different from the Church of England in Government and Forms of worship as that of John Alasco was in the Augustine Friars Upon the news of which success divers both French and Dutch came into England planted themselves in the Sea-Towns and openly professed the Reformed Religion But some of them proved to be Anabaptists and others infected with corrupt Oâ—inions of as ill a nature which being made known to the Queen she commands them all by Proclamation to depart the Kingdom whether they were Aliens or natural-born English within twenty days upon pain of imprisonment and loss of all their goods yet notwithstanding many of them lurked in England without fear of discovery especially after the erecting of so many French and Dutch Churches in the Maritime parts The French and Dutch Churches in London were infected with their frenzies and such disputes were among them on that account that Peter Martyr interposed his Authority with them to the composing of those differences which had grown among them for which see his Letter bearing date at Zurich on February 15. next following after the date of the said Proclamation which seemeth to have been about September 16. and superscribed Vnto the Church of Strangers in the City of London By another Proclamation she labours to restrain a sacrilegious kind of people which under pretence of abolishing Superstition demolished antient Tombâ—s razed the Epitaphs and Coat-armors of most Noble Familes and other Monuments of venerable Antiquity took the Bells out of Churches and pluckt off the Lead from the Church-roofs The Abbey of Westminster most renouned for the Inauguration of the Kings of England their Sepulture and the keeping of the Regal Ensignes she converted to a Collegiat Church and there she instituted a Dean twelve Prebendaries a School-master an Usher forty Scholars called the Queen's Scholars whereof six or more are preferred every year to the Vniversities Petit Canons and others of the Quire to the number of thirty ten Officers belonging to the Church and as many Servants belonging to the Colledge-diet and twelve Almes-men besides many Officers Stewards and Collectors for keeping Courts and bringing in of their Revenue The principal of which called the High Steward of Westminster hath ever since been one of the prime Nobility The Dean intrusted with keeping the Regalia honoured with a place of necessary service at all Coronations and a Commissioner for the peace within the City of Westminster and the libâ—rties of it by Act of Parliament The Sâ—holars annually preferred by election either to Christ-church in Oxford or Trinity Colledge in Cambridge Since this new Foundation of it it hath given breeding and preferment to four Archbishops two Lord Keepers of the Great Seal of England twenty two Bishops and thirteen Deans of Cathedral-churches besides Archdeacons Prebendaries and other Dignitaries in the Church to a proportionable number The death of Francis the second the young King of France who had married Mary Queen of Scots encouraged the Scots to proceed boldly with their Reformation The Duke of Guise laboured with the Pope to fulminate his Excommunications against Queen Elizabeth as one that had renounced his authority apostatized from the Catholick Religion and utterly exterminated the profession of â—t out of her Dominions But the Duke sped no better in his negotiation than the Count of Feria did before About this time one Geoffrys was committed Prisoner to the Marshalsey in Southwark and More to the house of Mad-men commonly called Bethlem without Bishop's-gate in London More professed himself to be Christ Geoffrys believed him to be such and reported him so Having remained a whole year in prison without shewing any sign of their repentance Geoffrys was whipt on April 10. 1561. from the said Marshalsey to Bethlem with a paper bound about his head which signified That this was William Geoffrys a most blasphemous Heretick who denied Christ to be in Heaven At Bethlem he was whipt again in the presence of More till the lash had extorted from him a confession of his damnable error After which More was stript and whipt in the open Streets till he had made the like acknowledgment confessing Christ to be in Heaven and Himself to be a vile sinful man Which being done they were again remitted to their several prisons for their further cure On June the fourth a lamentable fire about four a Clock in the afternoon first shewed it self near the top of the Steeple of St. Paul's Church in London and from thence burnt down the Spire to the Stone-work and Bells and raged so terribly that within the space of four hours the Timber and Lead of the whole Church and whatsoever else was combustible in it was miserably consumed to the great terror of all Beholders Which Church said to be the largest in all the Christian World for all dimensions contains in length seven hundred and twenty foot in breadth one hundred and thirty foot and in height from the pavement to the top of the roof one hundred and fifty foot The Steeple from the ground to the Cross or Weather-cock contained in height five hundred and twenty foot of which the square Tower onely amounted to two hundred and sixty the Pyramide or Spire to as many more which Spire being raised of massy Timber and covered over with sheets of Lead as it was the more apt to be enflamed so was the mischief more incapable of a present remedy The Queen hereupon directed her Letters to the Lord Mayor and City of London to take care therein In obedience to whose Royal Pleasure the Citizens granted a Benevolence and three Fifteens to be speedily paid besides the great bounty of particular persons c. The Queen also sent in a thousand Marks in ready money and Warrants for one thousand load of Timber to be served out of Her Majesties Woods The Clergy of the Province of Canterbury contributing to this work the fortieth part of their Benefices which stood charged with first-fruits and the thirtieth part of those which had paid the same The Clergy of the Diocess of London bestowed the thirtieth part of such of their livings as were under the burden of that payment and the twentieth part of those which were not To which the Bishop added at several times the sum of nine hundred pound one shilling eleven pence the Dean and Chapter one hundred thirty six pound thirteen shillings four pence By all which and some other little helps the work was carried on so fast that before the end of April 1566. the Timber-work of the Roof was not onely fitted but compleatly covered And now the Pope's Nuncio being advanced already in his way to England as far as Flanders expecteth the Queen's pleasure touching his admittance for the Pope could not be taken off from sending his Nuncio to the Queen with whom he conceived himself to stand upon termes of Amity But the Queen persevered in her first intent affirming she could not treat with the Bishop of Rome whose authority was
and Intent of their Convention namely to consult with the Parliament for the setling of Religion and Church-government Of an hundred twenty elected but sixty nine appeared And of the first of Royalists Episcopal in their judgements very few appeared and scarce any continued any time in the House save Doctor Daniel Feately alledging privately several reasons for their departure Dr. Twisse is now chosen Prolocutor and Mr. Henry Robrough and Mr. Adoniram Bifield their Scribes and Notaries And now their good success next to the Parliament's is publickly prayd for by the Preachers in the City and Books dedicated unto them under the Title of the most Sacred Assembly and four shillings a day sallary was allowed them and the Chamber of Jerusalem the fairest in the Deans lodgings where King Henry the Fourth died was the place where these Divines did daily meet together His Majesty looks on this as a strange and unparallell'd encrâ—atchment on his Royal Prerogative to which alone the calling of such Assemblies did belong by the Laws of the Realm And thereupon by his Proclamation of June 22 1643. being just ten days after the date of the Ordinance by which the Assembly was indicted He inhibits all and Bibl. Regia p. 331. every person named in that Ordinance under several pains from assembling together for the end and purpose therein set down declaring the Assembly to be illegal and that the Acts thereof ought not to be received by any of his good Subjects as binding them or of any Authority with them Which Prohibition notwithstanding most of the Members authorized by that Ordinance assembled as was before declared One of the first publick Acts which they performed was the humble presenting of a petition to both Houses for the appointing of a solemn Fast to be generally observed And presently a Fast is appointed and accordingly kept on the following Friday Master Bowles and Master Newcomen whose Sermons were after Printed Preaching on the same The King summons the Lords and Commons to Oxford to attend there on January 22. then next following Being come scarce were they setled in their several Houses when they were entertained with an hot Alarum made by the coming in of the Scots with a puissant Army The Scots had thrived so well by the former service as made them not unwilling to come under the pay of such bountiful Masters And knowing well in what necessity their dear Brethren in England stood of their assistance they were resolved to husband that necessity to their best advantage The English must first enter into Covenant with them for conforming of this Church with that c. In the first branch of it it was to be Covenanted between the Nations That all endeavours should be used for the preservation of the Reformed Religion in the Church of Scotland both in Doctrine Discipline and Government Directory for worship and Catechizing And in the second That in like manner they endeavour without any respect of persons the extirpation of Popery Prelacy that is Church Government by Archbishops Bishops their Chancellors and Commissaries Deans Deans and Chapters Archdeacons and all other Ecclesiastical Officers depending on that Hierarchy c. But by whomsoever it was framed his Majesty saw that it aimed at the subversion of the present Government Therefore looking on it as a dangerous combination against himself the established Religion and the Laws of this Kingdom for the bringing in of Forreign Forces to subvert them all saith Doctor Heylin interdicted all his Subjects from imposing or taking the same as they would answer the contrary at their peâ—ils Which Proclamation bearing date on October 9. came out too late to hinder the taking and enjoying of this Covenant where the restraint thereof had been most necessary for it had been solemnly taken by all the Members of the House of Commons and the Assembly of Divines at St. Margarets in Westminster on September 25. and within two days after it was Administred with no less solemnity to divers Lords Knights Gentlemen Colonels Officers Souldiers and others residing in and about the City of London a Sermon being Preached by Mr. Coleman to justifie the piety and legality of it and finally enjoyned to be taken on the Sanday following in all Churches and Chappels of London within the lines of Communication as afterwards by all the Kingdom in convenient time No sooner was this Covenant taken but to let the Scots see that they were in earnest a further impeachment consisting of ten Articles were prepared against the Archbishop of Canterbury In the Assembly of Divines some concurred not with the major part and were therefore stiled Dissenting Brethren These men crave a Toleration to be indulged them who since their return out of the Low-countries had fallen upon gathering of Congregations in or about the City of London and they excused for being concluded by the votes of the Assembly But the Presbyterians highly opposed their Toleration they tax the dissenting Brethren for Singularity and some moved their ejection out of the Assembly except in some convenient time they would comply therewith The Dissenters seasonably presented an Apologetical Narrative to the Parliament stiled by them The most sacred refuge or Asylum for mistaken and misjudged innocence Herein they petitioned pathetically for some favour whose conscience could not joyn with the Assembly in all particulars concluding with that pityful close That they pursued no other Interest or design but a subsistence be it the poorest and meanest in their own land as not knowing where else with safety health and livelyhood to set their feet on earth and subscribed their names Thomas Goodwin Philip Nye Sidrach Symson Jeremiah Burroughs William Bridge These Petitioners found such favour with some potent persons in Parliament that they were secured from farther Trouble and afterwards grew able not onely to encounter but invade all opposers yea to open and shut the door of preferment to others Dr. William Twisse their Prolocutor died and Mr. Charles Herle Fellow of Exeter-colledge succeeded him in his place The Assembly met with many difficulties some complained that Mr. Selden that Great Antiquary advantaged by his skill in Antiquity and the Oriental Tongues studied rather to perplex than inform the Members thereof as appeared by the fourteen Queries he propounded whose intent was to give a check to the design of those who held Presbytery to be Jure Divino More trouble was caused to the Assembly by the opinions of the Erastians And divers Parliament men hearing their own power enlarged thereby made use of the Erastians for a check to such who pressed Conformity to the Scotch Kirk in all particulars Indeed the Major part of the Assembly endeavoured the setling the Scotch Government in all particulars and this was laboured by the Scotch Commissioners with all Industry and probable means to obtein the same But it could not be effected nor was it ever setled by Act of Parliament who kept the coercive power in their own hands
an Act was passed for relief of such persons as by Sickness or other Impediment were disabled from subscribing the Declaration in the Act of Uniformity and explanation of part of the said Act. In the sixteenth year of his Majestie 's Reign an Act was passed for suppression of Seditious Conventicles under pretence of exercise of Religion Wherein it was Enacted That if any person being of the age of fixteen years and upwards being a Subject of this Realm at any time after the first day of July 1664. shall be present at any Assembly Conventicle or Meeting under colour or pretence of any exercise of Religion in any other manner than is allowed by the Liturgy or practice of the Church of England in any place within the Kingdom of England Dominion of Wales c. at which Conventicle Meeting or Assembly there shall be five persons or more assembled together over and above those of the same Houshold then it shall and may be lawful to and for any two Justices of the Peace of the County limit division or liberty wherein the said offence aforesaid shall be committed c. and they are hereby required and enjoyned upon proof to him or them respectively made of such offence either by confession of the party or Oath of witness or notorious evidence of the fact to make a Record of every such offence under their hands and seals respectively And that thereupon the said Justices c. shall commit every such offender so convicted as aforesaid to the Gaol or house of Correction there to remain for three moneths without Bayl or Mainprize unless the said offender shall pay down to the said Justices or chief Magistrate such sum of money not exceeding five pounds as the said Justices or Chief-magistrate who are hereby thereunto authorized and required shall fine the said offender at for his or her said offence which money shall be paid to the Church-wardens for the relief of the poor of the Parish where such offender did last inhabit Upon every second offence the offender to be imprisoned six moneths and to be fined ten pounds And upon the third offence the offender to be transplanted beyond the Seas to any of his Majesties Forreign Plantations Virginia and New England onely excepted there to remain seven years It was further Enacted That the Lieutennants or Deputy-lieutennants or any Commissioned Officers of the Militia or any other of his Majestie 's Forces with such Troops or Companies of Horse and Foot and also the Sheriffs Justices of Peace and other Magistrates and Ministers of Justice or any of them joyntly or severally within any of the Counties or places within this Kingdom of England Dominion of Wales c. shall repair unto the place where such Conâ—enticles are held and by the best means they can shall dissolâ—e and dissipate or prevent all such unlawful meetings and take into their custody such of those persons so unlawfully assembled as they shall judge to be the leaders and seducers of the rest and such others as they shall think fit to be proceeded against according to Law for such offences Every person who shall willingly suffer any such Conventicle to be held in his or her house out-house barn yard c. shall incur the same penalties and forfeitures as any other offender against this Act ought to be proceeded against In the seventeenth year of His Majestie 's Reign an Act was passed for restraining Non-conformists from inhabiting in Corporations Herein it was Enacted That all Parsons Vicars Curates Lecturers and other persons in holy Orders or pretended holy Orders c. who have not declared their unfeigned assent and consent as aforesaid and subscribed the Declaration aforesaid and shall not take and subscribe the Oath following I A. B. do swear that it is not lawful upon any pretence whatsoever to take Armes against the King and that I do abhor that traiterous position of taking Armes by his Authority against his person or against those that are Commissioned by him in pursuance of such Commissions And that I will not endeavour at any time any alteration of Government either in Church or State And all such persons as shall take upon them to Preach in any unlawfull Assembly Conventicle or Meeting under colour or pretence of any exercise of Religion contrary to the the Lawes and Statutes of this Kingdom shall not at any time from and after the 24th of March 1665. unless onely in passing upon the Road come or be within five miles of any City or Town Corporate or Borough that sends Burgesses to the Parliament within His Majesties Kingdom of England Principality of Wales c. or within five miles of any Parish Town or Place wherein He or They have been since the Act of Oblivion Parson Vicar Curate Lecturer c. or taken upon them to Preach in any unlawful Assembly c. under colour or pretence of any exercise of Religion c. before He or They have subscribed or taken the Oath aforesaid before the Justices of the Peace at their quarter Sessions to be holden for the County or division next unto the said Corporation City or Borough place or Town in open Court which said Oath the said Justices are thereby impowred there to administer upon forfeiture for every such offence the sum of forty pounds of lawful English money the one third part to his Majesty and his Successors the other third part to the use of the poor of the Parish where the offence shall be committed and the other third part thereof to such person or persons as shall or will sue for the same by Action of Debt Plaint Bill or Information in any Court of Record at Westminster or before any Justices of Assize Oyer and Terminer or Gaol-delivery c. Provided also That it shall not be lawful for any person or persons restrained from coming to any City Town Corporate Borough c. or for any other person or persons as shall not first take and subscribe the said Oath and as shall not frequent Divine Service established by the Laws of this Kingdom and carry him or her self reverently decently and orderly there to teach any publick or private School or take any Boarders or Tablers that are taught or instructed by him or her self or any other upon pain for every such offence to forfeit the sum of forty pounds to be recovered and distributed as aforefaid The offender also to be committed for six moneths to prison by two Justices of the Peace of the respective County without Bayl or Mainprize unless upon or before such commitment he shall before the said Justices of the Peace swear and subscribe the aforesaid Oath and Declaration An Act was also passed for uniting Churches in Cities and Towns Corporate which was judged necessary by reason of the great ruine of many Churches and Parishes in the late ill times and otherwise The Parishes to remain distinct as to all Rates Taxes Parochial rights charges and duties and
XIX year of the Reign of Kymbeline King of Britain Divers Writers of note do tell us that the Gospel Baron Annal. Tom. 1. An. 61. Usser de Brit. Eccles primord c. 1. p. 7. Parker de vetâ—st Eccl. Britan. p. 2 3. Foâ— Act. Monum vâ—l 1. Sir H. Spelm. Concil Tom. 1. Pâ—r Josephum 〈◊〉 lâ—câ—rna primum in Britania accensa est Georg. Major was preached and received in this Land even in the days of the Apostles Baronius and the Learned Archbishop Vsher tell us that St. Peter came into Britain in the twelfth year of the Emperour Nero and staid a long time here many being by him illightned Nicephorus saith that Simon Zelotes carried the Doctrine of the Gospel unto the Western Sea and to the Britannick Islands The Learned Archbishop Matthew Parker Bishop Godwin Mr. Camden and others do assert that St. Paul himself that great Apostle of the Gentiles Preached the Gospel to this Island after his enlargement from his first captivity at Rome where some say he continued Preaching five years And this say they he did at the instigation of Claudia a Noble British Woman Gildas our own Countrey-man Polydor Virgil Mr. Fox Sir Henry Spelman and many others tell us that Joseph of Arimathea that Holy Man after he had buried the body of Christ in his own Tomb came into this Island and Preached the Gospel here being sent hither by Philip and James the Apostles That he waâ—â—n this Land is confirmed not onely by divers Histories but also by Antient Monuments Baleâ—s alledgeth many other witnesses It doth not appear that the first Preachers of the Gospel in Britain did so much as touch at Rome much less that they received any command or commission thence to convert Britain which should lay an Eternal obligation of gratitude on this Island to the Sea of Rome Insomuch that Parsons himself flyes at last to this slight and slender shift That albeit St. Joseph came not immediately from Rome yet he taught in this Island the Roman Faith whereof St. Paul hâ—th written to the Romans themselves that your Faith is spoken of through the whole World Rom. 1. 8. Hereby the Jesuite hopes to keep on â—â—ot the engagement of this Island to Rome for her first conversion But why should he call the Christian Fuller Church Histor â—iâ— 1. Religion the Roman Faith rather than the Faith of Jerusalem or the Faith of Antioch seeing it issued from the former and was received and first named in the latter City before any spark of Christianity was kindled at Rome as Dr. Fuller well observeth CENT II. WE read that the Gospel in our Land had the countenance of publick Authority through the gratious providence of God very early A Learned Writer speaking of the dignity of this Nation Omnium Provinciarum prima Britannia publicitus Christi nomen recepit Sabelâ—lâ— Enn. 7. l. 5. saith That of all the Prâ—vinces of the Roman Empire yea it seemeth of the whole World this Island of Great Britain did first receive the Gospel by publick Authority Lucius King of Britain was the first Christian King we read of in Ecclesiastical Stories He embraced the Faith about an hundred and fifty years after the death of Christ It is said of this King Lucius that at first he shewed himself an enemy to the Christians but observing the holiness of their lives he was enclined to embrace the Christian Faith but was held off for a time partly by the Heathenish superstition of his Ancestors wherein he had been bred up and partly because he found the Christians reputed infamous by the Romans then the Lords of a great part of the World under whom it seemeth he was a tributary King but being afterward informed that many of the Nobles or Senators of the Romans had embraced the Christian Religion he made an open profession of it and made a notable reformation in his Dominions Moreover he being much taken with the Miracles which he beheld truly wrought by pious Christians was the more drawn to embrace their Religion and sent Elvanus and Meduinus men of known Piety and Learning in the Sâ—riptures to Eleutherius Bishop of Rome with a Letter requesting several things of him but principally that he might be â—â—sâ—ructed in the Christian Faith Eleutherius returneth him this Answer That having received in his Kingdom the Law and Faith of Christ Holinsh desâ—rof Brit. c. 7. Annals of England by John Stow. and having now the Old and New Testaments he should by a Council of his Realm take Laws from thence to govern thereby That he was the Vicar of God in his Kingdomes That the People and Nations of the Kingdom of Britain were His even His children That such as were divided he should gather them together unto the Law of Christ his holy Church unto peace and concord and should cherish maintain protect govern and defend them c. When Christian Religion first was publickly received and established in this Land by King Lucius here were then of Heathen institution eight and twenty Flamines and three Archflamines The places of the Flamines the King turned to so many Bishopricks the places of the Archflamines to so many Archbishopricks the one at London translated afterward to Canterbury the other at York the third at Caerleon in Wales where seaven of those Bishopricks with this Archbishoprick were remaining when Austin the Monk came into England Here were Temples also builded for the worship of Paynim-gods of which he made Churches for the service of Jesus Christ Thomas Rudbourn a Monk of Winchester Moratus an old British Writer and others testifie that Denotus was Bishop of Winchester and all the possessions of the Pagan Flamines there were conferred upon him and his Clergy which were so ample that even about the City all the Lands within twelve miles of it on all sides were belonging unto it containing in number 32 Villages And thus the Britains had for their greatest glory the happiness to see and enjoy the first Christian Prince in the World It is reported that King Lucius was the Founder of St. Peter's Church at Cornhil in London placing therein one Thean an Archbishop and that the Metropolitan See continued in a succession of Archbishops there about 400 years until the coming of Austin the Monk who translated the Archbishop's seat from London to Canterbury In that Church was a Table wherein is written that King Lucius founded the same Church to be an Archbishop's See and that it so endured the space of 400 years There are the name of these Archbishops of London Thean Elvanus Cadar Obinus Conan Paladius Stephen Iltut Theodwyn or Dedwin Thedrid Hilary Restitutus Guertelinus or Guitelinus Fastidius Vodinus Theonus c. Elvanus built a Library near St. Peter's Church in Cornhil he was a Godly Learned and Grave Man brought up in the School of Joseph of Arimathea and Converted many of the Druydes to the Christian Faith Bishop Godwin saith That the
particulars thereof saith Dr. Fuller in his Church History of Britain Let us now return to our Augustine who all this while was very industrious and no less successful in converting the Saxons to the Christian Faith insomuch that a certain Author reporteth how in the River Swale near Richmond in York-shire Augustine in one day Baptized above ten thousand but Bâ—de makes no mention at all hereof and ascribeth this numerous baptizing to Paulinus Bishop of York many years after In that age nothing was used with Baptism but Baptism the word and the water made the Sacrament At Corn in Dorset-shire Austin destroyed the Idol of Heale or Aesculapius which the Saxons formerly adored Sebert King of Essex Nephew to Etholbert King of Kent by Ricula his sister embraced the Faith with all his Kingdome by the Ministry of Mellitus whom Augustine ordained Bishop of London making also one Justus a Roman Bishop of Rochester Augustine died and was buried in the Northern part of the new Bed Eccl. Hist li. 2. ca. 3. Church in Canterbury dedicated to Peter and Paul Bede saith this inscription was written upon his Monument Here resteth Lord Augustine the first Archbishop of Canterbury who being in times past sent hither by blessed Gregory Bishop of the Roman City and supported by God with the working of Miracles brought King Ethelbert and his Country from the Worshiping of Idols to the faith of Christ and the daies of his Office being finished in peace he died the seventh of the Calends of June the same King reigning But in this Epitaph one thing is wanting and that mainly material namely the year that he did After the death of Augustine Laurentius a Roman succeeded him whom Augustine in his life-time ordained in that place King Ethelbert having reigned fifty Six and been a Christian one and twenty years died and was buried nigh to Queen Bertha who died a little before him in the Porch of St. Martins Church in Canterbury which fabrick with some other Churches by him were beautifully built and bountifully endowed After the death of Ethelbert Anno 616. Eadbald his son and the sons of Sebert King of the East Saxons succeeding them refused to be baptized or imbrace the Christian faith professed and set up Idolatry expelled their Bishops driving them out of this land into France til at last King Eadbald being converted to Christianity by Laurentius Archbishop of Canterbury presently began to take care of the affaires of the Church and at the desire of Laurentius Justus and Mellitus returned again into England Rochester readily received their Bishop but London refused to entertain good Mellitus who led a private life in London til that after the death of Laurentius he succeeded him in the Church of Canterbury Five years sate Mellitus in Canterbury after whose death Justus Bishop of Rochester succeeded him and had his Pall solemnly sent him by Pope Boniface Ethelfred being slain by the Britains Edwin succeedeth him and was setled in the general government of the Saxons who by the perswasion of Paulinus embraced and professed the Christian Religion destroyed the Temples Altars and Images of their Idol-Gods and was with all his Nobles and much people baptized in the City of York by Paulinus Anno 627. About this time Pope Boniface V. directed diverse Epistles to England wherein were many passages fighting against Christ's satisfaction A few years after the conversion of the East-Angles was advanced by King Sigebert and after the death of Earpwald his successor in the Kingdome Bede give 's him this character that he became vir Christianissimus Doctissimus being assisted by the preaching of Felix a Monk of Burgundy he converted his Subjects to Christianity This Felix was made the first Bishop of Dunwich in Suffolk a place formerly furnished with fifty and two Churcheâ— and hath scarce two now remaining the rest being swallowed up by the Sea This â—igebert is generally reputed the founder of the University of Cambridge Edwin fell out with Cadwallan King of the Britains and slew many thousand Christian Britains in battle puâ—â—ing â—im and the rest to flight Anno 633. After the victory Edwin led his Army through the Provinces of Britain burning their Cities and wasting their Colonies and brought those Provinces under his subjection chasing Cadwallan into Ireland But Cadwallan returning from thence with ten thousand men assisted by Penda King of Mercia wasted the Countrey of King Edwin Both these Kings at last met in a field called Heat-fiâ—ld where Edwin was slaine and his whole Army overthrown Cadwallan slew both the Sons of King Edwin and for a whole year destroyed the Provinces of the Northumbrians After the death of Edwin his whole Kingdome relapsed to Paganism and Paulinus Arch-Bishop of York â—â—king with him Queen Ethelburga sister to Eadbald King of Kent returned into Kent and there became Bishop of Rochester After the death of King Edwin his Kingdome of Northumberland was divided into two parts both petty Kingdomes Osrich Câ—usin-German of King Edwin was King of Deira and Eanfrith the eldest son of Ethelfred was King of Bernicia They were both Christians but became Apostates and were slain by Cadwallan in the first year Oswald the second son of Ethelfred succeeded unto them and overthrew Cadwallan Bishop Aidan converted Oswald which King disdained Usher's Religion of the antient Irish p. 115. not to preach and expound to his Subjects and Nobles in the English tongue that which Aidan preached to the Saxons in the Scottish tongue By the Ministry of Aidan the first Bishop of Linsfarn was the Kingdome of Northumberland recovered from Paganism Aidan parted all Petry Church hist â—â—â—t 7. that was given him by the King or Potent men among the poor and ceased not to go from town to town and from house to house not on hors-back but on foot always catechizing whether he met with rich or poor if they were Pagans he iâ—structedâ— them if they were Christians he confirmed them in the faith and exhorted unto the works of Piety and Charity especially to read the Scriptures diligently he died Anno 651. From Northumberland the word of God was spread among many others of the Saxon Kingdomes The Scotch that professed no subjection to the Church of Rome were they that sent preachers to the conversion of these Countries and ordained Ephr. Pagit Religion of the antient Britains Bishops to govern them as Aidan forementioned Finan and Colman for the East Saxons Cedd and for the Mercians Diuma for the paucity of Priests saith Beda constrained one Bishop to be appointed over two people Finan converted the Kingdomes of the East Saxons and Mercia Pope Honorius sent Birinus unto the West Saxons who by his preaching converteth many and among the rest Kyngils the West Saxon King whom he Baptized Oswald King of Northumberland was present at that time and was first God-father then father in law to King Kyngils to whom he gave his Daughter to Wife Dorchester an old City
and himself Spâ—â—d's â—â—â—â—or in H. 3. was committed to the Castle of Devizes there to abide in free Prison under the custody of four Knights belonging each of them to one of these four Earls Afterwards though he was restored to the King's favour yet upon new accusations of his Enemies he was condemned to give to the King Blanch Castle Grosmount in Wales Skenefrith and Hafield and then also was deprived of Title of Earl of Kent King Henry erected a special Church House and form of Government for the Jews converted to the Christian Religion The Bishops meeting together at Glocester Anno 1234. the King being jealous that they intended to consult of some other things prejudicial to his Crown State and Dignity sent a Writ of Prohibition to them not to treat of any thing of this nature After this the King and Bishops meeting at a Conference at Westminster the King charged some of the Bishops with a design to deprive him of his Crown which they denied whereupon one of them in a great rage excommunicated all those who raised such a report of them Then the King commanded all common Whores and Concubines of Priests to be imprisoned and banished out of the University of Oxford 〈◊〉 18. H. 3. Mâ—mb 1â— by his temporal Officers unless they had Lands therein and by Oath and other security have good assurance for their chast and honest demeanour for the future and not to resort to Clerks Lodgings If a Clerk or Beneficed person were indebted to the King or incurred his just displeasure the King commanded the Bishop of the Diocess to sequester all his Ecclesiastical Benefices till his debt was satisfied his displeasure remitted and the sequestration discharged by special Writ The Pope was grown so proud in this Age by his Usurpations that he would not vouchsafe to hear and admit the King's Proctors and Agents sent to Rome upon his urgent Affairs without most humble suits and supplications in his Letters of credence and procurations The King made a Remonstrance to the Pope of the several injuries done to him by the Earl of Britain in seizing on his Castles and revolting to the King of France desiring the Pope by his Ecclesiastical censures to compel him to restore his Castles to him The Pope instead of excommunicating this treacherous Earl sent for him to Rome and made him General of the Crossadoes by Sea and Land against the Grecians The Pope commanded Peter Bishop of Winchester to assist him both with his purse and advice in his Military affairs against the Grecians and Romans The Pope as he encroached upon the election and confirmation of the Archbishops and Bishops of England so did he likewise upon the election and confirmation of Abbots who must go to Rome to attend his pleasure for their approbation and confirmation as in the case of the Abbot of St. Albans doth appear The Pope condescended to the Abbot's election but upon this condition that he should take an express Oath of Fealty to the Pope and Church of Rome and his Successors prescribed in his Bull directed to the Bishops which Oath suddenly tendered to him by way of surprise he took publickly before the Covent and all the Clergy and People at his Consecration and Instalment related by Matth. Paris p. â—â—â— Matthew Paris a Monk of this Monastery This new Oath of Allegeance to the Pope and See of Rome being the highest encroachment upon the King 's Rights and Prerogative making all who take it the Pope's Subject and Vassals not the King 's was concealed both from the King and Abbot till the very nick of his Consecration and Benediction for fear it should be opposed and refused The Prior of the preaching Friers presuming to arrest and imprison some persons in York-shire pretended to be Heretical when he had no legal power to arrest or imprison such the King thereupon issued a Mandate to the Sheriff of York-shire to arrest and imprison all Heretical persons till his further order therein Anno 1236. the Archbishop of Canterbury being sued by the Prior and Monks of Canterbury for certain Advousons of Churches Possessions Pryn. claus 20. H. 3. m. 12. dorso Rents and Services in the Ecclesiastical Court by authority of the Pope's Letters despising the remedy of the King's Court where they ought to sue for them thereupon the King issued forth his prohibition to the Archbishop prohibiting him in his Faith and Allegeance to him not to answer them in that Court it being prejudicial to his Crown and Dignity c. The King by several Writs of Prohibition countermanded the Pope's own Bulls and Delegates as contrary to the Rights and Dignities of his Crown and prohibited their proceedings which gave some check to his Usurpations of this Kind The King's Clerks and Houshold Chaplains in those dayes wearing Pat. 21. H. 3. m. 3. dorso Long Hair and Peruwigs forbidden in the clergy long Hair and Peruwigs thereupon the King to reform this abuse issued out a Writ to William de Perecat authorizing and strictly commanding him to cut their Hair and pull off their yellow Peruwigs under pain of being shaven and polled himself The Monks and Converts of the Cistercian Order contrary to their Vows and Rules becoming common Merchants buying and selling again Wools and Skins to the prejudice of other Merchants and scandal of their Profession the King for redress thereof issued out a Writ of Prohibition to all the Sheriffs of England to seize the Goods and Moneys of those Monks and Converts to his use who should offend therein There being a great difference between the Bishop of Clochor in Ireland and the Archbishop of Armagh and their Tennants concerning injuries and grievances touching their Churches the Archbishop of Armagh procuring the King's Letters to his Chief Justice by misinformation whilst he was excommunicated the King thereupon revoked his former Letters and commanded his Chief Justice in Ireland to hear and determine the Controversies between them Upon the death of Richard Bishop of Durham the King upon the Petition of the Prior and Convent granted his License to elect a new Bishop The Bishop of Norwich dying this year the Monks elected Simon their Prior for their Bishop whom the King disapproving made a special Proctor against him before the Archbishop to hinder his confirmation and to appeal against him to the See of Rome if it were expedient where he likewise constituted his Proctor Then the Pope upon the King's request under a pretext to rectifie some of those abuses against which there was an universal complaint sent Ottobone his Legat into England who soon proclaimed himself a ravening Wolf as well as his Predecessors Then was a Council called by the Pope's Legat unto St. Paul's Church in London where most of the Prelates Abbots and Priors assembled together The Canons that were made and promulged in this Council who so please may peruse at leisure in Matthew Paris and in Johannes de Aton
The Conclusion was this That the Bishops should Consult whether unto the Rubrick of the General Absolution these words Remission of sins might not be added for explanation-sake To the point of Private Baptism the Archbishop of Canterbury said the Administration thereof by women and Lay-persons is not allowed in the Practice of the Church c. The King answered the words of the Book cannot but intend a permission of such persons to Baptise The Bishop of Worcester said that the Compilers of the book did not so intend them as appeareth by their contrary practice The Bishop of London said those men intended a permission of private persons to baptise but in case of necessity Here he spake much of the necessity of Baptism The King answered this necessity of Baptism I so understand that it is necessary to be had if lawfully to be had i. e. Ministred by lawful Ministers by whom alone and no private person in any case it may be administred The result was this To consult whether in the Rubrick of Private baptism these words Curate or lawful Minister may not be inserted For the point of Excommunication His Majesty propounded whether in causes of lesser moment the name might not be altered and the same censure retained Secondly whether in place thereof another coertion equivalent thereunto might not be invented Which all sides yielded unto and so was an end of the first dayes conference On Monday January 16. they all met in the same place with all the Deans and Doctors aforementioned Patrick Galloway Minister of Perth in Scotland admitted also to be there and Prince Henry sate on a Stool by his Father After the King had made a pithy speech to the four opposers of conformity He willed them to begin Then Dr. Rainolds said All things disliked or questioned may be reduced to these four heads I. That the Doctrine of the Church might be preserved in purity according to God's word II. That good Pastors might be planted in all Churches to preach the same III. That the church-Church-government might be sincerely Ministred according to God's word IV. That the book of Common-prayer might be fitted to more encrease of Piety For the first he desired that the book of Articles of Religion concluded on 1562. might be explained where obscure enlarged where defective viz. Art 16. where it is said After we have received the Holy Ghost we may depart from Grace Those words may be explained with this addition yet neither totally nor finally He propounded also that the nine Assertions concluded on at Lambeth might be inserted into the Book of Articles Some other things also he added The Bishop of London speaks passionately against Dr. Rainolds for which the King reproveth him As for Private Baptism His Majesty said he had already with the Bishops taken order for the same Then came they to Confirmation And after some debate thereon betwixt Dr. Rainolds and the Bishops of London and Winchester his Majesty said he intended not to take confirmation from the Bishops which they had so long enjoyed seeing as great reason that none should confirm as none should Preach without the Bishop's License Dr. Rainolds said It were well if this proposition might be added to the book of Articles The Intention of the Minister is not of the Essence of the Sacrament He urged again that the nine Orthodoxal Assertions concluded at Lambeth may be generally received The King thought it unfit to thrust into the book of Articles every position Negative which would swell the book into too great a volume And as to the nine Assertions his Majesty said he knew not what they were The Bishop of London told the King the occasion of them He answered the better course would be to punish the broachers of false Doctrine than to multiply Articles Then Dr. Rainolds requested that one Uniform Catechism may be made and none other generally received His Majesty thought the Doctor ' s request very reasonable yet so that the Catechism may be made in the fewest and plainest affirmative terms that may be And herein said he I would have two Rules to be observed 1. That curious and deep questions be avoided in the fundamental instruction of a people 2. That there should not be so general a departure from the Papists that every thing should be accounted an errour wherein we agree with them Dr. Rainolds said Great is the profanation of the Sabbath day and contempt of your Majestie 's Proclamation which I earnestly desire may be Reformed This motion found an unanimous consent Then the Doctor desired that the Bible be New Translated c. His Majesty answered that he never yet saw a Bible well-translated in English and he wished some special pains were taken for an Uniform Translation which should be done by the best Learned in both Universities then reviewed by the Bishops presented to the Privy Council lastly ratified by Royal Authority to be read in the Church and none other Dr. Rainolds moved also that unlawful and Seditious Books be suppressed The Lord Cecil that these had done much mischief but especially one called Speculum Tragicum His Majesty said that was a dangerous book indeed Concerning the planting of Learned Ministers in every Parish His Majesty said he had consulted with his Bishops about it whom he found willing and ready herein The Bishop of London moved that there might be a praying Ministry among us saying that men now thought it is the onely duty of Ministers to spend their time in the Pulpit His Majesty well liked his motion His second motion was that until Learned men may be planted in every Congregation Godly Homilies may be read therein The King liked this motion especially where the living is not sufficient to maintain a Learned Preacher Also where were multitudes of Sermons he would have Homilies read divers times The Plainâ—iffs confessed A Preaching Ministry is best but where it may not be had Godly Prayers and exhortations do much good The Bishop's last motion was that Pulpits may not be made pasquils wherein every discontented person may traduce his Superiors His Majesty approved thereof Then Dr. Rainolds came to Subscription as a great impeachment to a Learned Ministry and therefore entreated it might not be exacted as heretofore for which many good men are kept out though otherwise willing to subscribe to the Statutes of the Realm Articles of Religion and the King's Supremacy He objected against the enjoyning of the Apocrypha Books to be read in the Church some Chapters therein containing manifest errours repugnant to Scripture His Majesty said he would not have all Canonical books read in the Church nor any Chapter out of the Apocrypha wherein any errour is contained The next scruple against Subscription was because it was twice set down in the Common-prayer-book Jesus said to his Disciples when by the Text in the Original it is plain that he spake to the Pharisees His Majesty answered let the word Disciples be omitted and
Hypocrite unmasked Now died Toby Mathew Archbishop of York presently posts Spalato to Theobalds becomes an Earnest Petitioner to the King for the vacant Archbishoprick and is as flatly denied Spalato offended at this repulse requests his Majesty by his Letter to grant him his good leave to depart the Kingdom Five days after the Bishops of London and Durham with the Dean of Westminster by his Majestie 's direction repaired to Spalato propounding unto Him sixteen Queries all arising out of his own Letter and requiring him to give the explanation of five of the most material under his hand for his Majestie 's greater satisfaction which he did accordingly yet not so clearly but that it occasioned a second meeting wherein more interrogatories were propounded unto him to all which he gave his answers He pretended many reasons for his return In pursuance of which his desire he wrote a second Letter to King James At length Spalato appears before the Archbishop of Canterbury the Bishops of Lincoln London Durham Winchester at Lambeth where the Archbishop of Canterbury in a long Latin Speech recapitulated the many misdemeanors of Spalato principally insisting on his changing of Religion as appeared by his purpose of returning to Rome and that contrary to the Laws of this Realm he had held correspondency with the Pope without the privity of the King's Majesty To which charge wheâ— Spalato had made a shuffling excuse rather than a just defence the Arâ—hbishop in his Majestie 's name commanded him to depart the Kingdom within twenty days and never to return again To this he promised obedience protesting he would ever justifie the Church of England for Orthodox in Fundamentals even in the presence of the Pope or whomsoever though with the loss of his life However he was loth to depart and secretly deals with his Friends in the English Court that his Majesty would permit him to stay But in vain and therefore within the time appointed he went over in the same Ship with Count Swartenzburgh the Emperor's Ambassador returning hence into Flanders Being come to Bruxels he recants his Religion and rails bitterly on the English Church Here he stayed six moneths for the Pope's Breve which at last was utterly denied him Now he desperately adventures to Rome barely presuming on promises and the Friendship of Pope Gregory the Fifteenth then Pope formerly his Colleague and Chamber-fellow He lived at Rome not loved and died unlamented He was clapt into prison his study seized on wherein many papers were found speaking Heresie enough his Adversaries being admitted sole Interpreters thereof He died some moneths after and after his death his Excommunicated Corps were put to publick shame and solemnly proceeded against in the Inquisition for relapsing Fuller Church Hist Ad. Aâ— 1622. into Heresie since his return to Rome Several Articles of Heresie are charged upon him and he found convict thereof is condemned to have his body burnt by the publick Executioner in the Field of Flora which was performed accordingly The Spanish Match was now the Discourse general but at last it brake off Heaven forbidding the Banes saith Mr. Fuller even at the third and last asking thereof King James falls off and for a condition of the Marriage demands the Restitution of the Palatinate The Prince returns from Spain Then was there a conference entertained between Dr. White and Dr. Featly Protestants Father Fisher and Father White Jesuites Now hapned the fatal Vespers at Black-friers in London Father Drury a Jesuite of excellent Morals Preached there in a great upper-room next to the House of the French Ambassador where three hundred persons were assembled His Text Matth. 18. 32. O thou ungratious servant I forgave thee all the debt because thou desiredst me shouldst not Thou also have had compassion on thy fellow-servant In application whereof he bitterly inveighed against the Protestants About the middle of his Sermon and the day declining on a sudden the Floor fell down where they were assembled many were killed more bruised all frightted Ninety five persons were slain among whom Mr. Drury Mr. Rodiat Priests with the Lady Webb were of the chiefest note Twenty of the poorer sort were buried hard by in one Grave and the rest bestowed by their friends in several places of Sepulture Yet notwithstanding this sad Accident the Papists were very insolent The Letter may be read at large in Rushworth's Collect. and Fuller Church History towards all true English men the rather because it was generally reported That his Majesty intended a Toleration of Religion which made the Archbishop of Canterbury in a serious Letter to present the King with his apprehensions beseeching the King to consider Lest by this Toleration and discountenancing of the true profession of the Gospel wherewith God hath blessed us and this Kingdom hath so long fâ—ourished under it God's heavy wrâ—th be not drawn upon this Kingdom c. What effect this Letter took is unknown sure it is all mens mouths were filled with a discourse of a Toleration for or against it yea the Pulpits are loud against Toleration Now because the peoples mouths were open and some Preachers were two busie the King gave directions for the regulation of the Ministry in his Letters directed to the Lord Archbishop of Canterbury for many shallow Preachers handled the profound points of Predestination c. Sermons were turned into Satyrs against Papists and Non-conformists The King revived the primitive and profitable order of Catechizing in the after-noon Various censures were passed on the King's Letters But these Instructions from his Majesty were not pressed with equal rigour in all places Both the Palatinates were now lost the Vpper seized on by the Emperor the Nether by the King of Spain the City of Heidelberg taken and plundered and the inestimable Library of Books therein carried over the Alpes on Mules backs to Rome Now those Books are placed in the Pope's Vatican The Duke of Bavaria was invested in the upper Palatinate Anno 1624. The match with France was concluded and in November the Articles were sworn unto by King James Prince Charles and the French King The Articles for Religion were not much short of those for Spanish match Count Mansfield was at this time in England and the Forces raised in the several parts of the Kingdom for the recovery of the Palatinate were put under his command Dover was the place assigned for their Rendezvous where the Colonels and Captains were to receive their several Regiments and Companies from the Conductors employed by those several Counties where the men were raised These being long pent up in their Ships suffered the want of all necessaries by which means a Pestilence devoured many of them so that scarce a Third part of the men were lâ—nded the which also afterwards mouldred away and the design came to nothing At this time upon the death of William Titular Bishop of Calcedon most of the English Secular Priests did petition the Pope that another
on Friday night January 24. 1639. he dreamed that his Father who died 46. years before came to him being to his thinking seemingly well and cheerful that his Father asked him what he did there that after some speech he demanded of his Father how long he would stay there and that his Father made this answer he would stay till he had him along with him Which made such an impression on him that he thought fit to remember this in his Breviate A brute being spread abroad That the late Parliament had been dissolved by his procurement a paper was pasted up at the Exchange by John Lilburn animating the Apprentices to sack his House at Lambeth on the Monday following and that night we was assaulted by five hundred of the Rabble who strove to force an entrance but were repulsed And having fortified his House with some pieces of Canon he with-drew to his Chamber at Whitehall till the Rage of the people was blown over Some of the principal Actors in this Sedition being apprehended and committed to the Goal in Southwark were forcibly delivered by others of their Accomplices who brake open that and all other Prisons in that precinct for which one Benstead one of the Ring leaders was retaken arraigned condemned hanged drawn and quartered on May 21. Yet for all this Libels were scattered against the Archbishop in most parts of the City And his Majesty being then newly gone in person with an Army against the Scoâ—s about the end of August a paper was dropt in Covent-garden encouraging the Souldiers and Apprentices to fall upon him yet was there no tumult raised upon it Then he gave order that the High-commission should be kept at St. Paul's and the Commissioners sitting there on October 22. were violently assaulted by a mixt multitude of Sectaries to the number of two thousand crying out They would have no Bishops nor High Commission In which tumult having frighted away the Judges Advocates and Officers of the Court they brake down all the seats and benches which they found in the Consistory so that a guard was set upon that Church as before at Westminster not onely at the next sitting of the said Commissioners but at the first meeting of the Convocation which soon after followed The Scots were now entred the Realm in hostile manner and having put by his Majesties Forces at a place called Newbourn they passed over the Tine and presently made themselves Masters of the strong Town of New-castle his Majesties Forces not very far distant Many of the King 's own Souldiers in their marchings through the Countrey brake into Churches pulled up the Rayles threw down the Communion Tables defaced the Common-Prayer Books tore the Surplices c. The Scots set forth a Remonstance wherein it was declared That their Propositions and desires could find no access unto the ears of the Gratious King by reason of the powerful Diversion of the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Deputy of Ireland c. who did onely side in all matters of Temporal and Spiritual Affairs c. This Remonstrance was seconded with another Pamphlet called The Intention of the Army They signified therein that they had no design to wast the goods of the People of England or spoil their Countrey but onely to become petitioners to his Majesty to call a Parliament and to bring the said Archbishop and Lord Lieutenant to their condign punishments And that the English might the better see whom they chiefly aimed at a Book was published by the name of Laudensium Autocatacrisis or the Canterburians self-conviction Upon this his Majesty was assaulted by a Petition from some Lords in Hâ—ylin Hist of Archbiâ—h â—aud the South wherein complaint was made of the many inconveniences which had been drawn on this Kingdom by the King's ingagings against the Scots as also of the growth of Popery of the pressing of the present payment of Ship-money the dissolving of former Parliaments Monopolies Innovations and some other grievances among which the Canons which were made in the late Convocation could not be omitted For remedy whereof His Majesty is desired to call a Parliament c. Subscribed by divers of the Nobility presented to the King at York on September 3. and seconded by another from the City of London to the same effect The King therefore resolves to hold a Parliament and on November 3. 1640. that long lasting Parliament began A Letter was writ to the Archbishop of Canterbury advertising That the Parliament of the twentieth year of King Henry the Eighth which began in the fall of Cardinal Wolsey continued in the Diminution of the Power and Priviledges of the Clergy and ended in the dissolution of the Abbies and Religious Houses was begun on the third day of November and therefore that for good-luck-sake he would move the King to respite the first sitting of it for a day or two longer But the Archbishop hearkned not to this advertisement and the Parliament began at the time appointed On the morrow after began the Convocation at St. Paul's Church handselled at their first meeting by the news of the Decease of Dr. Neile Archbishop of York But litle was done in this Convocation but that a motion was made by Mr. Warmstrey a Clerk for Worcester That they should endeavour according to the Levitical Law to cover the pit which they had opened and to prevent their Adversaries intention by condemning such offensive Canons as were made the last Convocation But they were loth to confess themselves guilty before they were accused Soon after Mr. Prynne Dr. Bastwick and Mr. Burton were discharged out of prison and brought with great Triumph into London Bishop Williams and Mr. Osbaston being remitted their fines were restored to their Livings and Liberty Doctor Pocklington and Doctor Bray were censured the former for Preaching and Printing the latter for Licensing two Books one called Sunday no Sabbath the other The Christian Alter Not many days after the Earl of Strafford was impeached of High Treason by Mr. Pym in fourteen Articles The Earl was forthwith Sequestred the House and committed to the Black Rod and sent not long after to the Tower December 18. Archbishop Laud and Bishop Wren were voted by the Commons Guilty of High Treason and a charge was immediately brought in against Bishop Laud upon the Reading of which on March 1. he was sent to the Tower The same moneth Alderman Pennington with a great multitude out of London petitioned the House against Episcopal Government and the Rites and Ceremonies of the Church A Committee was appointed to consider of matters of Religion setled in the Upper House of Parliament Ten Earls ten Bishops ten Barons At the same time the Lords appointed a Sub-committee to prepare matters fit for their cognizance the Bishop of Lincoln having the Chair in both authorized to call together divers Bishops and Divines to consult together for correcting what was amiss and to settle peace viz. The Archbishop of Armagh The
King Charles and Dr. Peter Du-Moulin And to destroy Deans and Chapters would highly gratifie Rome for Sanders himself seemeth to complain that Queen Elizabeth had left Provosts Deans Canons and Prebendaries in Cathedral and Collegiate Churches because he foresaw such Foundations would conduce to the stability of Religion He went forward to shew how such Lands paid greater sums to the Exchequer for First-fruits tenths and subsidies according to the proportion than any other Estates and Corporations in the Kingdom He implored to find the antient and honourable Justice of the House unto his Brethren who were not charged much less convicted of any Scandalous faults justly for the same to forfeit their estates At last he set before them the Honour of God to whose worship and service such Fabricks and Lands were dedicated and barred all alienations with which he said is termenda vox curses and imprecations He minded them of the censures of Korah and his Complices pronounced hallowed because pretended to do God service therewith He added that of Solomon Prov. 20. 25. It is a snare to a man that devoureth that which is holy He added also that smart question of St. Paul Thou that abhorrest idols dost thou commit Sacriledge and concluded that on the ruines of the rewards of Learning no structure can be raised but ignorance and upon the Chaos of ignorance nothing can be built but Profaneness and Confusion This speech was generally well-resented and wrought much on the House for the present In the afternoon Dr. Cornelius Burgesse made a vehement Invective against Deans and Chapters c. He aggravated the debauchedness of Singing men not onely useless but hurtful by their Vicious conversation Yet he concluded with the utter unlawfulness to convert such endowments to any private person's profit Then was a Bill brought up from the Commons to the Lords against Bishops and Clergy-men and it was Voted I. That they should have no Votes in Parliament II. That they should not be in the Commission of the Peace nor be Judges in Temporal Courts III. Nor sit in the Star-chamber nor be Privy Counsellors The last branches of this Bill passed by general consent not above two dissenting But the first branch was Voted by the Lords in the negative But at last it was wholly cast out The Archbishop advised the drawing of a Petition to both Houses of Parliament in the name of the University of Oxford not onely for the preservation of Episcopal Government but of those Foundations as being both the encouragements and rewards of Learning In which petition having spoken in few words of the Antiquity and Succession of Bishops from the Apostles themselves they insist more at large upon such suggestions as might best justifie and endear the cause of Cathedral Churches The like petition came from Cambridge as much concern'd in this common cause as Oxon. At a solemn Fast not long after the Temporal Lords took precedence of the Bishops contrary to the custom of their Predecessors in all times foregoing which being observed by the Lord Spencer Is this said he a day of humiliation wherein we shew so great a pride in taking place of those to whom it was allowed by all our Ancestors The Bill against the High-commission Court was the third time read in the House of Lords and passed which some days after was confirmed by his Majesty The Bishop of Lincoln brought up a Bill to regulate Bishops and their jurisdiction This Bill was but once read in the House and no great matter made thereof The Bishops that were impeached for making Canons craved time till Michaelmas Term. This was vehemently opposed by some Lords and two questions were put I. Whether the Bishops should fit still in the House though without voting to which themselves consented whilst the circumstance of time for their answer was in debate II. What time they should have for their answer The first of these was carried for them by one present voice and four Proxies and for the second time was allowed them till the tenth of November and Councel was permitted unto them Bishop Warner of Rochester is chosen by joynt consent to solicit the cause sparing neither care nor cost therein Mr. Chute drew up a Demurrer in their behalf that their offence in making Canons could not amount to a Praemunire and now the cause sunck in silence But the main matter was that the Bishops were denied all medling even in the Commission of preparatory examinations concerning the Earl of Strafford Causa sanguinis and they as men of mercy not to deal in the condemning of any person The Bishops against the perswasions of the Lord Kimbolton and the Earl of Essex resolved to keep possession of their Votes till a prevalent power outed them thereof No day passed wherein some petition was not presented to the Parliament against the Bishops who durst not come to the Parliament by Land for fear of the Apprentices who were gathered together in great numbers to Westminster The Bishops therefore intended to come to Parliament by water in Barges but as they thought to come to Land they were so pelâ—ed with Stones and frighted at the sight of such a company of them that they were rowed back and went away to their places The next day twelve of the Bishops repaired to Jerusalem Chamber in the Dean's lodgings â—â—d drew up a Protestation directed thus To the King 's most excellent Majesty and the Lords and Peers now assembled in Parliament This Instrument they delivered to Bishop Williams now Archbishop of York who at the next opportunity presented it to his Majesty who wholly remitted the matter to the Parliament The next morning a Privy Counsellor brought this Protestation into the House and the twelve subscribers are impeached of High Treason and Voted to be committed to the Tower save that Bishop Morton of Durham and Bishop Hall of Norwich found some favour so that they alone were sent to the custody of the Black Rod. Now was the Bill against the Bishops sitting in Parliament brought up into the House of the Lords and the matter agitated so eagerly on both sides The Lord Viscount Newark afterwards Earl of Kingston made two notable speeches in the House in defence of Episcopacy which confirmed those of the Episcopal party making the Lords very zealous in Bishops behalf There were in the House many other defenders of Episcopacy as William Lord Marquis of Hartford the Earl of South-hampton the Earl of Bristol and the Lord Digby his Son and that learned Lord William Earl of Bath and many other Lords voted for them About this time died Richard Mountague Bishop of Norwich and Doctor Joseph Hall succeeded him in his See Doctor John Prideaux Regius Professor in Oxford was made Bishop of Worcester Doctor Thomas Winniff Dean of St. Pauls was made Bishop of Lincoln Doctor Ralph Brownrigg made Bishop of Exeter Doctor Henry King made Bishop of Chichester Doctor John Westfield made Bishop of Bristol he died not
THE HISTORY OF THE CHURCH OF Great Britain FROM THE Birth of our SAVIOUR untill the Year of our LORD 1667. With an exact Succession of the Bishops and the memorable Acts of many of them TOGETHER With an Addition of all the English Cardinals and the several Orders of English Monks Friars and Nuns in former Ages Historia vitae nostrae Magistra Bodin LONDON Printed for Philip Chetwin and to be Sold by most Book-sellers 1674. Honoratissimis D no. HENRICO TVLSE Aequiti Aurato Senatori Vicecomiti Londonensi JACOBO READING PETRO RICH. RICâ—ARDO HOW JOHANNI SHORTER In Agro Surriensi Armigeris Viris summi Candoris Pietatis ac Literarum fautoribus hunc Librum in perpetuum observantiae Testimonium D. D. D. G. G. TO THE READER THere is no greater Priviledge bestowed by the Lord upon one Nation above others than in the free use of the Sacred Scriptures and Ordinances Israel had much advantage above the Gentiles chiefly or principally because unto them were committed the Oracles of God the word of grace the Covenant of life and peace Rom. 3. 2. S. Paul els-where reckoning up the Priviledges of Israel mentioneth this in several expressions as a prime Priviledge The Covenants the giving of the Law and the Promises Rom. 9. 4. all which are comprehended under the Oracles and word of God So saith the Psalmist Psal 147. 19 20. He sheweth his word unto Jacob his statutes and his judgements unto Israel he hath not dealt so with any nation and as for his judgements they have not known them He make's no mention of the Tabernacle or Temple the Ark of the Covenant the altar of burnt-offering the golden altar of incense the Ordinance of Circumcision c. though in these they were priviledged above other Nations but he singleth out this as a prime priviledge that he shewed them his word his statutes and judgements How deeply then is this nation of ours even England indebted to God to whom the Lord hath committed his holy Oracles how much are we bound to him for this unspeakable gift And herein the singular goodness of God to this nation is much to be observed not enely in visiting it with the Gospel for these last hundred years and more but also in giving it the light of the Gospel very early even in the Apostles dayes Divers Writers of good credit do testifie that even in those dayes the Britan's in our Isle did consent to Christian Religion and pulickly professed it in their Churches as well as other parts of the World The Authors of the Theatre of Great Britain speaking of Theatr. Magn. Brit. the Antiquity of the Christian Faith in Britain testifie in this manner As we have searched the first foundation of our Faith so neither want we Testimonies concerning the continuance of the same in this Land until following Posterities although the injury of Time and War have consumed many Records for the Britan's that were daily strengthened in their received Faith by the Doctrine of many Learned and godly Men left not their First-love with the Church of Ephesus but rather took hold of the Skirts as the Prophet speaketh Zech. 8. 23. until the Tortures of Martyrdom cut them off by death And those Fathers even from the Disciples themselves held a Succession in Doctrine notwithstanding some Repugnancy was made by the Pagans and Preached the Gospel with good success even till the same at length went forth with a bolder countenance by the favourable Edicts of Adrian Antoninus Pius and Marcus Aurelius Euseb Eccl. Hist l. 4. c. 9. Emperours of Rome as Eusebius hath Noted and in Britain was established by King Lucius so called as some Learned Men have observed because a Prince of great lustre and glory the Light of the Gospel breaking forth in this our Isle in such a perspicuoâ—s manner by his Conversion that all Christian Churches took notice thereof Of whom a great Antiquary thus speaketh Lucius in Christum credit Christoque dicatas Vsserius de Brit. Eccles Primord P. 56. Ecclesias dotat distinctas ordinat urbes Geoffery of Monmouth tells us that King Lucius being Baptized together with his Subjects destroyed the Temples of Idols and Dedicated them to the onely living God enlargeing and augmenting them Bishop Godwin saith we have Godwin de de convers Britan. great cause with all thankfulness to Celebrate the Memory of that Excellent Prince King Lucius by whom God did not onely bless this Land with so clear knowledge of the truth but in such sort did it as thereby He hath purchased unto the same the Title of Primogenita Ecclesiae the most Antient and first begotten of all the Churches in the world for that although Christ was Preached els-where privately in many other Nations long before the time of King Lucius yet of all Nations Britain was the first that with publick approbation of Prince and State received the Profession of Christian Religion Of the Teachers of those times John Bale hath these verses Sic ut erat Celebris c. As were the Britan's famous for their Zeal To Gentile Gods whilst such they did adore So when the Heavens to Earth did Truth reveal Blest was that Land with Truth and Learnings store Whence British Plains and Cambreas desart-ground And Cornwal's Crags with glorious Saints abound The common consent of our Protestant Writers is that in this time I now speak of and from the beginning of Christianity here Britain never wanted Preachers of the true Faith And when the persecuting Emperour 's Reigned and persecution raged not onely in the Eastern parts but in Italy France and other Countreys in the Continent near unto us this our Island as another world was almost quite free thereof both before and after until the nineteenth year of Dioclesian in which there was a general persecution of Christians as Gildas and others after him do witness in that it Gild. lib. de excid Conqu Brâ—tan ever had Kings not so depending on the persecuting Emperours and so far from the Name and Nature of persecutors that they ever were friends and favourers of Christians And for this cause many that were persecuted for Christianity in other Countries fled hither for refuge where for themselves they might more quietly enjoy the Liberty of their Conscience and Religion and for others desirous to be instructed in the Truth thereof and not kept back with such terrours of persecution as in other Countries they might with more confidence and boldness and with great hope of fruit and encrease Preach and Teach it unto them This was a preparative to a more general Conversion of this Nation to Christianity which followed afterwards This Island was also the more quiet in respect of the situation remote distance and separation from the rest of the chief commanding places of the Roman Empire The Name England some derived from the manner of the situation of this Island in the West and North for that Eng in the Antient
and maintained were mighty and likely to oppose viz. the French and Spaniards They that were friends as the Protestants in France and the Netherlands were weak and needed her help But the Lord of Hosts made her a terrour to his and her enemies and a succour to all his people at home and abroad And it seemeth the Lord began betimes to cause his terrour to fall upon the Adversaries for the Council of Trent ended in a very few years after she began her Reign and a motion was made that the Heads or chief of the Protestants should be excommunicated and in particular Queen Elizabeth But the Emperour Ferdinand sent them a message to cool their Hist Concil 〈◊〉 â—ib 8. heat and wrote to the Pope and the Legates that if the Council would not yield that fruit as was desired that they might see an union of all Catholicks to reform the Church at the least they should not give occasion to the Protestants to unite themselves more which they would do in case they proceeded against the Queen of England for undoubtedly they would by that means make a general league against the Catholicks which would bring forth great inconveniences And his admonition was so effectual that the Pope desisted in Rome and revoked the Commission given to the Legats in Trent About that time Christianity began to dawn in the Kingdom of Ireland and suddenly after the Kingdom of Scotland embraced the Gospel of Christ and Queen Elizabeth is made Instrumental that way who ayded the Reformed party in Scotland with great supplies of men and money against the Pope's faction both of French and Scotch The Gospel did so prevail in France also at that time and the Protestants grew so numerous and considerable the Queen-Mother who was an enemy yet seemed to temporize and speak them fair and wrote to the Pope for Reformation of divers abuses to give them content insomuch that a Learned man then living in Germany though born in Italy breaketh out in an Epistle to his friend Totus terrarum orbis parturit Christum But now let us mark how the enemies of the Churches peace raged in the dayes of Queen Elizabeth what hideous and damnable treasons did they commit and how did they thirst after the Royal blood of that peerless Princess And when the Lord had confounded their plots how did they seek to overwhelm and swallow us up with the power of Spain in the year 1588. But after that in despite of the Pope and his Adherents that Noble Queen was carried to her grave in peace full of dayes riches and honour and her Successour both in her Kingdom and Religion was established in his Throne how did these Romish Cannibals seek to exceed themselves in wickedness and horrible cruelty they sought at one blow as it were to cut off the neck of this Church and State A French Historian speaking Thuan. Hist lib. 54. Anno 15â—â— of the bloody Massacre saith Wise men which were not addicted to the Protestants part seeking all manner of excuse for that fact did notwithstanding think that in all Antiquity there could not be found an example of like cruelty But the English Powder-plot doth so far exceed the French Massacre that there is no degree of comparison This cannot be paralelled It was of such a transcendency saith M. Mason that all the Devils may seem to have holden a black Convocation in Hell and there to have concluded such a Sulphurious and Acherontical device as was never heard of since the world began That wicked Popish crew being made drunk with the cup of spiritual fornications held forth unto them by the Whore of Babylon with unspeakable fury and madness did violate the Sacred Lawes and break the strongest bands of common humanity and meant to have represented a shadow of Hell and Hellish-malice here upon earth far exceeding the wickedness of Kain their Elder-brother and exceeding all examples of Treason Cruelty and Murther Except that of Judas The Pope and Court of Rome who were wont to account England Puteum inexhaustum a well never drawn dry whilst they had the drawing of it now seeing the golden springs like to run low or rather to run another way and not to empty themselves in their Cisterns they like Balaam loving the Wages of unrightâ—â—usness were Raging mad and cared not how much of the best Blood in the Land were spilt so that it might make way for them again to the English gold But the greater their rage was the greater was God's mercy the greater the danger the greater the deliverance The Lord was known by executing judgement and those wicked wretches were snared in the work of their own hands Now let us consider what we were before the Christian Religion was first known to this Nation What were the Britains but Pagans and Barbarous people Yea we read that from the first submission of the Britans to the Romans that Ambassadours came from Britain to Rome swearing Fealty in the Temple of Mars offering gifts in the Capitol to the gods of the Romans And for the Saxons they were at first no better than the Britans the Saxons were a Dutch and Pagan-nation and served Saturn Jupiter and Mercury till they were converted to the Faith of Christ and renounced their Idols to serve the true and living God Earcombent Reigning in Kent after the death of his father King Ethelbald is said to be the first of English Saxon Kings that commanded Idols to be destroyed in his whole Kingdom about the year of Christ 640. 2. Consider we the Apostasie of our forefathers in adhereing to the Roman faction and then the renewed Apostasie at the death of King Edward the sixth together with our unworthy and unfruitful walking under the Gospel since the restoring of it by Queen Elizabeth 3. Consider likewise the mighty out-stretched Arm of God in protecting his Church and in preserving the truth of Religion among us still notwithstanding the plots designs and contrivances of Satan and his Instruments and the many Enterprizes of the Papal power ever since the days of K. James the great droves of Sectaries swarming like Locusts since our late unhappy Wars who seemed to be Spirited and acted by the Jesuites their crying down Magistracy and Ministry notwithstanding all which the Christian Religion hath prevailed against all its adversaries The consideration of all these things may give us ground of hope that God will still vouchsafe to dwell with his Antient Inheritance and therefore we may considently commend the care of this Church his old habitation to himself who I trust will never suffer the Devils Instruments to ruine his palace and to pull down the place of his Antient possession THE HISTORY OF THE CHURCH OF Great Britain CENTURY I. IEsus Christ the Son of God the true Prince of Peace was born in Bethlehem-Judah of the Virgin Mary in the 42 year of the Reign of Augustus Coesar the Roman Emperour under the 194 Olympiad in the
Archbishoprick of York was founded Anno 180. by King Lucius also who placed Sampson there King Lucius also founded the Academy of Bangor in the favour of good Arâ—s and Learned Men. He built the chief Cathedral Church in Glocester The Church dedicated to St. Mary in Glastonbury A Chappel in honour of Christ in Dover Castle A Church in Canterbury afterwards dedicated to St. Martin King Lucius died and was buried at Gloucester CENT III. BUT Christianity in Britain was not buried in the grave of King Lucius Witness Gildas whose words are a clear evidence of the constant continuing of the Christian Faith in Britain from the first Preaching thereof Christs precepts saith he though they were received Gildas in Epist de â—xcid Britan. but lukewarmly of the Inhabitants yet they remained entirely with some less sincerely with others even untill the nine years of Persecution under Dioclesian To the Authority of Gildas we may add the Testimony of two Fathers both flourishing in this Century Tertullian and Origen Tertullian saith â—erâ—ul ad vers â—udaos â— 7. Britannorum inaccessa Romanis loca Christo verò subdita There are places of the Britains which were unaccessible to the Romans but yet subdued to Christ Origen in like manner Virtus Domini Salvatoris cum Origen in 〈◊〉 1. Homil. 6. his est qui ab orbe nostro in Britannia dividuntur The power of God our Saviour is even with them which in Britain are divided from our World The Magdeburgenses compilers of the General Ecclesiastical Cent. 3. c. 2. col 6. History speaking of the Churches through Europe in this Age thus express themselves Then follow the Isles of the Ocean where we first meet with Britain Mansisse hac aetate ejus Insulae Ecâ—lesias affirmare non dubitamus We doubt not to affirm that the Churches of that Island did also remain in that Age. Gildas modestly renders the reason why so little is extant of the British History of this Age. Scriptapatriae Scriptorum monumenta siquae fuerint aut ignibus hostium exusta aut civium exulum classe longius deportata non comparent The Monuments saith he of our Countrey or Writers if there were any appear not as either burnt by the fire of enemies or transported far off by our banished Countreymen The Christians of Britain celebrated the Passover upon the fourteenth day of the Moon of March precisely contrary to the constitutions of the Roman Church which sheweth they were not brought to Christian Gâ—ld Epist f. 63. Religion by the Roman Church And Gildas saith That the Britains used great solemnity in their Ordination of Ministers and had other Prayers Lessons and Chapters than are used in the Roman Church Britain remained under the Domination of the Romans Pagans as their supream Lords till the year of Christ 286. in Dioclesian's time when the Roman Senate sent Caransius to repress the incursions of Barbarous Nations But Caransius made a League with the Britains expelled the Romans and made himself King And from that time sometimes the Romans prevailing sometimes the Natives Britain was but weakly possessed by the Roman Empire CENT IV. SO the Gospel flourished in this Land and they that professed it escaped the Persecutions raised by the Heathen Emperours of Rome all except the last under Dioclesian which extended to Britain and St. Alban is noted to be the Proto-Martyr of Britain who suffered death for Christ's sake with invincible Courage and Resolution about the year of Christ 305. He was a wealthy Inhabitant of Verolamcester Neccham in his Poem on Verulam and a Citizen of Rome for so Alexander Neccham reports him Hic est Martyrii râ—seo decoratus honore Albanus Cives Inclyta Roma tuus Here Alban Rome thy Citizen renown'd With rosie grace of Martyrdom was crown'd Alban was a Britain by Parentage a Roman by Priviledge naturally a Britain naturalized a Roman Immediately followed the Martyrdom of Amphibalus a Preacher of Caer-leon in Wales who not long before was fain to fly from Persecution into the Eastern parts of this Island and was entertained by Alban at his house in Verulam who was instructed by Amphibalus in the Christian Faith he was cruelly put to death by the Pagans in a Village called Redburn three miles from Verulam Besides Amphibalus suffered Aaron and Julius two substantial Citizens of Caer-leon and then Socrates and Stephen and Augulius Bishop of London then called Augusta with multitudes both of Men and Women in sundry places saith Beda as shortly after no less than a thousand Saints suffered death at Litchfield whereupon the place was called another Golgotha or field of blood In memory whereof the City beareth for Armes to this day a field surcharged with dead bodies Afterwards it pleased God to put a period to his Servants sufferings and to the rage of their Enemies for when Dioclesian and Maximian had layed down the Ensignes of Command Constantius Chlorus was chosen Emperour in these Western Provinces of France Spain and Britain whose cariage towards Christians Eusebius thus describeth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that he preserved such Religious people as were under his command without any hurt or harm So that under him the Church in these parts had a breathing-time from Persecution Constantius died and was buried at York who bequeathed the Empire to Coâ—stantine his eldest Son by Hellen his former Wife That Constantine was a Britain is shewn by Eumenius Rhetor who in his Oration Eâ—men Rheor 〈…〉 9. made to Constantine himself makes therein an Apostrophe to Britain O fortunata nunc omnibus beatior terris Britannia quae Constantinum Coesarem prima vidisti O happy Britain and blessed above all other Lands which didst first behold Constantine Cesar There is another Testimony of His of like nature Liberavit Pater Constantius Britannias servitute 〈…〉 5. Tu etiam Nobiles illic oriendo fecisti Your Father Constantius did free the British Provinces from slavery and you have Ennobled them by taking thence your original It is said of him that he was born made King and Emperor first in Britain Constantine being now peaceably setled in the Imperial Throne there followed a sudden and great alteration in the World Persecutors turning Patrons of Religion The Gospel formerly a Forrester now became a Citizen and leaving the Woods wherein it wandered Hills and holes where it hid it self before dwelt quietly in populous places The stumps of ruined Churches lately destroyed by Dioclesian grew up into beautiful buildings Oratories were furnished with pious Ministers and they provided of plentiful maintenance through the liberality of Constantine The most avouchable evidence of Christianity flourishing in this Island in this Age is produced from the Bishops representing Britain in the Councils 1. Of Arles in France called to take cognizance of the cause of the Donatists where appeared for the Britains Eborius Bishop of York Restitutus Bishop of London Adelfius Bishop of the City called the
Colony of London which some count Colchester and others Maldon in Essex Sacerdos a Priest both by his proper Name and Office Arminius a Deacon Anno 313. In the Synod of Nice held in Bithynia Anno 325. British Bishops were present being summoned to suppress Arianism and to establish an uniformity of the observation of Easter as Athanasius and Hilary Bishop of Poictiers do testify At the Council of Sardis in Thracia called by Constantius and Constans Sons to Constantine the Great were present the Bishops of Britain who concurred with the rest to condemn the Arrians and acquit Athanasius The British Bishops were also present at the Council of Ariminum assembled in Italy Theodoret tells us that he wrote an Epistle to all Churches concerning Theodoret Eccles Hist l. 1. c. 10. the Council of Nice wherein he saith there were then many Churches in Britain c. About the year 360. Hilary Bishop of Poictiers among diverse others dedicated his Book De Synodis fidei Catholicae contra Arianos Socrat. Scholast l. 2. c. 6. 7. to the Bishops of the Provinces of Britain during his exile for the Orthodox Faith commending them for their constancy in the profession of that Faith And by the testimony of Athanasius it appeareth that Sozom. l. 3. c. 11. 12. the Britains then had not onely Churches professing the Orthodox Faith but Bishops famous for their Piety and Learning summoned to forreign Councils in remote parts for debating and deciding the highest Articles of the Christian Faith In the year 383. Maximus a Christian and Orthodox Prince governed Du Moul. resp ad Card-du Perroâ— lib. 7 ca. 5. Britain for then all that part of the Island which was subject to the Romans was Christian Not long after the Empire being fallen in the West and torn by the Gothes Francs Vandals and Burgundians the Romans forsook the Isle of Britain which moved the Natives to commit the Kingdome to one Constantine a Britain as one descended from their Nation and a Christian vertuous man About the year 400. Chrysostome gives this testimony concerning the Chrysost oper tom 5. Britains Embracing of the Gospel Nam et Britaniae Insuae extra hoc mare sitae et qâ—ae in ipso oceano sunt vertutem verbi senserunt sunt etiam illic fundatae Ecclesiae c. Illius inquam verbi quod tunc dictum quod â—t in omnium animabus inque omnium labiis plantatum Which he seconded in another Sermon of the Feast of Pentecost CENT V. ABout the year 412 Pelagius born in Britain began to broach his Herefies publickly The same day wâ—â—reon Pelagius was born in Britain St. Augustine was also born in Africk divine providence so ordering it that the poison and the Antidote should be Twins in a manner in respect of the same time as Dr. Fuller well observeth In the year 446. the Pelagian Heresie spread over Britain and the British Churches being defiled thereby King Vortigern for the maintaining the truth sent for German Bishop of Auxerre and Lupus Bishop of Troys in Champagne out of France men famous for their doctrine and counsel who refuting this Heresie gained unto themselves a reverent esteem among the Britains but chiefly German who in a Chappel neer unto St. Albans did openly out of the pulpit preach God's word sincerely to the people This conference was held at St. Albans even where at this day a small Chappel is extant to the honour of St. German Gemanus having baptized multitudes of Pagan converts in the river Alen marched with an Army of them against the Pagans whom he found in the North-East of Wales Here he chose an hollow dale surrounded with Usser de Prit Eccles primâ—rd p. 333. hills near the Village called at this day by the English Mold by the British Guidcrue in Flintshire where the field at this day retains the name of Mees Garmon or German's field Here Germanus placed his men in ambush with instructions that a Signal given they should all shout Hallelujah three times with their might which all was done accordingly Hereat the Pagans without striking a stroak confusedly ran away and many were drowned for speed in the river Alen. After this victory Germanus prepared for his return After Germanus and Lupus were returned home into their native countrey Pelagianism began to sprout again in Britain and after three years Germanus came again with Severus into Britain and the Pelagian Heresie was again condemned in a second Synod having been before condemned in a Synod at London Germanus having setled Bâ—itain in good order returned to his own countrey where he presently died after his return and by God's blessing on his endeavours that Heresie was so cut down in Britain that it never generally grew up again About the year 453. Hengist Captain of the Saxons who came to help the Britans against the Scots and Picts who having married his own daughter to Vortigern had murthered his sovereign Lord Constans and invaded his Crown being called in for his help came with diverse ships of stout Saxon Souldiers who under pretence of protecting them from the Picts intended to plant themselves in the North part of Britain which when the Britans saw and fearing their own ruin they desired the King that he would drive them out of his Kingdome The Nobles also of his Realm did inveigh much against the King's marriage with a Pagan Woman Whereupon Anno 454. they utterly deserted King Vortigern and unanimously chose Vortimer his son to be their King who following their counsel began to expell the Barbarians and chasing them as far as the Derwent he slew many of them Vortigern also fled with them But in the year 460 Prince Vortimer died being poisoned by Rowen his Mother in law with whom the hope of the Britains was extinguished Hereupon Hengist returning into Britain with new forces treacherously slew most of the British Nobles at a pretended Treaty for peace between both Nations And the Saxons being enemies to Christian Religion and bent upon the possession of such a fruitful Counâ—rey exercised great cruelty upon the Inhabitants destroyed Churches and all Ecclesiastical things burnt the holy Scriptures slew the Ministers in the Churches endeavouring to supplant Christian Religion Vortigern had before caused Vodinus Henr. Huntingâ— Lib. 2 Arch-Bishop of London to be put to death because he reproved him for calling in the Saxons and marrying a Pagan Woman and now Theanus Bishop of London and Thaodiceus Bishop of York with others were Galsr 〈◊〉 lib. 12. forced to fly into remote places for the preservation of their lives Thus God sent down his heavie judgements upon the Britains for their Sins as Gildas writeth Britones propter avaritiam rapinam Principum propter iniquitatem injustitiam Judicum propter desidiam praedicationis Episcoporum propter luxuriam malos mores populi perdidisse patriam that is the Britans for the covetousness and oppression of the Princes for the
iniquity and injustice of the Judges for the negligent preaching of the Bishops for the luxury and evil manners of the people lost their Countrey Afâ—er many batâ—les with the Britains the Pagans surprised a great part of this Island Then the Britains sent Ambassadors into the lesser Britain to Aurelius Ambrosius and Vter-Pendragon his brother desiring them to take the government of Britain upon them of which they were right heires and to expell the Saxons and King Vortigern Hereupon they came with many armed souldiers Then the Britains set up Aurelius to be their King who marched first against Vortigern to his Castle Genorium in Wales where he had fortified and immured himself but Aurelius burnt the castle and King Vortigern in it After this Aurelius fought many baâ—tles with the Saxons in the years 485. 487 488. and at last overcame them Aurelius was one composed of valour and Religion wholly employing himself in time of peace to raise new Churches repair old and endow both Johan Timnuthens in ejus vila At this time there was an Academy of learned men under Dubritius neer the river Wye in Monmouth-shire This Dubritius taught many scholars for seven years together in humane and divine learning among whom the chiefest were Theliau Sampson Vbelin Merchiguin Elquored c. at Dubritius removed to Werwick a village two miles from Cardigan and from thence to Moch-Rhos The Britains being involved in perpetual Warrs with the Scots Picts Normans Saxons the Christian Britains were at last by force and fraud undermined and driven out of their native soil into Britain in France and into Wales and Cornwall yet then was the Gospel preserved in those corners where the remainder of the Britains those antient Inhabitants of this land remainâ— unto this day Paganism was again planted in this land and an Heptarchy was established this land being divided into seven Kingdomes The first was the Kingdome of Kent which began Anno 457. under King Hengist The second of the South Saxons comprising Sussex and Surrey This Kingdome began under King Ella Anno 491. and was the weakest of all the seven affording few Kings and fewer actions of moment The third was of the East Saxons comprehending Essex Middlesex and part of Hartford-shire This Kingdome began in Erchenwin about the year 527. The fourth of the East-Angles containing Norfolk Suffolk Cambridg-shire with the Isle of Ely and part of Bedford-shire It began Anno 575. under King Vlfa and lay most exposed to the cruelty of the Danish incursions The fifth of Mercia so called because it lay in the midst of the Island being the merches or limits on which all the residue of the Kingdomes did bound and border It began Anno 582 under King Cridda and contained the Countries of Lincoln North-hampton Rutland Huntingdon Buckingham Oxford Worcester Warwick Darby Nottingham Leicester Stafford and Chester besides part of Hereford and Salop the remnant whereof was possessed by the Welch Gloucester Bedford and Lanoaster The sixt of Northumberland whereunto belonged whatsoever lieth between Humber and Edenborough Frith It was subdivided sometimes into two Kingdomes of Bernicia and Deira The latter consisted of the remainder of Lancashire with the entire Counties of York Durham Westmerland and Cumberland Bernicia contained Northumberland with the South of Scotland to Edenborough But it was not long before both were united under King Ida. The seventh of the West Saxons who possessed Hantshire Berk-shire Wilt-shire Somerset Dorset and Devon-shire part of Cornwall and Gloucester-shire This Kingdom began Anno 519. under Cerdicus This Heptarchy was at last swallowed up in the West Saxons Monarchy But to return to the British Church and the year of our Lord 449. wherein the Irish St. Patrick is noâ—oriously reported to have come to Glastonbury where he lived 39 years as Abbot of that place And so great was the credit of St. Patrick at Glastonbury that after his death and burial there that Church that formerly was dedicated to the Virgin Mary alone was in after-ages joyntly consecrated to her and St. Patrick About the year 495 Cerdicus who was afterwards first King of the West Saxons having overcome the Britains at Winchester killed all the Monks belonging to the Church of St. Amphibalus and turned the same into a Temple of Idolatry Aurelius Ambrosius was poisoned in the year 498. and his Brother Vter-Pendragon took upon him the Government of this Realm CENT VI. MOst miserable at this time was the British Common-wealth croâ—ded up into barren Corners whil'st their Enemies the Pagan Saxons possessed the East and South if not the best part of the Island Pen-dragon dying the Nobles and Bishops of Britain set up his Son Arthur being about 16 years of age to be King of Britain in the year 516. Of whom one writeth thus Cultum Religioni pene debitum in Civitatibus viris oppidis reformavit Ecclesias à Pagana Gente destructas vel dirut as reparavit in eis Res Episcopos cum Clericorum officiis prout locorum dignit as cogehat devoto Religionis studio ordinavit Vigente adhuc post Germani Episcopi labores qui obâ—d in Britanniam bis venerat Pelagiana labe ac desperato pene remedio David ex universae Gentis Synodo Prasul constitutus An. 519. â—â—utinâ— praedicatione disceptationbus publicis eandem profligavit at que aream Ecclesia pâ—rgavit David was Unâ—kle to King Arthur he privately studied the Scriptures ten years before he would presume to Preach and always caryed the Gospels about him He kept a Synod against the Peâ—agian error which was now revived in Britain and confirmed many wavering Souls in the Faith The main body of the British Church was at this time in Wales where Bangor on the North and Caerleon on Vsk in Monmouth-shire in the South were the two eyes thereof for Learning and Religion Caerleon had in it the Court of King Arthur the See of an Archbishop a Colledge of 200 Philosophers who therein studied Astronomy and was a populous place of great extent though at this day reduced to a small Village By leave obtained from King Arthur David removed the Archiepiscopal seat from Caerleon to Meneva now called St. David's in Pembrook-shire in which exchange saith Fuller his devotion is rather to be admired than his discretion to be commended leaving a fruitful soyl for a bleach barren Girald Cambr. place though the worse it was the better for his purpose being a great promoter of a Monastical life In those days such was the correspondency between the greater and lesser Britain that they seemed to possess Learned Men in common betwixt them About the same time flourished Cadâ—cus Abbot of Llancanvan in Glamorgan shire Son of the Toparch of that Countrey He retained part of his paternal principality in his hand whereby he daily fed 300 of Clergy-men Widdows and poor People besides guests and visitants daily resorting to him Wilful poverty then was not by vow entailed upon Monastical life
Iltutus followed him a profound Scholar who at Llaniltut in Glamorgan Fullers Church Hist shire Preached God's Word and set up a Colledge of Scholars himself leading a single life Sampson Scholar to Iltutus succeedeth made Bishop at large sine titulo In that Age all Bishops were not fixed to the Chair of a peculiar Church but some might sit down in any vacant place for their Cathedral and there exercise their Episcopal Authority provided it were without prejudice to other Bishops This Sampson being afterwards made Archbishop of Dole in French-Britain Balâ—us saith That he caried away with him the Monuments of British Antiquity Patern for three and twenty years was a constant Preacher at Llanpatern in Cardigan shire St. Petrock comes next one of great Piety and painfulness in that Agâ— Captain of the Cornish Saints Then lived St. Teliau who was Scholar to Dubritius and succeeded him in the Bishoprick of Landaff a pious Preacher and zealous reprover of the Vices of that time About the year 560 flourished Congel Abbot of Bangor who much altered the discipline of that Monastery Kentigern the famous Bishop of Elwy in North Wales St. Asaph was his successor in the same place in whose mouth this sentence was frequent Such who are against the Preaching of God's Word do envy the salvation of mankind About the year 596. Pope Gregory I. sent Augustine a Benedictine Monck a subtil and industrious Man into this Land to work two ends the one to reduce the Christians of this Isle to the Form and Service of the Romish Church the other to draw if he could some of those Pagan Kings to the Christian Religion Augustine with Mellitus and forty more of his Companions sent to Preach the Gospel in Britain landeth at Thanet in Kent Ethelbert was then King of Kent and a Pagan yet had he Married Bertha Daughter to the King of France a Christian Woman to whom he permitted the free use of her Religion allowing her both Luidhard a Bishop for her Chaplain and an old Church in Canterbury formerly dedicated by the Romans to St. Martin to exercise her Devotion therein Augustine with his followers having obtained leave from King Ethelbert advanced unto Canterbury to the foresaid Church of St. Martin Here they lived so Piously Prayed so servently Fasted so frequently Preached so constantly and wrought Miracles as it is said so commonly that Ethelbert was perswaded by Queen Bertha to embrace the Christian Religion and was Baptized whose example multitudes of Pagans followed There were in one day about ten thousand Men Baptized besides Women and Children in a River The Water being hallowed by Augustine he commanded the People to go in by couples and one to Baptize the other in the name of the Trinity Thus Augustine carieth away the credit of all that came after him because the Primitive planter of the Gospel among the Saxons and Kent was converted to Christianity yet far more than half of the Land lay some years after in the darkness of Paganism which others afterwards illightened with the beams of the Gospel Mean time the poor Christian Britains living peaceably at home there enjoyed God the Gospel and their Mountains not caring for the Ceremonies Alamode brought over by Augustine CENT VII ABout the year 601. Pope Gregory I. sent two Archbishops Palls into England the one for London the other for York The former of these Cities had been honoured with an Archbishop's See some hundred years since King Lucius but at the Instance of Augustine and by a new order of the foresaid Gregory this Pall sent to London was removed thence to Canterbury whereof Augustine was made Archbishop and there fixed and confirmed Canterbury was the place wherein Christianity was first received by the Saxons and is therefore honoured to perpetuate the memory thereof and London must hereafter be contented with the plain seat of a Bishop Then Augustine by the aid of Ethelbert King of Kent called a Council of Saxon and British Bishops to meet in the confines of the Mercians and West Saxons in the borders of Worcester and Hereford-shires under an Oak knowing that the Pagan Britains performed their superstition under an Oak in some imitation and yet a correction of their Idolatry as Sir Henry Spelman sheweth But this Synod proved ineffectual Sir H. Spelm. in Conciliis Geoffry of Monmouth calling the Britains the Lora's flock saith Grex Domini reâ—lum ordinem tenebat Gals Monum lib. 13 c. 12. the British Bishops and many very Learned Men far differing from Romish Priests rejected his Traditions which he brought from Rome and would not admit thereof detested his Pride renounced his Authority and would not accept of him for their Archbishop as he desired to be and for the space of an hundred years at least refused to communicate with those that had received the same And then the Bishops and Churches of Scotland joyned with the Britains against those new observations which the same Augustine brought from Rome At that time there were 1200. Monks at the Monastery of Bangor in Wales not Popish Monks and idle Belly-gods but all living with the labour of their hands and bestowing the time of rest from their labours in Prayer and Meditation on the Scriptures Over that Church at Austin's coming was Dinochus a Learned Man who when Austin required the British Bishops to be subject to his Romish Authority convinced them by diverse Arguments that they did not owe him any such subjection whereat Augustine being highly offended is said to have spoken these words Quod si pacem cum fratribus accipere nollent bellum ab hostibus forent accepturi si Nationi Anglorum noluissent viam vitae praedicare per horum manus ultionem essent mortis passuri that if they would not accept of peace with their Brethren they should receive War from their Enemies and seeing they would not joyn with him in Preaching the way of life to the Saxons they should feel the force of their Enemies Sword And some Writers say that he stirred up Ethelfred King of Northumberland against them who with an Army of Infidels cruelly and unmercifully slew them who came forth to him in their shirts to entreat for mercy fifty onely escaping But their innocent blood went not long unrevenged for we read how three British Princes viz. Blederick Duke of Cornwall Margadus Duke of South Wales and Cadwan Duke of North Wales give Battel Nicol. Triveâ— to the Northumberlanders as they were invading Wales and not onely dangerously wounded the foresaid Ethelfred their King but also discomfited his Army and slew ten thousand and sixty of his Souldiers forcing him at last to Articles of composition that he should confine himself within his own Countrey North of Trent and leave all Wales to be entirely and peaceably enjoyed by the Britains the true owners thereof Here we are to take our farewell of the British Church for some hundreds of years wanting instructions concerning the remarkable
against him and likewise to the King against this oppression desiring his favour that no Process might issue out of his Court against them and that he might constitute Attorneys in this Case since he could not come into England without great damage to his house The King this year constituted a special Proctor for three years by Patent to defend the Rights and Liberties of his free Chappels and Crown against all Papal and Episcopal invaders and opposers of them The King seizing the Advousons of several Churches in Wales as forfeited by their Patrons Rebellions against him gave them to the Bishop of St. David's with power to appropriate them to his Church of St. David's and Lekadeken Lancaden and make or annex them to Prebendaries there Hereupon the Bishop of St. Davids by his Charter with consent and approbation of the King and his Dean and Chapter made and erected a new Collegiate Church of Canons in Lan Caden in Wales constituted several Canons and Prebendaries therein annexing and appropriating the forecited Churches thereunto the Patronages whereof were granted him by the King who set his Seal to the Bishop's Charter and ratified it with his own Charter to make it valid in Law In the year 1285. a Parliament at Westminster laid down the limits and fixed the boundaries betwixt the Spiritual and Temporal jurisdictions The King having totally subdued the Welsh the Archbishoprick of York becomming void by the death of William Wickwane Archbishop thereof the King applied the profits thereof during the vacancy towards the building of Castles in Wales to secure it This year Stephen Bishop of Waterford was made chief Justice of Ireland In the fifteenth year of this King Henry de Branceston was elected and confirmed Bishop of Sarum The King granted and confirmed to the Bishop of Bangor and his Successors all the Rights Liberties Possessions and Customes they had formerly used and enjoyed In the sixteenth year of this King's Reign Gilbert de Sancto Leofardo was elected and confirmed Bishop of Chichester by the King 's Royal assent This year there was a great contest between the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Abbot of St. Augustines about the carrying up his cross First The Abbot opposed the bearing up his own Cross before him in the Monastery of St. Augustines even within his own Metropolis and See of Canterbury when specially sent for thither to dine with the King Secondly Observe the Archbishop's pride and obstinacy in refusing to subscribe such a Letter as the King directed to reconcile this difference and preserve the Abbot's Privildges or repair to the King without his Cross carried before him together with his malice against the Abbot and Covent for not admitting him to carry up his Cross within their Monastery Bishop Godwin observes That from the year 1284. the See of Salisbury Pat. 17. 〈◊〉 had five Bishops within the space of five years whereof William de Corner as he stiles him was the fourth But Mr. William de Corner was his name as the King 's Writ for restoring of his Temporalties together with the Patent of the King 's Royal assent to his election assure us The King having Conquered Wales confirmed all the antient Rights Liberties Possessions and Customes of the Church of Asaph to the present Bishop and his Successors which they formerly used and enjoyed and that he might freely make his Testament Pope Nicholas the fourth being setled in his Pontifical Chair in the first year of his Papacy sent a Bull to King Edward the first to demand five years Arrears of the Annual pension of one thousand Marks granted by King John The King hereupon the better to promote his cousin Charles to the Realm of Sicâ—ly and expedite his own affairs in the Court of Rome concerning a dispensation for his Son to Marry the heir of the Crown of Scotland and other business touching Gascoign and France for which he had then sent special Ambassadors to Rome with Letters both to the Pope and Cardinals issued a Writ for the payment of these five years Arrears accordingly Mr. Prynne saith That this was the last payment made by King Edward the first of this Annual pension The Pope upon receipt hereof granted a dispensation to the King's Son Prince Edward to Marry with the heir of the Crown of Scotland thereby to unite these two Crowns and Kingdomes and prevent the long bloody Wars between them though within the prohibited degrees of Consanguinity King Edward upon the receipt of this Dispensation sent Letters and Proxies to Ericus King of Norway and likewise to the Guardians of the Realm of Scotland to consummate this Marriage upon diverse Articles and agreements King Edward likewise to perfect the Marriage between his Son Prince Edward and Margaret Queen of Scots with the general approbation of the Keepers Nobles and Natives of that Realm granted and ratified to the Nobles and People of Scotland diverse Articles agreed on by special Commissioners sent on both sides and approved by him by Letters under his great Seal which he took an Oath to observe under the penalty of forfeiting one hundred thousand pounds to the Church of Rome towards the holy Wars and subjecting himself to the Pope's Pat. 8. Edw. 1. m. 8. Excommunication and his Kingdom to an Interdict in case of Violation or Non-performance as the Patent attesteth enrolled both in French and Latine The King after this appointed the Bishop of Durham to be this Queen Margaret's and his Son Prince Edward's Lieutennant in Scotland for the preservation of the Peace and Government thereof At which time he and his Son likewise constituted Proctors to Treat with the King of Norway in his and his Son Edward's Name concerning his Sons Marriage and Espousals with his Daughter Margaret Queen of Scotland To facilitate this Marriage the Bishop of Durham at the King's request obliged himself to pay four hundred pounds by the year to certain persons in Norway to discharge which annuity the King granted him several Manors amounting to a greater value But the sickness and death of this Queen in her voyage toward Scotland and England frustrated this much desired Marriage between Prince Edward and her and raised new questions between the Competitors for the Crown Thomas Walsingham saith That about this time the Pope requiring it the Churches of England were taxed according to their true value to raise his Dismes and exactions higher In the same year 1290. the King our of his zeal to Christian Religion The Jews banished out of England by Act of Parliament banished all the Jews out of England by a publick Act in Parliament and Confiscated all their Houses and Lands for their Infidelity Blasphemy Crucifying of Children in contempt of Christ Crucified and clipping of his Coyn. In August they were commanded to depart the Land with their Wives and Children between that time and the Feast of all Saints with their moveable Goods Their number was said to be sixteen thousand five hundred
the Nobility and Clergy so that there should be no Bishop in England but one Archbishop which should be himself and that there should not be above two Religious persons in one house and their possessions should be divided among the Lay-men for the which Doctrine they held him as a Prophet But he was executed at St. Albans William Wickham about this time finished his Beautiful Colledge in Oxford called new Colledge which giveth the Armes of Wickham viz. two Cheverons betwixt three Roses each Cheveron alluding to two beams fastned together called couples in building to speak his skill in Architecture There is maintained therein a Warden seventy Fellows and Scholars ten Chaplains three Clerks one Organist sixteen Choristers besides Officers and Servants of the Foundation with other Students being in all one hundred thirty five Within few years after the same Bishop finished the Colledge at Winchester wherein he established one Warden ten Fellows two Schoolmasters and seventy Scholars with Officers and Servants which are all maintained at his charge out of which School he ordained should be chosen the best Scholars always to supply the vacant places of the Fellows of this Colledge Anno 1391. There was a Synod in England which because many were vexed for causes which could not be known at Rome ordained That the authority of the Pope of Rome should stretch no farther than to the Ocean Sea and that who so Appealed to Rome besides Excommunication should be punished with loss of all their goods and with perpetual imprisonment Then came the Parliament wherein was Enacted the Statute called the Statute of Praemunire which gave such a blow to the Church of Rome The Statute of Praemunire that it never recovered it self in this Land The Statute of Mortmain put the Pope into a sweat but this put him into a Fever That concerned him onely in the Abbies his darlings this touched him in his person About this time died that faithful Learned and aged Servant of God John de Trevisa born at Crocadon in Cornwal a Secular Priest and Vicar of Berkley painful in Translating the Old and New Testament into English with other great Books The History of William Swinderby Priest in the Diocess of Lincoln whereunto be was forced by the Friars the Process of John Tresnant Bishop of Hereford into whose Diocess he removed had against him in the cause of Heretical pravity as the Papists call it the Articles that were exhibited against him with his protestation and answer to the same The Process against William Swinderby with his answer and declaration to certain Conclusions the Bishop's sentence against him and his Appeal from the Bishop to the King with the causes thereof together with Swinderby's letter to the Parliament may be read at large in Mr. Fox his Acts and Monuments of the Church Then were there Articles exhibited against Walter Bruâ—e of the Diocess of Hereford a Lay-man and Learned touching the cause of Heresie as they called it unto the Bishop of Hereford his examination and answer is also largely described by Mr. Fox 〈…〉 2. Then were there two Bulls sent out by Pope Boniface the ninth one against the Lollards another to King Richard the second Queen Anne Wife to King Richard at the same time had the Gospels in English with four Doctors upon the same King Richard wrote a notable Letter to the Pope wherein he sheweth That the election of the Pope was not as before comparing the Popes to the Souldiers that crucified Christ That Secular Princes are to bridle the outrages of the Pope and seemeth to Prophecy of the desolation of the Roman Pope King Richard was not long after deposed and barbarously murdered at Pomfret-castle In the time of the conspiracy against King Richard among all the Bishops onely Thomas Merks Bishop of Carlisle was for him For when the Lords in Parliament not content to depose King Riâ—hard were devising more mischief against him up steps the foresaid Bishop and thus expresseth himself There is no man here worthy to pass his sentence on so great a King as to whom they have obeyed as their lawful Prince full two and twenty years This is the part of Traitors Cut-throats and Thieves None is so wicked none so vile who though he be charged with a manifest crime we should think to condemn before we heard him And you do ye think it equal to pass sentence on a King anointed and Crowned giving him no leave to defend himself How unjust is this But let us consider the matter it self I say nay openly affirm that Henry Duke of Lancaster whom you are pleased to call your King hath most unjustly spoiled Richard as well his Sovereign as ours of his Kingdom More would he have spoken but the Lord Marshal enjoyned him silence and the other Bishops said he discovered having 〈◊〉 a Monk more Covent-devotion than Court-discretion in dissenting from his Brethren yet at that time no punishment was imposed upon him But the next year 1400. when some discontented Lord 's arose against King Henry the fourth this Bishop was taken prisoner and judicially arraigned for high Treason for which he was condemned and sent to St. Albans The Pope gave unto him another Bishoprick in Samos a Greek Island But before his translation he died CENT XV. KIng Henry the fourth held a Parliament at Westminster during which Thomas Arundel Archbishop of Canterbury had convocated a Synod which was held in St. Paul's Church to whom the King sent the Earls of Northumberland and Westmorland who declared to the Trussel in vit Henrici IV. Clergy That they were from the King to acquaint them that the King resolved to confirm all their Priviledges unto them and to joyn with them as they should desire him in the punishment of all Hereticks and opposites to their Religion received for which so doing he craved but their supplications to God for him and his posterity and prosperity of the Kingdom which was by all there present religiously promised In the second year of his Reign King Henry ordained That if any person should obtain from the Bishop of Rome any provision to be exempt from obedience Regular or Ordinary or to have any Office perpetual in any House of Religion he should in our the pains of Praemunire He also gave authority unto Bishops and their Ordinaries to imprison and fine all Subjects who refuse the Oath ex Officio In the same Parliament it was The Statute made pro Haeretico comburâ—â—do ordained That all Lollards that is those who professed the doctrine which Wickliff had taught should be apprehended and if they should remain obstinare they should be delivered to the Bishop of the Diocess and by him unto the secular Magistrate to be burnt This Act was the first in this Island for burning in case of Religion and began to be put in execution Anno 1401. The first on whom his cruel Law was hanselled was William Sautre formerly Parish-priest of St.
University under the notion of a Visitor The Archbishop angry at the affront fairly retreated re infecta to London King Henry at the joynt instances of both parties summoned them to Lambeth to hear and determine the Controversie where the King pronounced sentence on the Archbishop's side Afterward the King confirmed the same with the consent of the Lords and Commons in Parliament as in the Tower-Rolls doth plainly appear The King though courteous was not servile to the Pope and the Clergy terrified with the wavering doubtfulness of the King granted him a tenth every year for diverse years King Henry the fourth is not observed as all English Kings before Fuller Church Hist of Brit. and after him to have erected and endowed any one entire house of Religion as first or sole-founder thereof though a great Benefactor to the Abby of Leicester and Colledge of Fothringhay in Northamptonshire His picture is not so well known by his Head as his Hood which he weareth upon it in an odd fashion peculiar to himself He died Anno 1413. Henry the fifth his Son succeeded in the Kingdom An universal Synod of all the Bishops and Clergy was called at London where among other weighty matters it was determined That the day of St. George and also of St. Dunstan should be a double Feast in holy Church At the Petition of the Commons in Parliament to the King all Irish Rotul in Turri Lond. begging Priests called Chamberdakyns were ordered to depart the Realm by Michaelmas following upon pain of loss of goods and imprisonment during the King's pleasure In the beginning of this King's Reign arose Sir John Oldcastle who Camd. Brit. in Kent Married Joan de la Pole Baroness of Cobham the Lord whereof he became a Man saith one Regi propter probitatem charus acceptus in great favour with King Henry the fifth for his honesty and likewise renouned for his valour and great skill in feats of Armes who sent into the Diocesses of London Rochester and Hereford some to publish the truth of the Gospel without the leave and License of the Ordinaries who were especially in their Sermons to confute the Doctrine of Transubstantiation the Popish Sacrament of Penance Peregrinations worshipping of Images the Keys usurped by the Church of Rome At that time there resorted to the Synod in London twelve Inquisitors for Heresie whom they appointed at Oxford the year before to search out for Hereticks withall Wickliff's Books who brought two hundred forty six Conclusions which they had collected as Heresies out of the said Books The Names of the Inquisitors were these John Witnam a Master in New Colledge John Langdon Monk of Christ-church in Canterbury William Vfford Regent of the Carmalites Thomas Clayton Regent of the Dominicks Robert Gilbert Richard Enthisdale John Luck Richard Sindisham Richard Fleming Thomas Rotborn Robert Rouberry Richard Grafdale who all concluded that the chief favourers of Wickliff's Doctrine were to be first dealt against The Lord Cobham was complained of by the General Proctors to be the chief principal abettor of suspected Preachers contrary to the mind of the Ordinaries and to have assisted them by force of Armes The King sent for the Lord Cobham and when he was come he admonished him secretly to submit himself to his Mother the holy Church Unto whom he made this Answer You most Worthy Prince saith he I am always ready to obey forasmuch as I know you a Christian Prince and the Minister of God bearing the Sword to the punishment of evil doâ—rs and safeguard of them that do well Vnto you next unto my eternal God owe I most reverence and submit thereunto as I have done ever all that I have either of Nature or Fortune ready at all times to fulfill whatsoever You in the Lord command me But as touching the Pope and his Spiritualty I owe them neither Suit nor Service forasmuch as I know him by the Scriptures to be the Great Antichrist the Son of Perdition the open Adversary of God The King having heard this would talk no longer with him but utterly left him And the Archbishop resorting to the King he gave him authority to Cite him Examine and Punish him according to their Decrees The Archbishop Cited him to appear before him at the Castle of Leeds in Kent and because he appeared not he Excommunicated him Then the Lord Cobham wrote a draught of the Confession of his Faith and Sealed it with his own Hand in which he answered the four chiefest Articles that the Archbishop laid against him and that done he took the Copy with him and went therewith to the King who would not receive it but commanded it to be delivered to those who should be his Judges Then he desired in the King's presence that an hundred Knights and Esquires might be suffered to come as upon his Purgation which he knew would clear him of all Heresies Moreover he offered himself after the Law of Armes to fight for Life or Death with any man living Christian or Heathen in the quarrel of his Faith the King's Majesty and the Lords of his Council excepted and furthermore protested That he would obey all manner of Laws agreeable to the Word of God yet for all this the King suffered him to be summoned personally in his own Privy-chamber He appeared before the Archbishop sitting in the Chapter-house of Pauls with Richard Clifford Bishop of London Henry Bullinbrook Joh. Capgrave lib. 2. de nobilib Henriciâ— Bishop of Winchester He professed That the Pope was true Antichrist That he is his Head and that the Popish Bishops were his Members the Friars his Tayl. And as touching the other Points saith he they are Ordinances of the Church of Rome made against the Scriptures after it grew rich and the poison had dispersed it self therein and not before Another Annalist saith That he had openly said in Parliament that it would never be well in England till the Pope's power were banished beyond the Seas The Archbishop read a Bill of Condemnation against him after which Bill read the Lord Cobham said with a cheerful countenance Though you judge my Body which is but a wretched thing yet I am sure ye can do no harm to my Soul no more than Satan could do to the Soul of Job And as concerning these Articles I will stand to them to the very death by the grace of my eternal God And after a short instruction to the people he fell down upon his Knees holding up his Hands and Eyes to Heaven And prayed God to forgive his Prosecutors The Lord Cobham was condemned to dye being led back to the Tower he escaped out of the Tower and fled into Wales where he continued by the space of four years In January 1414. Sir Roger Acton Knight Mr. John Brown and John Beverley a Minister suffered Martyrdom in the Fields of St. Giles with thirty six more Some say that Sir Roger Acton was hanged naked at Tyburn saving that
likewise to Preach or by way of reading in Churches or other publick or private places except in Schools of the Universities to Interpret or Teach any Scripture or any points of Doctrine concerning Religion Hereupon many of the people in divers places received their old Religion erected again their Altars and used the Mass and Latin Service as was wont to be in King Henrie's time In Cambridge the Vice-chancellor chalenged one Peirson on Octob. 3. for officiating the Communion in his own Parish Church in the English Tongue and on the 26. displaced Doctor Madew Master of Clare-hall for being Married In like manner some of the Popish party in King's Colledge on the 28th of the same moneth officiated the Divine Service in the Latin Tongue At Oxford John Jewel was chosen to pen the first gratulatory Letter to the Queen in the name of the University an Office imposed on him by his Enemies Doctor Tresham a Van-eurrier before authority repaired the great Bell in Christ-church and named it Mary Harley Bishop of Hereford and Taylor of Lincoln two of the last of King Edward's Bishops were present at the opening of the Parliament Octob. 10. But no sooner was the Mass begun though not then restored by any Law than they left the Church For which the Bishop of Lincoln being first examined and making profession of his Faith prevented the malice of his enemies by a timely Death And Harley upon information of his Marriage was presently excluded from the Parliament-house and not long after from his Bishoprick also Hereupon Bishop Barlow of Wells and Scory of Chichester passed beyond the Seas followed not long after by Bishop Poinet of Winchester On November 3. Archbishop Cranmer was arraigned at the Guild-hall in London with the Lord Guilford Dudley the late Queen Jane his Wife and others all of them being attainted and condemned of Treason After Peter Martyr had quit the Realm his Wive's Body having been buried in the Church of St. Frideswid was afterward by publick order taken out of the Grave and buried in a common dunghill John a Lasco was forced to dissolve his Congregation and He with his Strangers to quit the Countrey The like hast made the French Protestants also At which time many of the English as well Students as others deparâ—ed also The principal of those were Katherine the last Wife of Charles Brandon Duke of Suffolk Robert Berty Esq Husband to the Dutchess the Bishops of Winchester and Wells as before was said Sir Richard Morison Sir Anthany Cook and Sir John Cheek Doctor Cox Doctor Sands and Doctor Grindal The News of Queen Maries succeeding her Brother to the Crown of England posted to Rome and was very welcome to Pope Julius the Third because it gave him some assurance of his re-admission into the Power and Jurisdiction of his Predecessors in the Realm of England in pursuance of which hopes it was resolved that Cardinal Pool should be sent Legate into England who being of the Blood-royl and a man of eminent Learning and of exemplary life was looked on as the fittest Instrument to reduce that Kingdom The Parliaments first Act was to take away all Statutes passed by the two last Kings wherein certain Offences had been made High Treason and others brought within the compass of a Pramunire This was done especially for Pool's security that neither He by exercising his authority nor the Clergy by submitting to it might be entangled in the like snares as Cardinal Wolsey and the whole Clergy of his time had before been caught Then an Act was passed for repealing certain Statutes of King Edward thereby they took away all former Statutes for administring the Sacraments in both kinds for establishing the first and second Liturgy c. In a word by this one blow the Queen cut down all that had been done in the Reformation in seven years before And then for want of Canonical Ordination on the one side and under colour of Uncanonical Marriages on the other there was presently such a remove among the Bishops and Clergy as it is not any where to be paralelled in so short a time An Act was passed likewise Entitled An Act against offenders of Preachers c which two Acts were seconded by the Queen with two Proclamations December 5. By one of which it was declared that all Statutes made in the time of the late King Edward which concerned Religion were repealed by Parliament and therefore that the Mass should be said as formerly to begin on the twentieth of that moneth And by the other it was commanded that no person should dare from thenceforth to disturb any Priests in saying Mass or executing any other Divine Office Accordingly the Mass was publickly officiated in all parts of the Kingdom and so continued during the Reign of the Queen without interruption Another Act was passed wherein it was Enacted That the Marriage between King Henry the Eighth and Queen Katherine his first Wife was lawful and to stand with God's Laws and his Holy Word c. That the Decree of Divorce heretofore passed between the said King Henry and the said Queen by Thomas Cranmer Archbishop of Canterbury should be reputed to be void and null with a Repeal of all such Statutes wherein the Queen had been diclared to be Illegitimaâ—e There also past another Act in which there was a clause for the invalidating of all such Commissions as had been granted in the time of the late Queen Jane and one in confirming the Attainders of the late Duke of Northumberland Thomas Archbishop of Canterbury c. Together with this Parliament the Queen summoned a Convocation that all matters of Religion might first be debated and concluded in a Synodical way before they were offered to the Parliament In the Writs of which Summons she retained the Title of Supreme Head on Heylin Hist of Q. Mary Earth of the Church of England c. the want whereof in those of the present Parliament occasioned dispute among some of the Members Whether they might lawfully proceed or not in such publick business as were to be propounded to them in that Session The Presidentship of the Convocetion was transferred upon Bishop Bonner priviledged in respect of his See to preside in all such Provincial Synods which were either held during the vacancy of the See of Canterbury or in the necessary absence of the Metropolitan The lower House of the Clergy also was fitted with a Prolocutor of the same affections Doctor Hugh Weston Dean of Westminster in the place of Doctor Cox So partially had the elections been returned from the several Diocesses that we find none of King Edward's Clergy among the Clerks and but six of the Deans and Dignitaries to have suffrage in the Convocation viz. James Haddon Dean of Exeter Walter Philips Dean of Rochester John Philpot Archdeacon of Winchester John Elmer Archdeacon of Stow in the Diocess of Lincoln Richard Cheiney Archdeacon of Hereford one more mentioned by Mr. Fox
midst thereof Which last remained there for some years The antient Ceremonies customably observed by the Knights of the Garrer in their Adoration toward the Altar were by this Queen retained aâ— formerly in her Father's time The solemn Sermons Preached upon each Wednesday Friday and Lords-day in the time of Lent Preached by the choycest of the Clergy she devoutly heard attired in black according to the custom of her Predecessors The Bishoprick of Carlile was first profered to Bernard Gilpin Rector â—uller Church History of Britain of Houghton in the North but Mr. Gilpin refused the offer not that he had any disaffection to the Office but because he had so much kinred about Carlile at whom He must either connive in many things not without hurt to himself or else deny them not without offence to them It was afterward given to Dr. John Best as was shewed before As for Miles Coverdale formerly Bishop of Exeter he hever returned to his See but remained a private Minister to the day of his death Such of the Scots as desired a Reformation of Religion taking advantage by the Queen's abscence and want of power in the Queen Regent to suppress their practices had put themselves into a Body Headed by some of the Nobility they take unto themselves the name of the Congregation managing their own Affairs apart from the rest of the Kingdom They petition the Queen Regent and the Lords of the Council that the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper might be administred in both kinds That divine Offices might be celebrated in the vulgar Tongue and that they might have the choice of their own Ministers The chief of the party well backed by the common people put themselves into Perth the news whereof occasioneth Mr. Knox to leave Geneva and joyn himself to the Lords of the Congregation At Perth he Preacheth against Images Idolatry and other Superstitions of the Church of Rome so bitterly that the people in a popular fury deface all the Images in that Church and presently demolish all Religious Houses in that City Those of Couper hearing of it forthwith destroyed all Images and pulled down the Altars in that Church also The like was done after his Preaching at Craile and St. Andrews in those places They burnt down the rich Monastery of Scone and ruined that of Cambuskenneth demolished all the Altars Images and Covents of Religious persons in Sterling Lithgow Glascough Edenburgh which last they possess and put up their own Preachers into all the Pulpits of that City not suffering the Queen Regent to have the use of one Church onely for her own devotions They alse deprive the Queen Regent of all place and power in the publick Government But she gathering Forces recovereth Edenborough and the chief key of all that Kingdom garisoned by the French In their extremity Maitland and Melvin being dispatched to the Court of England imploring aid from Queen Elizabeth And an Army is sent into Scotland of six thousand Foot and three thousand Horse commanded by the Lord Gray Some Ships were also sent to block up the haven and hinder all Relief which might come by Sea to the Town of Leith At length after divers Articles signed and confirmed for both Kingdoms the French take their leave of Scotland and the English Army was disbanded at Berwick As the Congregation was by the Queen put upon a present confidence of going vigorously on in their Reformation so it concern'd them to proceed so carefully in pursuance of it as might comply with the dependance which they had upon her First Therefore they bound themselves by their subscription to embrace the Liturgy with all the Rites of the Church of England which for a time remained the onely form of Worship for the Kirk of Scotland In the next place They cause a Parliament to be called in the moneth of August for the Boroughs there appeared the accustomed number but of the Lords Spiritual no more than six Bishops of thirteen with thirteen Abbots and Priors and the Temporal Lords to the number of ten Earls and as many Barons Three Acts were passed to the advantage of the Reformation The first was for the abolishing the Pope's Jurisdiction and Authority within the Realm The second for annulling all Statutes made in former times for maintenance of Idolatry and Superstition The third for the punishing the Sayers and Hearers of the Mass To this Parliament also some of the Ministers presented a Confession of the Faith and Doctrine to be believed and professed by the Protestants of the Kirk of Scotland which being put to the Vote was opposed but by three of the Temporal Lords The Popish Prelates were silent in it which being observed by the Earl Marshal he broke out into these words Seeing saith He that my Lords the Bishops who by their Learning can and for the zeal they should have to the Truth ought as I suppose to gainsay any thing repugnant to it say nothing against the Confession we have heard I cannot think but that it is the very Truth of God and that the contrary of it is false Doctrine The Queen was now as active in advancing the Reformed Religion in Ireland as she had been in either of the other Kingdoms A Parliament is therefore held on January 12. where past an Act restoring to the Crown the antient Jurisdiction over all Ecclesiastical and Spiritual Persons By which Statute were established both the Oath of Supremacy and the High Commission as before in England There past also an Act for the Uniformity of Common-Prayer c. with a permission Heyliâ—'s Hist of Q. Elizab. for saying the same in Latin in those Churches where the Minister had not the knowledge of the English Tongue The people by that Statute are required under several penalties to frequent their Churches and to be frequent at the reading the English Liturgy which they understand as little as the Mass by which means the Irish were kept in ignorance as to the Doctrines and Devotions of the Church of England There also past another Statute for restoring to the Crown the first-fruits and twenty parts of all Ecclesiastical promotions within that Realm as also of all Impropriate Parsonages The like Act passed for restoring all such Lands belonging to the Knights of St. John of Jerusalem An Act was also past for the recognition of the Queen 's just Title to the Crown as before in England The Queen left the prosecution of the work to her Bishops and Clergy But they so dissipated the Revenues of their several Bishopricks by long Leases Fee-farmes and plain Alienations that to some of their Sees they left no more than a Rent of five Marks per annum to others a bare yearly Rent of forty shillings to the great dishonour of God disservice of the Church and the perpetual Ignominy of themselves Now Return we again to England where we find Reverend Jewel newly consecrated Bishop of Salisbury to have Preached a Sermon at
Paul's Cross on 1 Cor. 11. 23. That which I delivered to you I received of the Lord c. on March 30. 1560. There he published that memorable Challenge which so much exercised the Pens and Studies of the Romish Clergy Bishop Jewel's Chalenge If any Learned man of our Adversaries or all the Learned men that be alive be able to bring any one sufficient sentence out of any old Catholick Doctor or Father or General Council or Holy Scripture or any one Example in the Primitive Church whereby it may be clearly and plainly proved during the first six hundred years I. That there was at that time any private Mass in the World II. Or that there was then any Communion ministred unto the people in one kind III. Or that the People had their Common-Prayer in a strange Tongue IV. Or that the Bishop of Rome was then called the Head of the Vniversal Church V. Or that the People were then taught to believe that Christ's Body is really Substantially Carnally Corporally or Naturally in the Sacrament VI. Or that his Body is or may be in a thousand places or more at one time VII Or that the Priest did then hold up the Sacrament over his head VIII Or that the People did then fall down and Worship it with godly honour IX Or that the Sacrament was then and now ought to be hanged up under a Canopy X. Or that in the Sacrament after the words of Consecration there remained onely the accidents and shews without the substance of Bread and Wine XI Or that then the Priests divided the Sacrament into three parts and afterwards received Himself all alone XII Or that whosoever had said the Sacrament is a Figure a Pledge a Taken or a Remembrance of Christ's Body had therefore been judged for an Heretick XIII Or that it was lawful then to have thirty twenty c. Masses said in one day XIV Or that Images were then set up in the Churches to the intent the people should worship them XV. Or that the Lay-people were then forbid to read the Word of God in their own Tongue XVI Or that it was then lawful for the Priest to pronounce the words of Consecration closely or in private to Himself XVII Or that the Priest had then authority to offer up Christ unto his Father XVIII Or to receive the Sacrament for another as they do XIX Or to apply the vertue of Christ's death to any man by the means of the Mass XX. Or that it was then thought a sound Doctrine to teach the People that Mass Exopere operato is able to remove any part of our sin XXI Or that any Christian man called the Sacrament of the Lord his God XXII Or that the People were then taught to believe that the Body of Christ remaineth in the Sacrament as long as the Accidents of Bread and Wine remain there without corruption XXIII Or that a Mouse or any other Worm or Beast may eat the Body of Christ. XXIV Or that when Christ said Hoc est corpus meum the word Hoc pointed not the Bread but Individuum Vagum as some of them say XXV Or that the Accidents Formes or Shews of Bread and Wine be the Sacrament of Christ's Body and Blood and not rather the very Bread and Wine it self XXVI Or that the Sacrament is a Token or sign of the Body of Christ that lieth underneath it XXVII Or that Ignorance is the Mother and Cause of true devotion The Conclusion is That then I shall be content to yield and subscribe This Chalenge being published in so great an Auditory startled the English Papists both at home and abroad The business was first agitated by the exchange of friendly Letters betwixt Bishop Jewel and Dr. Henry Cole the late Dean of St. Pauls more violently followed in a Book of Rastals followed therein by Dorman and Marshal Dorman was well answered and foiled by Nowel and the other by Calfhil But the main encounter was between the Chalenger himself and Dr. John Harding who had the better of the day will easily appear to any that consults their Writings But these Discourses came not out till some years after Pope Paul the Fourth dying Pope Pius the Fourth succeedeth him who being moved to Excommunicate Queen Elizabeth by the Count of Feria takes a more moderate course by sending Vincent Parpalia Abbot of St. Saviour's with courteous Letters unto her Parpalia was instructed to offer in the Name of the Pope That the English Liturgy should be confirmed the use of the Communion in both kinds allowed of And that all sentences passed in the Court of Rome against her Mother should be rescinded upon condition she would own the Pope's Primacy and cordially unite her self to the Catholick Church yea some thousands of Crowns but all in vain were promised to the effecters thereof But for all this the Abbot came no nearer than Bruxels with his Bulls and Faculties not being suffered to set Foot on English ground Now another Enemy quarrels at the Rites and Extrinsecals of the Church Those that for Religion fled to Frankford in Queen Marie's days after her death hastened into England followed not long after by the Brethren of the Separation which retired from thence unto Geneva Some Friends they had about the Queen and Calvin make 's use of all his power and credit both with the Queen and Cecil as appears by his Letters unto both to advance their ends And he was seconded therein by Peter Martyr But the Queen resolved to keep up the Church in such outward splendor as might make it every way considerable in the eye of the World when therefore they saw the Liturgy imposed by Act of Parliament and so many Episcopal Sees supplied with able Pastors they began to revive the quarrels raised in King Edward's time about Caps and Surplices c. saith Dr. Heylin And herein they were seconded as before in King Edward's time by the same Peter Martyr as appears by his Letters to a nameless friend bearing date at Zurich November 5. 1560. to which he added his dislike in another of his Letters touching the Cap the Episcopal Habit the Churche's Patrimony the manner of proceeding to be held against Papists the Perambulation used in the Rogation week c. in which his judgement was desired But these helps being too far off another project was set on foot Gryndal the new Bishop of London was known to have a great respect to Calvin the business therefore is so ordered that by Calvin's Letters to Gryndal and the friends they had about the Queen way should be given to such of the French Nation as had repaired hither to enjoy the freedom of their own Religion to have a Church unto themselves and in that Church not onely to erect the Genevian Discipline but to set up a Form of Prayer saith Dr. Heylin which should hold no conformity with the English Liturgy This was effected And now there is another Church in London as
excluded out of England by consent of Parliament The greatest obstacle to the Nuncio's coming was partly laid by the indiscretion of some Papists in England and partly by the precipitancy of the Pope's Ministers in Ireland for sundry ill-disposed persons upon the noise of the Nuncio's coming not onely brake the Laws made against the Pope and his Authority but spread abroad slaunderous reports that the Queen was at the point to change her Religion and alter the government of the Realm Some also had practised with the Devil by Conjurations Charms and casting of Figures to be informed in the length of her Majesties Reign And on the other side the Pope's Legate being at the same time in Ireland joyned himself to some desperate Traitors who stirred up rebellion there and as much as in him was had deprived the Queen of all Right and Title to that Kingdom Upon which grounds it was carried clearly at the Council-boord against the Nuncio notwithstanding the Intercession of the French the Spaniard or the Duke of Alva Yet notwithstanding the Emperor Ferdinand sends to perswade the Queen to return to the old Religion at least that she would set apart some Churches to the use of the Catholicks To whom she answered That she had setled her Religion on so sure a Bottom that she could not easily be changed And for granting Churches to the Papists it did not consist with the Polity and good Laws of the Land Then divers abuses arising in the Church Archbishop Parker found it necessary to have recourse unto the power which was given to him by the Queen's Commission and by a clause of the Act of Parliament For the Vniformity of Common-Prayer and service in the Church c. As one of the Commissioners for causes Ecclesiastical he was authorized with the rest of his Associates To reform redress order correct and amend all such Errors Heresies Schismes Abuses Offences Contempts and Enormities whatsoever as might from time to time arise in the Church of England And in the passage of the Act forementioned it was provided That all such Ornaments of the Church and the Ministers thereof should be retained as were in the Church of England by Authority of Parliament in the second year of King Edward the Sixth untill further order should be taken therein from the Queen's Majesty c. And also if there shall happen any contempt or irreverence to be used in the Rites of the Church by the misusing of the Orders of the said Book of Common-Prayer the Queen might by the advise of the Commissioners or Metropolitan ordain or publish such further Ceremonies or Rites as should be most for the advance of God's glory the edifying the Church c. Hereupon the Archbishop by the Queen's consent and the advice of some of the Bishops sets forth a certain Book of Orders to be diligently observed and executed by all persons whom it might concern In which it was provided That no Parson Vicar or Curate of any Heylin Hist of Q. Elizab. An. Reg. 3. exempt Church should from thenceforth attempt to conjoyn by solemnization of Matrimony any not being of his or their Parish-church without good Testimony of the Bains being ask'd in the several Churches where they dwell or otherwise were sufficiently Licensed That no other days should be observed as Holy-days and Fasting-days but onely such as be expressed in the Calendar lately set forth by the Queen's Authority That neither the Curates or Parents of Children which are brought to Baptism should answer for them at the Font but that the antient use of Godfathers and Godmothers should still be retained and that in all such Churches in which the steps to the Altar were not taken down the said steps should remain as before they did That the Communion-Table should be set in the said place where the steps then were or had formerly stood and that the Table of the Decalogue should be fixed upon the wall over the said Communion-Table This year the Merchants Tailors School in London was founded first by the Master Wardens and Assistants of the Company of Merchants Tailors whence it had the name and by them founded for a Seminary to St. John's in Oxford built and endowed at the sole costs of one of their Livery But of a far more private nature was the Foundation of another Grammar School in the Town of Sandwich built at the charge of Sir Roger Manwood and endowed with forty pound per annum The Council of Trent being now opened it was said in that Council that iâ— was good to let the Protestants alone and not name them alledging the danger of moving ill humors in a Body which was then quiet To give a safe conduct to the English-men which neither They nor any of them did require were a great indignity They were content it should be given to the Scots because their Queen would demand it but so as that the demand should first be made But the English Protestant Bishops would not venture themselves into that Council on such weak assurance considering how ill the safe conduct had been formerly kept to John Hus and Jerom of Prague at the Council of Constance And the Queen kept the Papal party safe from gadding thither Then Scipio a Venetian Gentleman formerly acquainted with Master Jewel whil'st he was a Student at Padua wrote now an expostulating Letter unto him being lately made Bishop of Sarisbury in which he much admireth that England should send no Ambassador nor Letter nor Message to excuse their Nation 's absence from the General Appearance of Christianity in that Council c. Bishop Jewel returned him such an Answer that neither Scipio himself nor any other of that party durst reply upon him The Answer is to be found at large at the end of the History of this Council Translated by Sir Nathanael Brent At this time it was advised by Lewis Prince of Conde the Cardinal Chastilion and other principal leaders of the Protestant party in France that they should put themselves under the protection of the Queen of England who had not long before so seasonably relieved the Scots in the like distress The Queen had been secretly advertised of all passages there by Sir Nicholas Throgmorton her Majestie 's Resident in that Kingdom It being agreed on between them that the Queen should supply the Prince of Conde and his Associates with a sufficient quantity of Money Corn and Ammunition for the service of the French King against the practices of the House of Guise and that the Town of New-haven should be put into her Majestie 's hands to be garrisoned by English Souldiers Immediately a manifest was published in the name of the Queen wherein was declared that she had observed how the Guisian Faction in the names of the Queen-Mother of France and the young King had endeavoured to root out the Professors of the Reformed Religion and what massacres had been made at Vassey Paris Sene Tholouse Bloys Touers Angier
and other places that there were thought to be Butchered no less than an hundred thousand of the natural Franch between the first of March and the twentieth of August then last past that with the like violence they had caused to be spoiled and imprisoned such of her Majestie 's Subjects as Traded in the Ports of Bretaign and such as sought to preserve themselves to be killed their goods and Merchandize to be seized without charging any other crime upon them but that they were Hugonots and that in consideration of the premises she could do no less than endeavour the preserving the Reformed Religion from an universal destruction and the maintaining her own Subjects and Dominions in peace and safety The ayd amounting to six thousand men was divided into two equal parts of which the one was destined to the defence of Roven and Deep then being in the hands of the Confederates the other to take possession of the Town of New-haven which by the Inhabitants was joyfully surrendred to the English The Lord Ambrose Dudley the eldest Son then living of the late Duke of Northumberland she sent to command that place whom on Decemb. 26. She had created Lord Lisle and Earl of Warwick where he was solemnly received with a peal of Ordnance A petit Rebellion hapned in Merton-colledge in Oxford The Wardenship of that house being voyd by the death of Gervase one Man is chosen to the place one Hall and his Popish faction opposed his admission and raised such a persecution that it was poenal for any to be a Protestant Archbishop Parker hearing of it summoneth Hall to appear before him but the seal of the citation was torn off by some of that party Hereupon the Archbishop made a solemn visitation of that Colledge wherein all were generally examined Man confirmed Warden Hall justly expelled his party publickly admonished the young Scholars relieved Papists curbed and suppressed Protestants countenanced and encouraged in the whole University Now many strange whispers were abroad and no small hopes conceived by those of the Popish faction for suppressing the Protestants in all parts of the Kingdom and setting up their own Religion as in former times of the plot were Arthur Pool younger brother to Reginald Pool the late Cardinal Legate and Geoffry Fortescue who had married his sister and others The substance of their charge was a design of levying War against the Queen c. with a particular intention of advancing the Queen of Scots to the Crown of England and Pool himself unto the Title of Duke of Clarence All which they Confessed upon the Indictment and did all receive the sentence of death but were all afterwards pardoned by the Queen out of that great respect which she bare to their Royal Extraction Then was that elegant discourse published by Bishop Jewel Entitled The Apology of the Church of England first writ in Latine translated presently into English French Italian Dutch and at last in Greek to the publishing whereof he was much encouraged by Peter Martyr with whom he had spent the greatest part of his time when he lived in exile But Martyr lived onely to see the Book which he so much longed for dying at Zurich on the twelfth of November following and laid into his grave by the Magistrates and people of that City with a solemn funeral The five Bishopricks erected by King Henry the eighth were so impoverished in this Queen's Reign that the new Bishops were necessitated to require the benevolence of their Clergy at their first coming to them to furnish their Episcopal houses and to enable them to maintain some tolerable degree of Hospitality in their several Diocesses The Parliament called January 12. 1562. passed an Act for Assurance of the Queen 's Royal power over all Estates and Subjects in her Dominions In which it was provided That no man Residing in the Queen's Dominions should from thence-forth either by-word or writing c. endeavour willingly to maintain the power and jurisdiction of the Bishop of Rome heretofore usurped within this Realm It was also enacted that none should be admitted unto Holy Orders or to any Degree in either of the Universities or to be Barrester or Bencher in any of the Inns of Court or to Practise as an Attourney c till He or They should first take the Oath of Supremacy on the Holy Evangelists with a power given to every Archbishop and Bishop within this Realm and the Dominions of the same to Minister the said Oath to all and every Spiritual Person in their proper Diocesses as well in places exempt as els-where It had been declared by the Bishops and Clergy assembled at the same time in their Convocation To be a thing plainly repugnant to the word of God and the Custom of the Primitive Church to have publick Prayer in the Church or to administer the Sacraments in a Tongue not understood by the People therefore it was Enacted That the Bishops of Hereford S. David's Bangor Landaff and S. Asaph should take care for Translating the whole Bible with the Common-prayer-book into the Welch Tongue The like care was also taken for Translating the Books of Homilies Then were the Nine and thirty Articles composed in the Convocation The 39. Articles compiled in Convocation at London published soon after both in English and Latine with this following Title viz. Articles agreed upon by the Archishops and Bishops of both Provinces and the whole Clergy in the Convocation holden at London Anno 1562. for the avoyding of Diversities of opinions and establishing consent touching true Religion These Articles came forth much about the time that the Decrees of the Council of Trent were published Many of which Decrees begin with lying and all end with Cursing threatening Anathema's to all dissenters Anno 1571. the Parliament confirmed these Articles so far that every Clerk should before Decemb. 25. next following subscribe the same And hereafter every person promoted to an Eâ—clesiastical living should within a time prefixed in the time of Divine Service publickly read and profess his consent to the same on pain of deprivation ipso facto if omitted This subscription was extended only to men of Ecclesiastical Function After the return of the Queen of Scots out of France into Scotland Besides the Ratifying the Act of Oblivion formerly condescended to in the Treaty at Edenburgh there were also past some other Acts viz. one Act for repairing and upholding Parish Churches and the Church-yards of the same for burial of the dead Another against letting Parsonages Gleabes or Houses into long Leases or Fee But on the other side no safety or Protection could be found for the Queen 's own Religion no not so much as the Chappel Royal or the Regal City In contempt whereof a force was violently committed in the moneth of August in the Chappel of the Palace of Holy-rood house where certain of the Queen's servants were assembled for their own devotions the doors broke open some of
and her Boxes searched Fourteen of the Conspirators were Arraigned Condemned of High-treason and executed Afterwards in the Star-chamber sentence was pronounced against the Queen of Scots And in a Parliament presently following the Lords petition the Queen that the sentence passed against her may presently be promulged The King of Scots and the King of France sollicit for her life But when this would not prevail L' Aubespine the French Ambassador thinks no way so effectual for saving the Queen of Scots life as to take away the life of Queen Elizabeth The plot was discovered And at length the Sentence against the Queen of Scots was put in execution and she ended her doleful life at Fothringhay Castle She was buried in the Quire of Peterborough and Doctor Wickham Bishop of Lincoln Preached her Funeral-sermon Some twenty yaars after King James caused her Corps to be solemnly removed from Poterborough to Westminster where in the South-side of the Chappel of King Henry the Seventh he erected a stately Monument to her Memory The Earl of Leicester having raised great offence is called home again into England by the Queen giveth over his Government and the free Administration of his Government is left to the States Now Conformity was pressed to the height The power of the High Fuller Church Hist in An. 1537. Commission began to extend far and penalties to fall heavy on offenders whereupon the favourers of Non-conformists much opposed it in their Printed Books some questioning the Court as not warranted by Law others taxing their proceedings as exceeding their Commission But the most general exception against the High Commission was this That proceeding Ex Officio mero by way of enquiry against such whom they suspected they tendred unto them an Oath which was conceived unjust that in cases criminal a party should be forced to discover what might be penal to himself The lawfulness of which Oath was learnedly canvassed with arguments on both sides Because many did question the Legalâ—ty and Authority of the High Commission Archbishop Whitgift so contrived the matter that the most sturdy Non-conformists especially if they had any visible Estates were brought into the Star-chamber the power whereof was above dispute where some of them besides imprisonment had very heavy fines imposed on them And because most of the Queens Council were present at the Censures this took off the odium from the Archbishop This year died Mr. John Fox the Industrious compiler of the Acts and Monuments of the Church and was buried at St. Giles near Cripplegate in London It is said he foretold the destruction of the Invincible so called Spanish Armado in the year 1588. which came so to pass though he survived not to see the performance of his own prediction About this time Mr. William Lambert finished his Hospital at Greenwich Camd Brit. in Kent founded and endowed by him for poor people He was the first Protestant who erected a charitable house of that nature saith Camden But King Edward the Sixth â—ounded Christ-church and St. Thomas Hospital Now the sticklers against the Hierarchy appeared more vigorous though for a time they had concealed themselves The Parliament now sitting aâ— Westminster the House of Commons presented to the Lords a petition complaining how many Parishes especially in the North of England and Wales were destitute of Preachers and no care taken to supply them Sixteen were the particulars whereof the six first were against insufficient Ministers Of all the particulars the House fell most fiercely on the debate of pluralities and Non-residents The Arch-bishop pleads for Non-residency in divers cases He affirmed whatever was pretended to the contrary that England then flourished with able Ministers more than ever before yea had more than all Christendom besides The Lord Grey rejoyned to this Assertion saying That England had more able Ministers than all the Churches in Christendom was onely to be attributed to God who now opened the hearts of many to see into the truth and that the Schools were better observed The Lord Treasurer seemed to moderate betwixt them Matters flying thus high the Archbishop with the rest of the Clergy Petition the Queen To the Petition were annexed a Catalogue of those inconveniences to the State present State to come Cathedral Churches Universities to her Majesty to Religion in case pluralities were taken away Nothing was effected in relation to this matter but things left in statu quo prius at the dissolution of this Parliament This year died Richard Barnes Bishop of Durham In the year 1588. when there was a Treaty of Peace between England and Spain out cometh their Invincible Navy and Army perfectly appointed for both Elements Land and Water to Sayl and March compleat in all Warlike Equipage but that great Fleet was wonderfully defeated by the English and dissipated by stormy Winds and many of the Spaniards were Barbarously butchered by the Irish For the happy success of this action Queen Elizabeth appointed Prayers and Thanksgivings over all the Churches in England and she with a great Train of the Nobility came into St. Pauls Church where the Banners taken from the Enemy were placed in view and there in most humble manner gave thanks to Almighty God the giver of all Victory About this time many Papists were committed to custody in Wisbych Castle At this time many Libels flew abroad thus named 1. The Epitome 2. The Demonstration of Discipline 3. The Supplication 4. Diotrephes 5. The Minerals 6. Have ye any work for the Cooper 7. More work for the Cooper 8. Martin Senior Mar-prelate 9. Martin Junior Mar-prelate The main drift of these Pamphlets was to defame the English Prelates scoffing at them for their Garb Gate Apparel Vanities of their Youth natural Defects and personal Infirmities It is strange how secretly they were Printed how speedily Dispersed how generally Bought how greedily Read how firmly Believed especially of the Common sort Some precise men of that side thought these jeering pens well employed but these Books were disclaimed by the more descreet and devoutsort of men And how highly the State distasted these Books will appear by the heavy censures inflicted on such as were but accessary thereunto To pass by John Vdal and John Penry Ministers accused for making some of them together with the Printers and Humfry Newman a Cobler chief disperser of them The Star-chamber deeply fined Sir Richard Knightly and Sir 〈…〉 Wigston for entertaining and receiving the press Gentlemen But upon their submission they had their liberty and were eased of their fines A Synod of the Presbyterians of the Warwick-shire Classis was called at Covâ—ntry wherein the questions brought the last year from the Brethren of Cambridge-Synod were thus resolved I. That private Baptism was unlawful Ep. â—â—â—croâ—t's Book called Englands Scoâ—izing for Discipline by practice II. That it is not lawful to read Hâ—miles in the Church III. That the sign of the cross is not to be used in Baptism IV.
the words Jesus said be Printed in a different Character Mr. Knewstubs took exceptions at the Cross in baptism and said it is questionable whether the Church hath power to institute an outward significant sign The Bishop of London answered The Cross in Baptism is not used otherwise than a Ceremony His Majesty desired to be acquainted about the Antiquity of the use of Cross Dr. Rainolds said it hath been used ever since the Apostles time but the question is how Ancient the use thereof hath been in Baptism The Bishop of Winchester said in Constantine's time it was used in Baptism His Majesty replied it so I see no reason but we may continue it Mr. Knewstubs said put case the Church may add significant signs it may not add them where Christ hath already ordained them which is as Derogatory to Christ's Institution as if one should add to the great Seal of England His Majesty answered the case is not alike seeing the Sacrament is fully finished before the use of the Cross Mr. Knewstubs demanded then how far the Ordinance of the Church bindeth without impeaching Christian Liberty The King answered I will have one Doctrine one Discipline one Religion in substance and in Ceremony Never speak more to that point how far ye are bound to obey Doctor Rainolds wished that the Cross being Superstitiously abused in Popery were abandoned as the Brazen-serpent was stamped to powder by Hezekiah because abused to Idolatry His Majesty answered Inasmuch as the Cross was abused to Superstition in time of Propery it doth plainly imply that it was well used before He said he detested their courses who peremptorily disallow of all things which have been abused in Popery and know not how to answer the Objections of the Papists when they charge us with Novelties but by telling them we retain the Primitive use of things and onely forsake their Novel corruptions Secondly no resemblance between the Brazen-Serpent a material visible thing and the sign of the Cross made in the Air. Thirdly Papists did never ascribe any spiritual grace to the Cross in Baptism Lastly material Crosses to which people fell down in time of Popery as the Idolatrous Jews to the Brazen-serpent are already demolished as you desire Mr. Knewstubs proceeded excepting at the wearing of the Surplice a kind of garment said he used by the Priests of Isis His Majesty answered he did not think till of late it had been borrowed from the Heathen because commonly called a Rag of Popery And seeing we border not upon Heathens c. I see no reason said he but for comeliness sake it may be continued Dr. Rainolds said I take exception at these words in Marriage With my body I thee worship His Majesty answered I find it an usual English Term A Gentleman of Worship and it agreeth with the Scriptures Giving honour to the wife The Dean of Sarum said some take exception at the Ring in Marriage Dr. Rainolds said he approved it well enough Then said he some take exceptions at the Churching of women by the name of Purification His Majesty said I allow it very well Unto Doctor Rainolds his last exception against committing Ecclesiastical censures to Lay-chancellors His Majesty answered that he had conferred with the Bishops about that point and such order should be taken therein as was Convenient Doctor Rainolds desired That according to certain Provinâ—ial Constituions the Clergy may have meetings every three weeks 1. In Rural Deaneries therein to have prophecying as Archbishop Grindal and other Bishops desired of her late Majesty 2. That such things as could not be resolved on there might be referred to the Archdeacons Visitations 3. And so to the Episcopal Synod to determine such points before not decided His Majesty answered If you aim at a Scottish Presbytery it agreeth as well with Monarchy as God and the Devil Then Jack and Tom c. shall meet and censure me and my Council Then the King asked the Doctor whether they had any thing else to say He answered No more if it please your Majesty If this be all your party have to say said the King I will make them conform or else I will harry them out of the Land or do worse Thus ended the second dayes Conference The third began on the Wednesday following many Knights Civilians and Doctors of the Law being admitted thereunto because the High-commission was the principal matter in debate His Majesty thus began I understand that the parties named in the High-commission are too many and too mean and the matters they deal with base such as Ordinaries might censure in their Courts at home Archbishop of Canterbury Were not their number many I should oftentimes sit alone I have often complained of the meanness of matters handled therein but cannot remedy it for though the offence be small that the Ordinary may yet the Offender oft-times is so great that the Ordinary is forced to crave help at the High-commission to punish him A nameless Lord said The proceedings in that Court are like the Spanish Inquisition wherein men are urged to subscribe more than Law requireth and by the Oath Ex officio forced to accuse themselves being examined upon many Articles on a sudden and for the most part against themselves The Lord Chancellor said There is necessity and use of the Oath Ex officio in divers Courts and Causes His Majesty said That it is requisite that fame and scandals be looked unto in Courts Ecclesiastical and yet great moderation is to be used therein And here he soundly deseribed the Oath Ex officio for the ground thereof the wisdom of the Law therein the manner of proceeding thereby and profitable effect from the same After much discourse between the King the Bishops and the Lords about the quality of the Persons and Causes in the High Commission rectifying Excommunications in matters of less moment punishing Recusants providing Divines for Ireland Wales and the Northern borders the four Preachers were called in and such alterations in the Liturgy were read unto them which the Bishops by the King's advice had made unto which by their silence they seemed to consent Then the King said to Doctor Rainolds and his Associates I expect obedience and humility from you the marks of honest and good men and that you would perswade others abroad by your example Doctor Rainolds answered We here do promise to perform â—ll duties to Bishops as Reverend Fathers and to joyn with them against the common Adversary for the peacâ— of the Church Thus ended the three dayeâ— Conference Doctor Sparks soon after set forth a Treatise of Unity and Uniformity This Conference produced some alterations in the Liturgy Womens baptising formerly frequent hereafter forbidden in the Rubrick of Absolution Remission of sins inserted Confirmation termed also an Examination of Children and some words altered in the Dominical Gospels with a resolution for a new translation of the Bible Henceforward many that wavered before for the future
Letters which they sent to King James written in Latin With whicâ— Letters they came over into England and presenâ—ed themselves to the King at Court where after courteous entertaining of them he favourably dismissed them Removing Bishop Câ—rleton to Chichester preferring Dr. Davenant to the Bishopriâ—k of Salisbury and bestowing the Mastership of the Savay upon Balâ—anqual The decisions of this Synod have been since approved applauded Joh. Goodwin in his Redemption Redeemed c. 15. parag 24. magnified by some vilified condemned by others Of such as dislike the Synod none falls heavier upon it than Mr. John Goodwin charging the Synodians to have taken a previous Oath to condemn the opposite party on what termes soever Mr. Fuller desirous to be rightly informed herein wrote a Letter to Bishop Hall who was pleased to return him this answer Whereas you desire from me a just relation of the carriage of the business of the Synod of Dort and the conditions required of our Divines there at or before their Admission to that Grave and Learned Assembly I whom God was pleased to employ as an unworthy Agent in that great work and to reserve still upon Earth after all my Reverend and Worthy Associates do as in the presence of that God to whom I am now daily expecting to yield up my account testifie to you and if you will to the World that I cannot without just indignation read that slaunderous Imputation which Mr Goodwin in his Redemption Redeemed reports to have been raised and cast upon those Divines eminent both for Learning and Piety That they suffered themselves to be bound with an Oath at or before their Admission into that Synod to vote down the Remonstrants howsoever so as they came deeply preingaged to the decision of those unhappy differences All the Oath that was required of us was this After that the Moderator Assistents and Scribes were chosen and the Synod formed and the several members allowed there was a solemn Oath required to be taken by every oâ—e of that Assembly which was publickly done in a grave manner by every person in their order standing up and laying his Hand upon his heart calling the great God of Heaven to witness that he would uâ—partially proceed in the judgement of these Controversies which should be laid before him onely out of and according to the written Word of God and no otherwise so determining of them as he should find in his Conscience most agreeable to the holy Scriptures Which Oaâ—h was punctually agreed to be thus taken by the Articles of the States concerning the Indiction and ordering of the Synod as plainly appeareth in their tenth Article and this was all the Oath that was either taken or required c. The same year died Dr. James Mountague the worthy Bishop of Winchester son to Sir Edward Mountague of Boughton in Northamptonshire highly favoured by King James preferring him to the Bishopriâ—k first of Bath and Wells then to Wincâ—ester In Bath he lies buried under a fair Tomb though the whole Church be his Monument which his Bounty repaired Anno 1619. died John Overal Bishop of Norwich accounted one of the most Learned Controversial Divines of those days Anno 1620. the Protestant States of the Upper and Lower Austria upon the approach of the Bavarian Army seeing nothing but manifest ruin renounce their Confederacy with the Bohemians and submit to the Emperor saving to themselves their Rights and Priviledges in Religion Râ—shworth Histor Collâ—ctions And the Elector of Saxony assists the Emperor and executes the Ban against the Palatine King James soon after receives the news of the Palsgrave's overthrow After the Assembly at Segenbergh the Palatine and his Princess took their journey into Holland where they found a refuge and noble entertainment with the Prince of Orange The Ambassage of Weston and Conway prevailed little More Princes of the union reconcile themselves to the Emperor The Imperial Protestant Towns Strasburgh Worms and Norembergh subscribe to conditions of Peace The reconciled Princes and States intercede for the Elector Palatine but in vain In England the Parliament petition the King for the due execution of Laws against Jesuites Seminary Priests and Popish Recusants On July 10. 1621. John Williams D. D. and Dean of Westminster was sworn Keeper of the Great Seal of England Then the King was sollicited from Spain and Rone to enlarge his favours to Popish Recusants The House of Commons presented to the King a petition and Remonstrance which laid open the distempers of those times with their Causes and Cures They Represented to Him I. The Vigilancy and Ambition of the Pope of Rome and his dearest Son the one aiming at as large a Temporal Monarchy as the other at a Spiritual Monarchy II. The devilish Doctrines whereon Popery is built and taught with Authority to their followers for advancement of their Temporal ends III. The miserable estate of the professors of true Religion in forreign parts IV. The disastrous accidents to his Majestie 's children abroad c. V. The strange confederacy of Popish Princes c. VI. The interposing of forreign Princes and their Agents in the behalf of Popish Recusants c. VII Their usual resort to the Houses and Chappels of forreign Ambassadors VIII Their more than usual concourse to the City and their frequent Conventicles and conferences there IX The education of their Children in several Seminaries and Houses of their Religion in forreign parts appropriated to the English fugitives X. The licentious Printing and dispersing of Popish and Seditious Books even in the time of Parliament XI The swarms of Priests and Jesuites dispersed in all parts of the Kingdom From these Causes they offered to his Majesty what dangerous Effects they foresaw would follow I. The Popish Religion is incompatible with ours in respect of their positions II. It draws with it an unavoidable dependancy on forreign Princes III. If once it get but a connivency it will press for a Toleration c. Then they propounded Remedies against these some whereof were That for securing the peace at home his Majesty would be pleased to review the parts of their petition formerly delivered to him and to put in execution by the eare of choice Commissioners to be thereunto appointed the Laws already and hereafter to be made for preventing of dangers by Popish Recusants That the Children of the Nobility and Gentry of this Kingdom and of others suspected in their Religion now beyond the Seas may be forthwith called home That the Children of Popish Recusants c. be brought up during their minority with Protestant School-masters That his Majesty will be pleased to revoke all former Licenses for such Children to travel beyond the Seas and not grant any such License hereafter c. The House had sufficient Cause to set forth the danger of true Religion when besides the great wound made in Germany and the cruelties of the prevailing House of Austria the Protestants in France were almost ruined
Bishop might be sent over into England there to ordain Priests give Confirmation and exercise Episcopal jurisdiction Among others Matthew Kellison and Richard Smith were presented Not long after Pope Vrban the Eighth created Richard Smith Bishop of Calcedon and sent him into England with Episcopal Authority over the Priests within the English Dominions King James after he had been troubled with a Tertian Fever four weeks at Theobalds called unto him his onely Son Prince Charles to whom he recommended the protection of the Church of England c. and died on the seven and twentieth day of March He Reigned twenty two years and three days The sad news of King James his death was brought to White-hall when Dr. Laud Bishop of St. David's was Preaching therein This caused him to break off his Sermon in the midst thereof out of civil compliance with the sadness of the Congregation And the same day was King Charles Proclaimed at Whitehall Shortly after King James his death Bishop Laud delivered to the hands of the Duke of Buckingham brief memorables of the Life and Death of King James On May fourteenth following King James his Funerals were performed very solemnly in the Collegiate-church at Westminster King Charles in his own person mournfully attended the Funerals of his Father Dr. Williams Lord Keeper and Bishop of Lincoln Preached the Sermon taking for his Text 2 Chron 9. 29 30 and part of vers 31. containing the happy Reign quiet Death and stately Burial of King Solomon In this Sermon he made a parallel between two peaceable Princes King Solomon and King James adding that Solomon's vices could be no blemish to King James who resembled him onely in his choycest vertues Doctor Preston still continued and increased in the favour of the King and the Duke of Buckingham Then a Book came forth called Apello Caesarem made by Mr. Mountague then Fellow of Eaton upon this occasion He had lately written Satyrically enough against the Papists in confuâ—ation of The Gagger of the Protestants Now two Divines of Norwich Diocese Mr. Yates and Mr. Ward inform against him for deserting our Cause instead of defending it Mr. Mountague in his own Vindication writes a second Book licensed by Francis White Dâ—an of Carlile finished and partly Printed in the Reign of King James Many bitter passages in this his Book gave great exception At that time a Schedule was delivered to the Duke wherein the names Rushw Collect An. 162â— â— of Ecclesiastical persons were written under the letters of O and P O standing for Orthodox and P. for Puritans for the Duke commanded that the names of eminent persons to be presented unto the King should be thus digested under that partition On Sunday June 12. Queen Mary landed at Dover Next day the King coming from Canterbury met her at Dover Thence his Majesty conducted the Queen to Canterbury and the same Evening the Marriage was there consummated On June 16. the King and Queen came both to London A Chappel at Sommerset-house was built for the Queen and her Family with conveniences thereto adjoyning for Capuchin Friers who were therein placed and had permission to walk abroad in their Religious habits Then began a Parliament at London wherein the first Statute agreed upon was for the more strict observation of the Lord's day Sir Edward Coke went to the House of Peers with a message from the Commons desiring their concurrence in a petition concerning Religion and against Recusants which being agreed to and presented to the King his Majesty answered That he was glad that the Parliament was so forward in matters of Religion and assured them they should find him as forward Mr. Richard Mountague was brought to the Bar of the Commons House for his Book fore-mentioned which was Printed and dedicated to King Charles But the King resâ—ued him from the House of Commons by taking Mr. Mountague's business into his own hand The Plague increasing in London the Parliament removed to Oxford where Doctor Chalenor died of that infection The Parliament to prevent the growth of Popery presented a petition to his Majesty containing sixteen particulars to which they received a satisfactory answer from the King Mr. Mountagues cause was recommended to the Duke of Buckingham by the Bishops of Rochester Oxford and St. Davids as the cause of the Church of England They affirm boldly that they cannot conceive what use there can be of Civil Government in the Common-wealth or of external Ministry in the Church if such fatal Opinions as some are which are opposite to those of Mr. Mountague be publickly taught and maintained But other Learned men were of a different judgement At Oxford in a late Divinity disputation held upon this Question Whether a Regenerate man may fall away totally and finally from Grace The Opponent uâ—ging the Appeal to Caesar the Doctor of the Chair handled the Appellator very roughly saying That he was a man that studied phrases more than matter That he understood neither Articles nor Homilies or at least perverted both That he attributed he knew not what vertue to the sign of the Cross and concluded with an Admonition to the Juniors That they should be wary of reading that and the like Books The King according to his late answer to the Parliament at Oxford issued out a Commission to the Judges to see the Law against Recusants put in Execution This was read in all the Courts of Judicature at Reading where Michaelmas Term was kept and a letter directed to the Archbishop of Canterbury to take special care for the discovery of Jesuites Seminary Priests c. within his Province In this and the next year many Books from persons of several abilities and professions were written against Mr. Mountague by Dr. Sutcliff Dean of Exeter Mr. Henry Burton Mr. Yates a Minister of Norfolk his Book he entitled Ad Caesarem ibis Dr. Carleton Bishop of Chichester Anthony Wotton Divinity-professor in Gresham Colledge and Mr. Francis Rowse a Lay-man His Majesty sensible of his Subjects great distast at Mr. Mountague's Book resolved to leave him to stand or fall according to the justness of his Cause The Duke imparted as much to the Bishop of St. David's who conceived it of such ominous concernment that he entred the same in his Diary viz. I seem to see a cloud arising and threatning the Church of England God for his mercy dissipate it The King issued forth a Proclamation Whereby he commanded the return within limited time of all such Children of Noble-men and other his natural Subjects who were now breeding up in Schools and Seminaries and other Houses of the Popish Religion beyond the Seas That their Parents Tutors and Governors take present order to recal them home and to provide that they return by the day prefixt at the utmost severity of his Majestie 's Justice He commanded further That no Bishop Priest or any other person having taken Orders under any Authority derived from the See of
Religion Piety and Learning And the Commissioners of the Great Seal of England issued forth Commissions under the Great Seal into all the Counties of England and Wales to such persons as by the Parliament were nominated giving them power by the Oathes of good and lawful men c. to find out the true value of all Parsonages and Vicarages presentative and all other Ecclesiastical Livings with care of Souls within such Cities and Counties and to certifie into the Chancery what each of them were really worth per Annum the names of the Incumbents Proprietors and Possessors thereof and of such as receive the profiâ—s who supplies the Cure what he hath for his Sallary how many Chappels are belonging to one Parish and how situate and fit to be united and how the Churches and Chappels are supplied by Preaching Ministers that so a course be taken for the providing both for Preaching and maintenance where the same should be found to be needful About this time some Dissenters in the Army called Levellers drew together five thousand Horse and Foot at Burford Colonel Reinolds fell in upon them with a greater Body than they had and routed them taking nine hundred Horse and four hundred Foot prisoners whereof one Thomson and two more principal Leaders were immediately shot to death who died resolutely Cornet Den an Army-preacher expressing Flagâ—llum or the life and death of O. C. p. 83. his grief and sorrow was reprieved at the Instant of execution which their Fellows beheld from the leads of the Church The Rest by Cromwells mediation were all pardoned and sent home to their own houses This proved the utter suppression of that faction and rendred the Army entirely at his Command so that they presently submitted to the lot which Regiments should be sent to Ireland then almost reduced to the King's obedience by the Marquess of Ormond Croâ—well was ordained Commander in chief of the Forces appointed for Ireland and tituladoed with the style of Lord Governour of Ireland while the Lord Fairfax was left here to attend the Parliament He with a potent Army landed at Dublin The Marquess of Ormond had besieged Dublin but the siege was raised by Colonel Michael Jones Governour of Dublin with the utter defeat of the Marquesses Army And the siege of London-derry was raised by Sir Charles Coot sallying out of the Town Cromwel takes Drogheda by Storm and puts all in it to the Sword After this in less than a year most of the Cities and Towns in Ireland were taken and that whole Kingdom in a manner subdued to the power of the Common-Wealth of England and the Marquess of Ormond and all that oppose their Authority withdrew themselves But a little before Colonel Rich received a Brush from my Lord Broghil in the County of Cork where the Bishop of Rosse being taken was hanged July 19. 1649. An Act was passed by the Parliament of the Common-wealth of England for the promoting and propagating the Gospel of Christ in New England And a general Collection was made in and through all the Counties Cities Towns and Parishes of England and Wales as the foundation for so pious an undertaking c. King Charles the Second being now at Jersey part of the English Fleet was sent to attacque that Island which put the King upon a speedy remove from thence into France where he resided till the time appointed for the Treaty at Breda which drew near and then he repaired thither The Committee of the Estates of Scotland having concluded with the King at Breda all correspondence with the English was by Proclamation forbidden and all manner of provision stopped from being carryed into England though the Juncto at Westminster had used all Artifices to keep the Scots from closing with the King During the Treaty at Breda 1650. the Marquess of Momrosse landed in the Isles of Orkney with fifteen hundred Armes and five hundred German Souldiers and after he had gathered more strength he was defeated by Colonal Straughan taken and brought to Edinburgh where he is brought to his Trial condemned and executed The rigorous prosecution of the Marquess of Montrosse in that violent manner was chiefly from the instigation of the Kirk by which long before he had been Excommunicated Concerning which he spake to the people in this manner upon the Scaffold What I did in this Kingdom was in obedience to the most just Commands of my Sovereign for his defence in the day of his distress against those that rose up against him I fear God and honour the King according to the Commandments of God and the Law of Nature and Nations c. It is objected against me by many even good people that I am under the censure of the Church this is not my fault siâ—ce it is onely for doing my duty by obeying my Prince's most just Commands for Religion his Person and Authority yet am I sorry they did Excommunicate me and in that which is according to God's Laws without wronging my Conscience or Allegiance I desire to be relaxed If they will not I appeal to God who is the Righteous Judge of the World and who must and will I hope be my Judge and Saviour The King was much troubled at the Scots severity against this Noble Marquess After this the King lands in Scotland and is Proclaimed King at Edinburgh Cross But his Majesty had not been long among the Scots but they began according to their usual manner of Kirk Authority and Discipline to obtrude upon the King such curbing conditions as but ill-suited with Regal dignity Then the Common-wealth of England sent an Army against Scotland and Cromwel is made General of the Parliament's Forces instead of Lord Fairfax and about the end of June he marched towards Berwick in order to his advance into Scotland The Scots raise an Army and in the mean-time send many Expostulatory Letters to Sir Arthur Haslerigg then at Newcastle urging the breach of Covenant and the union between the two Nations which availed nothing The Scots having been routed at Muscleburgh they came to a Battel at Dunbar where the whole Army was defeated by Cromwel of the Scots there were slain in the Battel four thousand and nine thousand were taken prisoners with all their Ammunition bag and baggage and ten thousand Armes The Scots after this loss quitted Leith and Edinburgh whereof the next day Cromwel took possession and the King retired to St. Johnstons where the Committee of Estates were assembled The Scots ascribed this overthrow of the Army to their admitting the King into Scotland before he had given full satisfaction to the Kirk in what they required of him and began very much to impose upon him and remove from his Person the most Faithful and Loyal of his Servants The King departs secretly from St. Johnstons in discontent to the Lord Dedup's house near Dundee The Estates at St. Johnstons send Major General Montgomery to fetch the King back the King returns
the several persons all over England to form a new Representative and a summons was sent to every one of them in the name of Oliver Cromwel Captain General of all the Forces c. to take upon them the trust to which they were summoned and to meet at Whitehall on July 5. These assembled at the time appointed and went to the Parliament House and chose Mr. Rouse made by the late Parliament Provost of Eaton to be their speaker This mock-Parliament called by some the little Parliament aimed at the new modelling both of Magistracy and Ministry but the Ministry and the maintenance thereof by Tithes they arraigned as an Antichristian Constitution Having passed an Act about Marriages Biâ—ths â—nd Burials on December 12. Rouse the Speaker told the House That their sitting was no longer necessary and presemly went out of the House with the Mace before him and many others following him he came to White-hall and there resigned to Cromwell the Instrument by him formerly delivered to them at their first sitting About four dayes after the Officers of the Army had prepared an Instrument or Systeme of Government on which the foundation of a new Dominion was to be erected and they entreated Oliver Cromwell to accept of the Government under the Title of Protector of the Common-wealth of England Scotland and Ireland He accepted it and was that day at one of the clock in the afternoon Installed at Westminster The Protector 's Council being chosen and established he makes a peace with the Dutch and with the Queen of Sweden Spain Portugal and France seek Cromwel's friendship As to the state of Religion at this time in England one thus describes it The Orthodox Protestants were wholly suppressed and yet some Reverend 〈◊〉 or the life and death of O. C. p. 144. persons as Doctor Usher Archbishop of Armagh and Doctor Brownrigg the Bishop of Exeter received some shews of respect and reverence from the Protector which he more manifestly declared afterward in the Funeral-expence of the Learned Archbishop Usher and this to captate a reputation of his love to Scholars and the meek modest and vertuous Clergy The Presbyterian was rather tolerated than countenanced and yet such of them as would comply with his Court-greatness became his Favourites for others of them he cared not pleasingly expressing himself how he had brought under the pride and arrogance of that Sect making those that would allow no liberty to others to sue for it themselves The Independents and Anabaptists he loved and preferred by turns and was most constant to them as the men that would support his Vsurpation Only he could by no means endure the Fifth Monarchy-men though by their dotages he had raised himself to this height Therefore Feak and Rogers Preachers were by him committed to prison Feak to Windsor and Rogers to Carisbrook in the Isle of Wight But it is said he set Mr. Kiffin the Anabaptist whom he had taken out of design into his favour with the party at variance with Feak to the raising of a fewd between them the ballance of his security in the Govâ—rnment The like he did between the Presbyterian and the Independent a subdivided Schism from the Church of England as the other were from Independency And it was observed that in most great Towns and Cities in England he placed an Independant Minister and a Preâ—byterian together that the one might ballance the other The Kirk of Scotland at this time had the wings of her Authority very much clipped if not quite taken away by the dissolution of the General Assembly which was done by Colonel Morgan at Aberdeen where they were assembled Mr. Andrew Cant and the rest of them in vain protesting against the Action The like disturbance they had afterwards at Edenburgh from Lieutenant Colonel Cotterel The Marquess of Argyle to keep up his Reputation with the Church of Scotland seemed much troubled at this proceeding against the Assemblies and interceded with the Protector for the liberty of the Church wherein he had good success and the Church of Scotland was indulged with the exercise of Religion and a great part of their Jurisdiction and Discipline They were restrained in little more than the power of keeping General Assemblies their Presbyteries being permitted to convene and the rigour of Excommunication for whereas before persons excommunicated were not only excluded from the communion of the Kirk but had all their Estates confiscated till their reconciliation This latter part was not now to be executed but to please the Ministers for the restraint of their power the maintenance of Scholars in Universities of Scotland was encreased and many priviledges were granted to them The Government and security of the Kingdom of Ireland was the next care of the Protector and his Son-in-law Lieutenant General Fleetwood is made Deputy of Ireland About this time an Ordinance was published for the Trial and Approbation Hughes Aâ—bridgemâ—nt of all Acts and publick Ordinances part 2. of Ministers wherein Doctor Thomas Goodwyn Philip Nye Hugh Peters Mr. Manton and divers others were named Commissioners It was ordained That every person who should after March 25. 1654. be presented nominated chosen or appointed to any Benefice called a Benefice with cure of Souls or to preach any publick Lecture in England or Wales should before he be admitted to such Benefice or Lecture be adjudged and approved of by the Persons forenamed to be a Person for the Grace of God in him his holy and unblameable Conversation and also for his knowledge and utterance able and fit to preach the Gospel And that after the said twenty five of March no person but such as should upon such approbation be admitted by the said persons should take any publick Lecture having a stipend legally annexed thereunto or take or receive any such Benefice as aforesaid or the profits thereof On June the twenty third following by the Protector with the advice of his Council it was further ordained That in case any person who since April the first 1653. hath been proved in any publick Benefice or publick Lecture should not before the twenty fourth of June 1654. obtain approbation and admittance in manner as in the said Ordinance is expressed that then the person or persons who have right thereunto shoulâ— and might present and nominate some other fit person to that place It was ordained also That tho said Commissioners in that Ordinance be authorized to give approbation and admittance to any person concerned in that clause of the said Ordinance at any time before the twenty third day of July 1654. and that in the mean time no person should present or nominate any person to any Benefice or publick Lecture in the place of any such person for the want of such approbation by the time aforesaid But if such approbation and admittance should not be by tâ—e said twenty third of July obtained by the said persons therein concerned then such person or persons as
B. do here declare my unfeigned Assent and Consent to all and every thing contained and prescribed in and by the Book entitled The Book of Common Prayer and Administration of the Sacraments aâ—d other Rites and Ceremonies of the Church according to the use of the Church of England together with the Psalter or Psalmes of David pointed as they are to be sung or said in Churches and the form or manner of making Ordaining and Consecrating of Bishops Priests and Deacons And that all and every such Person who should without some lawful impediment to be allowed and approved of by the Ordinary of the place neglect or refuse to do the same within the time aforesaid c. should within one moneth be deprived ipso facto of his spiritual promotions and that thenceforth it should be lawful to and for all Patrons and Donors of all and singular the said spiritual Promotions or of any of them according to their respective Rights and Titles to present or collate to the same as though the person or persons so offending were dead And it was further Enacted That every Person henceforth to be promoted to any Ecclesiastical Benefice should read the Common-Prayer and declare his Assent and Consent thereto within two moneths next after that he shall be in actual possession of the said Ecclesiastical Benefice or Promotion and upon neglect or refusal to be deprived as aforesaid And that Incumbents of Livings keeping Curates shall read the same once every moneth upon pain to forfeit the sum of five pounds to the use of the poor of the Parish for every offence It was also Enacted That every Dean Canon and Prebendary of every Cathedral or Collegiate Church and all Masters and other Heads Fellows Chaplains and Tutors of or in any Colledge Hall Hospital and every publick Professor and Reader in either of the Universities and in every Colledge else-where and every Parson Vicar Curate Lecturer c. and every School-master keeping any publick or private School and every person instructing or teaching any youth in any House or private family as a Tutor or School-master c. should before the Feast of St. Bartholomew in the year aforesaid subscribe the Declaration following scilicet I A. B. do declare that it is not lawful upon any pretence whatsoever to take up Arms against the King and that I do abhor that traiterous position of taking Arms by his Authority against his person or against those that are Commissioned by him and that I will conform to the Liturgy of the Church of England as it is now by Law established and I do declare that there lies no obligation upon me or on any other person from the Oath commonly called the Solemn League and Covenant to endeavour any change or alteration of Government either in Church or State and that the same was in it self an unlawful Oath and imposed upon the Subjects of this Realm against the known Laws and liberties of this Kingdom The penalty for failing in subscribing was for Deans Vicars Schoolmasters to be deprived of their Ecclesiastical promotions Schools and Lectures to be void as if such person so failing were naturally dead Provided always That from and after the 25th day of March which shall be in the year of our Lord God 1682. there shall be omitted in the said declaration so to be subscribed and read it being enjoyned to be openly and publickly read by every Minister c. upon some Lords day within three moneths after his subscription in the presence of the Congregation there assembled these words following scil And I do declare that I do hold there lies no obligation upon me or on any other person from the Oath commonly called the Solemn League and Covenant to endeavour any change or alteration of Government either in Church or State and that the same was in it self an unlawful Oath and imposed upon the Subjects of this Realm against the known Laws and liberties thereof So as none of the persons aforesaid shall from thenceforth be at all obliged to subscribe or read any part of the said declaration or acknowledgement It was further Enacted That persons not ordained Priests or Deacons according to Episcopal ordination shall not hold any Ecclesiastical promotion nor shall consecrate and administer the holy Sacrament of the Lord's Supper upon pain to forfeit for every offence the sum of one hundred pounds one moyety thereof to the King the other moyety thereof to be equally divided between the poor of the Parish where the offence shall be committed It was also Enacted That no other Form or Order of Common-Prayers Administration of Sacraments Rites or Ceremonies should be used openly in any Church Chappel or publick place And it was further Enacted That if any person who is by this Act disabled to Preach any Lecture or Sermon shall during the time that he shall continue and remain so disabled Preach any Sermon or Lecture that then for every such offence the Person and Persons so offending shall fuffer three moneths imprisonment in the common Goal without Bayl or Mainprize It was also Provided That at all and every time and times when any Sermon or Lecture is to be Preached the Common-Prayers and Service in and by the said Book appointed to be read for that time of the day shall be openly publickly and solemnly read by some Priest or Deacon in the Church Chappel or place of publick worship where the said Sermon or Lecture is to be Preached and that the Lecturer then to Preach shall be present at the reading thereof It was further Enacted That the Laws and Statutes formerly made for Uniformity of Common-Prayer should continue to be in force and to be executed for punishing offendors against this Law Hereupon many hundred Ministers with divers Lecturers and School-masters left their places refusing to conform Another Act was also passed for restoring of all such Advousons Rectories Impropriate Glebe-lands and Tithes to his Majesties loyal Subjects as were taken from them and making void certain charges imposed on them upon their compositions for delinquency by the late usurped Power Another Act was passed for preventing Abuses in printing Seditious Treasonable and Unlicensed Books and Pamphlets and for regulating of Printing and Priming-presses Pamphlets and Books prohibited to be Printed Published or Sold were Heretical Seditious or Shismatical Books or Pamphlets wherein any Christian Doctrine or Opinion shall be asserted or maintained which is contrary to Christian Faith or to the Doctrine or Discipline of the Church of England or which shall or may tend or be to the scandal of Religion or the Government or Governours of the Church State or Common-wealth or of any Corporation or particular person or persons whatsoever none shall import publish sell or dispose any such Book or Books or Pamphlets nor shall cause or procure any such to be published or put to sale or to be bound stitched or sewed together In the fifteenth year of his Majestie 's Reign
consequence were enacted 1. Against Usury 2. For Tithes in London 3. For an exchange of Lands betwixt the King's Majesty and Thomas Cranmer Archbishop of Canterbury Robert Holgate Archbishop of York and Edmond Bonner Bishop of London which the King annexed to the Dutchy of Lancaster 4. An Act for union of Churches not exceeding the value of six pounds 5. That Doctors of the Civil Law might exercise Ecclesiastical jurisdiction At this time also by the King's command were the Stews suppressed The Favourers of the truth among the Noblemen were the Earl of Fox Acts and Monuments Suffolk Viscount Beauchamp Viscount Lisle Lord Russel Treasurer Lord Awdley Chancellor Lord Paget and Sadler and Thomas Cranmar Archbishop of Canterbury The Patrons of Popery were the Bishop of Winchester and Durham the Duke of Norfolk and Earl of Southampton Anthony Brown William Pawlet John Baker Richard Chancellor of the Augmentation Winckfield Vice-chancellor Four and twenty were Executed for Traitors in the time of King Henry for the cause of Supremacy Adam Damlip who before had escaped and lay hid in the West-countrey teaching a School about a year or two by the miserable Inquisition of the six Articles was again taken and brought up to London where he was by Stephen Gardiner commanded to the Marshal-sea and after two years space he was Condemned and Executed for Treason One Henry was burnt at Colchester and one Kerby at Ipswich for the Testimony of the Truth In the year 1546. in June Anne Ashcough alids Kyme Daughter of Sir William Ashcough of Kelsey in Lincoln-shire of the age of 25. years whose Wit Beauty Learning and Religion procured her much esteem on the Queens side of the Court and as much hatred from the Popish Bishops was burned for the profession of the Truth in Smithfield with three men Nicholas Belevian Priest of Shrop-shire John Lacels Gentleman of the houshold of King Henry the Eighth and John Adams a poor Tailor of London Her several examinations penned by her self are extant in Mr. Fox Then began the troubles of Queen Katherine Parr whom the King had married some two years since She was one of great piety beauty and discretion next to the Bible she studied the King's disposition observing him to her utmost yet sometimes she would presume to discourse with the King about points of Religion defending the Protestant Tenets by Scripture and sometimes would hold up the King very close hard at it This displeased him who loved looseness and liberty in his Clothes Arguments and Actions and was quickly observed by Gardiner and others the Queen's enemies Hereupon Gardiner drew up Articles against her and got them subscribed with the King 's own hand to send â—her to the Tower But Chancellor Wriothesley put the paper of those Articles in his own bosom which casually fell out was taken up by one of the Queen's Servants and brought to the Queen who on her sickness and submission to the King obtained his Pardon Signed and Sealed unto her with many kisses and embraces And her enemies that came to attach her were sent back with the Taunts and Threats of the enraged King against them King Henry made his Will and died a moneth after and was buried at Windsor After the Death of King Henry succeeded King Edward his Son Sir John Haywâ—â—d's Hist of K. Edw. 6. being scarce ten years old full of as much Worth as the model of his Age could hold He attained not onely commendable Knowledge but speech in the Greek Spanish and Italian Languages having always great Judgment in measuring his Words by his Matter his Speech being alike both fluent and weighty such as best beseemed a Prince As for Natural Philosophy Logick Musick Astronomy and other Liberal Sciences his perfections were such that the great Italian Philosopher Cardan having tasted him by many Conferences seemed to be astonished between admiration and delight and divulged his abilities to be miraculous These his acquirements by industry were very much enriched and enlarged by many excellent Endowments of nature for in disposition he was mild gratious and pleasant of an heavenly wit in Body beautiful but especially in his Eyes which seemed to have a Starry liveliness and lustre in them Generally he seemed to be as Cardan reported of him A Miracle of Nature Because he was young he was committed to sixteen Governours the Lord Edward Seimour Duke of Sommerset his Unckle was assigned unto him Protector by whose endeavour the six bloody Articles forementioned were abolished This King restored the holy Scriptures in the English Tongue he abolished Masses and such as were banished were received home as John Hooper Miles Coverdale c. He changed most part of the Bishops of Diocesses and compelled dumb Priests to give place to those that would Preach he suppressed Idolatry restored the Gospel and worship of God encouraged Godly Preachers sent for Eminent Men both for Learning and Piety from beyond the Seas to Teach in both Universities viz. Peter Martyr in Oxford and Martin Bucer and Paulus Fagius in Cambridge and was a Refuge to all the Godly that fled for Religion out of other Countries and therefore is called by Melchior Adam Summae spei Princeps qui omnibus piis doctis Polanis Melch. Adam in vit Germ. Theolog. Germanis Gallis Scotis Italis Hispanis hospitium patrocinium dederat A Prince of singular hope who gave protection and entertainment to all Godly and Learned Men Polonians Germans French Scots Italians Spaniards In consideration whereof an eminent Martyr in Queen Maries days in an effectionate Speech of His before a Popish Persecutor cried out Blessed be God for King Edward This King was much enclined to Clemency especially in matters of Blood and most especially if iâ— were for Religion insomuch that albeit he was greatly affected to that Religion wherein he had been brought up yet none were executed in his time for other Religion but onely two blasphemous Hereticks Joan Butcher and George a Dutch-man And when Joan Butcher was to be burned all the Council could not procure him to set his hand to the Warrant wherefore they employed Thomas Cranmer Archbishop of Canterbury to deal privately with him for his subscription But the King remained firm in resolution affirming That he would not drive her heaalong to the Devil The Archbishop was violent both by perswasions and entreaties and when with meer importunity he had prevaled the King in subscribing his name said That he would lay all the charge thereof upon the Archbishop before God Then the Professors of the Gospel were in all places relieved and many Prisoners appointed to die were enlarged and preserved Onely Thomas Dobby Fellow of St. John's in Cambridge committed to the Counter in Bred-street and condemned for speaking against the Masse died of a natural death in Prison his speedy death prevented the pardon which the Lord Protector intended to send him The Lord Protector ordered all in Church and State The King in
his protection took speedy order for Reformation of Religion and having chosen Wise and Learned Men to be his Commissioners in that behalf divided them into several Diocesses to be visited appointing likewise unto every company one or two Godly Learned Preachers to instruct the people at every Session in the true Doctrine of the Gospel To those Commissioners were delivered thirty six Injunctions and Ecclesiastical Laws which they should enquire of and also command in his Majesties name and behalf all tending to the abolishing of Popish superstition and establishing the Truth of the Gospel Besides which general Injunctions for the estate of the whole Realm there were also certain others particularly appointed for the Bishops onely whereby they were enjoyned to see the other put in Execution besides others which did more particulary confirm them These Injunctions may be seen at large in the first Edition of the Acts and Monuments Fuller church History p. 372 373. fol. 684. and you may read them in a smoother Abstract in Fuller's Church History Some Homiles were left with the Parish-Priests which the Archbishop had composed not onely for the help of unpreaching Ministers but for the regulating and instructing even of the Dr. P. Helyns History of K. Edw. 6. Learned Preachers Besides the points contained in the said Injunctions the Preachers above mentioned were more particulary instructed to perswade the people from Praying to the Saints from making Prayer for the Dead from Adoring of Images from the use of Beads Ashes and Processions from Mass Diriges Praying in unknown Languages and from other such like things whereunto long custom had brought a Religious observation All which was done to this intent That the people in all places being prepared by little and little might with more ease and less opposition admit the total alteration in the face of the Church which was intended in due time to be introduced While these Commissioners were occupied abroad the King desirng a Reformation appointed a Parliament Novemb. 4. in the first year of his Reign Anno 1547. wherein all Acts made before against the Professors of the Truth were Abrogated In the same Parliament also it was Decreed That the Sacrament should be ministred to all under both kinds Then also were Candles on Candlemas-day forbidden and Ashes on Ash-wednesday according to the Popish custom About the saâ—e time also all Images were taken away in most places of the Kingdom The first who declared his aversness to the King's proceedings was Dr. Stephen Gardiner Bishop of Winchester who stomaching his being left out of the list of the Council appeared more Cross to all their doings than others of his Order for which being brought before their Lordships they sent him Prisoner to the Fleet. Albeit Edmond Bonner Bishop of London at first seemed to comply yet at length he bewraied himself by suffring daily to be Sung the Apostles Mass and our Ladies Mass c. in diverse of his Chappels in Pauls â—lâ—aking them with the name of the Apostles and our Ladies Communions whereof the Council being informed caused him to reform the abuse Sir Anthony Cook and Sir John Goodsale Knights John Goodsal and Christopher Nevinson Doctors of the Laws and John Madew Doctor of Divinity the King's Commissioners called before them the said Edmond Bonner John Royston Polydor Virgil and many others of the Dignitaries of the said Cathedral to whom the Sermon being done and their Commission openly read they ministred the Oath of the King's Supremacy according to the Statute of thirty one of King Henry the eighth requiring them withal to present such things as needed to be reformed Which done they delivered to Bishop Bonner a Copy of the Injunctions forementioned together with the Homilies set forth by the King's authority received by him with protestation That he would observe them if they were not contrary to the Law of God and the Ordinances of the Church But afterwards he revoked his protestation and humbly submitted himself to his Majesties pleasure Yet for a Terror to others Bishop Bonner was committed to the Fleet. During the short time of his restraint viz. Septemb. 18. the Litany was Sung in the English Tongue in St. Paul's Church between the Quire and the High Altar the Singers kneeling half on the one side and half on the other And the same day the Epistle and Gospel was also read at the High Mass in the English Tongue And in November next following Bishop Bonner being then restored to his former liberty the Image of Christ then called the Rood and all other Images in that Church as also in all the other Churches of London were taken down And in speeding of this work as Bishop Bonner together with the Dean and Chapter did perform their part in the Cathedral of St. Paul so Bellassere Archdeacon of Colchester and Doctor Gilbert Bourn being at that time Archdeacon both of London and Essex were no less diligent in doing the like in all the Churches of their respective Jurisdictions according to the charge imposed upon them by his Majestie 's Visitors The first Translation of the Bible was set forth in the Reign of King Henry the Eighth Anno 1541. with a Grave and Pious preface of Archbishop Cranmer and Authorized by the King's Proclamation Dated May 6. Seconded also with Instructions from the King It was called the Bible of the greater Volume Few Countrey-parishes could go to the cost of them though Bishop Bonner caused six of them to be chained in the Church of St. Pauls in convenient places The second Translation of the Bible was set forth in the Reign of King Edward the Sixth and not onely suffered to be read by particular persons but ordered to be read over yearly in the Congregation as a principal part of Divine Service Two Editions there were thereof one set forth 1549. the other 1541. but neither of them divided into verses The third Translation of the Bible was set forth in the second year of Extant in Sir Tho. Cotton Library Queen Elizabeth The last Translation was again reviewed by some of the most Learned Bishops appointed thereunto by the Queen's Commission whence it took the name of the Bishops Bible and by the Queens sole commandment Reprinted Then diverse Proclamations were issued out in the King's name relating to Ecclesiastical matters in the four first years of his Reign among which there was a Proclamation inhibiting Preachers Anno secundo Edwardi sexti whereof this was the occasion Certain Popish Preachers disaffected to the King's Government in their Sermons declared That the King intended to lay strange exactions upon the people To prevent further mischief the King ordered by Proclamation That none should Preach except Licensed under the Seals of the Lord Protector or Archbishop of Canterbury At this time many Popish Pulpits sounded the Alarum to Kets Rebellion and the Devon-shire Commotion There was also a Proclamation for the payment of the late Incumbents of Colledges and