Monks of Rochester of all their moveable Goods all the Ornaments of their Church Writings Evidences yea and of great part of their Lands Possessions and Priviledges He built the Hospital at Stroud near Rochester and endowed it with fifty two pounds yearly revenue 38. Benedictus 39. Henry de Sandford This man preaching at Sittingburn before a great Audience declared openly That God had revealed unto him now three several times how that on such a day the Souls of King Richard the First Stephen Langton late Archbishop and another Priest were delivered out of Purgatory 40. Richard de Wendover 41. Laurence of St. Martin 42. Walter de Merton Lord Chancellor of England Before he was a Bishop he built Merton-colledge in Oxford 43. John de Bradfield 44. Thomas Inglethorp 45. Thomas de Woldham 46. Haymo Confessor to King Edward the Second 47. John de Sheppey 48. William Wittlesey 49. Thomas Trillick 50. Thomas Brenton 51. William Boltsham 52. John Boltsham 53. Richard Young 54. John Kemp 55 Iohn Langdon 56. Thomas Brown 57. Iohn Wells 58. Iohn White 59. Thomas Rotheram 60. Iohn Alcock 61. Iohn Russel 62. Edmond Awdley 63. Thomas Savage 64. Richard Fitz-Iames 65. Iohn Fisher 66. Iohn Hilsey 67. Nicholas Heath 68. Nicholas Ridley 69. Iohn Poynet 70. Iohn Scory 71 Maurice Griffin 72. Edmond Guest 73. Edmond Freak 74. Iohn Piers 75. Iohn Young 76. William Barlow 77. Richard Neile 78. Iohn Buckeridge 79. Walter Curle 80. Iohn Bowles 81. Iohn Warner 82. Iohn Dolben Bishops of Oxford About the year 730. Didan Duke of Oxford by the request of his Daughter built a Monastery there for Nuns and appointed her the Abbess Anno 847. in the time of King Ethelred certain Danes flying into this Monastery to save their lives from the cruelty of the English pursuing them the Monastery was burnt and they all burnt in the same but it was shortly after re-edified by the said King and further enriched with divers Possessions This Monastery was neglected but Anno 1110. Guimundus Chaplain to King Henry the First became Prior of this renewed Monastery repaired its ruines and by the favour of the King recovered unto it what Lands soever had been given heretofore unto the Nuns In this state it continued until Cardinal Wolsey got license to convert it into a Colledge Anno 1524. calling it Cardinals-colledge He leaving it unperfect King Henry the Eighth gave it a foundation the stile whereof he first appointed to be Collegium Regis Henrici Octavi but afterwards he entitled the Church Ecclesia B. Mariae de Osney He translated that See to the foresaid Colledge placing in it a Bishop a Dean eight Prebendaries a Quire and other Officers and finally stiled it Ecclesia Christi Cathedralis Oxon ex fundatione Regis Henrici Octavi The Bishops were 1. Robert King 2. Hugh Curwyn 3. Iohn Underhill 4. Iohn Bridges 5. Iohn Howson 6. Richard Corbet 7. Iohn Bancroft 8. Robert Skinner 9. William Paul 10. Walter Blandford 11. Nathanael Crew Son to the Lord Crew Bishops of Glocester Osrike King of Northumberland founded a Nunnery in the City of Glocester in the year 700. Kineburg Eadburg and Eva Queens of Mercia were Abbesses of this Monastery one after another it was destroyed by the Danes and lay waste until Aldred Archbishop of York re-edified the same Anno 1060. and replenished it with Monks and erected from the very foundation that goodly Church which is now the Cathedral See of that Diocess Being given into the hands of King Henry the Eighth by Parliament he allotted the Revenues of it unto the maintenance of a Bishop a Dean six Prebendaries and other Ministers The Bishops were 1. John Wakeman Abbot of Tewksbury he was consecrated the first Bishop of this new erection September 7. 1541. 2. John Hooper He was burnt at Glocester for the profession of the Gospel in Queen Maries dayes 3. James Brooks 4. Richard Cheiney 5. John Bullingham 6. Godfry Gouldsborough 7. Thomas Ravis 8. Henry Parry 9. Giles Thomson 10. Miles Smith 11. Godfry Goodman 12. William Nicholson 13. _____ Prichard Bishops of Peterborough Penda the Son of Penda the first King of Mercia that was a Christian began the foundation of a Monastery there Anno 656. but was taken away by Treachery before he could finish the work But this Monastery was afterward built up in stately manner by his Brother Wolpher This Monastery he dedicated to St. Peter and appointed one Saxulf to be the first Abbot thereof Two hundred years after it was destroyed by the Danes and having lain desolate one hundred and nine years Ethelwold Bishop of Winchester a great Patron of Monkery re-edefied it King Edgar assisted the Bishop much in this foundation and Adulf Chancellor to the said King who became Abbot there After him Kenulph another Abbot compassed this Monastery with a strong wall about the year of our Lord 1000. through the liberality of divers Benefactors it grew to that greatness of wealth as that all the Countrey round about belonged to it King Henry the Eighth converted it into a Cathedral Church and the Revenues upon the maintenance of a Bishop a Dean six Prebendaries and other Ministers The Bishops were 1. Iohn Chambers Doctor of Physick he was last Abbot of Peterborough and first Bishop thereof Anno 1541. 2. David Pool Doctor of Law 3. Edmond Scambler 4. Richard Howland 5. Thomas Dove 6. William Peirs 7. Augustine Lindsel 8. Iohn 9. Benjamin Laney 10. Ioseph Henshaw Bishops of Bristol Robert Sirnamed Fitz-Harding because his Father that was Son unto the King of Denmark was called Harding this Robert I say being a Citizen of Bristol founded the Monastery of St. Augustines and placed Canons in the same Anno 1148. This Foundation was afterwards confirmed and augmented by King Henry the Second who preferred the Author of the same to the marriage of the sole Heir of the Lord Berkley Of them are descended all the Lords Berkley In that place King Henry the Eighth erected an Episcopal See and converted the Revenues of the same unto the maintenance of a Bishop a Dean six Prebendaries and other Officers 1. Paul Bush was the first Bishop of Bristol 2. Iohn Holyman 3. Richard Cheiney 4. Iohn Bullingham 5. Richard Fletcher 6. Iohn Thornborough 7. Nicholas Felton 8. Rowland Searchfield 9. Robert Wright 10. George Cook 11. Robert Skinner 12. Iohn Westfield 13. Gilbert Ironside 14. _____ Carlton Bishops of Chester King Henry the Eighth converted the Monastery the Church whereof there first built by that famous Earl Leofricus and dedicated unto St. Wergburg into a Cathedral Church erected a new Bishoprick there The Bishops were 1. Iohn Bird He was deprived in Queen Maries dayes 2. Iohn Coates 3. Cuthbert Scot 4. VVilliam Downham 5. VVilliam Chadderton 6. Hugh Bellot 7. Richard Vaughan 8. George Lloyd 9. Thomas Morton 10. Iohn Bridgeman 11. Iohn VValton 12. Henry Fern 13. George Hall 14. Iohn VVilkins 15. Iohn Pearson Bishops of S. Davids 1. David Vnkle
otherwise be better employed At this time there was contention at Rome between two Popes Vrban and Clement the Third Rufus took part with Clement but Anselm stuck to Vrban and required of the King leave to fetch his Pall of Vrban All the rest of the Bishops were against him Mean-while the King had sent two Messengers to the Pope for the Pall who returned and brought with them Gualter Bishop of Alban the Pope's Legate with the Pall to be given to Anselm Which Legate so perswaded the King that Vrban was received Pope through the whole Land But afterwards grew great displeasure betwixt them so that Anselm went to appear to Rome where he remained in exile and the King seized all his Goods and Lands into his own Coffers Vrban gave unto Anselm the Archbishops Pall thereby voiding the Investiture which he received from King William and obliging him there-after to depend on him as also he did whereat the King incensed interdicted to Anselm his entry into England confiscated the Lands of the Archbishoprick and declared that his Bishops held their Places and Estates merely from him and were not subject unto the Pope for the same To which all the Bishops of England subscribed neither did any of them contradict it but the onely Bishop of Rochester as a Suffragan to the Archbishop of Canterbury By the intervention of Friends Anselm made his peace But being returned into England he soon after began to disswade the Clergy from receiving Investitures from the King wherefore he was forced again to fly out of the Kingdom and his estate was again seized upon and confiscated of which he had obteined restitution at his return King William the Conqueror had made the new-forrest in Hant-shire with a great devastation of Towns and Churches the place as Fuller saith being turned into a Wilderness for Men and a Paradise for Deer King Ruffus hunting in this Forrest was here slain by the glancing of an arrow shot by Sir Walter Tirrell and was buried at Winchester He gave to the Monks called De Charitate the great new Church of S. Saviours in Bermondsey with the Manor thereof as also of Charleton in Kent Henry Beaucleark his Brother succeeded him in the throne being one of the profoundest Scholars and most politick Princes in his generation To ingratiate himself to the English he instantly and actually repealed the cruel Norman Lawes the good and gentle Laws of King Edward the Confessor he reduced with correction of them Anselm from exile was speedily recalled and to his Church Lands and Goods was fully restored The late King 's extorting Publicanes whereof Ranulph Flambard Bishop of Durham the principal were imprisoned the Court-corruption reformed Adultery then grown common severely punished CENT XII KIng Henry was Married to Mawd Daughter to Malcolm King of Scots who lived sometime as a Nun under the tuition of Christian her Aunt Abbess of Wilton She was Sister to Edgar Atheling and Grand-child of Edmond Iron-side whereby his Issue might merely be both of the English Blood and of the Ancient Saxon Kings Anselm summoneth a Council at Westminster where first he Excommunicated all Married Priests half the Clergy at that time being Married or the Sons of Married Priests he also inhibited all Lay-men to hear their Masses He also deprived many great Prelates of their promotions because they had accepted their Investitures from the King which was done by receiving of a Pastoral Staffe and a Ring an Ancient rite testifying that their Donation was from their Sovereign in which number were the Abbots of Ely of Romsey of Pershore of St. Edmonds of Tavestock Peterborough Burch Bodiac Stoke and Middleton for which his boldness and for refusing to Consecrate certain Bishops advanced by the King great contention fell betwixt them and Anselm appealed to Pope Paschal and soon after fled to Rome Hereupon the King enjoyned Gerard Archbishop of York to Consecrate William of Winchester Roger of Hereford c. But William Bishop of Winchester refused Consecration from the Archbishop of York and resigned his Staff and Ring back again to the King as illegally from him This discomposed all the rest But not long after by the mediation of Friends the King and Anselm are reconciled the King disclaiming his right of Investiture And now Anselm who formerly refused consecrated all the Bishops of vacant Sees Then did Anselm forbid the Priests Marriage But Anselm died before he could finish his project of Priests divorces His two next Successors Rodulphus and William Corbel went on vigorously with the design but met with many and great obstructions Other Bishops found the like opposition but chiefly the Bishop of Norwich whose obstinate Clergy would keep their Wives in defiance of his endeavours against them But they were forced to forgo their Wives Among those Married Priests there was one Ealphegus flourishing for Learning and Piety he resided at Plymouth in Devon-shire To order the refractory Married Clergy the Bishops were fain to call in the aid of the Pope John Bishop of Cremona an Italian Cardinal did urge the single Life of the Clergy and said It is a vile crime that a Man rising from the side of his Concubine should consecrate the Body of Christ. The same Night he was taken in bed with a Whore after he had spoken those words in a Synod at London The thing was so notorious that it could not be denied saith Matthew Paris This much advantaged the reputation of Married Priests The King taking a fine of Married Priests permitted them to enjoy their Wives About this time the old Abbey of Ely was advanced into a new Bishoprick and Cambridge-shire assigned for it's Diocess taken from the Bishoprick of Lincoln Spaldwick Manor in Huntington-shire was given to Lincoln in reparation of the jurisdiction taken from it and bestowed on Ely One Hervey who had been banished by the Welch from the poor Bishoprick of Bangor was made the first Bishop of Ely Hervey the first Bishop of Ely King Henry bestowed great Priviledges upon that Bishoprick Then Bernard Chaplain to the King and Chancellor to the Queen was the first Norman made Bishop of St. Davids who soon denied subjection to Canterbury and would be an absolute Archbishop of himself But William Archbishop of Canterbury aided by the Pope at last forced the Bishop of St. Davids to a submission King Henry died at the Town of St. Denys in Normandy of a surfeit by eating of Lampreys He was buried at Reading in Bark-shire in the Abbey that himself had there founded and endowed with large possessions Stephen Earl of Bologn hearing of King Henrie's Death hasteth over into England and seizeth on the Crown He was Son to Adela Daughter to King William the Conqueror but Mawd first Married to Henry the Emperor of Germany was the undoubted heir of the Crown She was constantly called the Empress after the Death of the Emperor though Married to Geoffery Plantagenet her second Husband Unto her all the Clergy and
mounted on whose behalf the Pope upon the Bishop's humble suit pleading the Clergy's immunity wrote somewhat earnestly to King Richard to set his very dear Son for so he called the Bishop at liberty The King in a pleasant manner caused the Habergeon and Curasses of the Bishop to be presented to the Pope with this question alluding to that of Jacob's Children to their Father concerning Joseph's Garment Vide an haec sit filii tui tunica an non See whether this be thy Son's coat or not Whereupon the Pope replied That he was neither his Son nor the Son of the Church and therefore should be Ransomed at the King's will because he was rather judged to be a servitor of Mars than a Souldier of Christ Whom the King of England handled sharply Anno 1199. One Thurical an English-man was in a rapture carried in the night to Purgatory of which S. Nicholas is Governor where also he saw the mouth of Hell whence a stinking smoak issued out which as it was revealed to him came out of Tithes detained or ill paid because there those Men were horribly punished who had ill-paid the Tithes due to the Church This is related by Mat. Paris a Monk of St. Albans superstitious according to the Age that he lived in Then also came the Minorite Friars into England When the Minorite Friars came into England their Order being but lately instituted King Richard laying Siege to a Castle called Chaluz belonging to the Viscount of Limoges was shot into the Arm by a poisoned Arrow whereupon the Iron remaining and festering in the wound the King within nine dayes after died having first forgiven the Souldier before his Death King John was Crowned in Westminster-Abbey June 9. 1199. and was Sworn by Hubert Archbishop of Canterbury Quod sanctam Ecclesiam ejus ordinatos diligeret eam ob incursione malignantium indemnem conservaret dignitates illius bona fide sine malo ingenio servaret illasas as Roger Hoveden expresseth it This Archbishop with all the Bishops Abbots Nobles present at and consenting to this Oath and doing Homage and Fealty to him The 13th of June following he was solemnly Divorced in Normandy in the presence of three of his Norman Bishops from the Duke of Gloucester's Daughter Vnde magnam summi Pontificis Innocentii tertii Curiae Romanae indignationem prasumens temere contra leges canones dissolvere quod eorum fuerat authoritate colligatum as Radulphus de Diceta informs us But he soon after was Married to Isabel sole Daughter and Heir of the Earl of Angolesme who was Crowned Queen Octob. 8. by Archbishop Hubert this Pope and Cardinals not daring to question or null his Marriage CENT XIII KIng John being no sooner possessed of the Realm of England but in the very first year of his Reign evidenced to all the World his Ecclesiastical Sovereignty both by ratifying protecting enlarging the Ecclesiastical as well as Temporal Liberties Privledges Churches Chappels Tithes Lands Possessions granted by his Ancestors to several Archbishopricks Bishopricks Monasteries in England Ireland Normandy by sundry Charters using this expression in the Prologue of Confirmation to the Monastery of Cirencester Johannes Dei gratia c. Prynne's history of Popes Usurpations lib. 5. ch 1. Quoniam Honori nostro condecens saluti nostrae necessarium loca sancta religiosa quae ab Avo patris nostri Rege H. primo sunt fundata a Rege H. secundo patre nostro confirmata defendere custodire amplificare Inde est quod Deo Sancta Mariae de Cirencest Canonitis Regularibus ibidem Deo servientibus damus concedimus Dat. per manum H. Cant. Archiep. Cancel nostri apud sag 7. die Aug. An. Regni nostri 10. Which prologue he likewise used in other of his Charters K. John also authorized Hubert Archbishop of Canter to make a Will which he could not then Legally do without his Royal License In the year 1177. no less then 30 Nuns of the Abby of Ambresbury were accused and convicted at one time for their incontinency to the dissolution and infamy of their Order whereof they had been publikely defamed whereupon King Henry the 2d Expulsis sanctimonialibus be Abbatia de Ambresbury propter incontinentiam per alios domos Religiosos distributis expelling the Nuns from this Abbey for their incontinency distributed them throughout other Religious Houses in stricter custody by way of penance and gave it to the Abbess and Nuns of Font-Everoit for a perpetual possession who sending a Covent of Nuns thither from Font-Everoit Richard then Archbishop of Canterbury inducted them into the Abbey of Ambresbury on the first of June King Hen. 2. Bartholomew Bishop of Excester John Bishop of Norwich and many other of the Clergy and People being then present And by his Charter Anno 1179. confirmed the Lands of this Abbey to them with many liberties and that by the advice and consent of the Archbishop of Canterbury and many other Bishops Great Men and Barons of the Realm King John in the first year of his Reign by his Charter reciting all the premises in the Prologue confirmed this Charter of his Father ratified these Nuns deprivations and imprisonments in other Monasteries for their incontinency with consent of his Bishops Nobles and request of Pope Alexander transferring this Abbey and all Lands thereto belonging from one rank of Nuns to another takes both these Nuns Persons Lands into his Royal protection as if they were his own Demesnes grants them several Tithes Churches large Priviledges and prohibits that none of his Officers or Subjects should disturb them therein nor implead them but in the presence of himself and his heirs The same first year of King John's Reign the Abbot of Westminster dying the Monks by the King's License elected Ralph Arundel Prior of Harle for their Abbot unto which the King gave his Assent Whereupon he was consecrated Abbot no Bishops Abbots Priors or other Ecclesiastical Persons being elected to any Dignities but by the King 's previous License and subsequent Assent to the Person elected who might approve or reject him at his Royal Pleasure This King ratified the Charter of K. Richard touching the exchange between Archbishop Hubert and the Bishop and Monks of Rochester of the Manor of Lambeth for other Lands and the Clause therein authorizing the Pope Archbishop of Canterbury Bishops and Clergy of England to Excommunicate the infringers thereof Chart. 1. Johan Regis part 2. n. 147. n. 25. Besides he appropriated several Parochial Churches in perpetuity to the Bishoprick of Coventry and Litchfield converted other Parochial Churches into Prebendaries and ratified the Orders made by Bishop Hugh for the better regulation of that Church by two Charters The like Charter of confirmation of Churches Tithes and Liberties he made to the Bishop of Exeter and his Successors the same year In the second year of his Reign the Dean and Chapter of Lexoven
King's Allegiance would not shake his magnanimous resolution nor his Peoples loyalty Pâ—ynne's History Book 3. ch 3. the Pope's Legats Pandulphus and Durance forged new devises to effect their designs by fraud and terror to which purpose they procured sundry Letters from divers Quarters to be brought unto him whilst he sate at dinner at Nottingham intending to set upon the Welch-men with a potent Army whom they had stirred up to rebel against him and invade England to divert him from his design all to this effect That there was a secret Plot laid to destroy him He marched to Chester where he met with new Letters to the like effect which caused him to dismiss his Army and design against the Welch-men Besides the Popish Priests set up one Peter an Hermite a counterfeit Prophet to terrifie the King and alienate the peoples hearts from him by his false Prophesies This counterfeit Sooth-sayer prophesied That King John should reign no longer than the Ascension-day within the year of our Lord 1213. which was the fourteenth from his Coronation and this he said he had by Revelation When the Ascension-day was come the King commanded his Regal Tent to be spread abroad in the open field passing that day with his noble Council and Men of Honour in the greatest solemnity that ever he did before solacing himself with musical Songs and Instruments most in sight of his trusty Friends This day being past in all prosperity and mirth the King commanded that Peter the Hermite that false Prophet should be drawn and hanged like a Traitor Now behold the misery of King John perplexed with the French King 's daily preparation to invade England assisted by many English male-contents and all the exil'd Bishops Hereupon he sunk on a sudden beneath himself to an act of unworthy submission and subjection to the Pope For on Ascension-Eve May 15. being in the Town of Dover standing as it were on tiptoes on the utmost edge brink and label of that Land which now he was about to surrender King John by an Instrument or Charter sealed and solemnly delivered in the presence of many Prelats and Nobles to Pandulphus the Pope's Legat granted to God and the Church of Rome the Apostles Peter and Paul and to Pope Innocent the Third and his Successors the whole Kingdom of England and Ireland Fuller's Church History Book 3. And took an Estate thereof back again yielding and paying yearly to the Church of Rome over and above the Peter-pence a thousand Marks Sterling viz. seven hundred for England and three hundred for Ireland In the passing hereof the King's Instrument to the Pope was sealed with a Seal of Gold and the Pope's to the King was sealed with a Seal of Lead This being done the King took the Crown off his Head and set it upon Pandulphus his Knees at whose feet he also laid his Scepter Robe Sword and Ring his Royal Ensigns as John de Serres relates and these words said he in hearing of all the great Lords of England Here I resign up the Crown and the Realm of England into the hands of Pope Innocentius the Third and put me wholly in his mercy and in his ordinance Then Pandulph received the Crown of King John and kept it five dayes in his hands and confirmed all things by his Charter Now the Pope's next design was how to take off and pacifie the French King from his intended Invasions and so sent the Archbishop and his Confederates into England there to insult over King John as they had done abroad Next year the Interdict was taken off the Kingdom and a general joy was over the Land The seventeenth of August following the exiled Bishops landed at Dover and were conducted in State to the King at Winchester the King 's extraordinary humbling to and begging pardon of them prostrating himself to the ground at their feet and their insolent carriage toward him is related by Matthew Paris The next day after their coming to Winchester the King issued out Writs to all the Sheriffs of England to enquire of their damages There were other Writs sent to the Kings Judges to proceed in the said Inquisition After this general compliance with them the King conceiving he had given them full content and setled all things in peace resolved to pass with an Army into Picardy whither the Nobles refused to follow him In the mean time the Archbishop Bishop Nobles meeting at St. Albans about the damages to be restored by the King to the Prelates during their exile fell to demand the confirmation of their Liberties granted by his Grandfather King Henry the first which the King condescended unto Soon after the Archbishop caused all the Bishops Abbots Priors Deans and Nobles of the Realm to meet together at London upon pretext of satisfying his and the exiled Bishops damages but in verity to engage in a new Rebellion against the Crown and confer it on Lewis the French King's Son as they did in the conclusion under pretence of demanding the confirming the Charter and Liberties granted by King Henry the first there produced by the Archbishop which the King had but newly ratified at St. Albans Pandulphus besides his former insolencies endeavoured to wrest out of the King's hand the power of imprisoning Clerks for Fellonies that so they might be at his own disposal and act any villanies with impunity King John being thus distressed sent a base and unchristian-like Ambassage to Admiralius Murmelius a Mahometan King of Morocco then very potent and possessing a great part of Spain offering him if he would send him succour to hold the Kingdom of England as a Vassal from him and to receive the Law of Mahomet saith Matthew Paris The Moor offended at his offer told the Ambassadours That he lately had read Paul's Epistles Modò inspexi lâ—brum in Graeco scriptum cujuâ—dam Graeci sapientis Christiani nomine Pauli cujus actus veroa mihi maximè complacent accepto Vnum tamen de ipso mihi displicet quod in lege sub quâ natus est non stetit sed ad alia taÌ„quam transfuga inconstans avolvit which for the matter liked him well save only that Paul had renounced that Faith wherein he was born and the Jewish profession Wherefore he slighted King John as one devoid both of piety and policy who would love his liberty and disclaim his Religion A strange tender if true But Mr. Prynne proveth it to be a most scandalous malitious forgery of this Monk of St. Albans against the King for sequestring that Abbey Philip King of France together with his Son Lewis and his Proctor and all the Nobles of France Anno 1216. with his own mouth protested against this Charter and resignation to Walo the Pope's own Legat when purposely sent to them by Pope Innocent to disswade them from invading England as being then St. Peter's Patrimony not only as null void in it self for several Reasons but of
Roma totum negat Qui plus dat pecunia melius allegat Romani capitulum habent in decretis Vt potentes audiant manibus repletis Dabis aut non dabitur potunt quando petis Qua mensura seminas eadem tu metis Munus petitio currunt passu pari Opereris munere si vis operari Tullium nec timeas si velit causari Munus Eloquentia gaudet singulari Nummis in hac Curia non est qui non vacet Crux placet Rotunditas placet totum placet Et cum ita placeat Romanis placet Vbi munus loquitur lex omnis tacet Cum ad Papam veneris habe pro constanti Non est bonus Pauperi soli favet danti Et si munus praestitum non sit aliquanti Respondet hic tibi sic non est mihi tanti Papa quaerit Chartula quaerit Bulla quaerit Pâ—rta quaerit Cardinal quaerit Cursor quaerit Sed si dares omnibus at uni deerit Totum mare salsum est tota causa perit About that time Nigellus Vireker a Learned Monk at Canterbury wrote a Book De abusu rerum Ecclesiae and sent it to William Bishop of Ely Chancellor of England In this Book he not onely rebuked him but all Teachers under the Pope's Tyranny because they committed the Cure of Souls unto Children Belly-gods and despisers of the Sacred Word Henry the third of that name succeeded his Father King John being about ten years old and was Crowned at Glocester by a part of the Nobility and Clergy upon the perswasion of William Earl Mareshall Earl of Pembrook a Nobleman of great Authority the rest siding with the French Lewis within little more than a twelve Moneth he recovered the entire possession of his Kingdom In Whitsun-week the Pope's Legate encouraged the King's Army to fight the French King's Forces at Lincoln and after a sharp conflict they routed the Barons and Lewis's Forces slew and took many of them Prisoners with the loss onely of three Men and took the City of Lincoln with all the Treasure and baggage of the Enemy The King's Ships watching the French Fleet at Sea transporting Souldiers and supplies unto Lewis took Eustachius a Monk their Admiral Prisoner whose Head the King's Brother Richard cut off with his Sword despising the great sum of Money which he proffered for his Ransom Soon after which defeats by Land and Sea both Parties had a conference at Stanes and came to an Agreement Septemb. 3. and Lewis shamefully departed this Realm But notwithstanding this Agreement with the Barons yet the Pope's Legate exempted all the Bishops Abbots and Clergy out of this Act of pacification for their contempt of the Pope's Authority that he might dispose of their Ecclesiastical promotions and Benefices to his Instruments and put them to excessive fines at the present to fill the Pope's and his own Coffers Claus Anno 1. H. 3. m. 21. Pat. 1. H. 3. m. 16. intus This Legate Gualo did bear chief sway in the King's Council and the King sealed some Letters Patents Sigillis venerabilium Patrum Domini Gualonis Sancti Martini Presbyteri Cardinalis Apostolicae sedis Legati Domini Petri Wintoniensis Episcopi and sent them abroad under their Seals in the first year of his Reign because as yet he had no Seal The Canons of Carlisle contemning both the Pope's and his Legates Authority and Censures contumaciously celebrating Divine Service and Sacraments notwithstanding their Interdicts adhering and Swearing Fealty to the King of Scots King Henrie's and the Pope's declared enemy yea electing an interdicted Clerk for their Bishop against the King's and Legate's Wills and dividing the Revenues of the Bishoprick among themselves The King's Council thereupon sent an Epistle to Pope Honorius the third who succeeded Innocent the third that year in the King's name totally to remove these Schismatical Canons and place Prebends in their rooms to augment the Bishop's Revenues which were small and displace the intruded Bishop Upon which Letter the Pope ordered Gualo his Legate by the King 's Royal assent to constitute Hugh Abbot of Beaulieu Bishop of Carlisle In the second year of King Henry III. the Archbishop of Dublin in Ireland and other Bishops there Usurping upon the King's Crown and Temporal Courts presumed to hold pleas in their Courts Christian of Lay fee whereupon there issuing Prohibitions from the King's Court to stay these Suits they proceeded contemptuously notwithstanding upon which â—here issued out a Writ of Attachment against them to appear before the chief Justice of Ireland to answer the contempt In the third year of King Henry the third the Bishoprick of Leismore united formerly to the Bishoprick of Waterford by the Pope's Legate in Ireland while the Bishop was in England at the Consecration of the Bishop of Carlisle Macrobius a Canon of Leismore procuring an election from the rest of the Canons pretending the See to be then void obtained the Legate's and King 's Royal assent to the Election and Restitution of the Temporalties whereof the Bishop of Waterford complaining to the King the King nulled that election and commanded the Bishop to be put in possession of his Temporalties The Bishop of Ely going into France after Lewis his return thither reported King Henry to be dead and laboured to stir up a new War against him whereupon the King wrote to the Pope to deprive him and bestow his Bishoprick by provision upon some other in which Letter the King acknowledgeth the Pope's great favours and assistance to him during his Infancy puts himself and his Realms under the protection of his wings and by way of Complement stiles them the Patrimony of the Church of Rome to gain the Pope's readier protection and assistance in his Suits and Wars In the fourth year of his Reign King Henry taking notice of diverse Usurpations upon the right of his Crown in Ireland by Covents Deanes and Chapters electing Abbots and Bishops as they became void and the chief Justices approving them without his Privity License or Royal assent he issued out a Writ to his chief Justice of Ireland to reform and prevent this dangerous Usurpation for the future This year the Earl of Albemarle refusing to deliver up to the King some of his Castles and Lands committed to his custody for which he was Excommunicated by the Bishop of Norwich and the Pope's Legate thereupon the King issued out a prohibition to all his Barons and Subjects in Lancashire and five Counties more not to Aid him or his complices but to avoid them as Excommunicated Persons till they had submitted to the King Ecclesiastical Censures were then commonly inflicted in that Age for Temporal Offences and Rebellions to reduce Men to obedience to the King as well as to the Church and Pope At last the Earl came to the King under the conduct of Walter Archbishop of York and by the mediation of Pandulphus the Legate was reconciled to him Anno Domini 1221.
The King being under the Wardship of Peter Bishop of Winchester was on Whitsunday Crowned the second time at Winchester by Stephen Archbishop of Canterbury Soon after which there being a difference concerning the Bishoprick of Ely between Galfridus de Burgo Archdeacon of Norwich and Robert of York the Pope at last nulled both their Elections and â—onferred the Bishoprick upon John Abbot of Fontain who was Consecrated at Westminster The same year and day Hugh Bishop of Lincoln was Canonized a Saint by the procurement of the Archbishop He likewise caused his Predecessor Thomas Becket to be Translated Enshrined and Adored with great Solemnity Most of the English many of the French Archbishops Bishops Abbots Priors Clergy and of other Countries were by the Archbishop's invitation present at Thomas Becket's Translation The translation and enshrining of Thomas Becket The King by the Legat's and his Council's advice changed the Heathenish and long-continued Trials in criminal Causes by Fire and Water into other ways of Trial and Punishments by Imprisonment or abjuring the Realm Benedict Bishop of Rochester Richard Bishop of Sarum Hugh Bishop of Lincoln William Bishop of Bath and Glastonbury Richard Bishop of Durham Henry Abbot of Ramsey and other Clergy-men were all made Justices Itinerants this year Henry Bishop of Landaff dying thereupon Pandulphus the Pope's Legate conferred it upon William Prior of Goldcliff William de Marisco Bishop of London of his own accord resigning his Bishoprick Eustachius de Faucumberge then Treasurer of the Exchequer was chosen Bishop of London whose Election was confirmed by the Legate Pandulphus This Legate sent a Letter to Peter Bishop of Winton and Hugh de Burgh to prohibit and suppress the Usury of the Jews taken from Christians and to stay a Suite brought by a Jew against the Abbot and Covent of Westminster before the Justices of the Jews wherein he exacted usury from them to the great scandal of Christianity and the King's dishonour and to joyn some discreet Persons with the Sheriff in each County for the collection of Amerciaments to prevent their Malice and Extortions About this time was taken an Impostor at Oxford having five wounds in his Body and Members sc in his Side Hands and Feet who counterfeited himself to be Christ with two Women his followers counterfeiting themselves to be the Virgin Mary the Mother of Christ and Mary Magdalen They were immured together with him without any Victuals and starved to Death Then was a Council held at Oxford under Archbishop Stephen where many Constitutions were made most of them being very useful to reform Extortions Abuses Procurations in Visitations the taking of any Fees for Letters of Order Funerals or Administring any Sacrament as also against Pluralities Non-residence and other abuses of Clergy-men Soon after this the Archbishop and the Bishop of Lincoln commanded by their Injunctions That none should sell any victuals to the Jews nor have any communion with them of which the Jews complaining the King issued a Writ to the Majors of Canterbury Oxford and Norwich to countermand the Bishop's Injunctions that all should sell victuals and other necessaries to them and that they should imprison every one refusing to do it till further order Then the Prior of St. Patrick of Dune in Jreland sent a Petition to the King to grant him and others some small Cell to reside in in England their Houses in Ireland being frequently burnt in the Wars for St. Patrick's and other Irish Saints sake whose Relikes he then sent to the King for a present The King to satisfie the Archbishop wrote a Letter to the Pope to give way for the return of his Brother Simon Langton into England out of which he was formerly banished as well as Excommunicated and deprived of all his Ecclesiastical Benefices for adhering to Lewis and contemning the Pope's Excommunications But we find not that the Pope consented to this request Our Kings by reason of their manifold Affairs in the Court of Rome relating to the Pope and other Forreign States usually constituted sometimes general otherwise special Proctors by their Letters Patents to implead and defend in their Names and Rights all matters there depending for or against them of which there are many different Formes in our Records King Henry standing in need of a subsidy from the Bishops and Clergy Pope Honorius thereupon sent his Bull to the Archbishops Bishops Abbots Priors and Clergy entreating them to grant him a competent subsidy to be disposed of by common consent onely for publick benefit of the Realm leaving the grant free to the Bishops and Clergy to impose and proportion it This year sc 1225. the Archbishop of Canterbury and his Suffragans instead of granting the King a subsidy or punishing leacherous Clearks passed severe Decrees against their Concubines onely principally intended against the Wives of Clergy men whom they stiled Concubines in that Age. The Bishop of Cork in Ireland having obtained the King's Royal assent at the Pope's request to be Archbishop of Cassel taking a journey to Rome to procure it received his Writ for the restitution of his Temporalties after his return Then the Pope dispatched Otto his Legate into England with Letters to the King for his own filthy lucre The King assembling a Parliamentary Council of his Nobles and Prelates Otto read the Pope's Letters and Proposals wherein the detestable Avarice Extortion and Rapine of the Pope and Court of Rome were clearly discovered related by Matthew Paris Matth. Paris Hist Angl. Otto pursuing his Rapines in England by exacting Procurations from the Clergy was by the Archbishop's means suddenly recalled thence by the Pope to his great discontent and the prosecuting the Pope's former proposals committed to the Archbishop This year Pope Honorius the third sent his Bull to Geoffry de Lizimaco the King 's sworn Vassal absolutely subverting all Papal dispensations with Subjects just Oaths to their Sovereignes The Pope also sent prohibitory Letters to the King of England to stop his intended Military Voyage into France to recover his just Rights Then the King paid ten thousand Marks being all the Arrears of the sum granted by King John to the Pope by his Charter Godwin Catal of Bish p. 515.516 Richard de Marisco Bishop of Durham dying suddenly at Peter-borough-Abbey as he was posting to London with a great troop of Lawyers to prosecute his Suits against the Monks of Durham thereupon they bestowed this Epitaph upon him Culmina qui cupi tis Est sedata si tis Qui populos regi tis Quod mors immi tis Vobis praeposi tis Quod sum vos eri tis Laudes pompasque siti tis Si me pensare veli tis Memores super omnia si tis Non parcit honore poti tis Similis fueram bene sci tis Ad me currendo veni tis Upon his Death there grew a great difference between King Henry the third and the Monks of Durham about the election of a Successor
the Seas commanding them all in general and one of them onely in special by Name to be first provided for in this kind Anno 1246. Boniface Archbishop of Canterbury upon a feigned pretext that his Church of Canterbury was involved in very great debts by his Predecessor but in truth by himself to carry on Forreign Wars and gratifie the Pope procured from Pope Innocent a grant of the first years Fruits of all Benefices that should fall void within his Diocess for seven years space till he should raise out of them the sum of ten thousand Marks besides two thousand Marks yearly out of the Bishoprick N. B. This Grant of first-fruits of Benefices to Boniface made way 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 He died Anno 1253. Vide Ranulph Cestrens Polychron lib. 7. ca. 36. Heur de Knighton de eventib Angliae Lib. 2. ca. 36. 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 38th 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 Patents to the Archbishops Bishops 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 Prynne's Hist Tom. 2. He issued Writs to enquire of the real values of the Manors Lands Rents and Revenues 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 Matth. Paris Hist Angl. p. 835. 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 Cistercians 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 out of which the Pope had an annual pension of 365. Marks to support his Table The Jews of Lincoln having crucified a Christian Child to the great dishonour and disgrace of Jesus Christ the King appointed special Justices diligently to enquire of and severely to punish this grand offence by his Patent and Commission The King this year fearing some designs against him from Rome issued a Writ to the Barons and Bailiffs of Dover and to the Wardens of the Cinque-ports not to permit any Clerks to pass out of their respective Ports beyond the Seas unless he would first take an Oath that if he went to the Court of Rome he should demand nor require nothing against the King's Crown and Dignity nor the Pope's grant or Ordinance concerning the Realm of Sicily And the King by his Letters Patents constituted two distinct Proctors in the Court of Rome concerning the affairs of the Kingdom of Sicily and other occasions there to be transacted The Pope had a greater share in the Disme than the King who could dispose of none of it but by His and Rustand's consents He likewise issued his Mandate to the Sheriff of Kent to provide a speedy passage at Dover for Rustand the Pope's Agent and to defray the charges of it which should be allowed him The King understanding the Archbishop's and Bishops designes intended to be prosecuted in a Council of the Bishops of his Province which Archbishop Boniface had convocated against his Crown Dignity Courts Judges c. Prohibited him and them to meet therein under pain of forfeiting their Temporalties The Archbishop and Bishops notwithstanding these Writs met and proceeded in their Convocation in a very presumptuous manner as those fifty Articles then drawn up and tendered to the King and their Papal decrees in pursuit of them will most evidently demonstrate They were tendered to the King by the Archbishops and Bishops for which they resolved to contend to the uttermost These Constitutions are collected and Printed in John de Aton quoting Lindewood who cites and glosseth upon most of them under several Titles in the Margin of every one of them where you may peruse them with his Canonical gloss These were made Anno Dom. 1261. What Procurations the Archbishop of Messana arrived in England this year as the Pope's Legate exacted and extorted from the Bishops and Abbots with great violence and what injuries the Archbishop of Canterbury did to the Bishop of Rochester you may read in Matthew Paris The King and his Council resolving to banish the Poictovin Clergy-men out of the Nation and not to imprison them in England issued a Writ to the Constables of the Castles of Winton and Dover of the banishment and transportation of the Archdeacon of Winton out of the Realm and to see he carried away no Moneys with him In the 42 year of this King the Friers Minorites sent a Petition to King Henry to confirm their intrusion into St. Edmonds by his second Charter not deeming the Pope's Bull they had got sufficient which the Abbots and Monks contemned and set at naught The King to satisfie the Pope's demands and the easier to get in the Dismes the Pope had granted him to gain Sicily which the Archbishop Bishops and Religious Persons in England refused to pay assigned thirty thousand Marks thereof to the Pope Godfry de Kimeton Dean of York was elected Archbishop of that See and forced to travel to Rome for his Confirmation Fulco Bishop of London died of the Plague and Wengham then Chancellor of England notwithstanding his insufficiency and want of learning and Knowledge in Divinity procured Letters Patents from King Henry by advice of his Council in imitation of the Pope's Commendae's then grown very common to hold and retain all his former Ecclesiastical Dignities and Benefices whereof the King was Patron together with his Bishoprick for so long time as the Pope should please to grant him a dispensation whose dispensation alone would not bar the King to present to those Dignities and Benefices being all void in Law by making him a Bishop He had the like Patent to retain his Benefices and Ecclesiastical preferments in Ireland This is the first Patent of a Commenda retinere granted by the King to any Bishop Elect The first Patent of a Commenda retinere granted by the King to any Bishop elect saith Mr. Prynne being made by the advice of his Lords and Judges which makes it more considerable The King in the 44th year of his Reign issued a Writ to the Barons of Dover and other Ports to search for and apprehend all Italian Clerks and Lay-men and all others that should bring any Bulls from Rome prejudicial to him and his Realm and not to permit any to arrive with Horse and Armes in the Realm without his special License and to arrest all such as should there Land till they received further order from him The Bishop of St. David's and his Clerks complaining to the King how much the priviledges of their Churches Monasteries Houses Goods and Persons were violated in Wales in an hostile manner throughout his Diocess issued out a Writ and Prohibition to his Officers for their future protection and indemnity against such injuries and oppressions Boniface Archbishop of Canterbury being an Alien and forced to fly out of the Kingdom by the Barons was upon a Treaty between the King and his Barons permitted to return into England upon certain conditions The King and the Barons having by common consent entred into Articles of Agreements under their hands and referred themselves therein to the determination of the French King or the Pope's Legate the King thereupon constituted three Proctors to conclude and consent on his behalf to whatever should be therein agreed submitting himself to the Legate's Ecclesiastical Censures and Excommunication to compell him to the performance thereof During the Wars between the King and his Barrons diverse Vicars and Parsons desirous to reside upon their Cures so as they might be protected from violence therein the King thereupon granted protections to those who desired them An Oxford Jew having in contempt of Christ and Christian Religion in a solemn Procession there held by the University cast down and broken the Crucifix carried before them and escaping and the Jews not producing his Body as the King ordered them the King thereupon commanded the Sheriff of Oxford by several Writs to seize the Bodies and Goods of all the Jews in Oxford till they gave sufficient security at their proper costs to erect a beautifull high Marble Cross with the Images of Christ on the one side and
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. Pandulsus 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 Keepers In his time happened a great Plague in England In Norwich then there died besides Religious men to the number of 57104. persons between the first of January and the first of July 1348. 19. Thomas Piercy 20. Henry Spencer 21. Alexander 22. Richard Courtney 23. John Wakering 24. William Alnwick 25. Thomas Brown 26. Gualter Hart 27. James Goldwel 28. Thomas Jan 29. Richard Nyx 30. William Reps 31. Thomas Thirlby 32. John Hopton 33. John Parkhurst 34. Edmond Freak 35. Edmond Scambler 36. William Redman 37. John Jegon 38. John Overal 39. Samuel Harsnet 40. Francis White 41. Richard Corbet 42. Matthew Wren 43. Richard Mountague 44. Joseph Hall 45. Edward Reinolds Bishops of Worcester Ethelred divided Mercia into five Diocesses whereof one was Worcester For the first Bishop of Worcester choice was made of one Tarfrith a learned man who died before he could be consecrated After his decease 1. Boselus succeeded 2. Ostforus 3. S. Egwyn This man went to Rome with Offa King of Mercia He built the Abbey of Evesham 4. Wilfridus 5. Milredus 6. Weremundus 7. Tilherus 8. Eathoredus 9. Devebertus 10. Hubert 11. Alwin 12. Werebertus 13. Wilfreth 14. Ethelhune Abbot of Berkley 15. Wilserth 16. Kinewold 17. S. Dunstan 18. S. Oswald 19. Aldulf 20. Wulstan 21. Leofsius 22. Briteagus Abbot of Parshor 23. Living 24. Aldred 25. S. Wulstan 26. Sampson 27. Theulphus 28. Simon 29. Alured 30. John Pagham 31. Roger Son to the Earl of Glocester 32. Baldwyn Abbot of Ford. 33. William de Northale 34. Robert a Canon of Lincoln Son unto William Fitz. Ralph Seneschal of Normandy 35. Henry Abbot of Glastonbury 36. John de Constantiis 37. Mauger He was one of them that excommunicated King John and interdicted the Realm and thereupon fled the Realm 38. Walter Gray 39. Sylvester 40. William de Bleyes 41. Walter Cantilupe Son of William Lord Cantilupe 42. Nicholas Archdeacon of Ely and Chancellor of England 43. Godfry Giffard Archdeacon of Wells and Chancellor of England 44. William de Gainsborough 45. Walter Reynolds sometime School-master to King Edward the Second first Treasurer then Chancellor of England became Bishop of Worcester 46. Walter Maidstone 47. Thomas Cobham 48. Adam Tarlton 49. Simon Montacute 50. Thomas Henibal 51. William de Bransford 52. John Thorsby 53. Reginald Brian 54. John Barnet 55. William Wittlesey 56. William de Lynne 57. Henry Wakefield 58. Tideman de Winchcomb 59. Richard Clifford 60. Thomas Peverel 61. Philip Morgan 62. Thomas Poulton 63. Thomas Bourchier 64. John Carpenter 65. John Alcock 66. Robert Morton 67. John Gyglis 68. Sylvester Gyglis 69. Iulius Medices 70. Hieronymus de Nugutiis 71. Hugh Latimer 72. Iohn Bell 73. Nicholas Heath 74. Iohn Hooper 75. Richard Pates 76. Edwyn Sandys 77. Nicholas Bullingham 78. Iohn Whitgift 79. Edmond Freak 80. Richard Fletcher 81. Thomas Bilson 82. Gervase Babington 83. Henry Parry 84. Iohn Thornborow 85. Iohn Prideaux 86. George Morley 87. Iohn Gauden 88. Robert Skinner 89. Walter Blandford Bishops of Hereford An Episcopal Seat being established at Hereford 1. Putta was made the first Bishop thereof 2. Tirhtellus 3. Torteras 4. Walstodus 5. Cuthbert 6. Podda 7. Ecca 8. Ceadda 9. Albertus 10. Esna 11. Ceolmundus 12. Utellus 13. Wulfhardus 14. Benna 15. Edulf 16. Cuthwulf 17. Mucel 18. Deorlaf 19. Cunemund 20. Edgar 21. Tidhelm 22. Wulfhelm 23 Afrike 24. Athulf 25. Ethelstan He builded the Cathedral Church from the ground He was a holy man and blind thirteen years before his death 26. Leovegar Chaplain to Duke Harold Matthew Westminster gives this testimony of him that he was undoubtedly Dei famulus in omni Religione perfectus Ecclesiarum amator viduarum orphanorum defensor oppressorum subversor virginitatis possessor Griffin King of Wales assaulted the City took it slew the Bishop and seven of the Canons of the Church spoiled it of all the portable Relicks and Ornaments and then fired both Church and City 27. Walter 28. Robert Lozing An excellent Mathematician 29. Gerard 30. Roger the Queens Chancellor 31. Geoffry de Glyve Chaplain to King Henry the First 32. Robert Bertune Prior of Lanthony a man much employed by the Pope in all his businesses within the Realm 33. Gilbert Foliot Abbot of Glocester 34. Robert de Melun 35. Robert Foliot 36. William le Vere a great Builder 37. Giles de Bruse Son of William Bruse Lord of Brecknock 38. Hugh de Mapenor 39. Hugh Foliot 40. Ralph de Maidstone He resigned his Bishoprick and became a Franciscan Frier Anno 1239. 41. Peter Equeblank He caused King Henry the Third to lay such Taxes on the Clergy as almost beggared them An. 1255. The Barons arrested him in his own Cathedral seized on his goods divided his Treasure unto their Souldiers before his face and long kept him in prison in the Castle of Ordeley 42. Iohn Breton a great Lawyer 43. Thomas Cantilupe Of an ancient House He was by the Pope Sainted after his death All the Bishops of Hereford since his time do bear his Coat of Arms as the Goat of their Sea G. three Leopards heads jeasant three Flower de luces O. 44. Richard de Swinfield 45. Adam Tarlton 46. Thomas Charlton He was Lord Chancellor and chief Justice of Ireland 47. Iohn Trilleck 48. Lewis Charlton 49. William Courtney 50. Iohn Gilbert 51. Iohn Tresnant He was sent to Rome to inform the Pope of the Title of King Henry the Fourth to the Crown 52. Robert Mascal He was Confessor to Henry the Fourth He built the Quire Presbytery and Steeple of the White-Friers in London gave many rich Ornaments to that House died and was buried there He was often Ambassador to many Forreign Princes He with two other Bishops was sent to the Council of Constance 53. Edmond Lacy 54. Thomas Polton 55. Thomas Spofford 56. Richard Beauchamp 57. Reynold
as well as in the Modern doth signifie narrow strait or a nook And a Portugal alluding thereunto hath this verse Anglia terra ferax fertilis Angulus Orbis Insula praedives quae toto vix eget orbe A fruitful Angle England Thou Another world art said An Island rich and hast no need of other Countrie 's aid And although after this many errours in Doctrine and corruptions in Worship crept in more and more into our Church and the Pope encroaching by degrees the Churches of God in this Land did much degenerate as they did in other Nations so that in Process of time the whole world wondered after the Beast and they Worshipped the Beast saying who is like unto the Beast Revel 13.3 4. Yet even in the darkest times when our Church suffered the greatest Ecclipse when her Silver was become Dross and her Wine was mixed with Water it pleased God then to raise up some eminent Persons to stand up for the Defence of the Truth in this Nation and to discover the impostures of the Church of Rome Yea how many were there that suffered Martyrdom for the Gospel here in England who detested Image-worship and other abominations in the dayes of King Henry the fourth King Henry the fift and others afterward long before Luther was born These and the like in other Nations may be called the forlorn Hope who did obequitare Antichristi castra ad pugnam elicere advance up to and ride round about the camp of Antichrist and provoke him to the main-fight What wonderfull deliverances hath God wrought for this Church and Nation in several ways When King Henry the eighth did renounce the Pope's Supremacy what plots were framed by diverse Princes against this Land to ruine it and how gratiously did the Lord protect his people here from such a storm though then he had but a very little flock in this place When Queen Mary matched with Philip of Spain in what apparent danger was this Land to fall into miserable servitude and bondage under the Iron-yoak of the Spainard's which diverse nations that have been subject to them have found intolerable The blind and bloody zeal of Queen Mary was likely to have rooted out all the plants of God's right hand in this Land and so have banished hence the true Church and Gospel of Christ and so to have shut this Kingdom out of the bounds of the Church There was great expectation of Issue by that Marriage between the Spanish Prince and Queen Mary who Her self also was a Spaniard by the Mother's side and Solemn Forms of Thanksgiving and Prayer were made for Her Conception and safe delivery and besides an Act passed in Parliament that if Queen Mary died in Child-bed King Philip should have the Government of this Land during the Child's Nonage and if these things had succeeded into what misery might this Land have fallen And besides had an Issue of that Marriage lived to Reign over England together with other Dominions of the Spaniard what had England been but an Inferiour Tributary Province to be Governed as it pleased the Spanish Nation even as was attempted in the Low-Countreys with Devilish cruelties to say nothing of their horrible Massacres in the West-Indies But here see the wonderful goodness of God who dwelt in the midst of this Church as a Refuge All this was prevented Queen Marie's supposed Conception vanished She was soon taken away by death and King Philip of Spain had no longer any Interest in England Queen Elizabeth a Noursing-mother to this Church Succeeded She was born September the seventh 1533. One calleth Her Angliae Delitias Mason consecr Epis Angl. Europae Sydus Mundi Phoenicem c. the joy of England the Star of Europe the Phoenix of the World a Glass of God's Providence and the Mirrour of His Mercy And as if the Devil had presaged what a scourge She would prove to the Roman greatness and suggested it to Pope Clement the seventh he is said to have made a Peremptory Decree against Her whilst She was in Her Mother's belly This Pope himself being the Bastard of Julian de Medicis a Florentine he avowed to make Her illegitimate and uncapable of the Crown The like did Pope Paul the third attempt viz. To make that Royal Princess illegitimate when She was but two years Old But as the Lord blessed Her then so he did wonderfully preserve her all her Sister's Reign when many plots were laid to take away her life But as Seneca told Nero it was impossible for him to kill that man that must be his heir so it was impossible for the malice of hell to accomplish the death of the Lady Elizabeth whom the only-wise God had appointed to be her Sister's Heir Ecclesiae Anglicanae reformationem desperasset aetas praeterita admiratur praesens obstupescet futura Scultet Annal. So great a Reformation She wrought in England that one saith of it The Gospel had a swift passage here by diligent Preaching by Printing good Books by translating the holy Scriptures into the Vulgar Tongue by Catechizing youth by publick disputations by recording the Martyrs such a thing as even the former age had even despaired of the present age admireth and the future shall stand amazed at It is evident that the Almighty God who delighteth to shew his power in Weakness was pleased in this Renowed Queen and her brother King Edward to let the world see what great things he was able to effect by a Child and a Woman But what a multitude of plots were contrived for the destruction of Queen Elizabeth when the next heir to the Crown was a Papist and an enemy to the truth of Christianity and married to the Prince of France so that had these plots succeeded England in all probability had been subjected to France in point of Civil Government and to the Roman power in matters of Religion Admire again the singular goodness of God in protecting Queen Elizabeth and whilst the enemies of the Church were seeking ruine in the destruction of Her Royal Person the French King that had Married the next heir to the English Crown dieth and leaveth her a Widow without Issue and she not many years after became a prisoner So eminent was Queen Elizabeth that Thuanus a professed Roman Catholick but very ingenious said he heard the old Dutchess of Guise whose sons were of the greatest Enemies that Queen Elizabeth had to say that she was faelicissima gloriosissima faemina a most happy and a most glorious Woman We know who made her to differ and that she had not any thing which she had not received from above therefore let us give the praise of all to God who appointed her I am perswaded to build the old wast places to raise up the foundations of many generations she found the Kingdom weak she left it strong she found it poor she left it rich they that were enemies to her and the Gospel which they professed and
any Christian Princes Hoel-Dha then held a National Council for all Wales at Ty-quin or the White House The Canons therein were wholly in favour of the Clergy enacting this amongst the rest That the presence of a Priest and a Judge constitute a legal Court as the two persons only in the Quorum thereof There were then seven Episcopal Seats in Wales 1. S. Davids 2. Ismael 3. Degenian 4. Vsyl 5. Teylaw 6. Teuledauc 7. Kenew King Edgar died peaceably leaving his Crown to Edward his Son whom being under Age he committed to the tuition of Dunstan In this King's reign three Councils were successively called to determine the difference between Monks and Secular Priests The first was at Winchester where the Priests being outed of their Convents earnestly pressed for restitution Polydor Virgil writes that in the Synod it was concluded that the Priests should be restored But a voice was immediately heard from the wall as coming from a Crucifix behind Dunstan saying They think amiss that favour the Priests That was received as a Divine Oracle and the Priests were secluded from their Benefices and Monasteries A second Council was called at Kirtlington now Catlage in Cambridge-shire but to little effect The same year a third Council was called at Caln in Wilt-shire hither came Priests and Monks in great numbers Beornelm a Scottish Bishop defended the cause of the Priests with Scripture and Reason But on a sudden Dunstan by his Art caused the Beams or Joists of the Room where they were assembled to break and fall Catal. test verit many were wounded most of the Secular Priests were slain and buried under the ruines thereof only Dunstan was safe with his Chair that was fixed on a Pillar So the controversie was ended with devilish cruelty It appears not what provision was made for these Priests when ejected King Edward went to Corff-Castle where at that time his Mother-in-Law with her Son Egelred lay and by her contrivance he was barbarously murthered as he was drinking on Horse-back and was buried at Wareham and Ethelred Edward's half-brother succeeded him in the Throne Dunstan died and was buried on the South-side of the high Altar in the Church of Canterbury After his death the Monks were cast out of the Convent of Canterbury by reason of their misdemeanours Siricius the next Archbishop of Canterbury endeavoured the re-expulsion of the Priests which by Elfrick his Successor was effected By him a Sermon was appointed to be read publickly on Easter-day before the Communion The same Author hath two other Treatises one directed to Wolfsin Bishop of Shirburn and another to Wulfstan Bishop of York about the Sacrament Soon after the Danes by a firm Ejection outed the Monks before they were well warm in their Nests Their fury fell more on Convents than Castles England for these last sixty years had been freed from their cruelty which now returned more dreadful than ever before These Danes were also advantaged by the unactiveness of King Ethelred who with ten thousand pounds purchased a present Peace with the Danes The multitude of Monasteries invited the Invasion and facilitated the Conquest of the Danes over England Holy Island was forsaken by the fearful Monks affrighted with the approach of the Danes and Alhunus the Bishop thereof removed his Cathedral and Convent to Durham an Inland place of more safety The Danes having received and spent their Money invaded England afresh according to all Wise mens expectation CENT XI IN the beginning of this Century certain Danes fled into a Church at Oxford hoping the Sanctity thereof according to the devout Principles of that Age would secure them But by command from King Ethelred they were all burned in the place whose blood remained not long unrevenged The Danish fury fell fiercest on the City of Canterbury with fire and sword destroying eight thousand people therein Swanus the Dane tithed the Monks of S. Augustine's Abbey killing nine by cruel torment and keeping the tenth alive for slaves They slew there of Religious men to the number of nine hundred And when they had kept the Bishop Elphege in strait prison the space of eight months because he would not agree to give them three thousand pounds after many villanies done unto him at Greenwich they stoned him to death Next year a nameless Bishop of London was slain by them and a great part of the City of London was wasted with fire The Danes burnt Cambridge to ashes and harassed the Country round about King Ethelred sent his Wife Emma with his two Sons Alfred and Edward to Richard Duke of Normandy which was Brother to the said Emma with whom also he sent the Bishop of London whither also himself went after he had spent a great part of the Winter in the Isle of Wight whither he was chased of the Danes Swanus hearing that Egelred was departed out of the Land imposed great Exactions upon the people and among other he required a great sum of money of S. Edmond's Lands which the people there claiming to be free of all King's tribute denied to pay Hereupon Swanus entred the Territory of St. Edmond and wasted the Countrey threatening to spoil the place of his burial The men of the Countrey fell to fasting and prayer and soon after Swanus died suddenly crying and yelling among his Knights In fear whereof Canutus his Son and Successor ditched the Land of St. Edmond with a deep Ditch and granted to the Inhabitants thereof great Immunities quitting them from all Tribute and after builded a Church over the place of his Sepulture ordained there an House of Monks and endowed them with rich possessions After that time the Kings of England when they were crowned sent their Crowns for an offering to St. Edmond's Shrine and redeemed them afterward with a condign price After the death of Egelred great contention was in England for the Crown some were for Edmond Ironside the Son of Egelred and some for Canutus After many bloody Fights both parties agree to try the quarrel betwixt them two only in sight of both Armies they make the Essay with Swords and sharp strokes in the end upon the motion of Canutus they agree and kiss one another to the joy of both Armies and they covenant for parting the Land during their lives and they lived as Brethren Within a few years a Son of Edrik Duke of Mercia killed Edmond traiterously and brought his two Sons unto Canutus who sent them to his Brother Swanus King of Denmark willing him to dispatch them But he abhorring such a fact sent them to Solomon King of Hungary who married Edwyn to his Daughter and soon after died Edward married Agatha the Daughter of the Emperour Henry the Third Swanus King of Denmark died and that Land fell to Canutus who anon after sailed thither and took the possession and returned into England and married Emma late Wife of Egelred and by her had a Son called Hardiknout He assembled a Parliament at
Nobility had sworn fealty in her Father's life-time William Archbishop of Canterbury notwithstanding his Oath to Mawd solemnly Crowned Stephen shewing himself thereby perjured to his God disloyal to his Princess and ingrateful to his Patroness by whose special favour he had been preserved The rest of the Bishops to their shame followed his example hoping to obtain from an Usurper what they could not get from a Lawful King traiterously avowing That it was baseness for so many and so great Peers to be subject to a Woman King Stephen sealed a Charter at Oxford Anno 1136. the Tenor whereof is That all Liberties Customs Speeds Chron. and Possessions granted to the Church should be firm and in force That all Persons and Causes Ecclesiastical should appertain onely to Ecclesiastical Judicature That none but Clergy-men should ever intermeddle with the Vacancies of Churches or any Church-mens goods That all bad usages in the Land touching Forrests Exactions c. should be utterly extirpate the antient Laws restored c. The Clergy perceiving that King Stephen performed little of his large promises to them were not formerly so forward in setting him up but now more ready to pluck him down and sided effectually with Mawd against him Stephen fell violently on the Bishops who then were most powerful in the Land He imprisoned Roger Bishop of Sarisbury till he had surrendered unto him the two Castles of Shirburn and the Devizes for the which Roger took such thought that he died shortly after and left in ready Coin forty thousand Marks which after his Death came to the King's Coffers he also uncastled Alexander of Lincoln and Nigellus of Ely taking a great Mass of Treasure from them The Dean and Canons of Pauls for crossing him in the choice of their Bishop tasted of his fury for he took their Focariaes and cast them into the Tower of London where they continued many dayes till at last their liberty was purchased by the Canons at a great price Roger Hoveden tells us plainly that these Focariae were those Canons Concubines See here the fruit of forbidding Marriage to the Clergy against the Law of God and Nature Albericus Bishop of Hostia was sent by Pope Innocent into England called a Synod at Westminster where 18 Bishops and thirty Abbots met together Here was concluded That no Priest Deacon Fuller Church History or-sub-deacon should hold a Wife or Woman within his House under pain of degrading from his Christendom and plain sending to Hell That no Priest's Son should claim any Spiritual Living by heritage That none should take a Benefice of any Lay-man That none should be admitted to Cure which had not the letters of his Orders That Priests should do no bodily labour And that their Transubstantiated God should dwell but eight dayes in the Box for fear of worm-eating moulding or stinking In this Synod Theobald Abbot of Becco was chosen Archbishop of Canterbury in the place of William lately Deceased The most considerable Clergy-man of England in this Age for Birth Wealth and Learning was Henry of Blois Bishop of Winchester and Brother to King Stephen He was made by the Pope his Legat for Britain In this Council where William of Malmesbury was present there were three parties assembled with their attendance 1. Roger of Sarisbury with the rest of the Bishops grievously complaining of their Castles taken from them 2. Henry Bishop of Winchester the Pope's Legat and President of the Council with Theobald Archbishop of Canterbury pretending to Umpire matters moderately 3. Hugh Archbishop of Roan and Aubery de Vere Ancestor to the Earl of Oxford as Advocate for King Stephen This Aubery de Vere was Learned in the Laws being charactered by my Author Homo causarum varietatibus exercitatus a man well versed in the windings of Causes This Synod brake up without any extraordinary matter effected For soon after Queen Mawd came with her Navy and Army out of Normandy which turned Debates into Deeds and Consultations into Actions There were many Religious Foundations built and endowed in the troublesom Reign of King Stephen not to speak of the Monastery of St. Mary de Pratis founded by Robert Earl of Leicester and many others of this time the goodly Hospital of St. Katherines nigh London was founded by Mawd Wife to King Stephen So stately was the Quire of this Hospital that it was not much inferior to that of St. Pauls in London when taken down in the dayes of Queen Elizabeth by Doctor Thomas Wilson the Master thereof and Secretary of State Yea King Stephen himself erected St. Stephen's Chappel in Westminster He built also the Cistertians Monastery in Feversham with an Hospital near the West-gate in York The King earnestly urged Theobald Archbishop of Canterbury to Crown his Son Eustace But Theobald stoutly refused though proscribed for the same and forced to fly the Land till after some time he was reconciled to the King Eustace the King's Son died of a Frenzy as going to plunder the Lands of Bury-Abbey Hereupon an agreement was made between King Stephen and Henry Duke of Normandy Son of Mawd the Empress the former holding the Crown during his Life and after his Death setling the same on Henry his adopted Son and Successor Platina in Adriano IV. At this time Nicholas Breakspear an English-man born near Vxbridge came to be Pope called Adrian the fourth he was not inferior to Hildebrand in Pride Shortly after he had Excomunicated the Emperor he walked with his Cardinals to refresh himself in the Fields of Anagnia and coming to a Spring of Water he would taste of it and with the Water a Fly entreth into his Throat and choaketh him In the latter end of his Dayes he was wont to say There is not a more wretched Life than to be Pope To come into the seat of St. Peter by Ambition Matth. Parâ—â— is not to succeed Peter in Feeding the Flock but unto Romulus in Paracide seeing that Seat is never obtained without some Brother's Blood King Stephen died and was buried with his Son and Wife at Feversham in Kent in a Monastery which himself had Erected At the Demolishing whereof some to gain the Lead wherein he was wrapped cast his Corpse into the Sea King Henry the second succeeded him a Prince Wise Valiant and generally Fortunate He presently chose a Privy-Counsel of Clergy and Temporalty and refined the Common Laws yea toward the latter end of his Reign began the use of our Itinerant Judges He parcelled England into six divisions and appointed three Judges to every Circuit He razed most of the Castles of England to the ground the Bishops being then the greatest Traders in those Fortifications He disclaimed all the Authority of the Pope refused to pay Peter-pence and interdicted all Appeals to Rome At that time Philâ—p de Brok a Canon of Bedford was questioned for Murther he used reproachful speeches to the King's Justices for which he was Censured and the Judges complained
unto the King that there were many Robberies and Rapes and Murthers to the number of an hundred committed within the Realm by Church-men Thomas Becket Doctor of Canon-law was by the King made Lord Chancellor of England Four years after upon the Death of Theobald Becket was made by the King Archbishop of Canterbury Anno 1160. Thirty Teachers come from Germany into England and taught the right use of Baptism and the Lord's Supper c. and were put to Death Then John of Sarum and others taught that the Roman Church was the Whore of Babylon Some were burnt with an hot Iron at Oxford that dissented from the Roman Church The King Commanded that Justice should be executed upon all Men alike in his Courts but Thomas Becket would have the Clergy so offending judged in the Ecclesiastical Court and by Men of their own Coat This Incensed the King against him To retrench these enormities of the Clergy the King called a Parliament at Clarendon near Sarisbury to confirm the Antient Laws and Customs to which Becket with the rest of the Bishops consented and subscribed them but afterwards recanting his own Act renounced the same The same year the King required to have punishment of some misdoings among the Clergy The Archbishop would not permit and when he saw in his judgement the Liberties of the Church trodden under Foot he without the King's knowledge took Ship and intended toward Rome but by a contrary Wind he was brought back Then he was called to account for his Receipts that came to his hand while he was High-Chancellor He appealeth to the See of Rome and under pain of Excommunication forbad both Bishops and Nobles to give Sentence against him seeing he was both their Father and their Judge Nevertheless they without his consent gave Sentence against him Then he seeing himself forsaken of all the other Bishops lifted the Cross which he held in his Hand aloft and went away from the Court and the next day got him over into Flanders and so to the Pope Matthew Paris hath many Letters betwixt the Pope and this King and the King of France and sundry Bishops of France and England for reconciliation betwixt the King and the Archbishop who abode seven years in exile Thomas Becket quarrelled with Roger Archbishop of York for presuming to Crown Henry the King's Son made joint-King in the Life of his Father a priviledge which Becket claimed as proper to him alone He solemnly resigned his Archbishoprick to the Pope as troubled in Conscience that he had formerly took it as illegally from the King and the Pope again restored it to him whereby all scruples in his mind were fully satisfied But afterward by the Mediation of the French King Becket had leave given him to return into England howsoever the King still retained his Temporals in his Hand on weighty considerations namely to shew their distinct Nature from the Spirituals of the Archbishoprick to which alone they Pope could restore him Thomas returning into England Excommunicateth all the Bishops which had been at the Coronation of the young King The King sent and required him to absolve them seeing what was done to them was done for his Cause but Thomas refuseth The next year after he Excommunicated solemnly the Lord Sackvill appointed by the King Vicar of the Church at Canterbury because he did derogate from the rights of the Church to please the King He also Excommunicated one Robert Brook for cutting off an Horses tail that carried Victuals to the Archbishops House The King being then in Normandy grieved very sore before his Servants at the insolent cariage of Thomas Becket This moved Sir Richard Breton Sir Hugh Morvil Sir William Tracey Sir Reginald Fitz-Vrse to return into England and coming to Canterbury they found the Archbishop in Cathedral Church at three a Clock in the After-noon and calling him Traytor to the King they slew him and dashed his Brains upon the floor His last words when he died were I commend my self and God's Cause unto God and to the blessed Mary and to the Saints Patrons of this Church and to St. Denis Here see the lightness of the People for the same Men that detested the pride of that Thomas began to Worship him after his Death Thus they sang of Thomas Becket Tu per Thomae sanguinem quem pro te impendit Fac nos Christe scandere quo Thomas ascendit By the Blood of Thomas which for Thee he did spend Make us O Christ to climb whither Thomas did ascend Multitudes of People flocked to Canterbury yearly especially on his Jubile or each fifty years after his enshrining an hundred thousand of English and Forreigners repaired thither The Revenues of peoples Offerings amounted to more than six hundred pounds a year Before Becket's Death the Cathedral in Canterbury was called Christ-Church it was afterward called the Church of St. Thomas though since by the demolishing of Becket's shrine the Church hath recovered it's Antient name King Henry protested himself innocent from the Death of Thomas Becket yet was he willing to undergo such a penance as the Pope would impose The Pope made him buy his Absolution at a dear rate He enjoyned him to suffer Appeals from England to Rome to quit his Rights and Claim to the Investitures to keep two hundred Men of Armes in pay for the Holy War of which pay the Popes Assignes were to be the Receivers and that in England they should celebrate the Feast of that glorious Martyr St. Thomas of Canterbury The words of the Bull are these We strictly charge you that you solemnly Celebrate every year the Birth-day of the glorious Martyr Thomas sometime Archbishop of Canterbury that is the day of his passion and that by devout Prayers to him you endeavour to merit the remission of your sins To make the satisfaction compleat King Henry passeth from Normandy into England stayeth at Canterbury strippeth himself naked and is whipped by diverse Monks of whom some gave him five lashes some three Concerning which penance Machiavel speaks thus in the first Book of the Hostory of Florence These things were accepted by Henry Le quali cose furono da Enrico accettare et sotto-Messe si à quel giudicio un tanto Reche hoggi un huomo privato si vergognarebbe sottomersi c. Tanto le cose che paiono sono piu da discosto che d'appresse temute and so great a King submitted himself to that judgement to which a private man in our dayes would be ashamed to submit himself Then he exclaimeth So much things that have some shew are more dreaded afar off than near hand Which he saith Because at the same time the Citizens of Rome expelled the Pope out of the City with disgrace scorning his Excommunication This was done in the year of our Lord 1170. as appeareth by these Verses Anno Milleno Centeno Septuageno Anglorum primas corruit ense Thomas In the year 1179. Lewis King of France
who had entertained Thomas at Sens passed over into England to Worship him and made his Devotions to his Relicks Then Richard Prior of Dover who divided Kent into three Archdeaconries was made Archbishop of Canterbury Fabian saith Fabian in Henry 2. He was a man of evil living and wasted the goods of the Church inordinately A Synod was called at Westminster the Pope's Legat being present thereat where was a great Contention between the two Archbishops of Canterbury and York for Precedency words begat blowes and the Archbishop of Canterbury's party pulled York from his Seat to the ground and tore his Casule Chimer and Rochet from his Back and put the Legat in such fear that he ran away The next day after York Appealeth to Rome Here the Pope interposed and to end old divisions made a new distinction Entitling Canterbury Primate of all England and York Primate of England King Henry died at Chinon in Normandy and was buried with very great Solemnity in the Nunnery of Font-Everard in the same Countrey a Religious House of his own Foundation and Endowment At that time were many Married Priests in Britain His Son Richard the first sirnamed Coeur de Lyon succeeded him and on September 3. was crowned at Westminster of Baldwin Archbishop of Canterbury Then this King ordained the City of London to be ruled by two Bailiffs The two first Bailiffs were Henry Chornhil and Richard Fitz-River In the time of the Coronation of the King multitudes of the Jews in this Land were destroyed The King in part of satisfaction for his trespass against his Father for Queen Elianor and his Sons had sided with the King of France against him agreed with Philip the French King to take upon them the recovery of the Holy Land Fabian Chron. King Richard gave over the Castles of Barwick and Roxburgh to the Scottish King for the sum of ten thousand pounds He passed away the Earldom of Northumberland unto Hugh Pudsey Bishop of Durham for a great sum of Money for term of life scoffing that he had made a young Earl of an old Bishop Besides by the commandment of Pope Clement the third a tenth was exacted of the whole Realm Fox Acts and Monuments The King set over the Realm as principal in his absence the Bishop of Ely his Chancellor and the Bishop of Durham whom he ordained to be Chief Justice of England Ely to have custody of the Tower with the oversight of all other parts of the Land on this side Humber and Durham to have charge over all other his Dominions beyond Humber The Pope also made William Bishop of Ely his Legate through all England and Scotland As for Men and Souldiers the Prelates Friars and other Preachers had stirred up innumerable by their manifold exhortations the Archbishop of Canterbury having travelled through Wales in Person for that purpose in Pulpits and private Conferences Then King Richard with some of our English Nobility who adventured their Persons in the Holy War crossed the Seas into France to Philip King thereof After some necessary stayes having passed the River Rhene at Lions they parted company Philip marching over the Alpes into Italy and King Richard to the Sea-side at Marsilia there to meet with his Navy King Richard's Fleet of Ships being not come he embarked himself in twenty hired Galleys and ten great Busses a kind of Shipping then peculiar to the Mediterranean Seas and set Sayl toward Messana in Sicily the Rendezvouz of both the Kings and their Armies In which passage King Richard lying at Anchor on occasion in the mouth of the River Tiber not far from Rome Octavianus the Bishop of Hostia repaired unto him desiring him in the Pope's name that he would visit his Holiness which the King denied to do alleadging that the Pope and his Officers had taken 700 Marks for Consecration of the Bishop of Mains 1500 Marks for the Legative power of William Bishop of Ely but of the Archbishop of Burdeaux an infinite sum of Money whereupon he refused to see Rome King Richard studying to fit himself for the great attempt he had in hand called before him his Archbishops and Bishops that accompanied him into a Chappel at the House where he was lodged where he made a penitent confession of his sins humbly Praying to God for Mercy and them as his subordinate Ministers for Absolution and God saith R. Hoveden respected him with the eyes of Mercy so that from thence-forth he feared God eschewing evil and doing good King Richard sent for Joachim Abbot of Calabria a Man of great Learning and Understanding in the Scriptures who at his coming he heard expounding the Apocalypse of St. John touching the afflictions of the Church and the state of Antichrist which saith he was then born and in the City of Rome of whom the Apostle said He should exalt himself above all that is called God Afterwards at the siege of Acres or Ptolemais in Palestine Radulphus de alta ripa Archdeacon of Colchester ended his Life there also died Baldwin Archbishop of Canterbury and Hubert Walter Bishop of Sarisbury afterward Archbishop of Canterbury was a most active Commander there besides many more of the eminent Clergy engaged in that service William Bishop of Ely playd Rex in the King's absence abusing the Royal Authority committed to him Acres was delivered to the King 's of England and France who divided the spoil of that City betwixt them King Richard after this and many other notable Atchievements in Palestine at his return from thence was taken Prisoner by Leopald Duke of Austria and detained by him with hard and Unprince-like usage whil'st the English Clergy endeavoured the utmost for his enlargement His fine was an hundred and fifty thousand Marks to be paid part to the Duke of Austria part to Henry VI. Emperor of Germany Hubert Archbishop of Canterbury with much diligence perfected the work and on his ransom paid King Richard returned into England Hubert Walter Archbishop of Canterbury had almost finished a fair Covent for Monks at Lambeth began by Baldwin his Predecessor but upon the petitions of the Monks of Canterbury to the Pope contrary to the King 's and Archbishop's desire the Covent at Lambeth was utterly demolished As this Richard was the first of the English Kings who bare Armes on his Seals so was he the first who carried in his shield Three Lions Passant born ever after for the Regal Armes of England This King 's daily exercise after his return was to rise early and not to depart from the Church till Divine Service were finished Moreover he bountifully relieved every day much Poor both in his Court and Towns about and restored Gold and Silver to such Churches from which to pay his ransom they had been taken away The Bishop of Beavois being also an Earl of the Royal Blood and the eleventh Peer of France valiantly fighting against John the King's Brother was taken Armed at all points and bravely
were given to any man by the Archbishop Stephen or by the Priors of Canterbury from the time of the election of the Archbishop England remained under the Interdict six years three months and an half whereby not only the King and his Court but also all the people of England who had nothing to do with that Quarrel were Excommunicated In that long time how many thousands of men died in England who by the Rules of the Roman Church and by the Pope's Judgment are eternally damned and that but for a Quarrel between the King and the Pope about some Investitures of Churches and Collations of Benefices and Money-matters Then saith Mathew Paris Matth. Paris who was an eye-witness of all that disorder All the Sacraments of the Church ceased in England saving only the Confession and the Communion of the Host in the last necessity and the Baptism of Infants The dead bodies were carried out of the Towns as if they had been the bodies of Dogs and buried by the High-wayes and in Ditches without Prayers and without service of Priests By the same Interdict all Masses Vespers all publick Service and ringing of Bells was forbidden and the Kingdom was exposed to rapine and prey and given to any that would conquer it Only the King was not excommunicated by name but that was done the next year after Next Pope Innocent deposed King John from the Kingdom of England and absolved the English from the Oath of their Allegiance and commanded Philip August King of France that for the remission of his sins he should invade the Kingdom of England with force of Arms giving to those that should follow the King in that Conquest the pardon of all their sins and the same Graces and Pardons as to them that visit the holy Sepulchre Whereupon the said King Philip partly to obtain the remission of his sins partly to make himself Master of England raised a mighty Army whilst Innocent was stirring up the English to rise against their King This moved King John to humble himself under the Pope and to receive such Conditions as liked him best The Conditions were That the King should yield unto the Pope the whole right of Patronage of all the Benefices of his Kingdom That to obtain Absolution of his sins he should pay to the Clergy of Canterbury and to other Prelates the sum of eight thousand pounds Sterling That he should satisfie for the damages done to the Church according to the Judgment of the Pope's Legat. That the said King should resign his Crown into the Pope's hand with his Kingdoms of England and Ireland for which Letters were formed and given to Pandulphus the Pope's Legat. King John being informed that his Archbishops Bishops and Clergy intended to hold a Council at St. Albans by the command of Pope Innocent the Third about the payment of Rome-scot against custom and sundry other unusual Exactions to the great destruction of the whole Realm upon complaint thereof by his Nobles and People issued out a Prohibition to them expresly forbidding them upon their Allegiance not to hold any Council there by the Popes or any other Authority nor to consult or treat of those things nor to act or ordain any thing against the custom of the Realm as they tendered his Honour or the tranquillity of the Kingdom until he conferred with the general Council of his Realms about it Thomas Sprot Speed 's History p. 571. During this Interdict Alexander Cementarius Abbot of the Benedictines at Canterbury Vir corpore Elegantissimus facie Venerabilis literarum plenitudine imbutus ita ut Parisiis celebris haberetur Magister et Rector et Lector in Theologia was sent by King John unto Rome where he openly pleaded and fomented the King's Cause against the Pope He maintained there That there is no Power under God higher than a King and That the Clergy should not have Temporal government He proved these two Articles by Scripture and Reason and by testimony of Gregory the First in an Epistle to Augustine Bishop of Canterbury Anno 1209. in the tenth year of King John Henry Fitz-Alan was sworn first Mayor of London and Peter Duke with Thomus Neal sworn for Sheriffs And London-bridge began to be built with Stone and St. Saviours in Southwark the same year He wrote three Books against the Popes Usurpations and Power viz. De Cessione Papali De Ecclesiae potestate De potestate Vicaria in defence of his Sovereign King John for which his Loyalty he was afterwards by the Pope's Power deprived of all his Benefices by Pandulphus the Pope's Legat after King John's surrender of his Crown and enforced to beg his Bread King John having seized and detained in his hands the Temporalties of the Archbishoprick of Armach in Ireland for that the Bishop was elected without his License against his Will and Appeal two Monks coming to him proffering him three hundred Marks in Silver and three Marks a year in Gold for to have the Lands Liberties and Rights thereof he by his Writ returned them to his Chief Justice there to do what was fitting in it John Reumond coming from Rome to lay claim to a Prebendary in Hastings sued to the King for his License and safe conduct to come into and return from England which he granted upon this condition that upon his arrival he should give security that he came hither for no ill to the King nor for any other business but that Prebendary The like License he granted to Simon Langton the Archbishop's Brother upon the same and stricter conditions King John sent a memorable Letter to the Pope by special Messengers to claim and justifie this ancient and undoubted Right which He and his Royal Ancestors enjoyed to provide and prefer Archbishops and Bishops to the See of Canterbury and all other Cathedrals attested by the Letters of the Bishops of England and other credible persons desiring him to preserve the rights of the Church and Realm of England entire and inviolable by his Fatherly provision Then the King entred into a League with Otho the Emperour Mat. Westminst and forced John King of Scots who received his fugitive Subjects and harboured them in his Kingdom to send to him for peace to pay him eleven thousand Marks to purchase his peace with him and to put in Hostages for his fidelity without any Fight between them Yea the the Welch-men themselves formerly rebellious soon after his return from Scotland voluntarily repaired to him at Woodstock and there did homage to him After which Anno 1211. he entring into Wales with a great Army as far as Snowdown Reges omnes Nobiles sine contradictione subjugavit de subjectione in posterum obsides viginti octo suscepit inde cum prosperitate ad Albani Monasterium remeavit Lewellin Prince of North-Wales being enforced to render himself to mercy without any Battel at all When the Pope's Absolution of the Nobles and all other Subjects from the
most pernitious example King John out of his piety to prevent profanations of the Lord's-day removed the Market of the City of Exeter from the Lord's-day whereon it was formerly kept to the Monday This King to ingratiate himself with the Romish Cardinals and Court granted them annual Pensions out of his Exchequer the Arrears whereof he ordered to be satisfied in the first place and likewise gave Benefices or Prebends to their Nephews and Creatures Moreover to gratifie Stephen Langton his great Enemy he granted the Patronage of the Bishoprick of Rochester to him and his Successors and to the Bishop of Ely he granted the Patronage of the Abbey of Torney Mr. Prynne who kept the Records of the Tower tells us that upon strictest search he could find no payment of the foresaid Annuity or Oblation to Pope Innocent by King John himself who granted it but only for one year before hand when he sealed his Charter who dying about three years after during which time his Kingdom was infested with Civil Wars between him and his Barons invaded by Lewis of France who was made King by the Barons in his stead his Lands Rents seized his Treasure exhausted and the People every where miserably plundered it is probable that â—here neither was nor could be expected any other punctual payment of it The Pope and his Legat Nicholas having in a manner bereaved King John of his Regal Dignity and Authority began forthwith to play Rex they usurped the Sovereign Authority both in Church and State presenting to all Bishopricks Matth. Paris Hist Anglic. p. 237 238. Abbies Spiritual promotions and Benefices then void without the Patrons consent by way of Provision and Collation to the prejudice of the Crown and enthralling of the Church of England not vouchsafing to consult either with the King himself the Archbishop or Bishops concerning their disposal This was the very original of Pope's Provisions and disposals of Bishopricks Abbies with all sorts of Spiritual promotions and Benefices in England no Pope presuming to confer any Bishoprick Benefice or Prebendary in France or England Vsque ad tempora Domini Innocentii tertii qui primus assumpsit sibi jus istud in tempore suo as the French Agent remonstrated to Pope Innocent the Fourth These Provisions soon overflowed the Church of England and France too for many succeeding Ages notwithstanding all oppositions and complaints against them Which the Archbishop and Bishops foreseeing perceiving withall the Legat more ready to gratifie the King and his Clerks in the disposal of Bishopricks and Ecclesiastical preferments than themselves meeting together at Dunstaple drew up an Appeal against his proceedings which he slighting and sending to Rome by Pandulphus together with King John's Charter so highly magnified the King and made such complaints to the Pope against the Archbishop and Bishops as frustrated their Appeal King John having satisfied and secured the damages of the Exiled Bishops and Monks before the Interdict released according to his agreement other Abbots Priors Clergy-men and Lay-men repaired to the Legat craving full satisfaction also for their damages sustained by the King's proceedings during the Interdict though never insisted on before The King issued out two Writs on behalf of the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Bishop of Lincoln to restore them to the possession of their Temporalties in the Cinque-ports and other places Yet on the contrary all the Bishops and Clergy-men who faithfully adhered to the King and communicated with him or any other excommunicated person or received any Benefices from them during the Interdict were by these Prelates now made their Judges and Pope's censures ordered to be suspended from all their Ecclesiastical Offices Benefices Preferments and ordered to appear personally at Rome before the Pope to be examined ere their Suspensions released except only such as had given satisfaction to the Church for this offence The turbulent Archbishop stirred up the Barons to a new Insurrection against the King about their Liberties who coming all to the King after Christmas Anno 1215. demanded the confirmation of their Charter who craved time to advise thereon till after Easter the Archbishop and two more becoming his Sureties that then he should give satisfaction to all of them The Barons against the time rather preparing themselves for a Battel than Conference with the King assembled together at Stamford with a mighty Army having Archbishop Stephen their principal Abettor who yet seemed to side with the King and was most assiduous about him The Barons marching as far as Brackley the King sent the Archbishp to treat with them who brought back a Schedule of their claimed Liberties with this Message That if he presently confirmed them not to them by his Charter they would force him to it by seizing all his Castles and Provisions Whereupon the King replied Why do they not also demand the Kingdom swearing never to enslave himself to such a concession The Archbishop returning with this peremptory Answer the Barons forthwith seized Bedford-Castle and were admitted into London the Citizens siding with them Whereupon the King appointed to treat with them at Running-mead whither the Barons came with armed multitudes from all parts of the Realm whereafter some parley the King granted them their desires not only for their Liberties specified in Magna Charta and Charta Forrestae which he then sealed and by his Writs commanded to be put in due execution but also that twenty five Peers elected by them to whom all were sworn to obey should force the King to observe these Charters if ever he receded from them by seizing all his Castles Juratum est a parte Regis Quod Anglicana Ecclesia libera sit c. It was sworn on the Kings part that the Church of England is free and all men of our Kingdom have and do hold all the foresaid Liberties Rights and Customs well and peaceably freely and quietly fully and wholly to themselves and their Heirs c. All the Barons and Commons of the Realm then and afterwards taking the same Oath The Archbishop and Barons thrust into this new Charter many Articles and Clauses for their own the Churches and Pope's advantage not extant in the Charter of King Henry the First as may be seen in Matthew Paris his History This Charter though it saved a great part of the King's Prerogative to petition him and his Heirs for Licenses to elect and for his Assent gave a great wound to his Ecclesiastical Supremacy and made all Chapters Covents Bishops Monks yea Popes and their Agents to slight his Regal Authority and Licenses too insomuch that he could prefer no person to any Bishoprick Monastery or elective Dignity but whom the Electors pleased to make choice of King John withdrawing and obscuring himself from his Bishops and Barons in the Isle of Wight sent Messengers secretly to Rome to complain and appeal to the Pope against their Treasons Rebellions and the Charters forcibly extorted from him whilst under
so long that at last the Earl was compelled to come forth and render himself bearing his affliction patiently Hubert is again imprisoned in the Tower Nothing could appease the King's Ire but that Mass of Gold and other Riches which the Knights Templers had in their custody upon trust which Hubert willingly yielded up This mollified the King's mind toward him Hereupon he had all such Lands granted unto him as either King John had given or himself had purchased There undertook for him as Sureties the Earls of Cornwall and Warren Marshal and Ferrars and himself was committed to the Castle of Devizes Speed's Histor in H. 3. there to abide in free Prison under the custody of four Knights belonging each of them to one of these four Earls Afterwards though he was restored to the King's favour yet upon new accusations of his Enemies he was condemned to give to the King Blanch Castle Grosmount in Wales Skenefrith and Hafield and then also was deprived of Title of Earl of Kent King Henry erected a special Church House and form of Government for the Jews converted to the Christian Religion The Bishops meeting together at Glocester Anno 1234. the King being jealous that they intended to consult of some other things prejudicial to his Crown State and Dignity sent a Writ of Prohibition to them not to treat of any thing of this nature After this the King and Bishops meeting at a Conference at Westminster the King charged some of the Bishops with a design to deprive him of his Crown which they denied whereupon one of them in a great rage excommunicated all those who raised such a report of them Claus 18. H. 3. Memb. 16. Then the King commanded all common Whores and Concubines of Priests to be imprisoned and banished out of the University of Oxford by his temporal Officers unless they had Lands therein and by Oath and other security have good assurance for their chast and honest demeanour for the future and not to resort to Clerks Lodgings If a Clerk or Beneficed person were indebted to the King or incurred his just displeasure the King commanded the Bishop of the Diocess to sequester all his Ecclesiastical Benefices till his debt was satisfied his displeasure remitted and the sequestration discharged by special Writ The Pope was grown so proud in this Age by his Usurpations that he would not vouchsafe to hear and admit the King's Proctors and Agents sent to Rome upon his urgent Affairs without most humble suits and supplications in his Letters of credence and procurations The King made a Remonstrance to the Pope of the several injuries done to him by the Earl of Britain in seizing on his Castles and revolting to the King of France desiring the Pope by his Ecclesiastical censures to compel him to restore his Castles to him The Pope instead of excommunicating this treacherous Earl sent for him to Rome and made him General of the Crossadoes by Sea and Land against the Grecians The Pope commanded Peter Bishop of Winchester to assist him both with his purse and advice in his Military affairs against the Grecians and Romans The Pope as he encroached upon the election and confirmation of the Archbishops and Bishops of England so did he likewise upon the election and confirmation of Abbots who must go to Rome to attend his pleasure for their approbation and confirmation as in the case of the Abbot of St. Albans doth appear The Pope condescended to the Abbot's election but upon this condition that he should take an express Oath of Fealty to the Pope and Church of Rome and his Successors prescribed in his Bull directed to the Bishops which Oath suddenly tendered to him by way of surprise he took publickly before the Covent and all the Clergy and People at his Consecration and Instalment related by Matthew Paris Matth. Paris p. 399. a Monk of this Monastery This new Oath of Allegeance to the Pope and See of Rome being the highest encroachment upon the King 's Rights and Prerogative making all who take it the Pope's Subject and Vassals not the King 's was concealed both from the King and Abbot till the very nick of his Consecration and Benediction for fear it should be opposed and refused The Prior of the preaching Friers presuming to arrest and imprison some persons in York-shire pretended to be Heretical when he had no legal power to arrest or imprison such the King thereupon issued a Mandate to the Sheriff of York-shire to arrest and imprison all Heretical persons till his further order therein Anno 1236. the Archbishop of Canterbury being sued by the Prior and Monks of Canterbury for certain Advousons of Churches Possessions Rents and Services in the Ecclesiastical Court Pryn. claus 20. H. 3. m. 12. dorso by authority of the Pope's Letters despising the remedy of the King's Court where they ought to sue for them thereupon the King issued forth his prohibition to the Archbishop prohibiting him in his Faith and Allegeance to him not to answer them in that Court it being prejudicial to his Crown and Dignity c. The King by several Writs of Prohibition countermanded the Pope's own Bulls and Delegates as contrary to the Rights and Dignities of his Crown and prohibited their proceedings which gave some check to his Usurpations of this Kind The King's Clerks and Houshold Chaplains in those dayes wearing long Hair and Peruwigs Pat. 21. H. 3. m. 3. dorso Long Hair and Peruwigs forbidden in the Clergy thereupon the King to reform this abuse issued out a Writ to William de Perecat authorizing and strictly commanding him to cut their Hair and pull off their yellow Peruwigs under pain of being shaven and polled himself The Monks and Converts of the Cistercian Order contrary to their Vows and Rules becoming common Merchants buying and selling again Wools and Skins to the prejudice of other Merchants and scandal of their Profession the King for redress thereof issued out a Writ of Prohibition to all the Sheriffs of England to seize the Goods and Moneys of those Monks and Converts to his use who should offend therein There being a great difference between the Bishop of Clochor in Ireland and the Archbishop of Armagh and their Tennants concerning injuries and grievances touching their Churches the Archbishop of Armagh procuring the King's Letters to his Chief Justice by misinformation whilst he was excommunicated the King thereupon revoked his former Letters and commanded his Chief Justice in Ireland to hear and determine the Controversies between them Upon the death of Richard Bishop of Durham the King upon the Petition of the Prior and Convent granted his License to elect a new Bishop The Bishop of Norwich dying this year the Monks elected Simon their Prior for their Bishop whom the King disapproving made a special Proctor against him before the Archbishop to hinder his confirmation and to appeal against him to the See of Rome if it were expedient where
he likewise constituted his Proctor Then the Pope upon the King's request under a pretext to rectifie some of those abuses against which there was an universal complaint sent Ottobone his Legat into England who soon proclaimed himself a ravening Wolf as well as his Predecessors Then was a Council called by the Pope's Legat unto St. Paul's Church in London where most of the Prelates Abbots and Priors assembled together The Canons that were made and promulged in this Council who so please may peruse at leisure in Matthew Paris and in Johannes de Aton his Constitutiones legitimae Ecclesiae totiusque Ecclesiae Anglicanae ab Legatis a latere summorum Pontificum collectio fol. 1. ad 121. with his Gloss upon them The first Canon was for the Dedication and Consecration of Churches many Cathedral as well as Parish-churches being then unconsecrated The second and third concerning Ecclesiastical Sacraments and Baptism Others concerning the covetousness of Priests their hearing Confessions the qualities of such as were to be ordained their Farmers and Vicars Presentations to Churches not dividing one Church into more the Residence of Bishops and Priests Pluralities the Habit of Clerks clandestine marriage of Priests Priests Concubines their Sons succession in their Benefices their Judges Procurations undue unjust Citations Exactions by Procurations Registers abuses by Proctors and Ecclesiastical Judges and an Oath to be prescribed to them to prevent the like abuses for the future In this Council this Legat introduced the use of Oaths in Ecclesiastical Courts The first use of Oaths in Ecclesiastical Courts in England and Causes never formerly used in England by colour whereof other Oaths were introduced by the Popish Prelates against the Laws and Customs of the Realm till the King by his Prohibition restrained these Usurpations Then was a private Letter sent from Rome to the Pope's Legat in England advising him to moderation to prevent a total rejection of the Pope and See of Rome In the 22th year of Henry the Third the Greek Churches renounced all obedience to and communion with the Church of Rome which made the Pope and his Court fear the like Schism and revolt in England occasioned by the Legat's violent Extortions and advancement of Strangers to Benefices whereupon he intended to recal him thence to prevent these ill consequences but the Legat loth to depart prevailed with the King and others to sollicit the Pope for his continuance in England upon pretence of publick good This year there happening a difference between the King and Monks of Durham about their Bishop elect whom the King would not approve he thereupon issued his Letters Patents to the Archbishop of York appointing his Proctors to appeal to the See of Rome against this election only for delay to preserve his right After the death of Henry de Sandford Bishop of Rochester the Monks of Rochester elected Richard Windeley a learned Man for their Bishop who being presented by the Monks to Edmond Archbishop of Canterbury for his confirmation he refused to admit him Vnde Monachi Domini Papae presentiam appellarunt Upon this Appeal the Pope gave Judgment for the Monks against the Archbishop and condemned him in costs of suit confirming their election in despite of the Archbishop with whom the Pope was very angry for opposing his intolerable exactions in England whereupon this Bishop Elect was consecrated at Canterbury in St. Gregory's Church by the Archbishop the Bishop of London and other Bishops Then the Monks of Coventry chose Nicholas de Fernham for their Bishop who refused to accept thereof whereupon at last they chose Simon de Pateshul who accepted it The Pope having excommunicated the Emperour Frederick Otto the Pope's Legat was very diligent to see the Pope's scandalous Excommunications and Bulls against him published throughout all England In the twenty fourth year of the Reign of King Henry the Third the Monks of Cambridge having apprehended an Heretick as he was called the King thereupon issued forth a Precept to the Sheriff of Cambridge to bring this Heretick before him at Westminster to be examined and disposed of as he should direct Who he was and what his Heresies were Matthew Paris tells us saying He was a man of an honest and severe life and that he openly asserted that Pope Gregory was not the Head of the Church but there was another Head of the Church that the Church was profaned the Devil was let loose the Pope was an Heretick that Gregory who was called Pope had defiled the Church and the world too This and divers other things of like nature he spake before the Pope's Legat in the hearing of many Pope Gregory before his death to carry on his Wars against the Emperor Frederick Anno 1240. intended by way of provision to confer all the Benefices in England especially of the Clergy on the Sons of Romans and other Forreigners upon condition to assist him against the Emperour sending his Bull to three Bishops to confer no less than three hundred of the next Benefices that fell void within their Diocess on these Aliens Anno 1241. Otto the Pope's Legat having long pillaged the Realm and Church of England was sent for the third time by the Pope And the King to oblige the Legat as well to promote his Affairs at Rome as in England before his departure hence Knighted and conferred an Annual pension on his Nephew feasted the Legat publickly at Westminster and placed him at the feast in his own Royal Throne to the great offence of his Nobles and Subjects Edmond Archbishop of Canterbury deceasing the King commended Boniface his Queen's Uncle a Forreigner and every way unfit for such a trust to the Monks of Canterbury to succeed him whom they accordingly elected There being a great contest between the King and the Prior and Monks of Winchester about the election of their Bishop they electing first William de Raley Bishop of Norwich whom the King and Pope opposing thereupon they Elected Ralph Nevil whose election was likewise vacated After which they Elected the Bishop of Norwich again whose election was suddenly made and quickly confirmed at Rome Yet the King commanded the Major of Winchester to forbid the new Bishop entrance into the City Matth. Westin which he did who thereupon Excommunicated him for his labour and interdicted the whole City The King thereupon so persecuted the Monks that he imprisoned diverse of them and forced the Bishop to fly the Realm and pass into France for a season Then there arose a new contest between the Archbishop and Monks of Canterbury about Jurisdiction and Visitation wherein they Excommunicated one the other and yet slighted these their mutual Anathemae's as ridiculous nullities The King being in France sent his Writ to the Archbishop of York then Custos Regni to confer Benefices that should fall void on such Clerks of His who to their great danger and expence continued with him and incurred many various casualties in his services beyond
the Virgin Mary with Christ in her Armes on the other side curiously and decently guilt and the cause thereof engraven on it in the place where the offence was committed calling the Major of the Town and Cofferers of the Jews to his assistance and till they made and delivered to the Proctors of the University another portable Cross of Silver handsomly guilded with a Spear as large as that carried before the Archbishop to be carryed before the Masters and Scholars of the University in their future processions And because diverse Jewes to prevent it had secretly convayed away their goods to others to enquire diligently after such goods and sell them that the work might be speedily effected before St. Edwards Feast The Money hereupon being levyed of the Jews to make these Crosses and the King being informed that the Marble-cross could not be erected in the place prescribed without damage and prejudice to some Burgesses of Oxford whereupon they purposed to erect it just over against the Jews Synagogue there The King and his Council conceiving that place inconvenient ordered it to be set up within the place of Merton Colledge near the Church and the other portable Cross to be delivered to the Scholars thereof to be kept in their House and carried in Processions of the University as aforesaid Of the Dismes granted to the King by the Pope Parker Antiqu Eccles Britan. p. 194. the King had usually the least share the Pope the Cardinals and Legates swallowing up the greatest part of them as the Learned Archbishop Matthew Parker hath observed Boniface the Military Archbishop of Canterbury died beyond the Seas Anno Dom. 1271. when he had reaped the profits of that See and pillaged that Province twenty six years six moneths and sixteen dayes most of which he spent in Wars and negotiations beyond the Seas and never Preached one Sermon all that time for ought we find That year there was so great an inundation of Rain at Canterbury such Lightening and Tempest as had not been seen nor heard for a long time The Thunder was dreadful and continued a whole day and night and such an inundation of Water followed that it overthrew Stones Vines and Trees Cattel were drowned and much Corn spoiled and the City was so over-flown that Men nor Horses could pass After this Flood there followed a great Famine and the Plague swept away many in the City and Countrey round about Mr. Fox relates That a little before King Henry's death there fell out a controversie between the Monks and Citizens of Norwich about certain Tallages and Liberties that after much altercation and wrangling words the furious rage of the Citizens so much encreased that they set upon the Abbey and Priory and burned both the Church and Bishop's Palace At the last King Henry calling for certain of his Lords and Barons sent them to Norwich that they might punish and see Execution done on the chiefest Malefactors some of them were condemned and burnt and some were drawn by the heeles with Horses through the Streets of the City and so in much misery ended their lives King Henry having in his company the Bishop of Roâ—hester and the Earl of Glocester followed his Justice Thomas Trivet to Norwich The Bishop having Excommunicated all who consented to this wickedness and the Judge Executed the nocent the King condemned the Town in three thousand Marks of Silver to be paid by a day toward the repairing of the Church so burnt and also to pay one hundred pounds in Silver toward the repair of a Cup arising to twenty pounds in Gold He returning thence towards London fell grievously sick at the Abbey of St. Edmonds in Suffolk where after he had in a Religious manner acknowledged his sins he rendered up the same to his Redeemer when he had reigned fifty six years and twenty dayes A Prince writes Speed whose devotion was greater than his discretion as we see in permitting the depredation of himself and his whole Kingdom by Papal overswayings After the Death and Funeral of King Henry who was Buried at Westminster Church Founded and almost finished by him Prince Edward his Son being at that time in the holy Land where he obtained many notable Victories against the Saracens Who thereupon suborned an Assassinate to kill him under pretext of delivering a Message to him from the Soldan of Babylon who stabbed him into the Body with a poisoned Knife Thomas Walsingham Matth. Westm to the hazard of his Life his Nobles notwithstanding his remote absence were so Loyal as to Proclaim him King and Swear Fealty and Allegiance to him as their Sovereign Lord. They sent out Writs whereby they Proclaimed the King's peace They first of them were directed to all the Sheriffs of England to Proclaim in their respective Counâ—ies the other to the King 's chief Justice of Ireland to be there Proclaimed who with others was authorized likewise to receive the Fealty as well of all the Archbishops Bishops Abbots Clergy as Nobles and other Lay-subjects in Ireland due unto him as their King and Sovereign Lord. In the third year of this King's Reign Walter de Merton Bishop of Rochester and Chancellor of England finished the Colledge of his own Name in Oxford This Walter de Merton was one of the Guardians of the Realm in the King's absence A Writ was issued to Lewellin Prince of Wales requiring an Oath of Fealty from him to King Edward as his Sovereign Lord and two Abbots thereby made Commissioners to receive his Oath who refused to appear or give any answer to them The Abbots made a special return of their proceedings therein to the Lord Chancellor The first thing this King and his Council did was to make a publick Declaration and Protestation against Pope Clement the fifth his late Usurpation who a little before King Henry his death had by his Papal Provisions conferred the Bishoprick of Winton on John dâ— Pontissera and the Archbishoprick of Canterbury upon Robert Kilwardby without the King 's precedent License or Monks Election rejecting William de Chilenden duly Elected by the Monks of Canterbury by King Henry's License that so he might Usurp the disposal of all other Bishopricks by these and other former like Presidents After the death of Pope Clement the fourth the See of Rome continuing void for two years and ten moneths by reason of the Cardinals discord about a Successor at last they Elected Theobald Archdeacon of Leige Pope who was with King Edward the first in the holy Land of him these two Verses were made Papatum munus tenet Archidiaconus unus Quem Patrem Patrum fecit discordia fratrum Prince Edward in his return from the holy Land repaired to this new Pope's Court his late Chaplain and fellow-souldier who at his request Excommunicated the Murderers of his kinsman Henry Son and heir to the King of Germany at Viterbium and disinherited some of them by his Imperious Decree till they should come personally to
343. much less effected till then Having visited England he passed by Chester into Wales Anno 1284. to reform the state of the Church In this Visitation he made and published a Decree what Ornaments of Churches the Parishoners should provide and pay for and what the Priests or Incumbents King Edward in the twelfth year of his Reign issued Warrants for the payment of two years Arrears of 1000 Marks for England and Ireland granted by King John then due and demanded by the Pope as likewise for payment of seveal arrears of pensions he had granted to Cardinals and others The Archbishop of Canterbury having interdicted some of the Tenants belonging to the Abbey of Fiscan in England the Abbot thereupon Appealed to Rome against him and likewise to the King against this oppression desiring his favour that no Process might issue out of his Court against them and that he might constitute Attorneys in this Case since he could not come into England without great damage to his house The King this year constituted a special Proctor for three years by Patent to defend the Rights and Liberties of his free Chappels and Crown against all Papal and Episcopal invaders and opposers of them The King seizing the Advousons of several Churches in Wales as forfeited by their Patrons Rebellions against him gave them to the Bishop of St. David's with power to appropriate them to his Church of St. David's and Lekadeken Lancaden and make or annex them to Prebendaries there Hereupon the Bishop of St. Davids by his Charter with consent and approbation of the King and his Dean and Chapter made and erected a new Collegiate Church of Canons in Lan Caden in Wales constituted several Canons and Prebendaries therein annexing and appropriating the forecited Churches thereunto the Patronages whereof were granted him by the King who set his Seal to the Bishop's Charter and ratified it with his own Charter to make it valid in Law In the year 1285. a Parliament at Westminster laid down the limits and fixed the boundaries betwixt the Spiritual and Temporal jurisdictions The King having totally subdued the Welsh the Archbishoprick of York becomming void by the death of William Wickwane Archbishop thereof the King applied the profits thereof during the vacancy towards the building of Castles in Wales to secure it This year Stephen Bishop of Waterford was made chief Justice of Ireland In the fifteenth year of this King Henry de Branceston was elected and confirmed Bishop of Sarum The King granted and confirmed to the Bishop of Bangor and his Successors all the Rights Liberties Possessions and Customes they had formerly used and enjoyed In the sixteenth year of this King's Reign Gilbert de Sancto Leofardo was elected and confirmed Bishop of Chichester by the King 's Royal assent This year there was a great contest between the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Abbot of St. Augustines about the carrying up his cross First The Abbot opposed the bearing up his own Cross before him in the Monastery of St. Augustines even within his own Metropolis and See of Canterbury when specially sent for thither to dine with the King Secondly Observe the Archbishop's pride and obstinacy in refusing to subscribe such a Letter as the King directed to reconcile this difference and preserve the Abbot's Privildges or repair to the King without his Cross carried before him together with his malice against the Abbot and Covent for not admitting him to carry up his Cross within their Monastery Pat. 17. Ed. 1. Bishop Godwin observes That from the year 1284. the See of Salisbury had five Bishops within the space of five years whereof William de Comer as he stiles him was the fourth But Mr. William de Corner was his name as the King 's Writ for restoring of his Temporalties together with the Patent of the King 's Royal assent to his election assure us The King having Conquered Wales confirmed all the antient Rights Liberties Possessions and Customes of the Church of Asaph to the present Bishop and his Successors which they formerly used and enjoyed and that he might freely make his Testament Pope Nicholas the fourth being setled in his Pontifical Chair in the first year of his Papacy sent a Bull to King Edward the first to demand five years Arrears of the Annual pension of one thousand Marks granted by King John The King hereupon the better to promote his cousin Charles to the Realm of Sicily and expedite his own affairs in the Court of Rome concerning a dispensation for his Son to Marry the heir of the Crown of Scotland and other business touching Gascoign and France for which he had then sent special Ambassadors to Rome with Letters both to the Pope and Cardinals issued a Writ for the payment of these five years Arrears accordingly Mr. Prynne saith That this was the last payment made by King Edward the first of this Annual pension The Pope upon receipt hereof granted a dispensation to the King's Son Prince Edward to Marry with the heir of the Crown of Scotland thereby to unite these two Crowns and Kingdomes and prevent the long bloody Wars between them though within the prohibited degrees of Consanguinity King Edward upon the receipt of this Dispensation sent Letters and Proxies to Ericus King of Norway and likewise to the Guardians of the Realm of Scotland to consummate this Marriage upon diverse Articles and agreements King Edward likewise to perfect the Marriage between his Son Prince Edward and Margaret Queen of Scots with the general approbation of the Keepers Nobles and Natives of that Realm granted and ratified to the Nobles and People of Scotland diverse Articles agreed on by special Commissioners sent on both sides and approved by him by Letters under his great Seal which he took an Oath to observe under the penalty of forfeiting one hundred thousand pounds to the Church of Rome towards the holy Wars Pat. 8. Edw. 1. m. 8. and subjecting himself to the Pope's Excommunication and his Kingdom to an Interdict in case of Violation or Non-performance as the Patent attesteth enrolled both in French and Latine The King after this appointed the Bishop of Durham to be this Queen Margaret's and his Son Prince Edward's Lieutennant in Scotland for the preservation of the Peace and Government thereof At which time he and his Son likewise constituted Proctors to Treat with the King of Norway in his and his Son Edward's Name concerning his Sons Marriage and Espousals with his Daughter Margaret Queen of Scotland To facilitate this Marriage the Bishop of Durham at the King's request obliged himself to pay four hundred pounds by the year to certain persons in Norway to discharge which annuity the King granted him several Manors amounting to a greater value But the sickness and death of this Queen in her voyage toward Scotland and England frustrated this much desired Marriage between Prince Edward and her and raised new questions between the Competitors for the Crown
his Wife erecting a Chappel and Chauntry to the Virgin Mary in their Manor of Lasingby consisting of one Master and six Chaplains to sing Mass for their Souls and the Souls of their Ancestors and of King Edward and his Heirs of the present Bishop of Durham and his Successors and of all faithful Souls deceased prescribing an Oath to them of perpetual Residence and discharge of the particular Divine Services and trusts reposed in them procured the King to ratifie this his Charter Chart. 20 Ed. 1. n. 5. by his Royal Charter enrolled in the Tower King Edward the First in the twenty one year of his Reign as Superiour Lord of Scotland in that Age exercised a Soveraign Authority in and over the King Clergy and Kingdom of Scotland in Causes and Inheritances which concerned the Church Clergy or Religious Persons as well as in Secular mens cases notwithstanding any Pretences or Appeals to Rome where Justice was delayed or refused to them by the King of Scots whereof there are sundry Presidents in the Patent and Plea-Rolls of Scotland in this and succeeding years Robert Winchelsey Archbishop of Canterbury was no sooner consecrated at Rome Vid. Godw. Catal. p. 427. but he procured a Bull from Pope Celestine the Fifth by his Papal provision to confer the Bishoprick of Landaff which had been void for nine years space and thereby devolved to the Pope by lapse as he pretended on any Person he should think meet for that employment Whereupon without the King 's previous Authority he conferred it by way of provision upon John de Monmouth Yet the King was not forward to restore the Temporalties of the Archbishoprick of Canterbury to this Archbishop or of Landaff to John de Monmouth thus intruded into it against his Prerogative but detained them near two years after in his hands as vacant receiving the profits and presenting to the Benefices belonging to them Upon the death of Robert Burnel Bishop of Bath and Wells the King's Chancellor William de Marchia then Treasurer of England was elected to succeed him in that Bishoprick This year John de Langton succeeded Robert Burnel in the Chancellors Office of England The King in the twenty two year of his Reign notwithstanding a Subsidy granted to him Matth. Westm wanting Moneys searched all the Monasteries and Churches throughout England where any Moneys were deposited by Religious persons or others and forcibly carried it away to supply his occasions by the advice of his Treasurer William de Marchia Bishop of Bath and Wells The same year the King granted Protections to divers Abbots and Clergy-men who aided him with their Contributions against the French He also desired the assistance of their devout Prayers unto God for a blessing upon him and his Military Forces in defence of his Inheritance against their armed Powers as appears by his Writs under his Privy Seal issued to his Bishops and other Religious persons John Duke of Brabant the King 's dear Friend and Kinsman dying this year the King issued Writs to all his Bishops and sundry Abbots and Priors to make Prayers and chaunt Masses for him according to the superstition of that Age. Then the Roman See through the Cardinals divisions continuing void about three years and three months after the decease of Pope Nicholas the Fourth the Cardinals at last elected Peter de Murone an Hermite and Monk of the Order of St. Benedict whom they named Celestine the Fifth He during his short continuance in the Papacy granted our King Edward the First a Disme for seven years from all the Clergy of England out of zeal to the relief of the Holy Land But his Wars with the French Welch-men and Scots wasted all these Dismes Pope Celestine in the month of September created twelve Cardinals among whom were two Hermits But the Cardinals being weary of this precise reforming Pope perswaded him to resign his Papacy as being unfit to manage it without the Churches ruine and his own destruction So after he had sate five months and seven dayes he resigned the Papacy Then Benedict Cajetan his grand Counsellor was chosen Pope and called by the name of Boniface How unsutable yea contradictory his actions were to both his good names he immediately discovered which occasioned this Distich to be made of and applied to him Audi tace lege bene dic bene fac Benedicte Aut haec perverte male dic male fac Maledicte Celestine returned to his Cell from whence Boniface drew him forth and cast him into a close Prison where he abode till his death whence it is reported that Celestine prophecied of him Ascendisti ut Vulpes Regnabis ut Leo Morieris ut Canis Thou hast ascended into the Papacy like a Fox thou shalt reign like a Lion and die like a Dog and so it came to pass This Pope Boniface by his Bull having appropriated the Church of Wermington to the Abby of Peterburgh whereof they had the Patronage the King authorized them accordingly to appropriate it to them and their Successors against him and his Heirs notwithstanding the Statute of Mortmain This Pope sent two Cardinal Legats a latere first to the King of France and from him to the King of England then engaged in Wars against each other under a specious pretext of mediating a Truce between England and France but instead thereof these Cardinals did twice prey upon the English and Irish Churches and Clergy and transported their Treasure into France to enrich themselves and the King's Enemies there Then King Edward sent Writs to his Archbishops Bishops Abbots and others to make Prayers sing Masses and do other Works of Piety for the Soul of his Brother Edmond and after that of Margaret Queen of France according to the superstition of that Age. Tho. Walsingh Hist Angl. p. 34. In the twenty fourth year of King Edward's Reign there arose a great Sedition and Combat between the Scholars and Townsmen in the University of Oxford wherein many were slain on both sides and the Goods of the Scholars plundered and carried away upon complaint whereof to the King by the Scholars he sent his Justices thither to punish the Malefactors and repair the Scholars damages King Edward strenuously opposed Pope Boniface's Anti-monarchical Constitution against demanding or imposing Subsidies on the Clergy Robert Winchelsey Archbishop of Canterbury was stout in the prosecution of the Popes Bull which he had procured for it for which all his Tempoporalties were seized and he being forced to hide his head and reduced to great extremities was restored to the King's favour by the earnest mediation of his Suffragan Bishops on his behalf Whereupon the King issued out Writs to restore his Temporalties with all his Oxen Goods and Chattels formerly seized in the state now they were In the twenty fifth year of this King's Reign Henry de Newark being elected Archbishop of York and his election approved by the King his Proctors sent to Rome procured the Pope's
him a two years Disme from his Clergy for his own use though pretended for the aid of the Holy Land that himself might more easily exact the First-fruits of vacant Ecclesiastical Benefices to fill his own Coffers though out of his Dominions Which occasioned these Satyrical Verses to be made of him and the King this year Ecclesia navis titubat Regni quia navis Errat Rex Papa facti sunt unica Capa Hoc faciunt do des Pilatus hic Alter Herodes This is the first president of any Pope's reserving or exacting Annates or First-fruits When First-fruits were first brought into England of all Ecclesiastical Dignities and Benefices throughout England extant in our Histories which though reserved but for two years by this Pope at first grew afterwards into custom by degrees both in England and elsewhere As this Pope thus introduced these First-fruits into England so he likewise frequently sent abroad his Bulls of Provisions for Ecclesiastical Benefices and Promotions therein for his Favourites and Clerks which were then void or should afterwards fall void by death or otherwise Manifold were the Cautions inserted into Pope's Provisions for poor Clerks though Learned and Honest which must be confined to an Archbishop's Living in one Diocess of small value and those not formerly granted to any others and they bound to personal residence thereon when as others that were rich and more able to pay great sums for them were not clogged with so many Cautions Many Instruments under the hands of publick Notaries these poor Clerks must procure with vast sollicitation travel and expence before they get the least hopes of enjoying any small Prebend or Benefice by Popes Bulls and yet in fine not enjoy actual possession of them Many of the Pope's Provisions to every small as well as great Prebendary nor Benefice were granted to several persons in possession or expectacy by sundry Bulls at once contradicting repealing each other by Non obstantes engendring infinite Suits and Appeals in the Pope's Court to the great vexation of the Patrons Provisors and other Competitors and neglect of the Peoples souls during suâ—h Contests concerning them The King granted the Tithes and Appropriations of all his new Assarts within his Forrest of Deane which were extraparochial to the Bishop of Landeff to augment his small Bishoprick and maintain a Chauntry in the Church of Newland The like Grant the King made this year of extraparochial Tithes within the Forrest of Sherwood to the Prior of Felley The King likewise ordered the Tithes of all his Mills in Holderness to be paid to the Parsons of all Parish-churches wherein they were as the Nobles and others there used to pay them Then the King according to the manner of that Age commanded Prayers and Masses to be made for the Soul of Joan late Queen of France and for Blanch late Dutchess of Austria deceased In Scotland there arose a great Rebellion through the treachery of the perjured Archbishop of St. Andrews the Bishop of Glasgo and Abbot of Schone who confederating with Robert Brus Earl of Carrick and others of the Scottish Nobility resolved to make and Crown Robert King of Scotland who being opposed therein by John Comyn his Cousin-German a man of great power in Scotland he set upon and murdered the said John Comyn in the Church of Dunfrees and was soon after crowned King by the premised Bishops and Abbot Pope Clement the Sixth being informed of this murder of John Comyn by King Robert ordered the Archbishop of York and Bishop of Carlisle to excommunicate him and his Complices with sound of Bells and Candles in all places of England Scotland Ireland Wales and elsewhere though without their Diocess and to Interdict all their Lands and Castles till they should submit themselves This Bull was executed accordingly King Edward sent a great and strong Army into Scotland against Robert Brus. And Aymery de Valence Earl of Pembrook put to flight King Robert took his Wife his Brother Nigellus and others but himself escaped into the utmost Isles of Scotland The Earl of Athol was put to death at London and Nigellus at Barwick The Bishops of St. Andrews and Glasgo and the Abbot of Scone were put in Iron chains and kept close prisoners in Porchester-castle King Robert was brought to such misery that he was sometime naked and hungry without meat or drink save only water and roots of Herbs and his life alwayes in danger Robert Brus came forth at length out of the Scottish Islands with such forces as he had gotten together taking the Castles of Carrick Innerness and many other To put an end to all which trouble King Edward Daniel's Chron. in Edw. 1 appointed a great Host to attend him at Carlisle three weeks after Midsummer-day There he held his last Parliament wherein the State got many Ordinances to pass for reformation of the abuses of the Pope's Ministers and his own former exactions wringing from the elect Archbishop of York in one year nine thousand five hundred Marks And Anthony Bishop of Durham to be made Patriarch of Jerusalem gave the Pope and his Cardinals mighty sums The Pope required the Fruits of one years revenue of every Benefice that should fall void in England Wales and Ireland and the like of Abbies Priories and Monasteries King Edward in July enters Scotland with a fresh Army and dyes at Burgh upon Sands having reigned thirty four years seven months aged sixty eight This King had founded the Abbey of Val-royal in Cheshire for the Cistercians and by Will bequeathed thirty two thousand pounds to the Holy Land He was obedient not servile to the See of Rome Edward the Second his Son called of Caernarvan succeeded in the Kingdom in July 1307. He soon caused Walter de Langton Bishop of Chester Treasurer of England and principal Executor of the last Will of the deceased King to be arrested by Sir John Felton Constable of the Tower and imprisoned in Wallingford-castle seizing upon all his Temporalties till afterwards by means of the Papal authority he was restored and they were seemingly reconciled The Bishop's crime was a good freedom which he used in the late King's dayes in gravely reproving this Prince for his misdemeanours and shortening his wast of coin by a frugal moderation All the Bishop's Goods he gave to Piers Gaveston makes a new Treasurer of his own removes most of his Father's Officers and all without the advice and consent of his Council The King was married to Isabel Daughter of Philip the fair King of France which was performed magnificently at Boleign Piers Gaveston was the King's great Favourite who filled the Court with Buffoons Parasites Minstrels Stage-players and all kind of dissolute persons King Edward the Second by Letters to the Pope requested that Robert Winchelsey might be restored to his Archbishoprick which was done accordingly though he returned too late to Crown the King which solemnity was performed by Henry Woodlock Bishop of Winchester Shortly after
his Coronation all the Knights Templers The Order of the Knights Templars abolished throughout Christendom throughout England were at once arrested and committed to prison In the General Council of Vienna this Order was utterly abolished through Christendom The French King caused fifty four of that Order together with their great Master to be burnt at Paris And the Pope and Council annexed their possessions to the Order of the Knights Hospitallers called commonly Knights of the Rhodes But in England the Heirs of the Donors and such as had endowed the Templars here with Lands entred upon those parts of the ancient Patrimonies after the dissolution of the Order and detained them until not long after they were by Parliament wholly transferred unto the Knights of Saint John of Jerusalem Guy Guy Earl of Warwick surpriseth Piers Gaveston and causeth him to be beheaded Earl of Warwick surprised Gaveston carried him to his Castle of Warwick wherein a place called Blacklow afterwards Gaveshead his head was stricken off at the commandment and in the presence of the Earls of Lancaster Warwick and Hereford A great Battel was fought between the English and Scots at Bannocks-borough There perished in this Battel Gilbert Clare Earl of Glocester Robert Lord Clifford the Lord Tiptoft the Lord Marshal the Lord Giles de Argenton the Lord Edmond de Maule and seven hundred Knights Esquires and Gentlemen of Quality of common Souldiers ten thousand There were taken prisoners Humphry Bohun Earl of Hereford Ralph de Monthelmere who married Joan de Acres Countess Dowager of Oxford with many others The Earl of Hereford was exchanged for King Robert's Wife who was all this while detained in England This disaster was attended with Inundations which brought forth Dearth Dearth Famine Famine Pestilence all which exceeded any that ever before had been known Anno 1313. died Robert Winchelsey Archbishop of Canterbury in whose room Robert Cobham was elected by the King and Church of Canterbury But the Pope did frustrate that election and placed Walter Reynold Bishop of Worcester About this time died Pope Clement and John XXII succeeded who sent two Legats from Rome under pretence to make agreement between the King of England and the Scots They for their charges required of every Spiritual person four pence in every Mark but all in vain for the Legats as they were in the North parts about Derlington with their whole Family and Train were robbed and spoiled of their Horses Treasure Apparel and whatsoever else they had and so retired back again to Durham thence they returned to London where they first excommunicated all those Robbers Then for supply of those losses they received they exacted of the Clergy to be given unto them eight pence in every Mark But the Clergy would only give them four pence in every Mark So they departed to the Pope's Court again This King Edward refused to pay the Peter-pence In the time of this King the Colledge in Cambridge called Michael-house was founded by Sir Henry Staunton Knight King Edward the Second builded two Houses in Oxford for good Letters Orial Colledge and St. Mary Hall England may dare all Christendom besides to shew so many eminent School-Divines bred within the compass of so few years And a forreign Writer saith Scholastica Theologia ab Anglis in Anglia sumpsit exordium fecit incrementum pervenit ad perfectionem Of these School-men Alexander Hales leads the way Master to Thomas Aquinas and Bonaventure He was in the time of Henry the Third At the command of Pope Innocent the Fourth he wrote the Body of all School-Divinity in four Volumes Roger Bacon succeeded him who lived in the time of King Edward the First he was excellently skilled in the Mathematicks The next was Richard Middleton entitled Doctor Fundatissimus Then flourished John Duns Scotus in the time of Edward the Second he was Fellow of Merton-colledge in Oxford He was called Duns by abbreviation for Dunensis that is born at Doun an Episcopal See in Ireland In this King's Reign Walter Stapleton Bishop of Exeter founded and endowed Exeter-colledge in Oxford It is charged on this King Edward the Second that he suffered the Pope to encroach on the Dignity of the Crown His Father had recovered some of his Priviledges from the Papal usurpation which since his Son had lost back again About that time an English Hermite preached at Paul's in London That some Sacraments that were then in use in the Church were not of Christ's Institution therefore he was committed to prison King Edward went into Scotland with another great Army King Robert thought so great an Army could not long continue therefore he retired into the High-lands King Edward wandred from place to place till many died for hunger and the rest returning home half starved James Douglas followed the English and slew many of them and King Edward himself hardly escaped Then a Peace was concluded at Northampton Anno 1327. That the Scots should abide in the same estate as in the dayes of King Alexander the Third the English should render all subscriptions and tokens of bondage and have no Land in Scotland unless they shall dwell in it In England the two Spencers ruled all things till the Queen and her Son who politickly had got leave to go beyond the Seas returned into England with a Navy and Army landing in Suffolk She denounced open war against her Husband unless he would presently conform to her desires The young Spencer was taken with the King at the Abby of Neath and is hanged on a Gallows fifty foot high Many Persons of Quality were sent down to the Parliament then sitting to King Edward to Kenelworth-castle to move him to resign the Crown which at last he sadly surrendered and Prince Edward his Son is crowned King The late King is removed from Kenelworth unto Barkley-castle where he was barbarously butchered being struck into the Postern of his Body with an hot Spit as it is commonly reported Among the Clergy besides Walter Stapleton Bishop of Exeter whose head the Londoners caused to be smitten off at the Standart in Cheapside only John Stratford Bishop of Winchester heartily adhered to him Robert de Baldock though no Bishop yet as a Priest and Chancellor of England may be ranked with these who attended the King and was taken with him in Wales Hence he was brought up to London and committed to Adam Tarlton Bishop of Hereford Many of the Bishops ungratefully sided with the Queen against her Husband and their Sovereign Walter Reynolds Archbishop of Canterbury led their Van preferred to that See at the King 's great Importunity and by the Pope's power of Provision Henry Burwash Bishop of Lincoln lately restored to the favour of King Edward yet no sooner did the Queen appear in the field with an Army against him but this Bishop was the first who publickly repaired to her Adam Tarlton Bishop of Hereford was the grand contriver of all mischief against the
King Witness the Sermon preached by him at Oxford before the Queen then in hostile pursuit against her Husband taking for his Text the words of the Son of the sick Shunamite my Head my Head Thence he urged That a bad King the distempered Head of a State is past cure His writing was worse than his preaching for when such Agents set to keep King Edward in Berkley-castle were by secret order from Roger Mortimer commanded to kill him they by Letters addressed themselves for advice to this Bishop then not far off at Hereford craving his counsel what they should do in so difficult and dangerous a matter He returned unto them a ridling Answer unpointed which carried in it Life and Death yea Life or Death as variously construed Life and Death To kill King Edward you need not to fear it is good Life To kill King Edward you need not to fear it is good Death To kill King Edward you need not to fear it is good The Body of King Edward without any Funeral Pomp was buried among the Benedictines in their Abbey at Glocester Edward of Windsor called King Edward the Third being scarce fifteen years of age took the beginning of his Reign on January the twentieth his Throne was established upon his Fathers ruine Anno 1327. Upon Candlemas-day he received the Order of Knighthood by the hands of the Earl of Lancaster while his deposed Father lived and within five dayes after he was Crowned at Westminster by Walter Archbishop of Canterbury Twelve men were appointed to manage the Affairs of the Kingdom during the King's minority the Archbishop's of Canterbury and York the Bishops of Winchester Hereford and Worcester Thomas Brotherton Earl Marshal Edmond Earl of Kent John Earl Warren Thomas Lord Wake Henry Lord Piercy Oliver Lord Ingham and John Lord Ross but the Queen and Roger Lord Mortimer usurped this charge Adam Tarlton was accused of Treason in the beginning of the Reign of this King and arraigned by the King's Officers when in the presence of the King he thus boldly uttered himself My Lord the King with all due respect unto your Majesty I Adam an humble Minister and Member of the Church of God and a consecrated Bishop though unworthy neither can nor ought to answer unto so hard Questions without the connivance and consent of my Lord Archbishop of Canterbury my immediate Judge under the Pope and without the consent of other Bishops who are my Peers Three Archbishops were there present in the place Canterbury York and Dublin by whose Intercession Tarlton escaped at that time Not long after he was arraigned again at the King's Bench whereupon the foresaid Archbishops set up their Crosses and with ten Bishops more attended with a numerous Train of well-weaponed Servants advanced to the place of Judicature The King's Officers frighted at the sight fled away leaving Bishop Tarlton the prisoner alone at the Bar whom the Archbishops took home into their own custody denouncing a Curse upon all such who should presume to lay violent hands upon him The King offended hereat caused a jury of Lay-men to be impannelled and to enquire according to form of Law into the Actions of the Bishop of Hereford This was the first time that ever Lay-men passed their verdict upon a Clergy-man These Jurors found the Bishop guilty whereupon the King seized his Temporalties proscribed the the Bishop and despoiled him of all his moveables But afterwards he was reconciled to the King and by the Pope made Bishop of Winchester where he died The former part of this King's Reign affordeth but little Church-history as wholly taken up with his Atchievements in France and Scotland where his success by Sea and Land was to admiration He had both the Kings he fought against viz. John de Valois of France and David King of Scotland his prisoners at one time taken by fair Fight in open Field There was granted to the King of England for these Wars a Fifteenth of the Temporalty a Twelfth of Cities and Boroughs and a Tenth of the Clergy in a Parliament holden at London And afterwards in a Parliament at Northampton there was granted him a Tenth peny of Towns and Boroughs a Fifteenth of others and a Tenth of the Clergy All such Treasure as was committed to Churches throughout England for the holy War was taken out for the King's use in this The next year after all the Goods of three Orders of Monks Lombards Cluniacks and Cicestercians are likewise seized into the King's hands and the like Subsidy as before granted at Nottingham Now the Cavrsines or Lombards did not drive so full a trade as before whereupon they betook themselves to other Merchandise and began to store England with Forreign Commodities but at unreasonable rates whilst England it self had as yet but little and bad Shipping and those less employed About this time the Clergy were very bountiful in contributing to the King's necessities in proportion to their Benefices Hereupon a Survay was exactly taken of all their Glebeland Fuller Church History and the same fairly engrossed in Parchment was returned into the Exchequer where it remaineth at this day and is the most useful Record for Clergy-men and also for Impropriators as under their claim to recover their right It was now complained of as a grand grievance that the Clergy engrossed all places of Judicature in the Land Nothing was left to Lay-men but either Military commands as General Admiral c. or such Judges places as concerned onely the very letter of the Common Law and those also scarcely reserved to the Students thereof As for Ambassies into Forreign parts Noblemen were employed therein when Expence not Experience was required thereunto and Ceremony the substance of the Service otherwise when any difficulty in Civil Law then Clergy-men were ever entertained The Lord Chancellor was ever a Bishop yea that Court generally appeared as a Synod of Divines where the Clerks were Clerks as generally in Orders The same was also true of the Lord Treasurer and Barons of the Exchequer Robert Eglesfield Chaplain to Queen Philippa Wife to King Edward the third founded a Colledge on his own ground in Oxford by the name of Queens Colledge and diverse Queens have been nursing Mothers to this Foundation as Queen Philippa Wife to King Edward the third Queen Elizabeth Wife to King Edward the fourth Queen Mary Wife to King Charles and our Virgin Queen Elizabeth In the mean time the Pope bestirred him in England while the King was busied about his Wars in France so that before Livings were actually void he pre-provided Incumbents for them But at last the King looking into it this Statute of Provision was made whereby such forestalling of Livings to Forreigners was forbidden Another cause of the King's displeasure with the Pope was that when the Pope created twelve Cardinals at the request of the King of France he denied to make one at the desire of the King of England The Papal party
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 â—ishop 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 John Ball Stowes Chro. in Rich. 2. who counselled them to destroy all the Nobility and Clergy so that there should be no Bishop in England but one Archbishop which should be himself and that there should nor be above two Religious persons in one house and their possessions should be divided among the Lay-men for the which Doctrine they held him as a Prophet But he was executed at St. Albans William Wickham about this time finished his beautiful Colledge in Oxford called new Colledge which giveth the Armes of Wickham viz. two Cheverons betwixt three Roses each Cheveron alluding to two beams fastned together called couples in building to speak his skill in Architecture There is maintained therein a Warden seventy Fellows and Scholars ten Chaplains three Clerks one Organist sixteen Choristers besides Officers and Servants of the Foundation with other Students being in all one hundred thirty five Within few years after the same Bishop finished the Colledge at Winchester wherein he established one Warden ten Fellows two Schoolmasters and seventy Scholars with Officers and Servants which are all maintained at his charge out of which School he ordained should be chosen the best Scholars always to supply the vacant places of the Fellows of this Colledge Anno 1391. There was a Synod in England which because many were vexed for causes which could not be known at Rome ordained That the authority of the Pope of Rome should stretch no farther than to the Ocean Sea and that who so Appealed to Rome besides Excommunication should be punished with loss of all their goods and with perpetual imprisonment Then came the Parliament wherein was Enacted the Statute called the Statute of Praemunire The Statute of Praemunire which gave such a blow to the Church of Rome that it never recovered it self in this Land The Statute of Mortmain put the Pope into a sweat but this put him into a Fever That concerned him onely in the Abbies his darlings this touched him in his person About this time died that faithful Learned and aged Servant of God John de Trevisa born at Crocadon in Cornwal a Secular Priest and Vicar of Berkley painful in Translating the Old and New Testament into English with other great Books The History of William Swinderby Priest in the Diocess of Lincoln whereunto he was forced by the Friars the Process of John Tresnant Bishop of Hereford into whose Diocess he removed had against him in the cause of Heretical pravity as the Papists call it the Articles that were exhibited against him with his protestation and answer to the same The Process against William Swinderby with his answer and declaration to certain Conclusions the Bishop's sentence against him and his Appeal from the Bishop to the King with the causes thereof together with Swinderby's letter to the Parliament may be read at large in Mr. Fox his Acts and Monuments of the Church Then were there Articles exhibited against Walter Brute of the Diocess of Hereford a Lay-man and Learned touching the cause of Heresie as they called it unto the Bishop of Hereford his examination and answer is also largely described by Mr. Fox Fox in Ric. 2. Then were there two Bulls sent out by Pope Boniface the ninth one against the Lollards another to King Richard the second Queen Anne Wife to King Richard at the same time had the Gospels in English with four Doctors upon the same King Richard wrote a notable Letter to the Pope wherein he sheweth That the election of the Pope was not as before comparing the Popes to the Souldiers that crucified Christ That Secular Princes are to bridle the outrages of the Pope and seemeth to Prophecy of the desolation of the Roman Pope King Richard was not long after deposed and barbarously murdered at Pomfret-castle In the time of the conspiracy against King Richard among all the Bishops onely Thomas Merks Bishop of Carlisle was for him For when the Lords in Parliament nor coâ—â—â—nt to depose King Richard were devising more mischief against him up steps the foresaid Bishop and thus expresseth himself There is no man here worthy to pass his sentence on so great a King as to whom they have obeyed as their lawful Prince full two and twenty years This is the part of Traitors Cut-throats and Thieves None is so wicked none so vile who though he be charged with a manifest crime we should think to condemn before we heard him And you do ye think it equal to pass sentence on a King anointed and Crowned giving him no leave to defend himself How unjust is this But let us consider the matter it self I say nay openly affirm that Henry Duke of Lancaster whom you are pleased to call your King hath most unjustly spoiled Richard as well his Sovereign as ours of his Kingdom More would he have spoken but the Lord Marshal enjoyned him silence and the other Bishops said he discovered having been a Monk more Covent-devotion than Court-discretion in dissenting from his Brethren yet at that time no punishment was imposed upon him But the next year 1400. when some discontented Lord 's arose against King Henry the fourth this Bishop was taken prisoner and judicially arraigned for high Treason for which he was condemned and sent to St. Albans The Pope gave unto him another Bishoprick in Samos a Greek Island But before his translation he died CENT XV. KIng Henry Trassel in vit Henrici IV. the fourth held a Parliament at Westminster during which Thomas Arundel Archbishop of Canterbury had convocated a Synod which was held in St. Paul s Church to whom the King sent the Earls of Northumberland and Westmorland who declared to the Clergy That they were from the King to acquaint them that the King resolved to confirm all their Priviledges unto them and to joyn with them as they should desire him in the punishment of all Hereticks and opposites to their Religion received for which so doing he craved but their supplications to God for him and his posterity and prosperity of the Kingdom which was by all there present religiously promised In the second year of his Reign King Henry ordained That if any person should obtain from the Bishop of Rome any provision to be exempt from obedience Regular or Ordinary or to have any Office perpetual in
any House of Religion he should incur the pains of Praemunire He also gave authority unto Bishops and their Ordinaries to imprison and fine all Subjects who refuse the Oath ex Officio The Statute made pro Haeretico comburendo In the same Parliament it was ordained That all Lollards that is those who professed the doctrine which Wickliff had taught should be apprehended and if they should remain obstinate they should be delivered to the Bishop of the Diocess and by him unto the secular Magistrate to be burnt This Act was the first in this Island for burning in case of Religion and began to be put in execution Anno 1401. The first on whom his cruel Law was hanselled was William Sautre formerly Parish-priest of St. Margaret in the Town of Lyn but since of St. Osith in the City of London It seemeth he had formerly abjured those Articles for which he suffered death before the Bishop of Norwich Therefore he was first adjudged to be degraded and deposed which was in order as followeth From the Order of 1. Priest 2. Deacon 3. Subdeacon 4. Acolyte 5. Exorcist 6. Reader 7. Sexton by taking from him 1. The Patin Chalice and plucking the Chasule from his Back 2. The New Testament and the Stole 3. The Alb and the Maniple 4. The Candlestick Taper Vrceolum 5. The Book of Constitutions 6. The Book of Church-Legends 7. The Key of the Church-door and Surplice How many steps are required to climb up to the top of Popish Priesthood how many trinkets must be had to compleat a Priest and here we behold them solemnly taken asunder in Sautres degradation And now he no longer Priest but plain Lay-man with the Tonsure on his crown rased away was delivered to the Secular Power with this complement worth the noting Beseeching the Secular Court that they would receive favourably the said William unto them thus recommitted But see their hypocrisie The Popish Bishops at the same time for all their fair language called upon the King to bring him to speedy execution Hereupon the King in Parliament issued out his Warrant to the Mayor and Sheriff of London that the said William being in their custody should be brought forth into some publick place within the liberty of the City and there really to be burnt to the great horrour of his offence and manifest example of other Christians which was done accordingly After this Richard Scroop Archbishop of York with the Lord Moubray Marshall of England gathered together a great company against King Henry in the North Countrey to whom was adjoyned the ayd of the Lord Bardolf and Henry Piercy Earl of Northumberland They drew up ten Articles against the said King and fastened them upon the doors of Churches and Monasteries to be read of all men in English The Earl of Northumberland and the Lord Bardolf were slain in the field fighting against the Kings part Anno 1408. But the Archbishop of York and the Lord Moubray were taken and beheaded Anno 1409. Thomas Badby a Tailor was by Thomas Arundel Archbishop of Canterbury condemned for the Testimony of the truth He was brought into Smithfield and there being put into an empty barrel was bound with Iron bars fast to a stake and dry wood put to him and so burned Some Professors of the Gospel at that time did shrink back as John Purvey who wrote many Books in defence of Wickliff's Doctrine and among others a Commentary upon the Apocalypse wherein he declareth the Pope of Rome to be that great Antichrist He recanted at Paul's Cross John Edwards Priest revoked at the Green-yard at Norwich Richard Herbert and Emmot Willy of London and John Beck also at London John Seynons of Lincoln-shire revoked at Canterbury Then was William Thorp examined before the Archbishop of Canterbury who rehearsed his belief before the Archbishop afterwards he was committed to close Prison where he was so straitly kept that either he was secretly made away or else there he died by sickness John Ashton also another follower of Wickliff who for the same Doctrine of the Sacrament held by Thorp was committed to close Prison after he was condemned where he continued till his death Philip Rippington was made Bishop of Lincoln who of a Professor became a cruel Persecutor of the Gospel Synods of the Clergy were very frequent in this King's Reign but most of these were but Ecclesiastical meetings for secular Money Sir John Tiptoff made afterwards Earl of Worcester put up a Petition to the Parliament touching Lollards which so wrought on the Lords that they joyned in a Petition to the King that they and every of them be taken and put in Prison without being delivered in Bail or otherwise except by good and sufficient mainprise to be taken before the Chancellor of England c. The Popish Clergy had gained Prince Henry set as a Transcendent by himself in the Petition to their Side entring his youth against the poor Wickliffists and this earnest engaged him to the greater Antipathy against them when possessed of the Crown A Petition was put up in the Parliament That the King might enjoy half of the profits of any Parson's Benefice not resident thereon whereunto the King answered That Ordinaries should do their duties therein or else he would provide further remedy or stay their pluralities The ninth year of the King's Reign the Commons desired of the King That none presented be received by any Ordinary to have any Benefice of any Incumbent for any cause of privation or inhabitation whereof the Process is not founded upon Citation made within the Realm and also that such Incumbents may remain in all their Benefices untill it be proved by due Inquest in the Court of the King that the Citations whereupon such privations and inhabitations are granted were made within the Realm and if such Ordinaries do or have presented or others do present to the contrary that then they and their Procurators c. incur the pain contained in the Statute made against Provisoe's Anno 13. Ric. 2. Also that no Pope's Collector should from thence-forth levy any Money within the Realm for first Fruits of any Ecclesiastical dignity under pain of incurring the Statute of Provisoe's The Commons in the same Parliament put up a Bill to the King to take the Temporalties out of the Hands of the Spiritualty which amounted to three hundred and two and twenty thousand Marks by the year Then came the Cardinal of Burges into England being sent from the Colledge of Cardinals to inform the King and Clergy of the unconstant dealing of Pope Gregory Anno 1409. 〈◊〉 Chro. 〈◊〉 4. After the Feast of the Epiphany the Archbishop of Canterbury Convocated an Assembly of the Clergy at London to chuse meet persons to go to the General Council holden at Pisa whereunto were chosen Robert Holam Bishop of Salisbury Henry Chisely Bishop of St. Davids and Thomas Chillindon Prior of Christ-Church in Canterbury and the King had
sent before Sir John Colvil Knight and Nicholas Rixton Clerk with letters to be given to them A letter also was sent unto the Pope wherein the King chargeth him with Perjury At Pisa there assembled a great number of Cardinals Archbishops Bishops and Mitred Prelates who elected a new Pope viz. Alexander the fifth a man trained up at Oxford rejectiâ—â— the two 〈◊〉 Schismatical Popes Gregory and Benedict Thomas Arundel Archbishop of Canterbury came with a Pompous train to Oxford His intent was Juridically to visit the University expecting to be solemnly met and sumptuously entertained according to his place and dignity But Richard Courtney the Chancellor of Oxford with Benedict Brent and John Birch the two Proctors denied the Archbishop entrance into the 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 Lambâ—th 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 Fuller Church Hist of Brit. King Henry the fourth is not observed as all English Kings before 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 Rotul in Turri Lond. all Irish 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 Camd. Brit. in Kent who 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 iâ—â—â—aâ—s of Armes who sent into the Diocesses of London Rochesâ—â— 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 Transubsâ—anâ—iation the Popish â—â—crament 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 doers 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 Joh. Caepgrave lib. 2. de nobi lib. Henricis with Richard Clifford Bishop of London Henry Bullinbrook 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 certain parts of him were covered and after certain dayes a Trumpetter of the King 's called Thomas Cliffe galeave of the King to take him down and bury him The next Month after the Execution of these Men died Thomas Arundel Archbishop of Canterbury famished to Death not for want of Food but of a Throat to swallow it such the swelling therein that he could neither speak nor eat for some days After him succeeded Henry Chichely Godwin's Catal of Bish whose mean birth interrupted the chain of Noble Archbishops his two Predecessors and Successors being Earls Sons by Extraction Although many Laws had been made against the Pope's usurped Authority in bestowing Ecclesiastical preferments by way of Provision yet durst not this man consent unto his election made by the Covent of Canterbury but committed the matter unto the Pope's determination who first pronounced the election of the Monks void and then bestowed the Archbishoprick upon him The same year the King began the Foundation of two Monasteries one of the Friars observants on the one side of Thames and the other on the other side of the same River called Shene and Sion dedicated unto the Charter-house Monks with certain Nuns of St. Briget to the number of sixty dwelling within the same precinct so that the whole number of these with Priests Monks Deacons and Nuns should equal the number of thirteen Apostles and seventy two Disciples These were to eat no Flesh to touch no Money to wear no Linnen The King held a Parliament at Leicester in which the Commons put up their Bill again which was put up Anno 11. Henry the fourth that the Temporalties wasted so disorderly by the Clergy might be converted to the use of the King and of his Earls and Knights c. In fear of which Bill the Clergy put him upon a long War with the French offering to him in behalf of the Clergy great and notable sums by reason whereof the Bill was put off again The Archbishop Henry Chichley condemned John Claydon's Books and condemned him and shortly after he was burnt in Smithfield with Richard Turning Baker Anno 1415. The next year the said Archbishop in his Convocation holden at London made sharper Constitutions than were before against the Lollards There two Priests noted for Hereticks were brought before the Bishops the one John Barton the other Robert Chappel Barton was committed to Philip Bishop of Lincoln to be kept in prison till otherwise it were determined Chappel submitted himself and with much ado received pardon and was in stead of penance enjoyned certain Articles to publish at Paul's Cross Then divers persons were forced to abjure as John Tailer of the Parish of St. Maries at Quern William James Physitian who had long lain in prison John Gourdley of Lincoln-shire a learned man John Duerser Katherine Dertford the Parson of Higley in Lincoln-shire named Mr. Robert William Henry of Tenterden John Gaul a Priest of London Richard Monk Vicar of Chesham in Lincoln-shire with divers others During the time of the Provincial Convocation Pope Martin had sent to the Clergy of England for a Subsidy to maintain the Pope's Wars against the Lollards of Bohemia Another Subsidy was demanded to persecute William Clerk Master of Arts in Oxford who sailing out of England was at the Council of Basil disputing on the Bohemians side A third Subsidy was also required to persecute William Russel Warden of the Grey-Friers in London who was fled having escaped out of prison Ralph Mungin Priest refusing to abjure was condemned to perpetual prison The recantation of Thomas Granter and Richard Monk Priests was read openly at Paul s Cross after which Granter was put to seven years imprisonment under the custody of the Bishop of London Edmond Frith recanted who was Butler to Sir John Oldcastle Besides these many other Wicklivites were sore vexed in Kent in the Towns of Romney Tenterden Woodchurch Cranbrook Staplehurst Bennenden and Rolvenden where Men and their Wives and whole Families were driven to forsake their Houses and Towns for fear of persecution Among whom were William White and Thomas Greensted Priests Bartholomew Chronemonger Joan Waddon Joan his Wife Thomas Evernden Stephen Robins William Chineling John Tame John Eacolin William Somer Marian his Wife John Abraham Robert Munden Laurence Cook which persons because they appeared not were excommunicated by the Archbishop The Lord Cobham having lived four years in Wales and being at last discovered was taken by the Lord Powis yet so that it cost some blows and blood to apprehend him till a Woman at last with a stool broke the Lord Cobham's legs whereby being lame he was brought up to London in an Horse-litter At last he was drawn upon an Hurdle to the Gallows and there was hanged and burnt In the ninth year of King Henry the Fifth he suppressed the French Houses of Religious Monks and Friars and such like in England Stow's Chron in Hen. 8. because they spake ill of the King's Conquest over France Their Lands were given by him and King Henry the Sixth to Monasteries and Colledges of learned men King Henry died in France and was brought over and buried at Westminster This King ordained the King of Heraulds over the English which is called Garter In this King's Reign Richard Fleming Bishop of Lincoln founded a Colledge named Lincoln-colledge in Oxford King Henry the sixth an Infant of eight months old succeeded his Father in the Kingdom of England Anno 1422. In the eighth year of his Age he was crowned at Westminster and in the tenth year crowned King at Paris Cardinal Henry Bishop of Winchester being present at them both The Clergy had then a strong party in the Privy Council viz. 1. Henry Chicheley Archbishop of Canterbury 2. John Kemp Bishop of London 3. Henry Beauford Bishop of Winchester lately made Cardinal 4. John Wackaring Bishop of Norwich Privy-seal 5. Philip Morgan Bishop of Worcester 6. Nicholas Bubwith Bishop of Bath and Wells Lord Treasurer In the first year of this King's Reign was burned a faithful Witness of God's Truth William Tailor a Priest under Henry Chichcley Archbishop of Canterbury March 1. Anno 1423. In the year 1424. John Florence a Turner appeared before Will.
Bernam Chancellor to the Bishop of Norwich being accused for holding and teaching divers Heresies But being threatened he submitted himself and abjured and for his penance he was whipped three Sundayes in a solemn procession in the Cathedral Church of Norwich before all the people The like also was done about his Parish-church of Shelton three other several Sundayes he being bare-headed bare-footed and bare-necked after the manner of a publick Penitentiary his body being covered with a canvass shirt and breeches carrying in his hand a Taper of a pound weight In the same year John Goddesel of Dichingham Parchment maker abjured and was set at liberty till the year 1428. Richard Belward of Erisam sware that he would neither teach nor assist any against the Church of Rome and was dismissed The like happened to Hugh Pie Chaplain of Ludney In the year 1428. King Henry the Sixth sent down Letters of Commission to John Exeter and Ja olet Germain keeper of the Castle of Colchester for the apprehending of William White Priest and others suspected of Heresie John Exeter attached six persons in the Town of Bungay in the Diocess of Norwich and three of them were committed to the Castle of Fremingham belonging to the Duke of Norfolk namely John Waddon of Tenterden in Kent Bartholomew Monk of Ersham and William Skutt In the Towns of Bâ—ckles Ersham and Ludney a great number both of Men and Women were cast into prison and after their abjuration brought to open shame in Churches and Markets by the Bishop of Norwich and his Chancellor William Bernham John Exeter being Register so that within the space of three or four years about one hundred and twenty Men and Women were examined and suffered great vexation for the profession of Christian Faith Some taken upon suspition only more easily escaped as Robert Skirring of Harlstone William Skirring and some others Some were burned among whom special mention is made of these three Father Abraham of Colchester William White and John Waddon Priests The residue abjured and suffered penance as John Beverley J. Wardon John Capper Vicar of Tunstal with more than threescore others They had their Doctrine from William White who was a Scholar and follower of John Wickliff Anno 1428. Such was the Spleen of the Council of Sienna as they not only cursed the memory of John Wickliff as dying an obstinate Heretick but ordered that his bones should be taken out of the ground and thrown far off from any Christian burial In obedience hereunto Richard Fleming Bishop of Lincoln Diocesan of Lutterworth sent his Officers to ungrave him accordingly who took his bones out of the grave and burnt them to ashes and cast them into Swift a neighbouring Brook running hard by Anno 1430. R. Hovedon a Wool-winder and Citizen of London was burnt at the Tower-hill for the Doctrine of Wickliff The year following Thomas Bagley a Priest Vicar of Monenden besides Malden was condemned of Heresie at London about the midst of Lent degraded and burned in Smithfield At St. Andrews in Scotland Anno 1431. Paul Craw was burnt for denying that the substance of the Bread and Wine are changed in the Eucharist Petries Church History or that Confession is necessary to be made unto Priests or Prayers unto Saints departed At his condemnation they put a Bull of Brass in his mouth to the end he should not speak unto the people nor tell for what he was burnt Henry Beauford Bishop of Winchester Cardinal Sancti Eusebii Ex Archivâ—â— Turris Lond. was by consent of Parliament made one of the King's Council with this condition that he should make a protestation to absent himself from the Council when any matters were to be treated betwixt the King and Pope The Cardinal took the Protestation and promised to perform it The Clergy complained to the King in Parliament that their Servants which came with them to Convocations were often arrested and they prayed that they might have the same Priviledge which the Peers and Commons of the Kingdom have which are called to Parliament which was granted accordingly Great at this time was the want of Grammar-schools and the abuse of them that were even in London it self it being paenal for any to prevent the growth of Wicklivism to put their Children to private Teachers Hence it was that some hundreds were compelled to go to the same School where to use the words of the Records The Masters waxen rich in money and Learners poor in cunning Whereupon this grievance was complained of by four eminent Ministers in London viz. Mr. William Lichfield Parson of Alhallowes the Great Mr. Gilbert Parson of St. Andrew's Holborn Mr. John Cote Parson of St. Peter's Cornhil Mr. John Neele Master of the House of St. Thomas Acre 's and Parson of Colchirch To these it was granted by the advice of the Ordinary or Archbishop of Canterbury to erect five Schools Neele having a double License for two places in their respective Parishes Know that the House of St. Thomas Acre 's was where Mercers Chappel standeth at this day Then was the Lady Eleanor Cobham so called from the Lord Cobham her Father otherwise Eleanor Plantagenet by her Husband Humfry Duke of Glocester and Roger Only Priest her Chaplain condemned the Dutchess after solemn penance and carrying a Taper barefoot at Paul's Cross to perpetual banishment for plotting with Only say Hall and Fabian in their Chronicles an abominable Necromancer with three others by Witchcraft to destroy the King so to derive the Crown to her Husband who was next Heir in the line of Lancaster And Roger Only was burned But the main cause of their condemnation was for the profession of the Truth although Treason was pretended against them Polydor Virgil makes no mention thereof otherwise quick-lighted enough in matters of this nature At this time William Heiworth sate Bishop of Coventry and Dichfield being translated thither from being Abbot of St. Albans Fuller's Chur. History of Britain At this time William Lynwood finished his industrious and useful Work of his Constitutions He was bred in Cambridge first Scholar of Gonvil then Fellow of Pembrook-hall His younger years he spent in the Law afterwards he became Keeper of the Privy-seal unto King Henry the Fifth who employed him in an Embassie into Spain and Portugal which he exactly performed After the King's death he re-assumed his Official's place of Canterbury and then at spare hours collected and digested the Constitutions of the fourteen latter Archbishops of Canterbury from Stephen Langton unto Henry Chichley unto whom he dedicated the Work a worthy Work highly esteemed by forreign Lawyers his Comment thereon is a Magazine of the Canon Law It was printed at Paris Anno 1505. but at the cost and charges of William Bretton an honest Merchant of London revised by the care of Wolfangus Hippolius and prefaced unto by Iodocus Badius This Linwood was afterwards made Bishop of St. Davids Anno 1434. began the active Council
of Basil to which our Ambassadors were to represent both their Sovereign and the English Nation where they were received with honour and respect This was a troublesome Council and continued seventeen years In this Council it was concluded as before at Constance that the General Councils were above the Pope Fourteen Ambassadors were sent from the King unto Basil One Earl not that he was to vote in the Council but only behold the transactions thereof viz. Edmond Earl of Morton Five Bishops viz. Robert Bishop of London Philip Bishop of Lisieux John Bishop of Rochester John Bishop of Baieux and Bernard Bishop of Aix Two Abbots Nicholas Abbot of Glaston William Abbot of St. Maries in York One Prior William Prior of Norwich Two Knights Henry Broumfleet and John Colvil Mr. Thomas Brown Doctor of Laws Dean of Sarum Peter Fitz-Maurice D. D. and Mr. Nicholas David Archdeacon of Constance and Licentiate in both Laws John Bishop of Rochester here mentioned was John Langdon intruded by the Pope into that Bishoprick to the prejudice of the Archbishop of Canterbury But he was indeed a Learned man and died this year in his Ambassy at Basil This Council deposed Pope Eugenius and substituted in his room Amideus the most devout Duke of Savoy who was called Felix the Fifth and was crowned in the City of Basil Anno 1437. Henry Chichley Archbishop of Canterbury founded a Colledge in Oxford by the name of All-souls for a Warden and forty Fellows which number by Statute was never to be augmented or impaired and all void places by death or otherwise once in a year to be supplied Six years did he survive the first founding of this Colledge He founded another Colledge in Oxford called Barnard-colledge suppressed by King Henry the Eighth and renewed by Sir Thomas White who named it St. Iohn's-colledge one of the fairest of the University This Archbishop bestowed much money in repairing the Library at Canterbury Goodwin's Catal. of Bishops and then replenished the same with a number of goodly Books He gave unto his Church many rich Ornaments and Jewels of great price and built a great part of the Tower called Oxford-tower in the said Church He founded a goodly Colledge and an Hospital at Higham-ferries where he was born for eight secular Priests Fellows four Clerks and six Choristers it was so endowed as at the suppression of the same it was valued at 156 pounds per annum The Hospital was for poor people likewise liberally endowed Iohn Stafford Son unto the Earl of Stafford succeeded in the place of Henry Chichley deceased Pope Eugenius the Fourth translated him from Bath and Wells About the year 1446. King Henry the Sixth founded Eaton Colledge incorporate by the name of Praepositi Collegii Regaliis Col. Beatae Maria de Eaton juxta Winsor This Colledge consisteth of one Provost Fellows a School-master and Usher besides many Oppidanes maintained there at the cost of their Friends This Eaton is a Nursery to King's-colledge in Cambridge Humfry Duke of Glocester the King's Uncle at a packt Parliament at Bury was condemned of High-treason and found dead in his Bed not without rank suspition of cruel practices upon his person He gave to the Library in Oxford many pretious voluminous Manuscripts He was buried in St. Albans to which Church he was a great Benefactor The same month with the Duke of Glocester died Henry Beaufort Bishop of Winchester and Cardinal He was a man of such Wealth that at once he lent King Henry the Fifth twenty thousand pounds who pawned his Crown to him He built the fair Hospital of St. Cross near Winchester The Clergy moved in vain against the recalling of the Statute of Praemunire About the year 1453. began the broyls to break out out between the two Houses of Lancaster and York so mutually heightened that scarce a County betwixt York and London but a set Battel hath been fought therein besides other Counties in the Marches of Wales besides many other Skirmishes Corrivals with Battels so that such who consider the blood lost therein would admire England had any left And such as observe how much it had left would wonder it had any lost In the midst of these Civil wars William Sirnamed Patin from his Parents but Wainfleet from the place of his Nativity now Bishop of Winchester founded the fair Colledge dedicated to Mary Magdalen in Oxford for one President forty Fellows thirty Demies four Chaplains eight Clerks and sixteen Choristers This William Wainfleet first founded Magdalen-hall hard by and afterwards undertook and finished this most stately piece of Architecture There is scarce a Bishoprick in England to which this Colledge hath not afforded one Prelate at the least doubling her files in some places At this day besides those forementioned there are one Schoolmaster and an Usher three Readers viz. of Divinity Natural and Moral Philosophy besides divers Officers and Servants of the foundation with other Students being in all two hundred and twenty Iohn Kemp Archbishop of Canterbury built the Divinity-School in Oxford and Paul's Cross King Henry being conquered in a fatal Battel at Touton in Nottinghamshire fled with his Queen into Scotland and to make himself the more welcome resigned Berwick to the King thereof Edward Duke of York reigned in his stead This King's Reign affordeth very little Church-story This good was done by the Civil Wars it diverted the Popish Prelates from troubling the Lollards Thomas Bourchier Son unto Henry Bourchier Earl of Essex Archbishop of Canterbury kept a Synod of his Clergy at London The Parliament sitting at the same time bestowed many priviledges on the Clergy In the time of this Archbishop Raynold Peacock Bishop of Chichester was afflicted by the Popish Prelates for his Faith and profession of the Gospel after he had laboured many years in translating the Holy Scriptures into English Sir Rich. Baker's Chron. He was accused and convicted for holding and publishing certain Opinions at that time held Heretical which at last openly at Paul's Cross he revoked but was notwithstanding deprived of his Bishoprick only a certain Pension was assigned him to live on in an Abby where soon after he died Fox Acts and Monuments Luke 8.3 About the year 1465. there was here in England one Thomas Holden a Carmelite Friar who preached in Michaelmas Term at Paul's Cross in London That our Lord Iesus Christ was in poverty and did beg in the world A manifest untruth For great is the difference betwixt begging and taking what the bounty of others doth freely confer as our Saviour did from such who did minister unto him of their substance This Sermon caused a great stir The principal Champions on both sides whose Pens publickly appeared were For Mendicants 1. Henry Parker a Carmelite bred in Cambridge living afterward in Doncaster-Covent imprisoned for preaching 2. Iohn Milverton bred in Oxford Carmelite of Bristol being excommunicated by the Bishop of London and appealing to the Pope found no favour but
great Companies Now King Richard made good Laws in that sole Parliament kept in his time He began to found a Colledge of an hundred Priests which foundation with the founder shortly had end He built a Monastery at Middleham in the North and a Colledge at Alhallows Barking hard by the Tower and endowed Queens-Colledge in Cambridge with five hundred marks of yearly revenue Soon after the Duke of Buckingham requireth the Earldom of Hereford and the Hereditary Constableship of England laying title to them by discent The King rejected the Duke's request with many spiteful and minatory words Buckingham storms thereat and withdraws to Brecknock in Wales with his Prisoner John Morton Bishop of Ely committed to him by the King on some distast who tampered with him about the marriage of Henry Earl of Richmond with the eldest daughter of King Edward IV. But the Duke was surprized by King Richard and beheaded before this marriage was compleated More cunning was Bishop Morton to get himself over into France there to contrive the union of the two Houses of York and Lancaster In the year 1485. Henry Earl of Richmond landeth with small Force at Milford-Haven From Milford he marcheth North-East through the bowels of Wales and both his Army and the fame thereof encreased by marching Into Leicester-shire he came and in the navel thereof is met by King Richard The next day the Armies joyned in battel The scales of Victory seemed for a long time so equal that none could discern on which side the beam did break At length the coming in of the Lord Stanley with three thousand fresh men decided the controversie on the Earl's side King Richard fighting valiantly in the midst of his enemies was slain and his Corps were disgracefully carried to Leicester without a rag to cover his nakedness The Crown ornamental being found on his head was removed to the Earl's and he Crowned in the field and Te Deum was solemnly sung by the whole Army The body of King Richard lay for a spectacle of hate and scorn by the space of two days bare and uninterred At last without solemn funeral pomp scarce with ordinary solemnity by the charity of the Gray-friers he was inhumed in their Monastery there King Henry Lord Verul Histor of Henr. VII VII coming to London the Mayor and Companies received him at Shoredâ—tch whence with great Honourable attendance and Troops of Noblemen and persons of quality he entred the City himself not being on horseback or in any open Chair or Throne but in a close Chariot as one that chose rather to keep State and strike a reverence into the people than to fawn upon them He went first into S. Paul's Church where he made offertory of his Standards and had Orizon and Te Deum again sung and went to his lodging prepared in the Bishops palace Thomas Bourchier Cardinal and Archbishop of Canterbury Crowned the King on the last of October At which day for the better security of his person the King did institute a band of fifty Archers under a Captain to attend him by the Name of Yeomen of his Guard The Archbishop also Married King Henry to the Lady Elizabeth eldest daughter to King Edward the fourth And then having sate in a short Synod at London wherein the Clergy presented their new King with a tenth died having sate in his See two and thirty years He gave to the University of Cambridge an hundred and twenty pounds which was joyned with another hundred pound which Mr. Billingforth Master of Bennet-Colledge had some years before given to the said University John Morton born at S. Andrews Milbourn in Dorset-shire succeeded him in the See at Canterbury He was formerly Bishop of Ely and appointed by King Edward IV. one of the Executors of his will and on that account hated of King Richard the third the Executioner thereof He was as aforesaid imprisoned because he would not betray his trust fled into France and returned and was justly advanced by King Henry first to be Chancellor of England and then to be Archbishop of Canterbury He was also created Cardinal of S. Anastasius Now began the Pope to be very busie by his Officers to collect vast summs of money in England presuming at the King's connivance thereat whom he had lately gratified with a needless dispensation to legitimate his marriage with the Lady Elizabeth his Cousin so far off that it would half pose a Herauld to recover their kindred The Pope in favour of the King and indeed of equity it self ordered concerning Sanctuaries 1. That if any Sanctuary man did by might or otherwise Lord Verul in Henry VII get out of Sanctuary privily and commit mischief and trespass and then come in again he should lose the benefit of Sanctuary for ever after 2. That howsoever the Person of the Sanctuary-man was protected from his Creditors yet should not his goods out of Sanctuary 3. That if any took Sanctuary for cause of treason the King might appoint him keepers to look to him in Sanctuary The King Confined the Queen Dowager his wives mother to a Religious house in Bermondsey because three years since she had surrendered her two daughters out of the Sanctuary at Westminster to King Richard A Synod was holden by Archbishop Morton at London Antiq. Brit. pag. 298. wherein the Luxury of the London Clergy in Cloathes with their frequenting of Taverns was forbidden Such Preachers also were punished who inveighed against Bishops in their absence John Giglis an Italian about this time employed by the Pope got an infinite mass of money having power from the Pope to absolve people from all crimes whatsoever saving smiting of the Clergy and conspiring against the Pope This Giglis gat for himself the rich Bishoprick of Worcester Yea in that See four Italians followed each other 1. John Giglis 2. Silvester Giglis 3. Julius Medices afterwards Pope Clement VII 4. Hieronymus de Negutiis The Pope gave power to Archbishop Morton to visit all places formerly exempt from Archiepiscopal jurisdiction and to dispence his pardons where he saw just cause Hereupon Rochester-bridge being broken down the Archbishop bestowed Remission from Purgatory for all sins whatsoever committed within the compass of fourty dayes to such as should bountifully contribute to the building thereof King Henry VII desired much that King Henry VI. Camd. Brit. in Surry might be Canonized But Pope Alexander III. delayed and in effect denyed the King's desire herein The reason given by Mr. Camden was the Pope's Covetousness who demanded more than thirsty King Henry would allow This King removed the Corps of Henry VI. from Chertsey in Surrey where it was obscurely interred to a place of greater note viz. Windsor Chappel But the Saintship of Anselm Archbishop of Canterbury was procured by Archbishop Morton on cheaper terms King Henry was submissive to Pope for his own ends never servile The deserving Clergy he employed in State affairs more than his Nobility To the
money which was sent last thither came soon enough to be received there This payment was the last in this kind which Rome did generally receive out of England Meantime the King did share with the Pope to connive at the rest he had a part allowed to him Sir Rich. Baker's Chron. King Henry VII died of a Consumption at his palace of Richmond April 22. 1508. Of our own Country there lived in his time George Ripley a Carmelite Friar of Boston who wrote divers Treatises in the Mathematiques John Rouse born in Warwick-shire a diligent searcher of Antiquities Thomas Scroop entred into diverse Orders of Religion and after withdrew himself to his house where for twenty years he lived the life of an Anchoret and after coming abroad again was made a Bishop in Ireland and went to Rhodes in Ambassage from whence being returned he went barefooted up and down in Norfolk teaching the ten Commandments and lived till near an hundred years old Now also lived Robert Fabian a Sheriff of London and Historiographer Edmond Dudley who wrote a book Entitled Arbor Reipublicae John Bockingham an Excellent School-man And William Blackney D.D. a Carmelite Friar and a Necromancer Henry VIII succeeded his Father On June 3. He was Married to the Lady Katherine Dowager formerly wife to his brother Prince Arthur deceased Pope Julius by his dispensation removed all obstructions against the Laws of God or man hindering or opposing the said Match Cruelty still increased on the poor Lollards as they were called after abjuration forced to wear the fashion of a Faggot wrought in thread or painted on their sleeves as long as they lived it being death to put on their clothes without that cognizance Their case was sad if they put it off they must be burned if they put it on they must be starved for none generally would set them on work that wore that badge On this account were William Sweeting and James Brewster re-imprisoned In vain did Brewster plead that he was commanded to leave off his badge by the Controller of the Earl of Oxford's house And as little did Sweeting's plea prevail that the Parson of Mary Magdalen's in Colchester caused him to lay his faggot aside Soon after they were both burnt together in Smithfield Anno 1511. One John Brown who had born a faggot before in the days of King Henry the Seventh was burned at Ashford in Kent for the Profession of the Truth condemned by Archbishop Warham first having had his Feet burned to the Bones to compel him to deny the Truth Richard Hunn a wealthy Citizen of London imprisoned in Lollards Tower for adhering to Wickliff's Doctrine had his neck therein secretly broken To cover their cruelty they gave it out that he hanged himself on December 20. 1514. the dead Body of the said Richard Hunn was burnt in Smithfield Sixteen days after he was murdered But the matter having been fully examined by the Council and Judges and Justices of the Realm it was evidently proved that Dr. Horsey the Chancellor Charles Joseph the Sumner and John Spalding the Bel-ringer had committed the Murder Thomas Man and John Stileman were also burned in Smithfield Thomas Man confessed he had converted Seven hundred from Popery to the Truth Robert Cosin was also condemned and burned at Buckingham for holding against Pilgrimages Confession to Priests and Worshipping of Image Christopher Shoomaker was burned at Newbery upon the like account Cardinal Bainbrigg Archbishop of York being then at Rome was so highly offended with Rivaldus de Modena an Italian his Steward that he cudgelled him but being soon after poisoned his Body was buried in the English Hospital at Rome Fuller Church Hist Richard Fox Bishop of Winchester Founded and Endowed Corpus Christi-Colledge in Oxford bestowing thereon Lands to the yearly value of Four hundred and one pounds eight shillings and two pence There are maintained in it a President Twenty Fellows Twenty Scholars Two Chaplains Two Clerks and Two Choristers besides Officers and Servants of the Foundation with other Students Hugh Oldham Bishop of Exeter was a great Benefactor to this Colledge Petrits Chur. Hist Anno 1519. died John Colet at Shene in Surrey he had learned humane Sciences at home and travelled into France and Italy when he returned be studied the Scriptures and expounded St. Paul's Epistles publickly at Oxford Henry the Seventh promoted him to the Deanry of Pauls He professed to distast many things that he had heard in Sorbon He called the Scotists men without judgement and the Thomists arrogant He said He reaped more fruit by the Books which the Doctors of Sorbon called Heretical than by their Books that were full of divisions and definitions and were most approved of them He never married and yet regarded not Monks without Learning In his Sermons he said Images should not be Worshipped and Clerks should not be Covetous Two Friars viz. Bricot and Standish accused him for Heresie unto Richard Fitz-James Bishop of London and He unto the Archbishop first and then unto King Henry the Eighth But both the King and the Archbishop became his Patrons He was the eldest and sole surviving child of Sir Henry Collet Mercer twice Lord Mayor of London who with his ten Sons and as many Daughters Stow's Survay p. 265. were depicted in a Glass-window on the North-side of St. Anthonie's corruptly St. Antlin's to which Church he was a great Benefactor His Son John Founded the Free-school of St. Pauls in it are One hundred fifty and three Scholars whereof every year some appearing most pregnant have salaries allowed them for Seven years or untill they get better preferment in the University or in the Church William Lily was the first School-master thereof by Colet's own appointment An excellent Scholar born at Odiam in Hamp-shire and afterward he went on Pilgrimage to Jerusalem In his return through Italy he applyed himself to his Studies His Teachers and Instructers were John Sulpitius and Pomponius Sabinus two eminent Criticks Returning home into his native Countrey well accomplished with Latin Greek and all Arts and Sciences he set forth a Grammar which still goes under his Name and is generally taught over all England Anno 1517. Luther wrote against Popish Indulgences shewing the abuses of them King Henry the Eighth set forth a Book against Luther endeavouring the Confutation of his Opinions as novel and unsound To require his pains the Pope honoured him and his Successors with a specious Title Defender of the Faith Luther sharply answered that Book Cardinal Wolsey was now the Pope's Legat de latere by vertue whereof he visited all Churches and Religious houses even the Friars observants themselves notwithstanding their stoutness and stubbornness that first opposed him Papal and Royal power met in him being the Chancellor of the Land and keeping so many Bishopricks in Commendam his yearly income is said to equal if not exceed the Revenues of the Crown Being to found two Colledges he seized on
forty small Monasteries turning their Inhabitants out of House and home and converting their means principally to a Colledge in Oxford This alienation was confirmed by Pope Clement the Seventh so that in some sort the Pope may thank himself for the demolishing of Religious houses in England His Colledge in Oxford did thrice change it's name in seven years first called Cardinals Colledge then King's Colledge and at last Christ-church which it retaineth at this day King Henry took just offence that the Cardinal set his own Arms above the King 's on thy Gate-house at the entrance into the Colledge There have been maintained in this Colledge one Dean eight Canons three publick Professors of Divinity Hebrew and Greek sixty Students eight Chaplains eight Singing-men an Organist eight Choristers twenty four Almes-men at this present Students of all sorts with Officers and Servants of the Foundation to the number of two hundred twenty three John Higdon first Dean of this Colledge was a great Persecutor of Protestants viz. John Clark John Frith Henry Sumner Baley †John Fryer Goodman †Nicholas Harmar †Michael Drumme William Betts Such whose names are noted with a Cross did afterwards turn zealous Papists Lawney Richard Cox Richard Taverner All these were for their Religion imprisoned in a deep Cave under ground where the Salt-fish of the Colledge was kept Some of them died soon after with the stench thereof and others escaped with great difficulty Taverner was well-skilled in Musick on which account he escaped though vehemently accused the Cardinal pleading for him that he was but a Musitian though afterward he repented to have set Tunes to so many Popish ditties The example of Wolsey's haughtiness Martin's Chr. in Henry 8. made the English Clergy so proud and insolent that their labours formerly applyed to the studies of moral vertues and of Divinity were now employed to devise curious fashions in their behaviour in their apparrel and in their diet In the fifteenth sixteenth and seventeenth year of King Henries Reign this proud Cardinal under colour of the King 's partaking with the Emperor in his Wars against the French King of his own authority and wiâ—hout the King's commandement granted forth Commissions under the Great Seal of England into every Shire and Province of the Kingdome and directed them unto the chiefest men And therein every man was required to depose the true value of their Estates and then of every fifty pounds there was demanded four shillings in the pound And in London he made himself the chief Commissioner The like Commissions he granted forth against all the Clergy of the Land of whom he demanded four shillings in the pound of all their livings These things grieved the Clergy and Common People at the heart The Cardinal perceiving this recalled those Commissions and sent forth others which also being not endured the King by his Letters directed into every County commanded a present cessation of all executions of the said Commissions and protested they were granted forth without his knowledge or consent But if they would by way of a Benevolence of their own accord enlarge themselves towards him he would take it as an infallible proof of their love toward him The Cardinal now resolved to revenge himself on the Emperor Charles the Fifth for not doing him right and improving his power in preferring him to the Papacy according to his promises and intends to smite Charles through the sides of his Aunt Katharine Queen of England endeavouring to alienate the King's affections from her Wolsey now put this scruple into the head of Bishop Longlands the King's Confessor and he insinuated the same into the King's Conscience King Henry greedily resented the motion and principles of pure Conscience puts him upon endeavours of a divorce The business is brought into the Court of Rome there to be decided by Pope Clement the Seventh But the Pope at this time was a prisoner to the Emperor who constantly kept a guard about him Yet after some delay the Pope dispatched a Commission to two Cardinals Wolsey and Campegius an Italian to hear and determine the matter at London The Pope draws back the cause unto himself and the King being impatient having the consent of both Universities as also of that of Paris he forsaketh Katharine and Marrieth Anna Bolen Anno 1533. And in the year 1534. he denieth obedience to the Pope and chargeth all his Subjects that they send no Money unto Rome nor pay Peter-pence unto any of the Collectors which vexeth the Roman Court. Then he published an Edict whereby he declares himself under Christ The supreme Head of the Church of England and chargeth upon pain of Death that no man ascribe any Power to the Pope within England and commandeth all the Collectors of Peter-pence to be gone These things were confirmed by the Parliament who also enacted That the Archbishop of Canterbury should invest all the Bishops of England and that the Church-men shall pay to the King yearly one hundred and fifty thousand pounds for defence of the Kingdom Wolsey was accused in Parliament for exercising his power Legantine without leave to the prejudice of the King's Crown and dignity Mr. Cromwel Servant to the Cardinal being a Burgess defendeth his Master yet were all his goods of inestimable value confiscated to the King and he outed of most of his Ecclesiastical promotions His enemies get the King to command him away to York leaving him the whole revenues of York-Archbishoprick then worth little less than four thousand pounds yearly besides a large pension paid him out of the Bishoprick of Winchester As he was preparing there in a Princely Equipage for his Installation he is Arrested by the Earl of Northumberland by Commission from the King in his own Chamber at Cawood By slow and short Journeys he setteth forward toward London and coming to Leicester he died where he was obscurely buried Then John Fisher Bishop of Rochester was imprisoned for refusing the Oath of Supremacy The Clergy in the Province of York did a long time deny the King's Supremacy Edward Lee Archbishop of York fomented this difference He was a virulent Papist one that wrote against Erasmus and a persecutor of Protestants witness John Bale Convented before him for suspition of Heresie who in vain pleaded Scripture in his own defence till at last he casually made use of a distinction out of Scotus which the Archbishop more valued than all which he had before more pertinently alledged out the Old and New Testament The King wrote a fair and large Letter to the Convocation of York claiming nothing more than what Christian Princes in the Primitive times assumed to themselves in their own Dominions so that it seems he wrought so far on their affections that at last they consented thereunto Soon after the Clergy in the Convocation so submitted themselves to the King that each one severally promised in verbo Sacerdotis never henceforth to presume to Alledge Claim or put
in ure any new Canons unless the King 's most Royal assent might be had unto them and soon after the same was ratified by Act of Parliament After the Statute of Praemunire was made which did much restrain the Papal power and subject it to the Laws of the Land Archbishops called no more Convocations by their sole and absolute command but at the pleasure of the King as oft as his necessities and occasions with the distresses of the Church did require it Yea now their meetings were by vertue of a Writ or Precept from the King For it was Enacted in the Parliament of the twenty fifth of Henry the Eight L. Herbert's Hist of Hen. 8. That all Convocations shall be thenceforth called by the King 's Writ and that in them nothing shall be promulged or executed without his Highness Licence under pain of imprisonment of the Authors and Mulct at the King's will And that his Highness shall at his pleasure appoint thirty two men to survay the said Canons or Constitutions for the Confirmation or Abolition of the same And as concerning Appeals they shall be made from inferiour Courts to the Archbishop's and for lack of Justice there to the King's Majesty in his Court of Chancery Bishop Fisher was Arraigned of high Treason I will insert the Sting of the indictment out of the Original Diversis Domini Regis veris subditis false malitiose proditorie loquebatur propalabat viz. The King owre Sovereign Lord is not Supreme Hed yn erthe of the Cherche of England In dicti Domini Regis immund despect vilipendium manifest Of this he was found Guilty had Judgement and was remanded to the Tower The King by the advice and consent of the Clergy in Convocation and Great Council in Parliament resolved to reform the Church under his inspection from gross abuses crept into it Thomas Hitten a Preacher at Maidstone for the Testimony of the Truth after long Torments and sundry imprisonments by William Warham Bishop of Canterbury and John Fisher Bishop of Rochester was burned at Maidstone for the Testimony of the Truth Anno 1530. In the year 1531. Thomas Bilney of Cambridge Professor of both Laws converted Thomas Arthur and Mr. Hugh Latimer then Cross-bearer at Cambridge on procession days Afterwards Bilney recanted but for the space of two years after his abjuration Bilney lived in great anguish of mind and repenting Preached publickly the Doctrine which he before abjured He was afterwards taken condemned and burned without Bishops-gate in a low Valley called the Lollards pit under St. Leonard's Hill Going to Execution one of his friends wished him to stand sure and constant to whom he answered That whatsoever storms he passed in this venture yet shortly after my Ship saith he shall be in the Haven There came forth in print a Book called The Supplication of Beggars made by Simon Fish which Book the Lady Anna Bolen delivered to the King who gave him his protection Sir Thomas Moor wrote an Answer to that Book under the Title of Poor silly Souls pewling out of Purgatory to which John Frith made a pithy and effectual Reply Tindal's Translation of the New Testament came forth in English Richard Bayfield suffered for the truth and was burned in Smithfield He was sometime a Monk of Surrey and converted by Doctor Barnes After him John Tewksbury was burned in Smithfield Valentine Freese and his Wife gave their Lives at one Stake for the testimony of the Truth Afterwards the Bishops which had burned Tindal's Testaments were enjoyned by the King to cause a new Translation to be made but they did nothing at all And on the contrary the Bishop of London caused all the translations of Tindal and many other Books which he had bought to be burnt in Paul's Church-yard James Bainham a Gentleman of the Middle-Temple was put in a Prison in Sir Thomas Moore 's House and whipped at a Tree in his Garden called The tree of Truth and was by him afterward sent to the Tower to be racked by racking he was lamed because he would not accuse the Gentlemen of the Temple of his acquaintance nor shew where his Books lay He abjured had his liberty but he asked God and the world forgiveness before the Congregation in those dayes in a Ware-house in Bow-lane And immediately the next Sunday after he came to St. Austin's with the New Testament in his hand in English and the obedience of a Christian-man in his bosom and there with tears declared before the people that he had denied God and prayed the people to forgive and beware of his weakness He was shortly after apprehended Fox Acts and Monuments and committed to the Tower of London and after three appearances he was condemned and burnt in Smithfield About this time John Benet a Tailor was burnt at the Devizes in Wilt-shire for denying the Sacrament of the Altar In the year 1532. Robert King Nicholas Marsh and Robert Gardiner men of Dedham and one Robert Debnam had overthrown and burned the Rood of Dover-court ten miles from Dedham for which fact half a year after they were hanged in Chains King at Burchet in Dedham Debnam at Cattaway-causey Marsh at Dover-court Gardiner escaped and fled Many Images were cast down and destroyed in many places As the Crucifix by Coggeshal in the High-way St. Petronel in the Church of Great Horksleigh St. Christopher by Sudbury St. Petronel in a Chappel by Ipswich Also John Seward of Dedham overthrew a Cross in Stokepark and took two Images out of a Chappel in the same Park and cast them into the water John Frith who was first a Student in Cambridge and afteward one of those whom Cardinal Wolsey gathered together to furnish his new Colledge was condemned by the Bishop of London and was burnt in Smithfield Great was his learning gravity and constancy though but six and twenty years of age With Frith was Andrew Hewet burned after he had given testimony to the truth Thomas Benet a Schoolmaster of fifty years of age born in Cambridge was burned at Exeter Divers others were condemned to perpetual prison During the time of Queen Anne no great persecution nor abjuration was in the Church of England Sir Thomas Moore Doctor Nicholas Wilson and Bishop Fisher refused the Oath to the Act of Succession made Anno 1534. and Sir Thomas Moor and Doctor Wilson were also sent to the Tower The Doctor dissembled the matter and so escaped but the other two remained obstinate On November the third this Parliament was again assembled in which the Pope and Cardinals with his Pardons and Indulgences were wholly abolished to the abolition of which and to the ratifying of the King's Title of Supreme Head Stephen Gardiner gave his Oath so did John Stokesley Bishop of London Edward Lee Archbishop of York Cuthbert Bishop of Durham and all the rest of the Bishops in like sort to this Title also agreed the sentence of the University of Cambridge Edmond Bonner then
Archdeacon of Leicester was also of the same judgment To this also agreed the whole Clergy of the Church of England and subscribed with the hands of the Bishops and other learned Men to the number of forty six Doctors of Divinity and of both Laws Polydor Virgil who being sent into England had been the Pope's Collector General of the Peter-pence exacting them in the notion of a Rent and Tribute due to the Pope his Master was made Archdeacon of Taunton and Dignitary of the Cathedral Church of Wells on the Quire whereof he bestowed Hangings flourished with the Lawrel-tree and wrote upon them Sunt Polydori munera Virgilii He wrote a Latin History of Britain until the year of our Lord 1533. out of many rare Manuscripts which he had collected together Anno 1535. John Fisher Bishop of Rochester was beheaded soon after the Pope 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 Godwin â— Annals Anno 1536. indocto Laico 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 insinuation 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 Noâ—â—â— 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 Emperors 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 Sacramenâ—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 Great was the King's profit at this time from the Office for the receipt of Tenths and First-fruits The First-fruits Office first set up in London 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 and Auditors of Incumbents to view their Register-books Fuller Church history 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 Vide Statut. 1 Eliz. cap. 4. succeeding her was exact to have 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 Lord Herbert in vit Henr. 8. Evidences and Conveyances of their Lands to produce 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 Orders 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 Dignities 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 Camd. Erit accounts them six hundred forty five whereof these had voices among the Peers The Abbot of St. Albans declared the first Abbey of England St Peters in Westminster St. Bennet of Holm Berdsey Shrewsbury Crowland Abingdon Evesham Glocester Ramsey St. Maries in York Tewksbury Reading Battel Winchcomb Hide by Winchester Cirencester Waltham Malmesbury Thorney St. Augustine in Canterbury Selby Peterborough St John's in Colchester Coventry Tavestock Of Colledges were demolished in divers Shires ninety Of Chauntries and Fire-chappels two thousand three hundred seventy four and Hospitals one hundred and ten the yearly value of all which were one hundred sixty one thousand one hundred pounds being above a third part of all our spiritual Revenues besides the money made of the present stock of Cattle and Corn of the Timber Lead Bells c. and lastly but chiefly of the Plate and Ornaments which was not valued but may be conjectured by that one Monastery of St. Edmond's-bury whence was taken five thousand Marks of Gold and Silver besides Stones of great value But the King not only augmented the number of the Colledges and Professors in his Universities L. Herbert's Hist of Hen. 8. but erected out of the Revenues gotten hereby divers new Bishopricks whereof one at Westminster one at Oxford one at Peterborough one at Bristol one at Chester and one at Glocester all remaining at this day save that at Westminster which being revoked to its first Institution by Queen Mary and Benedictines placed in it was by Queen Elizabeth afterward converted to a Collegiate-church and a School for the teaching and maintenance of young Scholars Besides many of the ancient Cathedral-churches formerly possessed by Monks only were now supplied with Canons and some new ones erected and endowed the Revenues allotted by the King to those new Bishopricks and Cathedrals amounting to about eight thousand pounds per Annum Besides the King in demolishing the Abbies did not only prefer divers Learned men which he found there but took special care to preserve the choicest Books of their well-furnished Libraries wherein John Leland a curious searcher of Antiquities was employed Martin's Chronic. in Hen. 8. These Houses Sites Possessions were by the Parliament setled on the King who to prevent the future restoring of them back again to their former uses exchanged them liberally for other Lands with the Nobles and Gentry of his Realm many of whose Estates at this day do wholly consist of Possessions of that nature or else are greatly advanced by those Lands A Match being made up betwixt King Henry and the Lady Anne of Cleeve by the Lord Cromwel's contrivance many Dutch-men flocked into England whose heads were busied about points of Divinity whilst their hands were busied about their Manufactures Soon after they broached their strange Opinions being branded with the general name of Anabaptists This year 1539. their name first appears in our English Chronicles Stow's Chron. p. 576. for I read that four Anabaptists three Men and one Woman all Dutch bear Faggots at Paul's Cross and three dayes after a Man and Woman of their Sect were burnt in Smithfield The King liked not Anne of Cleeve who was a very vertuous Lady but in her countenance not well composed fair nor lovely Some feminine impotency was objected against her though only her precontract with the Son of the Duke of Lorrain was publickly insisted on for which by Act of Parliament now sitting she was solemnly divorced And the Bishops and Clergy of this Land in their solemn Convocation published an authentical Instrument in writing under the Seals of the two Archbishops That the King's Marriage with the said Lady Anne of Cleve was void and of none effect From thenc forth the King frowneth upon the Lord Cromwel Then the six Articles called by some The bloody Statute by others The Whip with six strings by the perswasion of Bishop Gardiner in defiance of Archbishop Cranmer and the Lord Cromwel opposing it was enacted being I. That in the Sacrament of the Altar after Consecration no substance of Bread or Wine remaineth but the natural Body and Blood of Christ II. That the Communion in both kinds is not necessary ad salutem by the Law of God to all persons III. That Priests after Orders received may not marry by the Law of God IV. That Vows of Castity ought to be observed V. That it is meet and necessary that private Masses be admitted and continued in Churches VI. That Auricular confession must be frequented by people as necessary to Salvation The Lord Cromwel was soon after arrested and ten dayes after his Arrest he was attainted of High-treason in Parliament and he with the Lord Hongerford the next week after was beheaded on Tower-hill After the execution of the Lord Cromwel the Parliament still sitting a motly Execution happened in Smithfield three Papists hanged by the Statute for denying the King's Supremacy viz. Edward Powel Thomas Abley Richard Fetherston And as many Protestants burned at the same time and place by vertue of the six Articles viz. Robert Barnes Doctor of Divinity Thomas Gerard Batchelors of Divinity William Jerom Batchelors of Divinity This was caused by the difference of Religions in the King 's Privy Council wherein the Popish party called for the execution of these Protestants whilst the Protestant Lords in the Council cried as fast that the Laws might take effect upon the Papists In the Parliament a Statute was made A Statute made for the recovery of Tithes 32 Hen. 8. c. 7. commanding every man Fully truly and effectually to divide set out yield or pay all and singular Tithes and Offerings according to the lawful customs and usages of the Parishes and places where such Tithes or Duties shall grow arise come or be due And remedy is given for Ecclesiastick persons before the Ordinary and for Lay-men that claimed appropriated Tithes by grant from the Crown in the secular Courts by such Actions as usually Lay-possessions had been subject to This Statute in favour of Lay impropriators was beneficial to the Clergy to recover their Predial Tithes at Common Law A Statute also was made That it was lawful for all persons to contract marriage who are not prohibited by the Law of God for after the time of Pope Gregory
other Popes did not only forbid the marriage of Cousin-Germans but other degrees farther off thereby to get money for Dispensations This Law came seasonably to comply with King Henry's occasions who had the first-fruits thereof and presently after married Katherine Howard Cousin-german to Anna Bolen his second Wife which by the Canon-law formerly was forbidden without a special Dispensation first obtained In the third Session of the Convocation at St. Paul's several Bishops were assigned to peruse several Books of the Translation of the new Testament Cranmer stickleth for the Universities approbation The Parliament Anno 1544. mitigated the six Articles for it was required that all Offenders should first be found guilty by a Jury of twelve men before they should suffer Anno 1545. began the last Parliament in this King's Reign wherein many things of consequence were enacted 1. Against Usury 2. For Tithes in London 3. For an exchange of Lands betwixt the King's Majesty and Thomas Cranmer Archbishop of Canterbury Robert Holgate Archbishop of York and Edmond Bonner Bishop of London which the King annexed to the Dutchy of Lancaster 4. An Act for union of Churches not exceeding the value of six pounds 5. That Doctors of the Civil Law might exercise Ecclesiastical jurisdiction At this time also by the King's command were the Stews suppressed The Favourers of the truth among the Noblemen were Fox Acts and Monuments the Earl of Suffolk Viscount Beauchamp Viscount Lisle Lord Russel Treasurer Lord Awdley Chancellor Lord Paget and Sadler and Thomas Cranmar Archbishop of Canterhury The Patrons of Popery were the Bishop of Winchester and Durham the Duke of Norfolk and Earl of Southampton Anthony Brown William Pawlet John Baker Richard Chancellor of the Augmentation Winckfield Vice-chancellor Four and twenty were Executed for Traitors in the time of King Henry for the cause of Supremacy Adam Damlip who before had escaped and lay hid in the West-countrey teaching a School about a year or two by the miserable Inquisition of the six Articles was again taken and brought up to London where he was by Stephen Gardiner commanded to the Marshal-sea and after two years space he was Condemned and Executed for Treason One Henry was burnt at Colchester and one Kerby at Ipswich for the Testimony of the Truth In the year 1546. in June Anne Ashcough aliàs Kyme Daughter of Sir William Ashcough of Kelsey in Lincoln-shire of the age of 25. years whose Wit Beauty Learning and Religion procured her much esteem on the Queens side of the Court and as much hatred from the Popish Bishops was burned for the profession of the Truth in Smithfield with three men Nicholas Belevian Priest of Shrop-shire John Lacels Gentleman of the houshold of King Henry the Eighth and John Adams a poor Tailor of London Her several examinations penned by her self are extant in Mr. Fox Then began the troubles of Queen Katherine Parr whom the King had married some two years since She was one of great piety beauty and discretion next to the Bible she studied the King's disposition observing him to her utmost yet sometimes she would presume to discourse with the King about points of Religion defending the Protestant Tenets by Scripture and sometimes would hold up the King very close hard at it This displeased him who loved looseness and liberty in his Clothes Arguments and Actions and was quickly observed by Gardiner and others the Queen's enemies Hereupon Gardiner drew up Articles against her and got them subscribed with the King 's own hand to send her to the Tower But Chancellor Wriothesley put the paper of those Articles in his own bosom which casually fell out was taken up by one of the Queen's Servants and brought to the Queen who on her sickness and submission to the King obtained his Pardon Signed and Sealed unto her with many kisses and embraces And her enemies that came to attach her were sent back with the Taunts and Threats of the enraged King against them King Henry made his Will and died a moneth after and was buried at Windsor After the Death of King Henry succeeded King Edward Sir John Hayward's Hist of K. Edw. 6. his Son being scarce ten years old full of as much Worth as the model of his Age could hold He attained not onely commendable Knowledge but speech in the Greek Spanish and Italian Languages having always great Judgment in measuring his Words by his Matter his Speech being alike both fluent and weighty such as best beseemed a Prince As for Natural Philosophy Logick Musick Astronomy and other Liberal Sciences his perfections were such that the great Italian Philosopher Cardan having tasted him by many Conferences seemed to be astonished between admiration and delight and divulged his abilities to be miraculous These his acquirements by industry were very much enriched and enlarged by many excellent Endowments of nature for in disposition he was mild gratious and pleasant of an heavenly wit in Body beautiful but especially in his Eyes which seemed to have a Starry liveliness and lustre in them Generally he seemed to be as Cardan reported of him A Miracle of Nature Because he was young he was committed to sixteen Governours the Lord Edward Seimour Duke of Sommerset his Unckle was assigned unto him Protector by whose endeavour the six bloody Articles forementioned were abolished This King restored the holy Scriptures in the English Tongue he abolished Masses and such as were banished were received home as John Hooper Miles Coverdale c. He changed most part of the Bishops of Diocesses and compelled dumb Priests to give place to those that would Preach he suppressed Idolatry restored the Gospel and worship of God encouraged Godly Preachers sent for Eminent Men both for Learning and Piety from beyond the Seas to Teach in both Universities viz. Peter Martyr in Oxford and Martin Bucer and Paulus Fagius in Cambridge and was a Refuge to all the Godly that fled for Religion out of other Countries and therefore is called by Melchior Adam Melch. Adam in vit Germ. Theolog. Summae spei Princeps qui omnibus piis doctis Polanis Germanis Gallis Scotis Italis Hispanis hospitium patrocinium dederat A Prince of singular hope who gave protection and entertainment to all Godly and Learned Men Polonians Germans French Scots Italians Spaniards In consideration whereof an eminent Martyr in Queen Maries days in an effectionate Speech of His before a Popish Persecutor cried out Blessed be God for King Edward This King was much enclined to Clemency especially in matters of Blood and most especially if it were for Religion insomuch that albeit he was greatly affected to that Religion wherein he had been brought up yet none were executed in his time for other Religion but onely two blasphemous Hereticks Joan Butcher and George a Dutch-man And when Joan Butcher was to be burned all the Council could not procure him to set his hand to the Warrant wherefore they employed Thomas Cranmer
Archbishop of Canterbury to deal privately with him for his subscription But the King remained firm in resolution affirming That he would not drive her headlong to the Devil The Archbishop was violent both by perswasions and entreaties and when with meer importunity he had prevaled the King in subscribing his name said That he would lay all the charge thereof upon the Archbishop before God Then the Professors of the Gospel were in all places relieved and many Prisoners appointed to die were enlarged and preserved Onely Thomas Dobby Fellow of St. John's in Cambridge committed to the Counter in Bred-street and condemned for speaking against the Masse died of a natural death in Prison his speedy death prevented the pardon which the Lord Protector intended to send him The Lord Protector ordered all in Church and State The King in his protection took speedy order for Reformation of Religion and having chosen Wise and Learned Men to be his Commissioners in that behalf divided them into several Diocesses to be visited appointing likewise unto every company one or two Godly Learned Preachers to instruct the people at every Session in the true Doctrine of the Gospel To those Commissioners were delivered thirty six Injunctions and Ecclesiastical Laws which they should enquire of and also command in his Majesties name and behalf all tending to the abolishing of Popish superstition and establishing the Truth of the Gospel Besides which general Injunctions for the estate of the whole Realm there were also certain others particularly appointed for the Bishops onely whereby they were enjoyned to see the other put in Execution besides others which did more particulary confirm them These Injunctions may be seen at large in the first Edition of the Acts and Monuments fol. 684. Fuller Church History p. 372 373. and you may read them in a smoother Abstract in Fuller's Church History Some Homiles were left with the Parish-Priests which the Archbishop had composed not onely for the help of unpreaching Ministers Dr. P. Helyns History of K. Edw. 6. but for the regulating and instructing even of the Learned Preachers Besides the points contained in the said Injunctions the Preachers above mentioned were more particulary instructed to perswade the people from Praying to the Saints from making Prayer for the Dead from Adoring of Images from the use of Beads Ashes and Processions from Mass Diriges Praying in unknown Languages and from other such like things whereunto long custom had brought a Religious observation All which was done to this intent That the people in all places 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 While these Commissioners were occupied abroad the King desirng a Reformation appointed a Parliament Novemb. 4. in the first year of his Reign Anno 1547. wherein all Acts made before against the Professors of the Truth were Abrogated In the same Parliament also it was Decreed That the Sacrament should be ministred to all under both kinds Then also were Candles on Candlemas-day forbidden and Ashes on Ash-wednesday according to the Popish custom About the saâ— e time also all Images were taken away in most places of the Kingdom The first who declared his aversness to the King's proceedings was Dr. Stephen Gardiner Bishop of Winchester who stomaching his being left out of the list of the Council appeared more Cross to all their doings than others of his Order for which being brought before their Lordships they sent him Prisoner to the Fleet. Albeit Edmond Bonner Bishop of London at first seemed to comply yet at length he bewraied himself by suffring daily to be Sung the Apostles Mass and our Ladies Mass c. in diverse of his Chappels in Pauls cloaking them with the name of the Apostles and our Ladies Communions whereof the Council being informed caused him to reform the abuse Sir Anthony Cook and Sir John Goodsale Knights John Goodsal and Christopher Nevinson Doctors of the Laws and John Madew Doctor of Divinity the King's Commissioners called before them the said Edmond Bonner John Royston Polydor Virgil and many others of the Dignitaries of the said Cathedral to whom the Sermon being done and their Commission openly read they ministred the Oath of the King's Supremacy according to the Statute of thirty one of King Henry the eighth requiring them withal to present such things as needed to be reformed Which done they delivered to Bishop Bonner a Copy of the Injunctions forementioned together with the Homilies set forth by the King's authority received by him with protestation That he would observe them if they were not contrary to the Law of God and the Ordinances of the Church But afterwards he revoked his protestation and humbly submitted himself to his Majesties pleasure Yet for a Terror to others Bishop Bonner was committed to the Fleet. During the short time of his restraint viz. Septemb. 18. the Litany was Sung in the English Tongue in St. Paul's Church between the Quire and the High Altar the Singers kneeling half on the one side and half on the other And the same day the Epistle and Gospel was also read at the High Mass in the English Tongue And in November next following Bishop Bonner being then restored to his former liberty the Image of Christ then called the Rood and all other Images in that Church as also in all the other Churches of London were taken down And in speeding of this work as Bishop Bonner together with the Dean and Chapter did perform their part in the Cathedral of St. Paul so Bellassere Archdeacon of Colchester and Doctor Gilbert Bourn being at that time Archdeacon both of London and Essex were no less diligent in doing the like in all the Churches of their respective Jurisdictions according to the charge imposed upon them by his Majestie 's Visitors The first Translation of the Bible was set forth in the Reign of King Henry the Eighth Anno 1541. with a Grave and Pious preface of Archbishop Cranmer and Authorized by the King's Proclamation Dated May 6. Seconded also with Instructions from the King It was called the Bible of the greater Volume Few Countrey-parishes could go to the cost of them though Bishop Bonner caused six of them to be chained in the Church of St. Pauls in convenient places The second Translation of the Bible was set forth in the Reign of King Edward the Sixth and not onely suffered to be read by particular persons but ordered to be read over yearly in the Congregation as a principal part of Divine Service Two Editions there were thereof one set forth 1549. the other 1541. but neither of them divided into verses The third Translation of the Bible was set forth in the second year of Queen Elizabeth Extant in Sir Tho. Colton Library The last Translation was again reviewed by some of the most Learned Bishops appointed thereunto by the Queen's
Commission whence it took the name of the Bishops Bible and by the Queens sole commandment Reprinted Then diverse Proclamations were issued out in the King's name relating to Ecclesiastical matters in the four first years of his Reign among which there was a Proclamation inhibiting Preachers Anno secundo Edwardi sexti whereof this was the occasion Certain Popish Preachers disaffected to the King's Government in their Sermons declared That the King intended to lay strange exactions upon the people To prevent further mischief the King ordered by Proclamation That none should Preach except Licensed under the Seals of the Lord Protector or Archbishop of Canterbury At this time many Popish Pulpits founded the Alarum to Kets Rebellion and the Devon-shire Commotion There was also a Proclamation for the payment of the late Incumbents of Colledges and Chanteries lately dissolved Anno 3. Edwardi sexti A Proclamation also for the Inhibition of Players Aug. 6. The Parliament not long before passed an Act for Election of Bishops and what Seals and styles should be used by Spiritual persons in which it was Ordained That Bishops should be made by the King's Letters Patents and not by the election of the Deans and Chapters That all their Processes and Writings should be made in the King's name onely with the Bishops Teste added to it and sealed with no other Seal but the King 's or such as should be authorized and appointed by him The Intent of the Contrivers of this Act saith Dr. Heylin Hâ—ylin Hist Edw. 6. was to weaken the authority of the Episcopal Order by forcing them from their strong-hold of Divine Institution and making them no other than the King's Ministers onely And of this Act such use was made that the Bishops of those times were not in a capacity of conferring Orders but as they were thereunto impowered by special License The Tenour whereof was if Sanders may be believed in these words following viz. The King to such a Bishop Greeting Where as all and all manner of Jurisdiction as well Ecclesiastical as Civil flows from the King as from the Supreme Head of all the Body c. We therefore give and grant to Thee full Power and License to continue during our good pleasure for holding Ordination within thy Diocess of N. and for promoting fit persons unto holy Orders even to that of the Priesthood Queen Mary caused this Act to be repealed in the first year of her Reign leaving the Bishops to depend on their former Claim and to Act all things which belonged to their Jurisdiction in their own Names and under their own Seals as in former times In which estate they have continued without any legal interruption from that time to this Doctor Nicholas Ridley was promoted to the See of Rochester to which he had been nominated by King Henry the Eighth a man of great Learning and well-studied in the Fathers and an excellent Preacher Doctor Barlow was preferred to the Bishoprick of Bath and Wells The Commissioners authorized to take away Images out of Churches were in many places entertained with contempt and railing and the farther they went from London the worse they were handled one of them called Body as he was pulling down Images in Cornwal was stabbed in the body by a Priest Many there were that then cried down all the observations of Days and Times and particularly of keeping Lent complaint whereof being made by Bishop Gardiner in a Letter to the Lord Protector a Proclamation was sent out commanding all people to abstain from Flesh in the time of Lent and the King 's Lenten dyet was set out and served as in former times Hugh Latimer having by the power of Cromwel and his favour with the King been made Bishop of Worcester Anno 1535. continued in that See till on the first of July 1539. he chose rather to resign the same than to have any hand in passing the six Articles then agitated in the Convocation and confirmed by Parliament full eight years he betook himself to the retiredness of a private life On New-years day he Preached his first Sermon at Pauls Cross the first I mean after his re-admission to his former Ministry and two Lords-days after again in the same place and on January 25. such multitudes flocked to hear his Sermon that being to Preach before the King the first Friday in Lent a pulpit was placed in the King 's privy Garden where he might be heard of four times as many Auditors as could have thronged into the Chappel Which as it was the first Sermon that was Preached in that place so afterward a fixed and standing Pulpit was erected for the like occasions especially for Lent-sermons on the Sundays in the Afternoon and hath so continued ever since till these latter times At the return of the King's Commissioners dispatched throughout the Realm to take a Survay of all Colledges Free-chappels Chanteries and Brotherhoods in the first place as lying nearest came in the free Chappel of St. Stephen originally founded in the Palace at Westminster and reckoned for the Chappel Royal of the Court of England The whole Foundation consisted of thirty eight persons viz. one Dean twelve Canons thirteen Vicars four Clerks six Choristers besides a Verger and one that had the charge of the Chappel This Chappel hath been since fitted and employed for an house of Commons in all times of Parliament At the same time also fell the Colledge commonly called St. Martins le Grand near Aldersgate in London the King gave the same with the Liberties and precincts thereof to the Church of Westminster These two St. Stephen's and St. Martin's were the richest of all the rest Then the Lord Protector being unfurnished of a Palace proportionable to his Greatness doubted not to find room enough upon the dissolution of the Bishoprick of Westminster lately erected to raise a Palace equal to his vast designs Which coming to the ears of Benson the last Abbot and first Dean of Westminster he was willing to preserve the whole by parting for the present with more than half of the estate belonging to it And thereupon a Lease is made of seventeen Mannors and good Farmes lying almost altogether in the County of Glocester for the Term of ninety nine years which was presented to the Lord Thomas Seymor to serve as an addition to his Mannor of Sudley Another present of almost as many Mannors lying in the Counties of Glocester Worcester and Hereford was made for the like Term to Sir John Mason for the use of the Lord Protector which after the Duke's fall came to Sir John Bourn principal Secretary of Estate in the time of Queen Mary The Mannor of Islip was also put into the sâ—ale conferred upon that Church by King Edward the Confessor to which two hundred Tenants owed their soile and service and being one of the best wooded things in those parts of the Realm was to be granted also without impeachment of waste as it was
King would not be perswaded thereunto And when the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Bishop of London sent by the Lords to the King used divers Arguments to perswade him he declared a Resolution rather to venture life and all things else that were dear unto him than to give way to any thing which he knew to be against the Truth Then the King burst forth into a flood of tears and the Bishops on sight thereof wept as fast as He. The Bishops thereupon withdrew admiring at such great Abilities in so young a King and blessed God for giving them a Prince of such eminent piety Then the reviewing the Liturgy and the composing of a Book of Articles were brought under consideration This last for the avoiding diversities of Opinions and for the establishing consent touching true Religion the other for removing such offences as had been taken by 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 called 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 Articles were confirmed and published for such by the King's Authority Regiâ authoritate in lucem editi 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 Isles 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 observed in 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 sang the daily Service Then publick care was had for the founding and establishing of the new Hospital in the late dissolved House of Gray-Friers near Newgate in London and that of St. Thomas in the Borough of Southwark of which ye are to know that the Church belonging to the said House together with the Cloysters and almost all the publick building which stood within the liberties and precincts thereof had the good hap to escape that ruine which generally befell all other Houses of that nature And standing undemolished till the last times of King Henry it was given by him not many dayes before his death to the City of London together with the late dissolved Priory called Little St. Bartholomews In which Donation there was reference had to a double end The one for the relieving the poor out of the Rents of such Messuages and Tenements as in the Grants thereof are contained and specified The other for constituting a Parish-church in the Church of the said dissolved Grey-friers not only for the use of such as lived within the precincts of the said two Houses but for the Inhabitants of the Parish of St. Nicholas in the Shambles and of St. Edwin's situate in Warwick-lane near Newgate-market Which Churches with all the Rents and profits belonging to them were given to the City at the same time also and for advancing the same ends together with five hundred Marks per annum for ever The Church of the Gray-friers to be from thence-forth called Christ-church founded by King Henry the Eight All which was signified to the City in a Sermon Preached at Paul's Cross by the Bishop of Rochester on January 13. being but a fortnight before his death Mass was said in this Church by the Parishoners that resorted to it according to the King's donation After which in the first year of King Edward followed the taking down of the said two Churches and building several Tenements on the ground of the Churches and Church-yards the Rents thereof to be employed about the further maintenance and relief of the Poor Living and Loytering in and about the City But these things being not sufficient to carry on the work to the end desired it hapned that Bishop Rialey Preaching before King Edward insisted much upon some constant course for relief of the poor which Sermon wrought so far upon him that having sent for the Bishop he gave him great thanks for his good Exhortation whose advice was that Letters should be written to the Lord Mayor and Alderman By whom it was agreed that ageneral contribution should be made by all rich and well-affected Citizens toward the advancement of a work so necessary for the publick good Every man subscribed according to his ability and Books were drawn in every ward of the City containing the sum of that Relief which they had contributed Which being delivered to Sir Richard Dobbs Lord Mayor of London were by him tendred to the King's Commissioners February 17. The buildings in the Gray-friers were forthwith repaired The like reparation was also made of the ruinous buildings belonging to the late dissolved Priory of St. Thomas in Southwark which the Citizens had then newly bought of the King to serve for an Hospital for such Sick Wounded and Impotent persons as were not fit to be intermingled with the sound on November 23. the Sick and Maimed people were taken into the Hospital of St. Thomas and into Christ-church Hospital to the number of four hundred Children all of them to have Meat Drink Lodging and Clothes at the charge of the City till other means could be provided for their maintenance On April 10. this King gave for ever to the City his Palace of Bridewel erected by King Henry the Eighth to be employed for such Vagabonds and thriftless poor as should be sent thither to receive chastisement and be forced to labour He caused the Master and Brethren of the Hospital in the Savoy founded by King Henry the Seventh to resign the same into his hands with all the Lands and Goods thereunto belonging out of which he presently bestowed the yearly rent of seven hundred Marks with all the Beds Bedding and other Furniture found therein toward the maintenance of the said Work-house and the Hospital of St. Thomas in Southwark The Grant whereof he confirmed by his Letters Patents adding thereunto a Mortmain for enabling the City to purchase Lands to the value of four thousand Marks per annum for the better maintenance of those and the other Hospitals Thus he was entitled to the Foundation of Bridewel St. Bartholomews and St. Thomas without any charge to himself Nothing else memorable about this time but the coming of Cardan the death of Leland and the preferment of Doctor John Tailor to the See of Lincoln Then for raising Money a Commission was speeded into all parts of the Kingdom under pretence of selling such of the Lands and Goods of Chanteries as remained unsould but in plain truth saith Dr. Heylin to seize upon all Hangings Altar-clothes Fronts Parafronts Copes of all sorrs with all manner of Plate which was to be found in any Cathedral or Parochial Church Certain Instructions were likewise given to the Commissioners by which they were to regulate themselves in their proceedings This was done generally in all parts of the Realm into which the Commissioners began their Circuits in the moneth of April which general seizure being made they were to leave one Chalice with certain Table-clothes for the use of the Communion-table as the said Commissioners should think fit the Jewels Plate and ready Money to be delivered to the Master of the King's Jewels in the Tower of London the Copes of cloth of Gold and Tissue to be brought into the King's Wardrobe the rest to be turned into ready Money and that Money to be paid to Sir William Peckham the King's Cofferer for the defraying the charges of his Majesties houshold But some there were who were as much before hand with the Kings Commissioners in embezeling the Plate Jewels and other Furnitures as the Commissioners did intend to be with the King in keeping
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-currier 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 departed 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 declared to be Illegitimate 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 Heylin Hist of Q. Mary she retained the Title of Supreme Head on 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 without a name joyned himself to the other five in the disputation The Prolocutor would admit of no more though desired by Philpot that some of the Divines which had the passing of the Book of Articles in King Edward's time might be assembled with them in the defence thereof The main point in debate concernded the manner of Christ's presence in the Sacrament It was not denied by Philpot and his Brethren That Christ was present in the Sacrament rightly administred according to his Institution but onely that He was not present in the gross and carnal manner which They of the Popish party had before subscribed unto Six dys the disputation lasted but to little effect At length Weston put an end to the dispute saying It is not the Queen's pleasure that we should spend any longer time in these debates and yet are well enough already For you saith He have the Word and we have the Sword After the end of the Evensong on St. Katherine's day Bonner caused the Quire of St. Paul's to go about the Steeple singing with lights after the old custom And on St. Andrew's day next following he began the Procession in Latin himself with many Parsons and Curates and the whole Quire together with the Lord Mayor and divers of the Aldermen the Prebendaries of the Church attired in their old gray Amises as they used to call them in which manner they continued it for three days after on January 14. he restored the solemn Sunday's procession about the Church with the Mayor and Aldermen the Preacher taking his Benediction in the midst of the Church according to the antient custom likewise he sent out his Mandates to all Parsons and Curates within his Diocese for taking the names of all such as would not come the Lent following to Auricular Confession and receive at Easter he likewise enjoyned the blotting out of all such paintings and sentences of holy Scripture as had been pensiled on the Church-walls in King Edward's days Mr. Jewel continued some weeks in Broad-gates Hall whither his Scholars repaired unto him whom he instructed in Learning and Religion He had not long lived there Fuller Church History of Q. Mary but being perswaded by the Popish Inquisitors to subscribe he took a pen in his Hand and smiling said Have you a mind to see how well I can write and thereupon under-writ their Opinions The Papists trusted him not any whit the more for this his subscription His life being way-laid for with great difficulty he escaped into Germany But on a Sunday after his Forenoon-sermon by the advice of Dr. Edwin Sandys afterwards Archbishop of York Mr. Chambers and Mr. Sampson his bosom Friends in the Congregation of Franckfort he bitterly bewailed his fall and heartily requested pardon from God and his people whom thereby he he had offended On November 20. the Mayor of Coventry sent up to the Lords of the Council one Baldwin Cleark John Careless Thomas Wilcocks and Richard Estlin Careless and Wilcocks were committed to the Gate-house and Cleark and Estlin to the Marshalsey In the moneth of December the Parliament broke up in which there was a Communication of Marriage betwixt the Emperor's Son Philip and the Queen In th mean-while Cardinal Pool hasteneth toward England The Emperor invites him to come into Germany by his way and entertains him with great shew of Honour Petri. Church Hist Cent. 16. untill by his Ambassador he had finished a Contract of Marriage between his Son Philip and Queen Mary This match was generally distasted To hinder it Sir Thomas Wyat a Kentish Knight took Armes with a great party assisting him But albeit he wanted neither Wit Wealth Learning yet all were ill-employed about him Wyat demandeth the Person of the Queen the Tower of London to be committed unto him with power to displace evil Counsellors his demands were refused with scorn Queen Mary came to Guildhall and there made a long Oration which secured the affections of the Citizens unto her Wyat came up to London He was taken at Temple-bar carried thence be examined and thence to the Tower to be committed Some days after he suffered penitently and patiently on the Scaffold condemning his own Act. Of his complices were hanged fifty persons and four hundred more led through the City with halters about their necks to Westminster where they were all pardoned in the Tilt-yard by the Queen Doctor Crome for his Preaching without License on Christmas day was committed to the Fleet Thomas Wotton Esquire was for matters of Religion committed also to the Fleet. The Duke of Suffolk Father to the Lady Jane but lately pardoned of life in the midst of the Kentish tumult secretly departeth into Leicester and Warwick-shires instigating the people to withstand the Queen's Marriage agreed upon with Philip. Speeds Chron. in Q. Mary The Duke was betrayed by one Vnderwood his Servant in Ashley-park with his Brother John Lord Gray unto the Earl of Huntington whence they were by him convayed prisoners to the Tower of London This seemed to hasten the death of the Lady Jane and the Lord Guilford her Husband who were both beheaded February 12. 1554. he was beheaded on a Scaffold on Tower-hill and she upon the Green within the Tower Two days before her death Mr. Fecknam was sent unto her by the Queen to reduce her to the Popish Religion whom she constantly and with great power of God's Spirit resisted Eleven days after her death her Father the Duke of Suffolk was beheaded on Tower-hill And on April 23. his Brother the Lord Thomas Gray suffered death in the same place Now for putting the Affairs of the Church into a posture Articles are sent into every Diocese and Letters writ unto their several and respective Bishops on the third of March to see them carefully put in execution the substance whereof were 1. That the Ecclesiastical Laws of King Henry the Eighth should be put in practice being not directly against the Laws and Statutes of the Realm 2. That no Bishop do use the Clause in any of their Ecclesiastical writings Regia authoritate fulcitus 3. That
no Sacramentary be admitted to Benefice 4. That all Bishops do labour to suppress Heresies especially in the Clergy 5. That they should suppress all unlawfull Books and writings 6. The next Article was against Priests Marriages and that such as would depart from their Wives should be admitted to the same function 7. That for want of Priests one Priest should serve two places 8. That Processions be used 9. That Holy-days and Fasts be frequented 10. That the Ceremonies be used and Confirmation of Children be put in practice In the same moneth of March the Lord Courtney whom the Queen at her first entry delivered out of the Tower and the Lady Elizabeth also the Queen's Sister were both by the suggestion of Stephen Gardiner Bishop of Winchester suspected to have been of Wyat's Conspiracy and for the same were apprehended and sent to the Tower although Wyat at his death cleared them both as unacquainted with the matter Many trains were laid to ensnare the Lady Elizabeth And being on a time asked what she thought of the swords of Christ This is my Body whether she thought it is the true Body of Christ it is said that after some pausing she thus Answered Christ was the Word that spake it Sir Richard Bakers Chron. He took the Bread and brake it And what the Word did make it That I Believe and take it One Elizabeth Crofts about eighteen years old was by practice put into a Wall and therefore called The Spirit in the Wall who with a whistle made for that purpose whistled out many Seditious words against the Queen the Prince of Spain the Mass Confession c. for which she did Penance standing upon a Scaffold at Pauls Cross all the Sermon-time where she made open Confession of her fault Queen Mary altereth her stile leaving out the latter part of her Title which is Supreme Head of the Church of England and Ireland because in this Parliament holden at Westminster in April the Supremacy being given away from the Crown of England to the Pope thereupon this Parcel of the Title was also taken away Then followed a communication between Bishop Ridley and Secretary Bourn Mr. Fecknam and others at the Lieutenants Table in the Tower described at large by Mr. Fox touching the Sacrament On April 10. Archbishop Cranmer Bishop Ridley and Latimer were sent down to Oxford by the Lord Williams of Thame there to dispute with the Divines of both Universities about the presence substance and sacrifice of the Sacrament Of Oxford Dr. Weston prolocutor Dr. Tresham Dr. Cole Dr. Oglethorp Doctor Pie Doctor Harpsfield Mr. Fecknam Of Cambridge Dr. Young Vice-Chancellor Doctor Glyn Dr. Seaton Dr. Watson Dr. Sedgwick Dr. Atkinson The Questions whereon they should Dispute were these 1. Whether the natural body of Christ be really in the Sacrament after the words of Consecration be spoken by the Priest 2. Whither any substance do remain after the words saving the body and blood 3. Whither the mass be a sacrifice propitiatory The order and manner of the disputation against these three worthy Martyrs the disordered usage of the University men the rude tumult of the multitude the fierceness and interruption of the Doctors the full pith and ground of all their Arguments the Censure of the Judges the railing Language of the Prolocutor with his blast of triumph in the latter end is set forth fully by Mr. Fox The disputation being ended on April 20. they were again brought upon the stage and then demanded whether they would persist in their opinion or else recant And affirming that they would persist they were all Three adjudged Hereticks and condemned to the fire but their execution was respited to a longer time May 19. the Lady Elizabeth was brought out of the Tower and committed to the custody of the Lord of Thame who gently entreated her afterwards she was had to Woodstock and there committed to the keeping of Sir Henry Bennefield who dealt hardly with her Prince Philip arriveth at Southampton July 20. 1554. and on the twenty third came to Winchester where the Queen met him and on the twenty fifth day the marriage between them there was openly Solemnized At which time the Emperour's Ambassadour presented to the King a donation of the Kingdoms of Naples and Sicily which the Emperour his Father had resigned unto him Which presently was signified and the Titles of the King and Queen Proclaimed by sound of Trumpet in this following Style Philip and Mary by the Grace of God King and Queen of England France Naples Jerusalem Ireland Defenders of the Faith Princes of Spain and Sicily Archdukes of Austria Dukes of Milan Burgundy and Brabant Counts of Auspurg Flanders and Tirrol c. At the Proclaiming of which Style which was performed in French Latine and English the King and Queen shewed themselves hand in hand with two Swords born before them for the greater State or in regard of their distinct capacity in the Publick Government From Winchester they removed to Basing and so to Windsor where Philip on August the fifth was Installed Knight of the Garter On the eleventh of the same Moneth they made a Magnificent Passage through the Principal Streets of the City of London The King prevailed with the Queen for discharge of such Prisoners as stood committed in the Tower either for matter of Religion or on the account of Wyat's Rebellion or for engaging in the practice of the Duke of Northumberland which was done accordingly among which were the Arcbishop of York ten Knights and many other persons of name and quality He also procured the enlargement of the Lady Elizabeth and of the Earl of Devonshire who travelled through France into Italy and died at Padua Anno 1556. the eleventh and last Earl of Devonshire of that Noble Family of the Courtneys Marriage and Heresie were the crimes of Holgate Archbishop of York for which being deprived during his imprisonment in the Tower Dr. Nicholas Heath succeeded him in the See of York and leaves the Bishoprick of Worcester to Doctor Richard Pates who had been nominated by King Henry VIII Anno 1534. and having spent the intervening twenty years in the Court of Rome returned a true servant to the Pope Goodrick of Ely died April 10. leaving that Bishoprick to Dr. Thomas Thurlby Bishop of Norwich And Dr. John Hopton is made Bishop of Norwich Doctor Gilbert Bourn Heylin's Hist of Q. Mary Archdeacon of London is made Bishop of Wells Harley of Hereford is succeeded by Purefay of S. Asaph Old Bush of Bristol and Bird of Chester the two first Bishops of those Sees were deprived also The first succeeded to by Holiman once a Monk of Reading the last by Coles Master of Baliol Colledge in Oxford Dr. Randolph Bayn who had been Hebrew Reader in Paris in the time of King Francis was Consecrated Bishop of Coventry and Litchfield The Parliament began Novemb. 12. where a way was opened for Cardinal Poole's Reception by preparing a Bill
whereby he was to be discharged of the Attainder which had passed upon him Anno 1539. restored in Blood and rendred Capable of all those Rights and Priviledges of which he had stood possessed in this Kingdom This Bill was quickly passed into an Act and on Novemb. 24. the Cardinal came first to London Then it was concluded by both Houses of Parliament that a petition should be made in the name of the Kingdom wherein should be declared how sorry they were that they had withdrawn their obedience from the Apostolick See and consenting to the Statutes made against it promising to endeavour hereafter that the said Lawes and Statutes should be repealed beseeching the King and Queen to intercede with his Holiness for their Absolution Then the Cardinal having read his Authority given him from the Pope they all kneeled upon their knees and imploring the mercy of God received Absolution for themselves and the rest of the Kingdom Which Absolution was pronounced in these words Our Lord Jesus Christ which with his most pretious blood hath redeemed us from all our sins c. and whom the Father hath appointed Head over all his Church absolve you And we by Apostolick Authority given unto us by the most holy Lord Pope Julius the third His Vicegerent here on earth do absolve and deliver you and every of you with the whole Realm and the Dominions thereof from all heresie and schism and from every judgement censure and pain for that cause incurred And also we do restore you again unto the unity of Our Mother the Holy Church In the name of the Father the Son and the Holy Ghost Which words of His being seconded with a loud Amen by such as were present he concluded the dayes work with a solemn Procession to the Chappel for rendring thanks to God Then did the Cardinal dispence with much irregularity in several persons confirming the Institution of Clergy-men in their Benefices legitimating the Chiâ—dren of forbidden Marriages ratifying the processes and sentences in matters Ecclesiastical and his dispensations were confirmed by Acts of Parliament Then was Anthony Brown Viscount Montacute Thursby Bishop of Ely and Sir Edward Carn sent on a gratulatory Embassie to Pope Paul IV. to tender England's thanks for the favours conferr'd thereon The Convocation that then was held knew that the Cardinal was to be entreated not to insist upon the restoring of Church-lands rather to confirm the Lords and Gentry in their present possessions And to that end a Petition is presented to both their Majesties Heylin Hist of Q. Mary that they would be pleased to intercede with the Cardinal concerning it Which Petition was offered to the Legate in the name of the whole Convocation by the Lord Chancellor the Prolocutor and six others of the Lower House Concerning which the Legate was not ignorant that a Message had been sent to the Pope in the name of the Parliament to desire a confirmation of the Sale of all the Lands belonging to Abbies Chanteries c. or otherwise to let him know that nothing could be granted on his behalf And it is likely they received some fair promises to that effect in regard that on New-years day next following the Act for restoring the Pope's Supremacy was passed in both Houses of Parliament The whole matter being transacted to the content of all parties the poor Protestants excepted only on January 25. there was a solemn procession throughout London to praise God for their Conversion to the Catholick Church wherein were ninety Crosses an hundred and Sixty Priests and Clerks each of them attired in his Cope and after them eight Bishops in their Pontificalibus followed by Bonner carrying the Popish Pix under a Canopy and attended by the Lord Mayor and Companies in their several Liveries Which Procession being ended they all returned to S. Paul's Church where the King and Cardinal together with all the rest heard Mass and the next day the Parliament and Convocation were dissolved The English Ambassadours came to Rome on the first day of the Papacy of Pope Paul IV. and in the first consistory after his Inauguration they were brought before him who granted the pardon desired and lovingly embraced the Ambassadours and as an over plus the Pope conferred the Title of King 's of Ireland on their Majesties In his private discourses with the Ambassadours he said that the Church-goods ought to be wholly restored saying also that his Authority was not such as to profane things dedicated unto God He also told them that the Peter-pence ought to be paid as soon as might be and that according to the custom he would send a collector for that purpose He closed his discourse with this that they could not hope that S. Peter would open to them the Gates of Heaven as long as they usurped his goods on earth A rumour was spread of the Queen's being with Child and that she was quick and thereupon Letters were sent from the Lords of the Council to Bonner Bishop of London that prayers and thanksgivings should be made in all Churches The Parliament also while it was sitting passed an Act desiring the King that if the Queen should fail he would be pleased to take upon him the Education of the Child Set forms of prayer were also made for her safe delivery Great preparations were also made of all things necessary against the time of her delivery And upon a sudden rumour of her being delivered the Bells were rung and Bonfires made in most parts of London But it proved in fine that the Queen neither was with Childe for the present nor had any hopes of being so for the time to come A Gun was shot at one Doctor Pendleton as He Preached at Paul's Cross June 10. 1554 the pellet whereof went very neer him but the Gunner was not to be heard of Upon which the Queen published a Proclamation prohibiting the shooting with hand-guns and the bearing of weapons A little before this some had caused a Cat to be hanged upon the Gallows near the Cross in Cheapside with her head shorn the likeness of a vestment cast upon her and her two feet tyed together holding between them a piece of Paper in form of a Wafer tending to the disgrace of the Popish Religion Then were some Antient Statutes revived that were made in the time of King Richard the second Henry the fourth and Henry the fifth for the severe punishment of obstinate Hereticks even to death it self and an Act was passed for that purpose Hereupon followed that Inquisition for Blood which raged in London and more or less was exercised in most parts of the Kingdom Mr. John Rogers a Learned man and a great companion of that Tyndal by whom the Bible was translated into English in the time of King Henry after whose Martyrdom he retired to Wittenberg in the Dukedome of Saxony where he abode till King Edward's coming to the Crown and was by Bishop Ridley presented to the Lecture of
it would be to the King and Queen how gainful to himself in regard both of his foul and of his temporal being putting him in good hope that he should not only have his life but be restored again to his ancient Dignity c. if he would but subscribe his name to a piece of Paper which was made ready for his hand By these and the like alluring temptations he was prevailed upon to sign the Writing in which were briefly comprehended the chief points of Doctrine defended in the Church of Rome and by him formerly condemned both in publick and in private But all this could not save him from being made a Sacrifice to revenge and avarice The Queen had still a vindicative spirit against him for the injury which she conceived had been done to her Mother and the Cardinal who hitherto had enjoyed the profits of the See of Canterbury as an Usufructuary was altogether as solicitous for getting a right and title to them as sole proprietary No way to pacifie one and to satisfie the desires of the other but by bringing him when he least looked for it to the fatal Stake And thither they brought him and first he retracts his retraction and after punisheth that hand which had subscribed it by holding it forth into the flame and suffering it to be consumed before the rest of his body had felt the fire The residue of his body being burnt to ashes his heart was found entire and untouched in the midst of the cinders which possibly may serve as a witness for him that his heart stood fast unto the Truth though with his hand he had subscribed some Popish errors Cardinal Pool received Consecration to the See of Canterbury the very next Sunday after Cranmer's death No fewer than two hundred are reported to have been burnt by bloody Bonner the most eminent of all which number was Mr. John Philpot Archdeacon of Winchester who though of Gardiner's Diocess was condemned by Bonner Gardiner being well enough contented to find out the Game and leave it to be followed by that bloody Hunter Dr. John Christopherson Bishop of Chichester is recorded to have burnt ten in one fire at Lewis and seventeen others at several times in sundry places among which was Richard Woodman of Warbleton in Sussex that notable Martyr and four at Mayfield viz. John Hart Thomas Ravensdal a Shoomaker and a Collier Harpfield Archdeacon of London and Thornton the Suffragan of Dover are said to have poured out blood like water The same is said of Griffin of Rochester and Downing Chancellor of Norwich The same character is given of Bishop Bayn of Coventry and Litchfield who burned many faithful Ministers and others In all the Province of York I find none brought to the Stake but George Marsh of Chester condemned thereto by Bishop Coles Besides the burning of Bishop Farrar at Carmarthen by Bishop Morgan and of Rawlins and White at Cardiff by Bishop Kitching No great cruelty seems to have been acted in the four Welsh Diocesses In the Diocess of Exeter Wells Peterborough and Lincoln though this last the greatest in the Kingdom I find mention but of one a piece of two in that of Ely and of no more than three apiece in that of Bristol and Sarisbury for at Newbury were burnt that famous Julius Palmer with two others Doctor Tunstal Bishop of Durham was in Queen Maries time no great persecutor his Bishoprick had dayes of quiet under him When Mr. Russel a Preacher was brought before him and Doctor Himner his Chancellor would have had him examined more strictly the Bishop stayed him saying Hitherto we have had a good report among our Neighbours I pray you bring not this mans blood upon my Head The Bishop of Carlisle also was a man of a moderate temper The Pope had published a Bull in print Anno 1556. in which he threatened excommunication to all persons that kept any Church-lands unto themselves as also all Princes and Magistrates that did not put the same in execution Which though it did not edifie much in the Realm of England yet it found more obedience in that of Ireland in which a Parliament being called in June 1557. there passed an Act for repealing of Statutes Articles and Provisions made against the See of Rome since the twentieth year of King Henry the Eighth and for abolishing of several Ecclesiastical possessions conveyed to the Laity as also for the extinguishment of First-fruits and Twentieth parts no more than the yearly payment of the Twentieth part having been laid by Act of Parliament upon the Clergy of Ireland in the first and last clause whereof as they followed the example of the Realm of England so possibly they might have given a dangerous example to it in the other point if by the Queens death which followed shortly after King Philip and the Popes had not lost all their power and influence on the English Nation by means whereof there was no farther progress in the Restitution of the Abbey-lands no more re-edifying the old Religious houses and no intention for the founding any new Cardinal Poole having visited his own Diocess and given out divers printed Articles to shew his great care for the suppressing the growth of Heresie sent his Commissioners to Cambridge who interdicted the two Churches wherein Martin Bucer and Paulus Fagius had been interred and the Writ being taken out de comburendo Haeretico and being come down and sent to the Mayor of Cambridge on February 6. the two dead Bodies were taken out of their Graves and being laid in their Coffins on mens shoulders were carried to the Market-place with a guard of men well armed and weaponed chained unto several posts as if still alive the wood and fire put to them and their Bodies burned together with so many of their Books as could be gotten which were cast into the same flames also Queen Mary now engageth in her Husband's quarrel and King Philip having made up an Army of thirty five thousand Foot and twelve thousand Horse besides a thousand Horsemen four thousand Footment and two thousand Pioners sent out of England under the command of the Earl of Pembrook sate down before St. Quintin the chief Town of Piccardy On August the tenth the Battels joyn in which the French were vanquished and their Army routed the Constable of France the Prince of Mantua the Duke of Montpensier and Longueville with six others of the prime Nobility and many others of less note being taken prisoners The Duke of Anguien the Viscount Turin most of the Foot-Captains and the common Souldiers to the number of two thousand five hundred were slain upon the place King Philip stormed St. Quintin on the eighteenth day After which service the English finding some neglect from King Philip desired to be dismissed into their Country which was indulged unto them By whose dismission King Philip could do no action of importance in the rest of the War But the Queen shall pay dearly
for this Victory The English were then possessed of the Town of Calais with many other Forts thereabout as Guisness Hames Ardres c. together with the whole Territory a Town situate on the mouth of the English Chanel opposite to Dover and distant not above twenty five miles from it King Edward the Third after a Siege of more than eleven months became Master of it Anno 1347. by whom it was first made a Colony of the English Nation and after one of the Staple-Towns for the sale of Wooll kept with great care by his Successors who as long as they had it in their hand were said to carry the Keys of France at their Girdle a Town which for more than two hundred years had been in possession of the English The Queen had broke the peace with France and taken no care to fortifie this place in this time of War Then the Duke of Guise one of the best Souldiers of that Age now called back out of Italy being informed by the Governor of Bulloign that the Town was neither so well fortified nor so strongly garrisoned but that it might easily be taken on New-years-day sate down before it and on Twelfth-day had it surrendred up unto him by the Lord Deputy Wentworth who had the chief government of it Guisnesse Hames and all the other Forts in the County of Oye were reduced under the power of the French within few dayes after The Pope is displeased with Cardinal Pool by whose perswasion it was thought that the Queen had broke her League with France to take part with her Husband therefore he deprives Pool of the Legantine power confers the same upon Friar Peitow an English-man by birth and of good descent whom he designs also to the See of Sarisbury then void by the death of Capon Karn the Queens Agent with the Pope advertiseth her of these secret practices Pool layes by the Cross of his Legation and abstains from the exercise of his Bulls and Faculties Peitow the new Cardinal-Legat puts himself on the way to England when the Queen commandeth him at his peril not to adventure to set foot on English ground Peitow died in April following the rupture was made up again and Pool was confirmed in the possession of his former powers And thereupon followed the burning divers persons in the Diocess of Canterbury whereof two suffered at Ashford and six in his own Metropolitan City These Godly Martyrs in their prayers which they made before their Martyrdom desired God that their blood might be the last that should be shed and so it came to pass The number of prohibited Books increasing every day more and more a Proclamation was set forth on June the sixth to hinder the continual spreading of so great a mischief Which Proclamation though it were very smart yet not so full of rigour as another which came out at the burning of seven persons in Smithfield published both at Newgate where they were imprisoned and at the Stake where they were to suffer whereby it was straitly charged and commanded That no man should either pray for or speak to them or once say God help them Which Proclamation notwithstanding Bentham the Minister of one of the London Congregations seeing the fire set to them turning his eyes unto the people and cried We know they are the People of God and therefore we cannot chuse but wish well to them and say God strengthen them And so he said Almighty God for Christ's sake strengthen them With that all the people with one consent cried Amen Amen It was very admirable that the Protestants should have a Congregation under Bonner's nose yet so it was and in one of those Congregations whereof Bentham was Minister there assembled seldom under forty many times an hundred and more the Ministers whereof successively were Mr. Edward Scambler after Bishop of Peterborough Mr. Thomas Foule Mr. John Rough convented and condemned by Bonner and burnt for the Truth After whom followed Mr. Augustine Bernher a moderate and learned man and finally Mr. Thomas Bentham forementioned who continued in that charge till the death of Queen Mary and was by Queen Elizabeth preferred to the Sea of Lichfield Anno 1589. And notwithstanding all the care of the Queens Inquisitors many good Books of true Christian Consolation and good Doctrine did either find some Press in London or were sent over to their Brethren by such learned men as had retired themselves to their several Sanctuaries Then raged a contagious Fever in most parts of the Land and no former Plague was thought to have destroyed a greater number so that divers places were left void of Justices and men of worth to govern the Kingdom At which time died also so many Priests that a great number of Parish-Churches in divers places were unserved and no Curates could be gotten for money Much corn was also lost in the field for want of Workmen to get it in Physitians died as well as the Patients two of the Queens Doctors dying of it a little before the death of the Queen It spared the Prelat no more than the Priest insomuch that within less than the space of twelve months almost one half of the English Bishops had made void their Sees Now God put an end to those calamities of his Children by the death of Queen Mary who died of a Dropsie November the seventeenth 1558. Within few hours after her death died Cardinal Pool Archbishop of Canterbury He procured of the Queen the Patronage of nineteen Benefices unto his See promised and intended to repair the Palace at Canterbury He was buried in his own Cathedral with this short and modest Epitaph upon his plain Monument DEPOSITVM CARDINALIS POLI. The Parliament sate at Queen Maries death after which they only continued so long as joyntly and publickly to proclaim Elizabeth Queen and then they were dissolved Queen Maries body was enterred in the Chappel of King Henry the Seventh in the Isle on the North side thereof ELIZABETH the only Child then living of King Henry the Eighth succeeded her Sister in the Throne on November the seventeenth Anno 1558. She was proclaimed by the King at Arms first before Westminster-hall door in the presence of the Lords and Commons and not long after at the Cross in Cheapside and other places in the City in the presence of the Lord Mayor Aldermen and principal Citizens to the great joy of all peaceable and well-affected people The news whereof being brought unto her by some of the Lords she removes from Hatfield on the nineteenth of that month and with a great and royal Train sets forward to London At Highgate four miles from the City she was met by all the Bishops then living who presented themselves before her upon their knees In which address as she expressed no small contentment so she gave to each of them particularly her hand to kiss except only unto Bonner of London At her first coming to the City she took her
Crown but without any Act for the validity of her Mother's Marriage on which her Title most depended There passed an Act also for restoring the Tenths and first Fruits to the Crown first setled thereon in the time of King Henry the Eighth and afterwards given back by Queen Mary to the Pope They passed an Act also for the dissolution of all such Monasteries Convents and Religious Orders as had been Founded and established by Queen Mary By vertue of which Act Queen Elizabeth was repossessed of all those Lands which had been granted by her Sister to the Monks of Westminster and Shen the Knights Hospitallers the Nuns of Sion together with the Mansion houses re-edified for the Observants of Greenwich and the Black-friers in Smithfield In passing the Act of the Supremacy there was some trouble it seemed to be a thing even abhorrent in 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 fury 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 Cures which filled the Church with an Ignorant Clergy Dr. P. Heylins History of Queen Eliz. 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 that 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 Heylin's Hist of Q. Elizab. the reverent behaviour of 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 Mason's Consecration of Bishops in the Church of England lib. 3. cap. 4. Which being accordingly done the Vicar General the 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 Heylin Hist of Q. Elizab. The Doctrine of the Church reduced 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
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 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 surrendâ—ed 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 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 at London published soon after both in English and Latine with this following Title The 39. Articles compiled in Convocation 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 Ecclesiastical 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
wall in which a loose stone was put he should give in and receive forth Letters the which by Messengers purposely laid by the way came ever to Walsingham's hands who broke them open copied them out and by the cunning of Thomas Philips found out the meaning of the private Cyphers and by the Art of Arthur Gregory sealed them up again so neatly that no man could have imagined them to be opened and ever sent them to the parties to whom the superscription directed them In like manner were the former Letters from the Queen of Scots to Babington intercepted as also other Letters written at the same time to Mendoza the Spanish Ambassador Charles Paget the Lord Paget the Archbishop of Glasco and Francis Englefied Then Ballard was apprehended Babington seeks to escape and is taken The Queen of Scots hath her Closets broken open 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 Peterborough 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 Administation of his Government is left to the States Now Conformity was pressed to the height Fuller Church Hist in An. 1587. The power of the High 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 Legality 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 Camd Brit. in Kent About this time Mr. William Lambert finished his Hospital at Greenwich 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 founded 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 at 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 in sufficient 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
fitted to this new Edition of the Bible And as some perchance over-valued the Geneva Notes out of that special love they bear to the Authors and place whence it proceeded so on the other side some without cause did slight or rather uncharitably did slander the same for about this time Anno 1611. Fuller Church History Anno 1611. a Doctor in Oxford publickly in his Sermon at St. Maries accused them as guilty of misinterpretation touching the Divinity of Christ and his Messias-ship as if symbolizing with Arrians and Jews against them both for which he was afterwards suspended by Doctor Robert Abbot Propter conciones publicas minus orthodoxas offensionis plenas This year King James was careful for the seasonable suppression of the dangerous Doctrines of Conradus Vorstius This Doctor had lived about fifteen years a Minister at Steinford within the Territories of the Counts of TECLENBVRG BENTHAM c. the Counts whereof were the first in casting off the Romish yoke and ever since continuing Protestants This Vorstius had written to and received Letters from certain Samosatenian Hereticks in Poland and became infected therewith Hereupon he set forth two Books the one entitled IRACTATVS 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 Autumn 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 Resident 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 new 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 Edward 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-Hinton 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 Fronto 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-CATEGERPA 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 Eruditus 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 he died of the Stone and was much lamented by the University of Oxford About this time William Perry a Boy dweling at Bilson in Stafford-shire not full fifteen years of Age was practised on by some Jesuites repairing to the House of Mr. Gifford in that County to dissemble himself possessed But the Boy having gotten a habit of counterfeiting leading a lazy life thereby to his own ease and Parents profit would not be undeviled by all their Exorcismes so that the Priests raised up a Spirit which they could not allay At last by the Industry of Dr. Morton then Bishop of Coventry and Litchfield the jugling was laid open to the World by the Boys own confession and repentance All this King's Reign was scattered over with Cheaters in this kind Some Papists some Sectaries some neither Papists Sarah Williams Grace Sourbuts of Salmisbury in Lancashire Mary and Amy two Maids of Westminster Edward Hance a Popish Priest No Papists Richard Heydock Fellow of New Colledge in Oxford Preached in his dreams Latin Sermons against the Hierarchy He recanted and lived long after in Sarum practising Physick being also a good Poet Limner and Engraver Anne Guntâ—r a Maid of Windsor had strange exratick phrensies and gave out she was possessed of a Devil A Maid at Standon in Hertford-shire so personated a Demoniack that she deceived many The King having the last year in his progress into Scotland through Lancashire observed that by the strictness of some Magistrates and Ministers in several places people were hindered from their recreations on the Sunday the Papists being thereby perswaded that no recreation was tolerable in our Religion whereupon the Court being at Greenwich he set forth a Declaration for liberty on the Lord's day When this Declaration came abroad many were offended at it But no Minister was enjoyned to read the Book in his Parish wherewith they had so affrighted themselves Yet many conceived that the Declaration came forth seasonably to suppress the endeavour of such who now began to broach the dregs of Judaism whereof John Thrask was a principal who asserted That the Lord's day was to be observed with the same strictness by Christians as it was by Jews and that all meats drinks forbidden in the Levitical Law bound Christians to the same observance thereby opening the door to led in the rabble of all Ceremonies He seduced many souls with his Tenets and his own wife among many others For these he was censured in the Star-chamber but afterwards recanted his Opinions He afterwards relapsed not into the same but other Opinions Sclater Exposit in 1 Thes ch 1. v. 4. He asserted That one may know Another's Election or That one that is the child of God may infallibly know the Election and Regeneration of Another Dr. William Sclater saith That for his outragious behaviour he received publick stigmatical punishment At this time began the troubles in the Low Countries about matters of Religion heightned between two opposit parties Remonstrants and Contra-remonstrants Their controversies being chiefly reducible to five points Of Predestination and Reprobation of the latitude of Christ's death of the power of Man's free-will both before and after his conversion and of the Elect's perseverance in Grace To decide these difficulties The States of the Vnited Provinces resolved to call a National Synod at Dort desiring some forreign Princes to send them the aid of their Divines for so pious a Work Especially they requested our King of Great Britain to contribute his assistance thereunto who out of his Princely wisdom made choice of George Carleton D. D. then Bishop of Landaff and afterwards Bishop of Chichester Joseph Hall D. D. then Dean of Worcester and after Bishop of Exeter and Norwich John Davenant D. D. then Margaret-Professor and Master of Queens Colledge in Cambridge Samuel Ward D. D. then Master of Sidney Colledge in Cambridge and Archdeacon of Taunton These repairing to his Majesty at New-market received Instructions from him concerning their behaviour in the Synod on October 27. they came to the Hague where they kissed the hand of his Excellency Grave Maurice to whom the Bishop made a short speech and by whom they were all courteously entertained Hence they removed to Dort where November 3. the Synod began Every one at his first entrance taking an admission Oath These four Divines had allowed them by the week threescore and ten pounds weekly Intelligence was communicated to the King from his Divines On December to Walter Dalcanqual B. D. and Fellow of Pembrook-hall came into the Synod being added to the four English Colleagues in the name of the Church of Scotland Dr. Hall finding that Air not agreeing with his health on his humble request obtained his Majestie 's leaue to returne whereupon with a Latin speech gravely delivered he publickly took his solemn farewell of the Synod and returned into his own Countrey On January 7. Dr. Thomas Goad Chaplain to George Archbishop of Canterbury came into the Synod sent thither by his Majesty of Great Britain April the twentieth the Belgick Confession was brought into the Synod containing matter both of Doctrine and Discipline and the publick consent thereunto was required Here Bishop Carleton in the name of the rest approved all the points of Doctrine But as for matter of Discipline that his own Order and his Mother-church might not suffer therein and he seem by silence to betray the cause thereof a Protest was entred by him as mouth for the rest to preserve the same These things he professed himself to have hinted not to offend those Churches therewith but to defend their own Church of England To this Interpellation of the British Divines nothing at all was answered And such as desire further satisfaction herein may peruse the joynt Attestation which those English Divines did set forth Anno 1626. to justifie their proceedings therein On April 29. the Synod ended The States to express
connivency it will press for a Toleration c. Then they propounded Remedies against these some whereof were That for securing the peace at home his Majesty would be pleased to review the parts of their petition formerly delivered to him and to put in execution by the eare of choice Commissioners to be thereunto appointed the Laws already and hereafter to be made for preventing of dangers by Popish Recusants That the Children of the Nobility and Gentry of this Kingdom and of others suspected in their Religion now beyond the Seas may be forthwith called home That the Children of Popish Recusants c. be brought up during their minority with Protestant School-masters That his Majesty will be pleased to revoke all former Licenses for such Children to travel beyond the Seas and not grant any such License hereafter c. The House had sufficient Cause to set forth the danger of true Religion when besides the great wound made in Germany and the cruelties of the prevailing House of Austria the Protestants in France were almost ruined by Lewis the Thirteenth being now besieged in Montauban by the King and in Rochel by Count Soisons and the Duke of Guise And for their Relief the King of England prevailed nothing by sending of Sir Edward Herbert since Baron of Cherbury and after him the Viscount Doncaster Ambassador for Mediation About this time a sad misfortune befel George Abbot Lord Archbishop of Canterbury for shooting at a Deer with a Cross-bow in Bramshil Park belonging to the Lord Zouch he casually killed the Keeper The King made choice of the Lord Keeper the Bishop of London Winton Rochester St. Davids and Exeter Sir Henry Hobart Justice Dolleridge Sir Henry Martin and Doctor Stuart to inform him of the nature of this cause and the scandal that might arise thereupon whether to an Irregularity or otherwise However this consultation was managed the Archbishop was not deprived In this business Bishop Andrews proved the Archbishop's great friend The Archbishop gave twenty pound a year to the man's Widow He kept a monethly fast on a Tuesday as the day whereon this casualty befell About this time young Merick Casaubon set for t a Book in defence of his deceased Father against Herbert Roswed a Jesuite and Andrew Schoppius a notorious railer Julius Caesar Bullinger and Andrew Eudemono Joannes He thought it his duty to assert his Father's memory and to give a brief account of his life and conversation Upon the remove of Richard Milborn to Carlile Doctor William Laud President of St. John's Colledge in Oxford was made Bishop of St. David's He founded in Oxford a Professor in the Arabick Tongue This year died John King Bishop of London He was sworn first Chaplain to King James who commonly called him The King of Preachers And Sir Edward Coke said of him He was the best speaker in Star-chamber in his time When Bishop of London unless hindred by sickness he omitted no Lord's day wherein he did not visit some Pulpit in London or near it The Papists raised a false aspersion upon him That at his death he was reconciled to the Church of Rome but this was sufficiently confuted by those eye and ear-witnesses present at his pious departure George Mountain Bishop of Lincoln succeeded him in his See The same year died William Cotton Bishop of Exeter whom Valentine Carew Dean of St. Paul's succeedeth Robert Townson Bishop of Sarisbury dieth whom John Davenant succeedeth Therein also expired Dr. Andrew Willet a man of great judgement and Industry one that had a large soul in a narrow estate The same year died also Richard Parry Bishop of St. Asaph We will conclude this year with the death of Mr. Francis Mason who wrote that worthy Book De Ministerio Anglicano Anno 1622. Multitudes of Priests and Popish Recusants then imprisoned Rushw Hist Collect. were released which the Spaniards professed to be a great demonstration of the King 's sincere affection to confirm the amity between the Crowns But a General offence was taken at this Indulgence to Papists The next year began with the end of that arrant Apostata in this Land M. Antonius de Dominis Anno 1622. Archbishop of Spalato and his fair riddance out of it He had fourteen years been Archbishop of Spalato in Dalmatia under the State of Venice and had now been five years in England Conscience in shew and Covetousness indeed caused his coming hither He wrote sharply against the Pope Fuller Church Hist An. 1622. out of a particular grudge against Pope Paul who had ordered him to pay a yearly pension of five hundred Crowns out of his Bishoprick to one Audrentius a Suffragan Bishop which this Archbishop refused to do The matter was brought to the Court of Rome where the Archbishop angry that he was cast in his Cause posts out of Italy through Germany into the Low Countries and thence came over into England Here multitudes of people flocked to behold this old Archbishop now a new Convert Prelates and Peers presented him with gifts of high valuation He was Feasted wheresoever he came and both the Universities when he visited them highly honoured him But above all King James was most munificent to him The King consigned him to the Archbishop of Canterbury for his present entertainment and as an earnest of his bounty sent him to Lambeth a fair Bason and Boll of Silver Misit mihi Rex Magnae Britanniae polubrum argenteum ad abstergendas sordes Romanae Ecclesiae poculum argenteum ad imbibendam Evangelii puritatem which Spalato received with this complement The King of Great Britain hath sent me a Silver Bason to wash from me the filth of the Roman Church and a Silver Cup to mind me to drink the purity of the Gospel Preferment is quickly conferred upon him as the Deanery of Windsor and the Master-ship of the Hospital of the Savoy with a good Parsonage at West-Ilsey in Berk-shire being a peculiar belonging to the Episcopal jurisdiction of the Dean of Windsor which Parsonage he collated on himself He improved the profits of his place to the utmost and had a design to question all his Predecessors Leases at the Savoy and began to be vexatious to his Tenants for which he was gravely and sharply reproved by Dr. King then Bishop of London Spalato complained to King James who in some choler said Extraneus extraneus es relinque res sicut eas invenisti You are a Stranger you are a stranger leave things as you found them He would passionately perswade others unto bounty to the poor though he would give nothing himself He now perfects his Books the Collections whereof were made by him at Spalato His works being three fair Folio's De Republica Ecclesiastica give ample testimony of his abilities He delighted in jeering one of his Sarcasms he unhappily bestowed on Count Gondomar the Spanish Ambassador telling him That three turns at Tyburn was the onely way to cure his
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 Horse and Foot was speedily raised and money granted by the Parliament to keep them in pay to furnish them with Ammunition Arms and all other necessaries And the Lords of the Council here subscribed largely for the carrying on of the War until such time as the Parliament should convene The Scots being informed of the King's preparation for a War sent the Earl of Dumferling the Lord London Sir William Douglas and Mr. Barkham to represent the Affairs of their transactions which were received by the King in a friendly manner Some dayes being unprofitably spent in these debates the Archbishop and the rest of the Committee delegated for this business made a report of the whole business to the rest of the Council who came to this result That since the Scots could not be reclaimed to their obedience by other means they were to be reduced by force Therefore the Scots as much bestirred themselves on the other side Part of the walls of Edenborough-castle with all the Ordnance upon it had fallen down on the nineteenth of November last being the Anniversary day of his Majesties birth for the repair whereof they would neither suffer Timber nor other Materials to be carried to it but on the contrary they began to raise Fortifications against it with an intent to block it up and render it unuseful to his Majesties service Neither would they suffer the Souldiers to come into the Market to recruit their victuals They made provisions of great quantity of Artillery Munition and Arms from forreign parts laid Taxes of ten Marks in the hundred upon all the Subjects scattered abroad many seditious Pamphlets for justifying themselves and seducing others some of which were burnt in England by the hand of the Hangman fortified Inchgarvy and other places imprisoned the Earl of Southesk and other Persons of Quality for their fidelity to the King took to themselves the government of Edenborough and employed their Emissaries in England to sollicit them to aid them in maintaining the War against their Sovereign But their chief corespondence was with France and Ireland In France they had made sure of Cardinal Richlieu who governed all Affairs in that Kingdom In Ireland they had a strong party of natural Scots planted in Vlster by King James upon the forfeited Estates of Tir-Owen Tir-Connel Odighirty c. But Wentworth crushed them in the beginning of the combination seizing upon such Ships and Men as came thither from Scotland imprisoning some fining others and putting an Oath upon the rest By which Oath they were bound to abjure the Covenant not to aid the Covenanters against the King nor to protest against any of his royal Edicts as their Brethren in Scotland use to do for the refusing of which Oath he fined one Sir Henry Steward and his Wife at no less than five thousand pound apiece two of their Daughters and one James Gray of the fame confederacy at the sum of three thousand pound apiece committing them to prison for not paying the fines imposed on them Some Scots having endeavoured to betray the Town and Castle of Carick fergus to a Noble-man of that Countrey the principal Conspirator was executed Finally The Lord Lieutenant gave a power to the Bishop of Down and Connor and other Bishops of that Kingdom and their several Chancellors to attach the bodies of all such of the meaner sort who either should refuse to appear before them upon citation or to perform all lawful Decrees and Orders made by the said Bishops c. and to commit them to the next Gaol till they should conform or answer the contempt at the Council-Table By means whereof the poorer sort became very obedient to their several Bishops In the mean time the Archbishop of Canterbury is intent on the preservation of the Hierarchy and the Church of England against the practices of the Scots and Scotizing English and no less busied in digesting an Apology for vindicating the Liturgy commended to the Kirk of Scotland He took order for translating the Scottish Liturgy into the Latin Tongue that being published with the Apology which he had designed it might give satisfaction to the world of his Majesties Piety and his own great care the orthodoxy and simplicity of the Book it self and the perverseness of the Scots in refusing all of it Which Work was finished and left with him the present distemper of the times and the troubles which fell heavily on him putting an end to it in the first beginning He recommended to Doctor Hall then Bishop of Exon the writing of a Book in defence of the Divine right of Episcopacy in opposition to the Scots and their Adherents Exeter having undertaken it sent the first delineations of the Pourtracture to Lambeth in the end of October which were generally well approved of by the Metropolitan who having made some alterations sent them back with many kind expressions of a fair acceptance And such was the freedom he used in declaring his judgment in the case and such the Authority which his Reasons carried along with them that the Bishop of Exon found good cause to correct his Opinon according to the Rules of these Animadversions agreeable unto which the Book was writ and published not long after under the name of Episcopacy by Divine right c. Whilst the Archbishop laboured to support Episcopacy on the one side some of the adverse party laboured as much to suppress it by lopping off the branches first and afterwards by laying the Axe to the root of the Tree Bagshaw a Lawyer of some standing of the Middle-Temple began to question the Bishop's place and vote in Parliament their Temporal power and the authority of the Commission For being chosen Reader by that House for the Lent-vacation he first selected for the Argument of his discoursings the Statute of 25 Edw. 3. cap. 7. His main design was intended chiefly for the defence
of such Prohibitions as formerly had been granted by the Courts in Westminster-hall to stop the proceedings of the Court-Christian and specially of the High-Commission and in the next place to deny the Authority of the Commission it self as before was noted Hereupon the Archbishop informs his Majesty both of the Man and of his design how far he had gone in justifying the proceedings of the Scottish Covenanters in decrying the temporal power of Church-men and the undoubted right of Bishops to their place in Parliament his Majesty hereupon gives order to Finch the new Lord Keeper to interdict all further Reading on those points Hereupon it was soon found that nothing could be done therein without leave from the King and no such leave to be obtained without the consent of the Archbishop To Lambeth therefore goes the Reader where he found no admittance till the third Address and was then told That he was fallen upon a Subject neither safe nor seasonable which should stick closer to him then he was aware of Whereupon Bagshaw hasteneth out of Town Short view of the life and reign of King Charles p. 77. The Parliament came together on April 13. 1640. instead of acting any thing for his Majesties service they were at the point of passing a Vote for blasting his War against the Scots To prevent which his Majesty was forced to dissolve them on May 5. the Convocation still continuing who granted him a Benevolence of four shillings in the pound for all their Ecclesiastical promotions to be paid six years together then next ensuing The Convocation sate after the breaking up of the Parliament A new Commission was brought from his Majesty by vertue whereof they were warranted to sit still not in the capacity of a Convocation but of a Synod to prepare their Canons for the Royal assent thereunto But Doctor Brewnrigg Doctor Hacket Doctor Holdsworth Mr. Warmstrey with others to the number of thirty six the whole House consisting of about sixscore protested against the continuance of the Convocation To satisfie these an Instrument was brought into the Synod signed with the hands of the Lord Privy-seal the two chief Justices and other Judges justifying their so fitting in the nature of a Synod to be legal according to the Laws of the Realm Now their disjoynted meeting being set together again they consulted about new Canons I shall set down the number and titles of the several Canons 1. Concerning the Regal power 2. For the better keeping of the day of his Majesties Inauguration 3. For suppressing of the growth of Popery 4. Against Socinianism 5. Against Sectaries 6. An Oath enjoyned for the preventing of all Innovations in Doctrine and Government 7. A Declaration concerning some Rites and Ceremonies 8. Of preaching for Conformity 9. One Book of Articles of enquiry to be used at all Parochial visitations 10. Concerning the Conversation of the Clergy 11. Chancellors Patents 12. Chancellors alone not not to censure any of the Clergy in sundry cases 13. Excommunication and Absolution not to be pronounced but by a Priest 14. Concerning the Commutations and the disposing of them 15. Concerning some Concurrent Jurisdictions 16. Concerning Licenses to marry 17. Against vexatious Citations The Oath it self I shall set down as I find it in the Life of Archbishop Laud written by Doctor Heylin in this form following viz. I A. B. do swear That I do approve the Doctrine and Discipline or Government established in the Church of England as containing all things necessary to salvation And that I will not endeavour by my self or any other directly or indirectly to bring in any Popish doctrine contrary to that which is so established Nor will I ever give my consent to alter the Government of this Church by Archbishops Bishops Deans and Archdeacons c. As it stands now established and as by right it ought to stand nor yet ever subject it to the usurpations and superstitions of the See of Rome And all these things I do plainly and seriously acknowledge and swear according to the plain and common sence and understanding of the same words without any equivocation or mental evasion or secret reservation whatsoever And this I do heartily willingly and truly upon the faith of a Christian So help me God in Jesus Christ Toward the close of the Convocation Doctor Griffith made a motion that there might be a new Edition of the Welsh Church-bible some sixty years first translated into Welsh by the endeavours of Bishop Morgan but not without many mistakes and omissions of the Printer The matter was committed to the care of the Welsh Bishops but nothing was effected therein Near the ending of the Synod Godfrey Goodman Bishop of Glocester privately acquainted the Archbishop of Canterbury that he could not in his Conscience subscribe the new Canons The Archbishop being present with the Synod in King Henry the Seventh his Chappel said unto him My Lord of Glocester I admonish you to subscribe and presently after My Lord of Glocester I admonish you the second time to subscribe and immediately after I admonish you to subscribe To all which the Bishop pleaded Conscience and returned a denial Some dayes after he was committed to the Gate-house Soon after the same Canons were subscribed at York and on the last of June following the said Canons were publickly printed with the Royal assent affixed thereunto Fuller Church History ad An. 1640. Various were mens censures upon these Canons But most took exception against that clause in the Oath We will never give any consent to alter this Church-governmet as if the same were intended to abridge the liberty of King and State in future Parliaments and Convocations if hereafter they saw cause to change any thing therein Yet others with a favourable sence endeavoured to qualifie this suspitious clause whereby the taker of this Oath was tied up from consenting to any alteration saying that these words We will never give any consent to alter are intended here to be meant only of a voluntary and pragmatical alteration when men conspire and endeavour to change the present Government of the Church in such particulars as they do dislike without the consent of their Superiors Bishop Goodman on July the tenth made acknowledgment of his fault before the Lords of the Council and took the Oath enjoyned in the sixth Canon for preserving the Doctrines and Discipline of the Church of England against all Popish doctrines which were thereunto repugnant Upon the doing whereof he was restored by his Majesty to his former liberty Yet in the time of his last sickness it is said that he declared himself to be a Member of the Church of Rome and caused it so to be expressed in his last Will and Testament On December 27. 1639. at night and the night following there was such a violent Tempest that many of the Boats which were drawn to Land at Lambeth were dashed one against the other and were broke to pieces
Heylin's Hist of Archbishop Laud. ad An. 1640. and that the shafts of two Chimneys were blown down upon the roof of the Archbishop's Chamber and beat down both the Lead and Rafters upon his Bed in which ruine he must needs have perished if the roughness of the Water had not forced him to keep his Chamber at White-hall A like mischance happened the same night at Croydon a retiring place belonging to the Archbishop of Canterbury where one of the Pinacles fell from the Steeple beat down the Lead and Roof of the Church above twenty foot square But that which was more remarkable than either of these was that which happened the same night at Canterbury in the Metropolitical Church where one of the Pinacles upon the top of the Belfrey-Tower which carried a Vane with this Archbishop's Arms upon it was violently struck down but born a good distance from the Steeple to fall upon the Roof of the Cloyster where the Armes of the Archiepiscopal See it self were ingraven in Stone which Armes being broke to pieces by the fall of the other 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 Scots 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 Heylin Hist of Archbish Laud. Upon this his Majesty was assaulted by a Petition from some Lords in 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 Aâ—chbishop 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 siâ—ting 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 hand selled 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
had long since resolved upon the Question which afterwards they declared by their publick Votes for on the eleventh of September the Vote passed in the House of Commons for abolishing Bishops Deans and Chapters celebrated by the Citizens with Bells and Bonfires the Lords not coming in till the end of January when it past there also The War now begins to open The Parliament had their Guards already and the affront which Hotham had put upon the King at Hull prompted the York-shire Gentlemen to become a guard to his Person Both Houses presently Vote this to be a levying War against the Parliament for whose defence not onely the Trained bands of London must be in a readiness and the Good people of the Countrey required to put themselves into a posture of Armes but Regiments of Horse and Foot are listed a General appointed great sums of money raised Hereupon the King hastens from York to Nottingham where he sets up his Standard inviting all his good Subjects to repair unto him for defence of their King the Laws and Religion of their Countrey And marching with great Forces he was encountred at Edge-hill by the Parliaments Forces where five thousand men on both sides were slain on the place among which was the King's General Yet the King kept the field and made his way open forced Banbury Castle and entred triumphantly into Oxford with an hundred and twenty Colours taken in the Fight The King resolves on his advance towards London and goes forward as far as Brainford out of which he beats two of their best Regiments takes five hundred prisoners and sinks their Ordnance But understanding that the Earl of Essex joyning with the London-Auxiliaries lay in way before him at Turnham-Green near Chiswick he retreated toward Oxford where he receives Propositions of Peace from the Houses of Parliament Among which I find this for one That his Majesty would be pleased to give his Royal Assent for taking away superstitious Innovations and to the Bill for the utter abolishing and taking away all Archbishops Bishops their Chancellors Commissaries Deans Subdeans Deans and Chapters Archdeacons Deacons Canons and Prebandaries and all Chantors Chancellors Treasurers Sub-treasurers Succentors and Sacrists and all Vicars Choral and Choristers old Vicars or new Vicars of any Cathedral or Collegiate Church and all other their under-officers out of the Church of England To the Bill against scandalous Ministers To the Bill against pluralities And to the Bill for consultation to be had with Godly Religious and Learned Divines That his Majesty would be pleased to pass such other Bills for setling of Church-government as upon consultation with the Assembly of the said Divines shall be resolved on by both Houses of Parliament and by them to be presented to his Majesty Which Proposition with the rest being presented to him on Candlemas-day he referred to the following Treaty to be held at Oxford but the Commissioners were so tyed to their Instructions that nothing could be yielded by them Heylin Hist of Archbishop Laud. But the Parliament had now entred on the Rents and profits of all the Episcopal Sees and Capitular Bodies which were within the power of their Armies and sequestred the Benefices of many under the common notion of scandalous Ministers who if they had transgressed the Laws of the Realm by the same Laws were to have been proceeded against that so being legally deprived the vacant Churches might be left to be filled by the Patrons with more deserving Incumbents But this consisted not with the present design Most of the silenced Lecturers and Ministers which within ten years past had left the Kingdom for Inconformity were put into these sequestred Benefices with which his Majesty being made acquainted he presently signified his dislike of it by his Royal Proclamation bearing date May 15. 1643. In which he complains That divers of the Pious and Learned Clergy were forced from their Cures and Habitations or otherwise silenced c. for no other reason but because contrary to the Laws of the Land and their own Consciences they would not pray against Him and his Assistants or refused to publish any Illegal orders for fomenting the War raised against him but conformed themselves according to the Book of Comon-Prayers and preached God's Word according to the purity thereof without any mixture of Sedition Next That many Factious and Schismatical persons were intruded into them to sow Sedition and seduce his good Subjects from their Obedience contrary to the Word of God and the Laws of the Land amp c. And thereupon he straitly commandeth all his good Subjects to pay their Tythes to the several and respective Incumbents or their Assignes without guile or fraud notwithstanding any Sequestration pretended Orders or Ordinances whatsoever from one or both Houses of Parliament c. Requiring all Church-wardens and Sides-men to be assistant in gathering and receiving their Tythes Rents and Profits and to resist all such persons as much as in them lay which were intruded into any of the Benefices or Cures aforesaid But this rather served to declare his Majesties piety than to stop the course of those proceedings Then an infamous Pamphlet is dispersed Licensed by John White Chair-man of the Committee for Religion called The Committee for plundred Ministers under the Title of The first Century of Scandalous and Malignant Priests c. Their Commissioners were no sooner returned from Oxford but they called an Assembly of Divines by their own Authority who met at Westminster in King Henry the Seventh his Chappel These were of four several natures First Men of Episcopal perswasion as the most Reverend James Vsher Archbishop of Armagh Doctor Ralph Brownrigg Bishop of Exeter Doctor Westfield Bishop of Bristol Doctor Daniel Featly Doctor Richard Holdsworth c. Secondly Such who in their judgements favoured the Presbyterian Discipline c. among whom we take special notice of these Doctor Hoyle Divinity Professor in Ireland Cambridge Dr. William Gouge in Black-friers Dr. Peter Smith Mr. Oliver Bowles Mr. Thomas Gataker Mr. Henry Scudder Mr. Anthony Tuckney Mr. Stephen Marshall Mr. John Arrow-Smith Mr. Herbert Palmer Mr. Thomas Thorowgood Mr. Thomas Hill Mr. Nathanael Hodges Mr. John Gibbon Mr. Timothy Young Mr. Richard Vines Mr. Thomas Coleman Mr. Matthew Newcomen Mr. Jeremiah Whitaker Mr. John Lightfoot c. Oxford Dr. William Twisse Dr. Cornelius Burgesse Dr. Edmond Stanton Mr. John White of Dorchester Mr. Harris of Hanwel Mr. Edward Reynolds Mr. John Maynard Mr. Charles Herle Mr. Corbert of Merton Colledge Mr. Conant Mr. Francis Cheynel Mr. Obadiah Sedgewick Mr. Cartar Senior Mr. Cartar Junior Mr. Joseph Caryl Mr. Strickland Mr. Thomas Baily c. Thirdly Some who formerly disliking Conformity removed themselves beyond the Seas now returned home at the beginning of this Parliament These afterward proved dissenting Brethren to some transactions in the Assembly as Thomas Goodwin Philip Nye Sidrach Symson Jeremiah Burronghes William Bridge Fourthly Some Members of the Lords and Commons were
mingled among them and Voted joyntly in their Consultations as the Earl of Pembrook the Lord Say The most Learned Antiquary Mr. Selden Mr. Francis Rouse Mr. Bulstrode Whitlock c. Commissioners from Scotland were also joyned with them as the Earl of Lothian the Lord Lauderdale the Lord Warriston of the Nobility others of the Clergy as Mr. Alexander Henderson Mr. Gelaspy c. Fuller Church Hist Ad An. 1643. Doctor Twisse Preached the first Sermon at the meeting of the Assembly though the Schools not the Pulpit was his proper Element witness his Controversal writings and in his Sermon he exhorted them Faithfully to discharge their high calling to the glory of God and honour of his Church He much bemoaned That the Royal Assent was wanting to give encouragement to them yet he hoped That by the efficacy of their fervent Prayers it might in due time be obtained and that a happy union might be procured betwixt him and the Parliament Sermon ended the Ordinance was read by which was declared the Cause Ground and Intent of their Convention namely to consult with the Parliament for the setling of Religion and Church-government Of an hundred twenty elected but sixty nine appeared And of the first of Royalists Episcopal in their judgements very few appeared and scarce any continued any time in the House save Doctor Daniel Feately alledging privately several reasons for their departure Dr. Twisse is now chosen Prolocutor and Mr. Henry Robrough and Mr. Adoniram Bifield their Scribes and Notaries And now their good success next to the Parliament's is publickly prayd for by the Preachers in the City and Books dedicated unto them under the Title of the most Sacred Assembly and four shillings a day sallary was allowed them and the Chamber of Jerusalem the fairest in the Deans lodgings where King Henry the Fourth died was the place where these Divines did daily meet together His Majesty looks on this as a strange and unparallell'd encroatchment on his Royal Prerogative to which alone the calling of such Assemblies did belong by the Laws of the Realm And thereupon by his Proclamation of June 22 1643. being just ten days after the date of the Ordinance by which the Assembly was indicted Bibl. Regia p. 331. He inhibits all and every person named in that Ordinance under several pains from assembling together for the end and purpose therein set down declaring the Assembly to be illegal and that the Acts thereof ought not to be received by any of his good Subjects as binding them or of any Authority with them Which Prohibition notwithstanding most of the Members authorized by that Ordinance assembled as was before declared One of the first publick Acts which they performed was the humble presenting of a petition to both Houses for the appointing of a solemn Fast to be generally observed And presently a Fast is appointed and accordingly kept on the following Friday Master Bowles and Master Newcomen whose Sermons were after Printed Preaching on the same The King summons the Lords and Commons to Oxford to attend there on January 22. then next following Being come scarce were they setled in their several Houses when they were entertained with an hot Alarum made by the coming in of the Scots with a puissant Army The Scots had thrived so well by the former service as made them not unwilling to come under the pay of such bountiful Masters And knowing well in what necessity their dear Brethren in England stood of their assistance they were resolved to husband that necessity to their best advantage The English must first enter into Covenant with them for conforming of this Church with that c. In the first branch of it it was to be Covenanted between the Nations That all endeavours should be used for the preservation of the Reformed Religion in the Church of Scotland both in Doctrine Discipline and Government Directory for worship and Catechizing And in the second That in like manner they endeavour without any respect of persons the extirpation of Popery Prelacy that is Church Government by Archbishops Bishops their Chancellors and Commissaries Deans Deans and Chapters Archdeacons and all other Ecclesiastical Officers depending on that Hierarchy c. But by whomsoever it was framed his Majesty saw that it aimed at the subversion of the present Government Therefore looking on it as a dangerous combination against himself the established Religion and the Laws of this Kingdom for the bringing in of Forreign Forces to subvert them all saith Doctor Heylin interdicted all his Subjects from imposing or taking the same as they would answer the contrary at their perils Which Proclamation bearing date on October 9. came out too late to hinder the taking and enjoying of this Covenant where the restraint thereof had been most necessary for it had been solemnly taken by all the Members of the House of Commons and the Assembly of Divines at St. Margarets in Westminster on September 25. and within two days after it was Administred with no less solemnity to divers Lords Knights Gentlemen Colonels Officers Souldiers and others residing in and about the City of London a Sermon being Preached by Mr. Coleman to justifie the piety and legality of it and finally enjoyned to be taken on the Sanday following in all Churches and Chappels of London within the lines of Communication as afterwards by all the Kingdom in convenient time No sooner was this Covenant taken but to let the Scots see that they were in earnest a further impeachment consisting of ten Articles were prepared against the Archbishop of Canterbury In the Assembly of Divines some concurred not with the major part and were therefore stiled Dissenting Brethren These men crave a Toleration to be indulged them who since their return out of the Low-countries had fallen upon gathering of Congregations in or about the City of London and they excused for being concluded by the votes of the Assembly But the Presbyterians highly opposed their Toleration they tax the dissenting Brethren for Singularity and some moved their ejection out of the Assembly except in some convenient time they would comply therewith The Dissenters seasonably presented an Apologetical Narrative to the Parliament stiled by them The most sacred refuge or Asylum for mistaken and misjudged innocence Herein they petitioned pathetically for some favour whose conscience could not joyn with the Assembly in all particulars concluding with that pityful close That they pursued no other Interest or design but a subsistence be it the poorest and meanest in their own land as not knowing where else with safety health and livelyhood to set their feet on earth and subscribed their names Thomas Goodwin Philip Nye Sidrach Symson Jeremiah Burroughs William Bridge These Petitioners found such favour with some potent persons in Parliament that they were secured from farther Trouble and afterwards grew able not onely to encounter but invade all opposers yea to open and shut the door of preferment to others Dr.
William Twisse their Prolocutor died and Mr. Charles Herle Fellow of Exeter-colledge succeeded him in his place The Assembly met with many difficulties some complained that Mr. Selden that Great Antiquary advantaged by his skill in Antiquity and the Oriental Tongues studied rather to perplex than inform the Members thereof as appeared by the fourteen Queries he propounded whose intent was to give a check to the design of those who held Presbytery to be Jure Divino More trouble was caused to the Assembly by the opinions of the Erastians And divers Parliament men hearing their own power enlarged thereby made use of the Erastians for a check to such who pressed Conformity to the Scotch Kirk in all particulars Indeed the Major part of the Assembly endeavoured the setling the Scotch Government in all particulars and this was laboured by the Scotch Commissioners with all Industry and probable means to obtein the same But it could not be effected nor was it ever setled by Act of Parliament who kept the coercive power in their own hands so that the power of Excommunication was not intrusted with them but ultimately resolved into a Committee of eminent persons of Parliament On January 10. 1644. William Laud Lord Archbishop of Canterbury was beheaded on Tower-hill after he had been kept four years a prisoner in the Tower His charge was a constructive treason under several Heads reducible into two particulars I. For endeavouring of the subversion of the Laws of the Land II. And a like endeavour to overthrow the Protestant Religion His trial was at the Lords bar and Mr. William Prynne was his Prosecutor but notwithstanding all that could be said nothing that did amount to Treason could be proved against him But the Scots who were at that time very prevalent would not be satisfied unless he were put to death Heylin's Hist of the life of K. Charles 1. pag. 113. to manifest thereby their zeal against the Episcopal Hierarchy to usher in the Presbyterian Government at the approaching Treaty so that by an Ordinance of Lords and Commons he was adjudged guilty of High Treason though at the passing thereof in the House of Peers there were but seven present In pursuance of several messages from the King for a Treaty it was assented to by the Parliament and at Vxbridge Commissioners met for the King on one part and for the Parliament of England and the Parliament of Scotland on the other Master Christopher Love waiting on the Parliaments Commissioners in a general Relation gave great offence to the Royalists in his Sermon shewing the impossibility of an agreement With the Commissioners on both sides certain Clergy-men were sent in their presence to debate the point of Church-government For the King Doctor Sheldon Doctor Steward Doctor Benjamin Laney Doctor Henry Hammond Doctor Henry Ferne. For the Parliament Master Stephen Marshal Master Richard Vines These when the Commissioners were at leasure from Civil affairs were called to a conference before them But this Treaty proved ineffectual The King complained of what came to pass the fruitless end of this Treaty that his Commissioners offered full-measured reasons and the other Commissioners have stuck rigidly to their demâ—nds c. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Chap. 18 The Treaty at Vxbridge saith he gave the fairest hopes of an happy composure had others applyed themselves to it with the same moderation as he did he was confident the war had been ended To return to the Assembly the Monuments which they have left to posterity of their meeting are a new form of worship by the name of a Directory Articles of Religion drawn up by them and a double Catechism one the lesser the other the greater This Assembly dwindled away by degrees though never legally dissolved Many of them after the taking of Oxford returning to their own Cures and others living in London absented themselves as disliking the managing of matters Anno 1645. died Mr. John Dod a passive Non-conformist as Mr. Fuller calleth him a man much esteemed among men of his own perswasion one that loved not any one the worse for difference in judgement about Ceremonies but all the better for their unity of affections in grace and goodness He used to retrench some hot spirits when inveighing against Bishops telling them how God under that Government had given a marvellous encrease to the Gospel and that Godly men might comfortably comport therewith under which Learning and Religion had so manifest an Improvement He was an excellent Scholar and an exquisite Hebrician who with his Society and directions in one Vacation taught that Tongue unto Mr. John Gregory that rare Linguist and Chaplain of Christ-Church who survived him but one year Mr. Dod was buried at Fausly in Northampton-shire Saunderson's Hist of King Charles Now comes strange news Dr. Williams Archbishop of York is no less suddenly than strangely Metamorphosed from a zealous Royalist into an active Parliamentarian and desirous to make his peace with the Parliament he betakes himself to his house at Purin neer Aberconway in Wales put a garrison therein and fortified the same protesting against the King's party and disswading the County from paying Contribution to the King And wrote to Colonel Mitton of the Parliament's party to assist him against the Lord Byron who understanding of his Revolt had sent a party from Aber-conway to besiege him At length he lays siege to the Town and Castle of Aber-conway reduceth them to the Service of the Parliament much of the Town to his own possession Hereby he saved his estate from Sequestration But by his last complyance he lost his old friends at Oxford and in Lieu of them finding few new ones at London He expended much on the repair of Westminster Abby-church And when pressed by Archbishop Laud to a larger contribution to S. Paul's he answered he would not rob Peter to pay Paul The Library of Westminster was the effect of his bounty and so was a Chappel in Lincoln-Colledge in Oxford At S. John's in Cambridge he founded two fellowships built a fair Library and furnished it with Books To a grave Minister coming to him for Institution in a living be thus expressed himself I have saith he passed through many places of honour and trust both in Church and State more than any of my Order in England these seventy years before But were I but assured that by my preaching I had but converted one soul to God I should take therein more spiritual joy and comfort than in all the Honours and Offices which have been bestowed upon me He died on March 25. 1649. Now I will present the Reader with a list of the Principal Ordinances of the Lords and Commons which respected Church-matters and to make this History the more entire must go a little backward in time November 8. 1644. An Ordinance of the Lords and Commons in Parliament for the payment of Tythes by every person within the Realm of England and Wales December
kept in custody by the General 's command in the Queen's Court and Court of Wards These were removed to the King's-Head Inn near Charing-Cross and to the Swan Inn in the Strand under Guards of Souldiers The Army put forth a new Representative called The Agreement of the People The King is brought up to London arraigned before a select Committee for that purpose called An High Court of Justice indicted and upon his refusalâ— to own their Authority finally condemned Having received the sentence of death Dr. Juxon Bishop of London Preached privately before him at St. James's on the Sunday following his Text Romans 2.16 Next Tuesday being the day of his dissolution in the morning alone he received the Communion from the hands of the said Bishop At which time he read for the second Lesson the 27th chapter of St. Matthew containing the History of the death and passion of our Saviour Sermon ended the King heartily thanked the Bishop for selecting so seasonable and comfortable a portion of Scripture seeing all Humane hope and happiness is founded on the sufferings of our Saviour The Bishop answered He had done it meerly following the direction of the Church of England whose Rubrick appointeth that Chapter the second Morning-lesson for the thirtieth of January At ten of the Clock in the forenoon he is brought on Foot from St. James's Palace over the Park to Whitehall guarded with a Regiment of Foot-souldiers part before and the rest behind him with Colours flying and Drums beating his private Guard of Partizans about him and Doctor Juxon Bishop of London next to him on one side and Colonel Tomlinson on the other He bid them go faster saying That he now went before them to strive for an Heavenly Crowns with less sollicitude than he had oftentimes bid his Souldiers to fight for an earthly Diadem Then passeth he to the Scaffold where he defendeth his Innocency howbeit he acknowledgeth God's justice pardons his enemies takes pity on the Kingdom He shews the Souldiers how much they are out of the way and tells them They would never go right till they give God his due the King his due and the people their due You must said he give God his due by restoring his worship and Church rightly regulated which is now out of order according to his Word And a National Synod freely called freely debating among themselves must settle this when every Opinion is freely and clearly heard For the King said he that is my Successor Indeed I will not the Laws of the Land will clearly instruct you for that For the People I must tel you That their liberty and freedom consists in having Government under those Laws by which their Lives and Goods may be most their own It is not in having a share in the Government that pertains not to them A Sovereign and a Subject are two different things He prayed God they might take those courses that are best for the good of the Kingdom and their own Salvation Then having declared That he died a Christian according to the profession of the Church of England as the same was left him by his Father He said I have a good Cause and a gracious God and gave his George to the Bishop bidding him Remember to give it to the Prince Then said He I go from a Corruptible to an Incorruptible Crown where no disturbance can be but peace and joy for evermore Then lifting up his eyes and hands to Heaven having prayed secretly stooping down to the block he received the fatal stroak On the Wednesday sennight after his Corps embalmed and Coffined in Lead was delivered to the care of some of his Servants to be buried at Windsor That night they brought the Corps to Windsor The Vault being prepared a scarff of Lead was provided some two foot long and five inches broad therein to make an Inscription which was KING CHARLES 1648. The Plummer souldred it to the Coffin about the Breast of the Corpse Then was the Corpse brought to the Vault being born by the Souldiers of the Garrison Over it a black Velvet Herse-cloth the four Labels whereof the Duke of Richmond the Marquess of Hertford the Earls of South-hampton and Lindsey did support The Bishop of London stood weeping by Then was it deposited in silence and sorrow in the vacant place in the Vault near to the Coffin as it was thought which contained the Corps of King Henry the Eighth the Herse-cloth being cast in after it about three of the Clock in the afternoon and the Lords that night though late returned to London Prince Charles eldest Son to King Charles the first by unquestionable right succeeded to the Crowns of England Scotland and Ireland in the eighteenth year of his age Proclamation and Coronation could not now have their due course The Ruling part of the House of Commons who usurped the Government with violence on the person of the late King immediately published an Act even against Kingly Government Yet this Inhibition did not deter many Loyal Subjects from doing their duty and on February 2. a Proclamation in the name of the Noblemen Judges Knights Lawyers Gentlemen Free-holders Merchants Citizens Yeomen Seamen and other Freemen of England did Proclaim Prince Charles King of England The Proclamation was Printed and scattered about the Streets of London The House of Peers continued yet sitting and in regard the Commissions of the Judges were determined by the death of the King they send to the Commons for a Conference about it and other matters relating to the setling of the Government But Monarchy and the House of Lords are declared useless by the Commons The Peers in general resent these indignities put upon them by a small part of the House of Commons they assert their own Priviledges and the Fundamental Laws of the Nation and disclaim and protest against all Acts Votes Orders or Ordinances of the said Members of the Commons House for erecting of new Courts of Justice to try or execute the King or any Peer or Subject of the Realm for altering the Government Laws Great Seal c. Hereupon the Army set a Guard upon the door of the House of Lords and in further prosecution of the late Votes of Commons against Monarchy An Act was passed by that House for the Exhaeredation of the Royal Line the Abolishment of Monarchy in this Kingdom and the setting up of a Common-wealth which they ordered to be published and Proclaimed in all parts of the Kingdom But Alderman Reinoldson then Lord Mayor of London refused to publish this Act in London and He with three of the Aldermen of his Judgment were sent prisoners to the Tower But on February 3. the King was Proclaimed at the Cross at Edinburgh In the beginning of March the Duke of Hamilton the Earls of Holland and Norwich the Lord Capel and Sir John Owen were tried and condemned by an High Court of Justice erected for that purpose of which the Duke of Hamilton the
at VVells to be removed to Bath whereas all his Predecessors had been called Bishops of Wells he renouncing Wells entitled himself Bish of Bath where he was buried 17 Godfrey a Dutch-man for a time Chancellor of England he was buried at Bath 18 Reginald Fitz-Ioceline He built the Hospital of St. Iohn's in Bath and gave certain Prebends unto the Church of VVells Moreover he gave unto the City of VVells a Corporation and Priviledges which by his gift they enjoy to this day 19 Savaricus 20 Ioceline de VVells 21 Roger who died within six years after he came to that Bishoprick he is the last of those Bishops that were buried at Bath 22 William Button 23 Walter Giffard 24 William Button Nephew to the former of that name 25 Robert Burnel 26 William de Marchia 27 Walter Haselshaw 28 Iohn Drokensford 29 Ralph of Salop 30 Iohn Barnet 31 Iohn Harewel 32 Walter Skirlaw 33 Ralph Erghum 34 Henry Bowet 35 Nicholas Bubwith 36 Iohn Stafford 37 Thomas Beckinton 38 Robert Stillington 39 Richard Fox 40 Oliver King He pulling down the old Church of the Abby of Bath began the 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 becaâ—e 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 Stafford 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 Turbervill 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 had 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. Alfâ—idus 3. Theodredus the First 4. Theodredus the Second 5. Athelstan 6. Algarus 7. Alwynus 8. Alfricus 9. Alyfreius 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 Bishops 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
Butler 58. Iohn Stanbery 59. Thomas Milling 60. Edmond Awdley 61. Hadrian de Castello 62. Richard Mayo President of Magdalen Colledge for the space of twenty seven years and Almoner to King Henry the Seventh Anno 1501. he was sent into Spain to fetch the Lady Katherine to be married to Prince Arthur 63. Charles Booth Chancellor of the Marches of Wales 64. Edward Fox a learned man and secretly a favourer of the true Religion Mr. Bucer dedicated his Comment upon the Evangelists to him Himself also wrote divers Books yet extant He was Provost also of Kings Colledge as long as he lived 65. Edmond Bonner 66. Iohn Skyp 67. Iohn Harley 68. Robert Warton 69. Iohn Scory 70. Herbert Westphaling 71. Robert Benet Dean of Windsor He repaired the Bishops Houses of Hereford and Whitburn 72. Francis Godwin Bishop of Landaff 73. George 74. Nicholas Monk 75. Herbert Crofts Bishops of Selsey 1. Wilfrid Archbishop of York being banished by Egfrid King of Northumberland preached the Gospel to the South-Saxons Ediwalch the King of that Countrey had a little before received the Faith of Christ by the perswasion of Wulphur K. of Mercia He made much of Wilfrid and assigned him an habitation in Selsey a place all compassed about with the Sea except one way all that Land containing eighty seven housholds this King gave unto Wilfrid for his maintenance He built a Monastery and established his Cathedral See in the same He converted and baptized great numbers of people and was first Bishop thereof 2. Eadbert 3. Eolla 4. Sigga or Sigfrid 5. Alubrith 6. Bosa 7. Gilelher 8. Tota 9. Wigthun 10. Ethelulph 11. Beornege 12. Cenred 13. Guthard 14. Alfred 15. Eadelm 16. Ethelgar 17. Ordbright 18. Elmar 19. Agelred 20. Grinketel 21. Heka Chaplain to King Edward the Confessor 22. Agelrike a man skilful in the Laws and Customs of the Land He was appointed by King William the Conqueror to assist Gosfrid Bishop of Constantia in judging a great controversie between Lanfrank the Archbishop and Odo Earl of Kent the King's Brother in a Convocation holden at Windsor Bishops of Chichester 1. Stigand Chaplain to the Conqueror translated his Sea from Selsey an obscure place and now eaten up by the Sea so that every high water covereth it unto Chichester of old called Cissan-cester So he was the first Bishop of Chichester 2. William 3. Ralph a man of a very high stature and no less of a very high mind He built the Cathedral Church at Chichester from the ground It was scarcely finished when as May 5. 1114. it was defaced and a great part of the City consumed with casual fire He repaired it by the liberality of the King and some others He was a great House-keeper and Alms-giver and a painful Preacher yearly visiting his whole Diocess preaching in every place thrice reprehending and punishing sin severely 4. Seffridus Abbot of Glaston 5. Hilary 6. John de Greenford 7. Seffridus the Second In his time scil October 19. 1187. the Cathedral Church together with the whole City was casually consumed with fire the Church and his own Palace he both re-edified in good sort 8. Simon de Wells 9. Richard Poor 10. Ralph de Warham He gave to the Church a Wind-mill in Bishopston 11. Ralph Nevill Chancellor of England He built Lincolns-Inn from the ground to be an House of Receipt for himself and his Successors when they should come to London After his time it came to the possession of Henry Lacy Earl of Lincoln who somewhat enlarged it and left it the name which now it hath 12. Richard de la Wyche He was born at Wych in Worcestershire he was a holy and learned man diligent in preaching and canonized seven years after his death 13. John Clypping He built the Mannor-house of Drungwick and gave it unto his Church 14. Stephen de Barksted 15. Gilbert de Stoleo fardo 16. John de Langton sometime Chancellor of England He built a costly Window in the South part of that Church 17. Robert Stratford Brother to John Stratford Archbishop of Canterbury He found means to drive away Scholars from Stamford that began to settle themselves there 18. William Lulimer 19. William Read He built the Castle of Amberley and the Library of Merton-colledge where he left his Picture and many Tables and Astronomical Instruments 20. Thomas Rushock 21. Richard Mitford 22. Robert Waldby 23. Robert Read 24. Stephen Patington 25. Henry Ware 26. John Kemp 27. Thomas Polton 28. John Rikinpale 29. Simon Sidenham 30. Richard Praty 31. Adam Molines 32. Reginal Peacock He was deprived of his Bishoprick 33. John Arundel 34. Edward Story 35. Richard Fitz-James 36. Robert Sherborn 37. Richard Sampson 38. George Day Deprived Anno 1551. restored by Queen Mary after he had long lain prisoner in the Fleet. He was Brother unto William Day long after Bishop of Winchester 39. John Scory By Queen Mary he was displaced and by Queen Elizabeth preferred to Hereford 40. John Christopherson He was deprived by Act of Parliament in Queen Elizabeths reign He gave unto Trinity-colledge many Books Greek Hebrew and Latin 41. William Barlow 42. Richard Curteise 43. Thomas Bickley He bequeathed unto Merton-colledge in Oxford an hundred pounds to Magdalen-colledge forty pounds and gave divers other sums of money to other good uses 44. Anthony Watson 45. Lancelot Andrews 46. Samuel Harsenet 47. George Carleton 48. Richard Mountague 49. Henry King 50. Peter Gunning Bishops of Rochester Augustine having laid some good foundation of Christian Religion at Canterbury for the further propagation of the same thought good to ordain Bishops unto other Cities near adjoyning and therefore in one day consecrated two viz. Mellitus unto London and Justus a Roman unto Rochester Anno 604. The Bishops of Rochester were 1. Justus 2. Romanus Travelling to Rome he was drowned 3. Paulinus Being driven from York he was content to take charge of Rochester 4. Ithamar 5. Damianus After his death the See long continued void 6. Putta 7. William 8. Godwyndus 9. Tobias 10. Aldulfus 11. Duina He was present at a Provincial Council held by Rochester 12. Eardulf Offa King of Mercia Ecbert King of Kent and Ethelbert another King of Kent were benefactors to him and his Successors 13 Diora 14. Weremund 15. Beornredus 16. Tadnoth 17. Bedenoth 18. Godwyn the First 19 Cutherwulf 20. Swithulf 21. Buiricus 22. Cheolmund 23. Chineferth 24. Burrhicus Vnto him Edmond the Brother of King Athelstan gave the Town of Malling Anno 945. 25. Alfstane 26. Godwyn the Second 27. Godwyn the Third 28. Siward 29. Arnostus Lanfrank 30. Gundulph 31. Ralph Abbot of Say 32. Earnulph He wrote an History of the Church of Rochester 33. John Archdeacon of Canterbury 34. Ascelinus 35. Walter Archdeacon of Canterbury The Archbishop was wont till this time to nominate to this Bishoprick whom pleased him April 10. 1177. the whole City and Church of Rochester were consumed with fire 36. Gualeran 37. Gilbert Glanvyl He deprived the
to King Arthur removed his See from Caerleon to Menevia which ever since from him is called St. Davids He sate sixty five years and died Anno 642. having first built twelve Monasteries in the Countrey thereabout being now one hundred forty six years of age 2. Cenauc who was first Bishop of Patern 3. Teilaw 4. Cenew 5. Morwal 6. Haerunen 7. Elwaed 8. Gurnuen 9. Lendivord Anno 810. the Church of St. David was burnt by the West-Saxons 10. Gorwyst 11. Gorgan 12. Elvoed 13. Anian 14. Elvoed 15. Ethelmen 16. Elanc 17. Molscoed 18. Sadermen 19. Catellus 20. Sulhaithnay 21. Nonis 22. Etwal 23. Asserius called in the Chronicle of VVales Archbishop of all VVales He died Anno 906. he was Vnkle to Asserius Bishop of Sherborn 24. Arthvael 25. Sampson Henceforth the Bishops of St. Davids never subjected themselves unto Canterbury until the time of King Henry the First King of England 26. Kucline 27. Rodheric 28. Elquin 29. Lywarch 30. Nergu 31. Hubert 32. Everus 33. Morgenu This man of all the Bishops of St. Davids first refused to eat flesh saith Giraldus 34. Nathan 35. Ievan He continued only one night 36. Argustel 37. Morgenveth 38. Hernun a godly and learned man 39. Carmerin 40. Ioseph 41. Bleithud 42. Sulghein 43. Abraham 44. Rythmarch 45. VVilfrid 46. Bernard 47. David Fitz-Gerald 48. Peter His Church had been often destroyed in former Ages by Danes and other Pyrats and in his time was almost ruined He bestowed much in re-edefying the same and may in some sort he said to have built the Church which now standeth 49. Sylvester Giraldus He was commonly called Giraldus Cambrensis He was Son unto Giraldus de VVindsor that built the Castle of Pembrock and Nesta the Sister of Griffith ap-Rice ap-Theodore Prince of VVales He wrote a description of England Ireland and VVales Of many Books that he wrote you may find the Catalogue in Iohn Bale 50. Edward an Abbot 51. Alselmus 52. Thomas Archdeacon of Lincoln 53. Richard Carren 54. Thomas Beck 55. David Martin 56. Henry Gower 57. Iohn Thorsby 58. Reginald Brian 59. Thomas Falstaf 60. Adam Houghton 61. Iohn Gilbert 61. Gray Mohun Keeper of the Privy Seal he was for a while Lord Treasurer of England 63. Henry Chichley 64. Iohn Keterich 65. Stephen Patrington 66. Benet Nichols 67. Thomas Rodburn a great Mathematician and Historiographer 68. VVilliam Lynwood Doctor of Law 69. Iohn Langton 70. Iohn Delabere 71. Robert Tully 72. Thomas Langton 73. Hugh Pavy 74. Iohn Morgan 75. Robert Sherborn 76. Edward Vaughan 77. Richard Rawlins 78. VVilliam Barlow 79. Robert Ferrars He was burnt at Carmarthen for the Truth March 30. 1555. in Queen Maries dayes 80 Henry Morgan He pronounced the sentence of death against his Predecessor and invaded his Bishoprick he was displaced in the beginning of the reign of Queen Elizabeth 81 Thomas Young 82 Richard Davies 83 Marmaduke Middleton 84 Anthony Rudd 85 Richard Milborn 86 VVilliam Laud 87 Theophilus Field 88 Roger Manwaring 89 VVilliam Lucy Bishops of Dandaff 1 Dubritius 2 Telian 3 Odoceus 4 Ubylwynus 5 Aidan 6 Elgistil 7 Litnapeius 8 Comergen 9 Argistwil 10 Gurvan 11 Guodoloin 12 Edilbiu 13 Grecielus 14 Bertygwyn 15 Trychan 16 Elgovus 17 Cargwaret 18 Cercennir 19 Nobis 20 Galfridus 21 Nudd 22 Cimeliaue 23 Libian 24 Marchhuth 25 Pater 26 Gogwan consecrated by Dunstan 27 Bledri 28 Ioseph consecrated by Agolnoth In his time Kilthereh King of VVales gave many priviledges to his Church 29 Herewald he sate fifty eight years 30 Urbanus R. Hoveden saith He was consecrated Bishop of this Church Anno 1108. His See being spoiled and the Church ruined he obtained Letters of the Pope from the Council of Rhemes to the King and Archbishop for a supply to repair it which he obtained and began to build the Church of Landaff as now it is He seeketh to recover divers Lands taken from his See by the Bishop of St. Davids and dieth in his way to Rome 31 Uhtrid 32 Geoffry 33 Nicholas ap Gurgant 34. William de falso Marisco 35. Henry Prior of Burgavenny Vntil this man's time the Bishoprick and Chapter was one body and their possessions not severed 36. William Prior of Goldcliff 37. Elias de Radnor 38. William de Burgo 39. John de la Ware 40. William de Radnor 41. William de Brews 42. John de Monmouth 43. John de Egglescliff 44. John Pascal 45. Roger Cradock 46. Thomas Rushock 47. William de Bottlesham 48. Edmond de Bromfield 49. Tideman Abbot of Beaulien 50. Aâ—drew Barret 51. Iohn Burghil 52. Thomas Peverel 53. John de la Zouch 54. Iohn Wellys 55. Nicholas Ashby 56. John Hunden 57. John Smith 58. John Marshal 59. Iohn Ingleby 60. Miles Saley 61. George de Arthegua a Spaniard and Dominican 62. Robert Holgate 63. Anthony Dunstan or Kitchin 64. Hugh Iones 65. William Blethin 66. Gervase Babington 67. William Morgan 68. Francis Godwyn 69. George Carleton 70. William Murrey 71. Morice 72. Hugh Lloyd 73. Davies Bishops of Bangor 1 Hervaeus 2 David 3 Maurice 4 William Prior of St. Augustines 5 Guianus 6 Albanus 7 Robert of Shrewsbury 8 Caducanus 9 Howel 10 Richard 11 Anianus 12 Caducanus 13 Gruffin 14 Lewes 15 Matthew 16 Thomas de Ringsted 17 Gervase de Castro 18 Howel 19 Iohn Gilbert 26 Iohn called Episcopus Clovensis 21 Iohn Swaffham 22 Richard Young 23 Lewes 24 Benet Nichols 25 William Barrow 26 Nicholas 27 Thomas Cheroton 28 Iohn Stanberry 29 Iames called Episcopus Achadensis 30 Thomas Ednan 31 Henry Dean 32 Thomas Pigot 33 Iohn Penny 34 Thomas Skevington He built all the Cathedral Church from the Quire downward excepting that the two sides were partly standing He was consecrated Iune 17. 1509. 35 Iohn Salcot 36 Iohn Bird 37 Arthur Bulkley 38 William Glyn 39 Rowland Merrick 40 Nicholas Robinson 41 Hugh Bellot 42 Richard Vaughan 43 Henry Rowland He gave four Bells to the Church of Bangor he gave also two fellowships to Iesus-colledge in Oxford 44 Lewes Baily 45 David Dolben 46 William Roberts 47 Robert Morgan 48 Humphrey Lloyd Bishops of St. Asaph About the year 560. Kentigern Bishop of Glascow in Scotland being driven out of his own Countrey erected a Monastery for himself and his company between the Rivers of Elwyd and Elwy where in process of time having builded a Church and some other Edifices fit for his entertainment there flocked unto him such multitudes of people as the number of his Monks amounted to no less than six hundred and sixty His Church was first built of timber and afterwards of stone Malgocunus a British King allowed the same Church to be an Episcopal See and endowed it with divers Lordships Mannors and Priviledges The Bishop of that See was then called Elvensis of the River near which it standeth and this Kentigern became the first Bishop of the same After many years he was called home into Scotland whereupon he gave over this Bishoprick unto a Disciple of
his called Asaph In the time of King Edward the Second there were five Mansion-houses belonging to it in which the Bishops used to reside scil Lanelwy Altmaliden Landeglia Nauverg and St. Martins of all which there now remaineth to them Lanelwy only Great havock was made of this Church in the reign of King Henry the Fourth by Owen Glendover since which time the Canons Houses were never repaired 2. St. Asaph Of him the Cathedral Church was ever after even unto this day called Ecclesia Asaphensis He was a man of great learning and vertue Who succeeded him for some hundreds of years after we find not 3. The next that is mentioned is Geoffry of Monmouth the Historian Of a Benedictine Monk he became Bishop of St. Asaph Anno 1151. 4. Adam a Welch-man 5 Reynerus 6 Abraham He gave half the Tithes of Wrexham to this Church 7 Howel Ednevit 8. Anianus the First 9 Anianus the Second a Dominican Confessor to Edward the First Iohn Earl of Arundel gave much Land to him and his Successors and after him Iohn his Son added more 10 Lewellin de Bromfield 11 David ap Blethin 12 Ephraim 13 Henry 14 Iohn Trevor 15 Llewelin ap Madoc ap Elis 16 William de Spridlington 17 Laurence Child a Monk of the Abbey of Battel 18 Alexander Bach 19 Iohn Trevor 20. Robert 21. John Low 22 Reginald Peacock 23. Thomas 24. Richard Redman 25. David ap Owen 26. Edmond Birkhead 27. Henry Standish 28. William Barlow 29. Robert Warton 30. Thomas Goldwel 31. Richard Davies 32. Thomas Davies 33. William Hughes 34 William Morgan 35. Richard Parry 36. John Hanmer 37. John Owen 38. George Griffith 39. Henry Glemham 40. Isaac Barrow Bishops of Lindisfarn 1. Aidan who chose for his See a little Island called Lindisfarn now called Holy Island where he and divers of his Successors led their lives He travelled up and down the Countrey on foot to preach the Gospel giving whatsoever he could get unto the poor He died August 31. Anno 651. for grief of the death of King Oswald who was traiterously slain twelve dayes before 2. Finan He first built a Church for his See in the Island all of timber and covered it with reed 3. Colman He gave over his Bishoprick and returned into Scotland 4. Tuda 5. Eata 6. St. Cuthbert Bishop of Lindisfarn he is famed for his Sanctity 7. Wilfrid 8. Eadbert He covereth the Church with Lead 9. Egfrid 10. Ethelwold 11. Kenulfus 12. Higbald In his time the Danes spoiled the Church and Monastery and the Monks forced to leave it 13. Egbert 14. Eanbert 15. Eardulph In the mean time the Bishops of Hagustald were 1. Aca 2. Fritherbert 3. Athmund 4. Titherus 5. Ethelbert 6. Heanred 7. Eanberthus 8. Tidferthus Bishops of Chester on the Street 1. Eardulph Vpon the burning of Lindisfarn removed his See to Chester on the Street anciently called Cunecestre And by Elfred and Guthred Kings of Northumberland all the Countrey between Tine and Tisean were given to the same See 2. Cuthardus 3. Milred 4. Withred 5. Ughtred 6. Sexhelm He being covetous was so terrified with a Vision of St. Cuthbert that he was forced to leave the See 7. Alssius or Elssig He was the last Bishop of Lindisfern or Chester on the Street Bishops of Durham 1. Aldhunus or Aldvinus was consecrâ—ted Bishop Anno 995. He with his Monks came to Durham or rather Dunholm which is compounded of two Saxon words Dun signifying an Hill and Holm an Island in a River a place full of Woods He with the help of Uthred Earl of Northumberland caused the Woods to be cut down cleansed the place and in short time made it habitable A Church was finished there in the time of this Bishop He was School-master unto the Children of King Ethelred Elfred and Edward that afteward reigned and is called Edward the Confessor 2. Edmond The Monks and Priests contending about a Successor to Aldhunus this Edmond came among them and â—castingly offered himself to be their Bishop and they chose him against his will he having a better mind to a Tennis-court than a Monks Hood Malmsb. lib. 3. de Pont. He much adorned his Church and the City with buildings 3. Eadred 4. Egelrick He builded a Church at Cuneagecestre in digging the foundation of this Church he found so much money that he cared not for the Bishoprick but resigned it unto Egelwyn his Brother and returned to the Monastery of Peterborough whence he came He made the Cawsey from Deeping to Spalding He was afterward accused to the Conqueror of Treason and taken out of his Monastery and imprisoned at Westminster where he died 5. Egelwyn He was Bishop at the coming in of the Conqueror he forsook Durham and carried his Clergy with him unto the Church of Landisfarn but he was not long before they returned again 6. Walcher or Walter He was so rich that he bought the Earldom of Northumberland of the King He and many of his Retinue were slain in the Church of Durham May 14. 1080. and the Church burnt with fire because two of his Servants had murdered Leulfus one of the Ancestors to the now Lord Lumley R. Hoved. 7. William Kairlipho Abbot of St. Vincent He was consecrate at Glocester in the presence of the King and divers of his Nobles He procured license of Pope Gregory to translate the Monks of Yarrow to Durham He expelled divers married Priests out of his Church and suffered only Monks to dwell there He pulled down the Church of Durham that Aldhunus had built there and began to erect another far more magnificent but lived not to finish it 8. Ranulph Flambard 9. Geoffry Rufus Chancellor of England He built the Castle of Alnerton 10. William de Sta. Barbara 11. Hugh Pudsey He built a fair House at Derlington as also the Church there He founded the Priory of Finchal He bought Sâ—dbury of King Richard the First and gave it unto his See He built the Bridge of Elvet and the Gallery at the West-end of his Cathedral Church in which he placed the bones of Venerable Bede He built two Hospitals one at Allerton another called Sherborn Vnto Sherborn he gave liberal maintenance for sixty five poor Lazers and a certain number of Priests For a great sum of money King Richard made him Earl of Northumberland 12. Philip de Poictiers This Bishop by the license of King Richard the First set up a Mint at Durham and began to coyn money there Anno 1196. 13. William de Marisco 14. Richard Poor 15. Nicholas de Fernham 16. Walter de Kirkham 17. Robert Stitchel 18. Robert de Insula 19. Anthony Beake 20. Richard de Bury He was soon after Lord Chancellor and within two years after that Lord Treasurer of England He was often employed in Ambassages of great importance What time of leisure he had he spent either in Prayer or conference with his Chaplains whereof he had many about him and those very learned men or
else in study His Study was so well furnished with Books ehat it is thought he had more Books than all the Bishops in England Many Letters passed between him and Francis Petrarch and other learned men in those dayes Thomas Bradwardine was then one of his Chaplains afterward Archbishop of Canterbury Richard Fitz-Ralph Ralph afterward Archbishop of Armagh W Burley J. Mandut R. Holcot R. Killington Doctors of Divinity Richard Bintworth and W. Seagrove the one afterward Bishop of London the other of Chichester He was very liberal to the poor 21. Thomas Halfield He built Durham colledge in Oxford now called Trinity-colledge 22. John Fordham 23. Robert Nevil 24. Laurence Booth 25. William Dudley 26. John Sherwood 27. Richard Fox 28. William Severus 29. Christopher Bambridge 30. Thomas Ruthal 31. Thomas Wolsey Cardinal 32. Cuthbert Tonstal 33. James Pilkinton 34. Richard Barnes 35. Matthew Hutton 36. Tobias Matthew 37. William James 38. Richard Neile 39. John Howson 40. Thomas Morton 41. John Cozens Bishops of Carlile Carlile being destroyed by the Danes in the year 900. it happened King William Rufus passing that way Anno 1090. re-edified it and built a strong Castle in the same City The Government of this new erected City was committed to a certain Norman Priest named Walter that came into England with the Conqueror This man being very rich began to build there a Church to the honour of the blessed Virgin but he died before he could perfect the work Adelwald the first Prior of St. Oswald and Confessor to King Henry the First perswaded the said King to employ the Revenues that Walter left behind him in the foundation of a Colledge of Regular Canons to be annexed unto the Church forementioned He did so and moreover bestowed upon the said Colledge six Churches with their Chappels to be impropriated to the same use The Bishops of Carlile were 1. Adelwald the Prior forementioned 2. Barnard 3. Hugh Abbot of Battell 4. Walter Malcleck 5. Sylvester de Everdon 6. Thomas Vipont 7. Robert de Chause 8. Ralph de Ireton 9. John de Halton 10. John de Rosse 11. John de Kirkby 12. Gilbert de Welton 13. Thomas de Appleby 14. Robert Read 15. Thomas Merkes 16. William Strickland 17. Roger Whelpdale 18. William Barrow 19. Marmaduke Lumley 20. Nicholas Close 21. William Piercy 22. John Kingscot 23. Richard Scroop 24. Edward Story 25. Richard Prior of Durham 26. William Sever 27. Roger Laburn 28. John Penny 29. John Kite 30. Robert Aldrich 31. Owen Oglethorp that crowned Queen Elizabeth 32. John Best 33. Richard Barnes 34. John May 35. Henry Robinson 36. Robert Snowdon 37. Richard Milborn 38. Richard Senhouse 39. Francis White 40. Barnaby Potter 41. Richard Stern 42. Edward Rainbow Of the manner of Installation of Bishops herein England in former times THe Installation of Bishops was a Ceremony of great solemnity in former Ages the particularity whereof we find in Walter Stapleton Bishop of Excester in the beginning of the Reign of King Edward the Second who was Consecrated March 18. 1307. When he came to Excester to be Installed at the East-gate he alighted from his Horse and went on foot to St. Peter's Church All the way where he should pass being laid and covered with black Cloath on each hand he was conducted by a Gentleman of great worship Sir Hugh Courtney who claimed to be Steward of his Feast going next before him At Broad-gate he was received by his Chapter and Quire in their Ornaments with Te Deum and so carried into the Church The usual Ceremonies being performed there at his Palace a great Feast was prepared for the entertainment of such Noble-men and other Persons of account as repaired thither at that time It is incredible how many Oxen Tuns of Ale and Wine are said to have been usually spent at this kind of Solemnity even so much as the whole yearly Revenue at this time would not suffice to pay for Of those Englishmen that have been Cardinals of the Church of Rome 1. THE first Leader of this Band is Pope Joan called by Sabellicus Bish Godwyn and some others John the Seventh but by Platina and other Writers John the Eighth who being but a Woman became not onely Cardinal but Pope of Rome She was born at Mentz in Germany the Daughter of an English Priest who having a Wife whose Parents dwelt at Mentz bringing his said Wife to see her friends stayed there so long till she was delivered of this Feminine Prelate named in her Baptism Joan as most say Gilberta as others or as Fulgosus delivereth Agnes In her youth she fell acquainted with an English Monk of the Abbey of Fulda with whom travelling in Man's apparel to diverse Universities and Monasteries as well Greek as Latin she setled in the end at Athens where she became Famous for Learning and continued there with him untill the death of her said Paramour Then coming to Rome and by Reading Disputing and other Exercises having purchased to her self the reputation of a great Clerk upon the death of Leo the Fourth she was chosen Pope Anno 855. and held that place two years five moneths and three days in which mean time she was gotten with child by a certain Cardinal and going in Procession hapned to be delivered of her burden in the open Street in which place she instantly died viz. between the Colisco and St. Clement's Church the shame and turpitude of which disgrace unto that holy See hath moved all the Bishops of Rome since that time to lengthen a little the walk of their Procession and to go a way much farther about rather than they will endure to pass by that place And to prevent the like inconvenience in time to come they have ordained every Pope after his election to be searched by the Junior Deacon in a Marble-chair made hollow for the same purpose Spectatur adhuc saith Sabellicus in Pontificia domo marmorea sella circa medium inanis qua nobis Pontifex continuo ab ejus creatione residat ut sedentalis Genetalia ab ultimo Diacono attrectentur This History howsoever impugned of late by the Papists is delivered by Marianus Scotus and Martin of Poland who lived Anno 1320. Sabellicus Fasciculus Temporum Petrarch and divers others And Platina recounting this Story saith Quod omnes fere affirmant that it is observed almost by all Writers 2. The next in time is one Vlricus an English-man who being Cardinal came into England as the Pope's Legate Anno 1109. and brought the Archiepiscopal Pall unto Thomas the younger Archbishop of York and caused him to consecrate Turgod Prior of Durham unto the Bishoprick of St. Andrews in Scotland 3. Robert Bullen of Puley a very Learned Man in his time unto him the University of Oxford is much beholden for whereas in the Reign of King Harold it had been so wasted as that for many years it lay desolate and forsaken of Scholars he was a means to draw them thither
again and leaving the University of Paris took great pains in Reading Disputing and Writing divers Learned Books whereby he became so famous even in Forreign Nations as by Pope Innocent the Second he was sent for to Rome by Celestine the Second made Cardinal Sancti Eusebii Anno 1144. and by Lucius the Second appointed the Pope's Chancellor he died Anno 1150. 4. Two years after the preferment of Bullen Nicholas Breakspear was made Bishop Cardinal of Alba and a while after Pope he was born in Hartford-shire at Abbots-Langley near unto St. Albans a younger brother of the house of Breakspear and the Son of one Robert a married Priest the which Robert waxing old and having lost his Wife became a Monk in St. Albans at which time his Son Nicholas was but a tender youth resorting to his Father for relief and maintenance the old man out of a superstitious conceit that the next way to Heaven was to renounce all care of Friends Children and all things else save what by the rule of their Order was enjoyned in a rude and churlish manner cast him off willing him to try his fortune abroad without expecting from him any manner of succor He being thus turned off to the wide World without all means of livelihood went over into France and travelling through the Countrey found no entertainment till he came to Valentia in Provence where the Monks of the Abbey of St. Rufus seeing him a beautiful and towardly child witty and for his age very industrious took him in and in process of time not onely admitted him into their fraternity but also chose him first Prior and afterward Abbot having in the mean time by painful study attained to much learning But many differences grew between him and his Monks who accused him of many things unto the Pope that then was Eugenius the third He after examination of the cause acquitted the Abbot and sharply reprehended the Monks as froward fellows charging them hereafter to yield unto him as their Governour all dutiful obedience notwithstanding which after a little while they renewed their complaints And as before so now the Abbot answered all their accusations and that with such eloquence discretion and modesty as the Pope taking a great liking of the man he told his Accusers they were unworthy of him and therefore willing them to seek for some other for his place with whom they might better agree he created him Bishop Cardinal of Alba Anno 1146. Soon after which time upon experience of his great Wisdom and Learning he sent him as his Legate into the Countries of Denmark and Norway the Inhabitants whereof being then Pagans he converted unto Christian Religion At his return out of those parts Anastatius the Pope who Eugenius being dead in the mean time had succeeded him together with his Cardinals received him with great honour much approving his doings It hapned that within a few moneths after his return the said Pope died also and this man also taking upon him the name of Hadrian the Fourth was chosen Pope in hi room This was He that brought under his entire obedience the Citizens of Rome that compelled the Emperor Frederick Barbarossa to hold his Stirrup and appointed the Abbot of St. Albans to be the first Abbot of England as St. Alban to whom the Abbey was dedicated was the first Martyr of England Having sate four years nine moneths he died at Anagnia being choaked by a fly in his dâ—ink 5. Some report that Geoffry of Monmouth the Author of the British History was a Cardinal at Rome This can hardly be made good but this is evident he was consecrated Bishop of St. Asaph Anno 1151. 6. Busa an English-man saith John Bale Nephew unto Pope Hadrian was made a Cardinal and the Pope's Chamberlain Anno 1155. his Titles were first S S. Cosmae Damiani then S. Crucis in Jerusalem afterwards S. Pudentianae Through his endeavour chiefly Alexander the Third was chosen Pope by the voices of nineteen Cardinals yet another Antipope was set up against him having four voices onely Under him the said Alexander he lived in great authority and favour and died Anno 1180. 7. The book entitled Antiquitates Britannicae ascribed to the late most Reverend Archbishop Matthew Parker reporteth how that William Corbet Archbishop of Canterbury being deceased Henry de Bloys Bishop of Winchester and Brother unto King Stephen procured himself to be made a Cardinal and appointed Legate a latere from the Pope 8. Herebert born at Bosham in Sussex brought up in Oxford where he proceeded Doctor in Divinity was Secretary unto Thomas Becket Archbishop of Canterbury at the time of the said Becket's slaughter the History whereof he wrote besides divers other works mentioned by John Bale Pope Lucius the Third made him Cardinal Anno 1178. and bestowed upon him the Archbishoprick of Beneventum 9. John Cummin an English-man and Archbishop of Dublin was created a Priest-cardinal by Pope Lucius the Third at Velitum Anno 1183. as testifieth that vertuous learned and eloquent man Giraldus Cambrensis 10. Stephen Langton afterwards Archbishop of Canterbury was created Cardinal S. Chrysogoni 1212. 11. Robert Curson a Gentleman well descended and an Oxford-man was made Cardinal of S. Stephen in Coelio monte he was a good Divine and eminent Preacher From Oxford he went to Paris where he proceeded Doctor of Divinity Anno 1219. he was with King Lewis the French King at the taking of Damiata in Egypt after that in the time of Honorius the Third he was here as Legate in England he left behind him a sum of Divinity and a Discourse touching the salvation of Origen certain solemn Lectures and some other Works much esteemed 12. Robert Somerscot made Cardinal of S. Eustachius Anno 1234. he was a man saith Matthew Paris discretus circumspectu omnibus amabilis merito gratiosus He was to have been elected Pope after Pope Gregory the Ninth but that some of the Cardinals caused him to be poisoned in the Conclave where the Cardinals were assembled to make the election 13. Matthew Paris maketh mention of an English Cardinal called John that when the Pope was very angry because King Henry the Third withstood a certain exaction of His and threatned to do great matters against him sought by many effectual reasons to divert him from his publick course but to no purpose till at length the King for fear of his thunderbolts was fain to yield This man died at the Council at Lyons Anno 1274. 14. Atcherius Archdeacon of London where John Bale saith he was born was created Cardinal of S. Praxedis Anno 1261. He died at Rome November 1. 1286. and was buried in the Church to which he was entitled 15. William Bray Doctor of Divinity an English-man between whom and the said Archerus had been a long continued Band of friendship even from their childhood Being Archdeacon of Rhemes he was created by the same Pope Cardinal of S. Mark Anno 1262. He died
and Bishop of Winchester was created Cardinal of S. Eusebius by Pope Martin the Eighth June 23. 1426. He died April 11. 1447. and was buried in his own Church 37. Henry Chichely was created Cardinal Anno 1428. saith the Author of Antiquit. Britan. 38. John Kemp Archbishop of York was ordained Cardinal of S. Eusebius August 9. 1439. long after being Archbishop of Canterbury he was removed to the Title of S. Ruffinus 39. Thomas Bourchier Archbishop of Canterbury was created by Pope Paul the Second Cardinal S. Syriaci in Thermis Anno 1464. He died March 30. 1486. 40. John Morton Archbishop of Canterbury was by Pope Alexander the Fifth created Cardinal S. Anastasii Anno 1493. He died Anno 1500. 41. Christopher Bainbrigg Archbishop of York was made a Cardinal S. Praxedis Anno 1511. 42. Thomas Wolsey Archbishop of York was created Cardinal S. Coeciliae September 7. He died November 29. 1530. 43. John Fisher Dâ—ctor of Divinity and Bishop of Rochester was made Cardinal S. Vitalis for refusing the King's supremacy and dissallowing his marriage wiâ—h the Lady Anne Bolen he was beheaded on the Tower-hill 1535. 44. Reginald Pool afterward Archbishop of Canterbury was created Cardinal by Pope Paul the Third May 22. 1536. and had three several Titles the first S. Nerei Achillei then S. Mariae in Cosmedin and lastly S. Prisâ—ae He died November 7. 1558. 45. Peter Petow a Friar was made Cardinal by Pope Paul the Fourth June 13. 1557. and also nominated by him unto the Bishoprick of Sarum and all to cross and disgrace Cardinal Pool He died in France within the compass of the same year and might never set Foot in England to make shew of his red Hat as doubtless he greatly desired to have done 46. William Allen born in England He raised a great combustion in our Church This fugitive was born in Lancashire and brought up in Orial Colledge he ran away beyond the Seas for his treasonable practices against his Countrey he was by the Pope and other Enemies of the same promoted to divers Ecclesiastical preferments and lastly had a Cardinal's hat bestowed upon him in August 1587. He died a Priest-cardinal S. Martini in Montibus 1594. and was buried in the Church of the English Colledge at Rome Of the several Orders and Monks that have been in England Ex Fuleri Eccles Hist 1. MAthew Paris tells us that in his time Tot jam apparuerunt ordines in Anglia ut ordinum confusio videretur inordinata there then appeared so many Orders in England that there seemed to be an inordinate confusion of Orders 1. The Benedictines or black Monks the primitive Monks in England so called from St. Benedict or Bennet an Italian first Father and founder of that Order Augustine the Monk first brought them ovâ—r into England and these black Monks first nested in Canterbury whence they have flown out into all the parts of the Kingdom For as Clement Reyner observeth rightly all the Abbies of England before King William the Conqueror and some while after were filled with this Order and though the Augustinians were their Seniors in Europe yet they were their Juniors in England The same Order was afterwards set forth in a new edition corrected and amended under the names of First Cluniacks These were Benedictines refined with some additionals invented and imposed upon them by Odo the Fourth of Clugny in Normandy who lived Anno 913. But these Cluniacks came not into England till after the Norman Conquest and had their richest Covents at Barnstable in Devon-shire Pontefract and Meaux in York-shire c. Secondly Sistercians so called from one Robert living in Cistercium in Burgundy He the second time refined the drossie Benedictines and Walter Espick first established their Order in England at Rival in York-shire besides which they have had many other pleasant and plentiful habitations at Warden and Woburn in Bedford-shire Buckland and Ford in Devon-shire Bindon in Dorset-shire c. The Bernardine Monks were of a younger house or under-branch of the Cistercians King John built an Abbey of the Cistercian Order at Beaulieu in Hant-shire Thirdly Of Grandmont which observed St. Bennet's rule These were brought into England Anno 1233. and were principally fixed at Abberbury in Shrop-shire These Benedictines with their several branches were so numerous and so richly endowed that in their revenues they did match all the Orders in England especially if the foundations of Benedictine Nuns be joyned in the same reckoning 2. The Augustinian Monks succeed it is conceived that Eudo the Dapifer or Sewer to King Henry the First first brought them into England Anno 1105. and that St. Johns at Colchester was the prime place of their residence Doctor Fuller saith that Waltham Abbey for Benedictines at the first had it's Copy altered and bestowed on Augustinians These Augustinians were also called Canons Regular This Order in England brought forth seventy eminent Writers and one in Germany worth them all in effect I mean Martin Luther who gave a mortal wound to all these Orders yea to the root of the Romish Religion 3. Gilbertine Monks a mongrel Order observing some select rules Camden in Lincoln-shire partly of St. Bennet partly of St. Augustine so named from Gilbert son to Joceline a Knight Lord of Sempringham in Lincoln-shire Being backed with the Authority of Pope Eugenius the Third he ordained a Sect consisting of men and women which so grew and encreased that himself laid the foundations of thirteen Religious houses of this Order 4. Carthusian Monks much famed for their mortified lives and abstinence from all flesh Bruno first founded them in the Dolphinate in France Anno 1080. and some sixty years after they were first brought over into England William de long a Spata Earl of Salisbury founded the first house of Carthusian Monks at Heltrop whose wife Ela after his death founded the house of Nuns at Lacock in Wilt-shire and there continued her self Abbess of the place The Books of the English Carthusians were many there being no less than eleven hundred Authors of them their writings tend much to mortification and out of them Parsons the Jesuite hath collected a good part of his resolutions Of the Benedictine Monks there is reported to have been of that Order twenty four Popes of Rome one hundred eighty two Cardinals one thousand four hundred sixty four Archbishops and Bishops fifteen thousand and seventy Abbots of renown Pope John the Twenty second saith there have been of this Order five thousand six hundred fifty six Monks Canonized and made Saints The cloathing and rule of the Cluniacks was according to the appointment of St. Benedicts rule The Cestercians wear red shooes and white rochets on a black coat they are all shoâ—â— saâ—e a little circle The Order of those of Grandmont is to lead a strait life as Monks use to do to give themselves to Watching Fasting and Prayer to wear a coat of Males upon their bodies and a black
cloak thereupon The Augustinians or Regular Canons their cloathing by their first foundation was a white coat and a linnen rotchet under a black cope with a scapular to cover their head and shoulders The Gilbertines may boast that whereas Benedictines are by original Italians Augustinians African Carthusians French Dominicans Spanish c. they are pure English by the extraction of their Order The life of the Carthusians was outwardly full of painted holiness in forbearing flesh in fasting from bread and water every Friday in wearing hair-clothes next their body they were addicted to much silence and solitariness never going abroad refusing all women's company with other like ceremonies Of the several sorts of Friars that have been in England HEre it will be necessary to premise what was the distinction between the Monks and Friars The most essential difference is this Monks had nothing in propriety nor in common but being Mendicants begged all their subsistence from the charity of others Indeed they had houses or cells to dwell in or rather to hide themselves in but they had no means thereunto belonging But it may be Objected That many Convents of Friars had large and ample Revenues amounting to some hundreds though never thousands by the year I Answer That from the beginning of the Institution of Friars it was not so These additions of Lands unto them was of latter date not of their seeking but of their Benefactors casting upon them We begin with their four elemental Orders Wickliff commonly inveigheth against Friars under the name of C. A. J. M. C. Carmelites A. Augustinians J. Jacobines M. Minorites or Dominicans Franciscans An uncharitable Rythmer thus le ts fly at them Per decies binos Sathanas capiat Jacoboinas Propter errores Jesu confunde Minores Augustienses pater inclyte sterne per enses Et Carmelitas tanquam falsos Heremitas Sunt Confessores Dominorum seu Dominarum Et seductores ipsraum sunt animarum 1. Of these Anno 1221 the Dominicans were the first Friars which came over into England being but twelve in number with Gilbert de Fraxineto their Prior first landed at Canterbury fixed at Oxford but richly endowed at London They were commonly called Black Friars Preaching Friars and Jacobine Friars They took their name from St. Dominick born at Calogora in Spain and Hubert de Burgo Earl of Kent was their chief Patron bestowing his Palace in the Suburbs of London upon them which afterwards they sold to the Archbishops of York residing therein till by some transactions between King Henry the Eighth and Cardinal Wolsey it became the Royal Court now known by the name of Whitehall Afterwards by the bounty of Gregory Rocksley Lord Mayor of London and Robert Kilwarby Archbishop of Canterbury they were more conveniently lodged in two Lanes on the bank of Thames and still retaining the name of Black Friars no fewer than eighty English writers are accounted of this Order at this day As beyond the Seas they are much condemned for being the sole active managers of the cruel Spanish Inquisition so they deserve due commendation for their Orthodox Judgements in maintaining some controversies in Divinity of importance against the Jesuites 2. Franciscans follow commonly called Gray Friers or Minorites either in allusion to Jacob's words sum minor omnibus beneficiis tuis or from some other humble expressions in the New Testament They received their name from St. Francis born in the Dutchy of Spoletum in Italy Canonized by Pope Gregory the Ninth about two years after whose death the Franciscans came over into England and one Diggs Ancestor to Sir Dudley Diggs bought for them their first seat in Canterbury who afteward were diffused all over England They were well-skilled in School-divinity and had a curious Library in London built by Richard Whittington in that age costing five hundred and fifty pounds One Bernard of Siena about the year 1400. refined the Franciscans into Observants King Edward the Fourth first brought them into England where they had six famous Cloysters since which time there have been a new Order of Minims begun beyond the Seas Recollects Penitentaries Capuchins c. seeing they had their rise since the fall of Abbies in England they belong not to our present enquiry c. This Order afforded in England a hundred and ten Learned Writers 3. Carmelites or White Friars come next so named from Mount Carmel brought over into England in the Reign of King Richard the First by Ralph Freeborn and placed at Alnwick in Northumberland in a wilderness most like unto Carmel in Syria whose Convent at their dissolution in the Reign of King Henry the Eighth was at low rates in that cheap County valued at one hundred ninety and four pound and seven shillings per Annum Speeds Catal. p. 795. Reyner de Apostolatu Benedictinorum p. 164 Vide the Catalog in Fullers Church Hist l. 6. p. 272 by which we may see that even Mendicant Friars had houses endowed even with Revenues Hi cum primis Monachis Britonum Scororum ex Aegypto Palestina in Britanicas Insulas Monachatum intulerunt It is said in the praise of our Carmelites that they were most careful in keeping the Records of their Order Let them thank John Bale herein once of them who in his youth made the Catalogue out of love to his Order and in his old age preserved it out of his affection to Antiquity This Order was vertical and in the highest exaltation thereof in the Reign of King Edward the Fourth under Nicholas Kenton their twenty fifth Provincial They reckoned no fewer than one thousand five hundred of their Order But when John Milverton his successor began in favour of Friary furiously to ingage against Bishops and the Secular Clergy the Carmelites good Masters and Dames began to forsake them and they never recovered their credit till they were utterly dissolved John Bird the one and thirtieth Provincial of this Order zealously impugned the Pope's Supremacy in his Sermons for which he was made the first Bishop of Chester and was ejected that See in the Reign of Queen Mary because he was married The Carmelites boast very much of one Simon Stock of their Order Stow's Survay of London p. 821. a Kentish boy which being but twelve years old went out into the Woods and there fed on roots and wild fruit living in the trunk of an hollow Tree whence he got the Sirname of Stock Having a revelation that soon after Some should come out of Syria and confirm his Order which came to pass when the Carmelites came hither he afterwards became Master General of their Order to whom the respective Provincials are accountable and is said to be famous for his miracles 4. Augustinian Eremites they entred England Anno 1252. and had their first habitation at St. Peters in the Poor in London These probably taking the denomination of poverty otherwise at this day a very rich Parish in the City because the said Augustinian
Eremites went under the notion of begging Friars Mean time what a mockery was this as Doctor Fuller observeth that these should pretend to be Eremites who instead of a wide Wilderness lived in Broad-street London where their Church now belongeth to the Dutch Congregation These Augustine Friars were good Disputants Peacon's Relicks of Rome The Order of the Dominicans is without all shame to beg and forsake little by wilful poverty that they may obtain much and to wax rich of other mens labours they themselves being idle lazy and unprofitable drones of the Earth Their coat is white their cope and coule is black The new guise of their vesture made Pope Innocent to wonder But Pope Honorius the Third by his Bull honourably admitted the black Order of the Black Friars The Gray Friars or Franciscans go barefooted as Francis their founder did and gird themselves with a cord wearing a little coule whence some think they are called Minorites Some of them be called Friars Observants and are counted of more holiness than the common sort of Gray Friars are which are called Minorites At first the colour of their cope was russet but afterward was turned into white by Pope Honorius the Third This Order saith the Dutch Chronicle is to begg to take of every man and to do nothing again for it They lye dissemble and beguile the people with flattering words under the pretence of long prayer William Duke of Aquitain and Count of Lectavia invented or rather renued the Order of the Augustine Friars which had been before long decayed This William first dwelt in the Wilderness with his Brethren chastised his flesh and subdued it with a coat of male on his bare Body Praying VVatching and Fasting night and day so that he was called a Father and Restorer of that Order Thus much for the four principal sorts of Friers The following Orders were but additional Descants upon the former with some variations of their Founders among whom were 1. THE Trinitarians for whom Robert Rooksley built first an house at Mottingden in Kent they were called also de Redemptione Captivorum whose work was to beg money of well-disposed people for the ransoming of Christians in captivity with the Pagans 2. The Crouched Friars who came over into England 1244. with the Pope's Authentick and this unusual priviledge that none should reprove their Order or upbraid them or command them under pain of excommunication Some say they carried a cross on their staves others on their backs called in French a Crouch the place of Crouched Friars in London still retaineth the Name 3. The Bonhomes or good men being also Eremites brought over into England by Richard Earl of Cornwal in the Reign of his Brother King Henry the Third so stiled because of their signal goodness These Bonhomes though begging Friars the poorest of Orders and Eremites the most sequestred of begging Friars had two and it is believed no more Covents in all England Monks onely excepted the one at Asheridge in Buckingham-shire now the mansion of the Right Honourable the Earl of Bridgewater it was valued at the dissolution yearly at four hundred forty seven pound eight shillings half-penny The other at Eddingdon in Wilt-shire the late habitation of the Lady Beauchamp valued when dissolved at five hundred twenty one pound twelve shillings half-penny In the year 1257. arose two new Orders both of them were fixed in Cambridge the first the brethren De paenitentia Jesu otherwise Fratres Saccati brethren of the Sack whose Cell is since turned into Peter-house Matthew Paris gives this account of them at their first coming into England Eodem tempore quidam novus ordo fratrum Londini apparuit incognitus Papale tamen autenticum palam ostendens ita ut tot ordinum confusio videretur qui quia saccis incedebant induti Fratres Saccati vocabantur It is most likely that this avaritious Pope Alexander instituted this new Order to help fill his bag and Sachel by these Fratres Saccati employed to promote his rapines and revenues as the Friars Minorites and Predicants were The other were the Bethlemites dwelling somewhere in Trompington-street and wearing a Star with five raies on their backs I will conclude with the Robertines who owe their original to one Robert Flower who had been twice Mayor of York who forsaking the fair Lands left him by his Father betook himself to a solitary life about the rocks in Nidsdale in York-shire and it seemeth at Knaresborough the first and last house was erected for his Order Of the Templars and Hospitallers THE Inner Temple and Middle Temple in London do now stand in the very place where in times past in the Reign of King Henry the Second Heraclius Patriarch of Jerusalem Consecrated a Church for Knights Templars which they had newly built according to the form of the Temple near unto the Sepulchre of our Lord at Jerusalem For at their first institution about the year of our Lord 1113. they dwelt in part of the Temple hard by the Sepulchre whereof they were so named they vowed Poverty Chastity and Obedience to defend Christian Religion the holy Land and Pilgrims going to visit the Lord's Sepulchre against all Mahometans and Infidels whereupon all men most willingly and most cordially embraced them so that through the bounâ—eous liberality of Princes and devout people having gotten in all places very fair possessions and exceeding great wealth they flourished in great reputation for Piety and Devotion yea and in the opinion Gamdens description of London both of the holiness of the men and of the place King Henry the Third and many Noble men desired much to be buried in their Church among them some of whose Images are there to be seen with their leggs across for so they were buried in that age That had taken upon them the Cross as they then termed it to serve in the holy Land or had vowed the same But in process of time when with unsatiable greediness they had hoorded up great wealth by withdrawing Tithes from Churches appropriating spiritual livings to themselves and other hard means from Almes-men they turned Lords and though very Valiant at the first for they were sworn rather to die than to fly afterwards they grew lazy they laughed at the Rules of their first Institution as at the swadling-clothes of their Infancy neglecting the Patriarch at length partly their vitiousness and partly their wealth caused their final extirpation Pope Clement having long sojourned in France Fullers Supplement of the Hist of the Holy War l. 5. c. 1. had received many real Courtesies from King Philip the Fair At last Philip requested of the Pope all the Lands of the Knights Templars through France forfeited as was pretended by reason of their horrible Heresies and licentious living The Pope was willing to gratifie him in some good proportion for his favours received and therefore being thus long the King's Guest he gave him the Templars Lands and Goods
to pay for his entertainment On a sudden all the Templars in France are clapt in prison damnable sins are laid to their charge and they most cruelly burned to death at a stake with James the Grand Master of their Order All Europe followed the Copy that France had set them Here in England King Edward the Second of that name suppressed the Order and put them to death So by vertue of a Writ sent from him to Sir John Wogan Lord Chief Justice in Ireland were they served there and such was the secrecy of the contrivance of the business that the storm fell upon them ere they were aware of it In England their possessions were by Authority of Parliament assigned to the Hospitaller-Knights of St. John of Jerusalem least that such Lands given to good and pious uses against the Donour's will should be given to other uses At the North-side of the City of London John Briset a rich and devout man built an House for the Knights Hospitallers of St. John of Jerusalem which in time grew so great that it resembled a Palace and had in it a very fair Church and a Tower-steeple raised to so great height with so fine workmanship that while it stood it was a singular beauty and ornament to the City These Knights Hospitallers at their first Institution about the year 1124. and long after were so lowly all the while they continued poor that their Governor was stiled servant to the poor servitors of the Hospital of Jerusalem like as the Master of the Templars who shortly after arose was termed The Humble Minister of the poor Knights of the Temple The Hospitallers ware a white Cross upon their upper black Garment and by solemn profession were bound to serve Pilgrims and poor people in the Hospital of St. John at Jerusalem and to secure the passages thither they charitably buried the dead they were assiduous in prayer mortified themselves with watchings and fastings they were courteous and kind to the poor Camd. descrip of London whom they called their Masters and fed with white bred while themselves lived with brown and carried themselves with great austerity whereby they purchased to themselves the love and liking of all sorts and through the bounty of good Princes and private persons admiring their piety and prowess they rose from this low degree to so high an Estate and great riches that they did after a sort wallow in wealth and riches For about the year of our Lord 1240. they had within Christendom nineteen thousand Lordships or Mannors like as the Templars nine thousand And this estate of theirs grown to so great an height made way for them to as great Honours so as their Prior in England was reputed the prime Baron of the Land called the Lord of St. Johns and able with fulness and abundance of all things to maintain an honourable Port untill that King Henry the Eighth gat their Lands and livings into his own hands like as he did of the Monasteries also They out lived all other Orders yet at last they fell into a Praemunire for they still continued their obedience to the Pope contrary to their Allegiance whose Usurped authority was banished out of the Land They were forced to resign all into the King's hands He allowed to Sir William Weston Weavers Monum p. 114. Lord Prior of the Order an annual pension of One thousand pounds But he never received a penny thereof but died instantly struck to the heart when he first heard of the dissolution of his Priory and lyeth buried in the Chauncel of Clarkenwell with the pourtraiture of a dead man lying on his shroud most artificially cut in Stone others had rent assigned them of two hundred pound one hundred pound sixty pound fifty pound twenty pound ten pound according to their several qualities and deserts Queen Mary sets up the Hospitallers again and Sir Thomas Tresham of Rushton in Northampton-shire was the first and last Lord Prior after their Restitution for their nests were plucked down before they were warm in them by the coming in of Queen Elizabeth Of the English Nuns I Come now to Nuns almost as numerous in England as Monks and Friers as having though not so many Orders yet more of the same Order The weaker sex hath ever equalled men in their Devotion often exceeded them in their Superstition At Liming in Kent the Daughter of King Ethelbert took the veile and became the first English Nun. There was an Hermophrodite Order as is aforesaid admitting both Men and Women under the same roof and during the life of Gilbert their first founder for seven hundred Brethren there were one thousand one hundred Sisters entred into that Order Doctor Fuller divides the Nuns into three sorts First The Antientest Secondly The Poorest Thirdly The latest Nuns in England 1. Of the first sort he accounteth the She Benedictines commonly called black Nuns Bennet the Monk after he had placed himself and his Monkish Brethren in a certain Noble and Famous Cloyster upon the Mount Cassinus raised up also an Order of Nuns and made his Sister Scholastica Abbess over them The apparrel of these black Nuns is a black coat cloak coule and veyl and least the Scripture should deceive her and hers it was commanded that none of that Order should read the Holy Scripture without consent or permission of their Superior 2. The poorest follow being the strict Order of St. Clare a Lady living at the same time and in the same Town with St. Francis she assembled and gathered together a Congregation of poor Women and gave them an Order of life like unto the rule that Frier Francis gave his Covent Their garment is gray their Order admitteth none but women-kind except it be to say Mass 3. The Nuns of St. Bridget were the latest in England first setled here in the second year of King Henry the Fifth Anno Domini 1415. dissolved with the rest Anno 1538. so that they continued here onely one hundred twenty three years Bridget Queen of Sweden gave them their name and Institution Men and Women living under the same roof the VVomen above the Men beneath They were seated at Sion in Middlesex which King Henry the Fifth having expelled from thence the Monks Aliens built for Religious Virgins to the Honour of our Saviour the Virgin Mary and St. Bridget of Sion In this Sion he appointed so many Nuns Priests and Lay-brethren divided apart within their several VValls as were in number forsooth equal to Christ's Apostles and Disciples viz. eighty five I. Sisters Sixty II. Priests Thirteen III. Deacons Four IV. Lay-brethren Eight Having bestowed sufficient maintenance upon them King Henry provided by a Law that contenting themselves therewith they should take no more of any man but what overplus soever remained of their yearly Revenue they should bestow it upon the poor Thomas Walsingham saith Walsingh in Henric. V. if afterwards the whole VVorld should proffer them Farmes and possessions
it was utterly unlawful for them to accept any thing thereof This Order had but this one Covent in England and so wealthy it was that at the dissolution it was valued yearly worth one thousand nine hundred forty four pounds eleven shillings eight pence farthing This Order constantly kept their Audit on All Saints Eve October 31. and the day after All Souls being the third of November No Covents of England more carefully kept their Records than the Priory of Clarkenwel Speeds Catal. of Religious Houses p. 793. to whose credit it is registred There is a perfect Catalogue from their first foundation to their dissolution of all their Prioresses defective in all other houses Sir Thomas Chaloner not long ago built a spatious house within the close of that Priory upon the frontispiece whereof these Verses were inscribed Casta fides superest velatae tuta sorores Ista relegatae deseruere licet Nam venerandus Hymen hic vota jugalia servat Vestalemque focum mente fovere studet Chast Faith still stay 's behind though hence be flown Those veiled Nuns who here before did nest For reverend Mariage wedlock-vowes doth own And sacred flames keep 's here in Loyal breast Here I shall say little of the Houses for Leprous people though indeed they deserved more charity than all the rest Burton-lazars of Leicester-shire was the best endowed house for that purpose for so they used to tearm people infected with the Leprosie Camden in Leicester-shire Here was a rich Spittle-house or Hospital under the Master whereof were in some sort all other Spittle-houses or Lazar-houses in England like as himself also was under the Master of the Lazars in Jerusalem It was founded in the first age of the Normans by a common contribution over all England and the Mowbraies especially did set to their helping hands But as that Disease came into England by the holy VVar so it ended with the end thereof FINIS THE TABLE A ABbey of Battel founded by K. William the Conqueror Page 37 Abbey of Cnobsherburg by whom founded 17 Abbey of Crowland founded 21 Abbey of Peterborough burnt by the Danes with an excellent Library therein 25 Abbey at Glastonbury founded by King Ina 21 Abbey of St. Edmond founded and endowed by King Canutus 34 Abbeys and Religious Houses dissolved 149 Adelme the first English-man who wrote in Latine 20 Pope Adrian the fourth an English-man 44 Pope Agatho composeth the differences betwixt the two Archbishops 17 Alcuinus Scholar to Venerable Bede and Tutor to Charles the Great 23 S. Alban the Proto-martyr of Britain pag. 5. he is Canonized 23 Altars taken down by publick Authority 171 King Alfred England's deliverer from the Danish Tyranny his Story from pag. 26. ad pag. 30 Abbey of Val-royal in Cheshire founded by King Edward the first 105 All-souls Colledge in Oxford by whom founded 130 King Athelstan a great Benefactour to the Church of S. John of Beverley pag. 31. he commands the payment of Tithes Ib. Anne Ascough her Martyrdom 157 An Act passed for restoring the Tenths and First-fruits to the Crown 209 An Act for the Dissolution of all such Monasteries Covents c. as had been founded by Queen Mary 209 Articles passed in the Convocation in the first year of Queen Elizabeth 210 Abbey of Westminster converted to a Collegiate Church 221 The thirty nine Articles composed 227 Arthur King of Britain 10 St. Asaph 11 Aurelius Ambrosius King of Britain 10 Duke of Anjou cometh into England 242 Alanus Copus 243 Annates or First-fruits when brought into England 103 Richard Armachanus Primate of Ireland 112 Anabaptists Convicted and Censured 171 172 Thomas Arundel Archbishop of Canterbury his lamentable end 125 Augustine the Monk sent into England Thousands Baptized by him in one day 12 He is the first Archbishop of Canterbury his death 14 Archbishop Abbot Confined 299 Abbey of Evesham founded and endowed by King Offa 21 The Assembly at Glaschow pass Acts for the overthrow of Episcopacy the Service-book and the Canons c. 313 Alhunus Bishop of Holy-Island removeth his See and Covent to Durham 33 A new Representative called the Agreement of the people 345 Alexander Alesius a Learned Scot. 169 B BAbington's Conspiracy page 248 Bacon a good School-man and Mathematician 107 Bertha wife to King Ethelbert 12 John Baconthorp a Learned English-man 111 Thomas Becket Archbishop of Canterbury his story 45 46 47 His translation and enshrining 70 John of Beverley who gave Education to Bede 21 Bede Sirnamed Venerable his Birth Learning Writings and Death 22 Birth of our Saviour 1 Birinus converteth the West-Saxons 16 Bodies when first brought to be buried in Churches 23 Bernard Bishop of S. David's denies subjection to the Archbishop of Canterbury 42 Hubert de Burgo Earl of Kent his story 75 Brazen-nose Colledge in Oxford when and by whom founded 138 Biddle a Socinian 359 Thomas Bradwardine Archbishop of Canterbury his story and writings 33 Christian Britan's Celebrated the Passover contrary to the Constitutions of the Romane Church 4 How long the Britans remained under the Romane yoke 4 Britans driven into Britain in France Wales and Cornwal 9 Britans escaped all the persecutions of the Heathen Roman Emperours except the last under Dioclesian 5 British Bishops in the Councils of Arbes Nice Sardis and Ariminum 6 When Bishops Seats were altered from Villages to great Cities 38 Bishops Imprisoned by King Stephen 43 Robert Brus King of Scotland 105 The Battel at Bannocks-borough 106 Beginning of the Broyls between the two Houses of Lancaster and York 131 Bainham a Martyr 147 Bilney burnt 146 Henry Beauford and Cardinal the Founder of S. Crosses Hospital 131 The Popes Bulls of Provision for Ecclesiastical promotions 103 Archbishop Boniface his making way for Popes Appropriating First-fruits unto themselves 80 The Bishoprickes of Westminster Oxford Peterborough Bristol and Chester erected by Henry the eight 154 Bishoprick of Westminster dissolved 221 Protestant Bishops placed in the Sees of the Popish Prelates 212 Bernard Gilpin refuseth the Bishoprike of Carlila 215 Bishops with other Divines met at Lambeth resolved on divers Articles 258 Earl Bothwel married to the Queen of Scots fleeth out of Scotland 232 Twelve Bishops Impeached and sent to the Tower 238 The Counterfeit Boy of Bilson 282 Dr. Bastwick Prynne and Burton Censured 305 Brown and Harrison inveigh against Bishops c. 245 Bishops of S. Andrews and Glasscow and Abbot of Scone put in Iron-chains and Imprisoned in Port-chester Castle 104 105 The King's Palace of Bridewel given to the City of London for a work-house 177 The Bible Translated in the Reign of King Henry the eighth King Edward the sixth and Queen Elizabeth 161 Bible Translated in King James his Reign 273 ad 276 D. Bound's Book about the Sabbath 257 The first Bailiffs of London 348 Every Parish when bound to provide a Bible in English and a Register-book to be kept there 150 Bishop Bonner a cruel Persecutor doomed to perpetual Imprisonment
212 M. Bucer his coming into England he takes the Chair at Cambridge his death 169 Buckingham-shire Martyrs many before Luther's time 139 Benedictus Biscopius the first Glass in England was his Gift 17 The Fatal Vespers at Black-friers 291 A Bill Signed against Bishops Voting as Peers in Parliament 229 Walter Burley a Great Philosopher 113 C. CAursines what they were when they first came into England page 74 The Book of Canons made 269 Cadwallader the last King of the stock of Britans 19 Caerleon in Wales the Court of King Arthur the See of an Archbishop a Colledge of two hundred Philosophers 11 Cadocus Abbot of Llancanvan in Glamorgan-shire his charity and liberality 11 Caransius made a League with the Britains and expelled the Romans and made himself King 5 Congel Abbot of Bangor 11 Colmkil a famous Seminary of learning 16 Mr. Thomas Cartwright Articles tendred to him his imprisonment 253 Col. Edward Ashton and John Betley executed 361 Colledges erected beyond the Seas for English youth to be educated therein 234 235 Cridda first King of Mercia 9 Cerdicus first King of the West Saxons 10 Constantius Chlorus Emperor of France Spain and Britain he died and was buried at York 5 Constantine the Great born made King and Emperor first in Britain 6 A Council called at Hartford 18 A Council called at Cliffe in Kent by King Ethelbald and Cuthbert Archbishop of Canterbury 22 A Council at Hatfield 19 A Council at Bâ—canceld Another held at Berghamsteed by Withred King of Kent 20 A Council held by Wolphred Archbishop of Canterbury at Celichyth 24 A Council assembled at Alncester to promote the building of Evesham-abbey 2â— A Council of Saxon and British Bishops assembled under an Oak in the borders of Worcester and Hereford-shires 12 A Council at Intingford 30 Divers Councils kept in the Reign of King Athelston viz. at Exceter Feversham Thunderfield and London and at Great Lea 31 Three Councils held in the time of Dunstan viz. at Winchester Cartlage in Cambridge-shire and Caln in Wilt-shire 32 Chelsey-colledge founded 277 A National Council held by Hoel Dha for all Wales at Tyquin 32 A Council of Bishops called by King William the First at Winton 37 A Council against Appeals to Rome 117 A Conference held at St. Albans 7 The University of Cambridge founded by King Sigebert 15 Cambridge wasted by the Danes 25 Conference between Dr. White and Dr. Featly Protestants and Fisher and White Jesuites 291 Isaac Causabon his Exercitations and death 280 281 Constellation of Cassiopeia 238 Conference at Hampton-Court 261 ad 269 A Convocation wherein the Lord Thomas Cromwel sate in State above all the Bishops 149 King Charles the First his story from 292 ad 347 A Council summoned by Archbishop Anselm at Westminster where all married Priests were excommunicated 41 A Council called at Westminster by Albericus Bishop of Hostia 43 A Council at Westminster in the Reign of King Henry the Second 48 A Council held at Oxford 71 A Council held at Lambeth by Iohn Peckham Archbishop of Canterbury 90 He summoneth another Council at Reading 96 A Council called by Thomas Arundel Archbishop of Canterbury at St. Pauls London 119 A Convocation in London 126 A Council called by Archbishop Morton to redress the luxury of the London Clergy in Cloathes and frequenting Taverns 137 King Charles the Second his story from 347 ad 385 Sir Iohn Old-castle Lord Cobâ—am his story from 123 ad 127 The persecution of the Lady Eleanor Cobbam 129 Christ-church Colledge in Oxford founded by Cardinal Wolsey 143 Miles Coverdale Bishop of Exeter 172 Iohn Colet a learned Englishman the founder of the Free-School of St. Pauls London 142 Canons and Converts of the Order of Sempingham turn Apostates 91 Contention between the two Archbishops of Canterbury and York 48 Alexander Cementarius his story 58 59 Sir Geoffry Chaucer when he flourished 113 Archbishop Cranmer his subscription to Popery for fear of death he retracteth his retractation he is burnt to ashes 202 Lord Thomas Cromwel his story from 149 ad 155 The Canons made by the Convocation Anno 1640 318 D. DAvid Unckle to King Arthur kept a Synod against the Pelagian error he removed his Archiepiscopal seat from Caerleon to Meneva now called St. Davids page 11 Danes when they first invaded England 23 Earl of Darby beheaded at Bolton 353 Iohn Duns Scotus or Dunensis 107 Dubitrius his Academy near the River Wye in Monmouth-shire 9 Diuma first Bishop of Mâ—rcia 17 Dioclesian and Maximian resign their Ensignes of Command 59 Davids Psalms when and by whom first translated into English metre 172 Lord Darby married to the Queen of Scots his death 230 232 Disputation between the Protestants and Papists 211 The Synod of Dort 283 284 University at Dublin founded 254 Dorchester in Oxford-shire the seat of Birinus his Bishoprick 16 Dunstan Archbishop of Canterbury his story 31 32 Dooms-day Book when made 37 Battel of Dunbar 350 E. ELvanus built a library near St. Peter's Church in Cornhil page 3 Eleutherius Bishop of Rome his letter to King Lucius ib. Ella first King of the South-Saxons 9 Kingdom of the East-Saxons what it contained and when it began Exchenwin first King thereof 9 Kingdom of the East-Angles what it contained when it began their conversion advanced by King Sigebert 15 Edmond King of the East-Angles murdered by the Danes 26 Ethelbert King of Kent embraceth Christianity 12 Ethelfred King of Northumberland killeth one thousand two hundred Monks of Bangor he is slain by the Britains 13 Egbert King of the West-Saxons made himself sole Monarch of England 23 Erkenwald a Bishop founder of the Monasteries of Chertsey in Surrey and Barking in Essex 19 Edilwalch King of the South-Saxons is baptized 19 Edwyn the son of Ethelfred becometh a Christian 14 Ethelwolph King of the West-Saxons granteth the Tenth of all his Lands to God and his Ministers c. his story 24 Kind Edward the Elder restoreth the University of Cambridge expells the Danes c. 30 Elphege Bishop of Canterbury stoned by the Danes 33 Eaton Colledge founded by King Henry the Sixth 131 Edward the Confessor his Ecclesiastical Laws his hereditary vertue left to his successors to cure the Kings Evil 35 England freed from the Danes 35 England interdicteded for six years in the Reign of King Iohn 57 Edmond Archbishop of Canterbury Canonized 80 King Edward the First his story from 86. ad 105 Edward the Second his story from 105. ad 109 Edward the Third his story from 109. ad 114 Edward the Sixth his story from 154. ad 179 Queen Elizabeth her troubles during her Sister's Reign 190 The story of her Reign from 206. ad 261 Edinburgh Castle surrendred to O. Cromwel by Colonel Dundasse 351 F. PAulus Fagius and M. Bucer their bodies taken out of their Graves and burnt 203 The Sect of the Family of Love 239 Flamines and Archflamines their places turned into Bishopricks and Archbishopriks by King Lucius 3
Finan converted the East-Saxons 16 Focariae Concubines to the Canons they are imprisoned in the Tower Iohn Frith a learned man burnt in Smith-field 148 First-fruits Office when set up in London 150 Iohn Fisher Bishop of Rochester beheaded 148 Mr. Iohn Fox with some others settle themselves at Basil in Queen Maries days 200 His death 250 Fifth Monarchy-men apprehended 360 Iohn Ficknam made Abbot of Westminster 196 The troubles of Franckford 197 198 Robert Farrars Bishop of St. Davids imprisoned in King Edward's days and burnt in Queen Maries days 175 Florentius first Bishop of Argentine or Strausburg 17 G. GAsper Haywood the first Jesuite that ever set foot in England 246 Gospel first planted in Britain 1 Britain first received the Gospel by publick Authority 2 Germanus Bishop of Auxerre is sent for into Britain to suppress Pelagianism 7 Gospel first planted by Augustine among the Saxons 12 Five Grammar Schools erected in London 129 Stephen Gardiner Bishop of Winchester he fell sick the same day that Bishop Ridley and Latimer were burnt his sad end 194 A Gun shot at Dr. Pendleton preaching at Pauls cross 193 Lady Jane Gray proclaimed Queen of England 179 She and her husband the Lord Guilford Dudley and her Father the Duke of Suffolk are beheaded 188 Guthlake the first Saxon Eremite in England 21 Robert Grosthed Bishop of Lincoln 80. 81 The Gun-powder plot 270. 271 Archbishop Grindal a patron of prophecyings and how they were modelled 241 Godfrey Goodman Bishop of Glocester committed to the Gate-house for refusing to subscribe the Canons made Anno 1640. 320 He dies a Papist ibid. H. HArold the Son of Earl Godwyn King of England he is slain at Battel in Sussex 36 Hardiknout the last of the Danish Kings in England 35 Alexander Hales an English-man Master to Thomas Aquinas and Bonaventure 107 Honorius Archbishop of Canterbury divided England into Parishes 16 Helvetia converted by Gallus ib. Hengist Captain of the Saxons invadeth Britain 8 He is King of Kent 9 An Heptarchy established in Britain 9 Swallowed up in the West Saxons Monarchy 10 Robert Holcot a learned English man 112 Duke Hamilton Earl of Holland and Lord Capel beheaded 348 Hubba the Dane killeth Hedda the Abbot of Peterborough and eighty four Monks with his own hand 25 King Henry the Third his story from 68. ad 86 Henry the Fourth his story from 118. ad 123 Henry the Fifth his story from 123. ad 127 Henry the Seventh his story from 135. ad 140 Henry the Eighth his story from 141. ad 157 Sir Henry Slingsby and Dr. Huet beheaded 361 Hospital at Greenwich founded by William Lambert 250 Hospitals of Christ-church in London and St. Thomas in Southwark founded 176. 177 The Statute made Pro Haenetico comburendo 119 Death of Prince Henry 280 John Hooper and Iohn Rogers founders of Non-conformity 169 Bishop Hall's Book in defence of the divine right of Episcopacy 317 Dr. Iohn Hacket defendeth Deans and Chapters 325 A sad contest between Mr. Rich. Hooker and Mr. Walter Travers 255 King Charles the First his Dispute with Mr. Alexander Henderson 342 I. KIng James his birth page 230 His story from 261. ad 293 Impropriations bought in to maintain a preaching Ministry 301 The Impostures of Hacket Arthington and Coppinger 253 Ilfutus a profound Scholar 11 Ina King of the West Saxon sets forth his Saxon Laws 20 He first granted Peter-pence to the Pope out of this Kingdom 22 Iohannes Scotus Erigena murthered in the Abbey of Malmesbury 30 Iohn King of England his story from 51. ad 68 Jews crucifie a Child at Oxford their punishment 85 Their banishment out of England ibid. Ioachim Abbot of Calabria 49 Ida King of Northumberland 10 Images taken away in most places of England 160 Inquisitors appointed to search out for Hereticks with all Wickliffs Books 123 Many Italians held the best Livings in England a Statute made against it Four Italians followed each other in the See of Worcester 137 Iohn Iewel chosen to pen the first gratulatory letter to Queen Mary by his enemies page 184 He subscribeth the Popish Tenets 187 He bewails his fall in the Congregation at Franckford he is made Bishop of Sarum 187 His chalenge 218 His Apology 226 Such Irish Impropriations as were in the Crown restored to the Church 304 Dr. William Juxon Lord Treasurer ib. K. COlonel Ker taken prisoner by Lambert 351 Kingdom of the South Saxons comprehending Sussex and Surrey when it began 9 The beginning of the Kingdom of Kent 9 Kentigern Bishop of Elwy in North Wales 11 John Kemp Archbishop of Canterbury built the Divinity School in Oxford and Pauls Cross 132 Kenulphus King of the West Saxons conferreth large priviledges on the Monastery of Abingdon 169 Kings of England of old sent their Crowns to St. Edmond's shrine 34 Kimbeline King of Britain at the birth of our Saviour 1 Kyngils King of the West Saxons is baptized by Birinus 16 Order of the Knights-Templars abolished throughout Christendom 106 Their Lands in England conferred on the Knights of St. John of Ierusalem ibid. Iohn Knox at Franckford preacheth against the English Liturgy as imperfect and superstitious He is rebuked by Dr. R. Cox He is accused to the State for High Treason against the Emperor Knox departeth the City 199 And setleth himself at Geneva 200 Kets Rebellion 166 Kilian the first Bish of Wortsburg first instructed the people of East France in the Christian Faith 17 The Bishop of Wortsburg carried a Sword and a Priest's Gown in his Badge ibid. L. HVgh Latimer resigneth his Bishoprick of Worcester rather than he would yield to the passing of the six Articles 169 Iohn Lambert his Martyrdom 153 Divers Liturgies in use in England till King William the Conqueror's time 39 Lollards after Abjuration forced to wear the fashion of a Faggot wrought in thread on their sleeves 141 The Scottish Liturgy translated into the Latin Tongue 317 An Apology for vindicating the Liturgy commended to the Kirk of Scotland 317 A publick Liturgy framed in King Edward his days 164 Iohn a Lasco with his Congregation of Germans setled at London the West part of the Church of Austin-friars allotted them p. 170 His Congregation dissolved 184 Iohn Lewis an Arrian burnt at Norwich 246 Levellers routed by Colonel Reinolds at Burford 349 Latimer and Ridley burnt at Oxford 194 Adam Loftus Archbishop of Dublin and Chancellor of Ireland 255 Matthew Lenox made Regent of Scotland 236 Earl of Leicester goes over into the Low-countries with a great Army 248 Mr. Love and Gibbons beheaded 352 Bartholomew Legatt an Arrian burnt 279 London burnt 381 The Commissioners of the High Commission at St. Pauls violently assaulted by Lilburn and the London Apprentices 321 Archbishop Laud impeached and sent to the Tower 323 And beheaded on Tower-hill ib. Lucius the first Christian King of Britain 2 His story 3. 4 Lupus Bishop of Troys cometh into Britain and refuteth the Heresie of Pelagius 7 English Liturgy translated into
French for the Isles of Iersey and Guernsey 309 The Liturgy translated into Welch 175 Luther when he arose 142 M. GEneral Monk his story from page 363. ad 371 Marquess of Montrosse defeated condemned and executed 350 Queen Mary her Reign from 180. ad 206 Maximus a Christian Prince Governor of Britain 9 Marianus Scotus 35 Walter Mapez his verses setting forth the Church of Rome in her colours 67 Thomas Merks Bishop of Carlile faithful to King Richard the Second 108 Medvinus sent to Rome 2 Kingdom of Mercia why so called and what Counties it contained 9 Mercia divided into five Bishopricks 19 The Goods of three Orders of Monks seized into the hands of King Edward the Third 110 The number of Monasteries suppressed in the Reign of King Henry the Eighth 153 The number of those that suffered Martyrdom for the Gospel in Queen Maries days 194 Peter Martyr sent for into England made Canon of Christ-church in Oxford 169. Quits the Realm in Queen Maries days 184 His Letters to Queen Elizabeth 220 His Wives body taken out of her grave and burnt after his departure 184 Bishop Morton contrives the Union of the two Houses of York and Lancaster 135 Nine hundred Monks slain in S. Augustines Abbey in Canterbury 33 Murrey Regent of Scotland 233 His Death 236 The French Massacre 238 The Millenary Petition 269 Richard Middleton entitled Doctor Fundatissimus 107 Sir Thomas Moor a Great enemy to the Protestants he was beheaded the next moneth after Bishop Fisher 149 Moratus an old British writer 3 N THe Names of those that were Archbishops of Loâ—don 3 Numbers of the Bishops Abbots Priors c. that were deprived in the beginning of Queen Elizabeth's Reign 213 George Nevil Archbishop of York his Prodigious Feast his Estate seized and his person Imprisoned 133 The Numbers of Colledges and Chaunteries Demolished in the Reign of King Henry the eighth 154 Kingdom of Northumberland subdivided into two Kingdoms viz. of Bernicia and Deira 10 Nuns of the Abbey of Ambresbury Convicted for Incontinency 51 Non-conformists in Queen Elizabeth's time of two sorts 229 231 James Nailor the Ring-leader of the Quakers publickly whipped pillored and Stigmatized 359 O OFfa King of Mercia founder of the Monastery of S. Albans bestoweth great lands upon it he was buried at Bedford 23 Osmond Bishop of Sarum deviser of that Service which after was observed in the whole Realm all Service Ordered to be secundum usum Sarum 39 Oswald second son of King Ethelfred converted by Aidan he disdained not to Preach to his Subjects and Nobles in the English Tongue 15 Oswald Bishop of Worcester Oswalds Law 31 William Occham the Author of the Sect called Nominales 112 The first use of Oaths in Ecclesiastical Courts in England 78 Oath of the King's Supremacy established 145 Writers for and against the Oath of Allegiance 272 The form of the Oath framed in the Convocation Anno 1640 319 The form of the Oath taken by every Student admitted into the Popish Seminaries 235 Oak of Reformation 167 Oliver Cromwel his Sory from 350 ad 361 The form of the Oath taken unto the Pope by every Popish Bishop at the taking of his Pall 139 Ordal for the trial of guilty persons 35 P PAtern Preacher at Lanpatern in Cardigan-shire 11 Pelagius born in Britain broacheth his Heresies publickly 7 Pelagianism condemned in Brittain in two Synods 8 S. Petrock Captain of the Cornish Saints 11 Paulinus baptizeth King Edwyn with all his Nobles and much people at York 15 Penda King of Mercia embraceth Christianity 16 Pleigmund Consecrateth seven Bishops in one day Mathew Parker Consecrated Archbishop of Canterbury Divers Bishops Consecrated him 212 Kellison's and Parson's slandering him to be Consecrated at the Nag's Head-tavern in Cheap-side 214 His Story 223 S. Paul's Church and Steeple in London burnt 222 Pope Pius Excommunicates Q. Elizabeth 235 The first setled Presbytery in England at Wandsworth in Surrey 237 Popish Priests and Jesuites executed 242 The Little Parliament 353 The Humble Petition and Advice Framed 358 Statute of Praemunire when enacted 117 Players forbidden by Proclamation in King Edward the sixth his time 161 Piers Gaveston surprized by Guy Earl of Warwick who caused him to be beheaded 106 The first Patent of a Commendu Retinere granted by the King to any Bishop Elect 84 Geoffry Plantaginet Archbishop of York his Story 52 53 Peruwigs and long hair forbidden in the Clergy 77 Priests forced to forgo their wives 42 When the Pope made his first encroachment on the Liberties of the English Crown 38 Cardinal Poole s reception into England 191 He absolveth the Parliament and whole Kingdom for withdrawing their obedience to the Church of Rome 192 Consecrated to the See of Canterbury next Sunday after Cranmer's death 202 English Ambassadours sent to Rome arrived there on the first day of the Papacy of Pope Paul the fourth Pembrock-colledge in Oxford founded 296 Pinckney the Provincial of the Augustine-friars and Dr. Shaa onely of all the Clergy engage for King Richard the third 134 135 Parsonages not exceeding ten Marks and Vicaridges ten pounds freed from First-fruits 152 King Philip Married to Queen Mary 190 A Great Plague in London 381 Hugh Pudsey Bishop of Durham made Earl of Northumberland by King Richard the first 48 Penry Barrow and â—â—enwood condemned and executed 256 John Piers Archbishop of York derided by Martin Mar-prelate 256 Q QVeen's-colledge in Oxford when and by whom founded 111 Queen of Scots assumeth to her self the Style and Title of Queen of England 213 She flies into England and endeth her doleful life at Fatheringhay Castle She is buried in the Quire at Peterborough and twenty years after removed to Westminster 249 Queen Eleanor a solemn Anniversary instituted to be kept for her by King Edward the first her Husband 97 R ROmans forsake the Isle of of Britain 7 Rumold called Mechlinensis Apostolus 16 King Richard the first his Story 48 49 50 George Ripley a great Mathematitian 140 John Rouse a great Antiquary 140 King Richard the second his Story from 114 ad 118 Philip Rippinton of a Professour became a cruel persecutor of the Gospel He is made Bishop of Lincoln 121 Master John Rogers burnt in Smithfield the first Martyr in Queen Marie's 194 Cardinal Richlieu an Incendiary between King Charles the first and the Scots 313 When the word Recusant first came up 236 Reformed Religion advanced in Ireland 217 The Rites of the Church of England for a time remained the onely form of Worship for the Kirk of Scotland 216 Thomas Rudbourn a Monk of Winchester an old Writer 3 The Remish Translation cometh forth 247 Rogers his exposition on the thirty nine Articles of the Church of England 247 Roger a Monk of Chester and an Historiographer 113 Doctor Fulk and M. Cartwright their answer to the Rhemish Translation 247 Richard Cromwel his Story 361 362 S THat cruel Statute pro Haeretico comburendo first hanselled on William Sautre Priest
at Civita Vecchia Anno 1282. in the time of the vacancy 16 Robert Kilwarby being Archbishop of Canterbury resigned his said Archbishoprick to be Bishop Cardinal of Portus whereunto he was appointed by Pope Nicholas the Third 17. Hugh de Evesham being a Physitian of the greatest renown of any then living in the Christian World as also well seen in the Mathematicks especially in Astrology was sent for to Rome by Pope Martin the Fourth to give his opinion in certain doubts and questions of Physick which he performed so learnedly and readily as gave great satisfaction He was created Cardinal of St. Laurence in Lucina Anno 1280. and was poisoned 18. John Bale reporteth of one Theobaldus an English man that as he saith was created Cardinal S. Sabinae in Aventino by Pope Martin the Fourth Anno 1289. 19. A Catalogue of English Cardinals in the History of Archbishop Parker mentioneth one Bernard de Auguiscello that being Archbishop of Arles was made Bishop Cardinal of Portua Anno 1281. and died 1â—90 20. In the said Catalogue we find also one Berardus made Bishop Cardinal of Praeneste Anno 1268 he was sometime Canon of York he died in June 1291. 21. The Register of Ralph Baldock containing a Catalogue of the Deans of St. Paul's reporteth that one Arnoldus de Cantilupo Dean of Pauls was a Priest Cardinal Anno 1306. 22. One Leonardus Guercinus is likewise mentioned in the same Catalogue he was made a Priest Cardinal by Pope Clement the Fifth Anno 1310. 23. Pope Benedict the Eleventh who himself had been a Friar-preacher and General of that order made William Macklesfield a Friar-preacher a Batchelour of Divinity at Paris and Doctor at Oxford a Cardinal S. Sabinae Anno 1303. whereas he had been dead then four moneths before His Cardinals hat notwithstanding was carried to London where he was buried and with great solemnity set upon his hearse He was born near Coventry 24. Upon the news of Macklesfield's death the Pope ordained in his place and to the same title one Walter Winterburn born in Sarum a Friar-preacher as was the other a Doctor of Divinity Confessor to King Edward the Third and Provincial of his Order He enjoyed his honour not past fifteen moneths died in the eightieth year of his Age Anno 1305. and was buried at London A man of great learning whereof he left some Monuments in writing not yet perished 25. Thomas Joyce the next Provincial of the Friars-preachers in England succeeded Winterburn not onely in the place but in his Cardinalship too being likewise Doctor of Divinity and Confessor to the King being employed in an Ambassage to the Emperor he died on the way Anno 1307. and was buried in the Church of the Friars-preachers in Oxford where he had been brought up He had six brethren Preachers by the same Mother whereof one named Walter became Archbishop of Armagh Diverse of his works are remembred by John Bale 26. Sextorius a Britan that in his youth became a Franciscan Friar of which Order he was chosen the nineteenth General Anno 1339. Then by Pope Innocent he was appointed first Bishop of Marsilia after that Archbishop of Ravenna then Patriarch of Grado and lastly Cardinal September 17. 1361. but he died the same moneth He wrote a Commentary upon S. Augustine de Civitate Dei Expositions upon divers parts of the Bible Sermons Lectures and divers other discourses 27. Pope Vrban the Fifth named William Grisant was as Thomas Walsingham affirmeth an English-man he was the Son of a famous English Physitian named also William Grisant brought up in Merton-colledge He died December 19. Anno 1370. 28. The first Cardinal created by the said Vrban was one Anglicus Grimaldi de Grisacco who was supposed to have been an English man but all acknowledge that he was the Pope's brother's son and so English by descent He was Cardinal S. Petri ad Vincula at first and afterwards Bishop Cardinal of Alba he died at Avignon Anno 1387. having held in Commendam many years the Deanary of York 29. Bale supposeth John Thoresby Archbishop of York to have been created a Priest-cardinal S. Sabinae 30. Simon Langham Archbishop of Canterbury was created a Priest-cardinal by the aforesaid Vrban in September 1368. and afterward presented to be Bishop Cardinal of Praeneste by Gregory the Eleventh 31. Adam Easton a Benedictine Monk of Norwich born in Hereford-shire proceeded Doctor of Divinity in Oxford wrote much a man of great wisdom and learning he was created Cardinal S. Caeciliae Pope Vrban apprehended at one time no less than seven Cardinals this Cardinal being one and after long imprisonment caused five of them to be sowed up into sacks and with barbarous cruelty to be thrown into the Sea But this man whose good fortune it was to escape he committed to close prison till by the earnest entreaty of King Richard the Second he was allowed some more liberty all his Livings being taken from him In that poor estate he continued five years even untill the death of Vrban His next successor Boniface the Ninth set him quite at liberty and restored him to all his preferments again which thing was solemnly declared to the Estates assembled in Parliament at Westminster Anno 1390. after which time he lived seven years in great prosperity and died September 19. 1397. and was buried in his own title where he hath a Monument of Marble with his Armes and Picture and this rude Epitaph Artibus iste pater famosus in omnibus Adam Theologus summus cardique nalis erat Anglia cui patriam Titulum dedit ista Beatae Coeciliaeque morsque suprema polum Anno 1397. mens Septemb. He left in writing above twenty several Volumes whereof the greatest part were either written in Hebrew or Translations out of Hebrew or at least some discourses concerning the Hebrew Tongue Among the rest it is said that he Translated all the Old Testament out of Hebrew into Latin 32. William Courtney then Bishop of London was also made Cardinal by the same Vrban 33. Philip Repingdon sometime Abbot of Leicester consecrated Bishop of Lincoln March 29. 1405. having been heretofore a great defender of the Doctrine of John Wickliff was created Cardinal S S. Nevei Achillei September 18. 1408. by Pope Gregory the Twelfth who before had taken a solemn Oath to make no more Cardinals till the controversie concerning the Papacy was ended but being forsaken by all his Cardinals except onely five the better to strengthen himself he created ten in one day whereof this man was one 34. Thomas Langley Bishop of Durham was created a Priest-cardinal June 6. 1411. by Pope John the Twenty second He died Anno 1437. 35. Robert Halam Bishop of Sarum was also created a Priest-cardinal the same day he died in the Castle of Gotlieb near Constance being at the General Council there September 4. 1417. having sate Bishop of that Church nine years 36. Henry Beaufort brother to King Edward the Fourth