the Ignorant with much Veneration Now at the dissolution of Abbeys it was brought up to London and burnt at the Gallows in Smithfield with Fryer Forrest executed for a Traytor 13. A Prophecie was current in the Abbey of Glassenborough Haret Delphinus in ulmo That a Whiting should swim on the top of the Torr thereof which is a steep hill hard by and the credulous Countrey people understood it of an eruption of the Sea which they suspected accordingly It happened that Abbot Whiting the last of Glassenbury was hanged thereon for his Recusancy to Surrender the Abbey and denying the King's Supremacy so swimming in aire and not water and waved with the winde in the place 14. We will close all with the Propheticall Mottoes at leastwise as men since have expounded them of the three last successive Abbots of Glocester Propheticall Mottoes inscribed in Glocester Church because much of modesty and something of piety contained therein 1. Abbot Boulers Memento memento that is as some will have it Remember remember this Abbey must be dissolved 2. Abbot Sebruck Fiat voluntas Domini that is if it must be dissolved the will of the Lord be done 3. Abbot Mauborn Mersos reatâ— suscita Raise up those which are drowned in guiltiness Which some say was accomplished when this Abbey found that favour from King Henry the eighth to be raised into a Bishoprick But I like the Text better than the Coment and there is more humility in their Mottoes than solidity in the Interpretations That many precious Books were embezeled at the dissolution of Abbeys to the irreparable losse of learning THe English Monks were bookish of themselves English Libraries excellently furnished and much inclined to hoord up monuments of learning Britain we know is styled Another world and in this contradistinction though incomparably lesse in quantity acquits it self well in proportion of famous Writers producing almost as many Classical School-men for her Natives as all Europe besides Other excellent Books of forraign Authors were brought hither purchased at dear rates if we consider that the Presse which now runs so incredibly fast was in that Age in her infancie newly able to goe alone there being then few Printed Books in comparison of the many Manuscripts These if carefully collected and methodically compiled would have amounted to a Librarie exceeding that of Ptolomie's for plenty or many Vaticans for choicenesse and rarity Yea had they been transported beyond the seas sent over and sold entire to such who knew their value and would preserve them England's losse had been Europe's gain and the detriment the lesse to Learning in generall Yea many years after the English might have repurchased for pounds what their Grand-fathers sold for fewer pence into forraign parts 2. But alas The miserable martyrdome of innocent Books those Abbeys were now sold to such Chap-men in whom it was questionable whether their ignorance or avarice were greater and they made havock and destruction of all As Broakers in Long-lane when they buy an old suit buy the lineings together with the out-side so it was conceived meet that such as purchased the buildings of Monasteries should in the same grant have the Libraries the stuffing thereof conveyed unto them And now these ignorant owners so long as they might keep a Lieger-book or Terrier by direction thereof to finde such stragling acres as belonged unto them they cared not to preserve any other Monuments The covers of books with curious brasse bosses and claspes intended to protect proved to betray them being the baits of covetousness And so many excellent Authors stripp'd out of their cases were left naked to be burnt or thrown away Thus Esop's cock casually lighting on a pearl preferr'd a grain before it yet he left it as he found it and as he reaped no profit by the pearl it received no damage by him Whereas these cruell Cormorants with their barbarous beaks and greedy claws rent tore and tatter'd these inestimable pieces of Antiquity Who would think that the Fathers should be condemn'd to such servile employment as to be Scavengers to make clean the foulest sink in mens bodies Yea which is worse many an antient manuscript Bible cut in pieces to cover filthy Pamphlets so that a case of Diamond hath been made to keep dirt within it yea the Wisemen of Gotham bound up in the Wisdome of Solomon 3. But hear how John Bale John Bale lamentably bemoaneth thâ—â—massacre a man sufficiently averse from the least shadow of Popery hating all Monkery with a perfect hatred complained hereof to King Edward the sixt a In his Declaration upon Leland's Journall Anno 1549. Covetousnesse was at that time so busie about private commodity that publick Wealth in that most necessary and of respect was not any where regarded A number of them which purchased those superstitious mansions reserved of those Library-books some to serve their jakes some to scour their candlesticks and some to rub their boots some they sold to the Grocers and Sope sellers and some they sent over sea to the Book binders not in small number but at times whole ships full Yea the Universities of this Realme are not all clear in this detestable fact But cursed is that belly which seeketh to be fed with so ungodly gains and so deeply shameth his naturall Countrey I know a Merchant-man which shall at this time be namelesse that bought the contents of two noble Libraries for fourty shillings price a shame it is to be spoken This stuffe hath he occupied instead af gray paper by the space of more than these ten years and yet he hath store enough for as many years to come A prodigious example is this and to be abhorred of all men which love their Nations as they should doe Yea what may bring our Realm to more shame and rebuke than to have it noised abroad that we are despisers of learning I judge this to be true and utter it with heavinesse that neither the Britains under the Romans and Saxons nor yet the English people under the Danes and Normans had ever such damage of their learned monuments as we have seen in our time Our posterity may well curse this wicked fact of our Age this unreasonable spoil of Englands most noble antiquities 4. What soul can be so frozen Learning recelveth an incurable wound by the losse of books as not to melt into anger hereat What heart having the least spark of ingenuiry is not hot at this indignity offered to literature I deny not but that in this heap of Books there was much rubbish Legions of lying Legends good for nothing but fewell whose keeping would have caused the losse of much pretious time in reading them I confesse also there were many volumes full fraught with superstition which notwithstanding might be usefull to learned men except any will deny Apothecaries the priviledge of keeping poison in their shops when they can make antidotes of them But be
had store of time and no want of intelligence to take that task upon them And surely that industrious b An able Stationer in Little Britain London Bee hath in our Age merited much of posterity having lately with great cost and care enlarged many Manuscripts of Monks formerly confined to private Libraries that now they may take the free aire and being printed publickly walk abroad Mean time whilest Monks pens were thus employed Nuns with their needles wrote histories also that of Christ his passion for their Altar-clothes and other Scripture and moe Legend stories in hangings to adorn their houses 7. They were most admirable good Land-lords Abbots excellent Land-lords and well might they let and set good peny-worths who had good pounds-worths freely given unto them Their yearly rent was so low as an acknowledgment rather than a rent onely to distinguish the Tenant from the Land-lord Their fines also were easie for though every Convent as a body politick was immortal yet because the same consisted of mortal Monks for their members and an old Abbot for the head thereof they were glad to make use of the present time for their profit taking little fines for long leases As for rent-beeves sheep pullein c. reserved on their leases Tenants both payed them the more easily as growing on the same and the more cheerfully because at any time they might freely eat their full share thereof when repairing to their Land-lords bountiful table Insomuch that long Leases from Abbeys were preferred by many before some Tenures of freeholds as lesse subject to taxes and troublesome attendance 8. Their hospitality was beyond compare And admirable House-keepers insomuch that Ovid if living in that Age who feigned famine to dwell in Scythia would have fancied feasting an inhabitant of English Abbeys Especially in Christmas-time they kept most bountifull houses Whosoever brought the face of a man brought with him a Patent for his free welcome till he pleased to depart This was the method where he brake his fast there he dined where he dined there he supped where he supped there he brake his fast next morning and so in a circle Alwaies provided that he provided lodging for himself at night Abbeys having great halls and refectories but few chambers and dormitories save for such of their own society 9. Some will object Objection against their hospitality that this their hospitality was but charity mistaken promiscuously entertaining some who did not need and moe who did not deserve it Yea these Abbeys did but maintain the poor which they made For some Vagrants accounting the Abbey-almes their own inheritance served an apprentiship and afterwards wrought journey-work to no other trade than begging all whose children were by their fathers copie made free of the same company Yea we may observe that generally such places wherein the great Abbeys were seated some few excepted where cloathing began when their Covent did end swarm most with poor people at this day as if beggary were entailed on them and that lazinesse not as yet got out of their flesh which so long since was bred in their bones 10. All this is confessed The same answered yet by their hospitality many an honest and hungry soul had his bowels refreshed which otherwise would have been starved and better it is two drones should be fed than one bee famished We see the heavens themselves in dispensing their rain often water many stinking bogs and noisome lakes which moisture is not needed by them yea they the worse for it onely because much good ground lies inseparably intermingled with them so that either the bad with the good must be watered or the good with the bad must be parched away 11. Of all Abbeys in England Elie puts all Abbeys down for feasting Elie bare away the bell for bountifull feast-making the vicinity of the fenns affording them plenty of flesh fish and fowle at low rates Hereupon the Poët Praevisis aliis Eliensia festa videre Est quasi praevisa nocte videre diem When other Feasts before have been If those of ELIE last be seen 'T is like to one who hath seen night And then beholds the day so bright But with the leave of the Poëts Hyperbole other Abbeys as Glassenbury S. Albans Reading spurred up close to Elie which though exceeding them in feasts the evidence oft of a miser yet they equalled Elie in the constant tenour of house-keeping The mention of Reading mindes me of a pleasant and true story which to refresh my wearied self and Reader after long pains I here intend to relate 12. King Henry the eighth A pleasant story of K Henry the eighth as He was hunting in Windesor Forrest either casually lost or more probable willfully losing Himself struck down about dinner-time to the Abbey of Reading Where disguising Himself much for delight more for discoverie to see unseen He was invited to the Abbots table and passed for one of the Kings guard a place to which the proportion of His person might properly intitle Him A Sir-loyne of beef was set before Him so Knighted saith tradition by this King Henry on which the King laid on lustily not disgracing one of that place for whom He was mistaken Well fare thy heart quoth the Abbot and here in a cup of sack I remember the health of His Grace your Master I would give an hundred pounds on the condition I could feed so heartily on beef as you doe Alas my weak and squeazie stomack will hardly digest the wing of a small rabbet or chicken The King pleasantly pledged him and heartily thanking him for His good cheer after dinner departed as undiscovered as He came thither 13. Some weeks after He proves a good Physician the Abbot was sent for by a Pursevant brought up to London clapped in the Tower kept close-prisoner fed for a short time with bread and water Yet not so empty his body of food as his minde was filled with fears creating many suspitions to himself when and how he had incurred the King's displeasure At last a sir-loyne of beef was set before him on which the Abbot fed as the Farmer of his Grange and verified the Proverb That two hungry meals makes the third a glutton In springs King Henry out of a private lobbie where He had placed Himself the invisible spectatour of the Abbots behaviour My Lord quoth the King presently deposit your hundred pounds in gold or else no going hence all the daies of your life I have been your Physician to cure you of your squeazie stomack and here as I deserve I demand my fee for the same The Abbot down with his dust and glad he had escaped so returned to Reading as somewhat lighter in purse so much more merrier in heart than when he came thence Presages of the approaching ruine of Abbeys THE wisest and most religious amongst the Romanists Oliban's prophesie of the Friers fall presaged and suspected a
Bedfordshire It began Anno 575 under King Vffa and lay most exposed to the Cruelty of the Danish Incursions 5. Of MERCIA so called because it lay in the middest of the Island being the Merches or Limits on which c Lambert's Descript of Kent all the residue of the Kingdomes did bound and border It began Anno 582. under King Cridda and contained the whole Counties of Lincoln Northampton with Rutland then and long since part thereof Huntingdon Buckingham Oxford Worcester Warwick Darby Nottingham Leicester Stafford and Chester Besides part of Hereford and Salop the Remnant whereof was possess'd by the Welsh Gloucester Bedford and d Idem ibid. Lancaster In view it was the greatest of all the seven but it abated the Puissance thereof because on the VVest it affronted the Britans being deadly Enemies and bordering on so many Kingdomes the Mercians had work enough at home to shut their own Doors 6. Of NORTHUMBERLAND corrivall with Mercia in Greatnesse though farre inferiour in Populousnesse as to which belonged whatsoever lieth betwixt Humber and Edenborough-Frith It was subdivided sometimes into two Kingdomes of Bernicia and Deira The later consisted of the Remainder of Lancashire with the intire Counties of York Durham VVestmorland and Cumberland Bernicia contained Northumberland with the South of Scotland to Edenborough But this Division lasted not long before both were united together It began Anno 547 under King Ida. 7. Of the WEST-SAXONS who possessed Hantshire Berkshire Wiltshire Somerset Dorset and Devonshire part of Cornwall and Gloucestershire yea some assigne a Moiety of Surrey unto them This Kingdome began Anno 519 under King Cerdicus and excelled for plenty of Ports on the South and Severn Sea store of Burroughs stoutnesse of active men some impute this to the Naturall cause of their being hatch't under the warm Wings of the South-VVest VVind which being excellent VVrastlers gave at last a Fall to all the other Saxon Kingdomes So that as the seven Streams of Nilus loose themselves in the Mid-land Sea this Heptarchy was at last devoured in the VVest-Saxons Monarchy The reason that there is some difference in VVriters in bounding of these severall Kingdomes is because England being then the constant Cock-pit of Warre the Limits of these Kingdomes were in daily motion sometimes marching forward sometimes retreating backward according to variety of Successe We may see what great difference there is betwixt the Bounds of the Sea at high-High-water and at low-Low-water Mark and so the same Kingdome was much disproportioned to it self when extended with the happy Chance of Warre and when contracted at a low Ebb of Ill Successe And here we must not forget that amongst these seven Kings during the Heptarchie commonly one was most puissant over-ruling the rest who stiled himself a Camden's Brit. pag. 139. King of the English Nation 18. But to return to the British Church and the year of our Lord 449 wherein S t. Patrick Irish S. Patrick said to live and die at Glassenbury the Apostle of Ireland is notoriously reported to have come to Glassenbury where finding twelve old Monks Successours to those who were first founded there by Ioseph of Arimathea he though unwilling was chosen their Abbot and lived with them 39 yeares observing the Rule of S t. Mark and his Aegptian Monks the Order of Benedictines being as yet unborn in the world Give we here a List of these 12 Monks withall forewarning the Reader that for all their harsh Sound they are so many Saints least otherwise he should suspect them by the ill noise of their Names to be worse Creatures 1. Brumbam 2. Hyregaan 3. Brenwall 4. VVencreth 5. Bantom-meweng 6. Adel-wolred 7. Lowar 8. VVellias 9. Breden 10. Swelves 11. Hinloemius 12. Hin But know that some of these Names as the 3. 6. and 9. are pure plain b First observed by Mr. Camden and since by the Arch-bishop of Armach He is made Co-partner in the Church with the Virgin Mary Saxon words which renders the rest suspected So that whosoever it was that first gave these British Monks such Saxon Names made more Haste then good Speed preventing the true Language of that Age. 19. So great was the Credit of S t. Patrick at Glassenbury that after his Death and Buriall there that Church which formerly was dedicated to the Virgin Mary alone was in after-Ages jointly consecrated to her and S t. Patrick A great Presumption For if it be true what is reported that at the first by direction of the Angel c See 1. Cent. 11. Parag. Gabriel that Church was solely devoted to the Virgin Mary surely either the same or some other Angel of equall Power ought to have ordered the Admission of S t. Patrick to the same to be match'd and impaled with the Blessed Virgin in the Honour thereof In reference to S t. Patrick's being at Glassenbur severall Saxon Kings granted large Charters with great Profits and Priviledges to this Place 20. But now the Spight is that an unparallel'd d James Usher de Brit. Ecc. Primord pag. 875. 883 894. 895. Yet the Credit of Patrick's being at Glassenbury shrewdly shaken Critick in Antiquity leaves this Patrick at this time sweating in the Irish Harvest having newly converted Lempster to the Faith and now gone into the province of Munster on the same Occasion Yea he denies and proveth the same that this Patrick ever liv'd or was buried at Glassenbury But be it known to whom it may concern that the British are not so over-fond of S t. Patrick as to ravish him into their Country against his will and the consent of Time Yea S t. Patrick miss'd as much Honour in not being at Glassenbury as Glassenbury hath lost Credit if he were never there seeing the British justly set as high a Rate on that Place as the Irish do on his Person See but the Glorious Titles which with small Alteration might serve for Ierusalem it self given to Glassenbury and seeing now the Place is for the most part buried in it's own Dust let none envy these Epithets for the Epitaph thereof Here lies the a Or Borough City vvhich once vvas the b In the Charter of King Ina and also in King Edgar's Fountain and Originall of all Religion built by Christs Disciples c Malmesbury MS. de Antiq. Eccles Glaston consecrated by Christ himself and this place is the d So called in the Charter of King Kenwin MOTHER OF SAINTS We are sorry therefore for S t. Patrick's sake if he was never there To salve all some have found out another Patrick called Seniour or Sen Patrick a nice difference equall with the Irish Apostle in Time and not much inferiour in Holinesse who certainly liv'd at Glassenbury The plain truth is that as in the e Plautus his Amphitruo Comoedian when there were two Amphitruo's and two Sosia's they made much fallacious Intricacy and pleasant Delusion in the eyes of the Spectatours So
Bodies first brought to be buried in Churches confirmed by the authority of Gregory the Great Bishop of Rome it was decreed that no Corpse either of Prince or Prelate should be buried within the Walls of a City but onely in the Suburbs thereof and that alone in the Porch of the Church and not in the Body Now Cuthbert Arch-bishop of Canterbury having built Christ-Church therein was desirous to adorn it with the Corpses of great Persons therein afterwards to be interred In pursuance of this his Design he durst not adventure on this Innovation by his own Power nor did he make his applications to the Pope of Rome as most proper to repeal that Act which the See Apostolick had decreed but onely addresseth himself to Eadbert King of Kent and from him partim precario partim etiam pretio partly praying partly paying for it saith my b Tho. Spot in his Hist of Canterbury Also Archiv Caniuariens cited by Antiq. Brit. in Cuthbert Authour obtained his Request Behold here an ancient Church-Canon recalled at the Suit of an Arch-bishop by the Authority of a King This Cuthbert afterwards handselled Christ-Church with his own Corpse whose Predecessours were all buried in S t. Augustines without the Walls of Canterbury Thus began Corpses to be buried in the Churches which by degrees brought in much Superstition especially after degrees of inherent Sanctity were erroneously fixed in the severall parts thereof the Porch saying to the Church-yard the Church to the Porch the Chancel to the Church the East-end to all Stand farther off for I am holier then you And as if the Steps to the High Altar were the Stairs to Heaven their Souls were conceived in a nearer degree to Happinesse whose Bodies were mounted there to be interred 28. About this time the Bill of fare of Monks was bettered generally in England The occasion of Monks their first drinking of wine in England and more liberty indulged in their Diet. It was first occasioned some twenty yeares since when Ceolwolphus formerly King of Northumberland but then a Monk in the Convent of Lindisfern or Holy Island c Roger. Hoved. in parte priori gave leave to that Convent to drink Ale and Wine anciently confined by Aidan their first Founder to Milk and Water Let others dispute whether Ceolwolphus thus dispensed with them by his new Abbatical or old Regal Power which he so resigned that in some cases he might resume it especially to be King in his own Convent And indeed the cold raw and bleak Situation of that place with many bitter Blasts from the Sea and no Shelter on the Land speaks it self to each Inhabitant there d 1 Tim. 5. 23 Drink no longer VVater but use a little VVine for thy Stomacks sake and thine often Infirmities However this locall Priviledge first justly indulged to the Monks of Lindisfern 760 was about this time extended to all the Monasteries of England whose primitive over-Austerity in Abstinence was turned now into a Self-sufficiency that soon improved into Plenty that quickly depraved into Riot and that at last occasioned their Ruine 29. This Year the English have cause to write with Sable letters in their Almanack 789 on this sad Occasion Danes their first arrivall in England that therein the Danes first invaded England with a considerable Army Anno Dom. 789 Severall Reasons are assigned for their coming hither to revenge themselves for some pretended Injuries though the true Reason was because England was richer and roomthyer then their own Countrey 30. It is admirable to consider what Sholes of people were formerly vented out of Cimbrica Chersonesus Denmark formerly fruitfull is now become barren of men take it in the largest a Otherwise strictly it containeth onely part of Denmark Continent to Germany extent for Denmark Norway and Swedeland who by the terrible Names of Gothes Ostro-Gothes Viâ—i-Gothes Huns Vandals Danes Nortmans overranne the fairest and fruitfullest parts of Christendome whereas now though for these last three hundred yeares the Swedish Warres in Germany excepted that Countrey hath sent forth no visible Numbers of People and yet is very thinly inhabited so that one may travell some hundreds of Miles therein through mere Desarts every man whom he meeteth having a Phoenix in his right hand Yea so few the Natives that some of their Garrisons are manned with Forreigners and their Kings sain to entertain mercenary Dutch and Scotch to manage their Warres 31. Strange Two reasons thereof that this Countrey formerly all on the giving should now be onely on the taking hand Some b Barklay in Icon animaâ—um impute their modern comparative Barrennesse to their excessive Drinking a Vice belike which lately hath infected that Nation drinking themselves past Goats into Stocks out of Wantonnesse into Stupidity which by a contracted Habit debilitateth their former Fruitfulnesse Others more c G. Tayl. in his Chronicle of Normandy truely ascribe their former Fruitfulnesse to their promiscuous Copulations with Women during their Paganisme which are not so numerous since Christianity hath confined them to the Marriage of one VVife 32. If I might speak according to my own Profession of a Divine soaring over Second Causes in Nature I should ascribe their ancient Populousnesse to Divine Operation The reason of reasons As the Widow her Oyle multiplyed till her Debts were satisfied and that effected for which the Miracle was intended which done the Increase thereof instantly ceased So these Northern Parts flowed with Crouds of People till their Inundations had payed the Scores of sinfull Christians and then the Birch growing no more when the wanton Children were sufficiently whipped the Procreativenesse of those Nations presently stinted and abated 33. The Landing of these Danes in England was ushered with many sad Prognosticks Bad presages of the Danes approach d Sim. Dunel Ranulphus Cestrensis alii Starres were seen strangely falling from Heaven and sundry terrible Flames appeared in the Skies From the firing of such extraordinary Beacons all concluded some new Enemie was approaching the Nation Serpents were seen in Sussex and Bloud reigned in some parts of the Land Lindesfern or Holy Island was the first that felt the Fury of these Pagans but soon after no place was safe and secure from their Cruelty whereof more hereafter 34. At this time the Arch-bishoprick of Canterbury was in part removed to Lichfield The Archepiscopal Pall removed to Lichfield five essentiall things concurring to that great Alteration 790 1. The Puissance and Ambition of Offa King of Mercia commanding in Chief over England He would have the brightest Mitre to attend the biggest Crown 2. The complying nature of Pope Adrian except any will call it his Thankfulnesse to gratifie King Offa for the large Gifts received from him 3. The easy and unactive Disposition of Iambert or Lambert Arch-bishop of Canterbury unlesse any will term it his Policy that finding himself unable to resist
it for the single life of one man except in some case of Extremity to help against Famine Invasion of Foes or for obtaining of Freedome 8. That things dedicated to God remain so for ever 9. That the Acts of all Synods be fairly written out with the Date thereof and name of the Arch-bishop President and Bishops present thereat 10. That Bishops at their death give the full Tithe of their Goods to the Poor and set free every English-man which in their life-time was a Slave unto them 11. That Bishops invade not the Diocese prists the Parish neither the Office of another save onely when desired to baptize or visit the Sick The Refusers whereof in any place are to be suspended their Ministery till reconciled to the Bishop 12. That they pour not water upon the Heads of Infants but immerge them in the Font in imitation of Christ who say they was thrice c See Sr. Hen. Spelman pag. 331. so washed in Iordan But where is this in Scripture Anno Dom. 816 The manifestation indeed of the Trinity plainly appears in the a Matth. 3. 16 17. Text Anno Regis Egberti 16 Father in the Voice Son personally present Holy Spirit in the Dove but as for thrice washing him altum silentium However see how our modern Sectaries meet Popery in shunning it requiring the person to be plunged though Criticks have cleared it that Baptize doth import as well Dipping as Drenching in water 5. And now we take our farewell of King Kenulph Egbert proclaimed Monarch of England who for all his great Bustling in Church-matters for the first twenty yeares in this Century was as genus subalternum amongst the Logitians a King over his Subjects yet but a Subject to King Egbert 820 who now at Winchester was solemnly crowned Monarch of the Southern and greater Moiety of this Island 20 enjoyning all the people therein to term it Engelond since England that so the petty Names of seven former distinct Kingdomes might be honourably buried in that general Appellation 6 Some will wonder Seven Kingdomes swallowed up in Engelond seeing this Narion was compounded of Saxons Iuites and Angles why it should not rather be denominated of the first as in Number greatest and highest in Reputation Such consider not that a Grand Continent in Germany was already named Saxony and it was not handsome for this Land to wear a Name at second hand belonging to another Besides England is a name of Credit importing in Dutch the same with the Land of b Verstegan of decayed intelligence Angels And now the Name stamped with the Kings Command soon became currant and extinguished all the rest For Kent Essex Sussex Northumberland though remaining in common Discourse shrunk from former Kingdomes into modern Counties VVestsex Mercia and East-Angles were in effect finally forgotten It will not be amisse to wish that seeing so great a Tract of Ground meets in one Name the People thereof may agree in Christian Vnity and Affections 7. King Egbert was now in the Exaltation of his Greatnesse Danes disturb King Egbert But never will humane Happinesse hold out full Measure to mans Desire Freed from home-bred Hostility he was ready to repose himself in the Bed of Ease and Honour when the Danes not onely jogged his Elbows but pinched his Sides to the disturbance of his future Quiet 831 They beat the English in a Navall Fight at Carmouth in Dorsetshire 31 which proved fatall to our Nation For an Island is never an Island indeed untill mastered at Sea cut off from Commerce with the Continent Henceforward these Pagans settled themselves in some part of the Land though claiming it by no other Title then their own Pride and Covetousnesse and keeping it in no other Tenure then that of Violence and Cruelty 8. Athelwolphus his Son succeeded King Egbert in the Throne Athelwolphus his universal grant of Tithes to the Church a Prince not lesse commended for his Valour 837 then Devotion Ethelwolphi 1 and generally fortunate in his Undertakings though much molested all his life-time by the Danes But nothing makes him so remarkable to Posterity as the granting of this Charter or rather the solemn passing of this Act ensuing c Ex Ingulph Malmesb. Gest Reg. lib. 2. cap. 2. Regnante Domino nostro Iesu Christo in perpetuum Dum in nostris temporibus bellorum incendia direptiones opum nostrarum nec non vast antium crudelissimas depraedationes hostium barbarorum Paganarumque gentium multiplices tribulationes ad affligendum usque ad internecionem cernimus tempora incumbere periculosa Quamobrem ego Ethelwolphus Rex Occidentalium Saxonum cum consilio Episcoporum ac Principum meorum consilium salubre atque uniforme remedium affirmavi Vt aliquam portionem terrarum haereditariam antea possidentibus omnibus gradibus sive famulis famulabus Dei Deo servientibus sive laicis semper decimam mansionem ubi minimum sit tamen partem decimam in libertatem perpetuam perdonari dijudicavi ut sit tuta at munita ab omnibus secularibus servitutibus nec non regalibus tributis majoribus minoribus sive taxationibus quod nos dicimus Witereden Sitque libera omnium rerum pro remissione animarum nostrarum ad serviendum Deo soli sine Expeditione pontis instructione arcis munitione ut eo diligentius pro nobis ad Deum preces sine cessatione fundant quo eorum servitutem in aliqua parte levigarius Placuit etiam Episcopis Alhstano Schireburnensis Ecclesiae Swithuno Wintoniensis Ecclesiae Anno Dom. 837 cum suis Abbatibus servis Dei consilium inire ut omnes fratres sorores nostrae ad unamquamque Ecclesiam omni hebdomada die Mercurii hoc est Weddensday cantent quinquaginta psalmos unusquisque Presbyter duas Missas unam pro rege Ethelwolpho aliam pro ducibus ejus huic dono consentibus pro mercede refrigerio delictorum suorum pro Rege vivente dicant Oremus Deus qui justificas pro ducibus etiam viventibus Praetende Domine postquam autem defuncti fuerint pro Rege defuncto singulariter pro principibus defunctis communiter Et hoc sit tam firmiter constitutum omnibus Christianitatis diebus sicut libertas illa constituta est quamdiu fides crescit in gente Anglorum This Athelwolphus was designed by his Father to be Bishop of Winchester 11 bred in a Monastery 848 alias 855 after taken out and absolved of his Vows by the Pope and having had Church-education in his Youth 18 retained to his Old-age the indeleble Character of his affections thereunto In expression whereof in a solemn Council kept at Winchester he subjected the whole Kingdome of England to the Payment of Tithes as by the foregoing Instrument doth appear He was the first born Monarch of England Indeed before his time there were
the Prior in the Vestiary Leth win the Sub-Prior in the Refectory Pauline in the Quire Herbert in the Quire VVolride the Torch-Bearer in the same place Grimketule and Agamund each of them an hundred yeares old in the Cloisters These faith my c Iugulphus pag. 866. Author were first examinati tortured to betrary their Treasure and then exanimati put to death for their Refusall The same VVriter seems to wonder that being killed in one place their Bodies were afterwards found in another Surely the Corse removed not themselves but no doubt the Danes dragged them from place to place when dead There was one ChildMonk therein but ten yeares old Turgar by name of most lovely Looks and Person Count Sidroke the younger pittying his tender yeares all Devills are not cruell alike cast a Danish d In Latine Collobium Peterbarough Monks killed Monastery burned Coat upon him and so saved him who onely survived to make the sad Relation of the Massacre 20. Hence the Danes marched to Medeshamsted since called Peterborough where finding the Abbey-gates locked against them Anno Regis Etheltedi 4 they resolved to force their Entrance Anno Dom. 870 in effecting whereof Tulba Brother to Count Hubba was dangerously wounded almost to Death with a Stone cast at him Hubba enraged hereat like another Doeg killed Abbot Hedda and all the Monks being fourscore and four with his own hand Count Sidroke gave an Item to young Monk Turgar who hitherto attended him in no wise to meet Count Hubba for fear that his Danish Livery should not be found of proof against his Fury Then was the Abbey set on Fire which burned fifteen dayes together wherein an excellent Library was consumed Having pillaged the Abbey and broke open the Tombes and Coffins of many Saints there interred these Pagans marched forwards into Cambridgeshire and passing the River Nine two of their VVagons fell into the Water wherein the Cattell which drew them were drowned much of their rich Plunder lost and more impaired 21. Some dayes after A heap of Martyrs the Monks of Medeshamsted were buried altogether in a great Grave and their Abbot in the middest of them a Crosse being erected over the same where one may have four yards square of Martyrs Dust which no place else in England doth afford Godric Successour to Theodore Abbot of Crowland used annually to repair hither and to say Masses two dayes together for the Souls of such as were entombed One would think that by Popish Principles these were rather to be prayed to then prayed for many maintaining that Martyrs go the nearest way to Heaven sine ambage Purgatorii so that surely Godric did it not to better their Condition but to expresse his own Affection out of the Redundancy of his Devotion which others will call the Superfluity of his Superstition 22. The Danes spared no Age The cruel Martyrdome of King Edmond Sex Condition of people such was the Cruelty of this Pagan unpartial Sword With a violent Inundation they brake into the Kingdome of the East-Angles wasted Cambridge and the Countrey thereabouts burnt the then City of Thetford forced Edmond King of that Countrey into his Castle of Framling ham who perceiving himself unable to resist their Power came forth and at the Village of Hoxon in Suffolk tendered his Person unto them hoping thereby to save the Effusion of his Subjects Blouds Where after many Indignities offered unto him they bound him to a Tree and because he would not renounce his Christianity shot him with Arrow after Arrow their Cruelty taking Deliberation that he might the better digest one Pain before another succeeded so distinctly to protract his Torture though Confusion be better then Method in matters of Cruelty till not Mercie but want of a Mark made them desist according to the a Camden's Britan in the description of Suffolk Poets Expression Iam loca Vulneribus desunt nec dum furiosis Tela sed hyberna grandine plura volant Room wants for Wounds but Arrows do not fail From Foes which thicker fly then winter Hail After-Ages desiring to make amends to his Memory so over-acted their part in shrining sainting and adoring his Relicks at Bury S t. Edmonds that if those in Heaven be sensible of the Transctions on Earth this good Kings Body did not feel more Pain from the Fury of the Pagan Danes then his Soul is filled with holy Indignation at the Superstition of the Christian Saxons 23. However the VVest-Saxon King Ethelbert behaved himself bravely fighting King Ethelbert his prayer-victory with various Successe nine b William Malmesbury De Gestis Regum Anglorum lib. 2. pag. 42. Battels against the Danes though ninety nine had not been sufficient against so numerous an Enemy But we leave these things to the Historians of the State to relate We read of an c Gen. 31. 52. Heap of Stones made between Iacob and Laban with a mutuall Contract that neither should passe the same for Harm Thus would I have Ecclesiasticall and civil Historians indent about the Bounds and Limits of their Subjects that neither injuriously incroach on the Right of the other And if I chance to make an Excursion into the matters of the Common-wealth it is not out of Curiosity or Busybodinesse to be medling in other mens Lines but onely in an amicable way to give a kind Visit and to clear the mutuall Dependence of the Church on the Common-wealth Yet let me say that this War against the Danes was of Church-concernment for it was as much pro aris as pro focis as much for Religion as civil Interest But one War must not be forgotten Importunate Messengers brought the Tidings that the English were dangerously ingaged with the Danes at Essendune haply Essenden now in surrey and likely to be worsted King Ethelhert was at his Devotions which he would not omit nor abbreviate for all their Clamour No suit would he hear on Earth till first he had finished his Requests to Heaven Then having performed the part of pious Moses in the a Exod. 17. 11 Mount he began to act valiant Ioshua in the Valley The Danes are vanquished leaving Posterity to learn that time spent in Prayer is laid out to the best Advantage 24. But alas King Ethelbert heart-broken with grief this Danish Invasion was a mortal VVound 871 Dedecus Saxonica fortitudinis 5 the Cure whereof was rather to be desired then hoped for Ease for the present was all Art could perform King Ethelbert saw that of these Pagans the more he slew the more they grew which went to his valiant Heart Grief is an heavy Burthen and generally the strongest Shoulders are able to bear the least proportion thereof The good king therefore withered away in the Flower of his Age willingly preferred to encounter rather Death then the Danes for he knew how to make a joyfull End with the one but endless was his Contest with the other according
Cure or secretly unsatisfied what manner and measure of Belief is required according to the Modell whereof Health is observed to come sooner or later or openly offended with the e Gu. Tucker in Charismate cap. 7. pag. 96. Sign of the Crosse which was used to be made by the Royall Hands on the Place infected Anno Dom. All which Exceptions fall to the ground Anno Regis Edvardi Confessoris 24 when it shall be avowed that notwithstanding the Omission of such Ceremonies as requisite rather to the Solemnity then Substance of the Cure the bare Hands of our Kings without the Gloves Jan. 4. as I may term it of the aforesaid Circumstances have effected the healing of this Disease 33. Hereupon some make it a clear Miracle Many make the Cure miraculous and immediately own Gods Finger in the Kings Hand That when the Art of the Physitian is posed the Industry of the Chirurgion tired out the Experience of both at a Losse when all humane Means cry craven then that Wound made by the Hand of God is cured by the hand of his Vice-gerent Hath Heaven indued Vegetables the worst and weak est of living Creatures with cordiall Qualities yea hath it bestowed pretious Properties on dull and inanimate Waters Stones and Mineralls insomuch that such are condemned for Silly or Sullen for Stupid or Stubborn as doubt thereof And shall we be so narrow-hearted as not to conceive it possible that Christian men the nobiest of corporeall Creatures Kings the most eminent of all Christian men Kings of Britain the First-Fruits of all Christian Kings should receive that peculiar Priviledge and sanative Power whereof daily Instances are presented unto us See here the vast Difference betwixt Papists and Protestants How do the former court those Miracles which fly from them and often in default of Reall ones are glad and greedy to hug and embrace empty Shadows of things falsly reported to be done or fondly reputed to be Miracles Whereas many Protestants on the contrary as in the matter in hand are scrupulous in accepting Miracles truely tendered unto them But although our Religion firmly founded on and safely senced with the Scriptures need no Miracles to confirm or countenance the truth thereof yet when they are by the hand of Heaven cast into our Scales not to make our Doctrine Weight but as superpondium or an Over-plus freely bestowed sure they may safely without Sin be received not to say can scarce be refused without at least some suspicion of Neglect Ingratitude to the Goodnesse of God 34. Nor will it be amisse here to relate a Passage which happened about the middest of the Reign of Queen Elizabeth The ingenuousconfession of a Catholick after Pope Pius did let fly his Excommunication against her There was a stiffe Roman Catholick as they delight to term themselves otherwise a man well accomplished and of an ingenuous Disposition who being cast into Prison I conceive for his Religion was there visited in an high degree with the Kings Evil. And having with great Pain and Expence but no Successe long used the advice of Physitians at last he humbly addressed himself unto the Queens Majestie by whom with Gods help he was compleately cured And being demanded What news a Gu Tucker in Charismate cap. 6. pag. 92. I perceive said he now at last by plain experience that the Excommunication denounced by the Pope against her Majestie is in very deed of none effect seeing God hath blessed her with so great and miraculous a Vertue 35. This mention of Queen Elizabeth there is a magnetick Vertue in Stories Queen Elizabeth why displeased with the people in Gloce stershire for one to attract another minds me of a Passage in the beginning ofher Reign Making her Progresse into Glocestershire people affected with this Discase did in uncivil Crowds presse in upon her Insomuch that her Majestie betwixt Anger Grief and Compassion let fall words to this effect Alasse poor people I cannot I cannot cure you it is God alone that can doe it Which words some interpreted contrary to her Intent and Practice continuing such Cures till the day of her Death an utter renouncing and disclaiming of any Instrumentall Efficacy in her self Whereas she onely removed her Subjects Eyes from gazing on her to look up to Heaven For mens Minds naturally are so dull and heavy that instead of traveling with their Thanks to God the Cause of all Cures they lazily take up their Lodging more then half-way on this side mistaking the Dealer for the Giver of their Recovery It follows not therefore that the Queen refused to heal their Bodies because carefull in the first place to cure their Souls of this dangerous Mistake A Princesse who as she was a most exact Demander of her Due observed seldome or never to forgive her greatest Favourites what they owed her so did she most punctually pay her Ingagements to others as to all men so most especially to God loth that he should lose any Honour due unto him by her unjust Detaining thereof 36. The Kings of France share also with those of England in this miraculous Cure And Laurentius reports The Kings of France cure the Kings Evil. that when Francis the first King of France was kept Prisoner in Spain he notwithstanding his Exile and Restraint daily cured infinite Multitudes of people of that Disease according to this Epigram Hispanos inter sanat Rex Choeradas estque Captivus Superis gratus ut ante fuit The Captive King the Evil cures in Spain Dear as before he doth to God remain So it seemeth his Medicinall Quality is affixed not to his Prosperity but Person so that during his Durance he was fully free to exercise the same 37. Thus farre we patiently hear Laâ—â—rentius falsely denies the Kings of England power in curing the Kings Evil. and sufficiently credit this Authour but can no longer afford him either Belief or Attention when he presumeth to tell us that the Kings of England never a De mirabill strumarum curatione c. 2. cured the Kings Evill a Vertue appropriated onely to his Majestie of France Onely he confesseth that long ago some of our English Kings of the Anjouan Race descended from Ieffery Plantagenet did heal the Falling Sicknesse with certain Consecrated Annulets a Custome long since difused Thus he seeks to deprive our Princes of their Patrimoniall Vertue and to make them Reparations instead of their sanative Power whereof they are peaceably possest to them and their Heires holding it of God in chief with assigning them an old Leaâ—e where the Title at the best was litigious and the Term long ago expired But the Reader may be pleased to take notice that this Laurentius was Physician in ordinary to King Henry the fourth of France and so had his Judgement herein bowed awry with so weighty a Relation Flattery being so catching a Disease wherewith the best Doctors of Physick may sometimes be
Lincoln John Exeter 24. Mar. 30. Henry S t Asaph 1533 and none that pretendeth to skill in Canon Law can deny the number insufficient for such a performance 30. Another urgeth him uncapable of a Bishoprick as debarr'd by Bigamy His double marriage no ba◠unto him even by the censure of the c 1 Tim. 3. 2. Apostle Let a Bishop be the husband of one wife Cranmer being successively twice married It is Answered such successive marriage is no Bigamy the Apostle onely forbidding the having of many wives at once a fault fashionable amongst the Jews then and many years after by the testimony of d In dial cum Tryph. Justine Martyr and the same is so expounded also by e Eph. 83. S Hierom. praecipit ut sacerdotes singulas uno tempore habeant uxores 31. But grant Cranmer guilty but of one wife at once Bishops married in the Primitive times even that made him as his adversaries rejoyn uncapable of the Arch-Bishoprick because Prohibited by the Canons To which we answer that f Sozomenus lib. 1. cap. 11. Spiridion g Baptistae Mantuenus S t. Hilary h In carmine de vitâ suâ Gregory Nazianzen and many other Bishops eminent for Learning and Sanctity in the Primitive times are confessed married men by authentick Authors in the best times accounted no bar to their Episcopal function Yea the Romanists are concerned to allow Cranmer a lawful Arch-Bishop because allowing such as were Consecrated by him as Thomas Thyrlby Bishop of Ely Anthony Kitchin Bishop of Landaff for lawful Bishops to whom he could not derive any orders if not legally invested therein himself 32. Pass we now to such acceptions which a m Will Pryn in his antipathy of prelacy to Monarchie pag. 131. Modern writer zealous against Popery taketh against him Cranmer took not the like Oath with his predecessors being no fewer then nine as if he intended what they want in weight to make up in number 1. That he took the like Oath to the Pope which his Predecessors have done and therefore was deeply charged of perjury by Martin a Papist * The copy of his protestation 33. I Answer he took not the like Oath His Predecessours took it absolutely and simply Not so Cranmer Not that he was guilty of any clandestine equivocation or mental reservation therein but publickly entred a solemn Protestation remaining on Record in his n Ex Regist. Cranmer fol. 4. office in manner and form following IN Dei nomine Amen Coram nobis c. Non est nec erit meae voluntatis aut intentionis per hujusmodi juramentum vel juramenta qualiterque verba in ipsis posita sonare videbuntur me obligare ad aliquid ratione eorundem posthac dicendum faciendum aut attentandum quid erit aut esse videbitur contra legem Dei vel contra illustrissimum Regem nostrum Angliae aut Rempublicam hujus sui Regni Angliae legesve aut praerogativa ejusdem quòd non intendo per hujusmodi juramentum vel juramenta quovis modo me obligare quo minùs liberè loqui consulere consentire valeam in omnibus singulis reformationem Religionis Christianae gubernationem Ecclesiae Anglicanae ac praerogativam coronae ejusdem Reipublicae vè commoditatem quoquo modo concernentibus ea ubique exequi reformare quae mihi in Ecclesiâ Anglicanâ reformanda videbuntur Anno Dom. 1533 secundum hanc interpretationem Anno Regis Hen. 8. 24. intellectum hunc non aliter neque alio modo dictum juramentum me praestiturum protestor profiteor c. This Protestation he did not privately smother in a corner but publickly interposed it three several times viz. once in the Chapter-house before authentick witnesses again on his bended knees at the High-Altar many people and Bishops beholding him when he was to be consecrated and the third time when he received his Pall in the same place 34. Secondly No cavil but a just charge he accuseth him for having a hand in the condemnation and execution of Lambert Frith and other Godly Martyrs This indeed cannot be denied For though I am loath that Cranmers head should by the weight and violence of his causless detractors be plucked under water where he was innocent I will leave him to sink or swim by himself where he was guilty Onely adding In many things we offend all 35. His third accusation A happy match in the event he was a chief man in accomplishing King Henries Divorce which a Mr Pryn pag. 132. occasioned much trouble dissention and war But he might have remembred which also produced the peerless Princess Queen Elizabeth who perfected the Reformation and by her long peaceable and victorious Reign brought much honour wealth and renown to our Nation Besides that Divorce is generally defended by Protestant writers whose judgments this accuser will rely on when it makes for his purpose 36. Fourth accusation A Rebels weapon the Lincoln-shire Rebels in their six Articles of their grievances presented to King Heary the eighth complain that this Arch-Bishop and other Prelates of his Graces late promotion had b Mr Pryn ut prius subverted the Faith of Christ c. 37. I Answer Ill used against a loyal subject they were the Lincoln-shire Rebels that said it and this their pretended subverting of the sath was the reforming and confirming thereof Cranmer serving the God of his Fathers in that way which they termed Heresie Welltherefore might this cavil have been waved good onely to swell the Volume 38. Fifth Cavil The grand cavil though Matthew Parker reports as this c Mr Pryn pag. 133. Delator confesses that Cranmer opposed this act of the six Articles at first then caused it to be moderated and at last to be repealed in King Edwards dayes but others seem to imply that he gave consent thereunto at first 39. To this I Answer three things Answered First to imply is far less then to express and such implications are often the bare surmises of a byassed apprehension Secondly to seem to imply is less then to imply nulla videntur quae non sunt Thirdly the Others by him mentioned ought to have been nominated this Author generally giving no scant measure in such wares so that his margin commonly over-thronged is here quite empty of quotations Inopem nunc copia secit We may assure our selves he would have alledged such Other Authors but for several substantial reasons whereof this was one because he had none to alledg And shall an uncertain un-named No body be believed against Cranmer before M r Fox and D r Parkers clear testimonies in his behalf 40. Seventh Cavil Violent no just depriving He suffered Martyrdome not while he was a Bishop but when degraded and deprived What of this does this tend any thing to the disgrace of him or his order seeing such
Erambrook Richard Tovey John Hasting Thomas Bayll John Austine In Canterbury Richard Gomershan Nicholas Clement Thomas Farley Sodomites William Liechfield William Cawston Thomas Morton John Goldingston John Ambrose Christoph James Kept 3 married Whores In St. Augustine Thomas Barham a Whoremonger and a Sodomite In Chichester John Champion and Roger Barham both of them natural Sodomites In Cathedrall Church John Hill had no lesse than thirteen Whores In Windsor-Castle Nicholas Whyden had 4 George Whitethorn kept 5 Nicholas Spoter Kept 5 Robert Hunne had 5 Robert Danyson kept 6 Whores In Shulbred Monastery George Walden Prior of shulbred had 7 John Standney had at this command 7 Nich Duke to supply his Venery had 5 Whores In Bristow William Abbot of Bristow kept 4 Whores In Mayden Bradley Richard Prior of Mayden-Bradley kept 5 Whores In Bath Monastery Richard Lincombe had 7 Whores and was also a Sodomite In Abingdon Monastery Thomas Abbot of Abingdon kept 3 whores and had 2 children by his own Sister In Bermondsey Abbey John White Prior or rather Bull of Bermondsey had 20 Whores I finde this Catalogue only in the third Edition of Speed proving it a posthumeaddition after the Authors death attested in the margine with the authority of n Cap. 21. sol 183. Henry Steven his Apologie for Herodotus who took the same out of an English Book containing the Vilenesse discovered at the Visitation of Monasteries Thus this being but the report of a forrainer and the Original at home not appearing many justly abate in their belief of the full latitude of this report Indeed tradition is the onely Author of many stories in this nature amongst which the insuing story intituleth it felt to as much probability as any other 3. One Sir Henry Colt of Neither-Hall in Essex A coltish trick served much in favour with K Henry the eighth for his merry conceits suddenly took his leave of Him late at night promising to wait on His Grace early the next morning Hence he hastned to Waltham-Abbey being informed by his setter's that the Monks thereof would return in the night from Cheshunt-Nunnery where they had secretly quartered themselves Sir Henry pitcht a Buckstall wherewith he used to take Deer in the Forest in the narrowest place of the Marsh where they were to passe over leaving some of his Confederates to manage the same 4. The Monks upon the Monks of Waltham coming out of the Nunnery hearing a great noise made behind them and suspecting to be discovered put out the light they had with them whose feet without eyes could finde the way home in so used a pathe Making more hast than good speed they ran themselves all into the Net The next morning Sir H. Colt brought and presented them to King Henry who had often seen sweeter but never fatter Venison 5. Here I cannot believe what is commonly told of under-ground Vaults leading from Fryeries to Nunneries More talk than truth of under-ground Vaults confuted by the scituation of the place through Rocks improbably and under Rivers impossible to be conveyed Surely had Wal tham Monks had any such subterranean contrivances they would never have made use of so open a passage and such Vaults extant at this day in many Abbeys extend but a few paces generally used for the conveyance of water or sewers to carry away the filth of the Covent 6. More improbable it is Provision made for their lust what is generally reported that Abbots made provision for their lusts on their Leases enjoyning their Tenents to furnish them as with wood and coles so with fewel for their wantonness A o Mr. Steven Marshall Reverend Divine hath informed me that he hath seen such a passage on a Lease of the Abbey of Essex where the Lessee was enjoyned yearly to provide Unam claram lepidam puellam ad purgandos renes Domini Abbatis 7. It was never my hap to behold any Instrument with such a lustfull clause Charity best in doubtfull evidence or wanton reservation therein and shall hardly be induced to believe it First because such turpis conditio was null in the very making thereof Secondly because it was contrary to the Charta magna as I may call it of Monasticall practise Sinon cassè tamen cautè wherefore what private compact soever was by word of mouâ—h made betwixt them upon their Leases parole sure all Abbots were if not so honest so discreet that no act in scriptis should remain which on occasion might publickly be produced against them 8. As for the instances of their private incontinence A Solome in Sion Nunnery they are innumerable I will insist but in one hapning just at this juncture of time and which may be presumed very operative to the ruine of such Religious Houses A Lettore certefying the incontynensye of the Nuns of Syon with the Friores and astore the acte done the Friores reconsile them to God Endoised To the Right Honourable Master Thomas Cromwell chief Secretary to the Kings Highnesse IT maye please your goodnesse to understand that p He was one of Fryers who according to the constitution of your Order lived here with the Brigitian Nuns Bushope this day preched and declared the Kynges tytelle very well and hade a grete Audyense the Chorche full of people one of the * I conceive this two proper names Focaces in his said declaration only called him false knave with other foolish words it was the foolish fellow with the corled head that kneeled in your waye when you came forth of the Confessores Chamber I can no lesse doe but set him in prisone ut poena ejus sit metus aliorum yesterday I learned many enormous thinges against Bushope in the examination of the lay Brederen first that Bushope perswaded towe of the Brederene to have gone theire wayes by night and he himselfe with them and to the accomplishment of that they lacked but money to buy them seculere apparell Further that Bushope would have perswaded one of his lay-Brederen a Smithe to have made a keay for the doare to have in the night time received in Wenches for him and his fellows and especially a Wiffe of Uxebridge now dwelling not farre from the old Lady Derby nigh Uxebridge which Wiffe his old customer hath byne many times here at the grates communing with the said and he was desirous to have her convoyed into him The said Bushope also perswaded a Nunne to whom he was Cenfessour ad libidinem corporis perimplendam And thus he perswaded her in Confession making her believe that whensover and as ofte as they shold medle together if she were immediately after confessed by him and tooke of him absolution she shold be cleere forgeven of God and it shold be none offence unto her before God And she writte diveres and sundrye Lettores unto him of such their foolishnesse and unthriftynesse and wold have had his Broden the Smithe to have polled out
and Protestants wring their hands which our fathers found begun our selves see hightened and know not whether our children shall behold them pacified and appeased 4. But now a Parliament began at Westminster Alteration of Beligion enacted by the Parliament Wherein the Laws of King Henry the eighth against the See of Rome were renewed Jann 25. and those of King Edward the sixth in favour of the Protestants revived and the Laws by Queen Mary made against them repealed Uniformity of Prayer and Administration of Sacraments was enacted with a Restitution of first fruits Tenths c. to the Crown For all which we remit the Reader to the Statutes at large It was also enacted that whatsoever Jurisdictions Priviledges anâ— Spiritualls preeminences had been heretofore in Vse by any Ecclesiasticall Authority whatsoever to visit Ecclesiasticall men and Correct all manner of Errors Hereâ—es Schisms Abuses and Enormities should be for ever annexed to the Imperiall Crown of England if the Queen and her Successours might by their Letters patents substitute certain men to exercise that Authority howbeit with proviso that they should define nothing to be heresie but those things which were long before defined to be Heresies out of the Sacred Canonicall Scriptures or of the four Oecumenicall Councills or other Councills by the true and proper sence of the Holy Scriptures or should thereafter be so defined by authority of the Parliament with assent of the Clergy of England assembled in a Synod That all and every Ecclesiasticall Persons Magistrates Receivers of pensions out of the Exchequer such as were to receive degrees in the Vniversities Wards that were to sue their Liveries and to be invested in their Livings and such as were to be admitted into the number of the Queens servants c. should be tyed by oath to acknowledge the Queens Majesty to be the onely and supreme Governour of her Kingdoms the Title of Supreme head of the Church of England liked them not in all matters and causes as well spiritual as temporal all forrain Princes and Protestants being quite excluded from taking Cognizance of Causes within her Dominions 5. But the Papists found themselves much agrieved at this Ecclesiasticall Power Papists exceptions against the Queens Supremacy declared and confirmed to be in the Queen they complained that the simplicity of poore people was abused the Queen declining the Title Head and assuming the name Governour of the Church which though less offensive was more expressive So whil'st their ears were favoured in her waving the word their souls were deceived with the same sence under another Expression They cavilled how King a Sanders de Schismate Anglicano lib. 3. pag. 316. Henry the eighth was qualified for that Place and Power being a Lay-man King Edward double debarr'd for the present being a Lay-childe Queen Elizabeth totally excluded for the future being a Lay-woman b Hart against Rainolds pag. 673. They object also that the very c In Praefat. centur 7. writers of the Centuries though Protestants condemne such Headship of the Church in PRINCES and d Upon the 7. of Amos 3. The same how defended by Protestant Divines Calvin more particularly sharply taxeth Bishop Gardiner for allowing the same Priviledge to KING Henry the eighth 6. Yet nothing was granted the Queen or taken by her but what in due belonged unto her according as the most learned and moderate Divines have defended it For e Rainolds against Hart pag. 38. first they acknowledged that Christ alone is the Supreme Soveraign of the Church performing the Duty of an head unto it by giving it power of life feeling and moving and f Ephes 1. 22. him hath God appointed to be head of the Church and Col. 2. 19. by him all the body furnished and knit together by joynts and bands encreaseth with the encreasing of God This Headship cannot stand on any mortall shoulders it being as incommunicable to a Creature as a Creature is incapable to receive it There is also a peculiar Supremacy of Priests in Ecclesiasticall matters to preach the Word minister the Sacraments celebrate Prayers and practise the discipline of the Church which no Prince can invade without usurpation and the sin of Sacriledge for Incense it self did stink in the Nostrils of the God of heaven and h 2 Chr. 26. 19 provoked his Anger when offered by King Vzziah who had no calling thereunto Besides these there is that power which Hezekiah exercised in his Dominions Commanding the Levites and Priests to do their Duty and the People to serve the Lord. And to this power of the Prince it belongeth to restore Religion decayed reforme the Church Corrupted protect the same reformed This was that supremacy in Causes and over Persons as well Ecclesiasticall as Civil which was derived from God to the Queen annexed to the Crown disused in the dayes of her Sister whose blinde zeal surrendred it to the Pope not now first fixed in the Crown by this act of State but by the same declared to the Ignorant that knew it not cleared to the scrupulous that doubted of it and asserted from the Obstinate that denied it 7. As for Calvin How Dr. Rainolds answereth the exceptions to the contrary he reproveth not Reader it is D r. Rainolds whom thou readest the title of head as the Peotestants granted it but that sense thereof i against Hart pag. 673. which Popish Prelates gave namely Stephen Gardiner who did urge it so as if they had meant thereby that the King might do things in Religion according to his own will and not see them done according to Gods will namely that he might forbid the Clergie Marriage the laytie the Cup in the Lords Supper And the truth is that Stephen Gardiner was shamelessly hyperbolicall in fixing that in the King which formerly with as little Right the Pope had assumed Whether he did it out of mere flattery as full of adulation as superstition equally free in sprinkling Court and Church holy-holy-water and as very a fawning Spaniel under King Henry the eighth as afterwards he proved a cruel Blood-hound under Queen Mary his Daughter Or because this Bishop being in his heart disaffected to the Truth Anno Dom. 1557. of set purpose betrayed it in defending it Anno Regin Eliza. 1. suting King Henries vast Body and Minde with as mighty yea monstrous a power in those his odious instances straining the Kings Authority too high on set purpose to break and to render it openly obnoxious to just exception The Centuriatoâ—s also well understood do allow and a Idem ibidem Confess the Magistrates Jurisdiction in Ecclesiasticall matters though on good reason they be enemies to this Usurpation of unlawfull power therein But I digresse and therein Transgresse seeing the large profecution hereof belongs to Divines 9. But Sanders taketh a particular exception against the Regular passing of this Act Sunders 〈…〉 Elizabeth shewing much Queen-Craft in
profit thereof Nove. 14. Mond He was the first Protestant English Bishop that died in the dayes of Q. Elizabeth 15. Thomas Piercy Earle of Northumberland and Charles Nevill Earle of Westmerland brake out into open Rebellion against the Queen 1569 The Rebellion of the Earls of Northumberland and Westmerland Lords of right noble extraction and large revenue whose titles met with their estates in the Northern Parts and indeed the height of their honour was more then the depths of their judge ment These intended to restore the Romish Religion set free the Queen of Scots pretending much zeal for the liberty of the people and honour of the nation complaining of Queen Elizabeth her neglect of the ancient Nobility and advancing mean persons to the places of highest trust and command though indeed could she have made her Noblemen wise as she did her Wisemen Noble these Earls had never undertaken this Rebellion Numerous their Tenants in the North and their obligations the higher for the low rent they paid though now alass poor souls they paid a heavy sine losing their lives in the cause of their Landlords 16. Their first valour was to fight against the English Bible 16. 〈◊〉 Anno Regin 12. Dece 10. More superstiâ—ous thâ—n valiant and Service-Booke in Durham tearing them in pieces And as yet unable to go to the cost of saying Masse for want of Vestiments they began with the cheapest piece of Popery Holy Water their Wells plentifully affording water and Plumtree the Priest quickly conferring consâ—eration Afterwards better provided they set up Mass in most places where they came b Sâ—ws Cron. 663. Richard Norton an ancient and aged Gentleman carrying the Cross before them and others bearing in their Banners the five wounds of Christ or a Chalice according to their different devices No great matter was atchieved by them save the taking of Baâ—â—ards Castle in the Bishoprick which indeed took it self in effect the Defenders thereof being destitute of Victuals and Provisions 17. But hearing how the Garrisons of Carlile and Barwick were manned against them on their backs Routed â—y the Queen her forces and the Earle of Sussex advancing out of the South with an Army to oppose them their spirits quickly sunk and being better armed then disciplined wanting expert Commanders how easily is a rout routed they fled Northwards and mouldered away without standing a battell 18. An Italian Authour writing the life of Pope Pius Quintus giveth us this brief account of this expedition An Italian Authour reckoning without his Hoast They did not overrun the Kingdom as they ought to have done and followed after Elizabeth for which they could not have wanted followers enough but they stood still and not being able to maintain themselves long in the field for want of mony they finally withdrew themselves into Scotland without any thing doing So easie it is for this Authors fancy which scaleth the highest Walls without Ladders gaineth the straightest passes without blows crosses the deepest Rivers without Bridge Ford or Ferry to overrun England though otherwise this handfull of men never exceeding six hundred horse and four thousand foot were unlikely to run through other shiers who could not stand a blow in their own Country 19. Northumberland fled into Scotland Northumberland with many more of thâ— Rebels executed lurked there a time Anno Dom. 1569. was betrayed to Earle Murrey Anno Regin Eliza. 12. sent back into England and beheaded at Yorke Westmerland made his escape into Flanders the wisest work that ever he did where he long lived very poore on a small and ill paâ—ed Pension Many were executed by S r. George Bowes Knight Marshall every market Town being then made a shire Town for his Assises betwixt New-Castle and Witherby a Sâ—ow his Chronicle p. 663. about sixty miles in length and forty in breadth much terrifying those parts with his severity Insomuch that when next year Leonard Dacres put together the ends of the quenched brands of this Rebellion with intent to rekinâ—le them they would not take fire but by the vigilancy and valour of the L. Hansdon his designe was seasonably defeated 20. John Story D. of Law The execution of Dr. Story a cruel persecutor in the dayes of Q. Mary being said for his share to have martyred two or three hundred fled afterwards over into Brabant and because great with Duke de Alva like cup like 〈◊〉 he made him searcher at Antwerp for English goods Where if he could detect either Bible * Fox Acts Mon. p. 2152. or Hereticall Books as they termed them in any ship it either cost their persons imprisonment or goods confiscation But now being trained into the ship of Mr. Parker an Englishman the Master hoised sail time and tide winde and water consenting to that designe and over was this Tyrant and Traitor brought into England where refusing to take the Oath of Supremacy and professing himself subject to the King of Spain he was executed at Tyburne Where being cut down halfe dead after his * Fox Acts Mâ—n ut prius privie members were cut off he rushed on the Executioner and gave him a blow on the eare to the wonder saith my Author of all the standers by and I who was not there wonder more that it was not recounted amongst the Romish miracles 21. The old store of Papists in England began now very much to diminish The original of the English Colledges beyond the seas and decay insomuch that the Romanists perceiv'd they could not spend at this rate out of the main stock but it would quickly make them Bankerupt Prisons consumed many Age moe of their Priests and they had no place in England whence to recruit themselves The largest cisterne with long drawing will grow dry if wanting a fountain to feed the daily decay thereof Hereupon they resolved to erect Colledges beyond the seas for English youth to have their education therein A project now begun and so effectually prosecuted that within the compasse of fifty years nine Colledges were by them founded and furnished with Students and they with maintenance as by the following Catalogue may appear as they stood at the last yeer of King James Since no doubt they have been enlarged in greatnesse increased in number enriched in revenues as such who shall succeed us in continuing this Story may report to posterity May they at my request if having the conveniencies of leisure and instructions be pleased to perfect this my Catalogue and replenish the vacuities thereof with their more exact observations And let no Papists laugh at our light mistakes Protestants not pretending to such exact intelligence of their Colledges as they have of ours Indeed they have too criticall instructions of all our English societies by their agents living amongst us and it is a bad signe when suspicious persons are over-preying to know the windows doors all the passages and
willing hereafter in our particular History of Oxford We will proceed to Report a memorable Passage in the Low-Countreys not fearing to lose my way or to be censured for a wanderer from the English Church-story whilst I have so good a Guide as the Pen of King JAMES to lead me out and bring me back again Besides I am affraid that this Alien Accident is already brought home to England and though onely Belgick in the Occasion is too much British in the Influence thereof SECTION IV. To EDWARD LLOYD Esq RIvers are not bountiful in Giving but just in Restoring * * Eccles 1. 7. their Waters unto the Sea However they may seem gratefull also because openly returning thither what they Secretly received thence This my Dedication unto you cannot amount to a Present but a Restitution wherein onely I tender a Publick acknowledgment of your Private courtesies conferred upon me KING JAMES took into His Princely care the seasonable suppression of the dangerous Doctrines of Conradus Vorstius Dangerous Opinions broached by Conradus Vorstius This Doctor had lived about 15 years a Minister at Steinford within the Territories of the Counts of TECKLENBOURG BENTHEM c. the Counts whereof to observe by the way were the first in Germany not in dignity or Dominion but in casting off the Yoke of Papacie and ever since continuing Protestants This Vorstius had both written and received severall Letters from certain Samosetenian Hereticks in Poland or thereabouts and it hapned that he had handled Pitch so long that at last it stuck to his Fingers and became infected therewith Hereupon he set forth two Books the one entit'led TRACTATUS THEOLOGICUS DE DEO dedicated to the Land-Grave of Hessen the other EXEGESIS APOLOGETICA printed in this year and dedicated to the States both of them facred with many dangerous Positions concerning the Deity For whereas it hath been the labour of the Pious and Learned in all Ages to mount Man to God as much a smight be by a Sacred adoration which the more humble the more high of the Divine Incomprehensiblenesse this Wretch did Seek to Stoop GOD to Man by debasing his Purity assigning him a materiall Body confining his Immensity as not being every where shaking his Immutability as if his will were subject to change darkning his Omnisciency as uncertain in future Contingents with many more monstrous Opinions fitter to be remanded to Hell than committed to writing Notwithstanding all this the said Vorstius was chosen by the Curators of the University of Leyden to be their Publick Divinity-Professour in the Place of Arminius lately deceased and to that end his Excellency and the States Generall by their Letters sent and sued to the Count of TECKLENBOURG and obtained of him that Vorstius should come from Steinford and become Publick-Professour in Leyden 2. It hapned that His Majesty of Great Britain Reasons moving K. James to Oppose him being this Autumne in His hunting-Progresse did light upon and perused the aforesaid Books of Vorstius And whereas too many doe but Sport in their most serious Employment He was so serious amidst His Sports and Recreations that with Sorrow and Horrour He observed the Dangerous Positions therein determining speedily to oppose them moved thereunto with these Principall Considerations First the Glory of God seeing this e In His Declaration against Vorflius p. 365. ANTI-St JOHN as His Majesty terms him mounting up to the Heavens belched forth such Blasphemies against the Divine ineffable Essence and was not a King on Earth concerned when the King of Heaven was dethroned from his Infinitenesse so farre as it lay in the Power of the treacherous Positions of an Heretick Secondly charity to His next Neighbors and Allies And lastly a just fear of the like Infection within His own Dominions considering their Vicinity of Situation and Frequency of intercourse many of the English Youth travelling over to have their Education in Leyden And indeed as it hath been observed that the Sin of Drunkenness was first brought over f See Camden's Elizabeth anno 1581. into England out of the Low Countries about the midst of the Reign of Queen ELIZABETH before which time neither generall Practice nor legall punishment of that vice in this Kingdome so we must Sadly confesse that since that time in a Spiritual Sense many English Souls have taken a cup too much of Belgick wine Whereby their Heads have not onely grown dâ—zie in matters of lesse moment but their whole Bodies stagger in the Fundamentals of their Religion 3. Hereupon King JAMES presently dispatched a Letter to Sir Ralph Winwood The States entertain not the motion of K. James against Vorstius according to just expectation his Ambassadour resident with the States willing and requiring him to let them understand how Infinitely he should be displeased if such a Monster as Vorstius should receive any advancement in their Church This was seconded with a large Letter of His Majesties to the States dated October the 6 to the same effect But neither found that Successe which the KING did earnestly desire and might justly expect considering the many Obligations of the Crown of England on the States the Foundation of whose Common-wealth as the Ambassadour told them was first cemented with English blood Several Reasons are assigned of their non-concurrence with the KING's motion The Curators of Leyden-University conceived it a disparagement to their Judgments if so neer at hand they could not so well examine the Soundnesse of Vorstius his Doctrine as a forraign Prince at such a distance It would cast an aspersion of Levity and Inconstancy on the States solemnly to invite a Stranger unto them and then so soon recede from their Resolution An Indignity would redound to the Count of Tecklenbourg to slight that which so lately they had sued from him The Opposition of Vorstius was endevoured by a male-contented Party amongst themselves disaffected to the Actions of Authority who distrusting their own strength had secretly solicited His Majesty of Great Britain to appear on their Side That as King JAMES his motion herein proceeded rather from the Instance of others than His own Inclination so they gave out that He began to grow remisse in the matter carelesse of the Successe thereof That it would be injurious yea destructive to Vorstius and his Family to be fetcht from his own home where he lived with a sufficient Salarie promised better Provisions from the Landgrave of Hessen to be Divinity Professour in his Dominions now to thrust him out with his Wife and Children lately setled at Leyden That if Vorstius had formerly been faulty in unwarie and offensive Expressions he had since cleared himself in a new Declaration 4. For Vorstius gives no satisfaction in his new Declaration lately he set forth a Book entituled A Christian and modest Answer which notwithstanding by many was condemned as no Revocation but a Repetition of his former Opinions not lesse pernitious but more plausible
many Earles and Barons as could conveniently stand about the Thrane With their solemne oath did lay their hands on the Crowne on his Majesties head protesting to spend their bloods to maintain it to him and his lawfull Heirs The Bishops severally kneeled down but took no oath as the Barons did the King kissing every one of them 28. Then the King took a Scrowle of parchment out of his bosom and gave it to the Lord Keeper Williams A Pardon generall granted who reâ—d it to the Commons four severall times East West North and South The effect whereof was that his Majesty did offer a pardon to all his Subjects-who would take it under his Broad-Seale 29. From the Throne The Communion concludes the solemnity his Majesty was conducted to the Communion Table where the Lord Archbishop kneeling on the North side read prayers in the Quire and sung the Nicene Creed The Bishop of Landaff and Nâ—â—ich read the Epistle and Gospell with whom the Bishops of Durham and St. Davids in rich Copes kneeled with his Majesty and received the Communion the bread from the Archbishop the wine from the Bishop of St. Davids his Majesty receiving last of all whilest Gloria in excelsis was sung by the Quire Anno Dom. 1625-26 Anno Regis Caroli 1 and some prayers read by the Archbishop concluded the solemnity 30. The King after he had disrobed himself in King Edwards Chappell The return to White-Hall came forth in a short Robe of red Velvet girt unto him lined with Ermins and a Crown of his own on his head set with very pretious stones and thus the Train going to the Barges on the water side returned to White Hall in the same order wherein they came about three a clocke in the afternoon 31. I have insisted the longer on this Subject moved thereunto by this consideration Our prolixity herein excused that if it be the last Solemnitie performed on an English King in this kinde Posteritie will conceive my paines well bestowed because on the last But if hereafter Divine providence shall assign England another King though the transactions herein be not wholly precedentiall something of State may be chosen out gratefull for imitation 32. And here if a Blister was not A soul mouth railer it deserved to be on the fingers of that scandalous Pamphleteer who hath written that King Charles was not Crowned like other Kings Whereas all essentills of his Coronation were performed with as much ceremonie as ever before and all Robes of State used according to ancient prescription But if he indulged his own fancie for the colour of his clothes a White Sute c. Persons meaner than Princes have in greater matters assumed as much libery to themselves 33. Indeed one Solemnitie no part of Why the King rode not through the Citie but preface to the Coronation was declined on good consideration For whereas the Kings of England used to ride from the Tower through the City to Westminster King Charles went thither by water out of double providence to save health and wealth thereby For though the infectious Aire in the City of London had lately been corrected with a sharp Winter yet was it not so amended but that a just suspicion of danger did remain Besides such a procession would have cost him threescore thousand Pounds to be disbursed on Scarler for his Train A summe which if then demanded of his Exchequer would scarce receive a satisfactory answer thereunto and surely some who since condemne him for want of state in omitting this Royall Pageant would have condemned him more for prodigality had he made use thereof 34. As for any other alterations in Prayers or Ceremonies A memorable alteration in a Pageant though heavily charged on Bishop Laud are since conceived by unpartiall people done by a Committee wherein though the Bishop accused as most active others did equally consent Indeed a passage not in fashion since the Reign of King Henry the sixt was used in a prayer at this time Obtineat gratiam huic populo sicut Aaron in Tabernaculo Elizeus in Fluvio Zacharias in Templo sit Petrus in Clave Paulus in Dogmate Let him obtain favor for this people like Aaron in the Tabernacle Elisha in the Waters Zacharias in the Temple give him Peters Key of dicipline Pauls Doctrine This I may call a Protestant passage though anciently used in Popish times as fixing more spirituall power in the King than the Pope will willingly allow jealous that any should finger Peters Keyes save himself 35. A few dayes after a Parliament began A Conference at York House Feb 6 11. wherein M r. Mountague was much troubled about his Book but made a fhift by his powerfull Friends to save himself During the sitting whereof at the instance and procurement of Robert Rich Earle of Warwick a conference was Kept in York house before the Duke of Buckingam and other Lords betwixt Dr. Buckridge 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 about Arminian points and chiefly the possibilitie of one elected to fall from grace The passages of which conference arâ— variously reported For it is not in tongue combats Anno Regin Carol. 1 Anno Dom. 1626-2â— as in other battails where the victorie cannot be disguised as discovering it self in keeping the field number of the slain Captives and Colours taken Whilest here no such visible effects appearing the persons present were left to their libertie to judge of the Conquest as each one stood affected However William Earle of Pembrooke was heard to say that none returned Arminians thence save such who repaired thither with the same opinions 36. Soon after a second conference was entertained Feb. 17. A second on the same Subject in the same place on the same points before the same Persons betwixt Dr. White Dean of Carlile and Mr. Mountague on the on side and Dr. Morton Bishop of Lichfield and Dr. Preston on the other Dr. Preston carried it clear at the first by dividing his adversaries who quickly perceiving their error pieced themselves together in a joynt opposition against him The passages also of this conference are as differently related as the former Some makeing it a a Thus the writer of Dr. Prestons Life concludes the conquest on his side clear conquest on one some on the other side and a third sort a drawn battail betwixt both Thus the success of these meetings answered neither the commendable intentions nor hopefull expectations of such who procured them Now whil'st other dare say Universally of such conferences what David saith of mankinde that of them b Psalme 14. 3. there is none that doth good no not one we dare onely intimate that what Statesmen observe of Interviews betwixt Princes so these conferences betwixt Divines rather increase the differences than abate them 37.
ut accepi tu olim Litteris incubuisti ABout this time Henrici 6. 15 for I cannot attain the certain year some considerable persons of our Nation undertook the draining of the Fennes near to Cambridge 1436 They wanted not Dutchmen out of the Low-Countries to assist them Cambridge Fennes endeavoured to be drained where each Peasant is born a Pioneer and vast summes were expended in making of Ditches and Banks impregnable as conceived against all assaults of Inundation 2. But in the next being a wet All in vain Windy Winter down comes the Baliffe of Bedford so the Country-people commonly call the overflowing of the River Ouse attended like a person of his quality with many servants the accession of tributary Brooks and breaks down all their paper-banks as not water-shot-free reducing all to the former condition 3. This Accident put the VVits of that Arguments pro and on Pen-draâ—ning and succeeding Ages upon the dispute of the feacibility of the design and let us summe up the Arguments against and for this undertaking 1. Argument 1. Answer Some objected that God saith to the water a Iob 38. 11. hitherto thou shall come and no further it is therefore a Trespasse on the Divine Prerogative for Man to presume to give other Bounds to the Water then what God hath appointed Even the heathen b Pausanias in Corinth man was so Christian as to say Rebus divinitus constitutis manus non est injicienda The Argument holdeth in application to the Ocean which is a VVild-Horse only to the broak back'd and bridled by him who is the Maker thereof But it is a false and a lazy principle if applied to Fresh-Waters from which humane Industrie may and hath rescued many considerable parcels of ground 2. Argument 2. Answer Many have attempted but not effected it None ever wrastled with it but it gave them a foyl if not a fall to the bruising if not breaking of their Backs Many have burnt their fingers in these waters and instead of draining the â—ennes emptied their own estates It hath bin almost as unsucces full as the letting of the Red into the Midland-Sea to the Kings of Egypt who endeavoured it Many mens undertaking thereof insinuates the possibility of the project Otherwise it is unlikely so many discreet persons would befool themselves in seeking what is not to be found The failing is not in the unfeacibility of the Design but in the accidentall defaults of the Vndertakers wanting either Heads discretion or hearts resolution or hands assistants or purses performance of pay to people imployed therein 3. Argument 3. Answer Morton Bishop of Ely one of the wealthiest who ever sate in that See almost wasted his estate by cutting a water-passage known by the name of the New Leam welnigh beggered himself in hope to enrich his Town of VVisbich with trading thereby It is confessed a Burden too heavy for the back of any single person how great soever And therefore it calls for a Corporation of Wise and wealthy persons to undertake the same 4. Argument 4. Answer An Alderman of Cambridge choser a Burgesse in Parliament affirmed the Fennes to be like a crust of bread swimming in a dish of water So that under eight or ten soot earth it is nothing but mere water In possible therefore the draining thereof if surrounded by that liquid element both above and beneath Interest betrayed his judgement to an evident errour And his brains seemed rather to swim instead of this fâ—oting â—arth For such as have scunded as I may say the depth of that ground find it to be terrafirma and no doubt as solid to the Center as any other earth in England 5. Argument 5. Answer The River Grant or Cam call it as you please running by Cambridge will have it's stream dried up by the draining of the Fennes now as Cambridge is concerned in it's River so that whole County yea this whole Kingdome is concerned in Cambridge No reason therefore that private mens particular Profit should be preferred before an Vniversal good or good of an Vniversity It is granted the water by Cambridge kindles and keeps in the Fire therein No hope of sufficient fuel on reasonable rates except care be takeâ— for preserving the River Navigable which may be done and the Fennes drained neverthelesse To take away the Thief is no Wasting or Weakning to the Wiek of the Candle Assurance may be given that no damage shall redound to the Stream of Grant by stopping other superfluous waters 6. Argument 6. Answer The Fennes preserved in their present property afford great plenty and variety of Fish and Fowl which here have their Seminaries Nurseries which will be destroyed on the draining thereof so that none will be had but at excessive prices A large first makes recompence for the shorter second Course at any mans Table And who will not preferre a tame Sheep before a Wild Duck a good fat Oxe before a well grown Eele 7. Argument 7. Answer The Fennes afford plenty of Sedge Turfe and Reed the want whereof will be found if their nature be altered The commodities are inconsiderable to ballance the profit of good Grass Grain which those grounds if drained would produce He cannot complain of wrong who hath a suit of Buckram taken from him and one of Velvet given in lieu thereof Besides provision may bemade that a sufficiency of such Ware-trash may still be preserved 8. Argument 8. Answer Many thousands of poor people are maintained by fishing and fouling in the Fennes which will all be at a losse of Livelihood if their Barns be burnt that is if the Fennes be drained It is confest that many whose hands are becrampt with Laziness live and onely live as never gaining any estates by that employment But such if the Fennes were drained would quit their Idleness and betake themselves to more lucrative Manufactures 9. Argument 9. Answer Grant the Fennes drained with great difficulty they will quickly revert to their old condition like to the a Camden ' s Brit. in Cambridgeshire Pontine Marishes in Italy This disease of the Dropsy if aqua super cutem as well as intercutis may be so called will return to the Fennes again If a Patient perfectly cured will be carelesse of his Health none will pitty his Relapse Moderate cost with constant care will easily preserve what is drained the Low-Countries affording many proofs thereof 10. Argument 10. Answer Grant them drained and so continuing as now the great Fishes therein prey on the lesse so then Wealthy men would devour the poorer sort of people Injurious partage would follow upon the enclosures and rich men to make room for themselves would justle the poor people out of their Commons Oppression is not essentiall either to draining or inclosing though too often a concomitant of both Order may be taken by Commissioners of quality impowered for that purpose that such a Proportion of Commons