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A42557 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. Geaves, William.; Geaves, George.; Gearing, William.; G. G. 1674 (1674) Wing G440; ESTC R40443 405,120 476

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long after These were as likely persons to have kept up Episcopacy if God's providence had soappointed as any could have been culled out of England The Bill was again brought in against Bishops Votes in Parliament 1642. and it was clearly carried in the Negative that Bishops never more should Vote as Peers in Parliament The King was very unwilling to consent to it but at last with much importunity he signed the Bill as he was in St. Augustines in Canterbury passing with the Queen towards Dover then undertaking her voyage into the Low Countries Ten of the eleven Bishops formerly subscribing their Protestation to the Parliament were after some moneths durance upon good bale given released These now at liberty severally disposed themselves Some went home to their own Diocess as the Bishops of Norwich Oxford c. The Bishop of Durham continued in London Some withdrew themselves into the King's quarters as Archbishop Williams c. Bishop Wren within few moneths after he was discharged from the Tower was seized on by a party of Souldiers at his house at Downham and brought back again to the Tower where he continued till the end of the year 1659. As for the Archbishop of Canterbury as he first took possession of that fatal lodging before any of the rest came to him so he continued there after their dismission without hope of finding his passage out of it by any other door than the door of death which as he did not look for before it came so when it came he did not fear it saith Doctor Heylin On October 23. in the year foregoing the House of Peers sequestred his Jurisdiction from him conferring it on Sir Nathanael Brent and others of his under-officers and ordered That He should bestow none of the Benefices within his Gift without acquainting them with the name and quality of the party whom he intended to prefer leaving to them the approbation if they saw cause for it And on October 15. 1642. for so long he remained without further disturbance it was resolved upon the Question That the Fines Rents and Profits of Archbishops and Bishops should be Sequestred for the use and service of the Common-wealth On the ninth of November following the Archbishop's house at Lambeth was forcibly possessed by a party of Souldiers to keep it for the Publick service and seventy eight pounds of his Rents as forcibly taken from some of his Officers by an order under the hands of some of the Lords But upon his petition shortly after he had an order for securing of his Heylin Hist of Archbish Laud. Books and Goods Another order came to bar him from any conference with any of the other prisoners or speaking with any other but in the presence of the Warder who was appointed to attend him and from having the liberty of the Tower or from sending any of his servants into the City but on occasion of providing victuals and other necessaries The Souldiers brake open the doors of his Chappel in Lambeth house and began to spoil the Organs there but their Captain put a stop to their fury On December 21. his saddle-horse was seized on by order from some members in the House of Common and o● the 23. Dr. Leighton who had before been sentenced in the Star-chamber for his libellous Pamphlets came with an order from that House to dispossess the Souldiers of their quarters there and turn his House into a Prison his Wood and Coals seized on without any permission to make any use of them for himself In the beginning of May the windows in his Chappel were defaced and the steps torn up his Books and Goods seized on by Leighton and some others And on the sixteenth of the same moneth he was served with a● order of both Houses debarring him from bestowing any of his Benefices which either were or should be vacant for the time to come And on the thirty first an order was directed unto Prynne and others to seize on all his Letters and Papers to be perused by such as should be Authorized to that end and purpose The entertaining of many petitions by the Houses of Parliament visibly tending to the abolition of Episcopal government made it appear most necessary in the eyes of those who wisht well to it to hasten the publishing of such petitions as had been presented to the King in behalf thereof and by his Majesty had been ordered to be published accordingly Among which none did plead the cause with greater fervency than that which was tendred in the name of the Gentry and Clergy of the Diocess of Canterbury To which petition there subscribed no fewer than twenty four Knights and Baronets Esquires and Gentlemen of note above three hundred Divines one hundred and eight Freeholders and Subsidy men eight hundred Many petitions of like nature came from other Counties where the people were at any liberty to speak their own sence All which with some of those which had led the way unto the rest were published by order from his Majesty bearing date May 20. 1●42 under the Title of A collection of the petitions of divers Countries c. Which petitions being drawn together besides many which were presented after this Collection amounted to nineteen in all that is to say two from the County of Chester two from Cornwall one from the University of Oxford and another from the University of Cambridge one from the Heads of Colledges and Halls This from the Diocess of Canterbury another from the Diocess of Exeter one from the six Counties of North-wales and one a piece from the Counties of Nottingham Hereford Huntington Somerset Rutland Stafford Kent Oxford and Lancaster These petitions came from thousands of the most eminent subjects of the Realm But nothwithstanding the importuni●y of the Petitioners on the one side and the moderation of the King's answer on the other the prevailing party in both Houses had long since resolved upon the Question which afterwards they declared by their publick Votes for on the eleventh of September the Vote passed in the House of Commons for abolishing Bishops Deans and Chapters celebrated by the Citizens with Bells and Bonfires the Lords not coming in till the end of January when it past there also The War now begins to open The Parliament had their Guards already and the affront which Hotham had put upon the King at Hull prompted the York shire Gentlemen to become a guard to his Person Both Houses presently Vote this to be a levying War against the Parliament for whose defence not onely the Trained bands of London must be in a readiness and the Good people of the Countrey required to put themselves into a posture of Armes but Regiments of Horse and Foot are listed a General appointed great sums of money raised Hereupon the King hastens from York to Nottingham where he sets up his Standard inviting all his good Subjects to repair unto him for defence of their King the Laws and Religion of
Rome do presume to confer Ecclesiastical Orders or exercise Ecclesiastical Function or Jurisdiction toward any of his Natural Subjects in any of his Dominions c. On Candlemas-day King Charles was Crowned Bishop Laud had the chief hand in compiling the form of the Coronation and had the honour to perform this Solemnity instead of the late Lord Keeper Williams who through the King's di●favour was sequestred from this service which belonged to his place as he was Dean of Westminster Dr. Senhouse Bishop of Carlile Preached at the Coronation The Coronation Oath was tendred to the King by the Archbishop of Canterbury The Ceremonies of the Coronation being ended the Regalia were offered at the Altar by Bishop Laud in the King's Name and then reposited Bishop Williams fallen into disgrace by the displeasure of the Duke of Buckingham besought his Majesty That he would mitigate the Duke's causeless anger towards him and that in his absence in the Parliament no use might be made of his Majestie 's sacred Name to wound the Reputation of a poor Bishop c. On Monday February the sixth began the second Parliament of the King's Reign The House of Commons began where they left at Oxford with matters of Religion and publick grievances They made strict enquiry into what abuses had been of the King's grace since that time and who were the Authors and Abbettors thereof for they had been informed of many Pardons and Reprieves to Priests and Jesuites An Act ●a● tendred against scandalous Ministers It was moved that some p●●●●sion might be made against scandalous Livings as well as against scandalous Ministers A Committee was named concerning Religion and the Growth of Popery and Mr. Mountague's Appeal to Caesar was again brought in question This Book the Commons referred to the Committee for Religion the contents whereof were reported from Mr. Pym to the House and the House passed their Votes thereupon That Mr. Mountague endeavoured to reconcile England to Rome and to alienate the King's affections from his well affected Subjects Divers Articles were exhibited by the Commons against Mr. Mountague They prayed That the said Mr. Mountague might be punished according to his Demerits and that the Book aforesaid might be suppressed and burnt Many resorting to hear Mass at Durham house in the Lodgings of a Forreign Ambassador the Bishop of Durham was required to apprehend such of the King's Subjects as should be present at the Mass and to commit them to prison There was also a Letter sent from the Attorney General to the Judges of the circuits to direct their proceedings against Recusants During the sitting of this Parliament at the procurement of Robert Fuller Church Hist An. 1626. Rich Earl of Warwich a conference was kept in York house before the Duke of Buckingham and other Lords betwixt Dr. Buckeridge Bishop of Rochester and Dr. White Dean of Carlile on the one side and Dr. Morton Bishop of Coventry and Dr. Preston on the other chiefly About the possibility of one elected to fall from grace The passages of which conference are variously reported Soon after a second conference was in the same place on t●e same points before the same persons betwixt Dr. White Dean of Carlile and Mr. Mountague on the one side and Dr. Morton Bishop of Litchfield and Dr. Preston on the other But these conferences rather increased the differences than abated them An old Hall in Oxford formerly called Broad-gates-Hall was this year turned into a new Colledge and called Pembrook Colledge partly in respect to William Earl of Pembrook then Chancellor of the University This Colledge consisteth of a Master ten Fellows and ten Scholars with other Students and Officers to the number of one hundred sixty nine Now Dr. Preston decline's in the Duke's favour and the Duke betakes himself to the opposit Interest This year died Arthur Lake Bishop of Bath and Wells and Lancelot Andrews who had been Dean of Westminster Bishop of Chichester Ely and at last of Winchester Doctor Nicholas Felton Bishop of Ely died some days after Bishop Andrews About this time the Marshal of Middlesex petitioned to the Committee of the House of Commons touching his resistance in seizing of Priests goods A Warrant was made by Mr Atto●ney-General to John Tendring Marshal of Middlesex and all other therein named to search the prison of the Clink and to seize all Popish and superstitious matters there found A Letter also was directed to Sir George Paul a Justice of Peace in Surrey to pray him to take care in expediting that service Upon search four several Priests were found in the Clink viz. Preston Candon Warrington Prator Preston was committed to the Clink about sixteen years since and discharged of his imprisonment about seven years ago yet remained there in the Prison still attended with two Women servants and one Man servant who as it was suspected had continued with him ever since the Gunpowder-Treason Anno Rushw Collec Anno 1626. 1605. He kept there by himself apart from the Keeper of the prison and had for his lodging part of the Bishop of Winchester's house into which there was a passage made through the prison-yard There were found in his Chamber five or six Cart-loads of Books set up with shelves as in a Library or Book-seller's shop supposed to be worth two thousand pounds at least besides which it was affirmed by the Keeper of the prison that he had a greater Library abroad There were also found two Altars ready furnished for Mass one more publick in an upper Chamber the other more private in a Study many rich Copes Surplices Wax-candles Crosses Crucifixes very rich Beads Jewels Chaines Chalices of Silver and of Gold five or six bags of money which were not opened and loose money to the quantity of an hundred pound thrown up and down in his Desk abundance of Manuscripts and a pacquet of Letters bound up together with a thread In Candon's Chamber was found an Altar ready furnished with many Plates Jewels rich Pictures and Manuscripts Wax-candles c. with many Books in a Study In another Study of his many curious Tools and Engines three Rapiers one Pistol and a Fowling piece the pictures of Queen Elizabeth King James Queen Anne and King Charles He had also in his custody all the Keeper's Warrants for committing of his prisoners which were found in his Chamber together with some store of Plate which he said he kept for the Keeper's wife In Warrington's Chamber were found Books Beads Boxes of Oyl for extreme Unction c. But the wall thereof was broken down into another house adjoyning to the Prison through which it is conceived the rest of Warrington's stuffe was convaied away in the Interim of the search made in the two former Chambers Prator was first committed to Glocester Gaol but a Warrant was procured by the Papists for his remove to the Clink where he was found a prisoner But a countermand was brought from the Archbishop and Mr. Atturney
K. of Mercia He made much of Wilfrid and a●●●gned him an habitation in Selsey a place all compassed about with the Sea except one way all that Land containing eighty seven housholds this King gave unto Wilfrid for his maintenance He built a Monastery and established his Cathedral See in the same He converted and baptized great numbers of people and was first Bishop thereof 2. Eadbert 3. Eolla 4. Sigga or Sigfrid 5. Alubrith 6. Bosa 7. Gilelher 8. Tota 9. Wigthun 10. Ethelulph 11. Beornege 12. Cenred 13. Guthard 14. Alfred 15. Eadelm 16. Ethelgar 17. Ordbright 18. Elmar 19. Agelred 20. Grinketel 21. Heka Chaplain to King Edward the Confessor 22. Agelrike a man skilful in the Laws and Customs of the Land He was appointed by King William the Conqueror to assist Gosfrid Bishop of Constantia in judging a great controversie between Lanfrank the Archbishop and Odo Earl of Kent the King's Brother in a Convocation holden at Windsor Bishops of Chichester 1. Stigand Chaplain to the Conqueror translated his Sea from Selsey an obscure place and now eaten up by the Sea so that every high water covereth it unto Chichester of old called Cissan-cester So he was the first Bishop of Chichester 2. William 3. Ralph a man of a very high stature and no less of a very high mind He built the Cathedral Church at Chichester from the ground It was scarcely finished when as May 5. 1114. it was defaced and a great part of the City consumed with casual fire He repaired it by the liberality of the King and some others He was a great House-keeper and Almsgiv●r and a painful Preacher yearly visiting his whole Diocess preaching in every place thrice reprehending and punishing sin severely 4. Seffridus Abbot of Glaston 5. Hilary 6. John de Greenford 7. Seffridus the Second In his time scil October 19. 1187. the Cathedral Church together with the whole City was casually consumed with fire the Church and his own Palace he both reedified in good sort 8. Simon de Wells 9. Richard Poor 10. Ralph de Warham He gave to the Church a Wind-mill in Bishopston 11. Ralph Nevil● Chancellor of England He built Lincolns-Inn from the ground to be an House of Receipt for himself and his Successors when they should come to London After his time it came to the possession of Henry Lacy Earl of Lincoln who somewhat enlarged it and les● it the name which now it hath 12. Richard de la Wyche He was born at Wych in Worcestershire he was a holy and learned man diligent in preaching and canonized seven years after his death 13. John Clypping He built the Mannor-house of Drungwick and gave it unto his Church 14. Stephen de Barksted 15. Gilbert de Stoleo fardo 16. John de Langton sometime Chancellor of England He built a costly Window in the South part of that Church 17. Robert Stratford Brother to John Stratford Archbishop of Canterbury He found means to drive away Scholars from Stamford that began to settle themselves there 18. William Lulimer 19. William Read He built the Castle of Amberley and the Library of Merton-colledge where he left his Picture and many Tables and Astronomical Instruments 20. Thomas Rushock 21. Richard Mitford 22. Robert Waldby 23. Robert Read 24. Stephen Patington 25. Henry Ware 26. John Kemp 27. Thomas Polton 28. John Rikinpale 29. Simon Sidenham 30. Richard Praty 31. Adam Molines 32. Reginal Peacock He was deprived of his Bishoprick 33. John Arundel 34. Edward Story 35. Richard Fitz-James 36. Robert Sherborn 37. Richard Sampson 38. George Day Deprived Anno 1551. restored by Queen Mary after he had long lain prisoner in the Fleet. He was Brother unto William Day long after Bishop of Winchester 39. John Scory By Queen Mary he was displaced and by Queen Elizabeth preferred to Hereford 40. John Christopherson He was deprived by Act of Parliament in Queen Elizabeths reign He gave unto Trinity-colledge many Books Greek Hebrew and Latin 41. William Barlow 42. Richard Curteise 43. Thomas Bickley He bequeathed unto Merton-colledge in Oxford an hundred pounds to Magdalen-colledge forty pounds and gave divers other sums of money to other good uses 44. Anthony Watson 45. Lancelot Andrews 46. Samuel Harsenet 47. George Carleton 48. Richard Mountague 49. Henry King 50. Peter Gunning Bishops of Rochester Augustine having laid some good foundation of Christian Religion at Canterbury for the further propagation of the same thought good to ordain Bishops unto other Cities near adjoyning and therefore in one day consecrated two viz. Mellitus unto London and Justus a Roman unto Rochester Anno 604. The Bishops of Rochester were 1. Justus 2. Romanus Travelling to Rome he was drowned 3. Paulinus Being driven from York he was content to take charge of Rochester 4. Ithamar 5. Damianus After his death the See long continued void 6. Putta 7. William 8. Godwyndus 9. Tobias 10. Aldulfus 11. Duina He was present at a Provincial Council held by Rochester 12. Eardulf Offa King of Mercia Ecbert King of Kent and Ethelbert another King of Kent were benefactors to him and his Successors 13 Diora 14. Weremund 15. Beornredus 16. Tadnoth 17. Bedenoth 18. Godwyn the First 19. Cutherwulf 20. Swithulf 21. Buiricus 22. Cheolmund 23. Chineferth 24. Burrhicus Vnto him Edmond the Brother of King Athelstan gave the Townof Malling Anno 945. 25. Alfstane 26. Godwyn the Second 27. Godwyn the Third 28. Siward 29. Arnostus Lanfrank 30. Gundulph 31. Ralph Abbot of Say 32. Earnulph He wrote an History of the Church of Rochester 33. John Archdeacon of Canterbury 34. Ascelinus 35. Walter Archdeacon of Canterbuty The Archbishop was wont till this time to nominate to this Bishoprick whom pleased him April 10. 1177. the whole City and Church of Rochester were consumed with fire 36. Gualeran 37. Gilbert Glanvyl He deprived the Monks of Rochester of all their moveable Goods all the Ornaments of their Church Writings Evidences yea and of great part of their Lands Possessions and Priviledges He built the Hospital at Stroud near Rochester and endowed it with fifty two pounds yearly revenue 38. Benedictus 39. Henry de Sandford This man preaching at Sittingburn before a great Audience declared openly That God had revealed unto him now three several times how that on such a day the Souls of King Richard the First Stephen Langton late Archbishop and another Priest were delivered out of Purgatory 40. Richard de wendover 41. Laurence of St. Martin 42. Walter de Merton Lord Chancellor of England Before he was a Bishop he built Merton-colledge in Oxford 43. John de Bradfield 44. Thomas Inglethorp 45. Thomas de Woldham 46. Haymo Confessor to King Edward the Second 47. John de Sheppey 48. William Wittlesey 49. Thomas Trillick 50. Thomas Brenton 51. William Boltsham 52. John Boltsham 53. Richard Young 54. John Kemp 55 Iohn Langdon 56. Thomas Brown 57. Iohn Wells 58. Iohn White 59. Thomas Rotheram 60. Iohn Alcock 61. Iohn Russel 62. Edmond
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. RIC●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 perspicuo●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 Br●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
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 B●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 Churche● and hath scarce two now remaining the rest being swallowed up by the Sea This ●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 pu●●ing ●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-fi●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 ●●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 C●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 ●●●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 i●structed● 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
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 Bru●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 Ri●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 combur●●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.
then actually restored to that See Having performed the obsequies of her Brother on the ninth and tenth she removes her Court to Whitehal on September she passeth thence to the Tower by Water attended by her Sister and a great Train of Noble Ladies and made her return through the principal Streets of the same City on the last of the same moneth in a most stately manner and the next day proceeded in like pomp to the Abbey-Church at Dr. P. Heylins History of Queen Mary Westminster where she was met by the Silver Crosses and eighty Singing-men all in rich Coaps so sudden a recruit was made of these sacred Vestments among whom went the new Dean of Westminster Dr. Weston and diverse Chaplains of her own each of them bearing in their hand some ensign or other After them marched ten Bishops which were all as remained of her perswasion with their Miters rich Coaps and Crosier-staves The Sermon was preached by Doctor Day whom she had restored to the See of Chichester The solemnity of the Coronation was performed by the Bishop of Winchester the new Lord Chancellor Cranmer Archbishop of Canterbury being then committed to the Tower Till this time none was more dear to her than her Sister the Lady Elizabeth but after her Coronation she estranged her self from her She preferred Henry Ra●cliff Earl of Sussex to the society of the Garter which honour she conferred on his Son Thomas after his decease and to be covered in her presence at all times and places according to the custom of the Grandees in the Realm of Spain She also advanced the Earl of Arundel to the Office of Lord Steward She made Sir Edward Hastings Master of the Horse and Knight of the Garter and afterwards Lord Chamberlain of the Houshold and Lord Hastings of Loughborough She honoured Sir John Williams with the Title of Lord Williams of Thame She preferred Sir Henry Jerningham to be Captain of her Guard and afterwards Sir Thomas Tresham was created Lord Prior of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem She preferred her old Servants Hopton her old Chaplain to the See of Norwich Rochester to be Comptroller of her Houshold Inglefield to be Master of the Wards and Walgrave to be Master of the Wardrobe Sir John Gage a zealous Papist was made Lord Chamberlain of her Houshold when she came first to the Tower Bishop Bonner was discharged of the Marshalsey and Bishop Tunstal from the King's Bench within two days after Bonner is restored to his See of London and Tunstal to Durham and an Act of Parliament procured for the restoring of the Church of Durham to all its Lands and Jurisdictions of which it stood divested by the late Act of Dissolution made in the last year of the deceased King Coverdale was displaced from the See of Exeter Scory from that of Chichester and Hooper from the Commendatory of the See of Worcester to which Sees Voisy Day and Heath were again restored The like course also followed for the depriving of all Deans Dignitaries and Parochial Ministers who had succeeded into any of those preferments during the Reign of the two last Kings Doctor Cox was on August 5. brought to the Marshalsey and spoiled of his Deaneries of Christ-church and Westminster to make room for Doctor Richard Marshal in the one and Doctor Hugh Weston in the other Peter Martyr coming from Oxford to London where for a time he was commanded to keep his House but was soon after suffered to return into his own Countrey A Letter was sent at the same time to the Mayor of Coventry to set at liberty Hugh Simons if he would recant his Sermon or else to stay him A little before Mr. Bradford Mr. Vernon and Mr. Beacon Preachers● were committed to the Tower A Letter was sent to the Sheriffs of Buckingham and Bedford for the apprehending Mr. Fisher Parson of Amersham Another Letter was sent to the Bishop of Norwich not to suffer any to Preach or Expound openly the Scriptures without special License from the Queen Mr. John Rogers Preacher was confined to his own house Hooper and Coverdale being cited to appear before the Lords of the Council did appear Hooper was committed to the Fleet and Coverdale commanded to attend the pleasure of the Lords Fisher of Amersham and Hugh Sanders Vicar of St. Michaels in Coventry appeared also before the Council Hugh Latimer appeared also and was committed to the Tower Doctor Bourn Archdeacon of London Preaching at Pauls Cross in favour of Bishop Bonner there present at the Sermon inveighed against some proceedings in the time of the late King Edward which so incensed the people that a great tumult arose upon it some pelting with Stones others crying aloud Pull him down and one who could never be known flinging a Dagger at his Head which after was found sticking in a post of the Pulpit The Preacher with difficulty was secured in a School adjoyning By reason of which tumult the Lords of the Council with the Lord Mayor and Aldermen took order that every Housholder should cause their Children and Apprentices to keep their own Parish-churches upon Holidays order was taken for preventing the like Tumult on the Sunday following A Sermon was Preached at the Cross by Doctor Watson who afterwards was Bishop of Lincoln for whose security many Lords of the Council were there present and Jerningham Captain of the Guard with two hundred of his Yeomen standing round about the Pulpit with their Halberts Then care was taken that nothing should be Preached in private Churches contrary to the Doctrine which was and should be Taught at the Cross by them which were appointed to it It was further ordered that every Alderman in his Ward should send for the Curates of every Church within their Liberties and warn them not onely to forbear Preaching themselves but also not to suffer any other to Preach or make any open reading of Scripture in their Churches unless the said Preachers were severally Licensed by the Queen For eight weeks after the Proclaiming of Mary Queen Protestantism and Popery were together set on foot the former hoping to be continued the latter labouring to be restored Seeing by the fidelity of the Norfolk and Suffolk Protestant Gentry the Queen was much advantaged for the speedy recovering of her Right they conceived that as she by them had regained the Crown so they under her should enjoy their Consciences The Papists put their Ceremonies in execution presuming on the Queens private practice and publick countenance The Queen on August 18. puts forth a Proclamation declaring her self for the Popish Religion which she resolves to observe for her self wishing her Subjects to follow her example yet that she mindeth not to compel any thereunto until such time as further order by common Assent may be taken therein forbidding all her Subjects to move Seditions at their perils and the Printing of any Book Rhyme Enterlude or Treatise without her special License for the same and
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 E●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
the Queen whom he had heard to be one of the Innovators Being cast into the Tower of London he slew one of his Keepers with a Billet which he snatched up out of the Chimney for which he was condemned of murther had his right hand cut off and nailed to the Gallows and then he was hanged In the year 1574. certain Ministers of London were deluded by a Maid which counterfeited her self to be possessed of the Devil So powerful was the party of the Non-conformists grown at this time that Doctor Humfrey then President of Maudlins and Mr. John Fox himself both which scrupled subscription in some particulars were deserted by them as luke-warm and remiss in the cause Coleman Burton Hallingham Benson out-did all of their own Opinions Then died Matthew Parker Archbishop of Canterbury an excellent Antiquary a great Benefactor to Bennet-colledge in Cambridge on which he bestowed many Manuscripts Edmond Grindal succeeded him in his place Not long after died James Pilkinton Bishop of Durham He was as appeareth by many of his Letters a great conniver at Non conformity The same year died Edward Deering an eminent Divine born of an ancient Family in Kent bred Fellow of Christ's-colledge in Cambridge a pious and painful Preacher but disaffected to Bishops and Ceremonies Rowland Jenkes a Popish Bookseller was indicted at the Summer-Assizes in Oxford for dispersing of scandalous Pamphlets defamatory to the Queen and State Then the Queen laboureth to compound the Netherland differences but it had little effect She relieveth the Estates and the Prince of Orange with twenty thousand pounds of English money upon condition they should neither change their Religion nor their Prince nor receive the French into the Netherlands Then one Cuthbert Mayn a Priest was drawn hanged and quartered at Launston in Cornwal for his obstinate maintaining of the Papal power and Trugion a Gentleman of that Countrey which had harboured him was turned out of his Estate and condem●ed to perpetual imprisonment In this year 1577. died Nicholas Bullingham Bishop of Worcester And the same year died William Bradbridge Bishop of Exeter and Edmond Guest Bishop of Salisbury Anno 1579. died Richard Cheiney Bishop of Bristol Robert Horn Bishop of Winchester succeeded Thomas Centham Bishop of Coventry and Litchfield followed him And not long after died Richard Cox Bishop of Ely Now the Sect called The Family of Love began to grow so numerous that the Privy Council thought fit to endeavour their suppression They perswaded their followers That those only were elected and to be saved which were admitted into that Family and all the rest Reprobates and to be damned and that it was lawful for them to deny upon their Oath before a Magistrate whatsoever they list Of this Fanatical vanity they dispersed Books among their followers translated out of the Dutch Tongue into English which they entitled The Gospel of the Kingdo● Docu●ental Sentences The Prophesy of the Spirit of Love The pub●ishing of Peace upon Earth The Author was Henry Nic●olas of L●rden who blasphemously said That he did partake of God and God of his Humanity This Man came over into England in the Reign of King Edward the Sixth joyned himself to the Dutch Congregation in London where he seduced many Artificers and silly Women among The Ab●●ration may be read in F●●●er church Hist ●● A● 1580. whom two Daughters of one Warwick to whom he dedicated an Epistle were his principal P●rverts Mr. Martin Micronius and Mr. Nicholas Charineus then the Ministers of the Dutch Congregation zealously confuted his errors but it seems their Antidotes pierced not so deep as his Poysons The Privy Council now tendred unto them an Abjuration but with what success we find not The Queen commanded by Proclamation That the Civil Magistrate should be assistant to the Ecclesiastical for the timely suppressing of them and that their Books should be burnt Then divers Seminary Priests were sent forth into several parts of England and Ir●land to administer as they pretended the Sacraments of the Romish Religion and to preach But the Queen and her Council found that they were sent under-hand to withdraw the Subjects from their Allegiance and Obedience due to their Prince to bind them by Reconciliation to perform the Pope's Commandements to raise intestine Rebellion under the Seal of Confession and flatly to execute the Sentence of Pope Pius the Fifth against the Queen To these Seminaries for as much as there were sent daily out of England from the Papists very many Boys and young Men of all sorts and admitted into the same making a Vow to return and others from thence crept secretly into England there came forth a Proclamation in the month of June That whosoever had Children Pupils Kinsmen or others in the parts beyond the Seas should after ten dayes deliver their names to the Ordinary and to those which returned not they should not directly or indirectly supply any money That no Man should entertain in his ho●se or lodge Priests sent forth of the Seminaries and Jesuits or cherish and relieve them And whosoever did the contrary should be accounted a favourer of Rebels c. But Robert Parsons and Edmond Campian Jesuits living at Rome 〈◊〉 's Hist of Queen E●i Anno 1580. obteined of the Pope license to come over into England Parsons was born in Sommerset-shire of Baliol-colledge in Oxford a man of a fierce nature and rude behaviour he professed openly the Protestants Religion until he was for his dishonesty expelled the University then fled he to the Papists Campian was born in London and bred in St. John's-colledge in Oxford one of a sweet nature and fluent tongue These two notably advanced the Roman cause● travelling up and down the Countrey secretly and to Popish Gentlemens houses in disguised habits sometimes of Souldiers sometimes of Gentlemen sometimes of Ministers of the Word sometimes of Apparitors Campian by a Writing set forth challenged the Ministers of the English Church to a Disputation and published a Book in Latin of ten Reasons for maintenance of the Doctrine of the Church of Rome and Parsons another virulent Book in English against Chark who had written soberly against Campian's challenge But to Campian's Reasons Whitaker answered soundly He was taken a year after and put to the rack and afterwards being brought forth to dispute hardly maintained the expectation raised of him Parsons hardly escaping at Norwich in Cheshire politickly returneth to Rome This year Edmond Grindal Archbishop of Canterbury groaning under the Queens displeasure was forbidden access to the Convocation But a Petition was drawn up in the name of the whole Convocation for the restitution of the Archbishop by Toby Matthew Dean of Christ-church This Petition after delayes ended in a final denial it being daily suggested to the Queen that Grindal was a great Patron of Prophecyings now set up in several parts of the Land which if permitted would in fine prove the bane of the Church and State These
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-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 Plain●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
a long and woful War in both Kingdoms They erected a new Government among themselves which consisted of four Tables for the four Orders of the State viz. the Noblemen Heylin on the life of Archbishop Laud part 2. Barons Burgesses and Ministers These fixed themselves in Edenborough leaving the Lords of Council and Session to make merry at Sterling where they had little else to do than to follow their pleasures The Tables being formed they resolved upon renewing the ancient Confession of that Kirk with a Band thereunto subjoyned but accommodated to the present occasion which had been signed by King James on January 28. Anno 1580. And by this Band they entred Covenant for maintenance of their Religion then professed and his Majesty's person but aiming at the contrary And to this Covenant they required an Oath of all the Subjects which was as great an Usurpation of the Regal power as they could take upon themselves for confirming their own authority and the peoples obedience in any project whatsoever which should afterwards issue from those Tables Return we now to England where we shall find things in a better condition at least to outward appearance And now the Metropolitical visitation having been carried into all parts of the Realm of England and Dominion of Wales the Archbishop of Canterbury began to cast his eye upon the Islands of Gu●rnsey and Jersey two Islands lying on the Coast of Normandy to the Dukedom whereof they once belonged and in the Right of that Dukedom to the Crown of England As parts of Normandy they were subject in Ecclesiastical matters to the Bishops of Constance in that Dukedom and so continued till the Reformation of Religion Heylin's Hist of Arcbishop Laud. Ad An. 1637. here in England and were then added to the Diocess and Jurisdiction of the Bishops of Winchester But the Genevian Discipline being more agreeable to such Preachers as came to them from France they obtained the exercise thereof in the eighth year of Queen Elizabeth Anno 1565. The whole Goverment distinguished into two Classes both meeting in a Synod every second or third year according to the order of their Book of Discipline digested by Snape and Cartwright in a Synod held at Guer●sey June 28. 1576. In this manner they continued till King James his time when the Churches in the Isle of Jersey falling into some disorder and being under an immediate Governor who was no great friend to Calvin's Platform they were necessitated for avoiding a great mischief to cast themselves into the Arms of the Church of England The principal Ecclesiastical Officer whilst they were under the Bishops of Constance had the Title of Dean for each Island one the several powers both of the Chanceslor and Archdeacon being united in his Person This Office is restored again his Jurisdiction marked out his Fees appointed his Revenue setled but made accountable for his Administration to the Bishop's of Winchester The English Liturgy is translated also into French to be read in their Churches Instructions first and afterwards a Body of Canons framed for regulating both Ministers and people in their several duties Now it was resolved that the Metropolitical visitation should be held in each of them at the next opening of the Spring And the Archbishop had designed a Person for his principal Visitor who had spent some time in either Island and was well acquainted with the Bailiffs Ministers and Men of special note among them But the Affairs of Scotland growing worse this Council was laid by But these Islands were not out of his mind The Islanders used to breed such of their Sons as they designed for the Ministry either at Saumur or Geneva from whence they returned well-seasoned with Calvinism Therefore to al●ure the people to send their Children to Oxon or Cambridge he thought of providing some preferment for them in our Universities It now happened that one Hubbard the Heir of Sir Miles Hubbard Citizen and Alderman of London died to whom upon an Inquis●tion taken after his death in due form of Law no Heir was found which could lay claim to his Estate Which so unexpectedly fallen to the Crown and being a fair Estate withall the Archbishop perswaded his Majesty to bestow some small part thereof upon pious uses And so much was allotted out of it as for the present served sufficiently to endow three Fellowships for the perpetual education of so many of the N●tives of Guernsey and Jersey These Fellowships to be founded in Exeter Jesus and Pembrook Colledges that being disperst into several Houses there might be an increase both of Fellows and Revenues of the said Foundations By means whereof he did as Doctor Heylin observeth both piously and prudently provide for those Islands and the advancement of Conformity among them for the future It is not to be thought that the Papists were all this while asleep Pancani arriving in England brought with him many pretended Relicks An. 1636. of Saints Medals and pieces of Gold with the Pope's Picture stamped upon on them to be distributed among those of the Party but chiefly to the Ladies of the Court and Countrey to whom he made the greatest part of his Applications Then he practised upon some of the principal Lords and used his best endeavours to be brought into the acquaintance of the Lord Archbishop of Canterbury But his Grace neither liked the Man nor the Message he came about and admitted him neither to complement nor communication However the Popish faction multiplying in some numbers about the Court resorted more openly to the Masses at Sommerset-house where the Capuchins had obtained both a Chappel and Convent Of this none bears the blame but the Archbishop who is traduced in Libels and common ●alk for the principal Architect in the plot and the contriver of the mischief Awakened by so many Alarms he had good cause to look about him but more at the great noise not long after raised about the seduceing of the Countess of Newport to the Church of Rome effected by the practices of Walter Mountague a younger Son of the Earl of Manchester and the importunities of Toby Mathews an undeserving Son of a worthy Father Con interposing in it as he found occasion Wherefore he passionately besought the King that they might be barred either from coming into the Court at all or to give no offence and scandal to their misbehaviours Hereupon Mountague and Mathews were discharged the Court the one betaking himself to his Countrey-practice the other for a time to his former Travels in France and Italy The next year he moved for a Proclamation for the calling in of a Popish Book written in French by Francis Sales Bishop of Geneva translated into English entitled an Introduction to a holy life The Printer was thereupon apprehended and the Translator diligently sought for to be brought to Justice His Majesty caused the said Book to be called in and as many as could be seized on to be
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 encr●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 pe●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
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 profi●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 Flag●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 Cro●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 si●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 Bi●ths ●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 Gov●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 Pre●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 A●bridgem●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 shoul● 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 t●e said twenty third of July obtained by the said persons therein concerned then such person or persons as
their Countrey And marching with great Forces he was encountred at Edge-hill by the Parliaments Forces where five thousand men on both sides were slain on the place among which was the King's General Yet the King kept the field and made his way open forced Banbury Castle and entred triumphantly into Oxford with an hundred and twenty Colours taken in the Fight The King resolves on his advance towards London and goes forward as far as Brainford out of which he beats two of their best Regiments takes five hundred prisoners and sinks their Ordnance But understanding that the Earl of Essex joyning with the London-Auxiliaries lay in way before him at Turnham-Green near Chiswick he retreated toward Oxford where he receives Propositions of Peace from the Houses of Parliament Among which I find this for one That his Majesty would be pleased to give his Royal Assent for taking away superstitious Innovations and to the Bill for the utter abolishing and taking away all Archbishops Bishops their Chancellors Commissaries Deans Subdeans Deans and Chapters Archdeacons Deacons Canons and Prebandaries and all Chantors Chancellors Treasurers Sub-treasurers Succentors and Sacrists and all Vicars Choral and Choristers old Vicars or new Vicars of any Cathedral or Collegiate Church and all other their under-officers out of the Church of England To the Bill against scandalous Ministers To the Bill against pluralities And to the Bill for consultation to be had with Godly Religious and Learned Divines That his Majesty would be pleased to pass such other Bills for setling of Church-government as upon consul●●tion with the Assembly of the said Divines shall be resolved on by both Houses of Parliament and by them to be presented to his Majesty Which Proposition with the rest being presented to him on Candlemas-day he referred to the following Treaty to be held at Oxford but the Commissioners were so tyed to their Instructions that nothing could be yielded by them But the Parliament had now entred on the Rents and profits of all the Heylin Hist of Archbishop Land Episcopal Sees and Capitular Bodies which were within the power of their Armies and sequestred the Benefices of many under the common notion of scandalous Ministers who if they had transgressed the Laws of the Realm by the same Laws were to have been proceeded against that so being legally deprived the vacant Churches might be left to be filled by the Patrons with more deserving Incumbents But this consisted not with the present design Most of the silenced Lecturers and Ministers which within ten years past had left the Kingdom for Inconformity were put into these sequestred Benefices with which his Majesty being made acquainted he presently signified his dislike of it by his Royal Proclamation bearing date May 15. 1643. In which he complains That divers of the Pious and Learned Clergy were forced from their Cures and Habitations or otherwise silenced c. for no other reason but because contrary to the Laws of the Land and their own Consciences they would not pray against Him and his Assistants or refused to publish any Illegal orders for fomenting the War raised against him but conformed themselves according to the Book of Comon-Prayers and preached God's Word according to the purity thereof without any mixture of Sedition Next That many Factious and Schismatical persons were intruded into them to sow Sedition and seduce his good Subjects from their Obedience contrary to the Word of God and the Laws of the Land c. And thereupon he straitly commandeth all his good Subjects to pay their Tythes to the several and respective Incumbents or their Assignes without guile or fraud notwithstanding any Sequestration pretended Orders or Ordinances whatsoever from one or both Houses of Parliament c. Requiring all Church-wardens and Sides-men to be assistant in gathering and receiving their Tythes Rents and Profits and to resist all such persons as much as in them lay which were intruded into any of the Benefices or Cures aforesaid But this rather served to declare his Majesties piety than to stop the course of those proceedings Then an infamous Pamphlet is dispersed Licensed by John White Chair-man of the Committee for Religion called The Committee for plundred Ministers under the Title of The first Century of Scandalous and Malignant Priests c. Their Commissioners were no sooner returned from Oxford but they 1643. called an Assembly of Divines by their own Authority who met at Westminster in King Henry the Seventh his Chappel These were of four several natures First Men of Episcopal perswasion as the most Reverend James Vsher Archbishop of Armagh Doctor Ralph Brownrigg Bishop of Exeter Doctor Westfield Bishop of Bristol Doctor Daniel Featly Doctor Richard Holdsworth c. Secondly Such who in their judgements favoured the Presbyterian Discipline c. among whom we take special notice of these Doctor Hoyle Divinity Professor in Ireland Cambridge Dr. William Gouge in Black-friers Dr. Peter Smith Mr. Oliver Bowles Mr. Thomas Gataker Mr. Henry Scudder Mr. Anthony Tuckney Mr. Stephen Marshall Mr. John Arrow-Smith Mr. Herbert Palmer Mr. Thomas Thorowgood Mr. Thomas Hill Mr. Nathanael Hodges Mr. John Gibbon Mr. Timothy Young Mr. Richard Vines Mr. Thomas Coleman Mr. Matthew Newcomen Mr. Jeremiah Whitaker Mr. John Lightfoot c. Oxford Dr. William Twisse Dr. Cornelius Burgesse Dr. Edmond Stanton Mr. John White of Dorchester Mr. Harris of Hanwel Mr. Edward Reynolds Mr. John Maynard Mr. Charles Herle Mr. Corbert of Merton Colledge Mr. Conant Mr. Francis Cheynel Mr. Obadiah Sedgewick Mr. Cartar Senior Mr. Cartar Junior Mr. Joseph Caryl Mr. Strickland Mr. Thomas Baily c. Thirdly Some who formerly disliking Conformity removed themselves beyond the Seas now returned home at the beginning of this Parliament These afterward proved dissenting Brethren to some transactions in the Assembly as Thomas Goodwin Philip Nye Sidrach Symson Jeremiah Burroughes William Bridge Fourthly Some Members of the Lords and Commons were mingled among them and Voted joyntly in their Consultations as the Earl of Pembrook the Lord Say The most Learned Antiquary Mr. Selden Mr. Francis Rouse Mr. Bulstr●de Whitlock c. Commissioners from Scotland were also joyned with them as the Earl of Lothian the Lord Lauderdale the Lord Warriston of the Nobility others of the Clergy as Mr. Alexander Henderson Mr. Gelaspy c. Doctor Twisse Preached the first Sermon at the meeting of the Assembly Fuller Church Hist Ad An. 1643. though the Schools not the Pulpit was his proper Element witness his Controversal writings and in his Sermon he exhorted them Faithfully to discharge their high calling to the glory of God and honour of his Church He much bemoaned That the Royal Assent was wanting to give encouragement to them yet he hoped That by the efficacy of their fervent Prayers it might in due time be obtained and that a happy union might be procured betwixt him and the Parliament Sermon ended the Ordinance was read by which was declared the Cause Ground
following the direction of the Church of England whose Rubrick appointeth that Chapter the second Morning-lesson for the thirtieth of January At ten of the Clock in the forenoon he is brought on Foot from St. James's Palace over the Park to Whitehall guarded with a Regiment of Foot-souldiers part before and the rest behind him with Colours flying and D●ums beating his private Guard of Partizans about him and Doctor Juxon Bishop of London next to him on one side and Colonel Tomlinson on the other He bid them go faster saying That he● now went before them to strive for an Heavenly Crown with less sollicitude than he had oftentimes bid his Souldiers to fight for an earthly Diadem Then passeth he to the Scaffold where he defendeth his Innocency howbeit he acknowledgeth God's justice pardons his enemies takes pity on the Kingdom He shews the Souldiers how much they are out of the way and tells them They would never go right till they give God his due the King his due and the people their due You must said he give God his due by restoring his worship and Church rightly regulated which is now out of order according to h●s Word And a National Synod freely called freely debating among themselves must settle this when every Opinion is freely and clearly heard For the King said he that is my Successor Indeed I will not the Laws of the Land will clearly instruct you for that For the People I must tell you That their liberty and freedom consists in having Government under those Laws by which their Lives and Goods may be most their own It is not in having a share in the Government that pertains not to them A Sovereign and a Subject are two different things He prayed God they might take those courses that are best for the good of the Kingdom and their own Salvation Then having declared That he died a Christian according to the profession of the Church of England as the same was left him by his Father He said I have a good Cause and a gracious God and gave his George to the Bishop bidding him Remember to give it to the Prince Then said He I go from a Corruptible to an Incorruptible Crown where no disturba●ce can be but peace and joy for evermore Then lifting up his eyes and hands to Heaven having prayed secretly stooping down to the block he re●●iv●d the fatal stroak On the Wednesday sennight af●●r his Corps ●mbalmed and Coffined in Lead was delivered to the care of some of his Servants to be buried at Windsor That night they brought the Corps to Windsor The Vault being prepared a scarff of Lead was provided some two foot long and five inches broad therein to make an Inscription which was KING CHARLES 1648. The Plummer souldred it to the Coffin about the Breast of the Corpse Then was the Corpse brought to the Vault being born by the Souldiers of the Garrison Over it a black Velvet Herse-cloth the four Labels whereof the Duke of Richmond the Marquess of Hertford the Earls of South-hampton and Lindsey did support The Bishop of London stood weeping by Then was it deposited in silence and sorrow in the vacant place in the Vault near to the Coffin as it was thought which contained the Corps of King Henry the Eighth the Herse-cloth being cast in after it about three of the Clock in the afternoon and the Lords that night though late returned to London Prince Charles eldest Son to King Charles the first by unquestionable right succeeded to the Crowns of England Scotland and Ireland in the eighteenth year of his age Proclamation and Coronation could not now have their due course The Ruling part of the House of Commons who usurped the Government with violence on the person of the late King immediately published an Act even against Kingly Government Yet this Inhibition did not deter many Loyal Subjects from doing their duty and on February 2. a Proclamation in the name of the Noblemen Judges Knights Lawyers Gentlemen Free-holders Merchants Citizens Yeomen Seamen and other Freemen of England did Proclaim Prince Charles King of England The Proclamation was Printed and scattered about the Streets of London The House of Peers continued yet sitting and in regard the Commissions of the Judges were determined by the death of the King they send to the Commons for a Conference about it and other matters relating to the setling of the Government But Monarchy and the House of Lords are declared useless by the Commons The Peers in general resent these indignities put upon them by a small part of the House of Commons they assert their own Priviledges and the Fundamental Laws of the Nation and disclaim and protest against all Acts Votes Orders or Ordinances of the said Members of the Commons House for erecting of new Courts of Justice to try or execute the King or any Peer or Subject of the Realm for altering the Government Laws Great Seal c. Hereupon the Army set a Guard upon the door of the House of Lords and in further prosecution of the late Votes of Commons against Monarchy An Act was passed by that House for the Exhaeredation of the Royal Line the Abolishment of Monarchy in this Kingdom and the setting up of a Common-wealth which they ordered to be published and Proclaimed in all part● of the Kingdom But Alderman Reinoldson then Lord Mayor of London refused to publish this Act in London and He with three of the Aldermen of his Judgment were sent prisoners to the Tower But on February 3. the King was Proclaimed at the Cross at Edinburgh In the beginning of March the Duke of Hamilton the Earls of Holland and Norwich the Lord Capel and Sir John Owen were tried and condemned by an High Court of Justice erected for that purpose of which the Duke of Hamilton the Earl of Holland and the Lord Capel were executed March 9. but the Earl of Norwich and Sir John Owen were pardoned The Commons set forth a Declaration to justifie their proceedings They promise the establishment of a firm and sase Peace the advancement of the true Protestant Religion the liberal maintenance of a godly Ministry c. They pass an Act for propagating the Gospel in Ireland March 8. April 10. 1649. An Act was passed by the Commons for the sale of Deans and Chapters Lands and for the abolishing of Deans Deans and Chapters Canons Prebends c. and Tithes of or belonging to any Cathedral or Collegiate Church in England and Wales but it was provided That this should not extend to the Colledge of St. Mary in Winchester nor to the Colledge of Eaton nor to any of the Mannors Lands Tenements and Hereditaments to them belonging June 2. 1649 An Act was passed for the better maintenance of Preaching Ministers and School-masters out of the Lands of Deans and Chapters throughout England and Wales in such places where maintenance is wanting and for other good uses to the advancement of true