Case that your Subjects should either examine by what right Ecclesiastical Government is Innovated or enquire how far they are bound thereby since beside that it might cause Division and hazzard the Overthrow both of the one and the other Authority it would give that Offence and Scandal abroad that Forein Princes would both reprove and disallow all our Proceedings in this kind and upon occasion be disposed easily to joyn against us Thus my Lord Herbert relates this excellent Speech But notwithstanding this Speech or whatsoever could be said against it the Popes Supremacy was excluded and the King Married Anne Boleign which is thus set down by Stow continued by How 's Pag. 554. KIng Henry upon occasion of these delays made by the Pope in his Controversie of Divorce and through Displeasure of such Reports as he heard had been made of him to the Court of Rome and Thirdly moved by some Counsellors to follow the example of the Germans caused a Proclamation to be made in the Two and twentieth year of his Reign forbidding all his Subjects to purchase any manner of thing from the Court of Rome And obtaining a Divorce from Queen Catherine his Wife by an Act of Parliament he privately Married Anne Boleign And upon that by another Act of Parliament the Pope with all his Authority was clean banished his Realm and Order taken that he should no more be called Pope but Bishop of Rome and the King to be taken and reputed as Supream Head of the Church of England having full Authority to Reform all Errors Heresies and Abuses in the same It was further Enacted by another Act of Parliament That no Person should Appeal for any Cause out of this Realm to the Court of Rome but from the Commissary to the Bishop from the Bishop to the Archbishop from the Archbishop to the King and all Causes of the King to be tryed in the Upper-House of Parliament Moreover the First-Fruits and Tenths of all Ecclesiastical Dignities and Promotions were granted to the King Thus far Stow. This Deserting of the Pope is thus related by Dr. Heylyn in the Preface of his History of Reformation KIng Henry the Eighth being violently hurried with the Transport of some private Affections And finding that the Pope appeared the greatest Obstacle to his desires he extinguished his Authority in the Realm of England This opened the first way to the Reformation and gave encouragement to those who inclined unto it To which the King afforded no small countenance out of Politick Ends. But for his own part he adhered to his Old Religion severely Persecuting those that Dissented from it And died though Excommunicated in that Faith and Doctrine which he had sucked in as it were with his Mothers milk And of which he shewed himself so stout a Champion against Luther Thus Dr. Heylyn concerning the beginning of this prodigious Change of Religion The first Opposition against this sudden Change was a Sermon of one Friar Peto in opposition to the King 's second Marriage Thus related by Howes upon Stow Pag. 562. THe First that openly resisted or reprehended the King touching his Marriage with Anne Boleign was one Friar Peto a simple Man yet very Devout of the Ordâ—… of the Observants This Man Preaching at Greenwich upon the Two and twentieth Chapter of the third Book of the Kings to wit the last part of the story of Achab saying Even where the Dogs licked the Blood of Nabaoth even there shall Dogs lick thy Blood also O King And therewithal spake of the Lying Prophets which abused the King c. I am saith he that Micheas whom you will hate because I must tell you truly that this Marriage is unlawful And I know that I shall eat the Bread of Affliction and drink the Water of Sorrow yet because our Lord hath put it into my mouth I must speak it And when he had strongly enveighed against the King's second Marriage to diswade him from it he also said There are many other Preachers yea too many which Preach and Perswade you otherwise feeding your folly and frail Affections upon hope of their own worldly Promotion and by that means betray your Soul your Honour and Posterity to obtain Fat Benefices to become Rich Abbots and get Episcopal Jurisdiction and other Ecclesiastical Dignities These I say are the Four hundred Prophets who in the spirit of Lying seek to deceive you But take good heed lest you being seduced find Achab ' s punishment which was to have his Blood licked up by Dogs saying that it was one of the greatest miseries in Princes to be daily abused by Flatterers The King being thus reproved endured it patiently and did no violence to Peto But the next Sunday Dr. Curwin Preached in the same place who most sharply reprehended Peto and his Preaching calling him Dog Slanderer base beggarly Friar Rebel Traytor saying that no Subject should speak so audaciously to Princes And having spoken much to that effect and in Commendation of the King's Marriage thereby to Establish his Seed in his Seat for ever c. He then supposing that he had utterly suppressed Peto and his partakers lifted up his voice and said I speak to thee Peto which makest thy self Micheas that thou mayst speak evil of Kings But now thou art not to be found being fled for fear and shame as being unable to answer my Arguments And whilst he thus spake there was one Elstow a fellow Friar to Peto standing in the Rood-loft who said to Dr. Curwin Good Sir you know that Father Peto as he was Commanded is now gone to a Provincial Council held at Canterbury and not fled for fear of you for to morrow he will return again In the mean time I am here as another Micheas and will lay down my Life to prove all those things true which he hath taught out of the holy Scripture and to this Combate 〈◊〉 challenge thee before God and all equal Judges even unto thee Curwin I say which art one of the Four hundred false Prophets into whom the spirit of Lying is entred and seekest by Adultery to establish a Succession betraying the King unto endless Perdition more for thine own vain Glory and hope of Promotion than for discharge of thy clogged Conscience and the King's Salvation This Elstow waxed hot and spake very earnestly so as they could not make him cease his Speech until the King himself bad him hold his peace And gave Order that He and Peto should be Convented before the Council which was done the next day And when the Lords had rebuked them then the Earl of Essex told them that they had deserved to be put into a Sack and cast into the Thames Whereunto Elstow smiling said Threaten these things to Rich and Dainty Persons who are clothed in Purple fare Deliciously and have their chiefest hope in this World For we esteem them not but are joyful that for the discharge of our Duty we are driven hence
Preached and Written partly by divers the natural born Subjects of this Realm and partly being brought in hither from sundry other Forein Countries hath been sowen and spread abroad within the same By reason whereof as well the Spirituality as the Temporality of this Kingdom have swerved from the Obedience of the See Apostolick and declined from the Unity of Christ's Church and have so continued until such time as your Majesty being settled in the Royal Throne the Pope's Holiness and the See Apostolick sent hither unto your Majesty as a Person undefiled and by God's Goodness preserved from the common infection aforesaid and to the whole Realm the most Reverend Father in God the Lord Cardinal Pool to call us home again into the right way from whence we have all this long while wandred and strayeâ—… abroad And we after sundry long and grievous Plagues and Calamities seeing by the Goodness of God our own Errors have acknowledged the same unto the same most Reverend Father in God and by him been and are received and embraced into the Unity and bosom of Christ's Church upon our humble submission and promise made for a Declaration of our Repentance to Repeal and Abrogate such Acts and Statutes as had been made in Parliament since the said Twentieth year of the said King against the Supremacy of the See Apostolick as in our Submission exhibited appears The tenor whereof here ensueth We the Lords Spiritual and Temporal and the Commons Assembled in this present Parliament in the Name of our selves and the whole Kingdom do declare our selves very sorry and repentant of the Schism and Disobedience committed in this Realm and the Dominions thereof against the See Apostolick either by making agreeing or executing any Laws Ordinances or Commands against the Supremacy of the said See or otherwise by doing or speaking any thing that might impugn the same Offering our selves and promising by this our Supplication that for a token and acknowledgment of our said repentance we be and shall be always ready to the utmost of our Power to do what lies in us for the abrogating and the repealing of the said Acts and Ordinances in this present Parliament c. Whereupon we most humbly desire your Majesty to set forth this our most humble Suit That we may obtain from the See Apostolick release and discharge from all danger of such Censures and Sentences as by the Laws of the Church we are fallen into and that we may as Children repentant be received into the bosom and unity of Christ's Church so as this Noble Realm withal the members thereof may in this unity and perfect obedience to the See Apostolick serve God and your Majesty to the furtherance and advancement of his Honor and Glory c. This Petition being granted They further add We being now at the Intercession of your Majesty assoiled discharged and delivered from Excommunication Interdiction and other Censures Ecclesiastical which have hanged over our heads for our said faults since the time of the said Schism mentioned in our Supplication May it therefore now please your Majesty That for the better accomplishment of our promise made in the said Supplication we may Repeal All Laws and Statutes made contrary to the said Supremacy and See Apostolick during the said Schism Thus as to the Repealing of all such Laws made in the Reign of King Henry the 8th Another Act for the Repealing of certain Statutes made in the time of King Edward the Sixth FOrasmuch as by divers and several Acts of Parliament made in the time of King Edward the Sixth as well the Divine Service and good Administration of the Sacraments as divers other matters of Religion which we and our Fore-fathers found in this Church of England to us left by the Authority of the Catholick Church be partly altered and in some part taken from us and in place thereof New Things imagined and set forth by the said Acts such as a few of singularity have of themselves devised Whereof hath ensued amongst us in a very short time numbers of diverse and strange Opinions and diversity of Sects and thereby grown great unquietness and much discord to the great disturbance of the Kingdom And in a very short time like to grow to extreme peril and utter confusion of the same unless some remedy be in that behalf provided Which Thing all True Loving and Obedient Subjects ought to fore-see and to provide against to the utmost of their power c. Be it therefore Enacted c. A third Act for the Repeal of Two several Acts made in the time of King Edward the Sixth touching the Dissolution of the Bishoprick of Durham WHereas there hath been time out of mind of any man to the contrary a See of a Bishop of Durham commonly called The Bishoprick of Durham which hath been one of the most Ancient and worthiest Bishopricks in Dignity and Spiritual Promotion within the Realm of England and the same place always supplied and furnished with a man of great Learning and Virtue which was both to the Honor of God and the encrease of his True Religion and a great Surety to that part of the Realm Nevertheless the said Bishoprick was without any just cause or consideration by Authority of Parliament Dissolved Extinguished and Exterminated And further by the Authority of the said Parliament it was Ordained and Enacted That the said Bishoprick together with all the ordinary Jurisdiction thereunto appertaining should be adjudged clearly dissolved and extinguished and that King Edward the Sixth should from thence-forth have possess and enjoy to him his heirs and successors for ever whatsoever did appertain or belong to the said Bishoprick in as large and ample manner and form as any Bishop thereof had held or possessed or of right ought to have had held or possessed c. Be it therefore Enacted c. Thus far as to these Acts of Parliament CHAP. IV. A Relation of some English Protestants that forsook the Kingdom and of the Factions and Schisms that were amongst them being in other Countries Anno Reg. Mar. 3. Dr. Heylyn pag. 59. MAny English Protestants forsook the Kingdom to the number of Eight Hundred who having put themselves into several Cities partly in Germany and partly amongst the Switzers and their Confederates kept up the Face and Form of an English Church in each of their several Congregations Their principal retiring places amongst the last were Arow Zurick and Geneva And in the first the Cities of Emden Strasburgh and Frankfort In Frankfort they enjoyed the greatest privileges and therefore resorted thither in greatest numbers which made them the more apt unto Schisms and Factions At their first coming to the place they were permitted to have the use of one of their Churches which had before been granted to such French exiles as had repaired thither on the like occasion yet so that the French were still to hold their Right the English to have the use of it one day
And with thanks to God we know the way to Heaven to be as ready by Water as by Land and therefore we care not which way we go These Friars and all the rest of their Order were banish'd shortly after And after that none durst openly oppose themselves against the Kings affections Thus far Stow. Now more perfectly to Establish this Change It was Ordered That there should be Sermons Preached at Paul's-Cross against the Popes Supremacy Thus related by Howes upon Stow Pag. 571. Every Sunday at Paul's-Cross Preached a Bishop declaring the Pope not to be Supream Head of the Church Also in other Places of this Realm great Troubles were raised about Preaching namely at Bristow where Mr. Latimer preach'd and there preach'd against him one Mr. Hobberton and Dr. Powel So that there was great partakings on both sides insomuch that divers Priests and others set up Bills against the Mayor and against Mr. Latimer But the Mayor permitting Laymen to Preach caused divers Priests to be apprehended and put in Newgate with Bolts upon them and divers others ran away and lost their Livings rather than come into the Mayor's handling Thus Howes The King being thus Establish'd Head of the Church of England makes one Thomas Cromwel his Vicar General which is thus set down by Sir Rich. Baker Pag. 408. Thomas Cromwell Son to a Black smith in Putney being raised to High Dignities was lastly made Vicar General under the King in all Ecclefiastical Affairs who sate divers times in the Convocation-House amongst the Bishops as Head over them Thus Sir Richard Baker And thus far of the first beginning of this prodigious Change of Religion CHAP. II. Of the Dissolution of Abbeys being the first Effect of this Change of Religion Stow Pag. 572. THE King sent the said Cromwel and others to visit the Abbeys and Nunneries in England the said Cromwel being ordained Principal Visitor He put forth all Religious Persons that would go and all under the Age of Four and Twenty And after closed up the residue that would remain so that they should not come out of their places All Religious Men that departed the Abbot or Prior gave them for their Habit a Priests Gown and Forty Shillings in Money The Nuns had such Apparel given them as Secular Women wear and had liberty to go whither they would They took out of the Monasteries and Abbeys their Reliques and chiefest Jewels to the Kings use they said Thus Stow. Here follows a more particular Account of the Dissolution of these Abbeys The first Religious House that the King took into his hands was the Hospital of St. James near Charing-cross with all the Means to the same belonging compounding with the Sisters of the House who were to have Pensions during their lives And built in place of the said Hospital a Goodly Mansion retaining still the Name of St. James Stow p. 560. In a Parliament were granted to the King and his Heirs All Religious Houses in the Realm of England of the value of Two hundred pounds and under with all Lands and Goods to them belonging The Number of these Houses then suppressed were about Three Hundred Seventy Six and the value of their Lands then Thirty two thousand pounds and more by the Year The Moveable Goods as they were then sold at Robin-Hood's peny-worths amounted to more than Ten thousand pounds The Religious Persons that were in the said Houses were clearly put out whereof some went to other Greater Houses and some went abroad to the World It was saith my Author a pitiful thing to hear the lamentation that People in the Countrey made for them for there was great Hospitality kept amongst them and as it was thought more than Ten thousand Persons Masters and Servants lost their Living by the putting down of these Houses Thus Stoâ—…v Not long after by the means of the said Cromwel All the Orders of Friars and Nunns with their Cloysters and Houses were suppressed and put down First the Black-Friars in London the next day the White-Friars the Grey-Friars and the Monks of Charter-House and so all the others Thus Baker page 415. Here follows a particular Relation concerning the Shrine at Canterbury Thus deliver'd by Sir Rich Baker pag. 411. SAint Augustines Abbey at Canterbury was suppress'd and the Shrine and Goods taken to the Kings Treasury as also the Shrine of Thomas Becket in the Priory of Christs-Church was likewise taken to the Kings use This Shrine was built about a man's height all of Stone and then upwards of Timber plain within the which was a Chest of Iron containing the Bones of Thomas Becket Scull and all with the wound on his Head and the piece cut out of his Scull in the same wound These Bones by the Command of the Lord Cromwel were burnt The Timber-work of This Shrine on the out-side was covered with Plates of Gold Damasked with Gold-wyre which Ground of Gold was again cover'd with Jewels of Gold as Ten or Twelve Rings â—…ramped with Gold-wyre into the said Ground of Gold many of these Rings having Stones in them There were likewise Images of Angels Precious Stones and Great Pearls The Spoyl of which Shrine in Gold and Precious Stones fill'd two great Chests such as six or seven strong men could do no more than remove one of them at once out of the Church The Monks of that Church were commanded to change their Habits into the Apparel of Secular Priests Thus Baker The Knights of the Rhodes and Knights of St. John of Jerusalem in England and Ireland were utterly Dissolv'd and made void The King his Heirs and Successors to have and enjoy all the Mansion-House Church and all other Buildings and Gardens to the same belonging near to the City of London call'd the House of St. John of Jerusalem in England and also the hospital-Hospital-Church an House of Kilwarin in Ireland with all Castles Honours Mannors Measees Lands Tenements Rents Revenues Services Woods Downs Pastures Parks Warrens c. in England and Ireland with all the Goods Cattels c. Thus Stow pag. 579. Besides these Religious Houses there were likewise by Act of Parliament given the King All Colleges Chanteries Hospitals Free Chappels Fraternities Brother-hoods and Gilds The Number of Monasteries suppress'd were 645 besides 90 Colleges 110 Hospitals and of Chanteries and Free Chappels 2374. Thus Baker in the former page Now to give a more exact Account of the Grounds and Progress of the Dissolution of these Monasteries We will here insert a Discourse taken out of Mr. Dugdales Antiquities of Warwick-shire Pag. 801. where he treats of the Dissolution of a particular Monastery of Nunnes called Poles-worth and upon that occasion of the Dissolution of all other Monasteries in the Kingdom The Discourse is thus delivered I Find it left Recorded by the Commissioners that were imploy'd to take Surrender of the Monasteries in this Shire Anno 29. Hen. 8. viz. That after strict scrutiny not only by the fame of the Countrey but
Tomb of the Dead with his face toward the North. Which is to be observed the rather because this Curate hath found so many followers in these latter times For as some of the Preciser sort have of late left the Church to Preach in Woods and Barns c. and in stead of the old Days and Months can find no other Title for them than the First Second or Third Month of the Year and so of the Days of the Week c. So was it propounded not long since by some State Reformers That the Fast of Lent should be kept no longer between Shrove-tide and Easter but rather by some Act or Ordinance made for that purpose betwixt Easter and Whitsontide To such wild Fancies do Men grow when once they break those Bounds and neglect those Rules which wise Antiquity ordained for the Preservation of Peace and Order Thus Dr. Heylyn concerning these Confusions If it be asked What in the mean time was become of Bishops and why no care was taken for the Purging those peccant Humors It may be answered That the Wings of their Authority had been so clipped that it was scarce able to fly abroad The Sentence of Excommunication not having been in use since the first of this King Whether it were that Command was laid upon the Bishops by which they were restrained from the Exercise of it or that some other course was in agitation for drawing the Cognizance of all Ecclesiastical causes to the Court of Westminster or that it was thought inconsistent with that dreadful Sentence to be issued in the King's Name as it had been lately appointed by Act of Parliament it is not casie to determine But certain it is that at this time it was either abolished for the present or of no effect not only to the cherishing of these Disorders amongst the Ministers of the Church but to the great encrease of viciousness in all sorts of men Lechery saith Bishop Latimer is used in England and such Lechery as is used in no other part of the World And it is made a matter of sport a matter of nothing a laughing matter a Trifle not to be regarded not to be reformed Peter Martyr much bemoans the miserable condition of the Church for want of Preachers Thus Dr. Heylyn concerning these Disorders Altars taken down But the great business this year was the taking down of Altars The Principal Motive whereunto was the Opinion of some dislikes which had been taken by Calvin against the Liturgy and the desire of those of the Zuinglian Faction to reduce this Church unto the Nakedness and Simplicity of those Transmarine Churches which followed the Helvetian or Calvinian Forms and withal to abolish the thought of a Sacrifice But that the consideration of Profit did advance this work as much as any other if perchance not more may be collected from an Enquiry made about Two years after In which it was to be Interrogated What Jewels of Gold and Silver or Silver-Crosses Candlesticks Censers Chalices Copes and other Vestments were then remaining in any of the Cathedral or Parochial Churches or otherwise had been Embezzeled or taken away The leaving of one Chalice to every Church with a Cloth or Covering for the Communion-Table being thought sufficient Thus Dr. Heylyn concerning this strange way of Reforming or rather Deforming all things Reasons given for the taking down of Altars The Reasons that were given for the doing of this were these First To with-draw the People from the Opinion of the Mass to the right use of the Lord's Supper The use of an Altar being to Sacrifice upon and the use of a Table to eat upon And therefore a Table to be far more fit for our feeding on him who was once only crucified and offered for us Secondly That in the Book of Common-Prayer the name of Altar and Lord's Board and Table are used indifferently without Prescribing any thing in the form thereof For as it is called a Table and the Lord's Board in reference to the Lord's Supper so it is called an Altar also in reference to the Sacrifice of Praise and Thanksgiving And so that the changing of Altars into Tables was no way repugnant to the Rules of the Liturgy Thirdly That Altars were erected for the Sacrifices of the Law which being now ceased the Form of the Altar was to cease together with them Fourthly That as Christ did Institute the Sacrament of his Body and Blood at a Table and not at an Altar so it is not to be found that any of the Apostles did ever use an Altar in the Ministration And finally That it is declared in the Preface to the Book of Common-Prayer That if any Doubt arise in the use and practising of the said Book that then to appease all such diversity the matter shall be referred unto the Bishop of the Diocess who by his discretion shall take order for the quieting of it Thus Dr. Heylyn concerning these Reasons Page 96. But the taking down of Altars being Decreed and Commanded a question afterwards did arise about the Form of the Lord's Board some using it in the form of a Table and some in the form of an Altar Ridley Bishop of London determined it for the form of a Table to abolish all memory of the Mass And upon this caused the Wall standing on the back-side of the Altar in the Church of St. Paul's to be broken down for an example to the rest But yet there followed no universal change of Altars into Tables in all parts of the Realm till the repealing of the first Liturgy in which the Priest is appointed to stand before the midst of the Altar in the Celebration and the establishing of the Second in which it is required That the Priest shall stand on the North-side of the Table which put an end to the Dispute Thus Dr. Heylyn concerning Altars CHAP. VIII Of the strange Confusion in all matters of Religion which this new Change of Religion caused no man yet knowing positively and dogmatically what he was to believe Dr. Heylyn Page 106. Anno Regni Edwardi Sexti 5. NOthing as yet had been concluded positively and dogmatically in Points of Doctrine but as they were to be collected from the Homilies and the Publick Liturgy and those but few in reference to the many Controversies which were to be maintained against the Sectaries of that Age Many Disorders having grown up in this little time in officiating the Liturgy the Vestures of the Church and the Habit of Church-men begun by Calvin prosecuted by Hooper and countenanced by the large Immunities granted to John a Lasco and his Church of Strangers And unto these the change of Altars into Tables gave no small encrease as well by reason of some differences which grew amongst the Ministers themselves upon that occasion as in regard of the irreverence which it bred in the People to whom it made the Sacrament to appear less venerable than before it did The People had been
retired from thence to Geneva who having left some few behind to compleat their Notes upon the Bible and to make up so many of the Psalms in English Meeter as had been left unfinished by Hopkins hastned as fast homewards as the others But notwithstanding all their hast they came not time enough to effect their purposes either in reference to the Liturgy or Episcopal Government in which the Queen was so resolved that they were not able to prevail in either project It grieved them at the Heart that their own Prayers might not be made the rule of Worship in their Congregations and that they might not Lord it here in their several Parishes as Calvin did at Geneva Some friends they had about the Queen and Calvin was resolved to make use of all his power and credit both with Her and Cecil as appears by his Letters unto both to advance their ends and he was seconded therein by Peter Martyr who thought his Interest in England to be greater then Calvin's though his name was not so eminent in other places But the Quen had fixed her self on her resolution of keeping up some outward Splendor of a Church When therefore they saw the Liturgy imposed by Act of Parliament and Episcopal Sees supplyed with Bishops nothing seemed more convenient to them than to revive the quarrels raised in King Edward's time against Caps and Surplices and such particulars as had been then questioned in the publick Liturgy And herein they were seconded as before in King Edward's time by the same Peter Martyr as appears by his Letters to a Nameless friend To which he added in another of his Letters to the same friend also his dislike of the same and other Points proposed unto him as touching the Cap the Episcopal Habit the Patrimony of the Church the manner of proceeding to be held against Papists the Perambulation used in Rogation-week with many other such Points in which his judgment was desired But these Helps being too far off and not to be consulted upon all occasions without a greater loss of time than would consist with the impatience of their desires they fell upon another project more to their purpose than the decrying of the Liturgy or the quarrels about the Cap and Vestments Grindal the new Bishop of London was known to have a great respect for Calvin The business therefore was so ordered that by Calvins Letters to Grindal and the friends they had about the Queen way was given to such of the French Nation as had repaired hither to enjoy the Freedom of their own Religion and to have a Church unto themselves They could not but remember those many advantages which John à Lasco and his Church of Strangers afforded to the Zuinglian Gospellers in the Reign of King Edward the Sixth and they despaired not of the like or greater if a French Church were setled upon Calvin's Principles in some part of London Now a Church being granted them we must not wonder if we find dangerous consequences to ensue upon it For what else is the setting up of a Presbytery in a Church Founded and Established by the Rules of Episcopacy than the Erecting of a Common-wealth in the midst of a Monarchy Which Calvin well knew and thereupon gave Grindal thanks for his favor in it Of whom they afterwards served themselves upon all occasions Upon the news of which success divers both French and Dutch repaired into England planting themselves in the Sea-towns and openly professing the Reformed Religion under which covert they disguised their several Heterodoxies and Blasphemous Dotages some of them proving to be Anabaptists others infected with unsound Opinions of as ill a nature but all endeavoring to disperse their Heretical Doctrines and to empoyson the People amongst whom they lived to encrease their Sects And although a Proclamation was set out for their Banishment yet many of them lurked in England without fear of discovery especially after the Erecting of so many French and Dutch Churches in the Maritime parts which they infected with some of their phrenzies as at this time they had London and occasioned such Disputes amongst them upon that account that Peter Martyr was necessitated to enterpose himself for the composing those Heats and Differences which had grown amongst them There was likewise at the same time another Proclamation published to hinder and stop a certain Abuse which was this The Queen having given Command by her Injunctions in the year foregoing for destroying and taking away all Shrines and Coverings of Shrines all Tables Candlesticks Trindals and Rolls of Wax together with all Pictures Paintings c. so that there was to remain no memory of the same either in the Walls Glass-windows or else-where whether it were in Churches or private Houses it is said that they proceeded in the Execution of this even to the breaking down all Coats of Arms to the tearing off of all the Brass of the Tombs and Monuments of the Dead And being given to understand that Bells were blessed in time of Popery and that even the Churches themselves had been abused to Superstition and Idolatry their Zeal transported them to sell the Bells to turn the Steeples into Dove-coats and to rob the Churches of those sheets of Lead with which they were covered Thus Dr. Heylyn concerning these confusions There remains nothing more of this year but this short Note concerning Westminster Dr. Heylyn pag. 136. In the space of Twenty years it had been changed from an Abbey to a Deanry from a Deanry to a See Episcopal and from that reduced again to a Deanry and likewise once more to the state of an Abbey and lastly by Queen Elizabeth having first pleased her self in the choice of some of the best Lands belonging to it and confirmed the rest upon the Church it was to be called The Collegiate Church of St. Peter's in Westminster Thus Heylyn I will add here one short Note more although it belongs not to this year concerning the Bishoprick of Oxford Dr. Heylyn pag. 156. This Bishoprick was only supplied with a Bishop for Three years in the space of Forty six years The Jurisdiction of it was managed by the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Revenues of it remained in the hands of the Earl of Leicester and after his decease of the Earl of Essex by whom the Lands thereof were so spoiled and wasted that they left nothing to the last Bishops but Impropriations By means of which havock and destruction all the Five Bishopricks Erected by King Henry the Eighth were so impoverished and destroyed that the new Bishops were constrained to require a Benevolence of the Clergy at their first coming to them Thus Dr. Heylyn concerning this Bishoprick and the other Four founded out of Abbey-Lands CHAP. X. Some particular Passages concerning Bishopricks with other short Passages concerning other things Anno Reg. Eliz. 3. Dr. Heylyn pag. 140. IN the beginning of this year were filled up all such Episcopal Sees as were
Platform And others looked upon the Homilies as beggerly Rudiments scarce Milk for Babes But by no means to be looked upon as Meat for a stronger stomack In general thought by the Genevians and Zuinglian Gospellers to have too much in them of the Pope or too little of Calvin and therefore no way to be subscribed unto Of which number none so much remarkable as Father John Fox the Martyrologist who had before appeared in the Schism at Frankfort and left that Church when Cox had got the better in it to retire to Geneva Who being now called upon to subscribe that the opinion which was had of his parts and Piety might advance the work he is said to have appeared before the Bishop carrying the New-Testament in Greek with him before whom he spake these words To this Book I will subscribe and if this will not serve take my Prebend'ry at Salisbury the only Preferment which I hold in the Church of England and much good may it do you But notwithstanding this refractory Answer so much kindness was shewed to him that he both kept his resolution and place together The Genevians for the greater countenanceing of their inconformity had stirred up the most eminent Divines of the French and Zuinglian or Helvetian Churches to declare in favour of their doings And it appears also by remembrances in some Authors that Calvin apprehending some neglect from Mr. Secretary Cecill in making either no return or a return which signified nothing to his first Addresses had laid aside his care of the Church of England But Peter Martyr whilst he lived conceived himself to have some Interest in this Church in which he had enjoyed such a good preferment but more in some particular Persons and Members of it who seemed to depend upon his judgment and to ask counsel of him as their surest Oracle in which how much he countenanced the Faction in King Edward's time both by his Practice and Pen and what encouragement he gave them in this present Reign hath been shewn before But how much he was out-gone by Beza who next usurped a Super-intendency over all the Churches of this Island may be seen hereafter All that shall now be said of either of them or of altogether shall be briefly this That this poor Church might better have wanted their best helps in Points of Doctrine than have been troubled with their intermedlings in matter of Discipline Thus Dr. Heylyn concerning the Calvinists Dr Heylyn having little or nothing in the Fourth and Fifth year of this Queens Reign that belongs to the matter of these Notes we will pass to the 6th year CHAP. XII Of one Cartwright a great Promoter of Presbytery and of the Earl of Leicester and the death of Calvin Anno Reg. Eliz. 6. Dr. Heylyn pag. 164. THis Summer in a Progress the Queen came to Cambridge where were sown the seeds of those Divisions and Combustions with which the Church of England hath been continually distracted to this very day For so it happened that one Preston and Cartwright were appointed to hold a Disputation In which the First was both liked and rewarded by Her the Other receiving neither reward nor commendation Which so incensed the proud man that he retired to Geneva Where having throughly informed himself in all particulars both of Doctrine and Discipline wherein the Churches of that Platform differed from the Church of England he returned home with an intent to repair his credit or rather to get himself a name by raising such a fire and such combustions in the Church of England as never were to be extinguished but by the immediate hand of Heaven The next considerable Action which followed on the Queens Reception at Cambridge was the preferring of Sir Robert Dudley the Second Son then living of the Duke of Northumberland to the Titles of Lord Denbigh and Earl of Leicester She had before Elected him into the Order of the Garter made him Master of her Horse and Chancellor of the University of Oxon suffered him to carry a great sway in all Affairs both of Court and Council and given unto him the fair Mannor of Denbigh being conceived to be one of the goodliest Territories in England And now She adds unto these Honors the goodly Castle and Mannor of Kenelworth part of the parrimony of the Duchy of Lancaster Advanced unto which height he engrossed unto himself the disposing of all Offices in the Court and State and of all Preferments in the Church proving in fine so unappeasable in his Malice and unsatiable in his Lusts so Sacrilegious in his Rapines so false in Promises and treacherous in point of Trust And finally so destructive of the Rights and Proprieties of particular Persons that his Little Finger lay heavier on the English Subjects than the Loins of all the Favourites of the Two last Kings And that his Monstrous Vices most insupportable in any other but himself might either be connived at or not complained of he cloaks them with a seeming zeal to the true Religion and made himself Head of the Puritan Faction Who spared no pains in seting forth his praises upon all occasions Nor was he wanting to caress them after such a manner as he found most agreeable to those Holy Hypocrites using no other language in his Speech and Letters than pure Scripture-phrase in which he was become so dextrous as if he had received the same Inspirations with the Sacred Pen-men But notwithstanding the viciousness of this man yet the Queen laboured further to advance him even to a Marriage with the Queen of Scots As appears by this Relation of Dr. Heylyn pag. 169. Queen Elizabeth kept a Stock still going in Scotland the returns whereof redounded more to her own security than to the profit and advantage of the Church of England The Queen of Scots being now a Widow possessed of that Kingdom and next Heir to this Queen Elizabeth proposes to her a Marriage with the Earl of Leicester whom she pretended to have raised to those Eminent Honors to make him in some sort capable of a Queens Affections Which Proposition proved agreeable to neither party the Queen of Scots disdaining the unequal offer and Leicester dealing under-hand with Randolph the English Resident to keep her still in that aversness having given himself a hope of Marrying Queen Elizabeth interpreting all her Favors to proceed in order to it I had not spoken so much of this Earl of Leicester but that he seemed to have been born for the destruction of the Church of England as will appear by what shall be here said concerning the Presbyterians in this Queens Reign But leaving this Court-Meteor to be gazed on by unknowing men we will now conclude this Sixth year with that which was very advantageous to the Church of England to wit the Death of Calvin By whose Authority if he had lived longer much more Disorders and Confusions must have necessarily succeeded For his Name was much Reverenced not only by
Patriarchal Councils yea of Oecumenical Synods are called into Examination All their Laws so far as to them seemed meet reformed the whole regard that England had to all other Catholick Churches as a Member of the whole is utterly broken by one National Church Nay not so much By one Luxurious King By one Child and by one Woman Even when the whole Body of the Clergy protested against it Let the world now be judge Whether this Action can be justified Thus of the Schism of the Church of England CHAP. VII The Assertions of some Protestants concerning Church-Authority And of some of them concerning the Dignity and Authority of the Church of Rome SChism and Heresie being here so evidently demonstrated to consist in denying Obedience to Church-Authority it may seem strange to find any Protestants so much to their own condemnation to write any thing in defence of such Church-Authority and particularly of the Authority of the Church of Rome from which they have separated totally casting off all obedience to it But yet this they have done as will appear by these following Testimonies of some very Eminent amongst them See Sir Edwyn Sands in his Europae Speculum Numb 12. where he has this following Discourse of the Security in submitting to the Authority of the Church of Rome Which although he delivers in the Person of a Catholick yet it is without Reply or seeking to deny the Truth of any thing here said The Discourse then is this SInce Christianity is a Doctrin of Faith a Doctrin whereof all Men are capable as being in gross and in general to be believed by all and since the high Vertue of Faith is in the Humility of the Understanding and the Merit thereof in the readiness of Obedience to Embrace it and withal since of outward proofs of our Faith where the true sense of Scripture is disputed the Churches Testimony whether for declaring to us the sense of Scripture or the judgments of the Ancients is a proof of most weight What madness were it for any man to tire out his Soul and to wast away his Spirits in tracing out all the thorny paths of the Controversies of these days wherein to err is no less easie than dangerous what through forgery of Authors abusing him what through sophistry beguiling him what through passion and prejudice transporting him and not rather betake himself to the right path of Truth whereunto God Nature Reason and Experience do all give witness And that is to associate himself to the Church whereunto the custody of this Heavenly and supernatural Truth hath been from Heaven it self committed To weigh discreetly which is the true Church and that being once found to receive faithfully and obediently without doubt or discussion whatsoever it delivers Now to discover this let him reflect that besides the Roman Church and such others as are United with it he finds all other Churches to have had their end or decay long since or their beginning but of late This Church was founded by the Prince of the Apostles with a promise to him from Christ That Hell Gates should never prevail against it Matt. 16. 18. And that himself would be assistant to it to the Consummation of the World It hath now continued Sixteen hundred years with an Honorable and certain Line of near Two hundred and forty Popes Successors of St. Peter both Tyrants Traytors Pagans and Hereticks in vain wresting raging and undermining it All the Lawful general Councils that ever were in the World have from time to time approved and honored it God hath so miraculously blessed it from above that many Learned and wise Doctors have enriched it with their Writings Armies of Saints with their Holiness and Virtues Armies of Martyrs with their Blood and of Virgins with their Purity have sanctified and embellished it And even at this day in such difficulties of unjust Rebellions and unnatural Revolts of her nearest Children yet she stretcheth out her arms to the utmost corners of the World newly embracing whole Nations into her bosom Lastly in all other opposite Churches there are found inward dissensions and contrarieties change of opinions uncertainty of resolutions with robbing of Churches rebelling against Governors confusion of Order Whereas contrariwise in this Church there is the Unity undivided the resolutions unaltered the most heavenly Order reaching from the hight of all Power to the lowest of all Subjection all with admirable Harmony and undefective correspondence bending the same way to the effecting of the same work all which do promise no other than a continual encrease and victory Wherefore let no Man doubt to submit himself to this glorious Spouse of Christ. This then being accorded to be the true Church of God it follows that she be reverently obeyed in all things without further inquisition she having the warrant that he that hears her hears Christ and whosoever hears her not hath no better place with God than a Publican or Pagan And what folly were it to receive Scriptures upon the credit of her Authority and not to receive the interpretation of them upon her Authority also and credit And if God should not always protect his Church from Error and yet peremptorily command Men always to obey her then had he made very slender provision for the Salvation of Mankind which conceit concerning God whose care of us even in all things touching this transitory Life is so plain and evident would render us very ungratefully impious And hard were the case and mean had his regard been of the vulgar People whose wants and difficulties in this life and whose capacities will not suffice to sound the deep and hidden Mysteries of Divinity and to search the truth of intricate Controversies if there were not others whose Authority they might safely follow and rely upon Blessed are they who believe and have not seen Joh. 20. 29. The merit of whose Religious Humility and Obedience exceeds perhaps in honor and acceptation before God the subtle and profound knowledge of many others Thus Sir Edwyn Sands To the same purpose Dr. Jeremy Taylor in his Treatise of the Liberty of Prophesying These following Considerations says he may very easily perswade persons of much reason and more Piety to maintain that which they know to have been the Religion of their Fore-fathers which had actual possession and seizure of Mens minds and understandings before the opposite Professions had a name As first its Doctrin having had a long continuance and possession of the Church Which therefore cannot easily be supposed in the present professors to be a design since they have received it from so many Ages And it is not likely that all Ages should have the same purposes or that the same Doctrin should serve the several ends of divers Ages Secondly its long prescription which is such an advantage that it cannot with many Arguments be retrenched as relying upon these grounds to wit that Truth is more Ancient than Falshood and that God would not
of Lands and Ornaments as when she came into the World in her Natural Nakedness Nor was it like to happen otherwise in the following Reign of Queen Jane if it had lasted longer than a Nine-days wonder For Dudley of Northumberland who then ruled the rost and had before dissolved and in hope devoured the wealthy Bishoprick of Durham might easily have possessed himself of the greatest part of the Revenues of York and Carlisle By means whereof he would have made himself more absolute on the North-side of Trent than the poor Titular Queen had been on the South-side of it To carry on whose Interest and maintain her Title the poor remainder of the Churches Patrimony was in all probability to have been shared amongst those of the Party to make them sure unto that side Thus far out of Dr. Heylyn ' s Preface Summarily concerning this Rapine and Sacriliege which followed this Second Change of Religion Now in the History it self Page 33. Dr. Heylyn begins orderly to treat of the Reign of this King as to matters of Religion as will appear by what shall be here said CHAP. I. Of the many Policies used in the Introducing this Second Change of Religion Anno Regni Edwardi Sexti 1. THE Solemnities of the Coronation being passed the Grandees of the Court began to entertain some thoughts of a Reformation In which they found Archbishop Cranmer and some other Bishops to be as forward as themselves but on different ends endeavoured by the Bishops out of Zeal but by the Courtiers upon a hope of enriching themselves by the spoil of Bishopricks To the Advancement of which Work the Conjuncture seemed to be as proper as they could desire Fot first the King being of such tender Age and wholly governed by the Wâ—…ll of the Lord Protector who had declared himself a Friend to the Lutheran party in the time of King Henry was easie to be moulded into any form And as the Champions of the Papacy were removed out of all Office so it was thought expedient for the better carrying on of the Design not only to release all such as had been committed unto Prison but also to recal all such as had been forced to abandon the Kingdom for not submitting to King Henries Six Articles But the business was of greater moment than to expect the coming back of these Men. Wherefore neither to lose time nor to press too much at once upon the People it was thought fit to smooth the way to the intended Reformation by setting out some Preparatory Injunctions and this to be done by sending out Commissioners into all parts of the Kingdom armed with Instructions to enquire into all Ecclesiastical Concernments Which Commissioners were accompanied with Preachers appointed to instruct the People And that they might not cool or fall off again from what they had been taught they were to leave some Homilies with the Parish-Priest which the Archbishop had composed Now besides the Points contained in the said Injunctions the Preachers were to perswade them from Invocation of Saints Praying for the Dead Images Use of Beads Ashes Processions Mass Dirges c. All which was done to this intent That the People being prepared by little and little might with more ease and less opposition admit the total Alteration in the face of the Church which was intended in due time to be introduced Thus Dr. Heylyn concerning this Policy Another Policy But there was something more than the Authority of a Minor King which drew on such a general Conformity to these Injunctions and thereby smoothed the way to those Alterations both in Doctrine and Worship which the Grandees of the Court and Church had began to fashion The Lord Protector and his Party were more experienced in Affairs of State than to be told That all great Counsels tending to Innovation in the Publick Government especially where Religion is concerned are either to be back'd by Arms or otherwise prove destructive to the undertakers For this cause he resolves to put himself at the Head of an Army as well for the security of his Person and the preservation of his Party as for the carrying on of the Design against all Opponents And for the raising of an Army there could not be found a fairer colour nor a more popular pretence than a Wat with Scotland not to be made on any new Emergent Quarrel which might be apt to bread suspition in the heads of the People but in pursuit of the great Project of the King Deceased for uniting that Realm by a Marriage to the Crown of England On this Pretence Levies are made in all parts of the Kingdom He entertained also certain Regiments of Walloons and Germans because they were conceived more likely to enforce Obedience if his Design should meet with any opposition than the natural English Thus Dr. Heylyn concerning this War with Scotland A Third Policy But in the first place care was taken that none of the Neighboring Princes should either hinder his Proceedings or assist the Enemy That which seemed to give most satisfaction to the Court of France was the performance of a Solemn Obsequy for King Francis the First Whose Funerals were no sooner Solemnized in France but Order was given for a Dirge to be sung in all the Churches of London as also in the Cathedral Church of St. Paul in the Quire whereof hung with Black a sumptuous Hearse was set up for the present Ceremony And the next day Archbishop Cranmer assisted with Eight other of the Bishops all in their rich Miters and other their Pontificals did sing a Mass of Requiem the Funeral Sermon being Preached by Dr. Ridley This great Solemnity being thus honorably performed the Commissioners for the Visitation were dispatched to their several Circuits and the Army drawn to their Rendezvous Thus Dr. Heylyn concerning what was done before the calling of a Parliament CHAP. II. Of what was done in Parliament in order to the Establishing this Change of Religion Dr. Heylyn Page 47. A Parliament began upon the Fourth of November in which the Cards were so well pack'd by Sir Ralph Sadler that there was no need of any further Shuffling till the end of the Game This very Parliament without any sensible Alteration of the Members of it being continued until the Death of the King And though this Parliament consisted of such Members as disagreed amongst themselves in respect of Religion yet they agreed well enough together in one common Principle which was to serve the present time and preserve themselves which appears plainly by the strange mixture of the Acts and Results thereof some tending to the present Benefit and Enriching of particular Persons And some again being devised on purpose to prepare a way for exposing the Revenues of the Church unto spoil and rapine There was an Act made in King Henry the Eighths time Inhibiting the reading of the Old and New Testament in the English Tongue But this was here abrogated together with all
or Persons of what Estate Degree or Condition soever he or they be shall at any time after the First day of May willingly and wittingly eat any manner of Flesh after what manner or kind or sort it shall be ordered dressed or used upon any Friday or Saturday or upon any of the Ember-days or upon any day in the time commonly called Lent nor upon any such other day as is or shall be at any other time hereafter commonly excepted and reputed as a Fish-day within this Realm of England wherein it hath been commonly used to eat Fish and not Flesh Upon pain that every Person eating any manner of Flesh upon any of the said Days or Times prohibited by this Act shall forfeit for the said first offence Ten shillings and also suffer Imprisonment for the space of Ten days And during the time of his or her said Imprisonment shall abstain from eating of any manner of Flesh. Thus far the Act. Little or Nothing hath been hitherto done in this King's Reign as to Religion but pulling down and destroying Wherefore it is now time to Establish something Which is here done by that which immediately follows CHAP. IV. Of the Administring the Communion and of the Composing a Book of Common-Prayer Of which thus writes Dr. Heylyn page 57. SOme Bishops and others were Appointed by the King's Command to Consult together about one Uniform Order of Administring the Holy Communion in the English Tongue Who so ordered it That the whole Mass should proceed as formerly in the Latin Tongue even to the very end of the Canon and the receiving of the Sacrament by the Priest himself Which being ended they were to begin with an Exhortation in the English Tongue directed to all those that did intend to receive the Communion Which Exhortation began with these words Dearly Beloved in the Lord ye coming to this Holy Communion c. Thus Dr. Heylyn concerning this strange medly in the Divine Service But notwithstanding the setting forth of this Uniform Order of Administring the Holy Communion yer there did arise a marvellous Schism and variety of Factions in Celebrating the Communion Service and Administring of the Sacrament and other Rites and Ceremonies of the Church For some allowed of the King's proceedings others dissemblingly and patchingly used some part of them Many contemned them all Moreover it is observed in the Register-Book of the Parish of Petworth that many at this time affirmed that the most Blessed Sacrament of the Altar was of little worth So that in many places it was irreverently used and cast out of the Church and many other great Enormities committed Which they seconded by oppugning the Established Ceremonies as Holy-Water Holy-Bread and divers other Rites of the Seven Sacraments And yet these were not all the mischiefs which the time produced For in pursuance of this Schism many of those that had been licensed to Preach appeared as active in Preaching against the King's proceedings as many of the unlicensed Preachers had been found to be Thus Dr. Heylyn concerning these Confusions Upon this it was advised that a Publick Liturgy should be drawn and confirmed by Parliament which was accordingly done Now here it is to be observed that those who had the directing of this Business were before hand resolved that none but English Heads and Hands should be used therein lest otherwise it might be thought and perhaps objected That they rather followed the Example of some other Churches or were swayed by the Authority of those Forein Assistants than by the Word of God Certain it is that upon the very first reports of a Reformation here intended Calvin had offered his Assistance to Archbishop Cranmer as himself confessed But the Archbishop knew the man and refused the offer And it appears in one of Bishop Latimer's Sermons that there was a report about this time of Melancthon's coming But it proved only a report And though it was thought necessary for the better seasoning of the Universities in the Protestant Reformed Religion that Bucer and Peter Martyr should be invited to come over yet the Archbishop's Letter of Invitation sent to Bucer was not written till the 12th of October at which time the Liturgy then in hand being the chief Key of the Work of Reformation was in a very good forwardness and must be compleatly finished before he could so settle and dispose his affairs in Germany as to come for England And though Peter Martyr being either more at leisure or more willing to accept of the Invitation came many months before the other yet neither do we find him here till the end of November when the Liturgy had been approved of Nor was it likely that they would make use of such a man in Composing a Liturgy wherein they were resolved to retain a great part of the ancient Ceremonies who being made Canon of Christ's Church in Oxford and frequently present at Divine Service in that Church could never be prevailed with to put on the Surplice Thus Dr. Heylyn concerning the ground of setting out a Book of Common-Prayer CHAP. V. Of the Suppression of Chantries and other Foundations Whereof Dr. Heylyn gives this following Account page 60. WE must now attend the King's Commissioners dispatched into every Shire to take a Survey of all Colleges Free Chappels Chantries and Brotherhoods according to the return of Commissions it would be no difficult matter to put a just Estimate and Value on so great a Gift Or to know how to parcel out proportion and divide the Spoyl betwixt all such as had before in hope devoured it In the first place as lying nearest came in the Free Chappel of St. Stephen originally Founded in the Palace at Westminster reckoned for the Chappel-Royal of the Court of England The whole Foundation consisted of no fewer than Thirty eight Persons to wit One Dean Twelve Canons Thirteen Vicars Four Clerks Six Choristers besides a Verger and one that had charge of the Chappel There was likewise a certain number appointed for the officiating of the daily Service Gentlemen of the Chappel they were commonly called As for the Chappel it self together with a Cloyster of curious Workmanship built by John Chambers one of the Kings Physicians and the last Master of the same they are still standing as they were the Chappel having been since fitted and employ'd for a House of Commons in all times of Parliament Thus Dr. Heylyn concerning this Chappel At the same time also fell the College of St. Martins scituated in the City of London not far from Aldersgate first founded for a Dean and Secular Canons in the time of the Conqueror This College was surrendred into the Hands of King Edward the Sixth who after gave the same to the Church of Westminster and they to make the best of the Kings Donation ordered That the Body of the Church with the Quire and Isles should be Leased out for Fifty years excepting out of the said Grant the Bells Lead Stone Timber Glass
stretching forth her body her head aâ—… two blows was taken off This end had Mary Queen of Scots in the Forty Sixth year of her Age and of her Imprisonment in England the Eighteenth A Lady so compleat in all excellent parts of Body and mind that it must needs have made her a happy Woman if she had not been a Queen and perhaps a happy Queen too if she had not been Heir to the Crown of England Thus Baker I will insert here one Passage more concerning this Queen which hath been omited in order of this story Dr. Heylyn pag. 160. Certain of the Queens Servants being assembled for their Devotions in the Chappel Royal of the Palace of Holy-rood House in Edenburgh the doors were broken open some of the company haled to the next Prison and the rest dispersed The Priest escaping with much difficulty by a private passage The Queen was then absent in the North but questioned Knox at her return as the cause of the uproar By which Expostulation she got nothing from that fiery Spirit but neglect and scorn Thus Dr. Heylyn ' concerning this ' barbarous action CHAP. VIII A short Relation concerning the Affairs of Ireland as to Religion And how the Hugonots in France betrayed the English Dr. Heylyn pag. 128. WE shall find the Queen there as active in advancing the Reformation as she had been in either of the other Kingdoms King Henry had first broke the Ice by taking to himself the Title of Supream Head on Earth of the Church of Ireland exterminating the Popes Authority and suppressing all the Monasteries and Religious Houses In matters of Doctrine and Forms of Worship as there was nothing done by him so neither much endeavoured in the time of King Edward the Sixth It being thought perhaps unsafe to provoke that people in the King's Minority considering with how many troubles he was else here exercised If any thing were done thereâ—…n it was rather done by toleration than command But Queen Elizabeth having setled her Affairs in England and undertaken the protection of the Scots conceived her self obliged in point of Piety to promote the Reformation in that Kingdom likewise A Parliament is therefore held where pass'd an Act restoring to the Crown the Jurisdiction over all Ecclesiastical persons By which Statute were established both the Oath of Supremacy and the High Commission as before in England There also pass'd an Act for the Uniforâ—…ity of Common-Prayer with permission of saying the same in Latin where the Minister had not the knowledge of the English Tongue But for translating it into Irish as it was afterwards done into Welch there was no care taken The people are required by that Statute under several penalties to frequent their Churches and to be frequent at the reading of the English Liturgy which they understand no more than they do the Mass. By which means the Irish were not only kept in continual ignorance as to the Doctrines and Devotions of the Church of England but we have likewise furnished the Papist with an excellent Argument against our selves for having the Divine Service celebrated in such a language as the people do not understand There also pass'd another Statute for restoring to the Crown the first Fruits and Twenty parts of all Ecclesiastical promotions as also of all Impropriated Parsonages of which there are more in number than those Rectories which have Cure of Souls The like Act passed for the Restitution of all Lands belonging to the Knights of St. John of Jerusalem with the Annulling of all Leases and other Grants made by the late Lord Prior of the same The Bishops of Ireland finding how things went in England and knowing that the like Alteration would ensue amongst themselves resolved to make such use of the present times as to enrich their Friends and Kindred by the the spoyl of their Churches To which end they so dissipated the Revenues of their several Bishopricks by long Leases Fee-farms and plain Alienations that to some of their Sees they left no more than a Rent of Five Marks Per Annum To others a bare yearly Rent of Forty shillings to the high displeasure of God the reproach of Religion and the perpetual ignominy of themselves for that horrible Sacriledge Thus Dr. Heylyn concerning Ireland How the English were betrayed by the Hugonots Dr. Heylyn pag. 161. A Peace being concluded betwixt the King and the Hugonots they betrayed the English whom they had brought into the Country and joyned their Forces with the rest to drive them out of Newhaven a Town besieged where the Pestilence had gotten amongst them and raged so terribly that the Living were scarce able to bury the Dead And to compleat the misery of the Besieged the Prince of Conde and Duke of Monpensier who had been the Heads of the Hugonot party shewed themselves openly amongst the rest in the Camp of the Enemies whereupon they were necessitated to yield This might be looked upon as an Argument of God's displeasure on this Nation for giving Aid unto the Rebels of a Christian Prince masked with the vizard of Religion And for a further punishment of this Action the Plague brought out of France by the Garrison Soldiers of Newhaven had so dispersed it â—…elf and made such a desolation in many parts of the Realm that it swept away above Twenty Thousand in the City of London Thus Dr. Heylyn And thus far as to these particul Relations of other Countries We will now prosecute our story of England CHAP. IX A Word concerning the then Pope's Letter to the Queen with a long Relation concerning the Presbyterians Dr. Heylyn pag. 131. WE find the new Bishops in England very high and resolute in opposing the Church of Rome Whereof the then Pope being informed directs unto the Queen an affectionate Letter calling Her his Dearest Daughter and declaring unto Her how sollicitous he was for her Salvation and the prosperity of her People which he told Her was not to be found by wandring out of the Communion of the Catholick Church Unto which he again invites Her with much Christian meekness But the Queen had set up her Resolution to go forward with the Change Wherefore all was lost labour But all this while there was no care taken to suppress the practices of the Calvinists who secretly endeavored to subvert the English Liturgy For whilst the Prelates of the Church of England bent all their forces towards the confuting of the Papists another Enemy appeared which seemed not openly to aim at the Churches Doctrine but quarrelled rather at some Rites and Extrinsecals of it Their purpose was to take in the Outworks of Religion first before they levelled their Artillery at the Fort it self The Schismaticks of Frankfort had no sooner heard of Queen Maries Death but they make what hast they could for England in hope of fishing better for themselves in a troubled water than a quiet Followed not long after by the Brethren of the Separation which
themselves to be an Assembly wherein the Lord's cause could not be heard wherein the infelicity of the miserable could not be respected wherein Truth Religion and Piety could bear no sway an Assembly that willingly called for the Judgment of God upon the whole Realm And finally That not a Man of their Seed should prosper be a Parliament Man or bear rule in England any more This necessary preparation being thus premised they tender to the Parliament a Book of the Form of Common-Prayer by them desired containing also in effect the whole pretended Discipline so revised by Travers And their Petition in behalf of it was in these words following to wit May it therefore please your Majesty That the Book hereunto annexed and every thing therein contained may be from henceforth used through all your Majesties Dominions But in this they were able to effect nothing It may seem strange that Queen Elizabeth should be so severe to her English Puritans and yet protect and countenance the Presbyterians in all other places But that great Monster in Nature called Reason of State is brought to plead in her defence Leicester Walsingham and others gave such encouragment under-hand to the Presbyterians that they resolved to proceed towards the putting of their Discipline in execution These great Persons did likewise entertain their Clamours and promote their Petitions at the Council-Table crossing and thwarting the Archbishop whensoever any cause which concerned the Brethren was brought before them It may be gathered from hence what a hard game this Prelate had to play when such great Masters in the Art held the Cards against him For at that time the Earls of Huntingdon and Leicester Walsingham and Knolls Comptroller of the Houshold a professed Genevian were his open Adversaries Burleigh a Neutral at the best Thus Dr. Heylyn The Order of their Government both at London and in the Country Dr. Heylyn pag. 213. THe Book of Discipline being published was no where better welcome than in London the Wealth and Pride of which City was never wanting to cherish and support such as most apparently opposed themselves to the present Authority or practised the introducing of Innovations both in Church and State The several Churches or Conventicles rather which they had in the City they reduced into one great and general Classis of which Cartwright Egerton or Travers were for the most part Moderators and whatsoever was there ordered was esteemed for current from thence the Brethren of other places did fetch their light and as doubts did arise thither they were sent to be resolved the Classical and Synodical decrees of other places not being Authentical till they were ratified in this which they held the Supream Consistory and chief Tribunal of the Nation But in the Country none appeared more forward than those of Northampton Daventry and Nottingham and the device is taken up in most parts of England but especially in Warwick-shire Suffolk Norfolk Essex c. In these Classes they determined Points of Doctrine Interpreted hard places of Scripture delivered their resolution in such cases of Conscience as were brought before them decided doubts and difficulties touching Contracts of Marriage c. and whatsoever was concluded by such as were present yet still with reference to the better judgment of the London Brethren became forthwith binding to the rest none being admitted into any of the aforesaid Classes before he had promised under his hand that he would submit himself and be obedient unto all such Orders and Decrees as were set down by the Classis to be observed At these Classes they enquired into the Life and Doctrine of all that had subscribed unto them censuring some and deposing others as they saw occasion Unto every Classis there belonged a Register who took the Heads of all that passed and saw them carefully entred into a Book for that purpose that they might remain upon Record Thus Dr. Heylyn gives a full Relation of the Progress of Presbytery in this Nation Now I will make a short Relation of the Queens Proceedings against Catholicks CHAP. XXIII Of the great endeavors used totally to extirpate Catholick Religion by Penal Laws and a horrid Effusion of Blood Stow pag. 678. THere was an Act of Parliament passed 5 Eliz In the Body whereof it was provided That no Man living or residing in the Queens Dominions should from thenceforth maintain the Power and Jurisdiction of the Bishop of Rome And for the better discovery of all such persons as might be Popishly affected it was Enacted that none should be admitted to receive Orders in the Church or to take any Degree in either of the Universities or to be Barrester or Bencher in any of the Inns of Court c. Or to practice as an Attorney or otherwise to bear any Office in any of the Courts at Westminster-Hall or any other Court whatsoever till they had taken the Oath of Surpemacy It was likewise made Treason for any one to be reconciled to the Church of Rome or to be made Priest beyond the Seas upon which Two accounts very many were afterwards Executed A Proclamation also was set forth That whosoever had any Children beyond the Sea should by a certain day call them home Commissioners were sent into all Parts and Divisions of the Realm to enquire out Priests and such as were reconciled by them further charging all manner of Persons to retain none in their Houses without due examination of their conditions manner of life and conformity in Religion and to keep thereof a Register to be shewed to the said Commissioners if they should demand it In pursuance of which Commission a Priest was taken saying Mass in the Lord Morley's House and the Lady Morley with her Children and divers others were also taken hearing the same Mass. There was also taken at the same time another Priest at the Lady Gilfords in Trinity-lane for saying Mass and for hearing the said Mass the Lady Gilford with divers other Gentlewomen were taken And likewise at the same instant were taken Two Priests in the Lady Browns House in Cow-lane for saying Mass with the Lady her self and divers others for hearing it All which persons were Endicted Convicted and had the Law Executed according to the Statute There was found in their several Chappels Beads Images Palms Chalices Crosses Vestments Pixes Paxes and such-like Thus Stow. He that desires to be fully satisfied concerning all the severe Laws made against Catholicks in this Queens Reign may have recourse to the Penal Statutes Now we will proceed to a further Execution of these Laws by a horrid effusion of Blood TWo Laymen and one Priest wher hanged bowelled and quartered for denying the Queens Supremacy Stow pag. 684 and 685. Six Priests were drawn from the Tower to Tyburn and there hanged bowelled and quartered Stow pag. 695. Four Priests more were found guilty of High-Treason in being made Priests beyond Seas and by the Pope's Authority and had Judgment to be hanged bowelled
very Gall of Schism by usurping an Authority which express Scripture says belongs only to Pastors I fear much fewer than is ordinarily imagined of those who have any liberal Education will be excused from this sin by any Ignorance Surreptition Provocation c. by reason of that great evidence and light which they have of the continued Succession Unity of Doctrin perfect Obedience to their spiritual Superiors Pennances and Retirements from the World and several other signal marks of the One Holy Catholick and Apostclick Church Some may be more deeply guilty and obnoxious to a heavier damnation than others as Ring-leaders more than their Followers But Damnation is by the Fathers generally denounced as the portion of them all Thus of the sin of Schism CHAP. VI. Of the Schism of the Church of England NOw whereas some Protestants seek to vindicate the Church of England from Schism by likening it to the Church of St. Cyprian of whom it is said That it condemned no man nor separated none from its Communion yet you are to know that this Plea helps them not at all For although this Moderation did exempt St. Cyprian from Schism because as St. Augustin says The Church had not then decided the dispute to whose decision St. Cyprian would certainly have submitted Yet this Moderation does not at all exempt the Church of England from Schism because her separation from her Mother-Church is for very many Doctrins of Faith defined and determined by the same Church This following Example will make the Case of the Church of England evidently appear For if for Example a Province in England had with-drawn it self from the Publick Civil Authority this Excuse would not exempt them from being Rebels to say We do not intend to quarrel with Those that continue in Obedience to the King we mean neither him nor them any harm They shall be welcome to come among us if they will we will be good friends we will not meddle with their doings but we will be governed only by our own Laws and Magistrates c. I believe I say This would not take from them the Guilt of Rebellion Their Civility in such their Rebellion would not change the Title of their crime nor free them from the punishment due unto it It may perhaps qualifie the Prince's resentment but the civilest Treason is Treason In this Point of Schism to the end that Doctor Peirce in his Court-Sermon may clear Protestants and lay the weight of so great a crime on the Catholick Church he argues thus Since besides the corruptions in Practice which yet alone cannot justifie separation there were in the Roman Church so many corruptions in Doctrin likewise entrenching on Fundamentals the Schism could not be on the Church of England's side which was obliged to separate so just cause being given but on theirs who gave the cause of the separation This Plea of the Doctors if it be admitted totally destroys all Governments and lays all the Guilt of Schisms and Rebellions in Church and State upon Civil and Ecclesiastical Governors For if Subjects may accuse their Governors and be themselves Judges of the Justice of such their Accusations the Governors are always sure to be condemned and pronounced guilty and the Subject justified Now to admit this Liberty of the Subject in Church-Government above all others is the most unjust Thing imaginable because that Government is protected from all error in Doctrins of Faith by the assistance of the Holy Ghost who was sent by our Saviour to teach it all Truth Wherefore to tax that Government with Errors in Faith is either to tax the Holy Ghost with them or to blaspheme against our Saviour by saying he has not kept his word in sending the Holy Ghost to teach the Church All truth Besides There is this other consideration which doth further manifest the weakness of this the Doctor 's Plea For if the Church of Rome be our Mother-Church as King James acknowledged her to be in a publick Speech made to his Parliament wherein he says I acknowledge the Church of Rome to be our Mother-Church See Stow pag. 840. then it will follow as it was urg'd in Parliament by Doctor Heath Archbishop of York in the Reign of Queen Elizabeth That if now after so many Ages this Church of Rome be found an Erroneous Church then we have hitherto received no benefit by our Christianity but rather have been all along deceived Since if this Mother-Church be false the Doctrin which she taught us must necessarily be false A Church being said to be false because she teacheth false Doctrin Thus the Doctor may see what he has gotten by his Reformation There is one thing yet that deserves well to be taken notice of in this change of Religion here in England For if all the Clergy and the Universities had generally assented to this Change it might have seemed a lesser crime But to have this done as de facto it was done in Queen Elizabeths Reign by Laymen only and this only with the Difference of Six Voices in Parliament although that Parliament was pack'd for this purpose and in opposition to the contrary Protestations and Declarations of all the Clergy and Universities This does heighten this crime to the utmost of all Impiety I will yet for a close add one thing more which does not a little manifest this Impiety For although Reformation of Religion was here pretended yet it evidently appears by our English History that nothing but worldly and carnal Interests carried on this business For was not the Liberty obtained by King Henry the Eighth to bring into his Bed a new handsom Wife instead of his former vertuous Queen a very carnal Interest Was not his invading all the Possessions and Treasure of Monasteries a great Secular Interest Was not the dividing the said Lands amongst the Nobility and Gentry at very easie rates a very great Interest In King Edward's days was not the Protector 's seizing on the remainder of Churchspoyls a great Interest Was not the freeing of Clergy-men from a necessity of saying daily and almost hourly long Ecclesiastical Offices from lying alone without Bedfellows c. matters of great both carnal and secular Interest Was not the exempting of All both Layity and Ecclesiasticks from the Duty of confessing their Sins and submitting themselves to Penitential Satisfactions from rigorous Fasts out of Conscience and Religion and other Austerities a matter of considerable Interest to Flesh and corrupt Nature By what hath been hitherto said appears but even too clearly how that the Fundamental Rule of all Government and Subordination was utterly neglected in England at the time that the pretended Reformation was contrived and executed Here is a new and thorough moulding of a Church both in Doctrins and Discipline called a Reformation Wherein all the Synodical Acts of this Church since Christianity entred among us are as to any obliging Power by their Authority reversed wherein all the Decisions of