord Guilford Dudley the late Queen Jane his Wife and others all of them being attainted and condemned of Treason After Peter Martyr had quit the Realm his Wive's Body having been buried in the Church of St. Frideswid was afterward by publick order taken out of the Grave and buried in a common dunghill John a Lasco was forced to dissolve his Congregation and He with his Strangers to quit the Countrey The like hast made the French Protestants also At which time many of the English as well Students as others depar●ed also The principal of those were Katherine the last Wife of Charles Brandon Duke of Suffolk Robert Berty Esq Husband to the Dutchess the Bishops of Winchester and Wells as before was said Sir Richard Morison Sir Anthany Cook and Sir John Cheek Doctor Cox Doctor Sands and Doctor Grindal The News of Queen Maries succeeding her Brother to the Crown of England posted to Rome and was very welcome to Pope Julius the Third because it gave him some assurance of his re-admission into the Power and Jurisdiction of his Predecessors in the Realm of England in pursuance of which hopes it was resolved that Cardinal Pool should be sent Legate into England who being of the Blood-royl and a man of eminent Learning and of exemplary life was looked on as the fittest Instrument to reduce that Kingdom The Parliaments first Act was to take away all Statutes passed by the two last Kings wherein certain Offences had been made High Treason and others brought within the compass of a Pramunire This was done especially for Pool's security that neither He by exercising his authority nor the Clergy by submitting to it might be entangled in the like snares as Cardinal Wolsey and the whole Clergy of his time had before been caught Then an Act was passed for repealing certain Statutes of King Edward thereby they took away all former Statutes for administring the Sacraments in both kinds for establishing the first and second Liturgy c. In a word by this one blow the Queen cut down all that had been done in the Reformation in seven years before And then for want of Canonical Ordination on the one side and under colour of Uncanonical Marriages on the other there was presently such a remove among the Bishops and Clergy as it is not any where to be paralelled in so short a time An Act was passed likewise Entitled An Act against offenders of Preachers c which two Acts were seconded by the Queen with two Proclamations December 5. By one of which it was declared that all Statutes made in the time of the late King Edward which concerned Religion were repealed by Parliament and therefore that the Mass should be said as formerly to begin on the twentieth of that moneth And by the other it was commanded that no person should dare from thenceforth to disturb any Priests in saying Mass or executing any other Divine Office Accordingly the Mass was publickly officiated in all parts of the Kingdom and so continued during the Reign of the Queen without interruption Another Act was passed wherein it was Enacted That the Marriage between King Henry the Eighth and Queen Katherine his first Wife was lawful and to stand with God's Laws and his Holy Word c. That the Decree of Divorce heretofore passed between the said King Henry and the said Queen by Thomas Cranmer Archbishop of Canterbury should be reputed to be void and null with a Repeal of all such Statutes wherein the Queen had been diclared to be Illegitima●e There also past another Act in which there was a clause for the invalidating of all such Commissions as had been granted in the time of the late Queen Jane and one in confirming the Attainders of the late Duke of Northumberland Thomas Archbishop of Canterbury c. Together with this Parliament the Queen summoned a Convocation that all matters of Religion might first be debated and concluded in a Synodical way before they were offered to the Parliament In the Writs of which Summons she retained the Title of Supreme Head on Heylin Hist of Q. Mary Earth of the Church of England c. the want whereof in those of the present Parliament occasioned dispute among some of the Members Whether they might lawfully proceed or not in such publick business as were to be propounded to them in that Session The Presidentship of the Convocetion was transferred upon Bishop Bonner priviledged in respect of his See to preside in all such Provincial Synods which were either held during the vacancy of the See of Canterbury or in the necessary absence of the Metropolitan The lower House of the Clergy also was fitted with a Prolocutor of the same affections Doctor Hugh Weston Dean of Westminster in the place of Doctor Cox So partially had the elections been returned from the several Diocesses that we find none of King Edward's Clergy among the Clerks and but six of the Deans and Dignitaries to have suffrage in the Convocation viz. James Haddon Dean of Exeter Walter Philips Dean of Rochester John Philpot Archdeacon of Winchester John Elmer Archdeacon of Stow in the Diocess of Lincoln Richard Cheiney Archdeacon of Hereford one more mentioned by Mr. Fox