before and there interred them in a sumptuous Tomb of Marble laying the body of the King at the head of the Tomb and the body of the Queen at his feet towards the West part which noble monument saith Mr. Speed among the fatall overthrows of infinite more was altogether razed at the dispose of some then in Commission whose over-hasty actions in these behalfs hath left us a want of many truths which otherwise we might have had Vain therefore is that which the Scottish Historians report that Queen Guinever was buried at Angus in Scotland and that what woman soever chanceth to tread upon her grave shall remain for ever barren without bringing forth any issue insomuch as Hector Boetius a lying Author reports no woman dares not come near it her self nor will suffer any of her daughters to come near thereunto To conclude the Life of this famous Prince we will shut up all with his Epitaph made by John Leland and tranflated into English by Mr. Nicholas Roscarock Who vanquisht Saxon Troops with Battles bloudy broyles And purchast to himself a name with war like wealthy spoils Who hath with shivering shining Sword the Picts so oft dismay'd And eke unweldy servile yoke on neck of Scots hath laid Who French-men puft with pride and who the Germans fierce in fight Discomfited and daunted Danes with main and martiall might Who of that murthering Mordred did the vitall breath expell That Monster griseley loathsome huge that diresome Tyrant fell Here liveless Arthur lies entomb'd within this stately hearse Of Chevalry the bright renown and vertues nursling fierce Whose glory great now over all the world doth compass fly And of the airy thunder scales the lofty building high Therefore you noble progeny of Brittain line and race Arise unto your Emperor great of thrice renowned grace And cast upon his sacred Tomb the roseal Garlands gay That fragrant smell may witness well your duties you display The Life of DUNSTAN Archbishop of Canterbury IN respect of this unusual Tract as also of the strange variety of relations I have found in Authors of this History I thought fit from the Sword to come to the Crosier to select the Life of Dunstan Archbishop of Canterbury that posterity may be acquainted with the successes as well of the Mitre as Crown He was born in West Saxon his Father was named Heorstan and his Mother Cinifride they in his youth set him to school where he so profitted that he excelled most then living of his age in process of time he fell sick of an Ague which was so violent that he fell into a frenzy Physicians belike being scarce in that age he was as my Author writes under cure of a certain Woman but through her unskilfulness his disease increased upon him and one day being in a trance he suddenly arose and catching hold of a staff laid about him as indeed he was mad next night he got up on the roof of the Church running up and down on the same as if it had been on the ground and coming safely down without any hurt these effects of frenzy were reputed by the superstitious men of those times for miracles hereupon his Father made him a Priest and placed him in the Abby of Glastenbury from whence he was soon advanced into the service of King Ethelstone and as soon banished the Court being accused of Necromancy for entring one day into a Gentlewomans house he hung his harp on the wall whilst he shaped a Priests stoal when to make him merry at his work his harp began to play which the common people concluded to be done by the devil though the subject of its song was said to be that Hymne Gaudent in coelis animae sanctorum c. Yea the Virgin Mary her self is said to solace him with her songs Cantemus Domino sociae c. Being thus expulsed the Court his Couzen Elfheagus Bishop of Winchester perswaded him to become a Monk that what preferment the Court denied by means of the Church he might obtain but he loathing a single life and having a minde to marry some beautiful Damsel refused so to do but a sickness of his body healed this disease of his minde for being stricken with a swelling in his belly his body was brought into such state as if he had been infected with a Leprosie whereupon no sooner was he recovered but he went to the Bishop who shore him a Monk in which state of life he remined with such opinion of holiness that whereas before he was reported to be a Necromancer he was now reputed to be no less then a Saint so variable are the opinions of the people being all in extreams observing no medium as the Poet hath it This day with great Augustus they will mate thee Next day with false Sejanus they will hate thee Now whether his devotion were real or feigned I do not know but certain it is that for the opinion of his holiness he was made Abbot of Glastenbury nor must we imagine him to be less then a Saint if we will believe the Monkish relations of those times since the devil and he was such great Antagonists for being on a time at his prayers before the Altar of Saint George his body fell asleep though his devotion were waking when the Devil coming to devour him in the likeness of a rough Bear he encountred him so fiercely with the staff he used to walk with that the Church rang with the sound thereof to the wonder of many At another time the devil would have tempted him to uncleanness in the likeness of a beautiful Damsel but he having a pair of hot burning pincers in his hand caught hold of her with them by the nose and so spoil'd the devils countenance from whence is still the Proverb But to leave these fictions fit onely for Monks to invent and children to believe certain it is he was in great favour with Edred King of the West Saxons who not onely suffered his body in penance to be chastised by him but also committed to his keeping the greatest part of his treasure who locked up the same in his Monastery at Glastenbury where it remained till the King fell sick of his last sickness at which time it was demanded but never restored for Dunstan being on his journey with the same to the King a voice from heaven spake unto him and said Behold King Edred is now departed in peace at the hearing of which words his horse immediately fell down and died whereupon he returned again to his Monastery and though he lost his horse yet was he recompensed thereby with the gain of the Kings Treasure and Jewels Edred being dead his Nephew Edwy succeeded him in his Kingdome altogether unlike his uncle in conditions young in years but viceous in life for the very same day on which he was Crowned he abused his Body with a Lady his near Kinswoman and after adding murther to incest slew her Husband that he
times If there be any persons living who though they are not named will still reflect so far on themselves as to be concerned such if they rightly understand themselves cannot be much displeased since they may imagine what will be said of them in plain truth hereafter this I am certain of I have not intermixed any passion in my relations to make my self a party in which some have shewed themselves better Advocates then Historians all that I shall pretend to in this work is no more then a bare narrative of matter of fact digested into order of time interposing of my own opinion in the interpretation of actions all which traverses as I have already expressed I have infused neither Vinegar nor Gall into my ink if I mention a charge or impeachment it relates to the defence that was made by the accused To be brief in this small Volume the Reader may see the prosperous and torne estates of Princes and other persons the declination of the Cleargy and the affairs of the Souldiery in all which transactions one life will smooth the way for another that he that considers the one without the other sees but with one eye indeed the chief materials this Volume is built up of are of the exploits and successes of my own Countreymen as well in their forreign expeditions as what was transacted at home In the composure of this Volume amongst the lives and draughts of the Worthies I must acknowledge through the perswasions of friends who prevailed with my pen. I have inserted some few inferiour Lives amongst the rest Master Lilburnes which though not agreeing with the title of my Book may as I have in his strange life expressed pass as a Wonder for some of the Royalists at the latter end of the Volume except I would have defaced my endeavours and spoiled the intention of my design I could not but particularize them as otherwise I must have made by themselves two little Volumes of the late King and the Protector to the improper alteration if not the spoiling the method of my designs as they are successively placed so their enemies if they love to read of their own sad triumphs of their former actions they will appear even to them as so many beauty spots in the face of this Epitome of the English History There are several other Lives which were never before writ these as I had no track in History to finde out the series of their transactions cost me many hours of conversation with their friends and such as best knew them from whom I received such light as that together with their own so well known splendours their more Heroick publick deportments which to me as also to themselves were their own History though it hath been my good fortune to represent them in their still surviving pictures which I question not but this present age as also posterity will be very well pleased with In the choice of these lives I have not so much tickled my own fancy as pursued our English History in no ordinary method but such a one as to my knowledge the like is not extant in our English tongue the general way of writing being of the Chronicles of the Kings which path in my opinion had been too vulgar and too much trode in the lives of particular persons being in them either obscured or too lightly toucht on whereas giving them their due lustre these Diamonds as relating to the Crown with their splendor illumniate the several Reigns as they fall in their succession of time and though every Prince is not inserted as so vulgarly known nevertheless his story in these Heroes is for the main continued I shall excuse my omission of these late Princes Henry the eighth Edward the sixth Queen Mary Queen Elizabeth and King James as the people have from their continued reading their transactions imprinted in their mindes For those that are still behinde hand that are not versed in the English History I thought fit to give them this short advice for the election of their Authors Speed may be entertained though his Volume be large he hath fewer impertinencies then some other more volumnious Historians Sir Richard Baker is to be honoured for his handsome stile and method these two Authors the Student may make use of as intire in themselves though without dispute our English History hath been rendred best in parts the writers having bestowed more pains and have been more intent upon the Reigns they have undertook Thus the Readers best way will be to take the admirable Daniel the most succinct Authour and the most judicious and notable for his censures he writes from the beginning of our Story to Richard the Second Then he must make as good a shift as he can with Trussel who writes ad rem though not with so acute a pen he goes unto Henry the Seventh whose Reign above all others read the Lord Verulam Thence proceed to peruse Bishop Godwin whose Annals contain Henry the Eighth Edward the Sixth and Queen Mary the incomparable Cambden goes on with Queen Elizabeth The parcel Historians that have done excellently in particular Lives are Sir John Heyward Sir Robert Cotton the Lord Herbert Mr. Habington Dr. Heylin Mr. Fuller Mr. Le-Strange Squire Sanderson Mr. Rushworth and others But I fear I have already been too tedious I shall immediately conclude with this request that for the errours and failings of my pen as it is a common saying Humanum est errare so I submit my pen to the censures of the more learned entreating them in their better Judgements to correct my unwilling mistakes for the oversight of printing I shall onely crave pardon of course as it is a fate common to Books and Book-men not to be avoided whatsoever the faults are let them redound to my self I wish the profit to others but above all attribute the Glory to God William Winstanley The Names of the Authors cited in this Book A. ALluridus Rivallensis Mr. Ascham Mr. Charles Allen Alexander ab Alexandro Ausonius B Sir Richard Baker Bale Mr. Buckley Mr. Buck Sir John Beaumont St. Bede Du Bartus C Carton Cambden Chaucer Chronicum Chronicorum St. Chrysostom Comines Mr. Chrashaw Mr. Cleaveland Cattullus D Drayton Sir Simon D'ewes Sir Wil. Davenant E Eusebiue Eutropius Enguerrant Erasmus F Mr. Fuller Mr. Fox Froysart Fabian G Geoffery of Monmouth Gower Bishop Godwyn Giraldus Cambreusis Grafton H Habington Dr. Hackwel Hall Sir John Harrington Lord Herbert Herodian Dr. Heylin Hollingshead Hector Boetius Hoveden Horace Homer I Juvenal Joseph of Excester Isaacson K King James L Leiland Lucan Lidgate Lambert Mr. Le-strange M Mathew Paris Major Martin Sir Tho. Moor Marianus Scotus N Necham Ninius Mr. Alexander Nevil Sir R. Naunton St. Nazzianzen O T. Occleve Ovid P Paulus Orosius Platina Paradin Paulus Aemylius Plutarch Poggins Propertius Paulus Diaconus Polychronicon Polydor Virgil Paulus Jovius Pindarus Petrarch Q Mr. Quarles R John Rouce Tho. Randolph Rushanger S Sandys Shakespear
Sleidan Speed Stow Sozomenus Sabellicus Stapleton Suetonius Spenser Sir Philip Sidney Serres Selden T Theodoritus Tibullus Tacitus Trussel Nicholas Trivet Tertullian V Victor Verstigan Virgil W Will. of Newberry Will. of Malmsbury Walsingham Weever Waller X Xenophon Z Zosimus The Reader is desired to correct these Errata's with his Pen the most material being in Sir Walter Raleigh's Life his Letter to the Duke of Buckingham should have been placed after his Voyage to Guyana PAge 17. line 30. read falne p. 24. l. 25. for Danes read English l. 32. r. depart p. 44 l. 17. r. Denmark p. 80. l. 1. r. his l. 11. r. sky p. 92. l. 6. for himself r. him p. 101. l 6. r. progress p. 129. l. 18. after enterprize r. which they refused p. 186. l. 8. r. the. p. 207. l. 12. r. they p. 228. l 27. r. bait p. 251. in the title r. Sir Walter Raleigh p. 253. l. 17. r. Rams l. 29. r. unfortunately p. 255. l. 16. r. intercessor p. 279. l. 18. r. Pallas p. 329. l. 2. r. Strafford p. 333. l. 19. r. Strafford p. 405. l. 3. r. Louden p. 477. l. 29. r. fit p. 520. l. last r. Ship p. 562. l. 33. r. tail The Names of those whose Lives are written in this Book 1 COnstantine the Great Folio 1 2 King Arthur Folio 8 3 Dunstan Folio 16 4 Edmond Ironside Folio 22 5 Edward the Confessor Folio 29 6 William the Conqueror Folio 38 7 Thomas Becket Folio 49 8 Richard the First Folio 55 9 Edward the Third Folio 66 10 Edw. the Black Prince Folio 79 11 Sir John Hawkwood Folio 88 12 Geoffery Chaucer Folio 91 13 Henry the Fifth Folio 98 14 John D. of Bedford Folio 115 15 Richard Nevil Earl of Warwick Folio 125 16 Richard the Third Folio 140 17 Thomas Howard Earl of Surrey Folio 145 18 Cardinal Wolsey Folio 151 19 Sir Thomas Moor Folio 155 20 Thomas Cromwel Earl of Essex Folio 170 21 Sir Philip Sidney Folio 179 22 Robert E. of Leicester Folio 186 23 The Lord Burleigh Folio 195 24 Sir Francis Drake Folio 205 25 Sir Francis Walsingham Folio 215 26 Sir Nicholas Bacon Folio 219 27 Robert Devereux Earl of Essex Folio 221 28 Sir Robert Cecil Folio 238 29 Sir Tho. Overbury Folio 241 30 Sir Walter Rawleigh Folio 250 31 Mr. Wil. Cambden Folio 261 32 Mr. Tho. Sutton Folio 268 33 Sir Francis Bacon Folio 273 34 Lancelot Andrews Bishop of Winchester Folio 289 35 Doctor Donne Folio 298 36 George Villiers Duke of Buckingham Folio 308 37 Sir Henry Wotton Folio 319 38 Tho. Wentworth Earle of Strafford Folio 329 39 William Laud Archbishop of Canterbury Folio 343 40 Robert Devereux Earl of Essex General of the Parliaments Forces Folio 350 41 Sir Charles Lucas Folio 356 42 King Charles Folio 363 43 The Lord Capel Folio 433 44 James Marquesse of Montross Folio 446 45 Bishop Usher Folio 469 46 John Lilburne Folio 479 47 Oliver Cromwel Folio 525 Englands Worthies Select Lives of the most Eminent PERSONS of the Three Nations from Constantine the Great to the Death of the late Lord Protector Oliver Cromwell COnstantine for his many Victories sirnamed the Great was Son to Constantius Emperour of Rome his Mother was named Hellena being Daughter unto Caelus a Brittish Prince though some Jews and Gentiles out of hatred to her Religion have reported her to be an Inholder or Hoastess he was born in England as all Writers affirm two petty Greek Authors only dissenting who deserve to be arraigned of felony for robbing our Country of its honor Colchester was the place where he first beheld the light as the Ancient Poet Necham sung From Colchester there rose a Star The Rayes whereof gave glorious light Throughout the world in Climates far Great Constantine Romes Emperour bright At such time as he was Caesar under Constantius his Father he was left at Rome as Hostage with Galerius the Emperour but perceiving his death to be by him attempted he posted to Brittain in all haste to his father who was newly returned to the City of York from an expedition he had made against the Picts and Caledonians Constantius at the time of his sons arrival was sick of the Plague whereof he died immediately afterwards the sight of his son at the present so revived his spirits that raising himself upon his bed he set the Crown Imperial upon his head and in the presence of his Privy Councellours spake to this effect Now is my death to me more welcome and my departure hence more pleasant seeing I shall leave my unaccomplished actions to be performed by thee my Son in whose person I question not but that my memorial shall be retained as in a monument of eternal fame What I had intended but by death prevented see thou accomplish let thine Empire be governed uprightly by Justice protecting the innocents from the tyranny of oppressours wiping away all tears from the eyes of Christians for therein above all things have I esteemed my self happy to thee therefore I commend my Diadem and their defence taking my Faults along with me to my grave but leaving my Vertues to revive and live in thee With the conclusion of which words he concluded his life leaving his Subjects sorrowful for his departure but the grief they received by the death of the Father was mittigated in the hopes they conceived of his Son who so resembled his Father in all vertuous conditions that though the Emperour was changed yet his good government remained For as one writes Sol occubuit nox nulla secuta est The sun was gone but night was none Another writes thus of him Great Constantine preserv'd by Heavens decree Of mighty Rome the Emperour to be Constantine thus chosen Emperour in Brittain was confirmed Emperour by the Senate of Rome who like the Persians adored the rising Sun giving approbation to what they could not remedy his first expedition was against the Picts and Caledonians which War his Father had begun but death prevented him to finish it leaving the prosecution thereof to his son Constantine that the Fabrick of so many victories by him atchieved might have the foundation thereof laid in Brittain nor was his success contrary to his expectation subduing the inhabitants that were most remote witnesses saith one of the suns set or going down Whilest Constantine was thus busied in Brittain Maxentius by the tumultuous souldiers was proclaimed Emperour at Rome whose sister Fausta Constantine had married but his tyrannical usurpation grew so odious to the Senate that they sent to Constantine for his aid who willingly hearkening to what they so earnestly desired prepared his forces against the new elected Emperour Maximianus the Father of the Tyrant faining to abhor the outragiousness of his son but seeking indeed to uphold him in his tyranny repaired to his Son in law Constantine with an intent to murther him but revealing his intentions to his Daughter Fausta was by her detected and being taken was
Athelwyn Earl Vrchill Cadnoth Bishop of Lincoln Wolsey Abbot of Ramsey with many other of the Clergy who coming thither to pray for the preservation of the King and his Army were by the Danes inhumanely butchered the remembrace of which battel is retained to this day by certain small hills there remaining whence have been digged the Bones of men Armour and the Water-chains of Horse-bridles Holinshead reports that in his time there were of these hills to the number of seven or eight now onely three remaineth at a place called Bartlow which from them is called Bartlow Hills Edmund thus discomfited went almost alone on foot to Gloucester where he raised new forces to oppose his enemies Canutus pursuing him both Armies met at Derehurst near unto the River Severne where being ready to imbrue their hands in one anothers bloods a certain Captain stepped forth and standing up in such a place as he might be heard of both the Generals boldly uttered his minde in these or the like words We have already worthy Chieftains fought long enough one against another and too much blood hath been spilt for the Soveraignty of this Land the valours of both Generals and Souldiers sufficiently tryed Fortune her self not knowing whom to yield the palm of Victory unto for if one Battel were wonne it was not long kept nor the loser so weakned but that he had both courage and power to win the next Thus to gain you airy Titles the common Soldiers lose their lives Worthy Chieftains 't is now high time to set a period to these differences let him that would wear the Diadem bear the hazard himself and either try the fortune of a single combat who shall command and who obey or divide betwixt them the Kingdom which may suffice two that hath formerly maintained seven These words were no sooner ended but both Generals agreed to try it out by single combat in sight of both Armies they entred into a small Island called Alney adjoyning unto the City of Gloucester where first on horse-back and after on foot they encountred each other with invincible courage but Canutus having received a dangerous wound and finding that Ironside overmatched him in strength desired a comprimise and to that end thus spake to Edmond with an audible voice What necessity thus should move us most renowned Prince that for the obtaining of an airy title we should still put our lives into danger better it were to lay armour and malice aside and condescend to some reasonable agreement let us therefore now become sworn brothers and divide the Kingdom between us and that in such a league of amity that each may use the others part as his own Edmond condescending to Canutus motion they unbuckled their Armours and embraced each other and on a firme agreement afterwards divided the Kingdome betwixt them Edmond enjoying that part that lay coasted upon France and Canutus entred upon the rest But long enjoyed not the Ironside his part for Duke Edrick a very compound of treasons contrived the end of renowned Edmond who being retired to a place for natures necessity he thrust from under the draught a sharp spear into his body and having thus murthered him he cut off his head presenting it to Canutus with this fawning salutation All hail thou now sole Monarch of England for here behold the head of thy Co-partner which for thy sake I have adventured to cut off Canutus though ambitious enough of Soveraignty yet abhorring in his heart so detestable a murther and knowing that he who was faithless to his natural Sovereign would never be faithful to him a Stranger commanded his head to be divided from his shoulders and placed upon the highest Gate in London Thus we see how Duke Edrick was mistaken in his hopes who for his treason expecting a reward received the merit due to treason a worthy example in Canutus for succeeding Monarchs to imitate and in the Traytor Edrick for all false Subjects to beware Thus this famous worthy made his exit off of the stage of this world having raigned in all but the space of seven moneths so that if we consider the shortness of his time we may wonder at the greatness of his actions who had not onely to deal with forreign forces but with false friends who whilst he lived was the onely prop to uphold the tottering estate of his Countrey and whose death was the cause his Countrey-men were forced to bow their necks to a stranger He left behinde him two Sons named Edward and Edmond and two Daughters named Christian and Margret which Margret was married to Malcolme Canmore King of Scotland from which Princely bed James the first late Monarch of Great Brittain was lineally descended The Life of EDWARD the Confessor AS my learned Authors writes to whom I am so much beholding for this Narrative to give you his own words discoursing of Peace None saith he but such as are of turbulent spirits or ignorant what War is love to play the beasts and inhumanely gore each other Men were not made to act Tragedies and to make the world a shambles for humane slaughters Nulla salus bello pacem te possimus omnes This perhaps it was made the Poet Tibullus exclaim against the inventers of mankindes destruction Quis fuit horrendus primus qui protulit enses Quam ferus vere ferreus ille fuit Tunc caedes hominum generi tunc praelia nata Tunc brevior dirae mortis aperta via est Of killing swords who might first Author be Sure a steel minde and bloody thought had he Mankindes destruction Wars were then made known And shorter wayes to death with terrour shown As contraries set off one another white shows the more amiable compared with its opposite black so peace is most pleasant to them that have tasted the miseries of War we shall therefore now having shown the sad effects of the one in the life of Edmond relate the blessings that accompany the other in the life of Edward He was son to King Ethelred by his wife Queen Emma and born at Islip in the County of Oxford his mother when the variable success of War doubtfully depended betwixt Edmund and Canutus sent him over into Normandy to Duke Richard her Brother there to be secured from all domestical stirs where he remained all the time of Canutus raign who although he married his Mother yet thought it more safe to be there then in England Canutus dying his son Harold sirnamed Hare-foot whom he had by a Concubine a shoemakers daughter usurped the Crown but knowing others had better right to the same then himself he resolved to remove those rubs out of his way yet not daring to act his intentions openly he thought to compass that by treachery which he could not by force to this end he counterfeits a letter in Queen Emma's name unto her sons Edward and Alfred to instigate them to attempt the recovering of the Crown the tenure of which letter
England where being instructed in the Christian Religion and baptized in the Church of St. Paul by the Bishop of London with great Solemnity in the presence of six Prelates she was married to the aforesaid Gilbert of whom he had Issue this Thomas whose Life we now relate who as his Legend recites was first brought up in a Religious House of Merton afterwards was instructed in the Liberal Sciences and then sent to study in the University of Paris from whence returning home he was by Theobald Archbishop of Canterbury made his Archdeacon a place in those dayes of high degree in the English Cleargy next unto Lord Abbots and Bishops Much about that time Henry Duke of Aquitain and Normandy succeeded King Stephen in the Crown of England who in the very first year of his Reign advanced Becket to be Lord Chancellour of England in which high honour he carried himself like another King His retinue was great his Followers men of good account his House keeping such as might compare with if not surpass the greatest Earls of the Kingdom his Clothes very costly full of bravery his Furniture mighty rich his very Bridles of beaten silver Yea Fortune did seem to have made him her Darling and all things so flowed according to his desire that one would have judged him to have laid clean aside the very thought of a Clergy-man King Henry having Wars in France he served him with a Band of 700. Souldiers of his own Family besides many others with which and some additional Forces after the Kings departure he obtained a great victory At another time he himself in person unhorssed a Frenchman called Enguerranus de Creya a most hardy Souldier renowned for deeds of Arms and Chevalry for these valiant acts in reward and in further hope of his faithful service upon the death of Theobald the King made him Archbishop of Canterbury though the Monks objected against him that neither a Courtier nor a Soundier as he was both were fit to succeed in so high and sacred a Function But Thomas having obtained this dignity forgot the King who had raised him to the same For as the Poet hath it A swelling spirit hates him by whom he climes As Ivy kills the tree whereon it twines So rising men when they are mounted high Spurn at the means that first they mounted by For not long after began that great controversie between Regnum Sacerdotium the Crown and the Mytre the occasion whereof was the King being credibly informed that some Clergy-men had committed above an hundred murthers under his Reign would have them tried and adjudged in his Temporal Courts as Lay-men were but this as being contrary to the priviledges of the Church the Archbishop withstood This affront of a subject the King could not endure finding himself hereby to be but a demy-King Wherefore having drawn to his side most of the Bishops in an Assembly at VVestminster he propoundeth these Articles peremptorily urging Becket to assent to them 1. That none should appeal to the See of Rome for any cause whatsoever without the Kings licence 2. That it should not be lawful for any Archbishop or Bishop to depart the Realm and repair to the Pope upon his summons without licence from the King 3. That it should not be lawfull for any Bishop to excommunite any person that holdeth in Capite of the King without licence of the King nor grant any interdict against his Lands nor the Lands of any his officers 4. That it should not be lawfull for any Bishop to punish perjured nor false witnesses 5. That Clarks crimonous should be tried before secular Judges 6. That the King and his secular Justices should be Judges in matters of Tythes and other like causes Ecclesiastical There points so nearly touched the Papal Sovereignty that Becket resolutely denied to signe them but by the importunity of many Lords and Prelates at last he yields subscribes the Ordinance and sets his hand unto it The King hereupon supposing all contradiction ended and that Thomas would not waver in his faith called an assembly of the States at Clarendon in VViltshire to collect and enact these Laws where John of Oxenford sitting President Becket relapsed saying He had grievously sinned in that he had done and that he would not sin therein any more The King herewith vehemently incensed threatens banishment and destruction to him and his whereupon Becket once again perswaded swears in verbo Sacerdotali in the word of a Priest sincerely that he would observe the Laws which the King entituled Avitae and all the Bishops Abbots Priors and whole Clergy with all the Earls Barons and Nobility did promise and swear the same faithfully and truly to observe and performe to the King and to his Heirs for ever But the King desiring him to affix his seal to an Instrument wherein those Laws being sixteen were contained he refused saying He did promise it onely to do the King some honour verbo tenus in word onely Nor could the example of his fellow Bishops nor the perswasions of Rotrod the Popes messenger move him at all to compose these differences It may be thought a fable yet is related by divers superstitious Authors that one time during this contention certain fellows cut off the Archbishops horses tail after which fact all their children were born with Tails like Horses and that this continued long in their Posterity For may own part though I confess God is able to do this and much more yet I reckon this amongst other ridiculous miracles mentioned of him by those writers as that of Ailwardus who for stealing a great whetstone which the Author that writes it best deserved being deprived of his eyes and virilities by sentence of Law upon prayer to Saint Thomas he had all restored again Yea even a Bird having been taught to speak flying out of her cage and ready to be seized on by a Sparrow Hawk said onely St. Thomas help me and her enemy fell presently dead and she escaped But slighting these follies to return to our History the King summoning a Parliament at Northhampton Becket was cited to appear before his Majesty which he refusing upon his contempt the Peers and Prelates judged his goods confiscated to the Kings mercy He making his appearance the Parliament demanded of him an account of 30000 pounds which he received when he was Lord Chancellour to which he answered that when he was chosen to be Archbishop he was by the Kings authority freed and acquitted of all Debts and Obligations of Court and Exchequer and so delivered over to the Church of England and that therefore at that time he would not answer as a Lay-man having before had a sufficient discharge This answer of the Archbishop was like Oyl cast on fire which instead of quenching increast the Kings anger and the Prelates perceiving the Kings displeasure to tend yet to some further severity premonished him to submit himself for that otherwise the Kings Court
intended to adjudge him a perjured person and also a traytor for not yielding temporal Allegiance to his temporal Sovereign as himself had sworn to do and accordingly the Prelates themselves by joynt consent adjudged him of perjury and by the mouth of the Bishop of Chichester disclaimed thence forward all obedience unto him as their Archbishop But Becket herewith nothing daunted caused to be sung before him the next day at the Altar that Psalm Principes fedent The Princes sit and speak against me and the ungodly persecute me c. and forthwith taking his Silver Crosier in his own hands enters armed therewith into the Kings Prefence who more and more enraged at Beckets insolency commandeth his Peers to sit in judgement on him as on a traytor and the Courtiers like Ecchoes answering the King the whole Court sounded nothing but Treason so that Becket afraid of being slain hasteth home and changing his costly Robes into course Rags passeth over into Flanders calling himself by the name of Dereman The Archbishop gone the King banishes all his Kindred out of his Dominions and he on the other side excommunicates all such as had to do against him at length the King of France with intreaty and the Pope with the terrour of the Churches censures made a full atonement and reconciliation between them the Archbishop in great triumph returned to England having been absent from his native Countrey for the space of seven years All controversies seemed now fully to be ended though the sequel thereof proved far otherwise for some excommunicated Bishops and other men of great account desiring to be absolved he refused to do it unless with this caution that they should stand to the judgement of the Church in those things for which they were excommunicated but they disdaining the pride of the Archbishop poste over into Normandy where the King was then informing him that Thomas was now grown more haughty then before that he went up and down with great Troops of men both Horse and Foot that attended on him as upon the Kings own Royal Person that to be a King indeed he wanted but the name and setting the Crown upon his head The King herewith highly incensed in a great rage said And is it possible that I cannot peaceably enjoy neither Kingdom Dignity nor Life and all this for one onely priest Cursed be all such as eat my bread since none will revenge me of this fellow These words being over-heard by four Knights Sir Morvil Sir William Tracy Sir Hugh Brito Sir Richard Fitz-urse they thinking to do the King a pleasure though as the sequel of his reign proved they could not have done him a greater injury hasted into England and in his own Church of Canterbury most barbarously murthered him being then about 48. years of age not long after he was Canonized by Pope Alexander and the day of his death being the 29. of December kept annually holy Many miracles are reported to have been done by him and his Shrine so inriched by Pilgrims which from all places came thither in devotion that at the defacing thereof in the time of King Henry the Eighth the spoil thereof in Gold and Precious Stones filled two great Chests such as six or eight strong men could do no more then convey one of them at once out of the Church Thus the Images of many men were richly clothed when many poor Christians Gods Image went almost naked so full of charity were those empty times of knowledge a shame to us who know more but practice less Draiton in his Polyolbion hath these verses on him Concerning whom the world since then hath spent much breath And many questions made both of his life and death If he were truly just he hath his right if no Those times were much to blame that have him reckoned so Stapleton a Jesuite put forth a book entituled Tres Thomas Saint Thomas the Apostle Thomas of Becket and of Sir Thomas Moor he Canonizes the two last of either of which he writes six times as much as of St. Thomas the Apostle The Life of RICHARD the First THis reign as it in part epitomizes the History of the holy War without being guilty of an omission of the most admired part of Chronical History I could not but insert Richard the first who for his inexpugnable and Lion-like heart obtained the sirname of Coeur de Lion he was a most valiant and magnanimous Prince accustomed to Wars he died in the fields of Mars of whom as a Prince we shall say nothing having so much to relate of him after he came to be King This martial Prince born in a martial age was third son to King Henry the Second and succeeded him in the Crown after his Decease his elder Brothers dying before their Father At his Coronation he commanded no Jews should be present but they desirous to see the solemnities hasted thither in great numbers but the price of their lives paid for the pleasure of their eyes the common people falling upon them and slaying a great number so ominous to the enemies of Christ was the first day of this Kings reign presaging saith one his following successes in the Jewish Countreys For intending a journey to Jerusalem not as a Pilgrim to see the City but as a Souldier to conquer the Countrey he raises an Army of thirty thousand Foot and five thousand Horse his next care was for money the sinews of War and notwithstanding his Father had left him eleven hundred thousand pound a vast sum for that age yet was it no thought sufficient for so great a journey Therefore to the end he might be able to go thorow with his work he sells the Castles of Berwick and Roxborough to the Scottish King for ten thousand pounds the Priory of Coventry to Hugh Bishop of Chester for 300. marks and the County of Northumberland to Hugh Bishop of Duresme for his Life jeasting he had made a new Earl of an old Bishop then feigning he had lost his old Seal he made a new one proclaiming that whosoever would safely enjoy those things which before time they had enrolled should come to the new Seal by which princely skill not to say cheat he squeezed much money out of his Subjects purses Having proceeded thus far towards his journey his next care was for securing the Kingdom of England in his absence On his Brother John whom he knew to be of an ambitious spirit and apt to take fire on the least occasion on him he heaped both riches and honour that by his liberality he might win him to loyalty but the chief Government of the Land he committed to William Longchamp Bishop of Ely Lord Chancellour of England chusing him for his Viceroy rather then any lay-Earl because a Coronet perchance may swell into a Crown but never a Mitre with him was joyned in Commission Hugh Bishop of Durham for the parts of England beyond Humber Yet as Suetonius reports of the
not to take him off which those that contrived it were certain could not but take as they knew that he was of so tender a conscience as that they could not fail of their project he was cited to appear at Lambeth before the Bishop of Canterbury the Lord Chancellour and Secretary Cromwell to take the oath of Supremacy and Succession which he refusing he was committed to the custody of the Abbot of Westminster for four dayes and afterwards by the importunity of Queen Anne to the Tower Whereat his landing Mr. Lieutenant was ready to receive him the Porter of the Tower demanded of him his upper Garment Mr. Porter said he here it is and took off his Cap and gave it him saying I am sorry it is no better for thee no Sir said the Porter I must have your Gown which he gave him This his pleasantness certainly argued a confidence he had in the justness of his cause After many endeavours during his abode in the Tower to get his consent to the taking of the Oath all which proving fruitless after a years imprisonment he was called to his arraignment at the Kings Bench Bar where his Indictment being read he pleaded not guilty and to the admiration of the hearers so quitted himself that he put the Bench to a stand untill at the last one Mr. Rich the Kings Solliciter deposited against him that he should say The Parliament could make the King no more Supreme Head of Church then they could make a Law that God should not be God To which Sir Thomas answered If I were a man my Lords that did not regard an oath I need not at this time in this place as it is well known to you all stand as an accused person And if this oath Mr. Rich which you have taken be true then I pray that I may never see God in the Face which I would not say were it otherwise to gain the whole world Yet notwithstanding his oath and the exceptions he took against the witness the Lord Chancellour proceeded to sentence That he should be brought back to the Tower of London by the help of William Bringston Sheriff and from thence drawn on a Hurdle through the City of London to Tyburne there to be hanged till he be half dead after that cut down yet alive his Privy Parts cut off his Belly ripped his Bowels burnt and his four quarters set up over four Gates of the City and his head upon London Bridge This Sentence was by the Kings pardon changed afterwards into onely beheading because he had borne the highest Office in the Kingdom Of which mercy of the Kings word being brought to Sir Thomas he answered merrily God forbid the King should use any more such mercies to any of my posterity or friends During the time he remained in the Tower after Sentence passed on him one of the Court came to visit him whose whole discourse was nothing else but urging Sir Thomas to change his minde who at last being wearied with his importunity answered him That he had changed it Whreupon presently he went and told the King and being by him commanded to know wherein his minde was changed Sir Thomas rebuked him for his inconsiderate rashness that he should tell the King those words that he spoke in jeast onely to be rid of his impertinency meaning a while after this merry expression came from him that whereas he intended to be shaved for which he was said so much to resembled Erasmus that he might appear to the people as before he now resolved that his beard should undergo the same tribulation he did which made the Courtier blank and the King very angry The day appointed for his execution being come about nine of the Clock he was brought out of the Tower ascending the Scaffold it seemed so weak that it was ready to fall whereupon he said merrily to the Lieutenant I pray you Mr. Lieutenant see me safe up and for my coming down let me shift for my self Then desired he all the people to pray for him and to bear witness with him that he should then suffer death in and for the Faith of the Holy Catholique Church a faithfull servant both of God and the King Which done he kneeled down and after his prayers ended he turned to the Executioner and with a chearful countenance said Pluck up thy spirits man and be not afraid to do thine Office my neck is very short take heed therefore thou strike not awry for saving thine honesty then laying his head upon the Block he bad the Executioner stay untill he had removed aside his Beard saying That that had never committed any Treason So with much chearfulness he received the Fatall blow of the Ax which at once severed his head from his body This jeast at his death the Catholiques so much distasted that at so serious a time he should be so airy and light that he had almost been scratched out of their Canonization for a Saint He was executed the sixth day of July following the decollation of Bishop Fisher who was for the same Cause beheaded on Tower-Hill The Life of this Bishop is extant incomparable well done by Doctor Bailie Thus died Sir Thomas Moor a man admirable in all kinde of learning Latine Greek Prophane Divine his Vtopia is admired over the world his Richard the Third till of late years of so much credit with Historians that they have placed it in their Works without the alteration of a word He was of such excellency of Wit and Wisdom that he was able to make his fortune good in what place soever he lived who wanted no skill either for the mannaging of private or publick businesses being experienced both in Countrey and City Affairs in giving solid and sound counsel in doubtful cases none more prudent to tell the truth without fear none more free as from all flatteries he was open and pleasant full of grace in delivering his judgement And to conclude one whose integrity made him a miracle of nature whist he was living and whose Books have made him an everlasting Monument now he is dead He was behead in the year 1535. his Monument is in Chelsey Church where it is reported Bishop Fisher lies buried with him in the same Grave that as they suffered for one Opinion it was thought fit they should not be parted Epitaphium Thomae Mori quod paulo post abdicatum munus Cancellarii ipse sibi composuit Sepulchro suo affixit Thomas Morus Vrbe Londinensi familia non celebri sed honesta natus in literis utcunque versatus quum ut causas aliquot juvenis egisset in foro in urbe suo pro Shyrevo jus dixisset ab invictissimo Rege Henrico Octavo cui uni regum omnium gloria prius inaudita contigit fidei defensor qualem gladio se calamo verè praestitit merito vocaretur aà scitus in aulam est delectusque in concilium creatus eques
Life of LANCELOT ANDREWS Bishop of Winchester IT is poetized of the Thracian Orpheus that his Oratotary was so powerful that with it he drew the senseless stones after him towards the building of Thebes which some moralize that his eloquence was such as attracted the senseless and stony multitude from Barbarism to frame themselves to a civil and well ordered life What was storied of Orpheus may fitly be applied to this learned Bishop who with his heavenly Oratory drew many stony senseless hearts out of the Captivity of Satan unto the glorious freedom of the Gospel of Jesus Christ For his person we can add nothing to him to name him is enough to all that knew him and to read him will be enough to them that knew him not his piety being such as was esteemed comparable to that which was found in the primitive Church This right reverend father in God Bishop of Winchester Prelate of the Garter was born in the City of London descended from the ancient Family of the Andrews in Suffolk his Father a Merchant of good repute and according to the Religion of those ancient times very devout being one of the Society and Masters of the Holy Trinity commonly called Trinity-House He in his tender years shewed great aptness to learning which he so improved under his two School-masters Mr. Ward Master of the Coopers Free School in Radcliffe and Mr. Mulchaster Master of the Merchant-Taylors Free School in London that he promised a golden Harvest from so hopeful a seed-time So that from his youth he declared an extraordinary worth that he was made up of learning and vertue in both of them so eminent that it was hard to judge which had the precedency and greater interest though it was truly asserted from his contemporaries that there was not any kinde of Learning that he was a stranger to but in his profession admirable which was as well if not better known abroad then admired at home Having under these two gained an excellent knowledge in the Greek and Hebrew Languages he was sent to Pembroke-Hall in Cambridge where he was by Doctor Wats Archdeacon of Middlesex a Benefactor to that house placed in one of the Greek Schollarships soon after he was made Bachellour of Arts and a Fellowship being void he and Thomas Dove afterwards Bishop of Peterburgh for the obtaining thereof were put to a trial of some Schollastical exercises upon performance whereof they chose him into the fellowship yet so well did they approve of his opponent that they made him some allowance for his present maintenance under the title of a Tanquam Socius Thus this great miracle of worth that arrived to such a fulness of material learning had yet room enough left him in the temper of his brain for almost all Languages to seat themselves so that his learning had all the helps that Language could afford and his language learning enough for the best of them to express so that it might be said of him as it was of Claudius Drusus that he was a man of great parts as mortal nature could receive or industry make perfect In process of time his endowments made him so eminent that he was invited unto Jesus Colledge in Oxford by Mr. Hugh Price who built the same whose decerning spirit presaging of his future abilities nominated him in his foundation to be one of his first Fellows there and having taken the degree of Master of Art he applied himself wholly to the study of Divinity Soon after was he chosen Catechist in the Colledge which he performed so well that not onely the University became his common auditors but many out of the Countrey resorted thither greatly admiring at his profound learning Henry Earl of Huntington hearing of his worth sent for him to accompany him into the North whereof he was President where by his painful preaching he converted many Recusants to the Protestant Religion And now his abilities being still better known to the world Sir Francis Walsingham Secretary of State to Queen Elizaheth took special notice of him and by his means he was preferred to be Vicar of Saint Giles without Cripple-Gate London then Prebend and Residentiary of St. Pauls and afterwards Prebend of the Collegiate Church of Southwell soon after upon the death of Doctor Fulk he was elected into the Mastership of Pembroke-hall in Cambridge Afterwards he was made Chaplain in ordinary to Queen Elizabeth who took such delight in his preaching that she resolved upon his higher preferment but having made him first Prebend and not long after Dean of Westminster death prevented her of her intentions But what was wanting in her was performed by her learned successour King James who admiring him for his transcendent abilities soon after his coming to this Crown made him Bishop of Chichester and Lord Almoner and withal added the parsonage of Cheyham in Surrey to his Commendam He now as he excelled most of his Brethren in dignity he thought it not enough unless he did more then imitate them in sanctity of life and knowing no better rule for his direction herein then what Saint Paul had prescribed to Timothy he resolved to make those precepts his rules of practice In these addresses of his to Heaven first he led his life as in respect to men blameless his vertues admired by all but imitated of few his life being like a candle set on a candlestick which gave light to the whole House drawing many souls to God as well by his holy conversation as pious preaching It is a true saying A mans pious carriage makes his speech perswasive Secondly his charity was most transcendent to pass over many vast sums he bestowed upon poor Parishes Prisons and Prisoners his private Alms in his last six years besides those publique amounted to the sum of 1300. pounds and upwards Notwithstanding by what hath been said he might seem in his life time to be his own Almoner yet extended he his works of compassion most abundantly at his death leaving four thousand pounds to purchase two hundred pounds land per annum for ever to be distributed by fifty pounds quarterly thus to aged poor men fifty pounds to poor widdows the wives of one husband fifty pounds to the binding of poor Orphans Apprentices fifty pounds and to the relief of poor prisoners fifty pounds Also he gave two hundred pounds to poor Maid-servants of honest report who had served one Master or Mistress seven years to be distributed presently after his decease Many other acts of Charity did this good Bishop do a fair coppy for new succeeding rich Cleargy-men who are all for the mountain word of Faith but have nothing to do with good Works to write after He had alwayes a special care of promoting sufficient and able men to Livings a great mans letter will do but little good with him if he saw not piety as well as personage in the party His enquiry was constantly to know what hopeful young men were in the
Religion then the Ceremonies of it did publickly refuse it From hence proceeded Tragedies Tumults War and Invasion for upon the first reading thereof the people were so violent against it that the Dean and Bishop of Edenburgh hardly escaped with life nor were they onely the rascal multitude that thus opposed it but many of the Noblemen Barons and Gentlemen amongst whom the chief were the Earl of Hume and the Lord Lindsey To appease these disorders the King sent down the Marquess Hamilton in the quality of an high Commissioner impowring him with a Commission to use the utmost of his interest and power for the settling of peace but whether as some write he dealt deceitfully in aspiring to the Crown himself or no I judge uncertain but most certain it is that after his coming the differences encreased far greater then before and no question but it had become far better for the King had this Marquess been either a more close friend or an opener enemy The King being at home in no good condition used all means he could to pacifie his enemies abroad not onely winking at many of the foul disorders of the Scots but also yielded unto them in their desires for many things which nevertheless allayed not their spirits but rather encouraged them to proceed as they had begun For as Cleaveland hath it Nor Gold nor Acts of Grace 't is steel must tame The stubborn Scot a Prince that would reclaim Rebels by yielding doth like him or worse Who saddled his own back to save his horse Hamilton being returned into England the Scots began might and main to levy Souldiers to impose Taxes to raise Fortifications to block up some and seize others of the Kings Castles and to prepare for War The King not to be behinde hand with the Scots it being no good policy in War to strain courtesie who should begin first raised a considerable power to the maintenance whereof many of the Nobility contributed largely especially the Bishops it being for the preservation of their own Hierarchy March 27. the Army began to march the Earl of Arundel commanding in Chief but all the preparation both of one side and the other proved onely an interview of two Armies nothing being acted considerable in the way of engagement for after a few dayes attendance upon each other a Pacification was concluded upon distributed into these Articles On the Kings Part. 1. His Majesty to confirme what his Commissioner promised in his name 2. That a general Assembly be indicted to be kept at Edenburgh August 6. 3. That command be given for a Parliament to be holden at Edenburgh August the 20. 4. That he recal all his Forces by Land or Sea and restore all Ships and Goods arrested and detained since the pretended Assembly at Glasgow upon the Covenanters disarming and disbanding of their Forces dissolving their Tables and restoring to the King all his Castles Forts and Ammunition and releasing all the Persons Lands and Goods then under restraint or detained since the pretended Assembly of Glasgow This his Majesty to do by Declaration On the Scots Part. 1. The Forces of Scotland to be disbanded within eight and forty hours after publication of the Kings Declaration 2. They to render up after the said publication all Castles Forts Ammunition of all sorts so soon as the King shall send to receive them 3. They to hold no meetings treatings nor consultations but such as are warranted by act of Parliament 4. They to desist from all fortifications and those to be remitted to the Kings pleasure 5. They to restore to all the Kings Subjects their Liberties Lands Houses Goods and Means taken or detained from them since the first of February last This Pacification being solemnly ratified on both sides the King well hoped a general peace would ensue but what ever the Scots pretended the sequel shewed they intended nothing less for they still kept their Officers in constant Pay they did not slight their fortification at Leith they still continued their Meetings and Consultations they still disquieted molested and frighted all of different inclinations and which was worst of all they dispersed a scandalous Libel entituled Some conditions of his Majesties Treaty with his Subjects of Scotland before the English Nobility are set down here for remembrance Which Book tending to the defamation of his Majesty and disavowed by the Commissioners then present at the Treaty was by the command of the Council burnt by the common Hangman The King who intended to stay till the General Assembly was met seeing matters remain in this doubtful posture returned into England leaving the Earl of Traquair his Commissioner August the 6 the Assembly met at Edenburgh wherein Episcopacy the five Articles of Perth the High Commission the Liturgy and Book of Canons were abolished the Earl of Traquiar assenting thereunto The Assembly being ended the Parliament began who instead of reforming Abuses fell upon new moddelling the Government forming an Act Recissory whereby former Acts concerning the Judicatory of the Exchequer concerning Proxies and concerning confirmation of Ward Lands should be nulled Which being signified to the King he by his Commissioner the Earl of Traquair prorogued the Parliament until the 2. of June next These actings of the Scots warping altogether towards War were much forwarded by an accident November 19. it happened a great part of the walls of the Castle of Edenburgh with the Cannons mounted fell to the ground this being the Anniversary night of the Kings Birth-day was construed in the Grammar of Superstition an ominous presage of the ruine of the Kings design The King appointed the Lord Estrich Colonel Ruthen and the Governour of the Castle to take order for the re-edification of what was lapsed but the Scots would not suffer any materials to be carried in for reparation This Indignity the King concludeth intollerable and thereupon resolveth to relieve himself by force to this end a private Juncto is selected for the close carrying on of the design wherein it was agreed his Majesty should call a Parliament to assemble April the 13. next The King approved well of their Councel but withal said My Lords the Parliament cannot suddenly convene and the subsidies they grant will be so long in levying as in the interim I may be ruin'd therefore some speedy course must be thought upon for supplies The Lords willing to forward the business told him they would engage their own credits and the Lord Deputy of Ireland giving the onset subscribed for twenty thousand pound the other Lords writing after his Copy subscribed conformable to their Estates the Judges also contributed largely as also the Recusants who are ever sure to undergo the lash yielded according to their abilities From which Loyalty of theirs to his Majesty the more envious and schismatical sort of people gave out that the King was in his heart a Papist I have thought it my duty to insert in Latin and in English his Majesties Declaration
that any one alive could suspect it of which himself at all times throughont the whole space of his life had given manifest testimonies Whereupon sayes the King that he deposited the testimony of his faith which this holy man meaning the Bishop or else expected defence in this behalf of all men who well knew his life and profession namely that I dye said he in the Christion Faith according to the profession of the Church of England as the same was left me by my Father of blessed memory Then looking about upon the Officers having sayes he a most gracious God and a most just cause that I shall by and by change this corruptible Crown for an immortal one I both trust and rejoyce that I shall depart hence into another Kingdom altogether exempt from all manner of disturbance Then preparing towards the Circumstances the Bishop putting on his Night cap and uncloathed him to his Sky-colour Sattin Wastecoat he said I have a good cause and a gracious God and gave his George Order to the Bishop bidding him to give it to the Prince There is but one stage more sayes the Bishop this is turbulent and troublesome and but a short one but it will soon dismiss into a way further even from Earth to Heaven there you are assured of joy and comfort I go sayes the King 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 mildly praying to himself he stoopt down to the Block as to a prayer-desk and most humbly bowed down his generous Neck to God to be cut off by the vizarded Executioner which was suddenly done at one blow Thus fell Charles and thus all Regal Power with him His Body was buried at Windsor for to render him the more odious in the Vault with Henry the Eighth His Effigies at the Old Exchange being pulled down with this Inscription placed there Sic exit ultimus Tyrannus His own and his Fathers Statue being not long before thrown down from the West end of Pauls A late worthy Historian writes that though there were many excellent ones written on him yet the King himself was his own best Epitaph as his Reign and death makes as full and as perfect a story of goodness and glory as earth could suffer so his Christian vertues deserve as faithful a Register as earth can keep I shall conclude with one of our Modern Poets Crowns have their compass length of dayes their dates But time puts periods both to Crowns and States This Epitaph came to my hands which I have here inserted Within this sacred Vault doth lie The Quintessence of Majesty Which being set more glorious shines The best of Kings best of Divines Britains shame and Britains Glory Mirrour of Princes compleat Story Of Royalty one so exact That th' Elixirs of praise detract These are fair shadows but t' endure He 's drawn to th' life in 's Portraiture If such another Piece you 'ld see Angels must limn it out or he Master Lilly in his Monarchy or no Monarchy sayes that some affirm that severall Prodigies appeared before his death all he observed for a long time before was that there appeared almost every year several Mock-suns sometimes two sometimes three so also Mock-moons or Paracelenes which were the greatest he ever observed or feared The Life of the Lord CAPEL THis honourable Person though he was not like some of our other Worthies crowned with the Successes and Laurels of War yet is he no less to be eternized for his endeavours his animosity constancy and perseverance to the parting first with his vaste Estate sequestred for his Loyalty and aterwards with his Life so that he might rightly be termed The Flower of English Fidelity his name ever to be honourably mentioned according to that of the Psalmist Psal 112.6 The righteous shall be in everlasting remembrance He was Son and Heir to Sir Arthur Capel of Hadham-hall in Hertfordshire a Gentleman of a great estate one who followed the old Mode of our Nation kept a bountiful house and shewed forth his faith by his works extending his Charity in such abundant manner to the poor that he was bread to the hungry drink to the thirsty eyes to the blinde and legs to the lame and might justly be stiled Great Almoner to the King of Kings Concerning the Humility of this worthy Knight though it be too sudden a diversion I shall presume to insert a story which I have heard delivered by some well acquainted with his worship That be being set at his gate all alone in a plain but decent habit a Serving-man who had plumed himself with his Masters cast feathers came riding to him and asked him if Sir Arthur Capel were within Sir replied the Knight he was there not long ago and if you please to walk in you may hear further of his servants Old Father said the Serving-man here take my Horse and first money he ever received in that kinde Sir Arthur agreed to the motion and with a smile received from him a single penny took his Horse and walkt him whilest the finical spruce Serving-man strutted with convenient boldness into the house but being informed by the Servants that their Master was at the Gate he replying to the contrary one of them to justifie their words went with him to the Gate to see where they found Sir Arthur very industrious in his employment the Serving-man very much ashamed of his mistake craved pardon and with humble obeisance with his Hat in his hand with many cringes would have received the Horse from the Knight Nay stay sayes Sir Arthur you paid me my hire get up as soon as you will I am resolved to see you on Horseback The old Knight putting his hand into his purse gave him half a peece which he said was for his taking so much care of his Masters Horse being purposely thus liberal to encourage his own Servants to imitate his careful example But to return to his Son he was very well educated attained to some perfection in learning he had a good expression and elegant stile as his own Letters hest delineate His Father dying as he inherited his Estate so did he his vertues his pious bounty appearing so conspicuous that some envious persons who hate good works in others because they will do none themselves have maliciously aspersed him for an inclination to Popery But as such aspersions amongst persons of understanding speak nothing but the speakers malice so wrought it in others a deserved commendation of this of our late Noble inimitable Lord more especially that in these last times when Charity lies bed-rid and faith onely so much talkt on whereas he made his Faith publickly known by his Works From the degree of Knight he was by King Charls advanced to be Baron of Hadham As it may be computed about that time the Earl of Strafford received his Tryal this unfortunate
whom you now embrace shall be your ruine and you shall bear this iniquity Now this passage of the Prophet doth by consent of Interpreters signifie the time of forty years to the destruction of Jerusalem and that Nation for their Idolatry and this Sermon being Preached in Anno 1601. just forty years before that horrid Rebellion brake forth in Ireland Anno 1641. made it appear that it had something in it of a prophetick spirit His first Church preferment was to the Chancellourship of St. Patrick in Dublin in which Mr. Cambden found him An. 1607. at what time he was composing his most excellent Brittania of whom he gives this Character in his observations concerning Dublin Most of which I acknowledge to owe to the diligence and labour of James Usher Chancellour of the Church of Saint Patrick who in various learning and judgement far exceeds his years Soon after Mr. Cambdens departure be commenc'd Batchellor of Divinity and immediately upon it was chosen Professor of Divinity in that University of Dublin which he held about thirteen or fourteen years during which time the Provostship of the Colledge falling void he was unanimously elected by the Fellows but by reason of some trouble belonging to it notwithstanding it it had a large annual allowance he refused it a thing to be taken notice of because rare amongst the Cleargy men of this latter age Soon after he proceeded Doctor of Divinity and now his eminency gained him enemies who scandalized him to King James under the notion of a Puritan but what was intended for his downfal proved for his preferment for the King entring into a free discourse with him received from him such abundant satisfaction of the soundness of his Judgement and Piety that notwithstanding the opposition of great ones without his seeking made him Bishop of Meath in Ireland just then falling void whilest he was in England upon his entering into his dignity a Wit of those times made this excellent Annagram upon him James Meath Anagrama I am the same Which he made good ever after in the whole course of his life neither being puffed up with the the windy titles of ambition nor slacking his former constancy of preaching engraving this Motto on his Episcopal Seal Vae mihi si non Evangeliza vero which he continued in the Seal of his Primacy also It is credibly reported of him that he was person of so excellent a memory that when he hath bin distant from his Library many miles without the aid of any Catalogue he hath directed his man by the figures of them imprinted in his minde to go directly to the several places where they stood to bring him such Books as he wanted During the time he was Bishop of Meath he answered that Challenge of the Jesuite Malone and coming over into England to have it Printed during his abode here Primate Hampton dying he was made Primate of Ireland An. 1624. And now though he was promoted to the highest step his profession was capable of in his native Countrey yet having some occasion of stay still in England he continued his laborious preaching in a little Village called Wicken in Essex where upon the request of some Ministers of that County to preach on the Week dayes because they could not come to hear him on the Sundayes preaching too often beyond his strength he fell into a Quartane Ague which held him three quarters of a year Scarcely had he recovered his sickness when it pleased God to make him the instrument of the conversion of an honourable person to the Protestant Religion the occasion thus the Lord Mordant afterwards Earl of Peterborough being a Papist and his Lady a Protestant both of them being desirous to draw each other to their own Religion agreed that there should be a meeting of two prime men of each to dispute what might be in controversie between them hereupon the Lord chose for his Champion one Rookwood a Jesuite Brother to Ambross Rookwood one of the conspirators in the Gunpowder Treason who went disguised under the name of Beaumont the Lady made choice of this Archbishop Drayton in Northamptonshire was appointed for their meeting place the Points proposed were concerning Transubstantiation Invocation of Saints Images visibility of the Church Three dayes were spent in disputations wherein the Archbishop was opponent and the Jesuite respondent The fourth day according to agreement the Jesuite was to have been opponent but that morning he excused himself to the Lord Mordant saying That all the Arguments he used he had framed within his own head and thought he had them as perfect as his Pater Noster but he had strangely forgotten and could not recover them again which caused him to say That he believed it was the just judgement of God upon him thus to desert him in the defence of his cause for the undertaking of himself to dispute with a man of that eminency and learning without the licence of his Superiour This excuse gave so little satisfaction to the Lord Mordant that upon some further conference with the Archbishop he became a Protestant and so continued to his dying day After this Victory over the Jesuit with the Canon bullets of his controversial Pen he disperst whole Armie of the Irish Catholicks so that they were never able to rally their Forces again After some time of tarrying in England he returned into Ireland where he was received with great acclamations of joy where he continued faithfully discharging his Office until the year before the Rebellion brake forth there in which he returned into England not long after was the great business of the Earl of Strafford in agitation I have heard it reported by men not over credulous to believe flying news that the day before the King signed the Bill for that Earls death that when the King for the satisfying of his conscience desired the opinion of him as also of the Bishops of London Durham Lincoln and Carlisle that those other four for the satisfying of the people who were then grown extraordinary insolent wished him to sign the Bill But that this Bishop advised the King not to wound his Conscience in seeking to heal State sores the truth of this I will not assert for it is confidently believed by many that Doctor Juxon Bishop of London was not assenting thereto but this is certain that when a person of honour had in the Kings presence spoken words in effect that this Bishop should advise him to the signing of that Bill that he in very great passion laying his hand upon his breast protested his innocency therein It is generally reported how true I know not that when the King heard that an honourable Lady had extended her nobleness to the Bishop that he should say That that charity of hers would cover a multitude of her sins Many endeavours not like the fire-drakes of our late Pulpits did this reverend Bishop use to draw the King and Parliament to a Reconciliation and
so faithfully discharged he hid endeavours that he won the love of both sides Thus after he had holily and peaceably for many years to the honour of God and edification of his Church continued to the time of his death constantly preaching the word of God he in the seventy sixth year of his age surrendered up his soul into the hands of his Maker his mamory being as a precious Oyntment yielding a sweet savour in the Nostrils of Gods Saints which gave occasion to one of our late Poets amongst many others to write these two Verses Usher remains sustain'd by the blest Powers A Saint in Heavens bright Orb a Star in ours He deceased the 21. of March 1655. and was honourably buried in Henry the Sevenths Chappel at the Abbey in Westminster Oliver then Lord Protectour dispending two hundred pounds at his Funeral extending to his the Grant of some of the Lands of the Primacy of Armagh for twenty one years I shall shut up all with this Character given him by a solemn Order in the Convocation at Oxford Anno 1644. James Vsher Archbishop of Armagh Primate of all Ireland The most skilful of Primitive Antiquity the unanswerable Defender of the Orthodox Religion the Maul of Errours in Preaching frequent eloquent very powerful a rare example of an unblameable life Of whom may be writ as one doth by way of Elegy on the late Martyr of our times that admirable Divine Dr. Hewet Since he is dead report it thou my Muse Vnto the world as grief and not as news Heark how Religion sighs the Pulpit groans And tears run trickling down the senseless stones That Church which was all ears is now turn'd eyes The Mother weeps and all her Children cries In remembrance of him and his incomparable abilities at Christ Church in Oxford there is an Oration spoke constantly once a year He left many Monuments of his Learning behinde him to posterity His Book De successione Ecclesiarum 4o. Londini 1613. Epistolarum Hibernicarum Sylloge 4o. Dublini 1630. Historia Goteschalci Dublini 1631. De Primordiis Ecclesiarum Britannicarum 4o. Dublini 1631. the greatest part of which were cast away as they came by sea Ignatii Epistolarum annotationibus 4o. Oxoniae 1648. De anno solari Macedonum 8o Londini 1648. Annales Veteris Testamenti Folio Londini 1650. Annales Novi Testamenti Folio Londini 1654. both which are since in one Volumn printed in English a Work acknowledged by the learnedst men of this Age for the admirable Method and Worth of it not to have hitherto been parallel'd by any preceding Writers Epistola ad Cappellum de variantibus textus Hebraici Lectionibus 4o. Londini 1652. De Graeca septuaginta interpretum versione Syntagma 4o. Londini 1655. His English Works were these A Sermon preached before the House of Commons February 18. 1618. A Declaration of the visibility of the Church preached in a Sermon before King James June 20. 1624. A Speech delivered in the Castle Chamber in Dublyn the 22. of November 1622. An Answer to Malon the Jesuit 4o. 1631. The Religion professed by the ancient Irish and Brittains 4o. 1631. Two Works which routed the Catholicks of Ireland Immanuel of the Incarnation of the Son of God 4o. Dublin 1639. A Sermon for the learning and worth of it never to be sufficiently esteemed A Geographical description of the Lesser Asia 4o. Oxford 1644. Confessions and Proofs of Doctor Reinolds and other Protestant Divines concerning the Right of Episcopacy 4o. Oxford 1644. His Discourse of the Original of Bishops and Archbishops 4o. Oxford 1644. The Sum and Substance of Christian Religion being in part his but publisht without his consent Folio London His small Catechisme reviewed 12o. London A Method for Meditation or a direction for hearing the Word I have since had the happiness to peruse several Sermons of his ordained for the Press truly worthy of him they were all of them but one preached before the year 1626. most of them before he was Bishop I thought it for the better knowing of them from others that may be falsely father'd on him to be convenient to set down the several Texts Philip. 3.8 Ephes 2.1 2. Ephes 2.2 3. John 14.16 17. His most excellent Sermons on the Sacraments out of 1 Cor. 11.28 as also on Colos 1.21 Two Sermons on 1 Pet. 4.17 His Sermon preacht a little before he was made a Bishop before the King at Greenwich June the 25. 1626. his Text was taken out of the 1 Cor. 14.33 the words For God is not Authour of confusion but of peace as we see in all the Churches of the Saints At that time there was a strange division and clashing one against another of the great ones of the Court whom his sharp Sermon toucht so near to the quick that the Puritanical Bishop as they then called him put the highest spirits of them to a non plus These Sermons Dr. Bernard of Grayes-Inne formerly Chaplain to Bishop Vsher had the perusal of who said they wanted nothing but onely that Life and Majesty they were adorned with when the Bishop himself delivered them I have ended my discourse as to what concerns this reverend Father of the Church I have no more to write but onely to exprese my sorrow that I could not arrive to a right knowledge of the Lives of two of our late worthy Divines Doctour Featly who died first as his spirits were oppressed with the afflictions of our distracted times as also of that Contemplative Seraphical Clergy-man Bishop Hall who was in Heaven whilest he was on earth the Life of the former Doctor Featly the Champion of our Church against the Romanists I at last despaired of having after a long search and strict enquiry gained no perfect cognizance from any of his friends and concerning Bishop Hall having no acquaintance with the Heir to his blessed qualifications his most accomplisht Son otherwise then from the Pulpit my modesty being so much a stranger to him would not suffer me to make an address The Life of Master John Lilburne I Question not but that it will be admired that such an inferiour person as Master Lilburne should take up any room in this Volume I shall onely need to express that I have not inserted him as a Worthy but rather as a Wonder the truth is whosoever shall diligently mark the transactions of this person will finde such variety of matter contained in his Life not onely to excuse the publishing of it but also so far to transport them that read it as to believe him to be a fit object for an intire Volume by himself rather then this short relation I shall obtrude on his memory which considering how his Life was shufled and confused the Reader cannot expect any other then fragments no clear nor continued progress of his History When Taxaris saw his Countrey-man Anacharsis in Athens he said unto him I will at once shew thee all the Wonders of Greece So may I say of him I will
What have we not deserved yet O the long-suffering and patience and goodness of our God! O Lord our God we pray thee that thy patience and long-suffering might lead to repentance that thou wouldest be pleased thou who delightest not in the death of a sinner but rather that he should turn from his sins and live that thou wouldest turn us unto thee O Lord and we shall be turned draw us and we shall run after thee draw us with the cords of Love and by the bands of loving kindness by the powerful working of thy holy spirit in our souls working contrition in our hearts and a godly sorrow for all our sins even a sorrow to repentance and a repentance to salvation never to be repented of Lord break those stony hearts of ours by the hammer of thy word mollifie them by the oyl of thy grace smite these rocky hearts of ours by the rod of thy most gracious power that we may shed forth rivers of tears for all the sins we have committed O that thou wouldest make us grieve because we cannot grieve and to weep because we cannot weep enough that thou wouldest humble us more and more in the true sight and sense of all our provocation against thee and that thou wouldest be pleased in the blood of Jesus Christ to cleanse us from all our sins Lord let his blood that speaks better things then that of Abel cry louder in thine ears for mercy then all those mischiefs and wickednesses that have been done amongst us for vengeance O besprinkle our polluted but penitent souls in the blood of Jesus Christ that we may be clean in thy sight and that the light of thy countenance may shine upon us Lord be pleased to seal unto our souls the free pardon and forgiveness of all our sins say to each of our souls and say that we may hear it that thou art well pleased with us and appeased towards us Lord do thou by the Spirit assure our spirits that we are thy children and that thou art reconciled to us in the blood of Jesus Christ To this end O Lord create in us new hearts and renew right spirits within us Cast us not away from thy presence and take not thy holy spirit from us but give us the comfort of thy help and establish us with thy free spirit Help us to live as they redeemed ones and Lord let us not any longer by our wicked lives deny that most holy faith whereof our lips have for so long time made profession but let us that call on the name of the Lord Jesus depart from iniquity and hate every evil way Help us to cast away all our transgressions whereby we have transgressed and make us new hearts Carry us along through the pilgrimage of this world supplying us with all things needful for us thy grace alone is sufficient for us Lord let thy grace be assistant to us to strengthen us against all the temptations of Satan especially against those sins whereunto we are most prone either by custom or constitution or most easily provoked O Lord with what affliction soever thou shalt punish us do not punish us with spiritual judgements and desertions Give us not over to our own hearts lusts to our vile lewd and corrupt affections give us not over to hardness and impenitency of heart but make us sensible of the least sin and give us thy grace to think no sin little committed against thee our God but that we may be humbled for it and repent of it and reform it in our lives and conversations and Lord keep us from presumptuous sins O let not them get the dominion over us but keep us innocent from the great offence O Lord our strength and our Redeemer And Lord sanctifie unto us all thy methods and proceedings with us fitting us for all further tribulations and tryals whatsoever thou in thy divine pleasure shalt be pleased to impose upon us Lord give us patience constancy resolution and fortitude to undergo them that though we walk through the valley of the shadow of death we may fear none ill knowing that thou O Lord art mercifully with us and that with thy rod as well as with thy staff thou wilt support and comfort us and that nothing shall be able to separate us from thy love which is in Jesus Christ our Lord. And gracious God we beseech thee be thou pleased to look mercifully and compassionately on thy holy Catholique Church and grant that all they that do confess thy holy Name may agree together in the truth of thy holy Word and live in unity and godly love Thou hast promised O Lord the gates of hell shall not prevail against thy Church perform we beseech thee thy most gracious promises both to thy whole Church and to that part of it which thou hast planted and now afflicted in these sinful Lands and Nations wherein we live arise O Lord and have mercy upon our Sion for it is time that thou have mercy upon her yea the time is come for thy servants think upon her stones and it pittieth them to see her in the dust Lord maintain thine own cause rescue the light of thy truth from all those clouds of errours and heresies which do so much obscure it and let the light thereof in a free profession break forth and shine again among us and that continually even as long as the Sun and Moon endures To this end O Lord bless us all and bless him the posterity which in Authority ought to rule over and be above us Bless him in his soul and in his body in his friends and in his servants and all his relations Guide him by thy Counsel prosper him in all undertakings granting him a long prosperous and honourable life here upon earth and that he may attain to a blessed life hereafter And gracious God look mercifully upon all our Relations and do thou bring them to the light of thy truth that are wandering and ready to fall Confirm them in thy truth that already stand show some good token for good unto them that they may rejoyce O let thy good hand of providence be over them in all their wayes And to all orders and degrees of men that be amongst us give religious hearts to them that now rule in Authority over us Loyal hearts in the subjects towards their Supream and loving hearts in all men to their Friends and charitable hearts one towards another And for the continuance of thy Gospel among us restore in thy good time to their several places and callings and give Grace O Heavenly Father to all Bishops Pastors and Curates that they may both by their Life and Doctrine set forth thy true and lively word and rightly and duly administer thy Holy Sacraments And Lord bless thy Church still with Pastors after thine own heart with a continual succession of faithful and able men that they may both by Life and Doctrine declare thy truth and never
his private Devotions Sir Hardress Waller Collonel Harrison Collonel Dean Comissary General Ireton are to consider of the time and place of his Execution and in the Painted Chamber Munday January 29. the President and Judges met and within the Committee resolve that in the open street before White Hall his own House is the fittest place that the King be there executed to morrow Tuesday between ten and two of the Clock upon a Scaffold covered with black next to the Banquetting House where he was wont to ascend his Throne It was supposed the King would not submit his neck to the Enemies Axe and therefore it was so provided with staples and cords that he should not resist January 27. the King lodged at White Hall the next day Sunday the Bishop of London preached before him Afterwards his children had leave to visit him his children being come to him he first gave his blessing to the Lady Elizabeth and bad her to tell her Brother James when soever she should see him that it was his Fathers last command that he should no more look upon Charles as his eldest Brother onely but be obedient to him as his Sovereign that they should love one another and forgive their Fathers Enemies Then said the King to her Sweet Heart you 'l forget this no said she I shall never forget it whilest I live and pouring down abundance of tears promised him to write the Particulars Then the King taking the Duke of Glocester upon his knee said Now they will cut off thy Fathers head upon which the childe lookt very stedfastly on him Mark Childe what I say they will cut off my head and perhaps make thee a King But mark what I say You must not be King so long as your Brother Charles and James do live for they will cut off your Brothers heads when they can catch them and cut off thy head too at last therefore I charge thee do not be made a King by them at which the Childe sighing said I will be torn in pieces first at which the King smiled The fatal day appeared Tuesday 30. January when he prayes and receives the Sacrament just at ten of the Clock in the forenoon he is called to come forth from St. James's Palace then his Prison to go on foot over the Park to White Hall guarded with a Regiment of Foot Souldiers part before and the rest behinde him with Collours flying and Drums beating his private Guard of Partisans about him and Doctor Juxon Bishop of London next to him on one side and Collonel Thomlinson on the other Ascending the stairs up to the Park Gallery into his Cabinet Chamber he continued there at his devotion and refused to dine onely about twelve of the Clock he eat a bit of bread and drank a Glass of Clarret-wine from thence he was conveyed into the Banquetting House and the great Window enlarged out of which he ascends the Scaffold the Rails being hung round and the floor covered with Black the Executioners disguised with vizards encountring him he not affrighted shews more care of the people living then fear of his own dying for looking round about upon the people whom the thick set Guards and Troops of Horse kept a great distance off and seeing he could not be heard by them omitting probably what he purposed to have spoken to them turning to the Officers and Actors but rather to Collonel Thomlinson he said I would now speak nothing unto you in this place were it not that some men would interpret my silence as an argument of guilt and think that I took on me the crimes objected with the same conscience as I submit to the punishment with patience I call God to witness of my innocency before whose Tribunal I must shortly appear it never entred into my thoughts to intrench on the just priviledges of Parliament and that I raised not any Army before such time as they had raised hostile forces against me which from the order of proceedings on both sides and dates of Commissions and Proclamations will be clearly manifested to the inquirer Mean while I acknowledge and submisly own Gods Justice which this day by an unjust sentence of mine he hath inflicted a just judgement on me for as much as heretofore I would not quit an innocent man meaning the Deputy of Ireland when opprest by a most unjust decree With what Charity I embrace my enraged enemies this good man is my witness pointing to the Bishop of London I pardon them all from my very heart and I earnestly beseech the God of all mercies that he would vouchsafe to grant them serious repentance and remit this great sin Yet I cannot to my last gasp but be solicitous of the peace of my kingdom which I am not able at the present better co consult for then by chalking out the way from which you of the souldiery have exceedingly deviated and by which we must return to sobriety and peace Herein I perceive you are most miserably out of the way in that by the rule of the Sword without all even a shadow of right you think good to wrest the government to your selves and endeavour to establish the Kingdom not by the authority of the Laws but upon the score of Conquest which can never have any accruit of right unless adhered in by a just Cause and Triumph of War namely either by the repulsing of wrongs of recovering of rights unjustly detained But if more prosperous success shall advance the victor beyond the modest bounds of just and lawful nought hinders but that the Kingdoms that are erected both be and be accounted great robberies which we read heretofore a Pirat objected to Alexander But being out of the way as you are can you by no other expedient return into the the right wayes of peace by no other counsel believe me can you hope to divert Gods wrath then by restoring to God the King the people respectively such things as are their dues You shall give God his due by restoring his pure worship and Church rightly regulated according to the prescript of his holy word which hath long since been miserably convulst and disjoynted And this a national Synod duly called will best effectuate to the King namely my successour you will render full right if you restore those things which by the clear Letter of the Law stands exprest Lastly you will put the people in their rights and due liberties not by lifting them in the consort of the Throne and sway of the Scepter but by recovering unto the Laws there Authority and the peoples observance to the abrogating of which by the enormious power of the Sword when as by no means I could be induced I was brought hither to undergo Martyrdom for my people So his last breath gently dissolving into a most meek prayer the Bishop of London said to him thus If his most excellent Majesty pleased he would openly profess what he thought touching his Religion not