be verified of Religion and Gods Service amongst us The time thereof may be Threescore years and ten if it continue till Fourscore it will be but small joy to those that shall then behold the Condition of the English Church and the best read Historian cannot produce one example of a happy State where the Clergy hath been exposed to the peoples Contempt which must needs happen where their Benefices their Maintenance is scandalous and their Persons despicable It is the last Trick saith St. Gregory that the Devil hath in this World when he cannot bring the Word and Sacraments in disgrace by Errours and Heresies he invented this Project to bring the Clergy into contempt and low esteem as it is now in England where they are accounted by many as the dross and refuse of the Nation Men think it a stain to their blood to place their Sons in that Function and Women ashamed to marry with any of them whereas antiently in England as among the Jews the Tribe of Levi was counted Noble above all other Tribes except that of the Royal Tribe of Judah the Function of the Clergy was of so high account and esteem that not only the best Gentry and Nobility but divers of the Sons and Brothers of divers of our English Kings since the Conquest and before disdained not to enter into Holy Orders and to be Clergy-men as at this day is practised in most other Monarchies of Christendome Ethelwolph Son and Successor to Egbert first sole King of England was in Holy Orders and Bishop of Winchester at his Fathers death Odo Bishop of Bayeux in Normandy was Brother to William the Conquerour Henry de Blois Brother to King Stephen was Bishop of Winchester Geofry Plantagenet Son to Henry 2 was Bishop of Lincoln Henry de Beaufort Brother to Henry the 4th was Bishop also of Winchester And of later Times that most prudent Henry 7 had designed his second Son to be a Clergyman to omit many others of Noble Blood Which Policy is still observed even amongst the few Families of the Romish Religion in England wherein are to be found at this day some Brothers or Sons of Dukes Marquisses Earls and Barons in Holy Orders and all the rest of the Stock of Baronets Knights or Gentry and for this cause find respect not only amongst those of their own Opinions but even of the more sober moderate and best civilized Protestants Whilst this Policy lasted in England the Clergy were judged the fittest Persons to execute most of the Chief Offices and Places of the Kingdom according to the Divine Policy amongst Gods peculiar People where the Priests and Levites were the Principal Officers and Judges in every Court to whom the People were to be obedient on pain of death and the Laity did with much reverence and respect submit to them And as then Os Sacerdotis Oraculum erat plebis according to that of Malachi 2. 7. So Os Episcopi Oraculum erat Regis Regni Rex amplectabatur universum Clerum lata fronte ex eo semper sibi eligebat primos a Consiliis primos ad officia Regni obeunda Primi igitur sedebant in omni Regni Comitiis Tribunalibus Episcopi in Regali quidem Palatio cum Regni Magnatibus in Comitatu una cum Comite in Turno cum Vicecomite in Hundredo cum Domino Hundredi sic ut in promovenda Justitia usquequaque gladius gladium adjuvaret nihil inconsulto Sacerdote vel Episcopo ageretur And because the Weal of the Kingdom and the Service of the King depended so much upon them and their presence for that end so oft required at London it was judged expedient that every Bishoprick should have a Palace or House belonging to it in or about London and it is known at this day where stood the Houses of every one except that of St. Asaph which also might probably have had one but more obscure than some other that Bishoprick having been as still very mean Great was the Authority of the Clergy in those dayes and their Memory should be precious in these dayes if we consider that they were the Authors of so great benefits and advantages to this Kingdom that there are few things of any importance for promoting of the welfare of this Church and State wherein the Bishops and Prelats under God have not been the Principal Instruments The Excellent Laws made by King Ina King Athelstan King Edmund and St. Edward from whom we have our Common Laws and our Priviledges mentioned in Magna Charta were all made by the perswasions and advice of Bishops and Archbishops named in our Histories The Union of the 2 Houses of York and Lancaster whereby a long and bloody War was ended was by the most wise Advice and Counsel of Bishop Morton then a Privy Councellour The Union of England and Scotland that inexpressible advantage to both Nations was brought to pass by the long fore-sight of Reverend Bishop Fox a Privy Councellour in advising Henry the 7th to match his Eldest Daughter to Scotland and his Younger to France Most of the Great Publick Works now remaining in England acknowledge their antient and present being either to the sole Cost and Charges or to the liberal Contributions or at least to the powerful Perswasions of Bishops as most of the best endowed Colledges in both our Vniversities very many Hospitals Churches Palaces Castles have been founded and built by Bishops even that famous chargeable and difficult Structure of London-Bridge stands obliged to the liberal Contributions of an Archbishop and it was a Bishop of London at whose earnest request William the Conquerour granted to the City of London so large Priviledges that in a grateful remembrance thereof the Lord Mayor and Aldermen to this day upon some solemn dayes of their resort to St. Pauls Church do go in Procession to the Grave Stone where that Bishop lies interred But above all The Converting England to the Christian Religion the Reforming that Religion when corrupted and since that the maintenance of the Doctrine thereof against all Romish Writers and of the Discipline thereof none of the least good Offices against all the Practices and Power of the Puritan and Presbyterian Factions and all those other Sectaries lineally descended from them all this and more is owing if not solely yet principally to Bishops and Prelats by the late want of whom to sit at the Stern how soon was this goodly Vessel split upon the Rocks of Anarchy and Confusion Even since the late Restauration of Bishops to set down the many considerable Publick Benefits flowing from them and other Dignified Clergy would tire the Reader What Sums of Money have been by them expended in repairing Cathedral Churches Episcopal Houses in founding and building Hospitals in Charity to poor Widdows of Clergymen utterly ruined by the late Rebels for redeeming of poor Christian Slaves at Algier what publick and private Sums for supplying the Kings Necessities at his
Duke of Cumberland after the extinction of the Male Line of the Cliffords Finally the Kings forces at land being totally defeated he transported himself into France and was afterward made Admiral of such Ships of War as submitted to King Charles the Second to whom after divers disasters at Sea and wonderful preservations he returned to Paris 1652 where and in Germany sometimes at the Emperours Court and sometimes at Heydelberg he passed his time in Princely Studies and Exercises till the Restauration of his Majesty now raigning after which returning into England was made a Privy Counsellour in 1662 and in 1666 being joyned Admiral with the Duke of Albemarle first attackt the whole Dutch Fleet with his Squadron in such a bold resolute way that he put the Enemy soon to flight He enjoys a Pension from his Majesty of 4000 l. per Annum After Prince Rupert the next Heirs to the Crown of England are 3 French Ladies Daughters of Prince Edward lately deceased who was a younger Son of the Queen of Rehemia whose Widdow the Princess Dowager Mother to the said three Ladies is Sister to the late Queen of Poland Daughter and Coheir to the last Duke of Nevers in France amongst which three Daughters there is a Revenue of about 12000 l. Sterling a year After these is the Princess Elizabeth eldest Sister living to the Prince Elector Palatin born 26 Decemb. 1618. unmarried and living in Germany The next is another Sister called the Princess Louisa bred up at the Hague with the Queen her Mother in the Religion of the Church of England at length embracing the Romish Religion is now Lady Abbess of Maubisson at Ponthoise not far from Paris Last of all is the Princess Sophia youngest Daughter to the Queen of Bohemia born at the Hague 1630. and in 1659 wedded to John Duke of Lunenberg and Free Prince of Germany Heir to the Dutchy of Brunswick by whom she hath Sons and Daughters Of these three Princesses it is said that the first is the most learned the second the greatest Artist and the last one of the most accomplisht Ladies in Europe Of the Great Officers of the Crown NExt to the King and Princes of the Blood are reckoned the Great Officers of the Crown whereof there are Eight viz. the Lord High Chancellour the Lord High Treasurer the Lord Privy Seal the Lord High Admiral the Lord Great Chamberlain the Lord High Constable the Earl Marshal and the Lord High Steward for the time being First the Lord High Chancellour Summus Cancellarius so called because all Patents Commissions Warrants coming from the King and perused by him are signed if well or cancelled if amiss He is after the King and Princes of the Blood in Civil Affairs the highest Person in the Kingdom as the Archbishop of Canterbury is in Ecclesiastical Affairs His Office is to keep the Kings Great Seal to judge not according to the Common Law as other Civil Courts do but to moderate the rigour of the Law and to judge according to Equity Conscience or Reason His Oath is to do right to all manner of People poor and rich after the Laws and Customs of the Realm and truly counsel the King to keep secret the Kings Counsel nor suffer so far as he may that the Rights of the Crown be diminisht c. From the time of Henry 2. the Chancellours of England have been ordinarily made of Bishops or other Clergy-men learned in the Civil Laws till Henry 8. made Chancellour one Richard Rich a Common Lawyer from whom is descended the present Earl of Warwick and the Earl of Holland since which time there have been some Bishops but most Common Lawyers This High Office is in France durante vitâ but here is durante beneplacito Regis The Salary from the King is 848 l. per Annum and when the Star-Chamber was up 200 l. per Annum more for his Attendance there The Lord Chancellour or Lord Keeper who differ only in Name is created per traditionem magni Sigilli sibi per dominum Regem and by taking his Oath The Great Seal being lately taken from Edward Earl of Clarendon Lord Chancellour was by his Majesties great favour bestowed upon Sir Orlando Bridgeman with the Title of Lord Keeper of the Great Seal of England The next Great Officer of the Crown is the Lord High Treasurer of England who receives this high Office by delivery of a White Staffe to him by the King and holds it durante beneplacito Regis Antiently he received this Dignity by the delivery of the Golden Keys of the Treasury His Oath is little different from that of the Lord Chancellour He is Praefectus Aerarii a Lord by his Office under whose Charge and Government is all the Kings Revenue kept in the Exchequer He hath also the check of all the Officers any way emploied in collecting Imposts Customs Tributes or other Revenues belonging to the Crown He hath the gift of all Customers Controllers and Searchers in all the Ports of England He hath the nomination of the Escheators in every County and in some Cases by Statute is to appoint a Measurer for the length and breadth of Clothes He with others joyned in Commission with him or without letteth Leases of all the Lands belonging to the Crown He giveth Warrants to certain Persons of Quality to have their Wine Custom free The Annual Salary of the Lord High Treasurer is in all 383 li. 7s 8d per Annum Since the decease of Thomas Wriothesly last Earl of South-hampton and last Lord High Treasurer of England this Office hath been executed by a Commission granted to five eminent Persons viz. the Duke of Albemarle Lord Ashley Sir Thomas Clifford Sir Will. Coventry and Sir John Duncomb The Third Great Officer of the Crown is the Lord Privy Seal who is a Lord by his Office under whose hands pass all Charters and Grants of the King and Pardons signed by the King before they come to the Great Seal of England also divers other matters of less Concernment as for payments of money c. which do not pass the Great Seal He is by his Place of the Kings Privy Council and Chief Judge of the Court of Requests when it shall be re-continued and besides his Oath of Privy Counsellour takes a particular Oath as Lord Privy Seal His Salary is His Place according to Statute is next to the Lord President of the Kings Council It is an Office of great Trust and Skill that he put not this Seal to any Grant without good Warrant under the Kings Privy Signet nor with Warrant if it be against Law or Custom until that the King be first acquainted This great Officer is mentioned in the Statutes of 2 Rich. 2. and then â—anked amongst the Chief Persons of the Realm And is at present enjoyed by John Lord Robarts Baron Robarts of Truro The Fourth Great Officer of the Crown is the Lord
first Kings of England â—ad all the Lands of England 〈◊〉 Demesne The second sole Monarch amongst the Saxon Kings Ethelwolphus by the advice of his Nobles gave foâ— ever to God and the Church both the Tythe of all Good and the Tenth part of all the Lands of England free from all Secular Service Taxations or Impositions whatsoever the Charter of which Donation 〈◊〉 to be seen in Ingulphus and other Authors which Chartâ— thus ends Qui augere voluerâ— nostram donationem as many Pious Kings and Nobles sinâ— have done augeat Omnipotenâ— Deus dies ejus prosperos si quâ—â— vero mutare vel minuere praesumpâ— serit noscat se ad tribunal Christ rationem redditurum Beside the Tenth of Land and the Husbandmans profits Merchants also and Shop-keepers paid to their Spirituaâ— Pastors the Tenth of theiâ— Gain Servants in divers Plaâ—es the Tenth of their Wages 〈◊〉 as Soldiers in the Kings Armies do now a part of their Pay and in some places Aleâ—ellers the Tenth Flagon Alâ—o Handicrafts-men and Day-â—abourers paid the Tenth of â—heir Wages upon their Oaths 〈◊〉 required Per Assisas Forestae and other â—ecords it doth appear that â—ythes have been paid even â—f Venison in divers parts of England men making consciâ—nce in those dayes as amongst â—he antient Jews to pay Tythes â—f all they possâ—ssed Besides all those in some plaâ—es were paid to the Pastor Obâ—entions Oblations Pensions Mortuaries c. so that the Enâ—lish Clergy were the best provided for of any Clergy in the whole World except only the Nation of the Jews amongst whom the Tribe of Levi being not the 40th part of the 12 Tribes as appears in the Book of Numbers yet had as Mr. Selden confesseth and that by Gods own appointment three times the Annual Revenue of the greatest of the 12 Tribes insomuch that the poorest Priest in the 24 Courses might be reputed a wealthy person And as amongst the Jews the 24 Chief Priests for the better maintenance of their Authority and Dignity had means far exceeding those of the Inferiour Clergy and the High Priest had a Maintenance as far exceeding any of the said 24 Priests So in England the Bishops by the great Piety and Bounty of several English Kings had in Lands and Revenues Temporal and Spiritual a Maintenance far more â—mple than those of the Inferiour Clergy and the 2 Archbishops more ample than â—he Bishops William the Conquerour at his coming into England found â—he Bishopricks then in being 〈◊〉 richly endowed with Lands â—hat he erected them all into Baronies and every Barony â—hen consisted of 13 Knights Fees at the least Besides theâ—e belonged to Bishops several Perquisits and Duties for the Visitations of â—heir Diocesses for Ordinasions Institutions Census Cathedraticus subsidium Charitativum which upon reasonable Causes they might requireâ— of the Clergy under them also other Duties called Decimarum quarta Mortuariorum Oblationum pensitatio Juâ— Hospitii Processio Litania Viatici vel Commeatus collatio which upon a Journey to Româ— they might demand Tenthâ— and First Fruits was antiently paid as is believed to the several Diocesans and was continued to the Bishop of Norwich till Henry 8. deprived him thereof and deprived the Pope of all the rest Moreover all Cathedral Churches were by divers Kings and Nobles richly furnisht with Lands for thâ— plentiful maintenance of a Dean and a certain number of Prebends insomuch that together with the Lands given to Monasteries a third part of the Lands of England belonged to the Church and Church-men whereby did accrue much benefit to this Nation great Hospitality was kept many Hospitals Colledges Churches Bridges built and other Publick Pious and Charitable Works All Leases held of them by the Laity were not â—aly much more easie than other Tenures but so unquestionable that there was little work for the Lawyers so much peaceableness that 140 sworn Attourneys was thought sufficient to serve the whole Kingdome At present the Revenues of the English Clergy is generally very small and insufficient above a third part of the best Benefices of England being antiently by the Popes Grant appropriated to Monasteries towards their maintenance were upon the dissolution of Monasteries made Lay Fees besides what hath been taken by secret and indirect means thorow corrupt Compositions anâ— Compacts and Customs in many other Parishes also manâ— large Estates wholly exempâ—â— from paying Tythes as Land belonging to the Cistertiaâ— Monks to the Knights Templars and Hospitallers Thoâ— Benefices that are free from these things yet besides Fiâ—â— Fruits and Tenths to the King and Procurations to the Bishop are taxed towards the Chargâ— of their respective Parishes and towards the publique charges of the Nation above and beyond the proportion of the Laity The Bishopricks of England have been also since the later end of Hen. 8. to the coming in of King James most miserably robbed and spoiled of the greatest part of their Lands and Revenues so that at this day a mean Gentleman of 200 l. land yearly will not change his worldly estate and condition with divers Bishops an Attourney a Shop-Keeper a common Artisan will hardly change theirs with ordinary Pastors of the Church Some few Bishopricks do yet retain a competency amongst which the Bishoprick of Durham is accounted one of the Chief the yearly Revenues whereof before the late troubles was above 6000 l. of which by the late Act for abolishing Tenures in Capite was lost above 2000 l. yearly Out of it an yearly Pension of 880 l is paid to the Crown ever since the Raign of Queen Elizabeth who promised in lieu thereof so much in Impropriations which was never performed Above 340 l. yearly paid to several Officers of the County Palatine of Durham The Assises and Sessions duly kept in the Bishops House at the sole Charges of the Bishop The several expences for keeping in repair certain Banks of Rivers in that Bishoprick and of several Houses belonging to the Bishoprick Moreover the yearly Tenths the Publick Taxes the Charges of going to and waiting at Parliament being deducted there will remain communibus annis to the Bishop to keep Hospitality which must be great and to provide for those of his Family but about 1500 l. yearly The like might be said of some other Principal Bishopricks The great diminution of the Revenues of the Clergy and the little care of augmenting or defending the Patrimony of the Church is the great reproach and shame of the English Reformation and will one day prove the ruin of Church and State Judicious Mr. Hooker who in the Preface of his Works fore-told our late troubles 40 years before they came to pass observing in his time how the Church was every day robbed of her Dues and that it was then an opinion rife That to give to the Church smelt of Judaisme and Popery and to take from the Church what our Ancestors had given was Reformation declared that what Moses saith in the 90th Psalme was likely to