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TJHLE  Arms  ojf  Fathoijs. 


THE 


CHURCH  HISTORY  OF  BRI^^In/' 


THE  BIRTH  OF  JESUS  CHRIST 

UNTIL 

THE  YEAR  MDCXLVIII. 


ENDEAA-OURED 

BY  THOMAS  FULLER,  D.D., 

PREBENDARY  OF  SARUM,  &c.  &c. 

AUTHOR    OF    '«THE    WORTHIES    OF    ENGLAND,"     "THE    HOLY    STATE,"    "THE 

HISTORY  OF   THE   HOLY  WAR,"    "  PISGAH  SIGHT  OF  PALESTINE," 

"  ABEL  REDIVIVUS,"  &c.  &c. 


A  NEW  EDITION. 

WITH    THE    AUTHOR'S    CORRECTIONS. 

IN  THREE  YOLUMES. 
YOL.  III. 

LONDON: 

PRINTED  FOR  THOMAS  TEGG  AND  SON,  73,  CHEAPSIDE ; 

R.    GRIFFIN    AND    CO.,    GLASGOW; 

TEGG  AND  CO.,  DUBLIN: 

ALSO,  J.  AND  S.  A.  TEGG,  SYDNEY  AND  HOBART  TOWN. 


18^7. 


London  : — rrinted  by  James  Nicliols,  46,  Hoxton-square. 


CONTENTS. 


BOOK  IX. 


SECTION  IV.    CENTURY  XVI. 

A.D.    1580—1582.       23  TO  25  ELIZABETH. 

A  PETITION,  in  the  name  of  the  whole  convocation,  for  the  restitution  of 
archbishop  Grindal — The  model  and  method  of  prophesyings — The 
inconveniences  of  prophesyings  detected  or  suspected — The  most 
remarkable  letter  of  archbishop  Grindal,  in  defence  of  prophecies  and 
church-jurisdiction — Lambeth-house,  Grindal's  guilt — The  death  of 
Cope  and  Bullock.  Popish  locusts  swarm  into  England — Necessary 
severity  of  the  parliament  against  them — Many  against  money-mulcts 
for  conscience.  Others  conceive  the  proportion  of  the  fine  uncon- 
scionable— Arguments  pro  and  con,  whether  Jesuits  are  to  be  put  to 
death — The  execution  of  this  law  moderated.  Worst  of  offenders 
escape  best — The  acts  of  a  silent  convocation.  Query,  on  whom  the 
law  was  first  hanselled — The  death  of  bishop  Berkeley — A  meeting  of 
the  presbyterians  at  Cockfield.  Another  at  Cambridge.  The  activity 
of  the  presbyterians — Beza's  letter  to  Travers  in  the  behalf  of  Geneva 
— Geneva's  suit  was  coldly  resented — Why  the  rigorous  pressing  of 
subscription  was  now  remitted.     Pages  3 — 29. 


SECTION  V. 

A.D.  1582,  1583.      25  AND  26  ELIZABETH. 

A  form  of  discipline  considered  of  by  the  brethren  in  a  solemn  synod,  with 
the  several  decrees  thereof — Several  observations  on  these  decrees — A 
blasphemous  heretic  reclaimed.  The  character  of  Mr.  Henry  Smith — 
The  death  of  Richard  Bristow.  The  death  of  Nicholas  Harpsfield. 
The  death  of  Gregory  Martin — Letter-history  best  history.  Objection 
against  letters'  want  of  date,  answered — The  petition  of  the  Kentish 
ministers — The  archbishop's  letter  in  answer  thereof — The  character 
of  Mr.  Beal,  who  brought  the  bills— Archbishop  Whitgift's  letter, 
complaining  of  Beal's  insolent  carriage  towards  him — The  privy  coun- 
sellors' letter  to  the  archbishop  in  favour  of  the  nonconformists — The 
archbishop's  answer  to  the  privy  counsellors'  letter — The  archbishop's 
gratulatory  letter  to  Sir  Christopher  Hatton — The  treasurer's  letter  to 
the  archbishop,  for  some  indulgence  to  the  ministers — The  return  of 
the  archbishop  of  Canterbury  to  the  lord  treasurer's  letter — The  lord 
treasurer's  smart  letter  to  the  archbishop— The  archbishop's  calm 
letter  to  the  half-angry  treasurer— Sir  Francis  Walsingham  a  good 
friend  to  nonconformists.     His  letter  to  the  archbishop  in  favour  of 

A    2 


IV  CONTENTS, 

nonconformists— The  archbishop's  answer  to  secretary  Walsingham's 
letter — A  transition  to  other  matter.  Good  Grindal's  death.  A  plea 
for  Grindal's  poverty.     Pages  30—60. 

SECTION  VI. 

A.D.  1583—1587.       26  TO  30  ELIZABETH. 

Warning  to  sabbath-breakers — Robert  Brown  first  appears — Brown's 
opinions.  Extraordinary  favour  indulged  unto  him.  The  author's 
observation  on  him.  The  occasion  of  his  late  death.  Two  Brownists 
executed — Whitgift  succeedeth  Grindal — Death  of  Sanders — Lewes 
burned  at  Norwich — Popish  libels.  The  queen's  eminent  mercy — 
Two  fruitless  conferences.  Subscription  severely  pressed — The  Rhe- 
mish  translation  comes  forth.  Cartwright  invited  to  answer  it. 
Whitgift  stoppeth  his  book.  Dr.  Fulke  first  effected  it.  A  promise 
never  performed.  Confidence  of  many  at  last  deceived — The  death  of 
George  Etheredge — Mr.  Rogers  writeth  on  our  articles — Three  great 
corporations  now  on  foot  together — The  archbishop,  afraid  of  altera- 
tion in  church-discipline,  writes  to  the  queen — Her  majesty  will  alter 
nothing  material  to  church-government.  Parhament  dissolved — John 
Hilton  in  convocation  abjureth  his  heretical  opinions.  Penance 
imposed  upon  him — Exchange  of  important  letters  betwixt  the  earl  of 
Leicester  and  the  archbishop — Seminaries  enlarged  and  transported — 
The  earl  of  Leicester  sent  as  commander  into  the  Low  Countries — The 
liturgy  supported  by  its  opposers- — Accusations  not  to  be  believed  in 
full  latitude — The  death  of  John  Feckenham.  His  courtesy  to  pro- 
testants  ;  made  abbot  of  Westminster.  Queen  Ehzabeth  sendeth  for 
him,  and  proffers  him  preferment ;  kindly  used  in  restraint — A  recruit 
of  English  Benedictines  made  after  Feckenham's  death — English 
papists,  why  they  fell  off  from  the  queen  of  Scots  unto  the  king  of 
Spain,  pretending  a  title  to  the  crown  of  England — An  act  without 
precedent.  Good  reason  why  the  nonconformists  were  quiet — The 
death  of  Mary  queen  of  Scotland.  Her  poetry.  Her  body  removed 
to  Westminster — A  design  propounded,  and  blasted  by  the  queen — 
Conformity  to  the  height — The  high-commission  court.  A  memorable 
story  in  Geneva — First  grievance  complained  of  in  tendering  the  oath. 
The  second,  third,  and  fourth  grievance — Four  ranks  of  refusers  of 
this  oath.  The  first  rank,  the  second,  third,  and  the  last  rank — Non- 
conformists persecuted  in  the  star-chamber — The  death  of  ]Mr.  Fox,  and 
of  Dr.  Humphrey — The  first  protestant  hospital.  Beautiful  buildings 
begin  in  England.     Nonconformists  stir.     Pages  61—92! 

SECTION  VII. 

A.D.  1587—1592.      30  TO  35  ELIZABETH. 

A  sixteenfold  i)etition  presented  by  the  commons  to  the  lords  in  parliament 
— The  archljishop's  plea  for  non-residents.  The  lord  Grey's  rejoinder. 
The  lord  treasurer's  moderation.  Others  interpret.  The  lord  Grey 
(query,  whether  of  Wilton,  or,  what  most  probable,  of  Ruthyn,  after- 
wards earl  of  Kent)  replied— The  bishops  providently  petition  the 
quocn— The  death  of  bishop   Barnes,  and  of  Bernard  Gilpin ;  hardly 


CONTENTS.  V 

escaped  in  queen  Mary^s  days  :  a  single  man,  yet  a  true  father — The 
brave  coming-forth  of  the  Spanish  armada ;  the  shameful  flight  and 
return  thereof.  This  deliverance  principally  wrought  by  God's  arm — 
Scurrilous  pamphlets  dispersed.  Their  reasons  for  the  lawfulness  of 
such  pamphlets.  These  books  disclaimed  by  the^discreet  sort,  and  why. 
The  instruments  employed  in  making  these  books  heavily  punished — 
Acts  of  the  synod  of  Coventry.  The  English  church  distracted 
betwixt  contrary  disciplines.  The  success  of  the  solemn  humiliation 
of  the  ministers  at  Northampton — The  contents  of  the  admonition  to 
the  catholics  of  England— The  death  of  Edwin  Sands,  archbishop  of 
York — Archbishop  Whitgift's  discretion — Articles  objected  against  J\Ir. 
Thomas  Cartwright — Mr.  Cartwright  refuseth  to  answer  on  oath — 
Wiggington's  riddling  words — The  king  of  Scots  writes  in  favour  of 
the  nonconformists — Mr.  Cartwright  discharged  the  star-chamber  by 
the  intercession  of  archbishop  Whitgift — A  preface  to  the  ensuing  dis- 
course. The  character  of  Hacket.  His  monstrous  opinions  and 
practices.  Proclaimed  by  his  two  prophets.  An  adventure  with  more 
boldness  than  discretion.  Hacket's  execution — This  accident  unhap- 
pily improved  against  the  nonconformists — Mr.  Stone  by  his  con- 
fession discovereth  the  meeting  of  the  brethren,  with  the  circum- 
stances thereof — The  reasons  why  Mr.  Stone  made  this  confession 
against  the  hope  and  expectation  of  the  brethren — Synodical  meetings 
finally  blasted — Perkins's  piety  procures  his  peace — Transition  to  a 
more  pleasant  subject.  The  foundation  of  an  university  in  Dublin. 
The  several  benefactors  thereto.  The  addition  of  two  emissary 
hostels.  Dublin  a  colony  of  Cambridge — The  death  of  Arthur  Faunt 
— The  contest  betwixt  Hooker  and  Travers.  Hooker's  character — 
Travers  takes  his  orders  beyond  seas.  He  with  IMr.  Cartwright 
invited  to  be  divinity-professors  in  St.  Andrew's — The  character  of 
Hooker  as  to  his  preaching.  The  description  of  Travers.  They  clash 
about  m.atters  of  doctrine — Travers  is  silenced  by  the  archbishop. 
Many  pleased  with  the  deed,  but  not  with  the  manner  of  doing  it. 
Travers's  plea  in  his  petition.  A  charitable  adversary.  Travers  must 
have  no  favour.  Whitgift's  politic  carriage.  Travers  goeth  into 
Ireland,  and  returneth  His  contented  life,  and  quiet  death — The 
death  of  worthy  Mr.  Greenham  of  the  plague ;  fellow  of  Pembroke- 
hall,  in  Cambridge.  He  is  humbled  with  an  obstinate  parish.  His 
dexterity  in  healing  afflicted  consciences.  He,  leaving  his  cure, 
Cometh  to  London.  A  great  instrument  of  the  good  keeping  of  the 
Lord's-day.     Pages  93 — 134. 

SECTION  YIII. 

A.D.   1592—1600.       35  TO  43  ELIZABETH. 

The  uncertain  date  of  JMr.  Udal's  death — Mr.  Udal's  supplication  to  the 
lords  of  the  assizes.  Various  censures  on  his  condemnation.  He  died 
peaceably  in  his  bed.  His  solemn  burial — Henry  Barrow,  John  Green- 
wood, and  John  Penry  executed — The  queen's  last  coming  to  Oxford. 
Her  Latin  oration — The  death  of  archbishop  Pierce  and  bishop  Elmar 
— The  death  of  William  Reginald,  and  of  cardinal  Allen — A  sad  sub- 
ject to  write  of   Christian  discords.     The  beginning  of  the  schism 


Vi  CONTENTS. 

betwixt  the  Seculars  and  the  Jesuits.  The  Seculars  refuse  to  obey 
Weston,  and  why  Weston  employed  but  as  a  scout  to  discover  the 
temper  of  the  Secular  priests.  He  will  not  stand  to  the  determination 
of  a  grave  priest  chosen  umpire  :  f\t  last  is  forced  by  letters  from  his 
provincial  to  leave  off  his  agency.  The  schism,  notwithstanding,  con- 
tinues and  increases — The  strict  keeping  of  the  sabbath  first  revived — 
Thomas  Rogers  first  publicly  opposeth  Dr.  Bound's  opinions — The 
articles  of  Lambeth.  The  high  opinions  some  had  of  these  articles. 
Others  value  them  at  a  lower  jate.  Some  flatly  condem.ned  both 
the  articles  and  authors  of  ^thera.  How  variously  foreign  divines 
esteemed  of  them.  These  articles  excellent  witnesses  of  the  general 
doctrine  of  England— Bishop  Wickham,  Dr.  Whitaker,  Daniel  Halse- 
■  worth,and  Robert  Southwell  end  their  lives — The  complaint  of  the  Secu- 
lars against  the  Jesuits,  and  principally  against  Parsons — A  general  calm 
— The  death  of  bishop  Fletcher  and  bishop  Coldwell — The  death  of  Lau- 
rence Humphrey — A  great  antiquary's  good  intention  discouraged — 
The  charity  of  a  Spanish  protestant — The  acts  in  'parliament — The 
death  of  Thomas  Stapleton,  and  of  Dr.  Cosine — The  death  of  Robert 
Turner — The  death  of  Richard  Hooker — An  over-politic  act  disliked — 
The  death  of  John  Sanderson,  and  Thomas  Case.     Pages  134. — 155. 


BOOK  X. 
SECTION  I.     CENTURY  XYII. 

A.D.  1601—1604.      43  ELIZABETH  TO  2  JAMES  I. 

The  Seculars  fomented  by  the  bishop  of  London  against  the  Jesuits 
— Acts  in  the  last  parhament  of  queen  Elizabeth.  Acts  of  this 
year's  convocation — Francis  Godwin  made  bishop  of  LandafF— 
Watson's  quodlibets  against  the  Jesuits.  The  black  character  of 
Jesuits  painted  with  the  pencil  of  a  Secular  priest — A  quiet  in 
the  English  church,  and  the  cause  thereof — Several  reasons  assigned 
of  Mr.  Cartwright's  moderation.  The  character  of  Mr.  Cartwright — 
Bishop  Westphaling,  dean  Nowell,  Mr.  Perkins,  Gregory  Sayer,  and 
William  Harris  depart  this  world — Relief  sent  to  the  city  of  Geneva — 
The  death  of  queen  Elizabeth — King  James  sends  a  welcome  message 
to  the  episcopal  party — Watson's  silly  treason.  His  motley  complices. 
Their  wild  means  whereby  to  attain  a  mad  end.  The  two  Priests 
executed— Mr.  Cartwright  dedicates  a  book  to  king  James.  Mr. 
Cartwright's  death— The  presbyterian  petition  to  the  king  and  parha- 
ment—The  first  day's  conference  at  Hampton-court— The  second 
day's  conference  at  Hampton- court— The  third  day's  conference  at 
Hampton-court — The  general  censures  of  the  conferencers.  The  non- 
conformists' complaint.  The  product  of  this  conference— The  copy  iof 
the  millenary  petition— The  issue  of  this  petition— Universities  justly 
nettled  thereat— Other  millenary  petitions.  Unfair  dealing  in  procur- 
ing of  hands.     Pages  162 — 198. 


CONTENTS.  vii 


SECTION  II. 

A.D.  1604—1607.      2  TO  5  JAMES  I. 

The  death  of  archbishop  Whitgift— Mr.  Prynne,  censuring  Whitgift,  cen- 
sured. His  untruth  of  Anselm.  His  slander  of  Whitgift,  and  silly 
taxing  of  his  train.  Whitgift's  care  of  and  love  to  scholars— His 
burial  and  successor — A  beneficial  statute  for  the  church.  A  contriv- 
ance by  the  crown  to  wrong  the  church.  Two  eminent  instances  of 
former  alienation  of  bishopric-lands.  Several  censures  on  this  new 
statute — King  James  a  great  church-lover — The  acts  of  this  convoca- 
tion, why  as  yet  not  recovered — Many  canons  made  therein.  Bishop 
Bancroft  sitting  president — Bishop  Rudd,  why  opposing  the  oath 
against  simony — The  petition  of  the  town  of  Ripon  to  queen  Anne. 
King  James's  bountiful  grant.  These  lands  since  twice  sold — The 
petition  of  the  family  of  love  to  king  James — The  familists  will  in  no 
wise  be  accounted  puritans.  Phrases  in  their  petition  censured — Mr. 
Rutherford  causelessly  asperseth  the  bishops  and  courtiers  of  queen 
Elizabeth.  Familists  turned  into  modern  ranters — The  death  of  Hall 
and  Eli — The  plotters  in  the  powder-treason.  Garnet's  deciding 
a  case  of  conscience.  Two  other  difficulties  removed.  The  odium 
,  must  be  cast  on  the  puritans.  Will-worship  a  painful  labour.  God 
gives  them  warning  to  desist,  but  they  will  take  none.  The  latitude 
of  their  design — The  apish  behaviour  of  Keyes.  The  mystical  letter. 
The  first  search  proves  ineffectual.  The  second  search  discovers 
all — The  traitors  fly,  and  are  taken.  Catesby  and  Percy  fight 
desperately  for  their  lives.  The  Lord  is  just.  The  rest  are  legally 
executed — The  presumption  of  a  posthume  report  justly  censured. 
The  memory  of  this  treason  perpetuated  by  act  of  parliament.  Just 
complaint  that  the  day  is  no  better  observed — The  death  of  archbishop 
Hutton.  A  foul  mistake  rectified — The  death  of  the  bishops  of 
Rochester  and  Chichester — Garnet's  education  and  early  viciousness 
canvassed  in  the  Tower  by  the  Protestant  divines.  Confession  only 
of  ante-facts.  Earl  of  Salisbury's  question  answered.  Garnet's 
arraignment  and  condemnation.  Popish  false  relations  disproved — 
The  solemn  tale  of  Garnet's  straw-miracle.  Garnet's  picture  appears 
in  a  straw.  This  miracle  not  presently  done  ;  not  perfectly  done. 
Garnet's  beatification  occasioned  by  this  mock  miracle — Acts  against 
papists  in  parliament,  but  principally  the  oath  of  obedience — The 
pope's  two  briefs  against  this  oath — Pens  tilting  at  pens  about  the 
lawfulness  of  this  oath.     Pages  198 — 226. 

SECTION  III. 

A.D.  1607—1611.      5  TO  9  JAMES    I. 

The  names,  places,  and  several  employments  of  the  translators  of  the  bible 
— The  king's  instructions  to  the  translators — Mr.  Lively's  death — The 
death  of  Dr.  Reynolds.  A  strange  encounter.  His  admirable  parts 
and  piety.  Most  conformable  in  his  practice  to  the  church  of  Eng- 
land—Mr. Molle's  birth  and  breeding ;    his  sad  dilemma ;    his  con- 


Vlll  CONTE^iTS. 

stancy  in  the  inquisition  ;  his  death  in  durance-*-The  death  of  bishop 
Vaughan— Mr.  Brightman's  birth  and  breeding.  A  patron  para- 
mount. Exceptions  against  Mr.  Brightman's  book.  His  angelical 
life.  His  sudden  death.  Whence  we  derive  our  intelligence— An  act 
for  Chelsea  college.  The  glory  of  the  design.  King  James's  mort- 
main and  personal  benefaction.  Dr.  Sutcliffe's  bounty.  The  structure. 
The  fir.st  provost  and  fellows — The  king's  letters  to  the  archbishop  ; 
and  his  to  the  bishops.  Divers  opinions  touching  the  non-proceeding 
of  the  college.  The  present  sad  condition  of  it — The  death  of  bishop 
Overton,  Heton,  and  Ravis — Nicholas  Fuller  engages  for  his  clients, 
to  the  loss  of  his  own  liberty  and  life — The  last  session  of  a  long  par- 
liament— The  death  of  Gervas  Babington  ;  his  parts  and  praise — The 
death  of  archbishop  Bancroft.  He  is  vindicated  from  cruelty,  and  the 
aspersion  of  covetousness.  Falsely  traduced  for  popish  inclinations. 
A  good  patron  of  church-revenues — The  new  translation  of  the 
Bible  finished,  by  the  command  of  king  James,  and  care  of  some 
chosen  divines — The  causeless  cavil  of  the  papists  thereat — They  take 
exceptions  at  the  several  senses  of  words  noted  in  the  margin — Some 
brethren  complain  for  lack  of  the  Geneva  annotations — Dr.  H.  in 
Oxford  causelessly  inveigheth  against  the  Geneva  notes.  Pages 
227—248. 

SECTION  lY. 

A.D.  1611—1619.      9  TO  17  JAMES  I. 

Dangerous  opinions  broached  by  Conradus  Vorstius.  Reasons  moving 
king  James  to  oppose  him^The  States  entertain  not  the  motion  of 
king  James  against  Vorstius,  according  to  just  expectation.  Vorstius 
gives  no  satisfaction  in  his  new  declaration.  King  James  setteth  forth 
a  declaration  against  Vorstius,  first  written  in  French,  since  by  his 
leave  translated  into  English,  and  amongst  his  other  works — The  cha- 
racter of  Bartholomew  Legate.  Discourse  betwixt  king  James  and 
Legate.  Bishop  King  gravelleth  him  with  a  place  of  scripture. 
"Wholesome  caution  premised  before  the  naming  of  Legate's  blas- 
phemies. Condemned  for  an  obstinate  'heretic.  Queries  left  to 
lawyers  to  decide.  Legate  burned  in  Smithfield — Wightman  worse 
than  Legate.  The  success  of  this  severity — The  death  of  Mr,  Sutton, 
founder  of  that  famous  hospital,  the  charter-house.  The  several 
manors  belonging  thereunto — The  Jesuits  carping  at  his  good  work. 
His  politic  modesty  in  his  corrective.  Answers  to  Jesuits'  cavils — 
Mr.  Sutton's  constant  prayer.  Sutton's  hospital,  how  exceeding  the 
Annunciata — The  death  of  prince  Henry — The  marriage  of  the  Pala- 
tine— The  divorce  of  the  earl  of  Essex  discussed.  A  memorable 
speech  of  bishop  King — Wadham  college  founded,  where  formerly  a 
monastery  of  Augustines — A  parliament  suddenly  called,  soon  dis- 
solved—The death  of  bishop  Rudd.  A  remarkable  passage.  The 
bishop,  by  plain  preaching,  gains  the  queen's  favour ;  and,  by  too 
personal  preaching,  loseth  it  again  :  yet  died  generally  beloved  and 
lamented — Casaubon  invited  to  England;  where  he  dieth,  and  is 
buried — The  supposed  occasion  of  Mr.  Selden's  writing  against  the 
divine  right  of  tithes.      Many  write  in  answer  to  his  book — Melvin 


CONTENTS.  IX 

freed  from  the  Tower— The  death  of  bishop  Bilson.  Campian's  false- 
hood— Archbishop  of  Spalato — The  king  goes  into  Scotland — The 
death  of  bishop  James,  bishop  Robinson,  and  bishop  Bennet — Dr. 
Mocket's  translation  of  our  English  liturgy  cavilled  at  by  many.  The 
pinching  accusation.  Imperial  decrees  command  not  in  England. 
On  the  burning  of  his  book.  Dr.  Mocket  dieth — The  death  of  Robert 
Abbot,  bishop  of  Salisbury — The  imposture  of  the  boy  of  Bilston, 
found  out  by  bishop  Morton — Cheaters  of  several  kinds.  King 
James's  dexterity  in  detecting  them — The  king's  declaration  for 
liberty  on  the  Lord's  day.  The  various  effects  thereof — Reasons  of 
the  refusers  to  publish  this  declaration.  The  arguments  for  the  lawful^ 
publishing  of  the  declaration. — A  third  sort  resolve  on  a  strange  expe- 
dient. Lancashire  ministers  more  scared  than  hurt.  A  fourth  sort 
•read  it  with  approbation  of  the  contents  therein — The  heretical 
opinions  of  John  Thraske — The  troubles  in  the  Low  Countries — The 
States'  liberal  allowance  to  the  English  divines.  Weekly  intelligence 
to  the  king  from  his  divines.  Mr.  Balcanqual  admitted  into  the 
synod— Dr.  Hall's  return  thence.  Dr.  Goad  in  the  room  of  Dr.  Hall. 
Pages  243—279. 

SECTION  Y. 

A.D.  1619—1621.       17  TO  19  JAMES  I. 

The  Belgic  confession  presented  in  the  synod — The  States'  bounty  to  the 
British  divines — Their  letter  to  king  James — The  British  divines 
return  into  England — The  synod  diversely  censured.  The  suggester's 
surmise  most  improbable.  Bishop  Hall's  letter  to  the  author — The 
death  of  bishop  Montague.  A  strange  accident  at  his  burial.  The 
death  of  bishop  Overal — A  great  abuse  of  the  king's  favour — Arch- 
bishop Abbot  casually  killed  a  keeper.  The  mischance  rigidly  cen- 
sured. Many  canonists  quickly  made.  Archbishops  may  hunt,  by  the 
laws  of  the  land.  Bishop  Andrews,  the  archbishop's  great  friend ; 
his  restitution  and  mortification — A  project  against  the  clergy  to  get 
money ;  declined  by  the  lord  treasurer^  who  is  truly  excused — The 
lord  Bacon  outed  for  bribery. — An  essay  at  his  character — Bishop 
Williams  made  lord  keeper.  Some  causelessly  offended.  His  eminent 
abilities.  Well  manages  the  place — A  still-born  convocation — Young 
Meric  Casaubon  vindicates  his  father  from  railers.  The  good  effect 
of  his  endeavours — William  Laud,  bishop  of  St.  David's — John  King, 
bishop  of  London,  dies.  His  eminencies.  A  loud  lie.  William 
Cotton,  bishop  of  Exeter,  dies,  whom  Valentine  Carew  succeeds. 
Robert  Town  son,  bishop  of  Salisbury,  dies,  whom  John  Davenant 
succeeds — The  death  of  Dr.  Andrew  Willet,  of  Dr.  Richard  Parry,  and 
of  Mr.  Francis  JMason.     Pages  279 — 295. 

SECTION  VI. 

A.D.  1622,  1623.       20  AND  21   JAMRS  I. 

The  causes  of  Spalato's  'coming-over.  His  bountiful  entertainment.  He 
is  richly  preferred  by  king  James.  His  great  avarice.  Another 
instance  of  his  ungrateful  covetousness.     His  learned  writings  against 


X  CONTENTS. 

Romish  error.  The  jeerer  jeered.  Spalato's  hypocrisy  discovered. 
He  is  incensed  with  a  repidse.  Reasons  pleaded  for  his  return.  Spa- 
lato's second  letter  to  king  James ;  desires  in  vain  still  to  stay  ; 
departeth  to  Rome ;  returns  to  his  railing  vomit ;  lives  at  Rome  not 
loved,  and  dies  unlamented.  Cardinal  Clesel's  neglected  friendship 
destructive  to  Spalato.  Spalato's  body  burned  after  his  death.  The 
word  "  puritan,"  how  first  abused  by  Spalato.  His  unpartial  character 
— Three  other  Italian  jugglers — The  Spanish  match,  the  discourse- 
general.  Gondemar  procures  the  enlargement  of  all  Jesuits.  A  mali- 
cious comment  on  a  merciful  text.  Bitter  compliments  betwixt  Gon- 
demar and  the  earl  of  Oxford — The  death  of  Mr.  Henry  Copinger.  A 
free  patron  and  faithful  incumbent  well  met.  His  long  and  good  life 
— A  conference  with  Jesuits — The  fatal  vespers  at  Blackfriars.  Death 
without  giving  any  warning.  "  I  will  sing  of  mercy  and  justice."  A 
^  fair  and  true  verdict.  Beware  wild  wishes.  A  caveat  at  Rome.  Pages 
296—312. 

SECTION  YII. 

A.D.  1623,   1624.       21  AND  22  JAMES  I. 

The  archbishop's  letter  against  a  toleration — Toleration,  the  general  table- 
talk,  argued.  The  pulpit  is  loud  against  the  toleration — His  majesty's 
care  to  regulate  preaching.  His  directions — Various  censures  on  the 
king's  letters— A  needless  subject  waved.  A  crown  not  joyed  in.  King 
James  accused  by  some ;  defended  by  others.  Both  the  Palatinates 
lost.  Land  of  promise,  now  land  of  performance — Prince  Charles 
goes  to  Spain.  His  return — The  Palatinate  beheld  desperate — A 
happy  parliament.  The  convocation.  Dr.  Donne,  .prolocutor — A  book 
falsely  fathered  on  Isaac  Casaubon.  The  falsehood  detected,  yet  still 
continued — None  of  the  worst  counsel — King  James  falleth  sick.  A 
confluence  of  four  mischiefs.  A  plaster  applied  to  his  wrists,  and 
julap,  without  the  advice  of  his  physicians.  Catechised  on  his  death- 
bed in  his  faith  and  charity.  His  death,  of  a  peaceable  nature.  Made 
nobility  less  respected  by  the  commonness  thereof.  His  eloquence 
and  piercing  wit.  King  James's  return  to  Gondemar.  Judicious, 
bountiful,  and  merciful.     Pages  313 — 327. 


BOOK  XI. 
SECTION  I.     CENTURY  XVII. 

A.D.   1625—1628.       1   TO  4  CHARLES   I. 

News  of  the  king's  death  brought  to  Whitehall.  His  solemn  funerals—^ 
Dr.  Williams's  text,  sermon,  and  parallel  betwixt  king  Solomon  and 
king  James.  Exceptions  taken  at  his  sermon — Discontents  begin  in  the 
court.  Dr.  Preston  a  great  favourite — Mr.  Mountagu's  character.  He 
setteth  forth  his  Appello  Casarum— Queen  Ma.ry's  first  arrival  at  Dover 
— The. king  rescueth  Mr.  Mountagu  from  the  house  of  commons.  The 
parhament   removed    to   Oxford,    and   broke  up   in   discontent — Dr. 


CONTENTS.  XI 

James's  motion  in  the  convocation.  The  insolence  of  papists  season- 
ably restrained — Several  writers  against  Mr.  JMountagu.  Mr,  Mountagu 
left"  to  defend  himself — A  maim  on  the  emblem  of  peace — A  dilemma 
well  waved — The  coronation  sermon — The  solemn  advance  to  the 
church.  The  manner  of  the  king's  coronation.  The  fashion  of  the 
scaffold.  The  king  presented  and  accepted  by  the  people  ;  sworn  and 
anointed  ;  solemnly  crowned,  and  girt  with  several  swords.  Homage 
done  by  the  nobility  to  his  majesty,  with  their  solemn  oath.  A 
pardon-general  granted.  The  communion  concludes  the  solemnity. 
The  return  to  Whitehall — Our  prolixity  herein  excused.  A  foul- 
mouthed  railer.  Why  the  king  rode  not  through  the  city.  A  memora- 
ble alteration  in"  a  pageant — A  conference  ^at  York-house.  A  second 
on  the  same  subject — The  bishop  of  Lincoln  loseth  his  keeper's  place. 
The  duke  incensed  against  him.  The  bishop's  wariness  in  resigning 
the  seal ;  but  keeps  his  bishopric — A  new  college  of  an  old  hall  in 
Oxford,  called  Pembroke  college — Dr,  Preston  declines  in  the  duke's 
favour.  The  death  of  godly  bishop  Lake — The  death  and  character  of 
bishop  Andrews.  Unjustly  accused  for  covetousness  and  superstition. 
Causelessly  charged  with  affectation  in  his  sermons.  Nicholas  Fuller, 
his  chaplain,  that  profitable  critic — Severe  proceedings  against  arch- 
bishop Abbot :  suspended  from  his  jurisdiction.  Two  good  effects  of 
a  bad  cause — The  character  of  archbishop  Abbot";  accounted  no  great 
friend  to  the  clergy ;  accused  for  the  fautor  of  malcontents — A  tolera- 
tion, blasted  in  Ireland,  hopes  to  spring  in  England  ;  but  is  rejected. 
Sir  John  Saville's  motion — A  parliament  called,  which  proves  full  of 
troubles.  Mr.  Pym's  speech  against  Dr,  Manwaring,  The  severe 
censure  on  the  doctor.  His  humble  submission.  The  acts  of  this 
parliament.  Nothing  done  in  the  convocation — The  death  of  Dr. 
Preston — The]death  of  bishop  Carleton.  Mr,  Mountagu's  confirmation 
opposed  ;  but  the  opposition  ineffectual.  Caution  seasonably  used — 
The  parliament  dissolved.  Proclamation  against  the  bishop  of  Chal- 
cedon.  He  flieth  into  France — The  death  and  character  of  Toby 
Matthew, — His  gratitude  unto  God.  He  died  yearly — The  death  of 
bishop  Felton.     Pages  333—359. 

SECTION  II. 

A.D.  1629— IG37.      5  TO  13  CHARLES  I. 

The  birth  and  death  of  prince  Charles— Oxford  Muses— Dr.  Leighton's 
railing  book — Recovered  (after  his  escape)  and  severely  punished— 
Feoffees  to  buy-in  impropriations  begin  and  proceed  hopefully— The 
bishop  of  Clialcedon's  episcopizing  in  England— Opposed  by  Nicholas 
Smith,  alleging  a  bishop  over  English  catholics,  useless  in  persecution, 
.  and  burdensome,  and  this  bishop  no  ordinary— Regulars'  pride  and 
proposition  condemned — Query,  Whether  now  reconciled  ? — Bishop 
Davenant's  sermon  at  court ;  for  which  he  is  convented  before  the 
council — Bishop  Davenant's  relation  of  the  whole  matter  in  his  letter 
to  Dr.  Ward — The  death  of  bishop  Dove— Troubles  begin  in  Oxford. 
An  appeal  from  the  vice-chancellor  to  the  proctors,  severely  punished, 
and  ill-resented— The  death  of  Mr.  Hildersham  ;  often  silenced  and 
restored.     His  long  and  assiduous  preaching— The  death  of  Bolton — 


XU  CONTENTS. 

Impropriation-feoffees  questioned.  Their  first  accusation,  and  answer 
thereunto.  A  second  charge  against  them.  They  are  overthrown — 
The  death  of  archbishop  Harsnet— Bradborn's  erroneous  opinion — 
Sabbatarian  controversies  revived — Troubles  begin  in  Somersetshire. 
Judge  Richardson's  order  against  Lord's-day  revels  ;  which  he  would 
not  revoke— The  king's  declaration.  The  archbishop  excuseth  him- 
self. No  injunction  to  the  ministers  ;  yet  some  silenced  for  refusal  to 
read  the  book.  Moderation  of  some  bishops  therein.  Licentiousness 
increaseth.  Conceived  by  some,  a  concurrent  cause  of  our  civil  wars. 
A  sad  alteration — Irish  impropriations  restored.  The  thirty-nine 
articles  received  in  Ireland — Bishop  Laud  refuseth  a  cardinal's  cap — 
Bishop  Juxon  made  lord  treasurer.  His  commendable  carriage — 
Archbishop  Laud  presses  conformity — Our  churches  succeed  not  to 
the  temple,  but  synagogues.  Adoration  towards  the  altar,  disliked 
by  many — Mr.  William  Prynne,  accused  for  libelling  against  the 
bishops.  Dr.  Bastwick's  accusation.  Mr.  Burton's  character ;  the 
cause  of  his  discontent.  Their  fault-general — Mr.  Prynne's  plea 
rejected,  and  his  answer  refused.  So  is  Dr.  Bastwick's.  Mr.  Burton's 
cast  out  for  imperfect — The  severe  censure ;  esteemed  too  low,  by 
some ;  too  high,  by  most — Mr.  Burton's  words  on  the  pillory.  Seve- 
ral censures  on  his  behaviour.  Mr.  Bastwick's  speech.  JMany  men, 
many  minds.  ]\Ir.  Prynne's  speech.  His  behaviour  at  the  censure. 
Their  removal — A  preparative  to  the  censure  of  the  bishop  of  Lincoln. 
The  bishop's  discourse  at  the  table  with  Sir  John  Lamb,  [who] 
informed  against  him  in  the  star-chamber.  Deserteth  his  intents  of 
compounding  with  the  king.  Puts  in  an  especial  answer.  Kilvert 
entertained  his  prosecutor.  Pregion,  a  principal  witness  of  the  bishop, 
much  molested.  Subornation  of  perjury  charged  on  the  bishop.  In 
vain  endeavoureth  a  composition  with  the  king  ;  frustrated  therein  by 
his  great  adversary — His  heavy  censure,  to  which  the  archbishop  of 
Canterbury  did  concur.  Three  of  his  servants  fined  with  him — The 
complaints  against  the  unjust  proceedings  against  him,  put  in  by  the 
bishop  into  the  parliament.  Is  examined  again  in  the  Tower  ;  whether 
some  books  were  orthodox  ?  Who  had  power  to  license  them  ?  His 
cautious  answer — Transition  to  a  sad  subject.  The  project  of  a  public 
prayer-book  began  in  the  reign  of  king  James.  Why  a  differ- 
ence betwixt  the  Scotch  and  English  liturgy.  Canonical  scripture 
only  used  in  the  Scotch  liturgy.  The  word  "  priest "  therein 
declined.  Scotch  saints  inserted  into  the  calendar — Alterations  of 
addition  in  the  Scotch  liturgy.  The  most  material  omission — The 
discontented  condition  of  the  Scotch  nation  when  the  liturgy  was  first 
brought  unto  them— The  book  bears  the  blame  of  all.  The  Scotch 
church  standeth  on  the  terms  of  its  own  independency.  Archbishop 
Laud  accused  as  principal  composer  of  the  book — The  tumult  at 
Edinburgh  at  the  first  reading  the  book.  More  considerable  per- 
sons engaged  in  the  cause.  The  occasion  of  the  Scotch  covenant. 
The  author's  excuse,  why  not  proceeding  in  this  subject.  Pages 
359—401. 


CONTENTS.  xiii 


SECTION  III. 

A.D.  1638—1641.      14  TO  16  CHARLES   I. 

Bishop  Williams's  second  censure— The  third  accusation  against  him— 
Scots'  broils  begin.  The  reader  referred  to  other  authors— A  parliament 
and  convocation  called.  Dr.  Turner's  text  and  sermon.  The  effect  of 
the  archbishop's  Latin  speech.  The  just  suspicions  of  wise  men.  The 
parliament  suddenly  dissolved  ;  yet  the  convocation  still  continues. 
A  party  dissents,  and  protests  against  the  continuance  thereof.  Out 
of  the  burial  of  an  old  convocation,  the  birth  of  a  new  synod — Why 
the  canons  of  this  synod  are  not  by  us  exemplified.  The  form  of 
the  oath,  &c.  A  motion  for  a  new  edition  of  the  Welsh  bible. 
Gloucester's  singularity,  threatened  with  suspension.  His  suspension 
suspended — First  exception  against  the  canons.  Second  exception. 
Third  and  greatest  exception.  Endeavoured  to  be  excused.  The 
over-activity  of  some  bishops — The  importation  of  false-printed  bibles 
— Parliament  and  convocation  begin.  The  insolence  of  anabaptists. 
The  three  exiles  brought  home  in  triumph.  Dr.  Pocklington  and 
Dr.  Bray  censured — Superstitions  charged  on  Dr.  Cosin.  Cruel 
usage  of  Mr.  Smart ;  relieved  by  parliament.  Dr.  Cosin's  due  praise 
— Goodman,  a  priest,  bandied  betwixt  life  and  death  ;  yet  he  escapeth 
with  life  at  last — ^The  first  mention  of  the  protestation — A  committee 
of  the  lords  to  settle  religion.  A  sub- committee  for  the  same  pur- 
pose. They  consult  on  innovations  in  doctrine,  and  in  discipline, 
and  concerning  the  common  prayer,  and  regulation  of  government 
— Divers  opinions  what  this  conference  might  have  produced ;  broken 
off — The  death  of  bishop  Davenant — Deans  and  chapters  first  opposed 
by  parliament.  An  unjust  charge.  The  cathedral-men  endeavour  to 
preserve  their  foundations — Dr.  Racket's  speech  in  the  defence  of 
deans  and  chapters.  The  speech  well-accepted — Dr.  Burgess's  speech 
against  deans  and  chapters.  His  ability  in  casuistical  divinity— A 
medley-bill  against  bishops,  partly  granted,  partly  denied.  At  last 
wholly  cast  out— Mr.  Maynard's  speech  against  the  canons.  Several 
judgments  of  the  clergy's  offence — A  bill  read  against  the  high  com- 
mission.    Pages  402 — 424. 

SECTION  IV. 

A.D.  1641—1643.      16  TO  19  CHARLES  I. 

The  high-commission  court  put  down.  The  bill  for  regulation  of  bishops.  A 
crying  sin  of  the  English  clergy — A  bill  against  bishop  Wren.  The  bishops, 
impeached*for  making  of  canons,  have  time  and  counsel  allowed  them. 
The  impeachment  of  the  bishops  waved,  and  why — The  bishops,  ac- 
cused for  mean  birth,  vindicated  their  parentage.  The  degrees  whereby 
the  bishops  declined  in  parliament.  Bishops  refuse  willingly  to  resign 
their  votes— Multitudes  of  petitions  against  bishops.  A  land-tide  of 
apprentices  flow  to  Westminster.  The  manner  of  the  tumult  at  Westmin- 
ster Abbey  and  Whitehall  belongs  to  the  pens  of  state-historians— Why 


xiv  CONTENTS. 

no  more  than  twelve  of  the  bishops  present  at  the  protest.  The  form 
thereof — The  bishops  impeached  of  high-treason,  and  committed  to 
the  Tower — Viscount  Newark's  two  speeches  in  the  behalf  of  bishops — 
Temporal  lords,  favourers  of  bishops—The  death  of  bishop  Mountagu. 
Eminent  and  popular  persons  made  bishops.  All  would  not  do.  A 
disadvantageous  juncture  of  time  for  bishops.  Bishop  Warner,  the 
best  champion  for  bishops.  The  principal  plea  against  bishops'  ba- 
ronies. Earl  of  Bristol's  plea  for  bishops ;  refuted  by  others.  The 
king  unwilling  to  consent ;  but  is  importuned  thereunto.  Keep 
in  thy  calling  —  The  word  ** malignant"  first  coined,  and  the 
word  "  plunder " — The  bishops  in  the  Tower  released.  A  query 
worth  inquiring.  Divines  consulted  with  in  parliament.  Pages 
425—445. 


SECTION  V. 

A.D.  1643—1645.       19  TO  21  CHARLES  I. 

The  first  meeting  of  the  assembly — The  four  English  quarters  of  the 
assembly — The  Scots'  commissioners  joined  in  the  assembly.  Dr. 
Twisse,  the  prolocutor's,  sermon.  The  royalists'  reasons  of  their 
non-appearance — The  assembly  constituted.  The  superadded  divines. 
The  assembly's  first  petition  for  a  fast.  The  covenant  entereth  Eng- 
land. The  covenant  first  taken  ;  commanded  to  be  printed  ;  taken  by 
gentlemen  ;  enjoined  [on]  all  in  London — Exceptions-general  to  the 
whole  :  made  without  the  king's  consent ;  full  of  doubtful  words — 
Exceptions  to  the  preface,  pretended  ancient,  yet  unprecedented — 
Exceptions  to  the  first  article.  Cannot  be  taken  knowingly :  nor 
without  a  double  scandal :  injury  to  themselves  :  perjury  to  their  souls 
— Exceptions  to  the  second  article.  Ill,  but  forced,  equipage  of  pre- 
lacy. Four  reasons  against  extirpation  of  prelacy — Exceptions  against 
the  third  article — Exceptions  to  the  fourth,  fifth,  and  sixth  articles — 
Exceptions  to  the  conclusion — The  author's  plea  in  his  own  just 
defence — The  parliament's  purge  to  the  clergy.  The  expelled  clergy's 
plea.  The  first  century,  why  without  a  second.  Vacant  livings,  how 
supplied — Dissenting  brethren  first  appear  in  the  assembly.  The 
cause  of  their  first  departing  the  land.  Are  kindly  entertained  in 
Holland.  How  qualified  to  find  out  the  truth.  Their  two  chief 
ground-works.  Co-ordination  of  churches.  The  manner  of  their 
church-service.  [They]  are  always  for  new  lights — A  schism  in  Rot- 
terdam church.  A  second  schism  in  the  same  church.  The  practice 
of  Arnheim  church.  The  five  exiles  return  home  ;  gather  churches  in 
England.  The  presbyterians  offended— Dissenting  brethren  crave  a 
toleration ;  op})osed  by  others  ;  but  favoured  by  the  parliament— New- 
England  churches,  congregationalists.  The  rest  referred  to  iNIr.  Nor- 
ton's book — Mr.  Herle  succeedeth  prolocutor  to  Dr.  Twisse.  Mr. 
Selden's  puzzhng  queries.  Erastians,  why  so  called,  and  what  they 
held.  The  Erastians  in  the  assembly,  favourably  listened  to.  The 
assembly  shrewdly  checked.  The  Scotch  discipline  in  vain  strived 
for.  Co-ercive  power  kept  in  the  parliament — Uxbridge's  fruit- 
less treaty.      Mr.  Love's  indiscretion.      The    conference  of  divines. 


CONTENTS.  XV 

Dr.  Laney  might  not  be  heard.  An  argument  ad  homines,  if  not  ad 
causas—Bodk^  made  by  the  assembly.  The  assembly  rather  sinketh 
than  endeth — The  archbishop  prepares  for  death,  and  preacheth  his 
own  funeral  sermon.  Questioned  about  the  assurance  of  his  salvation, 
and  dieth— His  birth  in  Reading,  breeding  in  Oxford.  He  chargeth 
through  all  church-preferments.  Charged  unjustly  to  be  a  papist ; 
yet  endeavoureth  a  reconciliation  betwixt  Rome  and  England ;  over- 
severe  in  his  censures ;  over-meddling  in  state-matters ;  conscientious 
in  keeping  a  diary ;  temperate  and  chaste ;  an  enemy  to  gallantry  in 
clergymen's  clothes ;  not  partial  to  his  kindred  ;  no  whit  addicted  to 
covetousness.  The  grand  causer  of  the  repairing  of  churches,  princi- 
pally of  St.  Paul's;  his  personal  character— The  birth  and  breeding  of 
Mr.  Dod.  One  peaceable  in  our  Israel.  Improveth  all  to  piety. 
Youth  v/ill  away.  God  seen  at  the  first  hand  in  nature,  but  at  the 
second  in  art.  An  innocent  deceiver.  Excellent  Hebrician.  Fare- 
well, old  puritan.     Pages  446—479. 


SECTION  VI. 

A.  D.   1645-1648.      21  TO  24  CHARLES  I. 

The  Directory  drawn  up  by  the  assembly.  To  which  the  dissenting  bre- 
thren at  last  assent.  A  discreet  and  charitable  preface.  The  directory 
enforced  by  ordinance  of  parliament.  A  good  price,  if  well  paid.  A 
second  ordinance  to  back  the  former.  The  king's  proclamation  con- 
trary to  the  parliament's  ordinance.  Arguments  pro  and  con  to  the 
directory — A  query  for  conscience'  sake.  A  word  in  due  season.  A 
farewell  to  the  subject' — Archbishop  Williams  strangely  altered ;  born 
in  Wales,  of  good  parentage ;  bred  in  St,  John's,  and  proctor  of  Cam- 
bridge. The  lord  Egerton's  boon  to  this  his  chaplain.  The  means  of 
his  speedy  and  great  preferment — The  original  breach  betwixt  the 
duke  and  lord-keeper.  Not  contented  with  his  own  wish.  Enlarged 
out  of  the  Tower,  and  made  archbishop  of  York.  His  pleasant  answer 
to  the  king.  Retires  into  North  Wales,  and  sinks  by  degrees  into  dis- 
favour. Incensed  with  great  affronts.  Takes  a  commission  from  the 
parliament.  Condemned  by  all  royalists.  Human  inconstancy.  His 
acts  of  charity.  Purged  from  unjust  aspersion.  A  perfect  anti-papist. 
Favourer  of  some  nonconformists.  The  character  of  his  person.  His 
savoury  speech.  His  death  on  our  Lady-day — A  list  of  parliament- 
ordinances  touching  religion — An  order  for  the  fifth  part  for  ministers' 
wives  and  children.  The  copy  thereof.  Several  ways  endeavoured  to 
frustrate  this  order.  First,  second,  third,  fourth,  fifth,  sixth,  and 
seventh  evasion.     Remember  the  poor.     Pages  479 — 493. 

SECTION  VII. 

A.D.   1648.      24  CHARLES  I. 

Great  alterations  by  the  visiters  in  Oxford— Clergymen  meeting  in  the 
Isle  of  Wight — All  matters  managed  in  wiiting — The  effect  of  his 
majesty's  first  paper — The  parliament-divines'  answer  thereunto — The 
king's  rejoinder  to  the  parliament-divines — The  return  of  the  parlia- 


XVI  CONTENTS. 

ment-divines  to  the  king — Tanta  fides,  quantus  author — The  king 
fetched  from  the  Isle  of  Wight,  and  condemned  at  London.  Extremum 
hunc  concede  mihi.  He  heareth  the  last  sermon  ;  and  receives  the  com- 
munion. Is  patient  when  affronted — His  last  question,  and  speech 
falsely  printed.  Trouble  well  prevented.  His  corpse  carried  to 
Windsor — The  lords  follow  after  it.  The  governor's  resolution.  The 
lords,  with  much  searching,  find  a  vault.  The  description  thereof. 
One  of  the  order  buried  therein.  Presumed  to  be  king  Henry  VIII. 
The  leaden  inscription  on  his  coffin.  The  [corpse  deposited.  Pages 
493—504. 

Description  of  the  Plates  in  each  Volume. — Page  505. 


THE 


CHURCH  HISTORY  OF  BRITAIN. 


BOOK  IX. 


CONTAINING  THE  RKIGN  OF  QUEEN  ELIZABETH. 


SECTION  IV. 


Vol.  ui. 


CHURCH    HISTORY  OF   BRI^i^m 

BOOK  IX. 


THE 


SECTION  IV. 

THE  SIXTEENTH  CENTURY. 
TO  MR.  JAMES  BOVEY,  OF  LONDON,  MERCHANT. 

One  (if  not  the  only)  good  which  our  Civil  War 
hath  produced,  is,  that,  on  the  ransacking  of  studies, 
many  manuscripts,  which  otherwise  would  have 
remained  concealed,  and  useful  only  for  private  per- 
sons, have  been" printed  for  the  public  benefit;  amongst 
which,  some  may  suspect  the  following  letter  of  arch- 
bishop Grindal  to  be  one. 

But,  to  clear  that  scruple,  I  must  avow,  that  a  reve- 
rend person*  was  proprietary  of  an  authentic  copy 
thereof  before  the  thing  plunder  was  owned  in  Eng- 
land, and  may,  I  shall  well  hope,  notwithstanding  his 
gray  hairs,  remain  so,  after  it  is  disclaimed. 

1.  A  Petition,  in  the  Name  of  the  whole  Convocation,  for  the 
Restitution  of  Archbishop  Grindal.  23  Elizabeth.  A.D.15S0. 
Now  that  a  Parliament  and  Convocation  being  this  year  called, 
the  latter  appeared  rather  a  trunk  than  a  body,  because  Edmund 
Grindal,  archbishop  of  Canterbury,  groaning  under  the  queen's  dis- 
pleasure, was  forbidden  access  to  the  Convocation.  Whereupon,  it 
began  sadly,  (not  to  say  sullenly,)  without  the  solemnity  of  a  sermon, 
abruptly  entering  on  the  small  business  they  had  to  do.  Some  hot- 
spurs therein  motioned  that  they  should  refuse  to  meet  together  till 

*  Dr.  Usher,  archbishop  of  Armagh. 
B  2 


4  CHURCH    HISTORY    OF    ERITAIK.  A.  D.  1580. 

tlieir  company  were  completed,  and  the  archbisliop  restored  unto 
them.  But  the  gravity  of  the  rest  soon  retrenched  this  distemper, 
and  at  last  all  agreed  that  Toby  Matthew,  dean  of  Christ- Church, 
commanding  a  pure  and  fluent  pen,  should,  in  the  name  of  the  Con- 
vocation, draw  a  humble  supplication  to  her  majesty  for  the  restitu- 
tion of  the  archbishop  to  his  place,  which  was  done  according  to  the 
tenor  following : — 

Serenissimce  ac  potentissimce  regina3  Elizabethan^  Angliw.Franciw^ 
et  Hiberniw  reginw,  fidei  defensatrici^  Sfc. — Etsi  majestatem  regiam 
siveverho^  sivescripto  interpeUare  (serenissima  princeps  Elizahetha) 
non  decere  nisi  rariiis,  non  licere  nisi  gramoribus  de  causis,  arbi- 
tramur  ;  tamen  cum  pra^cipiat  apostolus^  ut^  dum  tempus  habeamus^ 
benefacimus  omnibus^  maxime  vero  domesticis  fidei ^  committer e  nidlo 
modo  possumus  quin  illud  hoc  tempore  a  tua  celsitate  humiliter  con- 
tendamus^  quod  7iobis  ad  petendum  utile  et  necessarium  toti  ecclesia^ 
et  reipublicce  ad  obtinendum  salutare  et  fructuosum^  tiiw  denique 
majestati  ad  concedendum^  perfacile  et  honorificum  sit  futurum. 
Quanquam  igitur  ucerbissime  dolemus  et  contristamur^  reverendis- 
simum  patrem^  Cantuariensem  urchiepiscopum,  post  tot  annos^  in 
tantam  tamque  diuturnam  majestatis  tucv  offensionem  incidisse; 
tamen  Tialde  vehementer  speramus^  nos  veniam  adepturos,  si  pro  imo 
multi,  pro  archiepiscopo  episcopi^  pro  tanto  pransule  tot  ministri^ 
serid  et  suppliciter  inter cedamiis.  Quod  si  deprecantium  authoritas  in 
petitione  valeret^  hwc  causa  jamdudum  a  nobilibus  viris ;  si  voluntas^ 
ab  amicissimis ;  si  experientia^  a  prudentissimis ;  si  religio^  a  reve- 
rendissimis;  simultitudo,  aplurimis:  sicid  nostrce partes  nullce  nunc 
alice  mdeantur^  quam  ut  arationem  cum  illorum  rationibus,  nostras 
preces  cum  illorum  petitionibus  supplicissime  ac  demississime  con- 
jungamus. 

Ut  enim  Ccesar  Octatius  jucundissimus propterea  fuisse  scribitur, 
quod  apud  eum^  quoties  quisque  Toluit^  dixit^  et  quod  voluit^  dum 
humiliter  ;  sic  ex  infinitis  illis  mrtutibus,  quibus  regium  tuum 
pectus  abunde  cumulatur^  mx  ulla  "eel  majestati  tuw  honor ificentior^ 
"cel  in  populum  tuum  gratiosior  existit^  quam  in  admitte^idis  homi- 
nibus  facilitas^  iii  causis  audiendislenitas^  prudentiainsecernendis, 
in  satisfaciendis  pietas  et  dementia.  Nihil  est  enim  tam popular e 
quam  bonitas  ;  atque  principes  ad  prwpotentem  Deum  nulla  re  pro- 
pius  accedunt^  quam  offensionibus  deponendis^  et  obliviscendis  injuriisy 
non  decimus  septies,  sedseptuagiessepties.  Namsi  decern  millia  talento- 
rum  dimittantur  nobis,  7ionne  nosfratribus,  conserms,  subditis,  centum 
denarios  condonabimu><  f  Liceat  enim  nobis  illud  Christi prwcep- 
tum  ad  istud  institutum,  bona  tud  cum  pace,  accommodare.  Prwser- 
tim  cam  hortetur  apostolus,  ut  mansuetudo  nostra  nota  sit  omnibus  ,•> 
Christtisque  juheat,  ut  misericordes  simus  sicut  Pater  noster  Cwlestis 


23  ELIZABETH.  BOOK    IX.       CENT.    XVI.  5 

misericoi's  est.  Vinum  in  mdnus  infimdere  salutare  est,  et  saliita- 
rius  oleum ;  Christus  utrumqiie  adhibuit.  Judicium  cantare^  domino 
jucundum  est,  ac  jucimdius  misericordiam  ;  David  utrumque  per- 
fecit.  Gratiosa  est  in  omnibus  hominibiis  dementia,  in  procei^ibus 
gratiosior,  in  principe  'eero  gratiosissima.  Gloriosa  est  regi  man- 
suetudo,  reginw  gloriosior,  tirgini  vero  ghriosimma  :  si  non  semper, 
at  swpius ;  si  non  in  omnes,  at  in  pios ;  si  non  in  vulgus,  at  in 
magistratus,  at  in  ministros,  at  in  eum  qui,  in  tam  sublimi  loco  con- 
stitutus,  magna  apud  nos  authoritate,  ma^na  apud  alios  existima- 
tione,  summd  in  sacratissimam  tuam  majestatem  fide  et  observantid 
prwditus  ;  ut  non  swpe  in  mtd  deliquisse,  sed  semel  tantum  in  mtd 
displicuisse  mdeatur,  idque  non  tam  prwfractd  Toluntate,  quam 
tenerd  conscientid,  ciijus  tantam  esse  mm,  magni  authores,  et  optimi 
quique  mri  scripserunt,  ut  quicquid,  ed  vel  reclamante,  xel  errante, 
Tel  hwsitante,  fiat,  non  leve  peccatum  esse  statuerint.  Ac  ut,  quod 
verum  est,  ingenue  et  humiliter  attendamus  ;  et  illud  omnium  quod 
■unum  agitur,  xel  necessario  silentio,  tel  Toluntarid  ohlectatione  obru- 
cimus.  /S'^  laudahile  est,  mtam  non  modo  oh  omni  crimi7ie,  sed  sus- 
picione  criminis,  liberam  traduxisse,  traduxit ;  si  honestum,  reli- 
gionem  ah  omni  non  modo  papisticd  corrupteld,  sed  a  schismaticd 
pramtate,  integram  conservare,  consevTamt ;  si  Chi^istianum,  non 
modo,  propter  justitiam  persecutionem  passum  esse,  sed  per  cwteras 
nationes  propter  etangelium  oberrasse,  et  passus  est,  et  oberratit, 

<^uw  cum  ita  sint,  regina  clementissima,  omnes  hw  nostrw  voces  ad 
celsitudinem  tuam  profectw,  hoc  unum  demississime  et,  qudm  fieri 
pjotest,  subjectissime  comprecantur,  idque  per  singular  em  naturw 
tuoe  bonitatem,  per  anteactm  turn  vitw  consuetudinem,  per  pietatem 
regiam  in  subditos,  per  charitatem  Christianam  in  inimicos,  perque 
earn,  qud  reliquos  omnes  et  privatos  et  principes  excellis,  lenitatem  ; 
ut  velis  majestatem  tuam  mansuetudine,  justitiam  misericordid, 
iram  placabilitate,  ofimsionem  indulgentid  mitigare  ;  et  archiepis- 
copum  masrore  fractum  et  debilitatum,  non  modo  extollere  jacentem, 
sed  ecclesiam  ipsi,  ipsum  ecclesice,  tuis  civibus,  suis  fratribus,  exteris 
nationibus,  denique  piis  omnibus  tandem  aliquando  restituere.  Quod 
si  fecerit  majestas  tua,  velpotiiis  ciimfecerit,  (quodenim  summe  cupi- 
mus,  summe  etiam  ^perare  jucundum  est,)  non  dubitamus  quin  ilium 
reverendissimum  patrem,  supplicem  et  abjectum,  non  tam  ad  pedes, 
qudm  ad  nutus  tuos  perpetud  sis  habitura.  Ita  celsitati  tuw  persancte 
pollicemur,  nobis  neque  in  ecclesid  constituendd  curam,  neque  in  reli- 
gione propagandd  studium,  neque  inschismatibus  tollendisdiligentiam, 
neque  in  hoc  beneficio  prwcipue  recolendo  memoriam,  neque  in 
ferendo  quas  debemus  gratias,  gratam  animi  henevolentiam  ullo 
uiiquam  tempore  defuturam.  Dominus  Jesus  majestatem  tuam,  ad 
reipublicw  tranqnilUtatcm,   ad   ecclesslw    conserrationem,    ad  suw 


^  CHURCH    HISTORY    OF    BRITAIN.  A.  D.  1580. 

xeritatls  amplijicationem,  omni  fwlicitatis  genere  diutissime  'pro- 
sequatur. 

This  petition,  though  presented  with  all  advantage,  found  no 
other  entertainment  than  delays,  which  ended  in  a  final  denial ;  it 
being  daily  suggested  to  the  queen,  that  Grindal  was  a  great  patron 
of  prophesyings,  now  set  up  in  several  parts  of  the  land ;  which,  if 
permitted  to  take  place,  would  in  fine  prove  the  bane  of  the  church 
and  commonwealth. 

2.  The  Model  and  Method  of  Prophesyings. 
These  prophesyings  were  pretended  to  be  grounded  on  the 
apostle's  precept :  "  For,  ye  may  all  prophesy  one  by  one,  that  all 
may  learn,  and  all  be  comforted,"  1  Cor.  xiv.  81 ;  but  so,  as  to  make 
it  out,  they  were  fain  to  make  use  of  human  prudential  additions, 
modelling  their  prophesyings  as  followeth  : — 

1.  The  ministers  of  the  same  precinct,  by  their  own  appoint- 
ment, (not  strictly  standing  on  the  old  division  of  deaneries,)  met 
at  the  principal  place  therein. 

2.  The  junior  divine  went  first  into  the  pulpit,  and  for  half  an 
hour,  more  or  less,  as  he  could  with  clearness  contract  his  medita- 
tions, treated  upon  a  portion  of  Scripture,  formerly  by  a  joint 
agreement  assigned  unto  him.  After  him,  four  or  five  more, 
observing  their  seniority,   succcs^sively  dilated  on  the  same  text. 

3.  At  last  a  grave  divine,  appointed  on  purpose,  as  father  of  the 
Act,  made  the  closing  sermon,  somewhat  larger  than  the  rest, 
praising  the  pains  and  performance  of  such  who  best  deserved  it : 
meekly  and  mildly  reproving  the  mistakes  and  failings  of  such  of 
those,  if  any  were  found  in  their  sermons.  Then  all  was  ended  as 
it  was  begun,  with  a  solemn  prayer ;  and,  at  a  public  refection  of 
those  ministers  together,  (with  many  of  the  gentry  repairing  unto 
them,)  the  next  time  of  their  meeting  was  appointed,  text  assigned, 
preachers  deputed,  a  new  moderator  elected,  or  the  old  one  conti- 
nued ;  and  so  all  were  dissolved. 

This  exercise  proved,  though  often  long,  seldom  tedious ;  and 
people's  attentions,  though  travelling  far,  were  little  tired,  because 
entertained  with  much  varictv. 

3.   The  Inconveniences  of  Prophesyings  detected  or  suspected. 

However,  some  inconveniences  were  seen,  and  more  foreseen,  by 
wise  (or,  at  least,  suspected  by  fearful)  men,  if  these  prophecies 
might  generally  take  place  in  the  land. 

1.  Many  modest  ministers,  and  those  profitable  preachers  in  their 
private  parishes,  were  loath  to  appear  in  this  public  way ;  which 
made  them  undeservedly  slighted  and  neglected  by  others. 


23  ELIZABETH.  BOOK    IX.       CEKT.    XVf.  7 

2.  Many  young  men,  of  more  boldness  than  learning,  readiness 
than  solidity,  carried  away  the  credit,  to  the  great  disheartening  of 
those  of  more  age  and  ability. 

3.  This  consort  of  preachers  kept  not  always  time  and  tune 
amongst  themselves,  much  jarring  of  personal  reflections  often  dis- 
turbing their  harmony. 

4.  Many  would  make  impertinent  excursions  from  their  text,  to 
inveigh  against  the  present  discipline  and  government  of  the  church; 
such  preachers  being  more  plausible  to  the  people,  generally  best 
pleased  with  them  who  manifest  their  displeasure  against  the  pre- 
sent authority. 

5.  A  wise  person  was  often  wanting  to  moderate  the  moderator, 
partially  passing  his  censures,  rather  according  to  affection  than 
judgment. 

6.  People  factiously  cried  up,  some  one  minister,  some  another, 
to  the  disgrace  of  God's  ordinance. 

7.  These  prophesyings,  being  accounted  the  fairs  for  spiritual 
merchandises,  made  the  weekly  markets  for  tlie  same  holy  commo- 
dities, on  the  Lord's  day,  to  be  less  respected,  and  ministers  to  be 
neglected  in  their  respective  parishes. 

8.  In  a  word,  the  (jueen  was  so  perfectly  prepossessed  with  preju- 
dice against  these  prophesyings,  (as  if  they  foretold  the  rise  of 
schism  and  faction,)  that  she  was  implacably  incensed  against  arch- 
bishop Grindal,  as  the  principal  patron  and  promoter  thereof. 

However,  the  good  archbishop,  to  vindicate  himself  and  state  the 
usefulness  of  these  prophesyings,  wrote  a  large  letter  to  the  queen ; 
and  although  we  cannot  exactly  tell  the  just  time  thereof,*  yet, 
knowing  it  will  be  welcome  to  the  pious  reader  at  any  time,  here  we 
present  the  true  copy  thereof. 

4.  The  most  remarkable  Letter  of  Archbishop  Grindal^  in 
Defence  of  Prophecies  and  Church-jurisdiction' 
"  With  most  humble  remembrance  of  bounden  duty  to  your 
majesty.  It  may  please  the  same  to  be  advertised,  that  the  speeches 
which  it  pleased  you  to  deliver  unto  me  when  I  last  attended  on 
your  Highness,  concerning  the  abridging  the  number  of  preachers, 
and  the  utter  subversion  of  all  learned  exercises  and  conferences 
amongst  the  ministers  of  the  church,  allowed  by  the  bishops  and 
ordinaries,  have  exceedingly  dismayed  and  discomforted  me ;  not  so 
much  for  that  the  said  speeches  sounded  very  hardly  against  my  own 
person,  being  but  one  particular  man,  and  not  so  much  to  be  accounted 
of;  but,  most  of  all,  for  that  the  same  might  tend  to  the  public  harm 
of  God's  church,  whereof  your  majesty  by  office  ought  to  be  imtricia^ 

*  To  the  day  and  mojith,  being  confident  this  was  the  year. 


S  CHURCH    HISTORY    OF    BRITAIN.  A.  D.  1580. 

and  also  the  heavy  burden  of  your  conscience  before  God,  if  they 
should  be  put  to  strict  execution.  It  was  not  your  majesty's  plea- 
sure then  (the  time  not  serving  thereto)  to  hear  me  at  any  length 
concerning  the  said  two  matters  then  expounded.  I  thought  it 
therefore  my  duty,  by  writing,  to  declare  some  part  of  my  mind 
unto  your  Highness,  beseeching  the  same  with  patience  to  read  over 
this  which  I  now  send  written  with  my  own  rude  scribbling  hand, 
which  secmeth  indeed  to  be  of  more  length  than  it  is :  for  I  say 
with  Ambrose,  ad  Yalentiniaimm  Imperatorem :  Scribo  manu  mea 
quod  sola  legas. 

*'  Madam,  first  of  all,  I  must  and  will,  during  my  life,  confess  that 
there  is  no  earthly  creature  to  whom  I  am  so  much  bounden  as  to 
your  majesty,  who  (notwithstanding  mine  insufficiency,  which  com- 
mendeth  your  Grace  the  more)  hath  bestowed  upon  me  so  many  and 
so  great  benefits,  as  I  could  never  hope  for,  much  less  deserve.  I 
do  therefore,  according  to  my  bounden  duty,  with  all  thanksgiving, 
bear  towards  your  majesty  a  most  humble,  thankful,  and  faithful 
heart,  and  that  knoweth  He  that  knoweth  all  things.  Neither  do  I 
intend  ever  to  offend  your  majesty  in  any  thing,  unless,  in  the  cause 
of  God  or  his  church,  by  necessity  of  office  and  burden  laid  upon  me 
and  burden  of  conscience,  I  shall  thereunto  be  enforced ;  and  in  these 
cases,  which  I  trust  in  God  shall  never  be  urged  upon  me,  if  I  should 
use  dissembling  silence,  I  should  very  ill  requite  so  many  your 
majesty's  and  so  great  benefits.  For  in  so  doing,  both  you  might 
fall  into  peril  towards  God,  and  I  myself  into  endless  damnation. 
The  prophet  Ezekiel  termeth  us  ministers  of  the  church  specidatores, 
and  not  adulatores.  If  we  therefore  see  the  sword  coming  by  reason 
of  any  offence  towards  God,  we  must  of  necessity  give  warning,  else 
the  blood  of  those  that  perish  will  be  required  at  our  hands.  I 
beseech  your  majesty  thus  to  think  of  me,  that  I  do  not  conceive  any 
ill  opinion  of  you,  although  I  cannot  assent  unto  those  two  Articles 
then  expounded.  I  do,  with  the  rest  of  all  your  good  subjects, 
acknowledge  that  we  have  received,  by  your  government,  many  and 
most  excellent  benefits,  as,  amongst  others,  freedom  of  conscience, 
suppression  of  idolatry,  sincere  preaching  of  the  Gospel,  with  public 
peace  and  tranquillity. 

"  I  am  also  persuaded,  that  ever,  in  these  matters  which  you  seem 
to  urge,  your  meaning  and  zeal  is  for  the  best.  The  like  hath  hap- 
pened to  many  of  the  best  princes  that  ever  were,  yet  have  not  refused 
afterwards  to  be  better  informed,  and  instructed  out  of  God's  word. 
King  David,  so  much  commended  in  the  Scriptures,  had  no  evil 
meaning  when  he  commanded  the  people  to  be  numbered  ;  he  thought 
it  good  policy,  in  so  doing,  to  understand  what  forces  he  had  in 
store  to  employ  against  God's  enemies,  if  occasion  so  required.    Yet 


23  ELIZABETH.  BOOK    IX.       CENT.    XVI.  9 

afterwards,  saith  the  Scripture,  his  own  heart  struck  him,  and  God, 
by  the  prophet  Gad,  reprehended  him  for  his  offence  ^  and  gave  him, 
for  the  same,  choice  of  three  hard  penances, — that  is  to  say,  famine, 
war,  and  pestilence.  Good  king  Hezekiah  of  courtesy  and  good 
affection  showed  to  the  ambassadors  of  the  king  of  Babylon  the  trea- 
sures of  the  house  of  God,  and  of  his  own  house  ;  and  yet  the  pro- 
phet Isaiah  told  him  that  God  was  therewith  displeased.  The 
godly  king  Jehosaphat,  making  league  with  his  neighbour  king 
Ahab,  and  of  like  good  meaning,  no  doubt,  was  likewise  reprehended 
by  Jehu  the  prophet  in  this  form  of  words  :  Impio  prwhes  auxilium^ 
et  Us  qui  oderunt  Doniinum  amicitid  junyeris.  Ambrose,  writing  to 
Theodosius  the  emperor,  useth  these  words:  Noti pietatem  tuam 
erga  Deum^  lenitatem  in  homines^  ohlectatus  sum  heneficiis  tuis, 
(Sfc  And  yet,  for  all  that,  the  said  Ambrose  dolh  not  forbear  in 
the  same  epistle  to  persuade  the  said  emperor  to  revoke  an  ungodly 
edict,  wherein  he  had  commanded  a  godly  bishop  to  re-edify  a  Jewish 
synagogue  pulled  down  by  the  Christian  people. 

"And  so,  to  come  to  the  present  case,  I  may  very  well  use  to 
your  Highness  the  words  of  Ambrose  above  Avritten,  Novl  pietatem, 
Sfc.  But  surely  I  cannot  marvel  enough  how  this  strange  opinion 
should  once  enter  into  your  mind, — that  it  should  be  good  for  the 
church  to  have  few  preachers.  Alas,  madam,  is  the  Scripture  more 
plain  in  any  thing  than  that  the  Gospel  of  Christ  should  be  plentifully 
preached  ?  and  that  plenty  of  labourers  should  be  sent  into  the  Lord's 
harvest,  which,  being  great  and  large,  standeth  in  need,  not  of  a  few 
but  of  many  workmen  ?  There  was  appointed  to  the  building  of 
Solomon's  material  temple  artificers  and  labourers,  besides  three  thou- 
sand overseers ;  and  shall  we  think  that  a  few  preachers  may  suffice 
to  the  building  and  edifying  of  the  spiritual  temple  of  Christ,  which 
is  his  church  ?  Christ,  when  he  sent  forth  his  disciples  and  apostles, 
said  unto  them,  Ite,  prwdicate  Exangelium  omni  creaturw ;  but  all 
God's  creatures  cannot  be  instructed  in  the  Gospel,  unless  all  possible 
means  be  used  to  have  multitudes  of  preachers  and  teachers  to  preach 
unto  them.  Sermo  Christi  inhabitet  in  tobis  opulenter,  saith  St.  Paul, 
Colossians  iii.  16 ;  and  2  Timothy  iv.  2  :  Prcedica  sermonem^  insta 
tempestive  intempestive^  argue,  increpa,  exhortare,  S^c.  which  thing 
cannot  be  done  without  often  and  much  teaching  and  preaching. 
To  this  agreeth  the  practice  of  Christ's  apostles  :  Qui  constituebant 
per  singulas  ecdesias  presbyter os.  Acts  xiv.  23.  St.  Paul  likewise 
writeth  to  Titus,  i.  5:  Hujus  rei  gratia,  reliqui  tein  Cretd,  ut  quw 
desunt  pergas  corrigere,  et  constituas  oppidatim  presbyter os.  And 
afterwards  describes  how  the  same  presbytery  were  to  be  qualified, 
not  such  as  we  are  compelled  to  admit  for  mere  necessity,  unless  we 
should  have  a  great  many  of  churches  utterly  desolate ;  but  «uch. 


10  CHURCH    HISTORY    OF    BRITA.1N.  A.D.   1580. 

indeed,  as  were  able  to  exhort,  per  mam  doctrinam,  et  contradicentes 
convincere.  And  in  this  place,  I  beseech  your  majesty  to  note  one 
thing  necessary  to  be  noted,  which  is  this  :  If  the  Holy  Ghost  pre- 
scribeth  expressly  that  preachers  should  be  placed  oppidatim^  how 
can  it  then  well  be  thought  that  three  or  four  preachers  may  suffice 
for  a  shire  ? 

*'  Public  and  continual  preaching  of  God's  word  is  the  ordinary 
means  and  instrument  of  the  salvation  of  mankind.  St.  Paul  calleth 
it  '  the  ministry  of  reconciliation '  of  man  unto  God.  By  the  preach- 
ing of  God's  word,  the  glory  of  God  is  increased  and  enlarged,  faith 
nourished,  and  charity  increased.  By  it  the  ignorant  are  instructed, 
the  negligent  exhorted  and  incited,  the  stubborn  rebuked,  the  weak 
conscience  comforted,  and  to  all  those  that  sin  of  malicious  wickedness 
the  wrath  of  God  is  threatened.  By  preaching,  also,  due  obedience  to 
God,  and  Christian  princes  and  magistrates,  is  planted  in  the  hearts 
of  subjects :  for  obedience  proceedeth  of  conscience,  conscience  is 
grounded  upon  the  word  of  God,  and  the  word  of  God  worketh  his 
effect  by  preaching ;  so  as  generally,  where  preaching  wanteth,  obe- 
dience faileth. 

"  No  prince  ever  had  more  lively  experience  hereof  than  your 
majesty  hath  had  in  your  time,  and  may  have  daily.  If  your  majesty 
comes  to  the  city  of  London  never  so  often,  what  gratulations,  what 
joy,  what  concourse  of  the  people  is  there  to  be  seen  !  Yea,  what 
acclamations  and  prayers  to  God  for  your  long  life,  and  other  mani- 
fest significations  are  there  to  be  heard  of  inward  and  unfeigned  love, 
joined  with  most  humble  and  hearty  obedience  are  there  to  be  heard  ! 
Whereof  cometh  this,  madam,  but  of  the  continual  preaching  of 
God's  word  in  that  city  ?  whereby  that  people  hath  been  plentifully 
instructed  in  their  duty  towards  God  and  your  majesty.  On  the 
contrary,  what  bred  the  rebellion  in  the  north  ?  Was  it  not  papistry, 
and  ignorance  of  God's  word,  through  want  of  often  preaching  in 
the  time  of  that  rebelling  ?  Were  not  all  men  of  all  states,  that  made 
profession  of  the  Gospel,  most  ready  to  offer  their  lives  for  your 
defence  ?  Insomuch  that  one  poor  parish  in  Yorkshire,  which,  by 
continual  preaching,  hath  been  better  instructed  than  the  rest, 
(Halifax  I  mean,)  was  ready  to  bring  three  or  four  thousand  able  men 
into  the  field,  to  serve  you  against  the  said  rebels.  How  can  your 
majesty  have  a  more  lively  trial  and  experience  of  the  effects  of 
much  preaching,  or  little  or  no  preaching  ?  The  one  worketh  most 
faithful  obedience,  the  other  working  most  unnatural  disobedience 
and  rebellion. 

"  But  it  is  thought  that  many  are  admitted  to  preach,  and 
few  able  to  do  it  well.  That  unable  preachers  be  removed  is 
very  requisite,  if  ability  and  sufficiency  may  be  rightly  weighed  and 


23  ELIZABETH.  BOOK    IX.       CENT.    XVI.  II 

judged  ;  and  therein  I  trust  as  much  is  and  shall  be  done  as  can 
be.  For,  both  I  for  my  own  part,  (let  it  be  spoken  without  any 
ostentation,)  I  am  very  careful  in  allowing  of  such  preachers  only 
as  be  able  both  for  their  knowledge  in  the  Scriptures,  and  also  for 
testimony  of  their  godly  life  and  conversation ;  and,  beside  that, 
I  have  given  very  great  charge  to  the  rest  of  my  brethren,  the 
bishops  of  this  province,  to  do  the  like.  We  admitted  no  man  to 
the  office  of  preaching,  that  either  professeth  papistry  or  puritan  ism. 
The  graduates  of  the  universities  are  only  admitted  to  be  preachers; 
unless  it  be  some  few,  which  have  excellent  gifts  of  knowledge  in 
the  Scriptures,  joined  with  good  utterance  and  godly  persuasions. 
I  myself  procured  above  forty  learned  preachers  and  graduates 
within  less  than  these  six  years,  to  be  placed  within  the  diocess  of 
York,  beside  those  I  found  there ;  and  there  I  left  them:  the  fruits 
of  whose  travail  in  preaching  your  majesty  is  like  to  reap  daily,  by 
most  assured  dutiful  obedience  of  your  subjects  in  those  parts. 

"  But,  indeed,  this  age  judgeth  hardly,  and  nothing  indifferently, 
of  the  ability  of  preachers  of  our  time,  judging  few  or  none  to  be 
able  in  their  opinion ;  which  hard  judgn^ent  groweth  upon  divers 
ill  dispositions  of  men.  St.  Paul  doth  command  the  preaching  of 
Christ  crucified  be  absque  eminentia  sermonis ;  but,  in  our  time, 
many  have  so  delicate  ears,  that  no  preaching  can  satisfy  them  unless 
it  be  sauced  with  much  sweetness  and  exornation  of  speech ;  which 
the  same  apostle  utterly  condemneth,  and  giveth  this  reason,  ne 
e'cacuetur  crux  Chrlsti. 

"  Some  there  be  also,  that  are  mislikers  of  the  godly  Reformation 
in  religion  now  established  ;  wishing  indeed,  that  there  were  no 
preachers  at  all,  and  so,  by  depraving  of  ministers,  impugn  religion, 
noil  aperto  Marte^  sed  iii  cuniculis,  much  like  to  the  popish 
bishops  in  your  father's  time,  who  would  have  had  the  English 
translation  of  the  Bible  called  in,  as  evil-translated,  and  the  new 
translation  thereof  to  be  committed  to  them,  which  they  never 
intended  to  perform. 

^'  A  number  there  is,  and  that  exceeding  great,  whereof  some  are 
altogether  worldly-minded,  and  altogether  bent  covetously  to  gather 
worldly  goods  and  possessions,  serving  all  carnal,  vain,  dissolute, 
and  lascivious  life.  Voluptatis  amoves^  magis  quam  Dei;  et 
semetipsos  dediderunt  ad  patrandum  omnem  immunditiem  cum  am- 
ditate^  Eph.  iv.  19.  And  because  the  preaching  of  God's  word 
(which  to  all  Christians'  conscience  is  sweet  and  delectable)  to  them, 
having  cauterizatas  couscientias,  is  bitter  and  grievous ;  for,  as  St. 
Ambrose  saith,  super  Psalmum  cxix.  Quomodo  possunt  terba  Dei 
dulcia  esse  infaucibus  tuis,  in  quibus  est  amaritudo  ?  There  they 
wish  also  that  there  were  no  preachers  at  all  ;  but,  because  they  dare 


12  CHURCH    HISTORY    OF    BRITAIN.  A.D.  1580. 

not  directly  condemn  tlie  office  of  preaching,  so  expressly  commanded 
by  God's  word,  for  that  the  same  were  open  blasphemy ;  they  turn 
themselves  altogether,  and  with  the  same  meaning  as  others  do,  to 
make  exceptions  against  the  persons  of  them  that  be  admitted  to 
preach. 

*'  But,  God  forbid,  madam,  that  you  should  open  your  ears  to 
any  of  these  wicked  persuasions,  or  any  way  to  diminish  the  preach- 
ing of  Christ"'s  Gospel ;  for  that  you  would  ruinate  altogether  at 
length.  Cum  defecerit  prophetia,  dissipabitur  populus^  saith  Solo- 
mon, Proverbs  xxix.  18.  Now,  where  it  is  thought  that  the  reading 
of  godly  Homilies,  set  forth  by  public  authority,  may  suffice,  (I 
continue  in  the  same  mind  I  was  when  I  attended  upon  your 
majesty,)  the  reading  of  Homilies  hath  his  commodities ;  but  it  is 
nothing  comparable  to  the  office  of  preaching.  The  godly  preacher 
is  learned  in  the  Gospel.  Fidelis  servus  qui  novif,  who  can  apply 
his  speech  to  the  diversity  of  times,  places,  and  hearers,  which  can- 
not be  done  in  Homilies.  Exhortations,  reprehensions,  and  persua- 
sions, are  uttered  with  more  affections  to  the  moving  of  the  hearers 
in  sermons,  than  in  Homilies. 

"  Besides,  Homilies  were  devised  by  godly  bishops  in  your 
brother's  days,  only  to  supply  necessity,  by  want  of  preachers  ; 
and  are,  by  the  statute,  not  to  be  preferred,  but  to  give  place  t© 
sermons,  wheresoever  they  may  be  had,  and  were  never  thought  in 
themselves  to  contain  alone  sufficient  instruction  for  the  church  of 
England.  For  it  was  then  found,  (as  it  is  found  now,)  that  this 
church  of  England  hath  been,  by  appropriations,  and  that  not  with- 
out sacrilege,  spoiled  of  the  livings  which  at  the  first  were  appointed 
to  the  office  of  preaching  and  teaching  ;  which  appropriations  were 
first  annexed  to  abbeys,  and  after  came  to  the  Crown,  and  now  are 
disposed  to  private  men's  possessions,  without  hope  to  reduce  the 
same  to  the  original  institution.  So  that  at  this  day,  in  my  opinion, 
where  one  church  is  able  to  yield  sufficient  living  to  a  learned 
preacher,  there  are  at  the  least  seven  churches  unable  to  do  the  same, 

where  there  be *  souls,  (the  more  is  the  pity  I)  there  are  not 

seven  pounds  a-year  reserved  for  the  minister.  In  such  parishes,  as 
it  is  not  possible  to  place  able  preachers  for  want  of  convenient 
stipend,  if  every  flock  might  have  a  preaching  pastor,  which  is 
rather  to  be  wished  than  hoped  for,  then  were  reading  of  Homilies 
altogether  unnecessary.  But  to  supply  that  want  of  preaching 
God's  word  which  is  the  food  of  the  soul,  growing  upon  the  necessi- 
ties before-mentioned,  both  in  your  brother's  time,  and  in  your  time 

•  The  word  not  being  easily  legible,  I  have  left  a  blank,  (as  sometimes  ])efore  and 
after,)  preferring  to  refer  the  sense  to  the  judicious  reader's  own  coujeeture,  than  to 
ijnposc  uiy  guess  upon  him. 


23  ELIZABETH. 


BOOK    IX.       CENT.    XVI. 


also,  certain  Homilies  have  been  devised,  that  the  people  should  not 
altogether  be  destitute  of  instruction  ;  for  it  is  an  old  proverb, 
'  Better  a  loaf  than  no  bread."' 

"  Now,  for  the  second  point,  which  is  concerning  the  learned 
exercises  and  conferences  amongst  the  ministers  of  the  church  :  I 
have  consulted  with  divers  of  my  brethren  the  bishops,  who  think  of 
the  same  as  I  do, — a  thing  profitable  to  the  church,  and  therefore 
expedient  to  be  continued  :  and  I  trust  your  majesty  will  think  the 
like,  when  your  majesty  shall  have  been  informed  of  the  matter  and 
order  thereof,  what  authority  it  hath  of  the  Scriptures,  what  commo- 
dity it  bringeth  with  it,  and  what  discommodities  will  follow  if  it  be 
clean  taken  away. 

"1.  The  authors  of  this  exercise  are  the  bishops  of  the  diocess 
where  this  same  is  used,  who,  by  the  law  of  God,  and  by  the  canons 
and  constitutions  of  the  church  now  in  force,  have  authority  to 
appoint  exercise  to  their  inferior  ministers  for  increase  of  learning 
and  knowledge  in  the  Scriptures,  as  to  them  seemeth  most  expe- 
dient, for  that  pertaineth  ad  disciplinam  clericalem.  The  time 
appointed  for  this  exercise  is  once  in  a  month,  or  once  in  twenty  or 
fifteen  days,  at  the  discretion  of  the  ordinary.     The  time  of  this 

exercise  is  two  hours ;  the  place  the  church  of  the appointed 

for  the  assembly.  The  matter  entreated  of  is  as  followeth '. 
Some  text  of  Scripture,  before  appointed  to  be  spoken,  is  inter- 
preted in  this  order.  First.  The  occasion  of  the  place  is  showed. 
Secondly.  The  end.  Thirdly.  The  proper  sense  of  the  place. 
Fourthly.  The  property  of  the  words,  and  those  that  be  learned  in 
the  tongues  showing  the  diversity  of  interpretations.  Fifthly. 
Where  the  like  phrases  are  used  in  Scriptures.  Sixthly.  Places  of 
Scripture  that  seem  to  repugn  are  reconciled.  Seventhly.  The  argu- 
ments of  the  text  are  opened.  Eighthly.  It  is  declared  what  virtues 
and  vices  are  therein  couched,  and  to  which  of  the  commandments 
they  do  appertain.  Ninthly.  How  the  like  hath  been  wrested  by 
the  adversary,  if  occasion  so  require.  Tenthly,  and  Lastly.  What 
doctrine  of  faith  and  manners  the  said  text  doth  contain.  The  con- 
clusion is  with  a  prayer  for  your  majesty  and  all  estates,  as  is 
appointed  by  the  book  of  Common-Prayer,  and  a  Psalm. 

"  2.  These  orders  following  are  also  observed  by  the  said 
exercise  :  First :  Two  or  three  of  the  gravest  and  best  learned 
pastors  are  appointed  of  the  bishops  to  be  Moderators  in  every 
assembly.  No  man  may  speak  unless  he  be  first  allowed  by  the 
bishop ;  with  this  proviso,  that  no  layman  be  suffered  to  speak  at 
any  time.  No  controversy  of  this  present  time  and  state  shall  be 
moved  and  dealt  withal.  If  any  attempt  the  contrary,  he  is  put  to 
silence  by  the    Moderator.     None  is  suffered  to  glance  openly  or 


14  CHURCH    HISTORY    OV    BRITAIN.  A.B.  1580. 

covertly  at  persons  public  or  private  ;  neither  yet  any  one  to  confute 
one  another.  If  any  man  utter  a  wrong  sense  of  Scripture,  he  is 
privately  admonished  thereof,  and  better  instructed  by  the  Mode- 
rators and  other  his  fellow-ministers.  If  any  man  use  immoderate 
speeches,  or  unreverend  gesture  or  behaviour,  or  otherwise  be  sus- 
pected in  life,  he  is  likewise  admonished  as  aforesaid.  If  any  man 
do  vilify  or  break  these  orders,  he  is  presented  to  the  bishop  to  be 
corrected. 

"3.  The  ground  of  this  or  like  exercise  is  of  great  and  ancient 
authority  ;  for  Samuel  did  practise  such  like  exercises  in  his  time  at 
Naioth  in  Ramath  and  Bethel,  1  Sam.  x.  5 — 13  ;  xix.  18 — 24. 
So  did  Elizeus  the  prophet  at  Jericho,  2  Kings  ii.  5 — 22 ;  which 
studious  persons  in  those  days  were  called  /ilu  prophetariim,  '  the 
disciples  of  the  prophets,"*  that,  being  exercised  in  the  knowledge  and 
study  of  the  Scriptures,  they  might  be  able  men  to  serve  in  God's 
church  as  that  time  required.  St.  Paul  also  doth  make  express 
mention,  1  Cor.  xiv.  1 — 40,  that  the  like  in  effect  was  used  in  the 
primitive  church,  and  giveth  order  for  the  same,  that  two  or  three 
should  speak,  (by  course,  he  meaneth,)  and  the  rest  shall  keep  silence. 
That  exercise  in  the  church  in  those  days  St.  Paul  calleth  prophetia^ 
and  the  speakers  joro/'/^^^«5, — terms  very  odious  in  our  days  to  some, 
because  they  are  not  rightly  understood  ;  for,  indeed,  prophetia^  in 
that  and  like  places  of  the  same  Paul,  doth  not  (as  it  doth  some- 
times) signify  prediction  of  things  to  come,  which  thing,  or  which 
gift,  is  not  now  ordinary  in  the  church  of  God,  but  signifieth  thereby 
the  assent  and  consent  of  the  Scriptures.  And,  therefore,  doth  St. 
Paul  attribute  unto  these  that  be  called  prophetce  in  that  chapter, 
doctrinam  ad  cedificationem^  exhortationem^  et  consolationem.  This 
gift  of  expounding  and  interpreting  the  Scriptures  was,  in  St.  Paul's 
time,  given  unto  many  by  a  special  miracle  without  study  ;  so  was 
also  by  miracle  the  gift  to  speak  strange  tongues  which  they  had 
never  learned.  But  now,  miracles  ceasing,  men  must  attain  to  the 
Hebrew,  Greek,  and  Latin  tongues,  &c.  by  travail  and  study ;  God 
giveth  the  increase.  So  must  men  also  attain  by  the  like  means  to 
the  gifts  of  expounding  and  interpreting  the  Scriptures ;  and, 
amongst  other  helps,  nothing  is  so  necessary  as  these  above-named 
exercises  and  conferences  amongst  the  ministers  of  the  church  ; 
which  in  effect  are  all  one  with  the  exercises  of  students  in  divinity 
in  the  universities,  saving  that  the  first  is  done  in  a  tongue  under- 
stood, to  the  more  edifying  of  the  learned  hearers. 

"  4.  Howsoever  report  hath  been  made  to  your  majesty  concern- 
ing these  exercises,  yet  I  and  others  of  York,  whose  names  are 
noted  as  followeth, — (1.)  Cantuariensis ;  (2.)  London  ;  (3.)  Wine. 
(4.)  Bathon.  (.5.)  Lichfield  ;   (6.)  Gloucester ;   (7.)   Lincoln;   (8.)  . 


23  ELIZABETH.  BOOK     IX.       CENT.    XVI.  15 

Chester;  (9.)  Exon.  (10.)  Meneven.  als.  David's; — hereof  as  they 
have  testified  unto  me  by  their  letters,  have  found  by  experience 
that  these  profits  and  commodities  following  have  ensued  of  them. 
(1.)  The  ministers  of  the  church  are  more  skilful,  and  more  ready 
in  the  Scriptures,  and  more  apt  to  teach  their  flocks.  (2.)  It  with- 
draweth  them  from  idleness,  wandering,  gaming,  &c.  (3.)  Some, 
afore  suspected  in  doctrine,  are  brought  to  the  knowledge  of  the 
truth.  (4.)  Ignorant  ministers  are  driven  to  study,  if  not  for  con- 
science, yet  for  shame  and  fear  of  discipline,  (o.)  The  opinion  of 
laymen  touching  the  ableness  of  the  clergy  is  hereby  removed. 
(6.)  Nothing  by  experience  beateth  down  popery  more  than  that. 
(7.)  Ministers,  as  some  of  my  brethren  do  confess,  grow  to  such 
knowledge  by  means  of  those  exercises,  that  where  afore  were  not 
able  ministers,  not  three,  now  are  thirty  able  and  meet  to  preach  at 
PauFs  Cross,  and  forty  or  fifty  besides,  able  to  instruct  their  own 
cures  :  so,  as  it  is  found  by  experience  the  best  means  to  increase 
knowledge  in  the  simple,  and  to  continue  it  in  the  learned,  only 
backward  men  in  religion,  and  contemners  of  learning  in  the 
countries  abroad,  do  fret  against  it ;  which,  in  truth,  doth  the  more 
commend  it. 

"-  5.  The  dissolution  of  it  would  breed  triumph  to  the  adversary, 
and  great  sorrow  and  grief  to  the  favourers  of  religion,  contrary  to 
the  counsel  of  Ezekiel  xiii.  3 — 22 ;  who  saith,  Cor  justi  non  est 
contristandum  ;  and  although  some  have  abused  this  good  and 
necessary  exercise,  there  is  no  reason  that  the  malice  of  a  few  should 
prejudice  all.  Abuses  may  be  reformed,  and  that  which  is  good 
may  remain.  Neither  is  there  any  just  cause  of  offences  to  be 
taken,  if  divers  men  make  divers  senses  of  one  sentence  of  Scripture, 
so  that  all  the  senses  be  good  and  agreeable  to  the  analogy  and  pro- 
portion of  faith ;  for  otherwise  we  must  needs  condemn  all  the 
ancient  fathers,  and  divers  of  the  church,  who  most  commonly 
expound  one  and  the  same  text  of  Scripture  diversely,  and  yet  all 
to  the  good  of  the  church.  And  therefore  doth  Basil  compare  the 
Scriptures  to  a  well,  out  of  which  the  more  a  man  draweth,  the 
better  and  sweeter  is  the  water.  I  trust  when  your  majesty  hath 
considered  and  weighed  the  premisses,  you  will  rest  satisfied  ;  and 
judge,  that  no  such  inconveniences  can  grow  of  such  exercises  as 
these,  as  you  have  been  informed,  but  rather  the  clean  contrary. 

"  And,  for  my  own  part,  because  I  am  well  assured  by  reasons, 
and  also  by  arguments  taken  out  of  the  holy  Scriptures,  by  experi- 
ence, the  most  certain  seal  of  sure  knowledge,  that  the  said  exercises 
for  the  interpretation  and  exposition  of  the  Scriptures,  and  for  the 
exhortation  and  comfort  drawn  out  of  the  same,  are  both  profitable 
to  increase  knowledge  amongst  ministers,  and  tendeth  to  the  edifying 


16  CHURCH    HISTORY    OF    BRITAIN.  A.D.  1580. 

of  the  hearers ;  I  am  enforced  with  all  humility  and  yet  plainly 
to  profess,  that  I  cannot  with  safe  conscience,  and  without  the 
offence  of  the  majesty  of  God,  give  mine  assent  to  the  suppressing 
of  the  said  exercises ;  much  less  can  I  send  out  any  injunction  for 
the  utter  and  universal  subversion  of  the  same.  I  say  with  St. 
Paul,  '  I  have  no  power  to  destroy,  but  only  to  edify  ; ""  and,  with 
the  same  apostle,  '  I  can  do  nothing  against  the  truth,  but  with  the 
truth.'  If  it  be  your  majesty's  pleasure,  for  this  or  any  other  cause, 
to  remove  me  out  of  this  place,  I  will  with  all  humility  yield  there- 
unto, and  render  again  unto  your  majesty  that  which  I  have  received 
of  the  same.  I  consider  with  myself,  quod  terrendum  est  incidere 
in  manus  Dei  viventis.  I  consider  also,  quod  qui  facit  contra  con- 
scientiam  (divinis  in  rebus)  wdificat  ad  geliennam.  And  what 
shall  I  win  if  I  gained,  I  will  not  say,  a  bishopric,  but  the  whole 
world,  and  lose  my  own  soul  "^  Bear  with  me,  I  beseech  you, 
madam,  if  I  choose  rather  to  offend  your  earthly  majesty,  than  to 
offend  the  heavenly  majesty  of  God. 

"  And  now,  being  sorry  that  I  have  been  so  long  and  tedious  to 
your  majesty,  I  will  draw  to  an  end,  most  humbly  praying  the 
same,  that  you  would  consider  these  short  petitions  following.  The 
First,  that  you  would  refer  all  these  ecclesiastical  matters  which  touch 
religion,  or  the  doctrine  or  discipline  of  the  church,  unto  the 
bishops  and  divines  of  the  church  of  your  realm,  according  to  the 
example  of  all  Christian  emperors  and  princes  of  all  ages  :  for, 
indeed,  they  are  to  be  judged,  as  an  ancient  father  writeth,  in 
ecclesid  seu  synodo^  non  in  palatino.  When  your  majesty  hath 
questions  of  the  laws  of  your  realm,  you  do  not  decide  the  same  in 
your  court  or  palace,  but  send  them  to  your  judges  to  be  deter- 
mined. Likewise,  for  the  duties  in  matters  in  doctrine  or  discipline 
of  the  church,  the  ordinary  way  is  to  defer  the  decision  to  the 
bishops  and  other  head  ministers  of  the  church.  Ambrose  to  Theo- 
dosius  useth  these  words  :  8i  de  causis  pecuniariis  comites  ttios 
consuUs,  quanto  magis^  in  causa  religionis^  sacerdotes  Domini  wquum 
est  consulas  !  And  likewise  to  the  emperor  Valentinian,  Epist.  32  : 
Si  de  fide  conferendum  est^  sacerdotum  debet  esse  justa  collatio ;  si 
enim  factum  est  Constantino  Augustw  memorice  principi,  qui  nullas 
leges  ante  prwmisit  sed  liberum  dedit  judicium  sacerdotis.  And  in 
the  same  place,  the  same  father  saith,  that  Constantius  the  emperor, 
son  to  Constantine  the  Great,  began  well,  by  reason  he  followed  his 
father's  steps  at  the  first,  but  ended  ill,  because  he  took  upon  him 
difficile  intra  palatinum  judicare^  and  thereby  fell  into  Arianism,— 
a  terrible  example  !  The  said  Ambrose,  so  much  commended  in 
all  histories  for  a  godly  bishop,  goeth  further,  and  writeth  to  the  said 
emperor  in   this  form  :    Si  docendus  est  episcopus  a  laicoy  quid 


23  ELIZABETH.  BOOK    IX.       CENT.    XVI.  17 

seqiiitiir  ?  Laicus  ergo  disputet^  et  episcopus  audiat  a  laico.  At 
certcy  si  vel  Scripturm^um  serlem  Divinaru7n,  vel  xetera  tempora 
retractemus^  quis  est  qui  abundat  in  causa  fidm^  inquam  fidei,  epis- 
copos  solere  de  imperatoribus  Christianisy  non  imperatores  de  epis- 
copis  judicare?  Would  God  your  majesty  would  follow  this 
ordinary  !  You  should  procure  to  yourself  much  quietness  of 
mind,  and  better  please  God,  avoid  many  offences,  and  the  church 
should  be  more  peaceable  and  quietly  governed,  much  to  the  comfort 
and  quietness  of  your  realm. 

''  The  second  petition  I  have  to  make  to  your  majesty  is  this, — 
that  when  you  deal  in  matters  of  faith  and  religion,  or  matters  that 
touch  the  church  of  Christ,  which  is  the  spouse  bought  with  so  dear 
a  price,  you  would  not  use  to  pronounce  so  resolutely  and  perempto- 
rily, quasi  ex  autlioritate^  as  you  may  do  in  civil  and  extern  matters  ; 
but  always  remember,  that,  in  God's  cause,  the  will  of  God,  and 
not  the  will  of  any  earthly  creature,  is  to  take  place.  It  is  the  anti- 
christian  voice  of  the  pope :  8ic  wlo  ;  sic  juheo  ;  stet  pro  ratione 
voluntas.  In  God's  matters,  all  princes  ought  to  bow  their  sceptres  to 
the  Son  of  God.  and  to  ask  counsel  at  his  mouth  what  they  ought  to  do. 
David  exhorteth  all  kings  and  rulers  to  serve  God  with  fear  and 
trembling.  Remember,  madam,  that  you  are  a  mortal  creature. 
Look  not  only,  as  was  said  to  Theodosius,  upon  the  people  and 
princely  array  wherewith  you  are  apparelled,  but  consider  withal 
what  it  is  that  is  covered  therewith.  Is  it  not  flesh  and  blood  ? 
Is  it  not  dust  and  ashes  ?  Is  it  not  a  corruptible  body,  which  must 
return  to  her  earth  again  ?  God  knoweth  how  soon  !  Must  you  not 
one  day  appear,  ante  tremendum  tribunal  Criicifixi^  ut  recipias  ibi 
prout  gesseris  in  corpore^  sive  bo?ium  sive  malum  ?  2  Cor.  v.  10.  And 
although  you  are  a  mighty  prince,  yet  remember  that  he  that  d\yell- 
eth  in  heaven  is  mightier,  as  the  Psalmist  saith,  Terribilis  est  Is 
qui  aufert  spiritum  princip)um^  terribilis  super  omnes  reges^  Psalm 
Ixxvi.  12.  Wherefore  I  beseech  you,  madam,  in  visceribus  Christie 
when  you  deal  in  these  religious  causes,  set  the  Majesty  of  God 
before  your  eyes ;  laying  all  earthly  majesty  aside,  determine  with 
yourself  to  obey  his  voice,  and  with  all  humility,  say  unto  him,  Non 
mea  sed  tua  voluntas  fiat ! 

"  God  hath  blessed  you  with  great  felicity  in  your  reign,  now 
many  years  ;  beware  you  do  not  impute  this  same  to  your  own 
deserts  or  policy,  but  give  God  the  glory  ;  and,  as  to  instruments 
and  means,  impute  your  said  felicity.  First,  to  the  goodness  of  the 
cause  which  you  set  forth  ;  I  mean  Christ's  true  religion ;  and, 
Secondly,  to  the  sighs  and  groans  of  the  godly  in  fervent  prayer  to 
God  for  you,  which  have  hitherto  as  it  were  tied  and  bound  the 
hands  of  God,  that  he  could  not  pour  out  his  plagues  upon  you  and 

Vol.  III.  c 


18  CHURCH    HISTORY    OF    BRITAIN.  A.  D.  1580. 

your  people,  most  justly  deserved.  Take  heed  that  you  never  think 
of  declining  from  God,  lest  it  be  verified  of  you  which  is  written  of 
Joash,  2  Chronicles  xxvi.  16,  who  continued  a  prince  of  good  and 
godly  government  for  many  years  together,  and  afterwards,  cum 
corroboratus  esset,  eletatum  est  cor  ejus  in  inter  Hum  suum  et  neg- 
lexit  Deum.^  You  have  done  many  things  well ;  but  unless  you 
persevere  to  the  end,  you  cannot  be  blessed.  For  if  you  turn  from 
God,  then  will  he  turn  his  merciful  countenance  from  you ;  and 
what  remaineth  then  to  be  looked  for,  but  only  a  horrible  expectation 
of  God's  judgment,  and  a  heaping-up  of  God's  wrath  against  the  day 
of  wrath  !  But  I  trust  in  God  your  majesty  will  always  humble 
yourself  under  his  mighty  hand,  and  go  forward  in  the  godly  and 
zealous  setting-forth  of  God's  true  religion  ;  always  yielding  true 
obedience  and  reverence  to  the  word  of  God, — the  only  rule  of  faith 
and  religion.  And  if  you  so  do,  although  God  hath  just  cause 
many  ways  to  be  angry  with  you  and  us  for  our  unthankfulness,  yet 
I  doubt  nothing  but,  for  his  own  name's  sake,  he  will  still  hold  his 
merciful  hand  over  us,  shield  and  protect  us  under  the  shadow  of  his 
wings,  as  he  hath  hitherto  done.  I  beseech  God,  our  heavenly 
Father,  plentifully  to  pour  his  principal  Spirit  upon  you,  and  always 
direct  your  heart  in  his  holy  fear. — Amen,  Amen." 

AVhat  could  be  written  with  more  spirit  and  less  animosity,  more 
humility  and  less  dejection?  I  see,  a  lamb  in  his  own — can  be  a 
lion  in  God's  and  his  church's — cause.  Say  not,  that  orhitas  and 
senectus  (the  two  things  Avhicli  made  the  man  speak  so  boldly  to  the 
tyrant,)"!*  only  encouraged  Grindal,  in  this  his  writing;  whose 
necessary  boldness  did  arise,  partly  from  confidence  in  the  goodness  of 
the  cause  for  which, — partly  from  the  graciousness  of  the  queen  to 
whom, — ^he  made  his  address.  But,  alas  !  all  in  vain.  Leicester  had 
so  filled  her  majesty's  ears  with  complaints  against  him,  there  was  no 
room  to  receive  his  petition. 

5.  Lambeth-house,  GrlndaVs  Guilt. 

Indeed,  Leicester  cast  a  covetous  eye  on  Lambeth-house,  alleging 
as  good  arguments  for  his  obtaining  thereof  as  ever  were  urged  by 
Ahab  for  Naboth's  vineyard.  Now  Grindal,  though  generally  con- 
demned for  remissness  in  this  kind,  (parting  with  more  from  his  see 
than  ever  his  successors  thanked  him  for,)  stoutly  opposed  the  alien- 
ating of  this  his  principal  palace,  and  made  the  Leicestrian  party  to 
malice  him  ;  but  more  hereof  hereafter.^  Mean  time  may  the 
reader  take  notice,  that  a  great  scholar  and  statesman,§  and  no  enemy 

*  This  was  recorded  concerning  Uzziabi,  and  not  Joash. — Edit.  f  Plutarch's 

"  Morals."  t  In  Griudal's  character  at  his  death.  A.  D.  1583.  §  Sir  Francis 

Bacon. 


23    ELIZABETH,  SOOS-    IX.       CENT.    XVI,  19 

to  the  liierarcliy,  in  his  worthy  "  Considerations  about  Church  Govern- 
ment,"*' (tendered  to  king  James,)  conceiveth,  that  such  prophesy- 
ings  which  Grindal  did  favour  might  be  so  discreetly  cautioned 
and  moderated,  as  to  make  them,  without  fear  of  faction,  profitable 
for  advancing  of  learning  and  religion.  But  so  jealous  were  some 
bishops  of  that  age  of  these  prophesyings,  (as  having  too  much 
presbyterian  analogy  and  classical  constitution  therein,)  they  decried 
the  motion  of  them  as  schismaticaL 

6,   The  Death  of  Cope  and  Bullock.     Popish  Locusts  swarm 
into  England, 

I  find  no  mortality  of  protestant  worthies  this  year ;  but  amongst 
the  catholics  much  moan  for  the  death  of  Allan  Cope,  Harpsfield's 
great  correspondent,  and  agent  for  those  of  his  religion  at  Rome^ 
where  he  died,  and  was  buried  in  the  English  College  ;  and  George 
Bullock,  bred  in  St.  John"'s  in  Cambridge,  and  after  lived  in 
Antwerp,  in  the  monastery  of  St.  MichaePs. 

Now  began  priests  and  Jesuits  to  flock  faster  into  England  than 
ever  before ;  having  exchange  of  clothes,  and  names,  and  pro- 
fessions. He,  who  on  Sunday  was  a  priest  or  Jesuit,  was,  on  Mon- 
<lay,  a  merchant ;  on  Tuesday,  a  soldier  ;  on  Wednesday,  a  cour- 
tier, &c.  and,  with  the  sheers  of  equivocation,  (constantly  carried 
about  him,)  he  could  cut  himself  into  any  shape  he  pleased.  But, 
under  all  their  new  shapes,  tli^y  retained  their  old  nature  ;  being 
akin,  in  their  turbulent  spirits,  to  the  wind  pent  in  the  subterranean 
concavities,  which  will  never  be  quiet,  until  it  hath  vented  itself 
with  a  state-quake  of  those  countries  wherein  they  abide.  These 
distilled  traitorous  principles  into  all  people  wheresoever  they  came, 
and  endeavoured  to  render  them  disaffected  to  her  majesty  ;  main- 
taining that  she  neither  had  nor  ought  to  have  any  dominion  over 
her  subjects,  whilst  she  persisted  in  a  heretical  distance  from  the 
church  of  Rome. 

7-  Necessary  Severity  of  the  Parliament  against  them. 

Hereupon  the  parliament,  which  now  met  at  Westminster, 
January  16th,  was  enforced,  for  the  security  of  the  state,  to  enact 
severe  laws  against  them  :  First.  That  it  should  be  treason  to  draw 
any  from  that  faith  established  in  England,  to  the  Romish  religion. 
Secondly.  That  it  should  be  treason  to  be  reconciled  to  the  Romish 
religion.  Thirdly.  That  to  maintain  or  conceal  any  such  person, 
longer  than  twenty  days,  should  be  misprision  of  treason.  Fourthly. 
That  saying  mass  should  be  two  hundred  marks'  penalty,  and  one 
year's  imprisonment.  Fifthly.  Hearing  mass  should  be  one  hun- 
dred   marks'    penalty,    and    one    year's    imprisonment.      Sixthly. 

c2 


20  CHURCH    HISTORY    OF    BRITAIN.  A. D.  1580. 

Absence  from  the  church  one  month,  finable  at  twenty  pounds. 
Seventhly.  All  they  shall  be  imprisoned  who  will  not  or  cannot  pay 
the  forfeiture.  Eighthly.  It  was  provided,  that  such  should  pay 
ten  pounds  a-month,  who  kept  a  schoolmaster  in  their  house,  who 
repaireth  not  to  church.  Where,  by  the  way,  we  may  mention, 
that  some  since  conceive  themselves  to  have  discovered  a  defect  in 
this  law,  because  no  order  is  taken  therein  against  popish  school- 
mistresses. And  although  schoolmaster  may  seem  of  the  common 
gender,  and  inclusive  of  both  sexes  ;  yet,  by  the  letter  of  the  law, 
all  she-teachers  (which  did  mischief  to  little  children)  evaded  the 
punishment.  Thus  when  authority  hath  carefully  shut  all  doors  and 
windows  imaginable,  some  little  offenders  will  creep  through  the 
crannies  thereof. 

8,  9.  Many  against  Money-Mulcts  for  Conscience.  Others 
conceive  the  Proportion  of  the  Fine  unconscionable. 
When  sovereigns  have  made  laws,  subjects  sometimes  take  the 
boldness  to  sit  in  judgment  upon  them  ;  to  commend  them  for  just, 
or  condemn  them  for  cruel ;  as  here  it  came  to  pass.  Some  (and 
those  far  enough  from  all  popery)  misliked  the  imposing  of  money- 
mulcts  on  men's  consciences.  If  the  mass  were  lawful,  let  it  freely 
be  permitted  ;  if  unlawful,  let  it  wholly  be  prohibited.  It  is  a  sad 
case  to  make  men  pay  dear  for  their  damnation,  and  so  sell  them  a 
license  to  do  that  which  the  receivers  of  their  money  conceive  to  be 
unlawful.  It  is  part  of  the  character  of  the  whore  of  Babylon, 
(which  protestants  generally  apply  to  Rome,)  that  she  traded,  or 
made  a  mart  of  the  souls  of  men.  Rev.  xviii.  13  ;  as  this  was  little 
better. 

Others,  not  disliking  a  pecuniary  penalty,  yet  conceived  the  pro- 
portion thereof  unreasonable.  Twenty  pounds  a-month  !  a  vast 
sum,  (especially  as  exacted  by  lunary  months,  consisting  of  twenty- 
eight  days,  and  so  making  thirteen  months  in  the  year,)  enough  to 
shatter  the  containment  of  a  rich  man's  estate.  They  commended 
the  moderation  of  the  former  statute,  which  required  twelve-pence 
a-Sunday  of  all  such  as  could  not  give  a  reasonable  excuse  of  their 
absence  from  church.  That  did  smart,  yet  did  not  fetch  blood  ; 
at  the  worst,  did  not  break  bones.  Whereas  now  twenty  pounds 
a-month,  paid  severally  by  every  recusant  for  himself,  and  as  much 
for  his  wife,  (which,  though  one  flesh  in  divinity,  yet  are  two  per- 
sons in  law,)  held  so  heavy  as  to  cripple  their  estates.  And  as  the 
rich  hereby  were  almost  undone,  so  the  poor  papists,  who  also  had 
souls  to  save,  passed  wholly  unpunished,  paying  nothing,  because 
unable  to  pay  all  the  penalty.  And,  although  imprisonment  was 
imposed  by  law  on  persons  not  solvable,  yet  officers  were  unwilling 


23 


ELIZABETH. 


BOOK    IX.       CENT.    XV: 


21 


to  cast  them  into  gaol,  where  they  might  lie,  and  fill  the  gaols,  and 
rot  without  hopes  of  enlargement. 

10.  Arguments  pro  and  con,  ivhether  Jesuits  are  to  he  put  to 

Death. 

La'ger  were  the  debates,  both  then  and  since,  in  discourse  and 
writing,  about  the  capital  punishment,  in  taking  away  the  lives  of 
Jesuits  :  some  being  zealous  for  the  vigorous  execution  of  those 
laws,  and  others  as  earnest  for  the  confining  only  of  Jesuits  close 
prisoners  during  their  life  ;  conceiving  it  conducing  most  to  the 
tranquillity  of  the  kingdom.     But  see  their  reasons  : — 

1.  It  is  safest  for  England  to 
keep  Jesuits  in  perpetual  du- 
rance, without  taking  away  their 
lives.  All  sinners  are  not  devils, 
and  all  devils  are  not  Beelzebubs. 
Some  priests  and  Jesuits  are  of 
a  milder  temper,  and  better 
metalled,  who  by  moderation 
may  be  melted  into  amendment. 

2.  The  point  and  edge  of  the 
sword  of  justice  (understand,  the 
law  itself)  may  remain  as  sharp 
as  it  was  before  ;  only  the  arm 
may  and  ought  to  strike  with  less 
strength,  and  use  more  modera- 
tion, in  inflicting  such  severe 
punishments.  The  most  whole- 
some laws  would  be  poison,  (jus- 
tice, hot  in  the  fourth  degree,  is 
cruelty,)  if  enforced  at  all  times, 
and  on  all  persons,  to  the  utmost 
extremity.  Let  the  law  stand 
unrepealed,  only  some  mitiga- 
tion be  used  in  the  execution 
thereof. 


1.  It  is  safest  for  England 
with  vigour  and  rigour  to  inspirit 
the  laws,  and  put  Jesuits  to 
death.  Their  breath  is  con- 
tagious to  English  air,  whose 
appearance  in  any  protestant 
state  is  as  sure  a  presage,  as 
the  playing  of  porpoises  above 
water,  that  foul  weather  is  to 
follow  therein. 

2.  It  would  render  the  reputa- 
tion of  our  state  lighter  in  the 
balance  of  the  best  friends  there- 
of, if  it  should  enact  severe  laws 
against  offenders,  and  then  hang 
those  laws  up,  (like  forfeits  in  a 
barber's  shop,)  only  to  be  looked 
on  and  laughed  at,  as  never  put 
in  execution.  What  was  this 
but  to  make  the  sword  of  jus- 
tice (which  ought  always  to  be 
kept  keen  and  sharp)  but  to  be 
like  fencers'  swords,  when  they 
play  in  jest-earnest,  having  the 
edge  dunted,  and  the  point 
buttoned  up  ?  Might  not  felons 
and  murderers,  even  with  some 
justice,  promise  much  mercy  unto 
themselves,  (whose  offences  are 
terminated  in  spoiling  or  killing 
of  particular  persons,)  if  priests 
and  Jesuits,  public  incendiaries 


22 


CHURCH    HISTORY    OF    BRITAIN, 


A.D. 


1580. 


of  the   state,   have  such  mercy 
indulged  unto  them  ? 

3.  Favour  in  this  kind  indulged 
to  Jesuits  would  be  generally  mis- 
interpreted, to  proceed,  not  from 
her  majesty's  pity,  but  either 
from  her  fearfulness,  as  not 
daring  longer  to  enrage  the 
popish  party  ;  or  from  her  guilti- 
ness, who,  out  of  remorse  of 
conscience,  could  not  find  in  her 
heart  to  execute  such  cruel  laws 
as  she  had  enacted. 


4.  Tliis  in  all  probability  will 
be  the  most  effectual  course  to 
extirpate  Jesuitism  out  of  the 
land.  For,  their  superiors  beyond 
the  seas,  seeing  all  such  as  they 
send  hither  impartially  cut  off  by 
the  hand  of  justice,  will  either 
out  of  pity  forbear,  for  the  fu- 
ture, to  thrust  more  men  into  the 
jaws  of  death  ;  or  else  such  sub- 
ject Jesuits  out  of  policy  will 
refuse  to  be  sent  by  them  on 
unavoidable  destruction. 


5.  The  dead  do  not  bite;  and, 
being  despatched  out  of  the  way. 


S.  Princes  ought  not  to  be  af- 
frighted from  doing  what  is  good 
and  honourable  in  itself,  with 
the  scarecrows  of  people*.'^  mis- 
interpretations thereof.  If  such 
misconstructions  of  her  majesty's 
mercy  be  taken  up  wilfully,  let 
such  persons  bear  the  blame  and 
shame  of  their  voluntary  and  af- 
fected errors.  If  they  be  only 
ignorant  mistakes  of  ingenuous 
persons,  time  will  rectify  their 
judgments,  and  beget  in  them  a 
better  opinion  of  her  majesty's 
proceedings,  However,  better  it 
is  that  the  queen's  lenity  should 
hazard  such  misconstructions 
thereof,  than  that  otherwise  she 
should  be  certainly  censured  for 
cruelty,  and  the  state  taxed  as 
desirous  to  grow  fat  by  sucking 
the  blood  of  catholics. 

4.  It  will  rather  be  the  way  to 
continue  and  increase  the  same. 
The  blood  of  martyrs,  whether 
real  or  reputed,  is  the  seed  of 
that  church  (true  or  false)  in 
maintenance  whereof  they  lose 
their  lives.  We  know,  clamour- 
ousness  and  multitude  do  much 
in  crying  up  matters;  and  herein 
the  papists  (at  home  and  beyond 
the  seas)  will  play  their  parts,  to 
roar  out  such  men  for  martyrs. 
A  succession  of  Jesuits  to  be  sent 
over  will  never  fail,  seeing  that 
service  amongst  erroneous  judg- 
ments will  never  want  volunteers, 
where  merit  of  heaven  is  the  be- 
lieved wages  thereof. 

5.  The   greater   rage  moveth 
to  the  greater  revenge,  and  the 


23  ELIZABETH. 


BOOK    IX.      CENT.    XVI. 


23 


are  forgotten.  Whereas  if  Jesuits 
be  only  condemned  to  perpetual 
durance,  their  party  abroad  will 
be  restless  in  plotting  and  prac- 
tising their  brethren's  enlarge- 
ment. It  is  safer,  therefore,  to 
take siway subject um  conatus^  "the 
subject  and  object  of  their  en- 
deavours,"''' by  ridding  them  quite 
out  of  the  way,  that  their  com- 
plices may  despair  to  relieve  them. 
For,  though  prisoners  may  be 
rescued  with  much  might,  dead 
men  cannot  be  revived  without 
miracle. 

6.  No  precedent  could  ever 
yet  be  produced  of  any  priest  or 
Jesuit,  who  was  converted  wdth 
imprisonment.  It  is  therefore 
but  just,  that  they  who  will  not 
be  mended  w'ith  the  gaol  should 
be  ended  with  the  gallows. 


7.  The  rather,  because  no 
Jesuit  is  put  to  death  for  his  re- 
ligion, but  rebellion.  They  are 
never  examined  on  any  article  of 
their  faith,  nor  are  their  con- 
sciences burdened  with  any  inter- 
rogatories touching  their  belief; 
but  only  practices  against  the 
state  are  charged  upon  them. 


greater  apprehended  injury  caus- 
eth  the  greater  rage.  It  will  ra- 
ther sharpen  the  edge  of  popish 
zeal,  more  earnestly  to  revenge 
their  deaths,  than  to  rescue  them 
from  durance. 


6.  Though  the  instance  cannot 
be  given  of  any  priest  or  Jesuit, 
who  hath  totally  renounced  his 
religion,  yet  some  have  been  made 
semi-converts,  so  far  as  to  dis- 
claim the  treacherous  part  and 
principles  thereof.  This  is  most 
visible  in  the  secular  priests;  the 
queen's  lenity  so  working  on  many 
of  them,  that,  both  in  writing 
and  preaching,  they  have  detested 
and  confuted  all  such  traitorous 
practices,  as  against  the  laws  of 
God. 

7.  The  death  of  Jesuits  in  such 
cases  may  fitly  be  styled,  "  the 
c/^27(^  of  their  rebellion,''  but  ^^tJie 
grandchild  of  their  religion  ;  " 
which  is  removed  but  a  degree 
farther.  For  their  obedience  to 
their  superiors  putteth  them  on 
the  propagation  of  their  religion, 
and  by  all  means  to  endeavour 
the  same,  which  causeth  them  out 
of  an  erroneous  conscience  to  do 
that  which  rendereth  them  of- 
fenders to  our  state.  Now,  in 
all  ages,  such  as  have  suffered  for 


24  CHURCH    HISTOUY    OF    BRITAIN.  A.D.  1582. 

their  consciences,  not  only  imme- 
diately and  in  a  direct  line,  but 
also  at  the  second  hand  and  by 
implication,  receive  pity  from  all 
such  as  behold  their  sufferings, 
(whether  as  a  debt  due,  or  as  an 
alms  given  unto  them,  let  others 
dispute,)  and  therefore  such  put- 
ting of  Jesuits  unto  death,  will 
but  procure  unto  them  a  general 
commiseration. 

These,  and  many  other  reasons,  too  many  and  tedious  to  be  here 
inserted,  were  brought,  and  bandied  on  both  sides,  every  one  cen- 
suring as  they  stood  affected. 

11,  12.    The  Execution  of  this  Law  moderated.     Worst  of 
Offenders  escape  best.     A.D.  1581. 

In  the  execution  of  these  laws  against  Jesuits,  queen  Elizabeth 
embraced  a  middle  and  moderate  way.  Indeed,  when  a  new 
rod  is  made,  some  must  be  whipped  therewith,  though  it  be 
but  in  terrorem  of  others.  When  these  statutes  were  first  in  the 
state  or  magisteriality  thereof,  they  were  severely  put  in  practice  on 
such  offenders  as  they  first  lighted  on.  But  some  years  after,  the 
queen  and  her  judges  grew  remiss  in  the  execution  thereof.  Witness 
the  only  confining  of  many  of  them  to  Wisbeach  Castle,  where 
they  fell  out  amongst  themselves.  And  in  king  James's  days,  this 
dormant  law  against  Jesuits  only  awakened,  some  once  in  four  or 
five  years,  to  show  the  world  that  it  was  not  dead  ;  and  then  fairly 
fell  asleep  again,  being  very  sparingly  put  in  execution  against  some 
notorious  offenders. 

The  worst  was,  the  punishment  happened  heaviest  on  those  which 
were  the  least  offenders.  For,  whereas  the  greatest  guilt  was  in  the 
senders,  all  the  penalty  fell  on  the  messengers  ;  I  mean,  on  such 
novices  which,  sent  hither  at  their  superiors'  commands,  and  who, 
having  lost  their  sight  beyond  the  seas,  (by  blind  obedience,)  came 
over  to  lose  their  lives  in  England.  Now  Jesuitism  is  a  weed, 
whose  leaves,  spread  into  our  land,  may  be  cut  off;  but  the  root 
thereof  is  out  of  reach,  as  fixed  in  Rome,  and  other  foreign  parts. 
For,  in  the  mean  time,  their  superiors,  staying  at  Rome,  ate,  slept, 
wrote,  railed,  complained  of  persecution  ;  making  of  faces,  and  they 
themselves  crying  out,  "  O  !''  whilst  they  thrust  the  hands  of  others 
of  their  own  religion  into  the  fire. 


25  ELIZABETH.  EOOK    IX.       CENT.    XVI.  25 

13,  14.     The  Acts  of  a  silent  Convocation.     Query,  on  whom 
the  Law  was  first  hanselled. 

A  loud  parliament  is  always  attended  with  a  silent  Convocation  ; 
as  here  it  came  to  pass.  The  activity  of  the  former  in  church- 
matters  left  the  latter  nothing  to  do.  Only  this  account  I  can  give 
thereof  out  of  our  records  :  First.  Archbishop  Grindal  appeared  not 
at  all  therein ;  age,  blindness,  and  disgrace  keeping  the  good  father 
at  home.  Secondly.  John  Aylmer,  bishop  of  London,  was  appointed 
his  locum-te?iens,  or  "  deputy."  Thirdly.  This  Convocation  began  in 
St.  Paul's,  January  17th,  (where  it  continued  without  any  removal,) 
with  reading  the  Litany  mdgari  sermo7ie,  "  in  the  English  tongue.'' 
Fourthly.  The  bishops  commended  three ;  namely.  Dr.  Humfries, 
dean  of  Winchester ;  Dr.  George  *  Day,  dean  of  Windsor ;  and 
Dr.  Goodman,  dean  of  Westminster,  to  the  inferior  clergy,  to  choose 
one  of  them  for  their  Referendary  or  Prolocutor.  Fifthly.  Dr.  Day 
was  elected,  and  presented  for  that  office.  Sixthly.  Motion  was 
made  of  drawing-up  some  articles  against  the  dangerous  opinions  of 
"  the  Family  of  Love,''  a  sect  then  much  increasing ;  but  nothing 
was  effected.  Seventhly.  At  several  sessions  they  met,  and  prayed, 
and  conferred,  and  prorogued  their  meeting,  and  departed.  Lastly. 
The  clergy  granted  a  subsidy,  (afterwards  confirmed  by  the  Parlia- 
ment,) and  so,  March  25th,  the  Convocation  was  dissolved. 

Now,  can  I  not  satisfy  myself,  on  my  strictest  inquiry,  what 
Jesuit  or  priest  had  the  first  hansel  of  that  severe  statute  made 
against  them.  Indeed,  I  find  a  priest,  John  Pain  by  name,  executed 
at  Chelmsford,  March  31st,  (which  w^as  but  thirteen  days  after  the 
dissolution  of  the  Parliament,)  for  certain  speeches  by  him  uttered ; 
but  cannot  avouch  him  for  certainly  tried  on  this  statute.  More 
probable  it  is,  that  Thomas  Ford,  JohnShert,  and  Robert  Johnson, 
priests,  executed  at  London  May  28th,  were  the  first-fruits  of  the 
state's  severity. 

15.   The  Death  of  Bishop  Berkeley. 

No  eminent  clergyman  protestant  died  this  year,  save  Gilbert 
Berkeley,  bishop  of  Bath  and  Wells,  May  8th  ;  who,  as  his  arms  do 
attest,  was  allied  to  the  ancient  and  honourable  family  of  the 
Berkeleys. 

16 18.    A  Meeting  of  the  Presbyterians  at  Cockfield.     Another 

at  Cambridge.     The  Activity  of  the  Presbyterians.      A.D. 
1582. 

The  presbyterian  party  was  not  idle  all  this  while,  but  appointed 
a  meeting  at  Cockfield,  (Mr.  Knewstubs's  cure,)  in  Suffolk,  where 

*  So  called  I'V  mistake  in  Records  ;  otherwise  his  name  Tvas  William. 


26  CHURCH    HISTORY    OF    BRITAIX.  A.D.  1582. 

three-score  ministers  of  Norfolk,  Suffolk,  and  Cambridgeshire,  met 
together,  "  to  confer  of  the  Common-Prayer  Book,  what  might  be 
tolerated,  and  what  necessary  to  be  refused  in  every  point  of  it, 
apparel,  matter,  form,  days,  fastings,  injunctions,"  &c.  Matters 
herein  were  carried  with  such  secrecy,  that  we  can  see  no  light  thereof, 
but  what  only  shineth  through  one  crevice, — in  a  private  letter  of 
one  thus  expressing  himself  to  his  friend  :  "  Concerning  the  meet- 
ing, I  hope  all  things  were  so  proceeded  in  as  yourself  would  like  of, 
as  well  for  reverence  to  other  brethren  as  for  other  matters.  I  sup- 
pose, before  this  time,  some  of  the  company  have  told  you  by  word, 
for  that  was  permitted  unto  you."  ^ 

\Ye  are  also  at  as  great  a  loss,  what  was  the  result  of  their  meet- 
ing at  the  Commencement  at  Cambridge,  July  2nd  ;  this  being  all 
we  find  thereof  in  a  letter  of  one  to  his  private  friend  :  "  Concerning 
the  Commencement,  I  like  well  the  motion,  desiring  it  might  so 
come  to  pass,  and  that  it  be  procured  to  be  as  general  as  might  be, 
which  may  easily  be  brought  to  pass,  if  you  at  London  shall  so  think 
well  of  it,  and  we  here  may  understand  your  mind,  we  will,  we  trust, 
as  we  can,  further  it.     Mr.  Allen  liketh  well  of  the  matter."  -j- 

The  year  proved  very  active,  especially  in  the  practices  of  presby- 
terians,  who  now  found  so  much  favour,  as  almost  amounted  to  a 
connivance  at  their  discipline.  For,  whilst  the  severity  of  the  state 
was  at  this  time  intended  to  the  height  against  Jesuits,  some  lenity 
of  course,  by  the  very  rules  of  opposition,  fell  to  the  share  of  the 
nonconformists,  even  on  the  score  of  their  notorious  enmity  to  the 
Jesuitical  party. 

19.    Beta's  Letter  to  Travers  in  the  Behalf  of  Geneva. 

The  city  of  Geneva  was  at  this  time  reduced  to  great  difficulties 
by  the  Savoyard,  her  potent  adversary,  and  forced  to  purchase 
peace  on  dear  and  bitter  terms  ;  saving  that  extremity  sweetens  all 
things,  and  her  present  condition  was  incapable  of  better  conditions. 
Hereupon  Mr.  Beza,  the  tongue  and  pen  of  that  state  to  foreign 
parts,  addressed  himself  by  letter  to  Mr.  Walter  Travers,  whom  I 
may  term  the  neck  (allowing  Mr.  Cartwright  for  the  head)  of  the 
presbyterian  party,  the  second  in  honour  and  esteem,  then  chaplain 
to  the  lord  treasurer ;  of  whom  more  hereafter.  The  tenor  of  the 
letter  is  here  inserted,  subscribed  by  Beza's  own  hand,  (and  in  my 
possession,)  which  though  it  be  of  foreigii  extraction,  carries  much 
in  it  of  English  concernment. 

Gratiam  et  pacem  a  Domino. — Si  quoties  tui  et  C.  nostri  sum 
recordaftis,  mi  f rater.,  toties  ad  te  scripsissem^  jampridem  esses 
Uteris  meis  ohrutus,    Nidlus  enhn  dies  ahit  quin  de  vobis  testrisque 

*  Mr.  Pigg,  in  his  letter  to  Mr.  Fie.      dated  May  16th.  [  Idem,  ibidem. 


25    ELIZABETH.  BOOK    IX.       GENT.    XVI.  27 

rebus  solicite  cogitem^  quod  ita  postulare  non  amicitia  modo  tetus 
nostra,  sed  etiam  rerwn  ipsaruni  de  quihus  laboratis  magnitudo 
tideatur. 

Sed  cum  in  ea  tempora  nos  incidisse  mderem,  quihus  silere  me 
quam  nobis  scribere  prwstaret,  silentium  adhuc  mihi  inmtissimo 
indixi.  Nunc  verd  quum  ilium  quorundam  ardor  em  audiam^per  Dei 
gratiam  deseruisse  nolui  liunc  nostrum  absque  meis  ad  te  Uteris 
pervenire,  quihus  eundem  esse  me  qui  fui,  testarer,  et  abs  te  pete- 
rem,  ut  me  mcissim  de  rebus  vestris  certiorem  facere  ne  graveris. 
Sed  et  alia  sese  prwhuit  scribendi  occasio ;  kujus,  videlicet,  reipub- 
liccc  maximw,  imo  tantce  difficultates,  ut,  nisi  aliunde  sublexetur, 
parta  nobis  admodum  tuendce  inconsueto  statu  ecclesice  ac  scholce 
spes  super  sit :  quod  ita  esse  tel  ex  eo  cognosses  quod  hoec  plane  in 
'cerecunda  consilia  caper e  cogamur.  Nam  concessw  quidem  nobis 
sunt  per  Dei  gratiam  aliquw  inducice;  sed  parum,  ut  apparet, 
firmce  futurcB,  et  tantis  'celuti  redemptoe  sumptihus  ut  in  ceris  etiam. 
alieni  mluti  freto  jactati  non  temere  naufragium  metuamus. 

Amabo  te  igitur,  mi  f rater,  et  precibus  assiduis  nos  juvare  perge, 
et  siquid  prccterea  apud  nonnullos  authoritate  tales,  quantum  7ios 
ames  in  Domino,  qudcunque  honestd  ratione  poteris  ostende.  Scripsi 
mrd  etiam  ego  testris  plerisque  proceribus,  et  episcoporum  quoque 
collegium  ausi  sumus  communibus  Uteris  hac  de  re  compellare. 
Verum  quod  sit  mearum  literarum  pondus  futurum  Telex  eo  conjicio, 
quod  ciim  Oxoniensi  Scholw  superiore  vere  meam  sim  obsertantiam, 
misso  renerandoB  plane  tetustatis  Noxi  Testamenti  Grwco-Latini 
codice,  testatus,  qui  puhlicm  bibliothecw  consecraretur,  ne  Uterulam 
quidem  inde  accepi,  ex  qua  meam  hanc  mluntatem  ipsis  non  ingra^ 
tam  fuisse  cognoscerem.  Cujusmodi  etiam  quiddam  apud  unum  et 
alterum  ex  prioribus  testris  sum  expertus.  Sed  hoc,  quwso,  inter 
Tios  dictum  esto.  Ego  'derd  frustra  etiam  quidtis  tentare,  qudm 
officio  in  Itanc  rempub.  ecclesiam  ac  scholam  deesse  tam  necessa- 
rio  tempore  malui.  Bene  vale,  mi  carissime  f rater.  Dominus 
Jesus  tibi  magis  ac  magis,  et  omnibus  ipsius  gloriam  serid  cupienti- 
bus  benedicat. 

Tuus  BEZA, 
aliend  jam  manu  saqje  uti  coactus,  sua  ipsius  vacillante, 

Geneva,  Octobris^*  1582. 

"  Grace  and  peace  from  the  Lord. — If  as  often,  dear  brother,  as  I 
have  remembered  thee  and  our  Cartwright,  so  often  I  should  liave 
■written  unto  thee,  long  since  you  had  been  overwhelmed  "svith  my 
letters.  For  there  not  passes  a  day  wherein  I  do  not  carefully 
think  both  of  you  and  your  matters ;  which  not  only  our  ancient 
friendship,  but  also  the  greatness  of  those  affairs  wherein  you  take 

*  The  figure  of  the  day  not  legible. 


28  CHURCH    HISTORY    OF    BRITAIN.  A.  D.  1582. 

pains,  seemeth  so  to  require.  But  seeing  I  perceive,  we  are  fallen 
into  those  times  wherein  my  silence  may  be  safer  for  you  than  my 
writing,  I  have,  though  most  unwillingly,  commanded  myself  silence 
hitherto.  But  now  seeing  that  I  hear,  that  the  heat  of  some  men 
by  God's  grace  is  abated,  I  would  not  have  this  my  friend  come  to 
you  without  my  letters,  that  I  may  testify  myself  still  the  same 
unto  you  what  formerly  I  was,  and  that  I  may  request  of  you  not  to 
think  much  at  his  return  to  certify  me  of  your  affairs.  Also  another 
occasion  of  writing  offereth  itself,  namely,  the  great  straits  of  this 
commonwealth  ;  yea,  so  great,  that,  except  it  be  relieved  from  other 
parts,  very  small  hope  remaineth  unto  us  to  maintain  the  church  and 
university  in  the  former  state  thereof.  That  these  things  are  so, 
you  may  know  from  hence, — that  we  are  forced  to  adventure  on  these 
bold  and  unmannerly  courses  for  our  support.  For  by  God's 
grace  a  kind  of  peace  is  granted  unto  us  ;  but,  as  it  seems,  not  likely 
to  last  long,  and  that  also  purchased  at  so  great  a  price,  that,  tossed 
as  it  were  in  the  sea  of  a  great  debt,  we  have  great  cause  to  fear 
shipwreck  therein. 

"  I  beseech  thee  therefore,  my  brother,  both  proceed  to  help  us 
with  thy  daily  prayers ;  and  besides,  if  you  have  any  power  to  pre- 
vail with  some  persons,  show  us,  by  what  honest  means  you  may,  how 
much  you  love  us  in  the  Lord.  I  also  have  written  to  most  of  your 
noblemen,  and  we  have  been  bold  with  our  public  letters  to  acquaint 
your  college  of  bishops  of  this  matter :  but  what  weight  my  letters 
are  likely  to  bear,  I  can  guess  by  this, — that,  when  last  spring  I 
testified  my  respects  to  the  University  of  Oxford,  by  sending  them  a 
New  Testament  Greek  and  Latin,  truly  of  venerable  antiquity, 
which  should  be  kept  in  their  public  library,  I  did  not  so  much  as 
receive  the  least  letter  from  them,  whereby  I  might  know  that  this 
my  good- will  was  acceptable  to  them.  And  some  such  requital  also 
I  liave  found  from  one  or  two  of  your  noblemen  ;  but  this  I  pray  let 
it  be  spoken  between  us  alone.  For  my  part,  I  had  rather  try  any 
thing,  though  in  vain,  than  to  be  wanting  in  my  duty  to  this  state, 
church,  and  university,  especially  in  so  necessary  a  juncture  of  time. 
Farewell,  my  dear  brother ;  the  Lord  Jesus  every  day  more  and  more 
bless  thee,  and  all  that  earnestly  desire  his  glory. 

''Thine,  BEZA, 
"  Often  using  another  man's  hand,  because  of  the 
shaking  of  my  own. 

"  Geneva,  October,  1582." 

We  must  not  let  so  eminent  a  letter  pass  without  some  observa- 
tions upon  it.  See  we  here  the  secret  sympathy  betwixt  England 
and  Geneva,  about  discipline ;  Geneva  helping  England  with  her 
prayers,  England  aiding  Geneva  with  her  purse. 


25  ELIZABETH.  .  BOOK    TX.       CENT.    XVI.  29 

20.  Geneva's  Suit  was  coldly  resented. 
By  "  the  college  of  bishops'**'  here  mentioned  by  Beza,  we  under- 
stand them  assembled  in  the  last  Convocation.  Wonder  not  that 
Geneva's  wants  found  no  more  pity  from  the  episcopal  party,  seeing 
all  those  bishops  were  dead  who,  formerly  exiles  in  the  Marian  days, 
had  found  favour  and  relief  in  Geneva  ;  and  now  a  new  generation 
arose,  having  as  little  affection  as  obligation  to  that  government. 
But,  however  it  fared  with  Geneva  at  this  time,  sure  I  am  that,  some 
years  after,*  preferring  her  petition  to  the  prelacy,  (though  frequent 
begging  makes  slender  alms,)  that  commonwealth  tasted  largely  of 
their  liberality. 

21.   Whi/  the  rigorous  Pressing   of  Subscription  ivas  now 

remitted. 

Whereas  mention  is  made  of  "  the  heat  of  some  abated,''  this 
relateth  to  the  matter  of  subscription,  now  not  pressed  so  earnestly 
as  at  the  first  institution  thereof.  This  remissness  may  be  imputed, 
partly  to  the  nature  of  all  laws :  for,  though  knives  (if  of  good 
metal)  grow  sharper  (because  their  edge  thinner)  by  using ;  yet  laws 
commonly  are  keenest  at  the  first,  and  are  blunted  in  process  of  time, 
in  their  execution  :  partly  it  is  to  be  ascribed  to  archbishop  Grindal-s 
age  and  irnpotency,  who  in  his  greatest  strength  did  but  weakly  urge 
conformity  :  partly  to  the  earl  of  Leicester's  interposing  himself 
patron-general  to  non-subscribers,  being  persuaded,  as  they  say,  by 
Roger  lord  North,  to  undertake  their  protection. 


SECTION  V. 

TO  DANIEL  HARVEY,  ESQUIRE,  HIGH  SHERIFF  OF 
SURREY. 

I  AM  sufficiently  sensible  of  the  great  distance  and 
disproportion  betwixt  my  meanness  and  your  worth,  as 
at  all  other  times,  so  now  especially,  whilst  you  are  a 
prime  officer  in  public  employment.  Despairing,  there- 
fore, that  my  pen  can  produce  any  thing  meet  for  your 
entertainment,  I  have  endeavoured  in  this  Section  to 
accommodate  you  with  company  fittest  for  your  con- 
verse, being  all   no  meaner  than  statesmen,  and  most 

*  Vide  anyium.  1602,  parag.  11,  book  x.  sect.  i. 


30  CHURCH    HISTORY    OF    BRITAIN.  A.D.  1582. 

of  them  Privy  Counsellors,  in  their  several  letters  about 
the  grand  business  of  conformity. 

God  in  due  time  bless  you  and  your  honourable  con- 
sort with  such  issue  as  may  be  a  comfort  to  you,  and  a 
credit  to  all  your  relations. 

1.  A  Form  of  Discipline  considered  of  hy  the  Brethren  in  a 
solemn  Synod,  with  the  several  Decrees  thereof 
Very  strongly  Leicester,  (though  at  the  Council-table  politically 
complying  with  the  rest  of  the  lords,  and  concurring  always  with  tlieir 
results  when  sitting  in  conjunction  with  them,)  when  alone,  engaged 
his  affections  in  favour  of  the  nonconformists,  and  improved  his 
power,  at  this  time  very  great,  with  the  queen  to  obtain  great  liberty 
for  them.  Hence  it  was  that  many  bishops,  active  in  pressing  sub- 
scription in  their  diocess,  when  repairing  to  court  were  checked 
and  snibbed  by  this  great  favourite,  to  their  no  small  grief  and  dis- 
couragement. Heartened  thereat,  the  brethren,  who  hitherto  had  no 
particular  platform  of  discipline  amongst  themselves,  (as  universally 
owned  and  practised  by  their  party,)  began,  in  a  solemn  council  held 
by  them,  (but  whether  at  Cambridge  or  London,  uncertain,)  to  con- 
clude on  a  certain  form,  as  followeth  in  these  their  decrees,  faithfully 
translated  out  of  their  own  Latin  copy.     The  title  thereof,  videlicet^ 

^'  THESE    BE  THE   THI^JGS    THAT    (dO   SEEM)   MAY    WELL    STAND 
WITH   THE   FEACE   OF   THE   CHURCH. 

"'The  decrees. — Let  no  man  (though  he  be  an  university- 
man)  offer  himself  to  the  ministry,  nor  let  any  man  take  upon  him 
an  uncertain  and  vague  ministry,  though  it  be  offered  unto  him.  But 
such  as  be  called  to  the  ministry  by  some  certain  church,  let  them 
impart  it  unto  that  classis  or  conference  whereof  themselves  are,  or 
€lse  to  some  greater  church-assembly :  and  if  such  be  found  fit  by 
them,  then  let  them  be  commended  by  their  letters  unto  the  bishop, 
that  they  may  be  ordained  ministers  by  him.  Those  ceremonies  in 
the  Book  of  Common-Prayer  which,  being  taken  from  popery,  are 
in  controversy,  do  seem  that  they  ought  to  be  omitted  and  given 
over,  if  it  may  be  done  without  danger  of  being  put  from  the 
ministry.  But  if  there  be  any  imminent  danger  to  be  deprived,  then 
this  matter  must  be  communicated  Avith  the  classis  in  which  that 
church  is;  that  by  the  judgment  thereof  it  may  be  determined  what 
ought  to  be  done.  If  subscription  to  the  Articles  of  Religion  and  to 
the  Book  of  Common-Prayer  shall  be  again  urged,  it  is  thought  that 
the  Book  of  Articles  may  be  subscribed  unto,  according  to  the  sta- 
tute thirteenth  Elizabeth  ;  that  is,  unto  such  of  them  only  as  contain 


25  ELIZA EETHr  BOOK    IX.       CENT.    XVT.  31 

the  sum  of  Christian  faith,  and  doctrine  of  the  sacraments.  But  for 
many  weighty  causes,  neither  the  rest  of  the  Articles  in  that  book, 
nor  the  Book  of  Common- Prayer,  may  be  allowed  ;  no,  though  a 
man  should  be  deprived  of  his  ministry  for  it.  It  seemeth  that  church- 
wardens and  collectors  for  the  poor  might  thus  be  turned  into  elders 
and  into  deacons,  when  they  are  to  be  chosen.  Let  the  church  have 
warning,  fifteen  days  before,  of  the  time  of  election,  and  of  the  ordi- 
nance of  the  realm  ;  but  especially  of  Christ's  ordinance,  touching 
appointing  of  watchmen  and  overseers  in  his  church,  who  are  to 
foresee  that  none  offence  or  scandal  do  arise  in  the  church ;  and  if 
any  shall  happen,  that  by  them  it  may  be  duly  abolished.  And 
touching  deacons  of  both  sorts,  (xidelicet^  men  and  women,)  the 
church  should  be  monished  what  is  required  by  the  apostle,  and  that 
they  are  not  to  choose  men  of  custom  and  of  course,  or  for  their 
riches,  but  for  their  faith,  zeal,  and  integrity  ;  and  that  the  church  is 
to  pray  (in  the  mean  time)  to  be  so  directed  that  they  make  choice 
of  them  that  be  meet.  Let  the  names  of  such  as  are  so  chosen  be 
published  the  next  Lord's  day ;  and,  after  that,  their  duties  to  the 
church,  and  the  church's  towards  them,  shall  be  declared.  Then  let 
them  be  received  into  the  ministry  to  which  they  are  chosen,  with 
the  general  prayers  of  the  whole  church.  The  brethren  are  to  be 
requested  to  ordain  a  distribution  of  all  churches,  according  to  these 
rules  (in  that  behalf)  that  are  set  down  in  the  synodical  discipline, 
touching  classical,  provincial,  comitial,  or  of  comniencements  and 
assemblies  for  the  whole  kingdom. 

"  The  classes  are  to  be  required  to  keep  acts  of  memorable  matters, 
which  they  shall  see  delivered  to  the  comitial  assembly,  that  from 
thence  they  may  be  brought  by  the  provincial  assembly :  Also  they 
are  to  deal  earnestly  with  patrons,  to  present  fit  men,  whensoever  any 
church  is  fallen  void  in  that  classis.  The  comitial  assemblies  are  to 
be  monished  to  make  collections  for  relief  of  the  poor  and  of  scholars, 
but  especially  for  relief  of  such  ministers  here  as  are  put  out  for  not 
subscribing  to  the  Articles,  tendered  by  the  bishops,  also  for  relief 
of  Scottish  ministers  and  others  ;  and  for  other  profitable  and  neces- 
sary uses.  All  the  provincial  synods  must  continually  aforehand 
foresee,  in  due  time,  to  appoint  the  keeping  of  their  next  provincial 
synods  ;  and  for  the  sending  of  chosen  persons,  with  certain  instruc- 
tions, unto  the  national  synod,  to  be  holden  whensoever  the  parlia- 
ment for  the  kingdom  shall  be  called  at  some  certain  set  time  every 
year."  * 

See  we  here  the  embryo  of  the  presbyterian  discipline,  lying  as 
yet  (as  it  were)  in  the  womb  of  episcopacy ;  though  soon  after  it 

*  Under  Mr.  "Wight's  hand,  (a  man  of  the  brotherhood,)  cited  by  Bishop  Bancroft, 
his  *'  Dangerous  Positions,"  page  46. 


32  CHURCH    HISTORY    OF    BRITAIN.  A.D.  1582. 

swelled  so  great,  that  the  mother  must  violently  be  cut  before  the 
child  could  be  delivered  into  the  world,  as  to  the  public  practice 
thereof. 

2.  Several  Observations  on  these  Decrees. 

Many  observables  in  these  decrees  offer  themselves  to  our  consi- 
deration. 

1.  That  they  were  written  in  Latin,  (whereof  they  had  two  ele- 
gant penners,  Cartwright  and  Travers,)  showing  themselves  no 
enemies  to  that  tongue,  which  some  ignorant  sectaries  afterward 
condemned  for  superstitious ;  counting  every  thing  Romish  which 
was  Roman,  and  very  cordials  to  be  poison  if  lapped  up  in  Latin. 

2.  Probably,  as  artists  hang  a  curtain  before  their  works  whilst 
yet  imperfect,  so  these  synodists  thought  fit  in  Latin  as  yet  to  veil 
their  decrees  from  vulgar  eyes ;  seeing  nothing  can  be  projected 
and  perfected  together.  Yea,  the  repetition  of  those  words  "  doth 
seem,""  and  '•  it  seemeth,"  carrying  something  of  uncertainty  in 
them,  showeth  these  decrees  as  yet  admitted  but  as  probationers, 
expecting  confirmation  on  their  good  behaviour. 

o.  The  election  of  the  people  is  here  made  the  essence  of  a  call 
to  a  pastoral  charge,  to  which  the  presentation  of  the  most  undoubted 
patron  is  called  in  but  ad  corrohorandum.  As  for  institution  from 
the  bishop,  it  was  superadded,  not  to  complete  his  ministerial  function 
in  point  of  conscience,  but  legally  to  enable  the  minister  to  recover 
his  maintenance  from  the  detainers  thereof. 

4.  Partial  subscription  is  permitted  to  the  Articles  of  Religion ; 
namely,  only  to  the  doctrinal  part  thereof,  but  none  to  those  wherein 
discipline  is  mentioned,  especially  to  the  clause  at  the  end  of  the 
twentieth  Article  :  "  The  church  hath  power  to  decree  rites  and  cere- 
monies,"" &c.  accounted  by  the  brethren  the  very  sting  in  the  tail  of 
the  locusts. 

5.  Those  words,  "If  subscription  shall  be  urged  again,"  plainly 
intimate,  that  the  reins  of  episcopal  government  were  but  loosely 
held,  and  the  rigour  thereof  remitted,  for  the  reasons  by  us  fore- 
alleged. 

6.  That  churchwardens,  and  collectors  for  the  poor,  are  so  quickly 
convertible,  even  in  their  opinion,  into  elders  and  deacons,  only  Avith 
a  more  solemn  and  public  election,  shows  the  difference  betwixt 
those  officers  to  be  rather  nominal  than  real. 

7.  By  women-deacons  here  mentioned,  we  understand  such 
widows  which  the  apostle  appointeth  in  the  primitive  church,  to 
attend  strangers  and  sick  people ;  and  which  Mr.  Cartwright  affirmeth* 

•  lu  his  "Admonitions,"  page  1G3,  sect.  2. 


25  ELIZABETH.  ^OOK    IX.       CENT.    XVI. 

ought  still  to  be  continued,   although,  he  confesseth,    '^  there  be 
1-earned.men  tliat  think  otherwise." 

8.  Their  "  comitial  assemblies,"  kept  in  the  universities  at  the  Com- 
mencements, (wisely  they  had  an  eye  on  the  two  eyes  of  the  land,)  were 
conveniently  chosen,  as  safely  shadowed  under  a  confluence  of  people. 
See  we  here,  though  the  matter  of  their  discipline  might  he  jure  divino, 
human  prudence  concurred  much  in  the  making  thereof,  as  in  order- 
ing a  national  synod  always  to  run  parallel  with  the  parliament. 

9.  Mention  being  made  of  "  relieving  Scottish  ministers,"  if  any 
ask  what  northern  tempest  blew  them  hither,  know  they  quitted  their 
own  country  about  this  time,  upon  refusal  of  conformity,  and  found 
benevolence  in  England  a  better  livelihood  than  a  benefice  in  Scotland. 

10.  The  grand  design  driven  on  in  these  decrees  was,  to  set  up 
a  discipline  in  a  discipline,  presbytery  in  episcopacy;  which  (as 
appears  in  the  preface)  they  thought  "  might  well  stand  with  the 
peace  of  the  church ;"  but  this  peace  proved  but  a  truce,  this  truce 
but  a  short  one,  before  both  parties  brake  into  irreconcilable  hostility. 

Thus  it  is  impossible  to  make  a  subordination  in  their  practices 
who  have  an  opposition  in  their  principles.  For,  though  such 
spheres  and  orbs  which  agree  in  onecentre  may proportionably  move 
one  within  another ;  yet  such  as  are  eccentrical  can  never  observe 
equal  distance  in  their  motion,  but  will  sag  aside  to  grind  and 
grate  one  the  other.  But  enough  hereof  at  this  time,  having  jetted 
out  a  little  already  into  the  next  year ;  no  offence,  we  hope,  seeing 
it  makes  our  History  more  entire  in  this  subject. 

S,  4.  A  blasphemous  Heretic  reclaimed.     The  Character  of 
Mr.  Henry  Smith. 

This  year,  Robert  Dickons,  a  Leicestershire  youth,  but,  it  seems, 
apprentice  at  Mansfield,  in  Nottinghamshire,  having  parts  and 
pregnancy  above  his  age  and  profession,  arrived  at  such  a  height  of 
profaneness  as  not  only  to  pretend  to  visions,  but  to  account  himself 
Elijah,  sent  from  God  to  perfect  some  defects  in  the  prophecy  of 
Malachi.  But  by  God's  blessing  on  the  endeavours  of  Mr.  Henry 
Smith,  (whom  his  uncle,  Mr.  Briant  Cave,  this  year  sheriff  of 
Leicestershire,  employed  therein,)  this  heretic  was  reclaimed,* 
renouncing  his  blasphemies,  by  subscription  under  his  own  hand  ; 
and,  for  aught  I  find  to  the  contrary,  lived  peaceably  and  painfully 
the  remainder  of  his  life. 

This  is  that  Henry  Smith,  born  at  Withcock  in  Leicestershire, 
of  a  worshipful  family,  (and  elder  brother  to  Sir  Roger  Smith,  still 
surviving,)  bred  in  Oxford,  and  afterwards  became  that  famous 
preacher  at  St.  Clement's  Danes  in  London,  commonly  called  "  the 

•  See  Mr.  Smith's  sennon  *'  Of  the  lost  Sheep  found." 

Vol.  III.  J) 


34  CHURCH    HISTORY    OF    BRITAI\\  A. D.  1582. 

silver-tongued"  Smith,  being  but  one  metal,  in  price  and  purity, 
beneath  St.  Chrysostom  himself.  Yea,  whereas  generally  the  ser- 
mons of  those  days  are  now  grown  out  of  fashion,  (such  is  our  age's 
curiosity  and  aiFectation  of  novelty,)  Smith's  sermons  keep  up  their 
constant  credit,  as  appears,  by  their  daily  impressions,  calculated  for 
all  times,  places,  and  persons :  so  solid,  the  learned  may  partly 
admire — so  plain,  the  unlearned  may  perfectly  understand — them. 
The  wonder  of  his  worth  is  increased  by  the  consideration  of  his 
tender  age,  dying  very  young*  about  fifty  years  ago. 

5 — 7-   ^^^^  Death  of  Richard  Bristoiv.    The  Death  of  Nicholas 
Harpsfield,     The  Death  of  Gregory  Martin. 

I  find  three  of  such  who  seemed  pillars  in  the  Romish  church 
deceased  this  year.  First.  Richard  Bristow,  born  in  Worcester- 
shire, bred  in  Oxford,  in  Exeter  College  ;  whence  he  fied  beyond 
the  seas,  and  by  cardinal  Allen  was  made  overseer  of  the  English 
college,  first  at  Douay,  then  at  Rheims.  He  wrote  most  in  English 
humili  quidem  stylo ^  (saith  one  of  his  own  opinion,-|-)  but  very  solidly  ; 
for  proof  whereof,  let  his  books  against  Dr.  Fulke  be  perused. 
For  the  recovery  of  his  health,  he  was  advised  to  return  into  his 
native  land,  and  died  quietly  near  the  city  of  London. 

The  Second.  Nicholas  Harpsfield,  bred  first  in  Winchester  school, 
then  New  College  in  Oxford,  where  he  proceeded  doctor  of  law,  and 
afterward  became  archdeacon  of  Canterbury.  Under  king  Edward 
VI.  he  banished  himself;  under  queen  Mary  he  returned,  and  was 
advanced ;  and,  under  queen  Elizabeth,  imprisoned  for  denying  her 
supremacy.  Yet  such  was  his  mild  usage  in  restraint,  that  he  had 
the  opportunity  to  write  much  therein ;  and  amongst  the  rest  his 
"  Ecclesiastical  History,"  no  less  learnedly  than  painfully  performed; 
and,  abating  his  partiality  to  his  own  interest,  well  deserving  of  all 
posterity.  He  wrote  also  "  Six  Dialogues,"  in  favour  of  his  religion  ; 
but  (because  in  durance)  he  durst  not  set  it  forth  in  his  own,  but 
under  the  name  of  Alan  Cope.  Yet  lest  truth  should  be  concealed, 
and  friend  defraud  friend  of  his  due  praise,  he  caused  these  capital 
letters  to  be  engraved  at  the  end  of  his  book  :  A.  H.  L.  N.  H.  E. 
V.  E.A.C.  Hereby  mystically  meaning,  Auctor  Hujus  Libri 
Nicholaus  Harpesfeldus.  Edidit  Verd  Eum  Alanus  Copiis.  He 
died  this  year  at  London  in  prison,  after  twenty  years'  restraint, 
leaving  behind  him  the  general  reputation  of  a  religious  man. 

The  Third.  Gregory  Martin,  born  at  Maxfield  in  Sussex,  bred 
with  Campian  in  St.  John's  College  in  Oxford  ;  tutor  to  Philip  earl 
of  Arundel,  eldest  son  to  Thomas  duke  of  Norfolk.     Afterwards  he 

•  About  the  year  1600,  as  I  am  iuformed  by  his  brother.  t  Pitz.eus  2??  illus- 

tribus  Angl.  Scriptoribus. 


25  ELIZABETH.  BOOK    IX.       CENT.    XVI.  35 

went  over  beyond  sea,  and  became  divinity  professor  in  the  College 
of  Rheims,  died  there  October  28th,  and  is  buried  with  a  large 
epitaph,  under  a  plain  monument. 

8,  9.  Letter- History  best  History.     Objection   ngainst  Letters^ 

Want  of  Date,  answered. 
'  I  shall  now  withdraw  myself,  or  at  leastwise  stand  by  a  silent 
spectator,  whilst  I  make  room  for  far  my  betters  to  come  forth  and 
speak  in  the  present  controversy  of  church-government.  Call  it  not 
cowardice,  but  count  it  caution  in  me,  if  desirous  in  this  difference 
to  lie  at  a  close-guard,  and  offer  as  little  play  as  may  be  on  either 
side,  whilst  the  reader  shall  behold  the  masters  of  defence  on  both 
sides  engaged  therein  in  these  following  letters  of  state.  Baronius, 
the  great  Roman  Annalist,  was  wont  to  say,  Epistolaris  historia  est 
optima  Jiistoria,  "  That  is  the  best  history  which  is  collected  out  of 
letters."  How  much  of  the  Acts  of  the  Apostles  (especially  for  the 
regulation  of  time)  is  contained  in  the  Epistles  of  St.  Paul !  Of  the 
primitive  history,  the  most  authentical  part  is  what  is  gathered  out 
of  the  letters  of  the  Fathers  ;  and,  in  like  manner,  the  true  estate  of 
ecclesiastical  affairs  in  the  days  of  queen  Elizabeth  may  be  extracted 
out  of  the  following  dispatches  and  their  returns,  exhibiting  the 
inclinations  of  their  authors  in  pure  naturals,  without  any  adulterated 
addition,  and  therefore  the  surest  for  others'  instruction,  and  safest 
for  my  own  protection. 

But  one  thing  I  must  clear  in  our  entrance  thereon,  in  excuse  that 
these  letters  are  dateless  as  to  the  day  and  month  ;  a  great  omission, 
which  I  have  seen  in  many  originals,  whose  authors  so  minded  the 
matter  that  they  neglected  the  time,  the  present  dispatching  of  them 
being  date  enough  to  their  purpose,  though  now  the  want  thereof  ~ 
leaves  posterity  at  a  loss.  A  blue  coat  without  a  badge  is  but  a  white 
coat  in  effect ;  as  nothing  informing  the  beholder  to  what  lord  the 
bearer  thereof  doth  relate  :  and  as  little  instructive  (will  some  say) 
are  these  letters  as  to  the  point  of  chronology.  But  be  it  known, 
that  no  reader's  stomach  can  be  so  sharp  set  on  the  criticalness  of 
chronology,  but  that,  being  fed  with  the  certainty  of  the  year,  he  will 
not  be  famished  with  the  uncertainty  of  the  month  or  day.  Indeed, 
as  such  whose  names  are  casually  omitted  in  the  register  may  recover 
the  truth  of  their  age  by  a  comparative  computation  of  their  years, 
who  were  born  about  the  same  time ;  so,  by  the  mixture  and  com- 
paring of  these  dateless  letters  with  those  having  date  of  secular 
affairs,  I  could  competently  have  collected  and  inserted  the  time, 
save  that  I  loathe  to  obtrude  any  thing  conjectural  on  the  reader's 
belief.  But  we  must  begin  with  the  ensuing  petition  as  the  ground- 
work of  all  the  rest. 

d2 


36  CHURCH    HlSTOllY    OF    BRITAIN.  A.D.  1583. 

10.  The  Petition  of  the  Kentish  Ministers.     A.  D.  1583. 

THE    MfNISTERS    OF    KENT    TO    THE    PRIVY   COUMCIL. 

"  May  it  please  your  Honours,  of  your  great  and  wonted  favour 
towards  the  distressed,  to  consider  these  following :    Whereas  we 
have  been   called  to  subscribe  in   the  county  of  Kent  to  certain 
Articles  propounded  by  my  Lord's  Grace  of  Canterbury  unto  the 
ministers  and  preachers.     The  First,  concerning  her  majesty''s  autho- 
rity.    The  Second  concerning  no  contrariety  to  the  word  of  God  in 
the  Book  of  Common-Prayer  and  administration  of  the  sacraments, 
the  Book  of  ordering  bishops,  priests,  and  deacons.    And  the  Third, 
that  we  believe  all  things  in  the  Book  of  the  Articles  of  Religion  to  be 
agreeable  to  the  word  of  God.     Whereupon  all  have  most  willingly 
offered  to  subscribe  unto  the  other  two.     And  being  pronounced  in 
the  open  court  contumaces  reservata  poend^  and  so  referred  to  answer 
at  law  the  11th  and  13th  of  February ;   (which  we  feared  would  be 
prosecuted  with  much  trouble,  and  no  resolution  to  our  consciences  ;) 
we,  amongst  the  rest,  repaired  with  that  careful  avoiding,  that  we 
could,  of  offence  to  his  lordship's  Grace ;  to  whom  when  we  had  the 
first  day  made  known  some  of  our  doubts  concerning  the  first  book 
only,  (many  more  in  number,  and  as  great  in  weight,  concerning  the 
first  and  second,  and  some  concerning  the  third,  remaining  besides,) 
we  have — upon  our  refusal,  and  record  taken  by  public  notary,  of 
one  point  only,  from  every  particular  refuser,  which  moved  him  there- 
unto, and  one  place  of  Scripture  adjoined,  without  collection  or  the 
reason  of  the  same — been  suspended  from  our  ministry  ;    by  which 
occasion,  as  we  fear,  that  that  account  which  hath  been  made  of  the 
consequence  of  our  cause,  both  in  public  sermons  and  pronouncing 
of  sentence  against  us, — namely,  that,  in  denying  to  subscribe  to  the 
two  aforesaid  Articles,  w^e  separated  ourselves  from  the  church,  and 
condemned  the  right  service  of  God  in  prayer,  and  administration  of 
the   sacraments  in  the  church  of  England,  and  the  ministry  of  the 
same,  and  disobeyed  her  majesty's  authority, — hath  been  intimated 
to  your  Honours.     So  we  think  it  our  bound  duties,  most  humbly 
on  our  knees  to  beseech  your  Honours  to  know  and  make  manifest 
in  our  behalf  to  her  majesty  that  which  we  before  the  Lord  in  sim- 
plicity protest :   We,  in  all  reverence,  judge  of  the  authority  which  is 
established,  and  the  persons  which  were  authors  of  those  books,  that 
they  did  not  only  speak,  but  also  did  highly  to  the  glory  of  God  pro- 
mote, the  true  religion  of  God,  and  the  glorious  Gospel  of  Jesus 
Christ ;  and  that  w^e  so  esteem  of  those  books,  and  there  is  nothing 
in  them  to  cause  us  to  separate  ourselves  from  the  unity  of  the  church, 
which,   in  the  execution  of  our  ministry,  in    participation  of  the 
public  prayers  and  sacraments,  we  have  in  our  own  example  testified, 


26    ELIZABETH.  BOOK    IX.       CENT.    XVI.  37 

and  by  public  doctrine  maintained  ;  and  that  the  ministry  of  the  wor'd 
preached,  and  public  administration  of  the  sacraments  exercised  in 
this  land  according  to  autliority,  is,  as  touching  the  substance  of  it, 
lawful  and  greatly  blessed  of  God :  And,  Lastly,  that  we  have  and 
always  will  show  ourselves  obedient  to  her  majesty's  authority  in  all 
causes  ecclesiastical  and  civil,  to  whomsoever  it  be  committed ;  and, 
therefore,  that  as  poor  but  most  faithful  subjects  to  her  majesty,  and 

ministers  of  Jesus  Christ the  great  cause  we  have  in  hand, 

and  which  consequently  (as  we  under  your  Honours'  correction  judge) 
the  necessary  reformation  of  many  things  in  the  church  according 
unto  God's  word,  may  have  that  sufficient  hearing,  as  all  causes  of  our 
refusal  to  subscribe  may  be  known,  and  equally  out  of  God's  word 
judged  of;  and  the  lamentable  estate  of  the  churches  to  which  we 
appertain,  with  the  hard  condition  of  us,  may,  in  that  manner,  that 
your  Honours'  most  excellent  wisdom  shall  find  expedient  in  the  pity 
of  Jesus  Christ,  for  the  mean  time  be  relieved.  The  Lord  Almighty 
vouchsafe,  for  Jesus  Christ's  sake,  long  to  continue,  and  bless  your 
Honours'  wisdom  and  counsel  to  the  great  glory  of  God,  and  the 
happy  government  of  her  majesty,  and  flourishing  estate  of  this 
church  of  England. 

"  Your  Honours  daily  and  faithful  orators, 

"  The  Ministers  of  Kent, 
"  Which  are  suspended  from  the  execution  of  their  ministry." 

The  lords  of  the  council  sent  this  petition,  with  another  bill  of 
complaint  exhibited  unto  them,  against  Edmund  Freake,  bishop  of 
Norwich,  unto  the  archbishop  of  Canterbury.  What  his  answer 
was  thereunto,  the  reader  may  inform  himself  out  of  the  following 
letter. 

11.   The  Archbishop's  Letter  in  Ansiver  thereof. 

to  the  lords  of  the  council. 

"  Most  Honourable, 

"  Upon  Sunday  last  in  the  afternoon,  Master  Beale  brought  unto 
me,  in  your  lordships'  names,  two  supplications,  or  bills  of  complaint 
exhibited  unto  your  lordships  ;  the  one  by  certain  ministers  of  Sufl^olk, 
against  their  diocesan  there ;  the  other  by  some  of  Kent  against 
myself,  with  this  further  message, — that  it  was  your  desires  I  should 
come  to  the  court  on  Sunday  next.  It  may  please  your  good  lord- 
ships to  be  advertised,  that  it  seemeth  somethingstrange  to  me,  that  the 
ministers  of  Suffolk,  finding  themselves  aggrieved  with  the  doings 
of  their  diocesan,  should  leave  the  ordinary  course  of  proceeding 
by  law,   (which  is  to  appeal  unto  me,)  and  extraordinarily  trouble 


38  CHURCH    HISTORY    OF    BRITAIN.  ■  A.D.  158o. 

y'our  lordships  in  a  matter  not  so  incident  (as  I  think)  to  that  most 
honourable  Board ;  seeing  it  hath  pleased  her  majesty  her  own  self 
in  express  words  to  commit  these  causes  ecclesiastical  to  me,  as  to 
one  who  is  to  make  answer  to  God,  to  her  majesty  in  this  behalf, 
my  office  also  and  place  requiring  the  same. 

"  In  answer  of  the  complaint  of  the  Suffolk  men  of  their 
ordinary's  proceeding  against  them,  I  have  herewith  sent  to  your 
lordships  a  copy  of  a  letter  which  I  lately  received  from  his  lord- 
ship ;  wherein  I  think  that  part  of  their  bill  to  be  fully  answered, 
and  his  doings  to  have  been  orderly  and  charitable.  Touching  the 
rest  of  their  bill,  I  know  not  what  to  judge  of  it,  neither  yet  of  what 
spirit  it  Cometh.  But,  in  some  points,  it  talketh  (as  I  think) 
modestly  and  charitably.  They  say  they  are  no  Jesuits  sent  from 
Rome  to  reconcile,  &c.  True  it  is,  neither  are  they  charged  to  be 
so  ;  but,  notwithstanding,  they  are  contentious  in  the  church  of 
England,  and  by  their  contentions  minister  occasion  of  oifence  to 
those  which  are  seduced  by  Jesuits,  and  give  the  arguments  against 
the  form  of  public  prayer,  used  in  this  church,  and  by  law  estab- 
lished, and  thereby  inci-ease  the  number  of  them,  and  confirm  them 
in  their  wilfulness.  They  also  make  a  schism  in  the  church,  and 
draw  many  other  of  her  majesty's  subjects  to  a  misliking  of  her 
laws  and  government  in  causes  ecclesiastical,  so  far  are  they  from  per- 
suading them  to  obedience,  or  at  least  if  they  persuade  them  to  it  in 
the  one  part  of  her  authority,  it  is  in  causes  civil ;  they  dissuade 
them  from  it  as  much  in  the  other,  that  is,  in  causes  ecclesiastical : 
so  that,  indeed,  they  pluck  down  with  the  one  hand  that  which  they 
seem  to  build  with  the  other.  They  say  that  they  have  faithfully 
travailed  in  persuading  to  obedience,  &c.  and  have  therein  prevailed, 
&c.  It  is  but  their  own  testimony.  I  think  it  were  hard  for  them 
to  show  whom  they  converted  from  papistry  to  the  Gospel.  But 
what  stirs  and  dissensions  they  have  made  amongst  those  which  pro- 
fessed the  Gospel  before  they  were  taught  by  them,  I  think  it  to  be 
apparent.  It  is  notorious  that  in  king  Edward's  time,  and  in  the 
beginning  of  her  majesty's  reign,  for  the  space  of  divers  years, 
when  this  self-same  book  of  public  prayers  was  uniformally  used,  and 
by  all  learned  preachers  maintained,  and  impugned  by  none,  the 
Gospel  mightily  prevailed,  took  great  increase,  and  very  few  were 
known  to  refuse  to  communicate  with  us  in  prayer  and  participation 
of  the  sacraments.  But  since  this  schism  and  division,  the  contrary 
effect  hath  fallen  out :  and  how  can  it  otherwise  be,  seeing  we  our- 
selves condemn  that  public  form  and  order  of  prayer  and  adminis- 
tration of  the  sacraments,  as  in  divers  points  contrary  to  the  word  of 
God,  from  which  (as  in  like  manner  condemning  the  same)  the 
papists  do  absent  themselves  ?     In  the  latter  part  of  their  bill  con- 


26  ELIZABETH.  BOOK    IX.       CENT.    XVI.  89 

taining  the  reasons  why  they  cannot  submit  themselves  to  observe 
the  form  prescribed  by  the  book  in  all  points,  I  wonder  either  at 
their  ignorance  or  audacity.  They  say  that  the  learned  writers  of 
our  time  have  showed  their  mislikings  of  some  of  our  ceremonies. 
The  most  learned  writers  in  our  times  have  not  so  done,  but  rather 
reproved  the  mislikers.  Those  few  that  have  given  contrary  judg- 
ment therein,  have  done  more  rashly  than  learnedly,  presuming  to 
give  their  censures  of  such  a  church  as  this  is,  not  understanding  the 
fruits  of  thg  cause,  nor  alleging  any  reason  worth  the  hearing;  espe- 
cially one  little  college  in  either  of  our  universities  containing  in  it 
more  learned  men  than  in  their  cities.  But  if  the  authority  of  men 
so  greatly  move  them,  why  make  they  so  small  account  of  those 
most  excellent  and  learned  Fathers  who  were  the  penners  of  the 
book  ?  whereof  divers  have  sealed  their  religion  with  their  blood, 
which  none  yet  have  done  of  the  impugners  of  the  book.  The 
pope  (say  they)  hath  changed  his  offichum  B.  Marice,  ^c.  And  so  it 
is :  neither  is  there  any  man  that  doubteth,  but  the  Book  of  Com- 
mon-Prayer may  also  be  altered,  if  there  appear  good  cause  why  to 
those  in  authority.  But  the  pope  will  not  suffer  that  officium  B. 
Mariw,  S^c.  to  be  preached  against,  or  any  part  thereof,  till  it  was  by 
public  order  reformed  ;  neither  will  he  confess  that  he  hath  reformed 
it  in  respect  of  any  errors,  but  such  only  as  did  creep  into  the  said  book 
through  private  men's  affections,  without  authority.  Therefore, 
that  argument  is  against  them,  and  only  used  by  them  (as  it  seemeth) 
in  contempt :  the  rest  is  frivolous,  and  argueth  their  presumption  in 
writing  this  to  so  honourable  a  Board  of  so  worthy  and  godly  a  book, 
which  hath  a  hundred  learned  men  to  justify  it,  for  one  that  will 
impugn  it.  And  thus  much  concerning  them,  which  I  have  written 
rather  to  satisfy  your  lordships,  than  that  I  thought  the  matter 
worthy  my  labour.  The  complaint  which  those  of  Kent,  being  of 
my  own  diocess,  and  by  oath  bound  to  me  in  canonical  obedience, 
have  exhibited  unto  your  lordships,  doth  make  me  more  to  wonder, 
that  they,  most  of  them  being  unlearned  and  young,  (such  as  I 
would  be  loath  to  admit  into  the  ministry,  if  they  were  not  already 
admitted  thereunto,  much  less  to  allow  as  preachers,)  dare  presume 
to  bring  my  doings  against  them  into  question  before  your  lordships, 
seeing  I  have  done  nothing  but  that  which  God,  the  law,  her 
majesty,  and  my  duty  forceth  me  unto,  dealing  with  them  not  as  an 
archbishop  with  the  inferior  sort  of  the  clergy,  nor  as  a  master  of  a 
coUeo-e  with  liis  fellows,  nor  as  a  magistrate  with  his  inferiors,  but  as 
a  friend  and  a  brother ;  which,  as  I  think,  hath  so  puffed  them 
up,  and  caused  them  to  be  so  presumptuous.  They  came  to  me 
\msent  for,  in  a  multitude ;  which  I  reproved,  because  it  imported  a 
conspiracy,   and  had  the  show  of  a  tumult   or  unlawful  assembly. 


40  CHURCH    HISTORY    OF    BRITAIN.  A.D.  1583. 

Notwithstanding  I  was  content  to  hear  their  complaint ;  I  spent 
with  them  the  whole  afternoon,  from  two  of  the  clock  till  seven,  and 
heard  their  reasons  ;  whereof  some  were  frivolous  and  childish;  some 
irreligious,  and  all  of  them  such  as  gave  me  occasion  to  think  that 
they  rather  sought  quarrel  against  the  book  than  to  be  satisfied ; 
which  indeed  is  true,  as  appeareth  by  some  of  their  own  confessions, 
which  I  am  able  to  show  when  I  shall  be  thereunto  urged.  The 
two  whole  days  following,  I  spent  likewise  for  the  most  part  in  deal- 
ing severally  with  them  ;  requiring  them  to  give  unto  me  the  chief 
and  principal  of  their  reasons  which  moved  them  not  to  subscribe  ; 
meaning  to  hear  them  in  the  rest,  if  I  could  have  satisfied  them  in 
it,  or  else  not  to  spend  any  further  time  ;  which  reasons  (if  I  may 
so  term  them)  they  gave  unto  me,  and  I  havcj  and  mean  to  make 
known  when  occasion  shall  serve.  Whereas  they  say  in  their  bill,, 
that  the  public  administration  of  the  sacraments  in  this  land  is,  as 
touching  the  substance  of  it,  lawful,  &c.  they  say  no  more  than  the 
papists  themselves  do  confess,  and  in  truth  they  say  nothing  in 
effect  to  that  wherewith  they  are  charged.  And  yet  therein  they 
are  contrary  to  themselves,  for  they  have  pretended  matter  of  sub- 
stance against  the  book.  But  of  what  spirit  cometh  it,  tha.t  they, 
being  no  otherwise  than  they  are,  dare,  to  the  greatest  authority  in 
this  land  next  to  her  majesty,  so  boldly  offer  themselves  thus  to 
reason  and  dispute,  as  in  their  bill  they  vaunt,  against  the  state 
established  in  matters  of  religion,  and  against  the  book  so  learnedly 
and  painfully  penned,  and  by  so  great  authority  from  time  to  time 
confirmed  ?  It  is  not  for  me  to  sit  in  this  place,  if  every  curate 
within  my  diocess  or  province  may  be  permitted  so  to  use  me ; 
neither  is  it  possible  for  me  to  perform  the  duty  which  her  majesty 
looketh  for  at  my  hands,  if  I  may  not,  without  interruption,  proceed 
in  execution  of  that  which  her  Highness  hath  especially  committed 
imto  me.  The  Gospel  can  take  no  success,  neither  the  number  of 
papists  be  diminished,  if  unity  be  not  procured ;  which  I  am  not  in 
doubt  in  short  time  to  bring  to  pass,  without  any  great  ado  or  incon- 
venience at  all,  if  it  be  not  hindered.  The  number  of  those  which 
refuse  to  subscribe  is  not  great ;  in  most  parts  of  my  province,  not 
one ;  in  some,  very  few ;  and  in  some,  none ;  whereof  many  also 
and  the  greater  part  are  unlearned,  and  unworthy  the  ministry.  In 
mine  own  little  diocess  in  Canterbury  threescore  preachers  and  above 
have  subscribed  ;  whereas  there  are  not  ten  worthy  the  name  of 
preachers  which  have  as  yet  refused,  and  most  of  them  also  not 
allowed  preachers  by  lawful  authority ;  and  so  I  know  it  to  be  in  all 
other  diocesses  within  my  province,  the  diocess  of  Norwich  only 
excepted  ;  wherein,  nevertheless,  the  number  of  the  disordered  is 
far  less  than  the  number  of  such  as  are  obedient  and  quietly-disposed. 


26  ELIZABETH.  BOOK    IX.       CENT.    XVI.  '  41 

Now  if  these  few  disordered,  which  the  church  may  well  spare, 
having  meeter  men  to  place  in  their  rooms,  shall  be  countenanced 
against  the  best,  the  wisest  in  all  respects,  the  worthiest  and  in 
effect  the  whole  state  of  the  clergy ;  it  will  not  only  discourage  the 
dutiful  and  obedient  persons,  but  so  increase  the  schism,  that  there 
will  never  hereafter  be  hope  of  appeasing  the  same.  This  disordered 
flocking  together  of  them  at  this  time  from  divers  places,  and  gad- 
ding from  one  to  another,  argueth  a  conspiracy  amongst  them,  and 
some  hope  of  encouragement  and  of  prevailing;  which  I  am  per- 
suaded is  not  meant,  nor  shall  ever  be  by  me  willingly  consented 
unto.  Some  of  them  have  already  (as  I  am  informed)  bruited 
abroad,  that  your  lordships  have  sent  for  me  to  answer  their  com- 
plaints ;  and  that  they  hope  to  be  delivered  :  wherein  I  know  they 
report  untruly,  as  the  manner  is.  For  I  cannot  be  persuaded  that 
your  lordships  have  any  such  intent  as  to  make  me  a  party,  or  to 
call  my  doings  into  question,  which  from  her  majesty  are  imme- 
diately committed  unto  me,  and  wherein,  as  I  suppose,  I  have  no 
other  judge  but  herself.  And  for  as  much  as  I  am  by  God  and  her 
majesty  lawfully,  without  any  ordinary,  or  extraordinary,  or  unlawful 
means,  called  to  this  place  and  function,  and  appointed  to  be  your 
pastor,  and  to  have  the  greatest  charge  over  you  in  matters  pertain- 
ing to  the  soul ;  I  am  the  more  bold  to  move,  and  desire  you  to  aid 
and  assist  me  in  matters  belonging  to  my  office ;  namely,  such  as 
appertain  to  the  quietness  of  the  church,  the  credit  of  religion 
established,  and  the  maintenance  of  the  laws  made  for  the  same. 
And  here  I  do  protest  and  testify  unto  your  lordships,  that  the 
three  Articles,  whereunto  they  are  moved  to  subscribe,  are  such  as  I 
am  ready  by  learning  to  defend  in  manner  and  form  as  they  are  set 
down,  against  all  mislikers  thereof  in  England  or  elsewhere.  And 
thus  desiring  your  lordships  to  take  this  my  answer  in  good  part, 
and  to  forbear  my  coming  thither  in  respect  of  this  advantage  that 
may  be  taken  thereof  by  these  wayward  persons,  I  beseech  Almighty 
God  long  to  prosper  you. 

"  Your  good  lordships'  in  Christ, 

"  JOHN  CANTUAR." 

12.  The  Character  of  Mr.  Beal,  who  brought  the  Bills. 
Who  this  Mr.  Beal  was,  who  brought  these  letters,  is  worthy  our 
inquiry.  I  find  his  Christian  name  Robert,  his  office  clerk  of  the 
Council,  his  abilities  very  great,  as  may  appear  by  the  public  nego- 
tiations wherein  he  was  employed ;  for  he  was  joined  with  Sir 
William  Winter,  anno  1576,  in  a  commission  to  the  Zealanders, 
about  their  reprisals  ;  and  again,  anno  1583,  he  was  sent  to  the 
queen  of  Scots,  sharply  to  expostulate  with  her  concerning  some 


42  CHURCH    HISTORY    OF    BRITAIN.  A.D.  1583. 

querulous  letters.  Well  knew  queen  Elizabeth  what  tools  to  use 
on  knotty  timber;  our  author*  giving  Mr.  Beal  this  character, 
that  he  was  homo  mheinens^  et  austere  acerb  us  ^  "  an  eager  man,  and 
most  austerely  bitter."  His  affections  were  wholly  presbyterian, 
and  I  behold  him  as  one  of  the  best  friends  (of  the  second  magni- 
tude) that  party  had.  What  he  wanted  in  authority,  he  had  in 
activity  on  their  sides.  And  what  influence  sometimes  the  hands 
have  on  the  head  (I  mean  notaries  on  the  judges  themselves)  at 
Council-board,  others  may  conjecture.  He  either  compiled  or  coun- 
tenanced a  book  made  against  the  bishops  ;  and  the  reader  may 
receive  a  further  confirmation  of  his  character  herein  from  the  fol- 
lowing complaint. 

13.  Archbishop  WhitgifCs  Letter^  complaining  of  BeaPs  insolent 
Carriage  towards  hitn. 

TO    THE    LORD    TREASURER. 
"My    SINGULAR    GOOD    LoRD, 

"  I  HAVE  borne  much  with  Mr.  BeaPs  intemperate  speeches, 
unseemly  for  him  to  use,  though  not  in  respect  of  myself,  yet  in 
respect  of  her  majesty  whom  he  serveth,  and  of  the  laws  established, 
whereunto  he  ought  to  show  some  duty.  Yesterday  he  came  to  my 
house,  as  it  seemed,  to  demand  the  book  he  delivered  unto  me.  I 
told  him  that  the  book  was  written  to  me,  and  therefore  no  reason 
why  he  should  require  it  again  ;  especially,  seeing  I  was  assured  that 
he  had  a  copy  thereof,  otherwise  I  would  cause  it  to  be  written  out 
for  him.  Whereupon  he  fell  into  very  great  passions  with  me 
(which  I  think  was  the  end  of  his  coming)  for  proceeding  in  the 
execution  of  his  Articles,  &c.  and  told  me  in  effect,  that  I  would 
be  the  overthrow  of  this  church,  and  a  cause  of  tumult, — with  many 
other  bitter  and  hard  speeches,  which  I  heard  patiently,  and  wished 
him  to  consider  with  wdiat  spirit  he  was  moved  so  to  say.  For  I 
said,  'It  cannot  be  by  the  Spirit  of  God,  because  the  Spirit  of  God 
worketh  in  men  humility,  patience,  and  love  ;  and  your  words 
declare  you  to  be  very  arrogant,  proud,  impatient,  and  uncharitable. 
Moreover,  the  Spirit  of  God  moveth  men  to  hear  the  word  of  God 
with  meekness,  &c.  and  you  have  almost  heard  with  disdain  every 
sermon  preached  before  her  majesty  this  Lent,  gibing  and  jesting 
openly  thereat  even  in  the  sermon-time,  to  the  offence  of  many,  and 
especially  at  such  sermons  as  did  most  commend  her  majesty  and 
the  state,  and  moved  the  auditory  to  obedience  ;"*  which  he  con- 
fessed and  justified,  accusing  some  of  the  preachers  of  false  doctrine, 
and  wrong  allegations  of  Scripture,  &c.  Then  he  began  to  extol 
his  book ;  and  said  we  were  never  able  to  answer  it,  neither  for  the 

•  Camden  in  his  Elizabctha,  page  359. 


26  ELIZABETH.  BOOK    IX.       CENT.    XVI.  43 

matter  of  divinity,  nor  yet  of  law.     I  told  him,  as  the  truth  is,  that 
there  was  no  great  substance  in  the  book,  that  it  might  be  very  soon 
answered,  and   that  it  did  appear  neither  his  divinity  nor  law  to  be 
great.     I  further  wished  him  to  be  better  advised  of  his  doings  ;  and 
told  him  indeed,  that  he  was  one  of  the  principal  causes  of  the  way- 
wardness of  divers,  because  he  giveth  encouragement  to  divers  of 
them  to  stand  in  the  matter ;  telling  them  that  the  Articles  shall  be 
shortly  revoked  by  the  Council,  and  that  my  hands  shall  be  stopped, 
&c.  which  saying  is  spread  abroad  already  in  every  place,  and  is  the 
only  cause  why  many  forbear  to  subscribe  ;  which  is  true,  neither 
could  he  deny  it.     All  this  while  I  talked  with  him  privately  in  the 
upper  part  of  my  gallery,  my  lord  of  Winchester,  and  divers  strangers 
being  in  the  other  part  thereof.     But  Mr.  Beal  beginning  to  extend 
his  voice  that  all  might  hear,  I  began  to  break  off;   then  he,  being 
more   and  more  kindled,  very  impatiently  uttered  very  proud  and 
contemptuous  speeches,  in  the  justifying  of  his  book,  and  condemn- 
ing   of  the  orders  established,  to  the  ofFence  of  all  the  hearers. 
Whereunto  (being  very  desirous  to  be  rid  of  him)   I  made  small 
answer ;  but  told  him  that  his  speeches  were  intolerable,  that  he 
forgat  himself,  and  that  I  would  complain  of  him  to  her  majesty  ; 
whereof  he  seemed  to  make  small  account,  and  so  he   departed  in 
great  heat.     I  am   loath  to  hmt  him,  or  to  be  an  accuser ;  neither 
will  I  proceed  therein  further  than  your  lordships  shall  think  it  conve- 
nient.    But  I  never  was  abused  more  by  any  man  at  any  time  in 
my  life,  than  I  have  been  by  him  since  my  coming  to  this  place,  in 
hardness  of  speech  for  doing  my  duty,  and  for  all  things  belonging 
to  my  charge.  Surely,  my  lord,  this  talk  tendeth  only  to  the  increas- 
ing of  the  contention,  and  to  the  animating  of  the  wayward  in  their 
waywardness,  casting  out  dangerous  speeches,  as  though  there  were 
likelihood  of  some  tumult  in  respect  thereof.     Whereas,  in  truth, 
God  be  thanked,   the  matter  groweth  to  greater  quietness  than  I 
think  he  wisheth,  and  will  be  soon  quieted  if  we  be  let  alone,  and 
they  not  otherwise  encouraged.     It  seemeth,  he  is  some  way  discon- 
tented,  and  would  work  his  anger  on  me.     The  tongues  of  these 
men  taste  not  of  the  Spirit  of  God.     Your  lordship  seeth  how  bold 
I  am  to  impart  unto  you  my  private  causes.     Truly,  if  it  were  not 
that  my  conscience  is  settled  in  these  matters,  and  that  I  am  fully 
persuaded  of  the  necessity  of  these  proceedings  in  respect  of  the 
peace  of  the  church,  and  due  observation  of  God^s  laws,  and  that  I 
received  great  comfort  at  her  majesty's  hand,   (as  I  did  most  effec- 
tually at  my  last  being  at  the  court,)  and  that  I  were  assured  of  your 
lordship's  constancy  in  the  cause,  and  of  your  unmovable  good-will 
towards  me,  I  should  be  hardly  able  to  endure  so  great  a  burden  ; 
which  now,  I  thank  God,  in  respect  of  the  premisses,  seemeth  easy 


44  CHURCH    HISTORY    OF    BRITAIN.  A.D.  1583, 

unto  me,  neither  do  I  doubt  but  God  will  therein  prosper  me.  Thus 
being  desirous  to  impart  this  matter  to  your  lordship,  to  whose  con- 
sideration I  leave  it,  I  commit  you  to  the  tuition  of  Almighty  God. 

"JOHN  CANTUAR." 

Nor  have  I  aught  else  to  say  of  this  Mr.  Beal,  but  that  afterwards 
I  find  one  of  his  name  and  quality  dying  1601,*  and  buried  in  Lon- 
don at  Alhallows-in-the-Wall,  who  by  all  probability  should  be  the 
same  person.  Now  that  the  presbyterian  party  was  not  unfriended 
at  the  Council-board,  but  had  those  there  which,  either  out  of  dic- 
tates of  conscience,  or  reasons  of  state,  or  reflections  on  their  private 
interests,  endeavoured  to  mitigate  the  archbishop's  proceedings  against 
them,  let  their  ensuing  letter  to  him  be  perused. 

14.  The  Privy  Counsellors'  Letter  to  the  Archbishop  in  Favour 
of  the  Nonconformists. 

"  After  our  hearty  commendations  to  both  your  lordships  : 
although  we  have  heard  of  late  times  sundry  complaints,  out  of 
divers  countries  of  this  realm,  of  some  proceedings  against  a  great 
number  of  ecclesiastical  persons  ; — some  parsons  of  churches,  some 
vicars,  some  curates,  but  all  preachers  ;  whereby  some  were 
deprived  of  their  livings,  some  suspended  from  their  ministry  and 
preaching;  yet  we  have  forborne  to  enter  into  any  particular  exami- 
nation of  such  complaints,  thinking  that,  howsoever  inferior  officers, 
as  chancellors,  commissaries,  archdeacons,  and  such  like,  whose 
offices  are  of  more  value  and  profit  by  such  like  kind  of  proceed- 
ings, might  in  such  sort  proceed  against  the  ministers  of  the  church  ; 
yet  your  lordship,  the  archbishop  of  that  province  of  Canterbury, 
have,  beside  your  general  authority,  some  particular  interest  in  the 
present  jurisdiction  of  sundry  bishoprics  vacant.  And  you  also, 
the  bishop  of  London,  both  for  your  own  authority  in  your  diocess, 
and    as   head-commissioner    ecclesiastical,  would    have    a   pastoral 

over  the  particular  officers,  to  stay  and  temper  them  in 

their  hasty  proceedings  against  the  ministers,  and,  especially,  against 
such  as  do  earnestly  profess  and  instruct  the  people  against  the 
dangerous  sects  of  papistry.  But  yet  of  late,  hearing  of  the  lament- 
able estate  of  the  church  in  the  county  of  Essex ;  that  is,  of  a  great 
number  of  zealous  and  learned  preachers  there  suspended  from  their 
cures,  the  vacancy  of  the  place,  for  the  most  part,  without  any 
ministry  of  preaching,  prayers,  and  sacraments ;  and  in  some  places 
of  certain  appointed  to  those  void  rooms,  being  persons  neither  of 
learning  nor  of  good  name,  and,  in  other  places  of  that  county,  a 
great  number  of  parsons  occupying  the  cures  being  notoriously  unfit, 
•  Robert  Beal,  es(i.— Stow's  "Survey  of  London/'  page  183. 


26  ELIZABETH.  BOOK    IX.       CENT.    XVI.  45 

most  for  lack  of  learning,  many  charged  or  chargeable  with  great 
and  erroneous  faults,  and  drunkenness,  filthiness  of  life,  gamesters 
at  cards,  haunting  of  ale-houses,  and  such  like ;  against  whom  we 
hear  not  of  any  proceedings,  but  that  they  are  quietly  suifered  to  the 
slander  of  the  church,  to  the  offence  of  good  people,   yea,  to  the 
famishing  of  them  for  lack  of  good  teaching ;  and,  thereby,  dan- 
gerous to  the  subverting  of  many  weaklings  from  their  duties  to  God 
and  the   queen's  majesty,  by  secret  Jesuits  and  counterfeit  papists. 
And  having  thus  in  a  general  sort  heard  out  of  many  parts  of  the 
like  of  this  lamentable  estate  of  the  church ;  yet,  to  the  intent  we 
should  not  be  deceived  with  the  generality  of  reports,  we  sought  to 
be  informed  of  some  particulars,  namely,  of  some  parts  of  Essex  ; 
and,  having  received  the  same  credibly  in  writing,  we  have  thought 
it  our  duties  to  her  majesty  and  the  realm,  for  the  remedy  hereof, 
without  intermeddling  ourselves  with  your  jurisdiction  ecclesiastical, 
to  make  report  unto  your  lordships,  as  persons  that   ought  most 
specially  to  have  regard  thereto,   as  we  hope  you  will  ;  and,  there- 
fore, have  sent  you  herewith  in  writing  a  catalogue  of  the  names  of 
persons  of  sundry  natures  and  conditions  ;   that  is,  one  sort,  being 
reported  to  be  learned,  zealous,  and  good  preachers  deprived  and 
suspended,   and  so   the  cures  not  served  with  meet  persons.     The 
other  sort,  a  number  of  persons,  having  cures,  being  in  sundry  sorts 
far  unmeet  for  any  offices  in  the  churcli,  for  their  many  defects  and 
imperfections,  and  so,  as  it  seems  by  the  reports,  have  been  and  are 
suifered  to  continue  without  reprehension  or  any  other  proceedings 
against    them,   and    thereby  a  great  number  of    Christian  people 
untaught :  a  matter  very  lamentable  in  this  time.    In  a  third  sort,  a 
number  having  double  livings  with  cure,  and  so  not  resident  upon 
their  cures,  but  yet  enjoying  the  benefit  of  their  benefices  without 
any  personal  attendance  upon  their  cures.     Against  all  these  sorts 
of  lewd,   and  evil,  and  unprofitable,  corrupt  members,  we  hear  of 
no  inquisition,  nor  of  any  kind  of  proceeding  to  the  reformation  of 
those  horrible  offences  in  the  church  ;  but  yet  of  great  diligence, 
yea,   and  extremity,  used  against    those  that  are  known  diligent 
preachers.      Now,  therefore,  we,  for  the  discharge  of  our  duties, 
being  by  our  vocation  under  her  majesty  bound   to   be  careful  that 
the  universal  realm  may  be  well  governed,  to  the  honour  and  glory 
of  God,  and  to  the  discharge  of  her  majesty,  being  the  principal 
governor    over    all    her  subjects  under  Almighty  God,  do    most 
earnestly  desire  your  lordships  to  take  some  charitable  consideration 
of  these  causes,  that  the  people  of  the  realm  may  not  be  deprived 
of  their  pastors,  being  diligent,  learned,  and  zealous, — though  in  some 
points  ceremonial  they  may  seem  doubtful  only  in  conscience,  and 
not  of  wilfulness ;  nor  that  their  cures  be  suffered  to  be  vacant 


46  CHURCH    HISTORY    OF    BRITAIN.  A. D.  1583. 

without  good  pastors,  nor  that  such  as  be  placed  in  the  rooms  of 
cures  be  insufficient  for  learning,  or  unmeet  for  their  conversation. 
And  though  the  notes  which  we  send  you  be  only  of  parsons 
belonging  to  Essex,  yet  we  pray  you  to  look  into  the  rest  of  the 
country  in  many  other  diocesses  ;  for  we  have  and  do  hear  daily  of 
the  like  in  generality  in  many  other  places  ;  but  we  have  not  sought 
to  have  their  particulars  so  manifestly  delivered  of  other  places  as  of 
Essex,  or,  rather,  to  say  the  truth,  of  one  corner  of  the  country. 
And  we  shall  be  most  glad  to  hear  of  your  cares  to  be  taken  for 
remedy  of  these  enormities,  so  as  we  be  not  troubled  hereafter,  or 
hear  of  the  like  complaints  to  continue  :  and  so  we  bid  your  good 
lordships  right  heartilv  farewell. 

"  Your  lordships'  loving  friends, 
"WILL.  BURLEIGH,     GEORGE  SHREWSBURY, 
A.  WARWICK,  ROBERT  LEICESTER, 

C.  HOWARD,  J.  CROFT, 

CHRIST.  HATTON,     ERA.  WALSINGHAM." 

Amongst  these  Privy  Counsellors,  I  miss  one  who  was  mainly 
material ;  namely,  Sir  Francis  Knowles,  treasurer  of  the  queen's 
household,  and  knight  of  the  garter ;  father-in-law  to  the  earl  of 
Leicester,  and  no  less  considerable  in  himself  than  in  his  relations. 
This  knight,  being  bred  a  banished  man  in  Germany  during  the 
reign  of  queen  Mary,  and  conversing  with  Mr.  Calvin  at  Geneva, 
was  never  after  fond  of  episcopacy ;  and,  though  now  casually 
absent  from  the  Council- Board,  was  a  great  patron  of  the  noncon- 
formists.    But  see  the  archbishop's  answer  to  their  letter. 

15.  The  Archbishop's  Answer  to  the  Privy  Counsellors''  Letter. 
"  It  may  please  your  good  lordships  to  be  advertised,  that  I 
have  received  your  letters  of  the  twentieth  of  this  month,  with  a 
schedule  inclosed  therein,  concerning  certain  ministers  in  Essex  ; 
whereunto  as  yet  I  cannot  make  any  full  answer,  by  reason  of  the 
absence  of  my  lord  of  London,  to  whom  the  letter  is  also  directed, 
and  the  parties  therein  named  best  known  as  being  in  his  diocess. 
Nevertheless,  in  the  mean  time,  I  thought  it  my  part  to  signify 
unto  your  lordships,  that  I  hope  the  information  to  be  in  most  parts 
unjust.  Certain  men  being  in  and  about  Maiden,  because  they 
cannot  have  such  among  them  as  by  disorderliness  do  best  content 
their  humours,  did  not  long  since  in  like  manner,  in  a  generality, 
make  an  information  to  the  same  effect ;  which  coming  to  mine  and 
others'  hands  of  the  ecclesiastical  commission,  we  did  direct  our 
letters  to  some  of  the  principal  of  them  by  name,  requiring  them  to 
exhibit  unto  us    at  the  beginning  of    this  next   term,  now  next 


26  ELIZABETH.  BOOK    IX.       CENT.    XVI.  47 

ensuing,  the  names  of  such  offensive  ministers  as  they  thought  to  bo 
touched  with  such  dishonest  conversation,  together  with  their  proofs 
thereof,  promising  on  our  parts  to  see  the  same  redressed  accord- 
ingly. It  seemeth  by  this  which  is  exhibited  now  to  your  lordships, 
they  have  prevented  the  time,  hoping  thereby  to  alter  the  course. 
Whereunto  it  tendeth,  I  leave  to  your  lordships^  consideration. 
Surely  if  the  ministers  be  such  as  this  schedule  reporteth,  they  are 
worthy  to  be  grievously  punished.  And  for  my  own  part,  I  will 
not  be  slack  or  remiss,  God  willing,  therein.  But  if  that  fall  out 
otherwise  upon  trial,  and  that  they  or  many  of  them,  in  respect  of 
their  obedience  to  her  majesty's  laws,  be  thus  depraved  by  such  as 
impugn  the  same,  then  I  doubt  not  but  your  lordships  will  judge 
those  amusers  to  deserve  just  punishment.  This  I  can  assure  your 
lordships  of,  that  my  lord  of  London  affirmed  in  my  hearing,  that, 
not  long  since  upon  that  occasion,  that  none  or  few  at  his  or  his 
archdeacons'  visitations  had  at  any  time,  by  the  churchwardens  or 
sworn  men,  been  detected  or  presented  for  any  such  misdemeanours 
as  are  now  supposed  against  them.  Of  the  preachers,  which  are 
said  to  be  put  there  to  silence,  I  know  but  few.  Notwithstanding 
1  know  those  few  to  be  very  factious  in  the  church,  contemners  in 
sundry  points  of  the  ecclesiastical  laws,  and  chief  authors  of  dis- 
quietness  in  that  part  of  the  country  ;  and  such  as  I  for  my  part 
cannot  (doing  my  duty  with  a  good  conscience)  suffer  without  their 
further  conformity  to  execute  their  ministry.  But  your  lordships, 
God  willing,  shall  have  a  more  particular  answer  to  every  point  of 
your  letter,  when  my  lord  of  London  (who  is  now  at  his  house  in 
the  country)  and  I  shall  meet  and  have  conferred  thereupon.  In 
the  mean  time,  I  trust,  that  neither  there  nor  elsewhere  within  this 
province,  either  by  myself  or  others  of  my  brethren,  any  thing  is  or 
shall  be  done,  which  doth  not  tend  to  the  peace  of  the  church,  the 
working  of  obedience  to  laws  established,  the  encouragement  of  the 
most,  the  godliest,  and  most  learnedest  ministers  in  this  church  of 
England,  and  to  the  glory  of  God  ;  to  whose  protection  I  commit 
your  good  lordships.'' 

.  Now  although  we  find  Sir  Christopher  Hatton  (for  company's  sake, 
as  we  humbly  conceive  it)  amongst  the  Privy  Counsellors,  subscribing 
for  moderation  to  nonconformists,  yet  we  take  him  to  be  a  zealous 
stickler  for  the  pressing  church-ceremony.  And  although  I  look  on 
the  words  of  the  Jesuit*  as  a  mere  scandal,  when  he  saith,  that  this 
Hatton  was  animo  catholicus,  "  a  papist  in  his  heart ;  "  yet  I  know 
him  to  be  no  favourer  of  the  presbyterian  party,  but  a  great  counte- 
nancer  of  Whitgift's  proceedings  against  them,  as  appears  by  the 
following  address  of  the  archbishop  unto  him. 

*  Peter  Ribadeneira  in  his  "Appendix  to  Sanders,"  page  41. 


48  CHURCH    HISTORY    OF    BRITAIN,  A,D.  1583. 

16.  The   Archbishop's  gratulatory   Letter  to  Sir   Christopher 

Hatton, 

to  sir  christopher  hatton. 

"  Right  Honourable, 

"  I  GIVE  you  most  hearty  thanks  for  that  most  friendly  message 
"which  you  sent  unto  me  by  your  man,  Mr.  Kemp ;  I  shall  think  my- 
self bound  unto  you  therefore  as  long  as  I  live.  It  hath  not  a  little 
comforted  me,  having  received  not  long  since  unkind  speeches  where 
I  least  looked  for  them,  only  for  doing  my  duty  in  the  most  necessary 
business  which  I  have  in  hand.  I  marvel  how  it  should  come  to 
pass,  that  the  self-same  persons  will  seem  to  wish  peace  and  uniform- 
ity in  the  church,  and  to  mislike  of  the  contentious  and  disobedient 
5ort,  yet  cannot  abide  that  any  thing  should  be  done  against  them, 
wishing  rather  the  whole  ministry  of  the  land  to  be  discountenanced 
and  discouraged,  than  a  few  wayward  persons  (of  no  account  in 
comparison)  suppressed  and  punished.  Men  in  executing  the  laws 
according  to  their  duties  were  wont  to  be  encouraged  and  backed  by 
such ;  but  now  it  falleth  out  clean  contrary.  Disobedient  wilful 
persons  (I  will  term  them  no  worse)  are  animated,  laws  contemned, 
her  majesty's  will  and  pleasure  little  regarded,  and  the  executors 
thereof  in  word  and  deed  abused.  Howbeit  these  overth warts  grieve 
me,  yet,  I  thank  God,  they  cannot  withdraw  me  from  doing  that 
duty  in  this  cause  which,  I  am  persuaded,  God  himself,  her  majesty, 
the  laws,  and  the  state  of  this  church  and  commonwealth,  do  require 
of  me.  In  respect  whereof,  I  am  content  to  sustain  all  these  dis- 
pleasures, and  fully  resolved  not  to  depend  upon  man,  but  upon  God 
and  her  majesty.  And  therefore  your  Honour,  in  offering  me  that 
great  courtesy,  offered  unto  me  as  great  a  pleasure  as  I  can  desire. 
Her  majesty  must  be  my  refuge ;  and  I  beseech  you  that  I  may  use 
you  as  a  means  when  occasion  shall  serve,  whereof  I  assure  myself, 
and  therein  rest. 

«'  JOHN  CANTUAR." 

As  for  the  lord  Burleigh,  such  was  his  moderation,  that  both 
parties  beheld  him  as  their  friend,  carrying  matters  not  with  passion 
and  prejudice,  but  prudently  as  became  so  great  a  statesman.  He 
was  neither  so  rigid  as  to  have  conformity  pressed  to  the  height,  nor 
so  remiss  as  to  leave  ministers  to  their  own  liberty.  He  would  argue 
the  case,  both  in  discourse  and  by  letters,  with  the  archbishop. 
Amongst  many  of  the  latter  kind,  let  not  the  reader  grudge  to  peruse 
this  here  inserted. 


20  ELIZARETir.  BOOK    IX.       CENT.    XVI.  49 

17.  I'he  Treasurer''s  Letter  to  the  Archbishop^  for  some  Indul- 
gence to  the  Ministers. 

"  It  may  please  your  Grace,  I  am  sorry  to  trouble  you  so  often 
as  I  do,  but  I  am  more  troubled  myself,  not  only  with  many  private 
petitions  of  sundry  ministers  recommended  for  persons  of  credit,  and 
for  peaceable  persons  in  their  ministry,  and  yet,  by  complaints  to 
your  Grace  and  other  your  colleagues  in  Commission,  greatly  troubled  ; 
but  also  I  am  daily  now  charged  by  counsellors  and  public  persons 
to  neglect  my  duty,  in  not  staying  of  those  your  Grace's  proceedings, 
so  vehement  and  so  general  against  ministers  and  preachers  ;  as  the 
papists  are  thereby  greatly  encouraged,  and  all  evil-disposed  persons 
amongst  the  subjects  animated,  and  thereby  the  queen's  majesty's 
safety  endangered.  With  these  kind  of  arguments  I  am  daily  assailed  : 
against  which  I  answer,  that  I  think  your  Grace  doth  nothing,  but, 
being  duly  examined,  tendeth  to  the  maintenance  of  the  religion 
established,  and  to  avoid  schism  in  the  church.  I  also  have  for 
example  showed,  by  your  papers  sent  to  me,  how  fully  the  church  is 
furnished  with  preachers,  and  how  small  a  number  there  are  that  do 
contend  for  their  singularity.  But  these  reasons  do  not  satisfy  all 
persons  ;  neither  do  I  seek  to  satisfy  all  persons  but  with  reason  and 
truth.  But  now,  my  good  lord,  by  chance  I  have  come  to  the  sight 
of  an  instrument  of  twenty-four  articles  of  great  length  and  curiosity, 
formed  in  a  Romish  style,  to  examine  all  manner  of  ministers  in  this 
time  without  distinction  of  persons ;  which  articles  are  entitled, 
apud  Lamheth,  Maii^  1584,  to  be  executed,  ex  officio  mero^  S^c. 
And  upon  this  occasion  I  have  seen  them  :  I  did  recommend  unto 
your  Grace's  favour  two  ministers,  curates  of  Cambridgeshire,  to  be 
favourably  heard  ;  and  your  Grace  wrote  to  me  that  they  were  con- 
tentious, seditious,  and  persons  vagrant  maintaining  this  controversy; 
wherewith  I  charged  them  sharply,  and  they  both  denied  those 
charges,  and  required  to  be  tried,  and  so  to  receive  punishment.  I 
answered,  that  your  Grace  would  so  charge  them,  and  then  I  should 
see  afterwards  what  they  should  deserve  ;  and  advised  them  to  resort 
to  your  Grace,  comforting  them  that  they  should  find  favourable 
proceedings,  and  so  I  hope  upon  my  former  commendations  the 
rather.  What  may  be  said  to  them,  I  know  not ;  nor  whether  they 
have  been  so  faulty  as  your  Grace  hath  been  informed,  do  I  know ; 
neither  do  I  mean  to  treat  for  to  favour  such  men  ;  for  pardon  I  may 
speak  upon  their  amendment.  But  now  they  coming  to  me,  I  offer 
how  your  Grace  proceeded  with  them.  They  say,  they  are  com- 
manded to  be  examined  by  the  register  at  London  ;  and  I  asked  them 
whereof :  they  said,  of  a  great  number  of  articles  ;  but  they  could 
have  no  copies  of  them.  I  answered,  that  they  might  answer  to  the 
truth  :   they  said  that  they  were  so  many  in  number,  and  so  divers. 

Vol.  III.  E 


•^0  CHURCH    HISTORY    OF    BRITAIN.  A.D.  1583. 

as  they  were  afraid  to  answer  them  for  fear  of  captious  interpretation. 
Upon  this  I  sent  for  the  register,  who  brought  me  the  articles  ;  which 
I  have  read,  and  find  so  curiously  penned,  so  full  of  branches  and 
circumstances,  that  I  think  the  Inquisitions  of  Spain  use  not  so  many 
questions  to  comprehend  and  to  entrap  their  preys.  I  know  your 
canonists  can  defend  these  with  all  their  particles.  But  surely,  under 
your  Grace's  correction,  this  juridical  and  canonical  siftener  of  poor 
ministers,  is  not  to  edify  and  reform.  And,  in  charity,  I  think  they 
ought  not  to  answer  to  all  these  nice  points,  except  they  were  very 
notorious  offenders  in  papistry  or  heresy.  Now,  good  my  lord,  bear 
with  my  scribbling.  I  write  with  testimony  of  a  good  conscience. 
I  desire  the  peace  of  the  church.  I  desire  concord  and  unity  in  the 
exercise  of  our  religion.  I  fear  no  sensual  and  wilful  recusant.  But 
I  conclude,  that,  according  to  my  simple  judgment,  this  kind  of 
proceeding  is  too  much  savouring  the  Romish  Inquisition,  and  is 
rather  a  device  to  seek  for  offenders  than  to  reform  any.  This  was 
not  that  charitable  instruction  that  I  thought  was  intended  if  these 
poor  ministers  should  in  some  few  points  have  any  scrupulous  con- 
ceptions  to  be  removed  ;  this  is  not  a  charitable  way,  to  send 

them  to  answer  to  your  common  register,  upon  so  many  articles  at 
one  instant,  without  commodity  of  instruction  by  your  register,  whose 
office  is  only  to  receive  their  answers ;  by  which  the  parties  are  first 
subject  to  condemnation  before  they  be  taught  their  errors.  It  may 
be,  I  say,  that  canonists  may  maintain  this  proceeding  by  rules  of 
their  laws  ;  but  though  omnia  licent,  omnia  non  expediunt.  I  pray 
your  Grace  bear  this,  (and  perchance  a  fault,)  that  I  have  willed  them 
not  to  answer  these  articles,  except  their  consciences  may  suffer  them  ; 
and  yet  I  have  sharply  admonished  them,  that  if  they  be  disturbers 
in  their  churches,  they  must  be  corrected.  And  yet  upon  your 
Grace's  answer  to  me  Ne  sutor  ultra  erepidam^  neither  will  I  put 
falcem  i?i  alterius  messem.  My  paper  teacheth  me  to  make  an  end, 
Your  Grace  must  pardon  my  hasty  writing,  for  that  I  have  done  this 
raptim  and  without  correction. 

"  Your  Grace's  at  command, 

"  WILLIAM  BURLEIGH." 

One  may  say,  "  Is  not  the  hand  of  Mr.  Travers  in  all  this  ?  " 
who,  being  the  Lord  Burleigh's  chaplain,  by  him  much  respected, 
and  highly  affected  to  the  Geneva-discipline,  was  made  the  mouth  of 
the  ministers,  to  mediate  to  his  lord  in  their  behalf.  But,  it  seems, 
the  archbishop  had  set  up  his  resolution,  (called  "  constancy"  by 
some,  "  cruelty"  by  others,  as  they  stand  affected,)  whose  unmova- 
bleness  herein  will  appear  by  his  follow^ing  letter. 


20  ELIZABETH.  BOOK    IX.       CENT.    XVI.  51 

18.   The  Return  of  the  Archbishop  of  Canterbury  to  the  Lord 
Treasurer'^s  Letter. 

TO    THE    LORD    TREASURER. 

"  My  singular  good  lord,  in  the  very  beginning  of  tliis  action, 
and  so  from  time  to  time,  I  have  made  your  lordship  acquainted 
with  all  my  doings,  and  so  answered  all  objections  and  reasons  to 
the  contrary,  as  I  persuade  myself  no  just  reply  can  be  made  there- 
unto. I  have  likewise,  by  your  lordship's  advice,  chosen  this  kind 
of  proceeding  with  them,  because  I  would  not  touch  any  for  not 
subscribing  only,  but  for  breach  of  order  in  celebrating  of  divine 
service,  administering  the  sacraments,  and  executing  other  ecclesias- 
tical functions,  according  to  their  fancies,  and  not  according  to  the 
form  of  law  prescribed  ;  which  neither  your  lordship  nor  any  other 
seemed  to  mislike,  but  to  wish  and  require.  And  therefore  I  am 
much  troubled  at  your  last  letters,  which  seem  so  to  be  written  as 
though  your  lordship  had  not  been  in  these  points  already  answered. 
The  complaints  which  your  lordship  saith  are  made  of  me  and 
other  my  colleagues,  have  hitherto  been  general,  and  therefore  can- 
not otherwise  be  answered  but  by  a  bare  denial.  But  if  any  man 
shall  charge  me  or  them  with  particularities,  I  doubt  not  but  we  are 
and  shall  be  ready  to  answer  them,  and  to  justify  our  doings.  My 
proceedings  are  neither  so  vehement  nor  so  general  against  ministers 
and  preachers  as  some  pretend;  doing  me  therein  great  injury.  I 
have  divers  times  satisfied  your  lordship  therein.  If  any  offence  be, 
it  is  in  bearing  too  much  with  them,  and  using  of  them  so  friendly  ; 
which  causeth  them  thus,  contrary  to  their  duties,  to  trouble  the 
church,  and  to  withstand  me  their  ordinary  and  lawful  judge.  The 
objection  of  encouraging  the  papists,  &c.  hath  neither  probability 
nor  likelihood.  For  how  can  papists  be  animated  by  urging  of 
men  to  subscribe  against  the  pope's  supremacy,  and  to  the  justifying 
of  the  Book  of  Common-Prayers,  and  Articles  of  Religion,  which 
they  so  greatly  condemn  ?  But  papists,  &c.  are  animated,  be- 
cause they  see  these  kind  of  persons,  which  herein  after  a  sort  come 

in  with  them,  so  greatly so  many  borne  with,  and  so  animated 

and  maintained  in  their  disordered  doings  against  both  God's 
laws  and  man's,  and  against  their  chief  governors  both  civil  and 
ecclesiastical.  This,  I  say,  encourageth  the  papists,  and  maketh 
much  for  them.  The  other  is  but  a  fallacy,  a  non  causa  ad  caiisam, 
O  my  lord,  I  would  to  God  some  of  those  who  use  this  argument, 
had  no  papists  in  their  families,  and  did  not  otherwise  also  counte- 
nance them  ;  whereby,  indeed,  they  receive  encouragement,  and  do 
become  too  malapert.  Assure  yourself,  the  papists  are  rather  grieved 
at  my  proceedings,  because  they  tend  to  the   taking   away  of  their 

e2 


5'2  CHURCH    HISTORY    OF    BRITAIN.  A.D.    1583. 

chief  argument ;  that  is,  that  we  cannot  agree  among  ourselves,  and 
that  we  are  not  of  the  church  because  we  lack  unity.  And  I  am 
credibly  informed,  that  the  papists  give  encouragement  to  these 
men,  and  commend  them  in  tlieir  doings  ;  hereof  I  have  also  some 
experience.  But  if  these  reasons,  and  sundry  others,  notwithstand- 
ing, some  will  not  be  satisfied  thereby,  I  am  sure  your  lordship 
thinketh  it  not  convenient  to  yield  unto  their  wills,  but  unto  their 
reasons.  Touching  the  twenty-four  articles,  which  your  lordship 
seemeth  so  to  mislike,  as  written  in  a  Romish  style,  smelling  of  a 
Romish  Inquisition,  &c.  I  cannot  but  greatly  marvel  at  your  lord- 
ship''s  vehement  speeches  against  them,  I  hope  without  cause.  The 
men  are  preachers,  peaceable,  your  lordship  saith;  and  that  they  are 
orderly,  and  observe  the  books,  as  some  of  them  say  of  themselves ; 
and  you  think  it  not  meet  that,  being  such  persons,  they  should  be 
deprived  for  not  subscribing  only.  Wherein  I  have  yielded  unto 
you ;  and  therefore  have  caused  these  articles  to  be  drawn  accord- 
ing to  law,  by  the  best-learned  in  the  laws  ;  who,  I  dare  say,  hate 
the  Romish  doctrine,  and  the  Romish  Inquisition ;  to  the  intent  I 
may  truly  understand  whether  they  are  such  manner  of  men  or  no 
as  they  pretend  to  be  ;  which  I  also  take  to  be  the  ordinary  course 
in  other  courts,  as  in  the  Star-chamber  and  other  places.  Sure  I 
am,  it  is  most  usual  in  the  Court  of  the  Marches  (Arches  rather) 
whereof  I  have  the  best  experience.  And  without  offence  be  it 
spoken,  I  think  these  articles  more  tolerable,  and  better  agreeing 
with  the  rule  of  justice  and  charity,  and  less  captious,  than  those  in 
other  courts  ;  because  their  men  are  often  examined  at  the  rela- 
tion of  a  private  man,  concerning  private  crimes,  et  de  propria  titr- 
pitudine  ;  whereas  here  men  are  only  examined  of  their  public 
actions  in  the  public  calling  and  ministry,  and  much  more  in  the 
cause  of  heresy ;  because  the  one  toucheth  life,  and  the  other  not. 
And  therefore  I  see  no  cause  why  our  judicial  and  canonical  pro- 
ceedings in  this  point  should  be  misliked.  Your  lordship  writeth 
that  the  two  for  whom  you  write  are  peaceable  persons,  that  they 
deny  the  things  wherewith  they  are  charged,  and  desire  to  be  tried, 
&c.  Now  they  are  to  be  tried,  why  do  they  refuse  it  ?  Qui  male 
agit^  odit  lucem.  Indeed,  they  show  themselves  to  be  such  as  I 
have  before  showed  to  your  lordship, — the  most  troublesome  persons 
in  all  that  country  :  and  one  of  them,  Mr.  Brown,  is  presented  for 
his  disorders  by  the  sworn  men  of  the  parish,  as  I  am  informed  by 
the  official  there.  Wherefore  I  beseech  your  lordship  not  to  be- 
lieve them  against  me,  (either  their  own  words,  or  testimony  of  any 
such  as  animate  them  in  their  disobedience,  and  count  disorder 
order,  and  contention  peace,)  before  they  be  duly  and  orderly  tried 
according  to  that  law  which  is  yet  in  force,  and  will  hardly,  in  my 


26  ELIZABETH.  BOOK    IX.       CENT.    XVT.  53 

opinion,  in  these  judicial  actions  be  bettered,  though  some  abuse 
may  be  in  the  execution  thereof,  as  there ;  ay,  elsewhere,  also,  and 
that  peradventure  more  abundantly.  Your  lordship  saith.  These 
articles  are  a  device  rather  to  seek  for  offenders,  than  to  reform  any. 
The  like  may  be  said  of  the  like  orders  in  other  courts  also ;  but 
that  were  the  fault  of  the  judge,  not  of  the  law.  And  I  trust  your 
lordship  hath  no  cause  to  think  so  evil  of  me.  I  have  not  dealt 
with  any  as  yet,  but  such  as  have  given  evident  tokens  of  contempt 
of  orders  and  laws  :  which  my  acts  remaining  on  record  will  testify : 
and  though  the  register  do  examine  them,  (as  I  think  other  officers 
do  in  other  courts  likewise,  and  the  law  doth  allow  of  it,)  yet  are 
they  repeated  before  a  judge,  where  they  may  reform,  add,  or 
diminish,  as  they  think  good.  Neither  hath  there  been  any  man 
thus  examined,  or  otherwise  dealt  with,  who  hath  not  been  conferred 
with,  or  might  not  have  been  if  he  would  :  these  two  especially. 
And  if  they  have  otherwise  reported  to  your  lordship,  they  do  but 
antiquum  obtinere,  which  is  to  utter  untruths  :  a  quality  wherewith 
these  kind  of  men  are  marvellously  possessed,  as  I,  on  my  own 
knowledge  and  experience,  can  justify  against  divers  of  them.  I 
know  your  lordship  desireth  the  peace  of  the  church,  and  unity  in 
religion  :  but  how  is  it  possible  to  be  procured,  (after  so  long  liberty 
and  lack  of  discipline,)  if  a  few  persons  so  meanly  qualified^  as 
most  of  them  are,  shall  be  countenanced  against  the  whole  estate  of 
the  clergy,  of  greatest  account  both  for  learning,  years,  stayedness, 
wisdom,  religion,  and  honesty  ?  and  open  breakers  and  impugners 
of  the  law,  young  in  years,  proud  in  conceit,  contentious  in  dis- 
position, maintained  against  their  governors,  seeking  to  reduce  them 
to  order  and  obedience  ?  Hcec  sunt  initia  hwreticorimi^  et  ortus 
atque  conatus  schismaticorum  male  cogitantium^  iit  sibi  placeant^ 
ut  prwpositum  superbo  tumor e  contemnant ;  sic  ab  ecclesid  receditur^ 
sic  altare  profanum  collocatur  foris^  sic  contra  pacem  Christi  et 
ordinationem  atque  unitatem  Dei  rebellatur.  For  my  own  part,  I 
neither  have  done  nor  do  any  thing  in  this,  matter,  which  I  do  not 
think,  in  my  conscience  and  duty,  I  am  bound  to  do,  which  her 
majesty  hath  with  earnest  charge  committed  unto  me,  and  which  I 
am  not  well  able  to  justify  to  be  most  requisite  for  this  state  and 
church,  whereof,  next  to  her  majesty,  though  most  unworthy,  or,  at 
least,  most  unhappy,  the  chief  is  committed  unto  me  ;  which  I  will 
not  by  the  grace  of  God  neglect,  whatsoever  come  upon  me.  There- 
fore I  neither  care  for  the  honour  of  the  place,  (which  is  onus  to 
me,)  nor  the  largeness  of  the  revenues,  nor  any  other  worldly  thing. 
I  thank  God,  in  respect  of  doing  my  duty,  neither  do  I  fear  the 
displeasure  of  man,  nor  the  evil  tongues  of  the  uncharitable,  who 
call  me  '  tyrant,  pope,  knave,'  and  lay  to  my  charge  things  which  I 


54  CHURCH    HISTOKY    OF    BRITAIN.  A.J).  1583. 

never  thought.  S'cio  hoc  enim  opus  esse  diaholi^  ut  servos  Dei 
mendacio  laceret^  et  opinionihus  falsis  gloriosum  nomen  infamet^  ut 
qui  cojiscientke  suw  luce  clarescunt^  alienis  rumor ibus  sordidentur. 
So  was  Cyprian  himself  used,  and  other  ancient  and  godly  bishops  ; 
to  whom  I  am  not  comparable.  The  day  will  come,  when  all  men's 
hearts  shall  be  opened ;  in  the  mean  time,  I  will  depend  on  Him 
who  never  forsakes  those  that  put  their  trust  in  him.  If  your  lord- 
ship shall  keep  those  two  from  answering  according  to  the  order  set 
down,  it  will  be  of  itself  a  setting  at  liberty  of  all  the  rest,  and  of 
undoing  of  all  that  which  hitherto  hath  been  done.  Neither  shall  I 
be  able  to  do  my  duty  according  to  her  majesty's  expectation.  And 
therefore  I  beseech  your  lordship  to  leave  them  unto  me ;  I  will  not 
proceed  against  them,  till  I  have  made  you  privy  to  their  answers, 
and  further  conferred  with  you  about  them,  because  I  see  your  lord- 
ship so  earnest  in  their  behalf:  whereof  also  they  have  made  public 
boasts,  (as  I  am  informed,)  which  argueth  what  manner  of  persons 
they  are.  I  beseech  your  lordship  to  take  not  only  the  length,  but 
also  the  matter,  of  this  letter  in  good  part,  and  to  continue  to  me 
as  you  have  done  ;  whereof  I  doubt  not.  For  assuredly  if  you 
forsake  me,  (which  I  know  you  will  not  after  so  long  trial  and  expe- 
rience, with  continuance  of  so  great  friendship,)  especially  in  so 
good  a  cause,  I  shall  think  my  coming  to  this  place  to  have  been  for 
my  punishment ;  and  my  hap  very  hard,  that  when  I  think  to  deserve 
best,  and  in  a  manner  to  consume  myself,  to  satisfy  that  which  God, 
her  majesty,  the  church,  requireth  of  me,  I  should  be  so  evil  rewarded. 
8ed  meliora  spero.  And  I  know  your  lordship  doth  all,  as  you  are 
persuaded,  for  the  best.  I  beseech  God  long  to  bless  and  preserve 
you. 

"JOHN  CANTUAR." 

It  seems,  the  lord  treasurer  took  exceptions  at  some  passages 
herein.  I  dare  not  say  with  those, — That  the  letter  was  brought  to 
him  when  he  was  indisposed  with  the  fit  of  the  gout,  which  made  him 
so  offended.  But,  whatsoever  was  the  cause  of  his  passion,  see  some 
signs  thereof  in  what  followeth. 

19.   The  Lord  Treasurer''s  smart  Letter  to  the  Archbishop. 

"  I  HAVE  received  your  Grace's  long  letter,  answering  sundry 
speeches,  as  I  think,  delivered  by  your  chaplain,  Doctor  Cozens  ; 
and  I  perceive  you  are  sharply  moved  to  blame  me,  and  clear  your- 
self. I  know  I  have  many  faults,  but  I  hope  I  have  not  given  such 
cause  of  offence,  as  your  letter  expresseth.  I  deny  nothing  that  your 
Grace  thinketh  meet  to  proceed  in,  with  these  whom  you  call  fac- 
tious ;   and  therefore  there  is  no  controversy  between  vou  and  me. 


26  ELIZABETH.  BOOK    IX.       CENT.    XVI.  55 

expressed  in  your  letter.  The  controversy  is  passed  in  your  Grace''s 
letter  in  silence  ;  and  so  I  do  satisfy.  Your  Grace  promised  me  to 
deal,  I  say,  only  with  such  as  violated  order,  and  to  charge  them 
therewith,  which  I  allow  well  of.  But  your  Grace,  not  charging 
them  with  such  faults,  seeketh  by  examination  to  urge  them  to  accuse 
themselves ;  and  then  I  think  you  will  punish  them.  I  think  your 
Grace's  proceeding  is,  I  will  but  say,  *  rigorous  or  captious,"*  but  I 
think,  it  is  scant  charitable.  I  have  no  leisure  to  write  more,  and 
therefore  I  will  end  ;  for,  writing  will  but  increase  offence,  and  I  mean 
not  to  offend  your  Grace.  I  am  content  that  your  Grace,  and  my  lord 
of  London,  where  I  hear  Brown  is,  use  him  as  your  wisdoms  shall 
think  meet.  If  I  had  known  his  fault,  I  might  be  blamed  for  writing 
for  him  ;  but  when  by  examination  only  it  is  meant  to  sift  him  with 
twenty- four  articles,  I  have  cause  to  pity  the  poor  man. 
"  Your  Grace's  as  friendly  as  any, 

''  WILLIAM  BURLEIGH." 

Short  but  sharp.  I  see  though  anger  only  "  resteth  in  the  bosom 
of  fools,"  Eccles.  vii.  9  ;  it  may  light  on  the  breast  of  a  wise  man. 
But  no  fear  that  these  friends  will  finally  fall  out,  who  alternately 
were  passionate  and  patient.  So  that  now  it  came  to  the  turn  of 
Whitgift  to  be  calm,  as  he  expressed  himself  in  the  following  return. 

20.   The  Archbishop's  calm  Letter  to  the  half-angry  Treasurer. 

to  the  lord  treasurer. 

"  My  singular  good  Lord, 

"  God  knoweth  how  desirous  T  have  been  from  time  to  time  to 
satisfy  your  lordship  in  all  things,  and  to  have  my  doings  approved 
to  you.  For  which  cause,  since  my  coming  to  this  place,  I  have 
done  nothing  of  importance  without  your  advice.  I  have  risen  early, 
and  sat  up  late,  to  write  unto  you  such  objections  and  answers  as  on 
either  side  were  used.  I  have  not  the  like  to  any  man  :  and  shall  I 
now  say  I  have  lost  my  labour  ?  or  shall  my  just  dealing  with 
two  of  the  most  disordered  ministers  in  a  whole  diocess,  (the  obsti- 
nacy and  contempt  of  whom,  especially  of  one  of  them,  you  yourself 
would  not  bear  in  any  subjected  to  your  authority,)  cause  you  so  to 
think  and  speak  of  my  doings,  yea,  and  of  myself?  No  man  living 
should  have  made  me  believe  it.  Solomon  saith,  '  An  old  friend  is 
better  than  a  new  ;"*  and  I  trust  your  lordship  will  not  so  lightly  cast 
off  your  old  friends  for  any  of  these  new-fangled  and  factious  sectaries, 
whose  fruits  are  to  make  divisions  wheresoever  they  come,  and  to 
separate  old  and  assured  friends.  Your  lordship  seemeth  to  charge 
me  with  breach  of  promise,  touching   my  manner  of  proceeding, 


56  CHURCH    HISTORY    OF    BRITAIN.  A.D.   1583. 

whereof  I  am  no  way  guilty  ;  but  I  have  altered  my  first  course  of 
depriving  them  for  not  subscribing  only,  justifiable  by  the  law  and 
common  practice,  both  in  the  time  of  king  Edward  and  from  the 
beginning  of  her  majesty's  reign,  and  chosen  this,  only  to  satisfy  your 
lordship.  Your  lordship  also  objecteth,  that  it  is  said,  I  took  this 
course  for  the  better  maintenance  of  my  book.  My  enemies  say  so, 
indeed  ;  but  I  trust  my  friends  have  a  better  opinion  of  me.  What 
should  I  seek  for  any  confirmation  of  my  book  after  twelve  years,  or 
what  should  I  get  thereby  more  than  already  ?  And  yet  if  subscrip- 
tion may  confirm  it,  it  is  confirmed  long  ago  by  the  subscription  of 
all  the  clergy  almost  in  England  before  my  time,  even  of  Brain  also, 
who  now  seemeth  to  be  so  wilful.  Mine  enemies,  and  tongues  of 
this  slanderous  and  uncharitable  sect,  report,  that  I  am  revolted  and 
become  a  papist,  and  I  know  not  what ;  but  it  proceedeth  from  their 
lewdness,  not  from  any  desert  of  mine  ;  and  I  disdain  to  answer  to 
any  such  notorious  untruths,  which  the  best  of  them  dare  not  avouch 
to  my  fiice.  Your  lordship  seemeth  further  to  burden  me  with 
wilfulness.  I  am  sure  that  you  are  not  so  persuaded  of  me.  I  will 
appeal  to  your  own  conscience.  There  is  difference  betwixt  wilful- 
ness and  constancy.  I  have  taken  upon  me  the  defence  of  the 
religion  and  rights  of  the  church  of  England,  to  appease  the  sects  of 
schisms  therein,  and  to  reduce  all  the  ministers  thereof  to  uniformity 
and  due  obedience  :  herein  I  intend  to  be  constant,  and  not  to  waver 
with  every  wind ;  the  Avhich  also  my  place,  my  person,  my  duty,  the 
laws,  her  majesty,  and  the  goodness  of  the  cause  doth  require  of  me  ; 
and  wherein  your  lordship  and  others  (all  things  considered)  ought 
in  duty  to  assist  and  countenance  me.  It  is  strange  that  a  man  in 
my  place,  dealing  by  so  good  warranties  as  I  do,  should  be  so 
encountered ;  and,  for  not  yielding,  to  be  counted  wilful.  But  I 
must  be  contented :  Vincit  qui  patrtur ;  and  if  my  friends  forsake 
me  herein,  I  trust  God  will  not,  neither  the  law,  nor  her  majesty 
who  hath  laid  the  charge  on  me,  and  are  able  to  protect  me.  But 
of  all  other  things  it  most  grieveth  me,  if  your  lordship  should  say, 
that  two  ministers  fare  the  worse  because  your  lordship  hath  sent 
them.  Halh  your  lordship  ever  had  any  cause  so  to  think  of  me  .? 
It  is  needless  for  me  to  protest  my  heart  and  affection  towards  you 
above  all  other  men  ;  the  world  knoweth  it ;  and  I  am  assured, 
that  your  lordship  nothing  doubteth  thereof.  I  have  rather  cause  to 
com])lain  to  yonr  lordship  of  yourself,  that,  upon  so  small  an  occasion, 
j^nd  in  the  behalf  of  two  such,  you  will  so  hardly  conceive  of  me  ; 
yea,  and,  as  it  were,  countenance  persons  so  meanly  qualified  in  so 
evil  a  cause  against  me,  your  lordship's  so  long-tried  friend,  and  their 
ordinary.  That  hath  not  so  been  in  times  past ;  now,  it  should 
least  of  all  be.     I  may  not  suffer  the  notorious  contempt  of  one  of 


26  ELIZABETH.  BOOK    IX.       CENT.    XVI.  57 

them  especially,  unless  I  will  become  ^'Esop'*s  block,  and  undo  all 
that  -syhich  hitherto  have  been  done.  Well,  because  I  would  be 
loath  to  omit  any  thing  whereby  your  lordship  might  be  satisfied,  I 
have  sent  unto  you  herein  enclosed  certain  reasons  to  justify  the 
manner  of  my  proceedings  ;  which  I  marvel  should  be  so  misliked  in 
this  cause,  having  been  so  long  practised  in  the  same,  and  never  before 
this  time  found  fault  with.  Truly,  my  lord,  I  must  proceed  this 
way,  or  not  at  all  :  the  reasons  I  have  set  down  in  this  paper.  And 
I  heartily  pray  your  lordship  not  to  carried  away,  either  from  the 
cause  or  from  myself,  upon  unjust  surmises  and  clamours,  lest  you  be 
the  occasion  of  that  confusion  which  hereafter  you  would  be  sorry 
for.  For  mine  own  part,  I  desire  no  further  defence  in  these 
occasions,  neither  of  your  lordship  nor  any  other,  than  justice  and 
law  will  yield  unto  me.  In  my  own  private  affairs,  I  know  I  shall 
stand  in  need  of  friends,  especially  of  your  lordship  ;  of  whom  I  have 
made  always  an  assured  account.  But  in  these  public  actions,  I  see 
no  cause  why  I  should  seek  for  friends  ;  seeing  they  to  whom  the 
care  of  the  commonwealth  is  committed  ought,  of  duty,  therein  to 
join  with  me.  To  conclude,  I  am  your  lordship's  assured  ;  neither 
will  I  ever  be  persuaded,  but  you  do  all  even  of  hearty  good-will 
towards  me. 

"JOHN  CANTUAR." 

21.  Sir  Francis  Walsirighmn  a  good  Friend  to  Nonconformists. 

His  Letter  to  the  Archbishop  in  Favour  of  Noficonformists. 

Now,  amongst  all  the  favourers  of  the  presbyterians,  surely 
honesty  and  wisdom  never  met  more  in  any  than  in  Sir  Francis 
Walsingham  ;  of  whom  it  may  be  said,  (abate  for  the  disproportion,) 
as  of  St.  Paul,  "  though  poor,  yet  making  many  rich.'"*  Having  but 
one  only  daughter,  (whose  extraordinary  handsomeness,  with  a 
moderate  portion,  would  considerably  prefer  her  in  marriage,)  he 
neglected  wealth  in  himself;  though  I  may  say,  he  enriched  many, 
not  only  his  dependents,  but  even  the  English  nation,  by  his  pru- 
dent steering  of  state-affairs.  How  he  interceded  to  qualify  the 
archbishop,  for  a  semi-nonconformist,  we  learn  from  his  following 
letter  : — 

"  It  may  please  your  Grace  to  understand,  that  this  bearer,  Mr. 
Leverwood,  of  whom  I  wrote  unto  your  Grace,  hath  been  here  with 
me  ;  and  finding  him  very  conformable,  and  willing  to  observe  such 
orders  as  are  appointed  to  be  used  in  the  church,  as  your  Grace 
shall  partly  perceive  by  certain  articles  subscribed  with  his  own 
hand,  and  herein  enclosed,  I  willed  him  to  repair  unto  your  Grace ; 
and  in  case  these  articles  may  be  allowed,  then  I  pray  your  Grace  to 
be  his  good  lord,   and  that  with  your  good-will  and  favour  he  may 


58  CHURCH    HISTORY    OF    BRITAIN.  A.  D.  1583. 

proceed  in  his  suit ;  upon  knowledge  whereof  I  do  mean  to  deal 
further  therein  with  her  majesty  thereof  for  him,  as  I  have  already- 
begun  to  do,  upon  the  good  report  I  heard  of  the  man,  before  your 
Grace's  message  sent  to  Mr.  Nicasius  for  the  stay  thereof.  And  so 
I  humbly  take  my  leave. 

"  Your  Grace's  at  command, 

"  FRANCIS  WALSINGHAM." 

What  this  letter  effected,  the  next  will  inform  us. 

22.   The  Archbishop's  Answer  to  Secretary  Walsinghatri's  Letter, 

"  Right  Honourable, 

"  I  thank  you  heartily  for  your  letter,  written  unto  me  in  the 
behalf  of  Leverwood  ;  wherein  I  perceive  the  performance  of  your 
honourable  speeches  to  myself,  in  promising  to  join  with  me  against 
such  as  shall  be  breakers  of  the  orders  of  the  church  established, 
and   movers  of   contentions  therein.     Upon  that,   and  other  like 
speeches  of  yours  with  me  at  your  last  being  at  Lambeth,  I   have 
forborne  to  suspend  or  deprive  any  man  already  placed  in  any  cure 
or  charge,  for  not  subscribing  only,  if  hereafter  he  would  promise 
unto  me  in  writing  the  observing  of  the   Book  of  Common-Prayer, 
and  the   orders   of  the  church  by  law  set   down :  and    I    do   now 
require  subscription  to  the  said  Articles,  of  such  only  as  are  to  be 
admitted  to  the  ministry  and  to  ecclesiastical  livings,  wherein  I  find 
myself  something  eased  of  my  former  troubles :  and  as  yet  none  or 
very  few  of  the  last-named  persons  do  refuse  to  subscribe  to  the  said 
Articles,  though  some  of  them  have  been  accounted  heretofore  very 
precise.     I  also  very  well  remember  that  it  was  her  own   wish  and 
desire,  that  such  as  hereafter  should  be  admitted  to  any  living  should 
in  like  manner  be  tied  to  the  observing  the  orders ;  which  as  it  hath 
already  wrought  some  quietness  in  the  church,  so   I  doubt  not  but 
that  it  will  in  time  perfect   the  same.     And  I  cannot  break   that 
order  in  one,  but  other  will  look  for  the  like  favour,  to  the  renewing 
and  increasing  of  the  former  atheism,  not  yet  already  extinguished. 
Wherefore  I  heartily  pray  you  to  join  with  me  herein.     Touching^ 
the  Articles  enclosed  in  your  letter,  whereunto  Leverwood  hath  sub- 
scribed ;  they  are  of  no  moment,  but  such  as  may  easily  be  deluded. 
For  whereas  he  first   saith,  that  he   will  willingly  subscribe  as  far  as 
the  law  requircth  at  his  hand  ;  his  meaning  is,  that  the  law  requireth 
no  such   subscription ;  for    so    I    am   infonued    that   some    lawyers 
(therein  deceived)  have  persuaded  him   and  others  :  and  in   saying 
that  he  will  always  in  the  ministry  use  the  Book  of  Common -Prayer, 
and  none  else  ;  his  meaning  is,   that  he  will  use  but  so  much  of  the 
book  as  plcascth  him,  and  not  that  he  will  use  all  things  in  the  book 


26  ELIZABETH.  BOOK    IX.       CENT.    XVI.  59 

required  of  hira.  I  have  dealt  witli  him  in  some  particularities, 
which  he  denieth  to  use,  and  therefore  his  subscription  is  to  small 
purpose.  I  would,  as  near  as  I  can,  promise,  that  none  should  here- 
after come  into  the  church  to  breed  new  troubles.  I  can  be  better 
occupied  otherwise.  And  God  would  bless  our  labours  more  amply, 
and  give  better  success  to  the  word  so  commonly  and  diligently 
preached,  if  we  could  be  at  peace  and  quietness  among  ourselves, 
which  I  most  heartily  wish,  and  doubt  not  to  bring  to  pass  by  God's 
grace  ;  the  rather  through  your  good  help  and  assistance,  whereof  I 
assure  myself;  and  so,  with  my  hearty  prayers,  &c. 

"  JOHN  CANTUAR." 

23 — 25.  A  Transition  to  other  Matter.     Good  GrindaVs  Death. 
A  Plea  for  GrindaVs  Poverty. 

Thus  have  we  presented  to  the  reader  some  select  letters  out  of 
many  in  my  hand,  passing  betwixt  the  highest  persons  in  church- 
matters.  I  count  it  a  blessing  that  Providence  hath  preserved  such 
a  treasure  unplundered,  esteem  it  a  favour  in  such  friends  as  imparted 
them  unto  me,  and  conceive  it  no  ungrateful  act  in  our  communi- 
cating the  same  to  the  reader.  And  now  we  (who  hitherto  accord- 
ing to  good  manners  have  held  our  peace,  while  such  Avho  were  far 
our  betters,  by  their  pens  spake  one  to  another)  begin  to  resume  our 
voice,  and  express  ourselves  as  well  as  we  may  in  the  following 
history. 

By  the  changing  of  Edmond  into  John  Cantuar.  it  plainly 
appears,  that,  as  all  these  letters  were  written  this  year,  so  they 
were  indited  after  the  sixth  of  July,  (and  probably  about  December,) 
when  bishop  Grindal  deceased  ;  our  English  Eli,  for  office,  (highest 
in  spiritual  promotion,)  age,  (whereby  both  were  blind,)  and  manner 
of  his  death,  thus  far  forth  as  heart-broken  with  sorrow.  GrindaPs 
grief  proceeded  from  the  queen's  displeasure,  undeservedly  procured 
by  the  practices  of  his  malicious  enemies.  There  want  not  those 
who  will  strain  the  parallel  betwixt  Eli  and  Grindal  in  a  fourth 
respect,  both  being  guilty  of  dangerous  indulgence  and  lenity  to 
offenders.  Indeed,  Grindal,  living  and  dying  sole  and  single,  could 
not  be  cockering  to  his  own  children  ;  but  as  a  father  of  the  church, 
he  is  accused  for  too  much  conniving  at  the  factious  disturbers 
thereof.  Sure  I  am,  he  was  an  impartial  corrector  of  men's  vicious 
conversations  :  witness  his  sharp  reproving  of  Julio,  the  Italian 
physician,  for  marrying  another  man's  wife  ;  which  bitter  but  whole- 
some pill  the  physician  himself,  not  being  able  to  digest,  incensed 
the  earl  of  Leicester,  and  he  the  queen's  majesty,  against  the  good 
archbishop.  But  all  was  put  on  the  account  of  Grindal's  noncon- 
formitv,  for  favouring  the  factious  meetings,  called  "  prophesyings." 


60  CHUllCH    HISTOiir    OF    BRITAIN.  A.D.  1583. 

Grindal,  sensible  of  the  queen's  displeasure,  desired  to  resign  his 
place,  and  confine  himself  to  a  yearly  pension ;  not,  as  some  may 
pretend,  that  it  was  against  his  conscience  to  keep  it ;  but  because 
above  his  impotent  age  to  manage  so  great  a  charge.  The  place 
was  proffered  to  Whitgift ;  but  he,  in  the  presence  of  the  queen, 
utterly  refused  it :  yet,  what  he  would  not  snatch  soon  after  fell 
into  his  hands  by  GrindaFs  death. 

Whoso  beholds  the  large  revenues  conferred  on  Grindal,  the 
long  time  he  enjoyed  them,  (bishop  of  London,  archbishop  of  York 
and  Canterbury,  above  eighteen  years,)  the  little  charge  encumber- 
ing him,  dying  a  single  man,  will  admire  at  the  mean  estate  he  left 
behind  him.  Yea,  perchance  they  will  erroneously  impute  this  to 
his  prodigality,  which  more  truly  is  to  be  ascribed  to  his  contempt 
of  the  world,  unwilling  to  die  guilty  of  much  wealth ;  not  to  speak 
of  fat  servants  made  under  a  lean  master.  The  little  he  had,  as  it 
was  well-gotten,  was  well-bestowed,  in  pious  uses  on  Cambridge  and 
Oxford,  with  the  building  and  endowing  of  a  school  at  St.  Bees  in 
Cumberland,  where  he  was  born.  Yea,  he  may  be  beheld  as  a  bene- 
factor to  the  English  nation,  for  bringing  tamarisk  first  over  into 
England.  As  the  inventors  of  evil  things  are  justly  taxed  by  the 
apostle,  Rom.  i.  13  ;  so  the  first  importers  of  good  things  deserve 
due  commendation  ;  that  plant  being  so  sovereign  to  mollify  the 
hardness  of  the  spleen  ;  a  malady  whereof  students  (betrayed  there- 
unto by  their  sedentary  lives)  too  generally  do  complain. 


SECTION  VI. 


TO    THE 


MASTER,  WARDENS,  AND  ALL  THE  MEMBERS  OF  THE 
HONOURABLE  COMPANY  OF  MERCERS,  OF  LONDON. 

As  it  would  be  a  sin  of  omission  in  me,  (so  much 
obliged  to  your  Society,)  should  no  share  in  my  History 
be  allowed  unto  you ;  so  I  should  commit  a  great  incon- 
gruity, if  assigning  it  any  where  else  than  in  the  reign 
of  queen  Elizabeth  ;  whose  great-grandfather  Sir  God- 
frey Boleyn,  1458,  mayor  of  London,  is  generally 
believed  one  of  your  Company  :  so  that  the  crowned 
maidenhead  in  your  arms  may,  in  some  sort,  seem 
prophetical,  presaging  such  a  queen-virgin   should  be 


26   ELIZABETH.  BOOK    IX.       CENT.    XVI.  Gl 

extracted  from  one  of  your  Society,  as  the  Christian 
world  could  not  parallel  in  all  particulars. 

Indeed,  much  of  credit  is  unported  in  your  very 
name.  For,  seeing  all  buyers  and  sellers  are  ^*  mercers" 
a  mercando,  custom  hath  confined  and  fixed  the  term 
eminently  on  your  Corporation,  as  always  the  prime 
chapmen  of  our  nation,  in  which  respect  you  have  the 
precedency  of  all  other  Companies. 

I  will  detain  you  no  longer  from  better  customers, 
wishing  you  sound  wares,  quick  vent,  good  prices,  sure 
payment ;  one  commodity  alone  excepted,  1  mean  the 
truth  itself:  this  buy,  and  sell  it  not,  Prov.  xxiii.  23  ; 
purchase  it  on  any  terms,  but  part  with  it  on  no  con- 
ditions. 

1.    Warning  to  Sabbath-breakers.     A,D.\5H3. 

About  four  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  on  the  Lord's  day,  January 
13th,  a  sad  accident  happened  in  Paris-Garden,  on  the  south  side  of 
Thames,  over  against  London.  Whilst  multitudes  were  beholding 
the  baiting  of  the  bear,  the  old  under-propped  scaffolds,  overladen 
■with  people,  suddenly  fell  down,  killed  eight  outright,  hurt  and 
bruised  many  more,  to  the  shortening  of  their  lives.*  The  assertors 
of  the  strict  observation  of  the  sabbath  vigorously  improve  this  (as 
well  they  may)  against  them  who  profane  the  Lord's  day,  which 
afterwards  (the  joyful  effect  of  a  doleful  cause)  was  generally  kept 
with  more  carefulness.-f* 

2.   Robert  Brown  first  appears. 

Robert  Brown  began  at  this  time  to  broach  his  opinions.  He 
was  born  in  Rutlandshire,  of  an  ancient  and  worshipful  family,  (one 
whereof  founded  a  fair  hospital  in  Stamford,)  nearly  allied  to  the  lord 
treasurer  Cecil. J  He  was  bred  for  a  time  in  Cambridge,  (I  conceive 
in  Corpus  Christi  College,)  but  question  whether  ever  a  graduate 
therein.  He  used  some  time  to  preach  at  Benet  Church,  where  the 
vehemency  of  his  utterance  passed  for  zeal  among  the  common 
people,  and  made  the  vulgar  to  admire,  the  wise  to  suspect  him. 
Dr.  Still,  afterwards  master  of  Trinity,  (out  of  curiosity  or  casually 
present  at  his  preaching,)  discovered  in  him  something  extraordinary, 
which  he  presaged  would  prove  the  disturbance  of  the  church,  if  not 
seasonably  prevented.      Some  years  after,  Brown   went  over  into 

*  HoLiNSHED,  page  1353.  t  t>R.  Bound.  X  CamuExN's  Britannia  in 

Lincolnshire. 


62  CHURCH    HISTORY    OF    BRITAIN.  A.D.  1583. 

Zealand,  to  purchase  himself  more  reputation  from  foreign  parts. 
For  a  smack  of  travel  gives  a  high  taste  to  strange  opinions,  making 
them  better  relish  to  the  licourish  lovers  of  novelty.  Home  he 
returns  with  a  full  cry  against  the  church  of  England,  as,  having  so 
much  of  Rome,  she  had  nothing  of  Christ  in  her  discipline.  Norfolk 
was  the  first  place  whereon  Brown  (new-flown  home  out  of  the  Low 
Countries)  perched  himself,  and  therein  in  the  city  of  Norwich  ;  a 
place  which  then  spake  little  more  than  medietatem  linguw^  having 
almost  as  many  Dutch  strangers  as  English  natives  inhabiting  therein. 
Brown,  beginning  with  the  Dutch,  soon  proceeded  to  infect  his  own 
countrymen,  for  which  he  was  confined  as  the  following  letter  of 
the  lord  treasurer  Burleigh  to  bishop  Phreke  [Freake]  of  Norwich 
will  inform  us : 

"  After  my  very  hearty  commendations  to  your  lordship  :  whereas 
I  understand  that  one  Brown,  a  preacher,  is,  by  your  lordship  and 
others  of  the  ecclesiastical  commission,  committed  to  the  custody  of 
the  sheriff  of  Norfolk,  where  he  remains  a  prisoner,  for  some  matters 
of  offence  uttered  by  him  by  way  of  preaching  ;  wherein  I  perceive, 
by  sight  of  some  letters  written  by  certain  godly  preachers  in  your 
lordship's  diocess,  he  hath  been  dealt  with  and  by  them  dissuaded 
from  that  course  he  hath  taken.  Forasmuch  as  he  is  my  kinsman,  if 
he  be  son  to  him  whom  I  take  him  to  be,  and  that  his  error  seemeth 
to  proceed  of  zeal  rather  than  of  malice,  I  do  therefore  wish  he 
were  charitably  conferred  wdth  and  reformed ;  which  course  I  pray 
your  lordship  may  be  taken  with  him,  either  by  your  lordship  or 
such  as  your  lordship  shall  assign  for  that  purpose  ;  and  in  case 
there  shall  not  follow  thereof  such  success  as  may  be  to  your  liking, 
that  then  you  would  be  content  to  permit  him  to  repair  hither  to 
London,  to  be  further  dealt  with  as  I  shall  take  order  for  upon  his 
coming :  for  which  purpose  I  have  written  a  letter  to  the  sheriff,  if 
your  lordship  shall  like  thereof.  And  so  I  bid  your  lordship  right 
heartily  farewell.  From  the  court  at  Westminster,  this  21st  of 
April, '1581. 

"  Your  lordship's  very  loving  friend, 

"  WILLIAM  BURLEIGH." 

Brown,  being  thus  brought  up  to  London,  by  the  advice  of  his 
friends  was  wrought  to  some  tolerable  compliance  ;  and,  being  dis- 
charged by  the  archbishop  of  Canterbury,  was  by  the  lord  treasurer 
sent  home  to  his  father,  Christopher  Brown,  at  Tolethorp,  in 
Rutland,  esquire  :  one,  I  assure  you,  of  ancient  and  right  worshipful 
extraction,  having  myself  seen  a  charter  granted  by  king  Henry 
VII I.  (the  IGth  of  July,  in  the  18th  of  his  reign,)  and  confirmed 
by  Act  of  Parliament,   to  Francis   Brown,   father  to  the  aforesaid 


26  ELIZABETH.  BOOK    IX.       CENT.    XVI.  63 

Christopher,  giving  him  leave  to  put  on  his  cap,  in  the  presence  of 
the  king  or  his  heirs,  or  any  lord  spiritual  or  temporal  in  the  land, 
and  not  to  put  it  off  but  for  his  own  ease  and  pleasure.*  But  let  us 
see  the  lord  treasurer's  letter,  in  the  behalf  of  Brown,  to  his 
father : — 

"  After  my  very  hearty  commendations  :  understanding  that 
your  son,  Robert  Brown,  had  been  sent  for  up  by  my  lord  bishop 
of  Canterbury,  to  answer  to  such  matters  as  he  was  to  be  charged 
withal,  contained  in  a  book  made  by  him,  and  published  in  print 
(as  it  was  thought)  by  his  means  ;  I  thought  good,  considering  he 
was  your  son  and  of  my  blood,  to  send  unto  my  lord  of  Canterbury 
in  his  behalf,  that  he  might  find  what  reasonable  favour  he  could 
show  him  ;  before  whom  I  perceive  he  hath  answered  in  some  good 
sort :  and  although  I  think  he  will  not  deny  the  making  of  the 
book,  yet  by  no  means  will  he  confess  to  be  acquainted  with  the 
publishing  or  printing  of  it.  He  hath  besides  yielded  unto  his 
lordship  such  further  contentment,  as  he  is  contented  (the  rather  at 
my  motion)  to  discharge  him  ;  and,  therefore,  for  that  he  purposeth 
to  repair  to  you,  I  have  thought  good  to  accompany  him  with  these 
my  letters,  and  to  pray  you,  for  this  cause  or  any  his  former 
dealings,  not  to  withdraw  from  him  your  fatherly  love  and  affection, 
not  doubting  but  with  time  he  will  be  fully  recovered  and  withdrawn 
from  the  relics  of  some  fond  opinions  of  his  ;  which  will  be  the 
better  done,  if  he  be  dealt  withal  in  some  kind  and  temperate 
manner.  And  so  I  bid  you  very  heartily  farewell.  From  my  house 
near  the  Savoy,  this  8th  of  October,  1585. 

"  Your  loving  friend  and  cousin, 

"  WILLIAM  BURLEIGH." 

But  it  seems  Brown's  errors  were  so  inlaid  in  him,  no  conference 
with  divines  could  convince  him  to  the  contrary,  whose  incorrigible- 
ness  made  his  own  father  weary  of  his  company.  Men  may  wish — 
God  only  can  work — children  to  be  good.  The  old  gentleman 
would  own  him  for  his  son  no  longer  than  his  son  owned  the  church 

•  Oar  historians  record  a  similar  instance  in  the  daj's  of  queen  Mary,  to  whom,  says 
bishop  Burnet,  "  RatclifFe,  earl  of  Sussex,  had  done  the  most  considerahle  service  of  all 
those  noblemen  who  had  assisted  the  (^ueen.  For  to  him  she  had  given  the  chief  com- 
mand of  her  army  ;  and  he  had  managed  it  with  that  prudence,  that  others  were  thereby 
encouraged  to  come  in  to  her  assistance  :  So  an  imiisaal  honour  was  contrived  for  him, — 
that  he  might  cover  his  head  in  her  presence :  which  passed  under  the  Great  Seal,  October 
2nd  •  he  being  the  only  peer  of  England  on  whom  this  honour  was  ever  conferred,  as  far 
as  I  know."  In  Tindal's  notes  iipon  Rapin,  it  is  added,  "  Courcy,  baron  of  Kinsale  in 
Ireland,  enjoys  this  pri\nlege  of  sitting  covered  in  the  royal  presence,  by  a  grant  made 
from  king  John  to  the  famous  Coiu-cy,  earl  of  Ulster.  The  present  baron  asserted  thia 
ancient  right  of  his  family  in  the  reigns  of  the  late  and  the  present  king."— Edit. 


04  CHURCH    HISTOTIY    OF    BRITAIN.  A.  D.  1583. 

of  England  for  his  mother ;  desiring  to  rid  his  hands  of  him,  as  by 
the  ensuing  letter  will  appear  : — 

"After  my  very  hearty  commendations:  I  perceive  by  your 
letters,  that  you  have  little  or  no  hopes  of  your  son's  conformity, 
as  you  had  when  you  received  him  into  your  house ;  and,  therefore, 
you  seem  desirous  that  you  might  have  liberty  to  remove  him 
further  off  from  you,  as  either  to  Stamford,  or  some  other  place  ; 
which  I  know  no  cause  but  you  may  very  well  and  lawfully  do, 
where  I  wish  he  might  better  be  persuaded  to  conform  himself,  for 
his  own  good,  and  yours  and  his  friends'*  comfort.  And  so  I  very 
heartily  bid  you  farewell. — From  the  court,  this  17th  of  February, 
1585. 

"  Your  very  loving  friend  and  cousin, 

"  WILLIAM  BURLEIGH." 

Thus  to  make  our  story  of  the  troublesome  man  the  more  entire, 
we  have  trespassed  on  the  two  following  years,  yet  without  discom- 
posing our  chronology  on  the  margin. 

3 — 7-  Brown's  Opinions.  Eootraordinary  Favour  indulged 
unto  him.  The  Authors  Observation  on  him.  The  Occa- 
sion of  his  late  Death.      Two  Brownists  executed. 

With  his  assistant,  Richard  Harrison,  a  petty  pedagogue,  they 
inveighed  against  bishops,  ecclesiastical  courts,  ceremonies,  ordina- 
tion of  ministers,  and  what  not ;  fancying  here  on  earth  a  platform 
of  a  perfect  church,  without  any  faults  (understand  it  thus,  save 
those  that  are  made  by  themsehes)  therein.  The  reader,  if  desirous 
to  know  their  opinions,  is  referred  to  the  large  and  learned  treatises 
written  against  them  ;  particularly  to  the  pains  of  Dr.  Fulke, 
proving,  that  the  Brownists  (so  named  fiom  this  Brown,  their  ring- 
leader) were  in  effect  the  same  with  the  ancient  Donatists,  only 
newly  revived.  Thus  there  is  a  circulation,  as  in  fashion  of  clothes, 
so  of  opinions,  the  same  after  some  years'  return  ;  Brownism  being 
no  more  than  Donatism  vamped  with  some  new  additions.  The 
queen  and  her  council  seriously  set  themselves,  first,  by  gentleness 
to  reduce — and  (that  not  succeeding)  by  severity  to  suppress — the 
increase  of  this  faction.  Brown  himself  used  to  boast,  that  he  had 
been  committed  to  thirty-two  prisons,  and  in  some  of  them  he  could 
not  see  his  hand  at  noon-day :  yet  for  all  this  he  came  off  at  last 
both  with  saving  his  life,  and  keeping  his  living  (and  that  none  of 
the  meanest,  Achurch  in  Northamptonshire)  until  the  day  of  his 
death. 

One  may  justly  wonder,  when  many  meaner  accessaries  in  this 
schism  were  arraigned,  condemned,  executed,  how  this  Brown,  the 


20  ELIZABETH.  BOOK    TX.       CENT,    XVI.  65 

principal,  made  so  fair  an  escape,  yea,  enjoyed  such  preferment.  I 
will  never  believe,  that  he  ever  formally  recanted  his  opinions,  either 
by  word  or  writing,  as  to  the  main  of  what  he  maintained.  More 
probable  it  is,  that  the  promise  of  his  general  compliance  with  the 
church  of  England  (so  far  forth  as  not  to  make  future  disturbance 
therein)  met  with  the  archbishop^s  courteous  acceptance  thereof; 
both  which,  effectually  improved  by  the  countenance  of  Thomas 
Cecil,  earl  of  Exeter,  (Brown*'s  near  kinsman  and  patron,)  procured 
this  extraordinary  favour  to  be  indulged  unto  him.  His  parsonage 
he  freely  possessed,  allowing  a  sufficient  salary  for  one  to  discharge 
the  cure  ;  and  (though  against  them  in  his  judgment)  was  con* 
tented,  and,  perchance,  pleased,  to  take  the  tithes  of  his  own  parish. 

For  my  own  part,  (whose  nativity  Providence  placed  within  a 
mile  of  this  Brown's  pastoral  charge,)  I  have,  when  a  youth,  often 
beheld  him.  He  was  of  an  imperious  nature  ;  offended,  if  what  he 
affirmed  but  in  common  discourse  were  not  instantly  received  as  an 
oracle.  He  was  then  so  far  from  the  Sabbatarian  strictness  to  which 
some  preciser  Brownists  did  afterwards  pretend,  that  both  in  judg- 
ment and  practice  he  seemed  rather  libertine  therein.  In  a  word, 
he  had  in  my  time  a  wife,  with  whom  for  many  years  he  never  lived, 
parted  from  her  on  some  distaste  ;  and  a  church,  wherein  he  never 
preached,  though  he  received  the  profits  thereof. 

As  for  his  death  in  the  prison  in  Northampton,  many  years  after, 
(in  the  reign  of  king  Charles,  anno  1630,)  it  nothing  related  to 
those  opinions  he  did  or  his  followers  do  maintain.  For  as  I  am 
credibly  informed,  being  by  the  constable  of  the  parish  (who 
chanced  also  to  be  his  godson)  somewhat  roughly  and  rudely 
required  the  payment  of  a  rate,  he  happened  in  passion  to  strike 
him.  The  constable  (not  taking  it  patiently  as  a  castigation  from  a 
godfather,  but  in  anger  as  an  affiont  to  his  office)  complained  to 
Sir  Rowland  St.  John,  a  neighbouring  justice  of  the  peace,  and 
Brown  is  brought  before  him.  The  knight,  of  himself,  was  prone 
rather  to  pity  and  pardon,  than  punish  his  passion  ;  but  Brown's 
behaviour  was  so  stubborn,  that  he  appeared  obstinately  ambitious 
of  a  prison,  as  desirous  (after  long  absence)  to  renew  his  familiarity 
with  his  ancient  acquaintance.  His  mittimus  is  made  ;  and  a  cart 
with  a  feather-bed  provided  to  carry  him  ;  he  himself  being  so 
infirm  (above  eighty)  to  go,  too  unwieldy  to  ride,  and  no  friend  so 
favourable  as  to  purchase  for  him  a  more  comely  conveyance.  To 
Northampton  jail  he  is  sent ;  where,  soon  after,  he  sickened,  died, 
and  was  buried  in  a  neighbouring  churchyard  :  and  it  is  no  hurt 
to  wish,  that  his  bad  opinions  had  been  interred  with  him. 

The  tenets  of  Brownists  daily  increasing,  their  books  were  prohi- 
bited by  the  queen's  authority.    Notwithstanding  which  prohibition, 

Vol.  III.  F 


6^  CHURCH    HISTORY    OF    BRITAIN.  A.  D.  1584. 

some  presumed  to  disperse  the  same,  and  paid  dearly  for  their 
contempt  therein.  For,  Elias  Thacker*  was  hanged  on  the  fourth, 
and  John  Coping  on  the  sixth  of  June,  at  the  same  place,  St. 
EdmundVBury,  and  for  the  same  offence, — the  scattering  such  schis- 
matical  pamphlets. 

8.   Whitgift  succeedeth  Grindal. 

John  Whitgift,  succeeding  in  the  archbishopric,  September  24th, 
found  it  much  surcharged  in  the  valuation,  and  impaired  in  the 
revenues,  through  the  negligence  of  his  predecessor,  who  would 
pay  willingly  what  they  asked  of  him,  and  take  contentedly  what 
any  tendered  to  him.  First,  therefore,  Whitgiftf  procured  an 
order  out  of  the  exchequer,  for  the  abatement  of  an  hundred  pounds 
for  him  and  his  successors  in  the  payment  of  his  first-fruits.  After- 
wards he  encountered  no  meaner  man  than  that  gi-eat  courtier, 
soldier,  and  Privy  Counsellor,  Sir  James  Crofts  ;  or  rather  he 
legally  contested  with  the  queen  in  him,  and  recovered  from  both, 
Long  Beachwood,!  in  Kent,  (containing  above  a  thousand  acres  of 
land,)  detained  from  his  predecessor  under  colour  of  a  lease  from 
her  majesty. 

9.  Death  of  Sanders. 

This  year  Nicholas  Sanders  §  (more  truly  Slanders)  had  in  Ireland 
a  woful  end  of  his  wretched  life.  He  was  born  in  Surrey,  bred 
first  in  Winchester,  then  in  New  College  in  Oxford,  where  he  was 
king's  professor  of  canon  law ;  but  afterwards  banishing  himself, 
fled  to  Rome,  there  made  priest,  and  doctor  of  divinity.  He  accom- 
panied cardinal  Hosius  to  the  Council  of  Trent ;  and  there  is  said, 
by  disputing  and  declaiming,  to  have  gained  himself  great  reputa- 
tion. At  last  he  was  sent  over,  pope's  nuncio  into  Ireland,  con- 
ceived then  a  desperate  employment,  and  therefore  many  catholics 
regretted  thereat.  Yea,  some  were  overheard  to  say,  (but  it  is 
Pitzseus,  Sanders's  own  sister's  son,  who  reports  it,)  ||  "  Why  does  his 
Holiness  send  our  Sanders  into  Ireland  ?  We  value  him  more 
than  all  Ireland  is  worth."  There,  amongst  the  bogs  and  moun- 
tains was  he  starved  to  death  ;  justly  famished  for  want  of  food, 
who  formerly  had  surfeited  on  improbable  lies,  by  him  first  forged, 
on  the  nativity  of  queen  Elizabeth. 

10.  Lewes  burned  at  Norwich. 
We  must  not  forget,  how,  this  year,  one  John  Lewes  was  burned 
at  Norwich  for  denying  the  Godhead   of  Christ,   and  holding  other 
detestable  heresies.     He  called  himself  Abdoit,^  (let  him  tell  you 

•  Stow's  "  Chronicle,"  page  697.  +  Sir  George  Pall  in  his  Life,  page  28. 

J  Idem,  page  29.  'j  Camden's  Elizabetfm  in  hoc  anno.  \\  Be  Scriptoribus 

jinglican.  cctate  16,  page  773.  ^  Stow's  "  Chronicle,"  page  69/. 


27  ELIZ.ABETH.  BOOK    IX.       CENT.    XVI.  67 

what  he  meant  thereby,)  alluding  therein  to  the  promise  of  "  a  new 
name  which  no  man  knowethbut  him  that  receiveth  it,''  Rev.  ii.  17; 
having  in  it  a  little  mock  Hebrew,  to  make  himself  the  more 
remarkable. 

11,  12.  Popish  Libels.  The  Queen  s  eminent  Mercy.  J.  D.  1584. 

Now,  so  great  was  the  malice  of  the  Jesuits  against  her  majesty, 
that  at  this  time  they  set  forth  many  slanderous  libels,  stirring  up 
her  subjects  and  servants  to  do  the  same  to  her  as  Judith  did  to 
Holofernes.*  One  of  their  principal  pamphlets  was  entitled,  "  A 
Treatise  of  Schism."  The  suspicion  of  making  it  fell  on  Gregory 
Martin  ;  one  probable  enough  for  such  a  prank,  (as  being  Divinity- 
Professor  in  Rheims,)  did  not  his  epitaph  there  insure  me  he  was 
dead  and  buried,  two  years  before.-j*  Though  it  is  possible,  his 
posthume  work  might  be  born  abroad,  after  the  death  of  the  author 
thereof.  But,  whoever  made  it,  AVilliam  Carter,  the  stationer, 
paid  dearly  for  publishing  it,  being  executed  at  Tyburn.  And  in 
the  next  month  five  seminaries,  John  Fen,  George  Haddock,  John 
Munden,  John  Nutter,  and  Thomas  Hemmerford,  were  hanged, 
bowelled,  and  quartered  for  treason,  at  Tybuni ;  and  many  others, 
about  the  same  time,  executed  in  other  places. 

Yet,  even  in  the  midst  of  this  necessary  severity,  her  majesty  was 
most  merciful  unto  many  popish  malefactors,  whose  lives  stood  for- 
feited to  the  laws,  in  the  rigoiu-  thereof.  For,  no  fewer  than  seventy 
priests,  some  of  them  actually  condemned  to  die,  all  legally 
deserving  death,  were,  by  one  act  of  grace,  pardoned,  and  sent  over 
beyond  sea.  Amongst  these  were — ].  Gaspar  Heywood,  son  to 
that  eminent  epigrammatist,  the  first  Jesuit  that  &ver  set  foot  in 
England-!  2.  James  Bosgrave.  3.  John  Hart,  a  learned  man, 
zealous  to  dispute — not  dangerous  to  practise — for  his  religion.  4. 
Edward  Rishton,  ungrateful  wretch,  who  afterwards  railed  in  print 
on  the  queen,  who  gave  him  his  life.  Her  majesty's  mercy  herein 
was  the  more  remarkable,  because  done  at  a  time  when  treasons 
against  her  person  (by  Arden,  Summerfield,  Throgmorton,  &c.) 
did  follow,  or,  rather,  tread  one  on  another.  If  hereafter  the  edge 
of  justice  fall  sharper  on  Jesuits,  let  them  thank  their  own  treachery, 
which  whetted  it  against  themselves. 

13,14.  Two  fyuitless  Conferences.  Subscription  severely  pressed. 

This  year  two  conferences  or  disputations  were  kept,   (the  last  at 

Lambeth,)  about  the  discipline  and  ceremonies  of  the  church.      1. 

Whitgift,  archbishop  of  Canterbury,  Sandys  of  York,  and  Cooper 

•  Camden's  Elizabetha  in  hoc  anno.  t  Pitz.'EUS  De  Scriptoi-ibus  Anglic,  page 

782.  X  Camden's  Elizabetha,  1584. 

f2 


68  CHUEXH    HISTORY    OF    BRITAIN.  A.D.  1584. 

of  Winchester,  for  the  same.  2.  Unconforming  ministers  (whose 
names  I  cannot  certainly  attain)  against  it.  S.  The  lords  of  her 
majesty's  Privy  Council,  and  some  other  persons  of  honour,  auditors 
thereof.  This  conference  effected  nothing  on  the  disputants,  (as  to  the 
altering  of  their  opinions,)  little  on  the  auditors,  but  as  much  on  all  as 
any  judicious  person  ever  expected.  What  Elijah  said  passionately, 
"  I  am  not  better  than  my  fathers,"  1  Kings  xix.  4,  may  be  soberly 
said  of  this  conference  :  It  was  no  happier  than  any  of  its  ancestors, 
which  went  before  it.  Let  me  add  also,  and  no  unhappier  than  its 
successors  that  shall  come  after  it ;  it  being  observed,  that  meetings 
of  this  nature,  before  or  after  this  time,  never  produced  any  great 
matter  on  persons  present  thereat,  who  generally  carry  away  the  same 
judgment  they  brought  with  them.  And  yet  the  lords  were  pleased 
to  say,  their  judgments  were  satisfied  in  the  point  on  the  bishops'* 
behalf:  not  conceiving  their  adversaries'  arguments  so  slight  and 
trivial  as  now  they  appeared.  This  was  in  some  of  them  but  a 
court-compliment,  who  afterwards  secretly  acted  against  the  arch- 
bishop, in  favour  of  the  other  party. 

Whitgift,  finding  this  first  way  unsuccessful,  fell  from  other  reasoning 
to  aflat  argumentfrom  authority,  enjoining  all  admitted  to  the  ecclesias- 
tical orders  and  benefices,  the  subscription  of  the  following  articles:— 

1.  That  the  queen  had  supreme  authority  over  all  persons  born 
within  her  dominions,  of  what  condition  soever  they  were ;  and  that 
no  other  prince,  prelate,  or  potentate,  hath  or  ought  to  have,  any 
jurisdiction,  civil  or  ecclesiastical,  within  her  realms  or  dominions. 

2.  That  the  Book  of  Common-Prayer,  and  the  ordination  of 
bishops,  priests,  and  deacons,  containeth  nothing  contrary  to  the 
word  of  God,  but  may  lawfully  be  used,  and  that  they  will  use  that, 
and  none  other. 

3.  That  the  Articles  of  Religion,  agreed  in  the  synod  holden  at 
London,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  1562,  and  published  by  the  queen's 
authority,  they  did  allow  of,  and  believe  them  to  be  consonant  to  the 
word  of  God. 

The  severe  enforcing  of  subscription  hereunto,  what  great  dis- 
turbance it  occasioned  in  the  church,  shall  hereafter,  by  God's 
assistance,  be  made  to  appear  ;  leaving  others  to  judge  whether  the 
offence  was  given  or  taken  thereby. 

15 — ^20.  The  Rhemish  Translation  comes  forth.  Cartwright 
invited  to  answer  it.  Whitgift  stoppeth  his  Book.  Dr. 
Fulke  first  effected  it.  A  Promise  never  performed.  Con- 
fidence of  many  at  last  deceived. 

Now  came  forth  the  Rhemish  translation  of  the  New  Testament ; 
a  translation  which  needeth  to  be  translated,  neither  good  Greek, 


27  ELIZABETH.  BOOK    IX         CENT.    XVI.  69 

Latin,  nor  English,  as  every  where  bespeckled  with  hard  words, 
(pretended  not  renderable  in  English  without  abatement  of  some 
expressiveness,)  which  transcend  common  capacities.  Besides,  it  is 
taxed  by  our  divines  as  guilty  of  abominable  errors  therein.  It  was 
printed  in  large  paper,  with  a  fair  letter  and  margin  ;  all  which  I 
have  charity  enough  to  impute  to  their  desire  to  do  it  for  the  more 
dignity  of  God's  word  ;  whilst  others  interpret  it,  that  thereby 
purposely  they  enhanced  the  price,  to  put  it  past  the  power  of  poor 
men's  purses  to  purchase  it.  Another  accident  raised  the  dearness 
thereof,  because,  so  many  books  being  seized  on  by  the  queen's 
searchers,  the  whole  price  of  the  edition  fell  the  more  heavy  on  the 
remainder.  But,  suppose  a  poor  lay  catholic  so  rich,  through  his 
industry,  as  secretly  to  purchase  one  of  these  Rhemish  Testaments, 
he  durst  not  avouch  the  reading  thereof  without  the  permission  of 
his  superiors  licensing  him  thereunto. 

Secretary  Walsingham,  by  his  letters,  solicited  Mr.  Thomas 
Cartwright  to  undertake  the  refuting  of  this  Rhemish  translation  ; 
and,  the  better  to  enable  him  for  the  work,  sent  him  an  hundred 
pounds  out  of  his  own  purse  :*  a  bountiful  gift  for  one  who  was, 
though  a  great  statesman,  a  man  of  small  estate,  contracting  honour- 
able poverty  on  himself  by  his  expense  on  the  public, f  as  dying 
not  so  engaged  to  his  private  creditors,  as  the  whole  church  and 
state  was  indebted  to  his  endeavours.  Walsingham's  letters  to 
Cartwright  were  seconded  by  another  from  the  doctors  and  heads  of 
houses  (and  Dr.  Fulke  amongst  the  rest)  at  Cambridge,  beside  the 
importunity  of  the  ministers  of  London  and  Suffolk,  soliciting  him 
to  the  same  purpose.  Hereupon  Cartwright  buckled  himself  to  the 
employment,  and  was  very  forward  in  the  pursuance  thereof. 

No  sooner  had  Whilgift  gotten  notice  what  Cartwright  was 
a-writing,  but  presently  he  prohibited  his  farther  proceeding  therein. 
It  seems,  Walsingham  was  secretary  of  state,  not  of  religion,  wherein 
the  archbishop  overpowered  him.  Many  commended  his  care,  not 
to  intrust  the  defence  of  the  doctrine  of  England  to  a  pen  so  disaf- 
fected to  the  discipline  thereof.  Others  blamed  his  jealousy,  to 
deprive  the  church  of  so  learned  pains  of  him  whose  judgment  would 
so  solidly,  and  affections  so  zealously,  confute  the  public  adversary. 
Distasteful  passages,  (shooting  at  Rome,  but  glancing  at  Canter- 
bury,) if  any  such  were  found  in  his  book,  might  be  expunged ; 
whilst  it  was  pity  so  good  fruit  should  be  blasted  in  the  bud  for 
some  bad  leaves  about  it.  Disheartened  hereat,  Cartwright  desisted; 
but,  some  years  after,  encouraged  by  an  honourable  lord,  resumed 
the  work ;  but,  prevented  by  death,  perfected  no  further  than  the 
fifteenth  chapter  of  the   Revelation.     Many  years  lay  this  worthy 

*  See  the  preface  to  CartM-right's  book.  f  Camden's  "  Elizabeth,"  anno  1590, 


70  CHURCH    HISTORY    OF    BRITAIN.  A.D.  1585. 

work  neglected,  and  the  copy  thereof  mouse-eaten  in  part,  whence 
the  printer  excused  some  defects  therein  in  his  edition  ;  which, 
thougli  late,  yet  at  last  came  forth,  anno  1618;  a  book  which,  not- 
withstanding the  foresaid  defects,  is  so  complete,  that  the  Rhemists 
durst  never  return  the  least  answer  thereunto. 

Mean  time,  whilst  Cartwright's  refutation  of  the  Rhemish  was 
thus  retarded.  Dr.  William  Fulke,  master  of  Pembroke-Hall,  in 
Cambridge,  entered  the  list  against  them  ;  judiciously  and  learnedly 
performing  his  undertaking  therein.  His  daughter,  and  (as  I  take  it) 
the  only  survivor  of  his  children,  lately  set  forth  the  fourth  and  fairest 
edition  of  this  his  confutation,  and  dedicated  it  to  king  Charles. 

The  Rhemists  profess,  in  their  preface  to  the  New  Testament, 
that  "the  Old  Testament  also  lieth  by  them,  for  lack  of  good 
means  to  publish  the  whole  in  such  sort,  as  a  work  of  so  great  charge 
and  importance  requireth ; "  which  seemeth  strange  to  a  judicious 
consideration.  For  had  a  voluminous  legend  of  saints^  lives,  with 
pictures  as  costly  as  superstitious,  been  to  be  set  forth,  a  mass,  a 
mint,  a  mine  of  money  could  easily  be  advanced  to  defray  the 
expenses  thereof.  Thus  papists  can  be  poor  or  rich,  as  they  please 
themselves.  Some  behold  this  their  promise  to  set  forth  the  Old 
Testament,  as  not  really  intended,  but  given  out  to  raise  men's  ex- 
pectations; which  in  process  of  time  would  fall  of  itself,  and  the  proffer 
by  degrees  be  forgotten.  Others  interpret  their  resolutions  real,  but 
purposely  revoked,  seeing  the  ill  success  of  their  New  Testament, 
so  canvassed  and  confuted  by  the  protestant  divines.  Perceiving  that 
their  small  pinnace,  which  they  first  set  forth,  met  at  sea  with  such 
boisterous  weather,  wisely  they  would  not  adventure  a  greater  vessel 
after  it ;  but  rather  left  it  to  rot  on  the  dock,  than  they  would  launch 
it  forth  in  such  danger.  A  third  sort  behold  this  their  promise  as  a 
modest  and  mannerly,  alias  a  crafty  and  cunning,  begging  of  a  con- 
tribution of  the  catholic  party  for  settmg-forth  of  the  same,  which 
never  as  yet  came  into  public  view.  Yea,  the  Old  Testament, 
some  said,  would  be  old  indeed,  before  the  translation  thereof  in 
English  were  by  them  set  forth  ;  insomuch  that  some  conceived  a 
lease  of  land,  till  this  their  promise  be  performed,  almost  as  good  as 
the  fee-simple  thereof. 

But  now  though  men  were  so  generally  confident,  that  these  long- 
expected  Rhemish  notes  on  the  Old  Testament  would  not  come 
forth  till  the  Greek  Calends,  they  have  since  found  themselves 
deceived,  seeing,  some  twenty  years  after,  that  long-looked-for  work 
crept  forth  into  the  world,  little  notice  being  taken  thereof  by  the 
protestants  ;  partly,  because  no  great  eminency  therein  to  entitle  it 
to  their  perusal ;  partly,  because  that  moiety  of  the  Bible  is  of  least 
concernment  in  the  controversies  betwixt  us  and  the  church  of  Rome. 


28  ELIZABETH.  BOOK    IX.       CENT.    XVI.  71 

21.   The  Death  of  George  Ether  edge. 

I  find  not  this  year  the  death  of  any  eminent  English  protestant 
divine.  Amongst  the  papists,  George  Etheredge  departed  this  life, 
much  lamented  by  those  of  his  own  persuasion.  He  was  bachelor 
of  physic  in  Corpus-Christi  College  in  Oxford,  and  king's  Professor 
of  Greek  in  that  university  ;  which  place  he  quitted  at  the  coming- 
in  of  queen  Elizabeth,  and  betook  himself  there  to  a  private  life. 
His  house  was  an  hospital  to  relieve  those  of  his  own  religion,  on 
whom  he  expended  his  estate.  He  was  one  of  the  primitive  catho- 
lics, saith  my  author,*  persecuted  for  his  conscience.  As  he  started 
soon,  he  ran  long  in  the  race  of  patience,  used  to  all  the  jails  in 
Oxford  and  London,  for  thirty  years  together ;  insomuch  that  he 
professed,  that  the  variety  of  prisons  was  some  pleasure,  and  the 
custom  of  durance  had  made  fetters  to  be  freedom  unto  him. 

22.  Mr.  Rogers  writeth  on  our  Articles.     A.D.  1585. 

This  year  came  forth  the  exposition  of  Mr.  Thomas  Rogers,  on 
the  Articles  of  the  church  of  England  ;  which  at  first  met  not  with 
that  welcome  entertainment  which  seemed  due  to  his  endeavours. 
For,  beside  the  two  extremes,  papists  and  schismatics,  highly 
enraged,  many  protestants  of  a  middle  temper  were  much  offended 
thereat.  Some  conceived  it  presumption  for  any  private  minister  to 
make  himself  the  mouth  of  the  church,  to  render  her  sense  in 
matters  of  so  high  concernment.  Others  were  offended,  that  his 
interpretation  confined  the  charitable  latitude,  formerly  allowed  in 
those  Articles.  The  composers  whereof,  providentially  foreseeing 
that  doctrinal  differences  would  inevitably  arise,  in  so  large  a  church 
as  England  was,  even  betwixt  protestants  agreeing,  in  fundamentals 
of  religion,  purposely  couched  the  Articles  in  general  terms,  not 
that  falsehood  should  take  shelter  under  the  coveit  thereof,  but  to 
include  all  such  dissenters  within  the  comprehensiveness  of  the 
expressions.  Whereas  now  Mr.  Rogerss  restrictive  comment  shut 
out  such  from  their  concurrence  with  the  church  of  England,  which 
the  discreet  laxity  of  the  text  admitted  thereunto.  However,  the 
worth  of  the  work,  in  some  years,  wrought  itself  into  good  esteem, 
as  dedicated  to  and  countenanced  by  the  archbishop,  though  the 
author  thereof  never  got  any  higher  preferment. 

23.  Three  great  Corporations  now  on  Foot  together. 

Three  great  societies  at  this  time  in  London  were  busily  employed, 
the  tv/o  former  of  them  avouched  by  law,  and  the  third  avouching 
itself:  namely, — 

*  PiTZ-iiUS  Dc  ^hujlic.  Scriploribux,  page  785. 


72  CHURCH    HISTORY    OF    BRITAIN.  A.D.  1585. 

The  Parliament. — Begun  and  holden  at  Westminster,  the 
twenty-third  day  of  November  last ;  and  there  continued  till  the 
twenty-ninth  of  March  following ;  wherein  the  statute  against  Jesuits 
and  priests  departing  out  and  not  coming  into  the  realm,  was  made, 
with  penalty  for  the  relieving  them. 

The  Convocation. — Kept  in  St.  PauFs,  London,  beginning 
with  a  most  learned  Latin  sermon,*  preached  by  John  Capcotes, 
doctor  of  divinity,  (afterwards  master  of  Benet  College  in  Cambridge,) 
taking  for  his  text,  Prcecipio  tihi  coram  Deo,  &c.  1  Tim.  vi.  13. 
Hence  the  Convocation  was  removed  to  the  collegiate  church  of  St- 
Peter's  in  Westminster,  where  Dr.  Goodman,  dean  thereof,  made  a 
solemn  protestation  with  his  fellow-prebends,  that  the  said  meeting 
ought  not  to  be  prejudicial  to  the  privileges  of  his  church.  His  pro- 
testation was  accepted,  and  assurance  given  that  the  said  Convoca- 
tion met  not  there  in  any  manner  to  infringe  their  immunities,  but 
only  for  the  maturation  of  business  with  the  more  expedition  through 
the  conveniency  of  the  place.  William  Redman,  doctor  of  divinity, 
archdeacon  of  Canterbury,  was  chosen  and  presented  Prolocutor. 

The  Assembly  of  Ministers. — The  certain  place  of  their 
convening  not  known,  being  clandestine,  arbitrary,  and  changeable, 
as  advised  by  their  conveniences.  They  are  better  discovered  by 
their  moving  than  by  their  meeting,  and  their  practices  more  conspi- 
cuous than  their  places.  Some  agents  for  them  were  all  day  at  the 
door  of  the  parliament-house,  and  some  part  of  the  night  in  the 
chambers  of  parliament-men,  effectually  soliciting  their  business  with 
them. 

24.   The  Archbishop,  afraid  of  Alteration  in  Church-Discipline, 
writes  to  the  Queen. 

Wonder  not  if  archbishop  Whitgift  repaired  seldom  to — and 
resided  but  a  short  time  in — the  Convocation,  having  other  work  to 
do  in  the  Parliament ;  where  what  impression  was  made  by  the  agents 
of  the  ministers,  will  appear  by  his  ensuing  letter  to  her  majesty. 

to  the  queen's  most  excellent  majesty. 
'*  May  it  please  your  majesty  to  be  advertised,  that,  notwith- 
standing the  charge  of  late  given  by  your  Highness  to  the  Lower 
House  of  Parliament  for  dealing  in  causes  of  the  church  ;  albeit  also, 
according  to  your  majesty's  good  liking,  we  have  set  down  orders  for 
the  admitting  of  meet  men  into  the  ministry  hereafter ;  yet  have  they 
passed  a  Bill  in  that  House  yesterday,  touching  the  matter,  which, 
beside  other  great  inconveniences,  (as,  namely,  the  trial  of  the  minis- 

Fenusta  et  eloqucns  concio,  saitli  the  Register  of  Canterbury,   out  of  which  I  tran- 
Fcribed  it. 


28    ELIZABETH.  BOOK    IX.       CENT.    XVI.  7$ 

ters"*  sufficiency  by  twelve  laymen,  and  such  like,)  hath  this  also,  that 
if  it  pass  by  Parliament,  it  cannot  hereafter  but  in  Parliament 
be  altered,  what  necessity  soever  shall  urge  thereunto ;  which  I  am 
persuaded  in  short  time  will  appear,  considering  the  multitude  of 
livings,  not  fit  for  men  so  qualified,  by  reason  of  the  smallness  thereof: 
whereas  if  it  pass  but  as  a  canon  from  us,  by  your  majesty's  authority, 
it  may  be  observed  or  altered  at  your  pleasure.  They  have  also 
passed  a  Bill  giving  liberty  to  marry  at  all  times  of  the  year,  without 
restraint,  contrary  to  the  old  canons,  continually  observed  amongst 
us  ;  and  containing  matter  which  tendeth  to  the  slander  of  this 
church,  as  having  hitherto  maintained  an  error.  There  is  likewise 
now  in  hand  in  the  same  House,  a  Bill  concerning  ecclesiastical 
courts,  and  visitations  by  bishops,  which  may  reach  to  the  overthrow 
of  ecclesiastical  jurisdiction,  and  study  of  the  civil  laws.  The  pre- 
tence of  the  Bill  is  against  excessive  fees,  and  exactions  in  ecclesias- 
tical courts,  which  fees  are  none  other  than  have  been  of  long  time 
accustomed  to  be  taken  ;  the  law  already  established  providing  a 
sharp  and  severe  punishment  for  such  as  shall  exceed  the  same ; 
beside  an  order  also  which  we  at  this  present  have  taken  amongst 
ourselves  for  the  better  performance  thereof.  I  therefore  most 
humbly  beseech  your  majesty  to  continue  your  gracious  goodness 
towards  us,  who  with  all  humility  submit  ourselves  to  your  Highness, 
and  cease  not  daily  to  pray  for  your  happy  estate,  and  long  and 
prosperous  reign  over  us. 

"  Your  majesty's  chaplain  and  daily  orator  most  bounden, 

"JOHN  CANTUAR.* 
'' March  2mr 

Thus,  the  old  year  (on  the  last  day  whereof  this  letter  was  dated) 
ended  sadly  and  suspiciously  with  the  prelates ;  but  the  next  year 
began  cheerfully,  and  presented  good  tidings  unto  them. 

25,  26.  Her  Majesty  will  alter  Nothing  material  to  Church- 
Government.  Parliament  dissolved. 
For  the  queen  to  verify  her  motto,  semper  eadem,  and  to  disprove 
that  inconstancy  generally  charged  on  her  sex,  acquitted  herself  more 
than  woman  in  her  masculine  resolutions ;  and  nothing  of  moment 
was  altered  in  church- discipline.  Many  things,  indeed,  were  oiFered 
to  both  Houses,  debated,  agitated,  and  (as  it  seems)  passed  the 
Commons;  but  nothing  in  fine  was  effected.  Thus  the  Major 
may  propound  what  it  pleaseth,  and  the  Minor  assume  what  it 
listeth  ;   but  no  conclusive  argument  could  then  be  framed  without 

•  Out  of  bishop  Whitgift's  manuscripts  of  his  own  letters,  afterwards  in  Sir  Pelei 
^lanwood'^  and  since  in  my  own  possession. 


74  CHURCH    HISTORY    OF    BUITAIN.  A.D.  1585. 

the  Ergo  of  the  royal  assent,  which  the  queen  refused  to  affix  to  any 
material  alteration. 

And,  few  days  after,  March  29th,  the  session  of  the  Parliament 
for  the  present  broke  off,  wherewith  ended  the  assembly  of  the 
ministers.  And  now  all  of  them  had  leave  to  depart  to  their  own 
homes :  otherwise,  such  members  thereof  as  formerly  went  away 
without  leave  were  obnoxious  to  censure.  Witness  one  of  them  in 
his  ingenious  confession  :  "  Touching  my  departure  from  that  holy 
assembly  without  leave,  &c.  I  crave  pardon  both  of  you  and  them, 
&c.  And  thus  commending  this  holy  cause  to  the  Lord  himself,  and 
your  godly  Council  to  the  president  thereof,  I  take  my  leave."'* 

27,  28.  John  Hilton   in   Convocation  abjureth   his  heretical 
Opinions.     Penance  imposed  upon  him. 

The  next  day,  March  30th,  the  Convocation  ended,  having  effected 
nothing  of  moment,  save  that  in  the  ninth  session  thereof,  John 
Hilton,  priest,  made  a  solemn  abjuration  of  his  blasphemous  heresies, 
according  to  the  tenor  ensuing  : — 

"  I?i  Dei  nomine.  Amen  ! — Before  you,  most  reverend  father  in 
God,  lord  John  archbishop  of  Canterbury,  primate  and  metropolitan 
of  all  England,  and  the  reverend  fathers  in  God  the  bishops  of  this 
your  province  of  Canterbury,  here  congregated  and  assembled 
together  in  this  holy  Synod  and  Convocation,  I,  John  Hilton,  priest, 
of  my  pure  heart  and  free  will,  voluntarily  and  sincerely,  knowledge, 
confess,  and  openly  recognise,  that,  in  times  past,  I  thought,  believed, 
said,  held,  and  presumptuously , affirmed  and  preached  the  errors, 
heresies,  blasphemies,  and  damnable  opinions  following,^"*  &c."f* 

Here  he  distinctly  read  a  schedule  containing  his  heresies,  (which 
what  they  were  may  be  collected  by  that  which  ensueth,)  and  then 
proceeded  as  followeth  : — 

"  Wherefore  I,  the  said  John  Hilton,  detesting  and  abhorring  all 
and  every  such  my  said  heresies,  blasphemies,  and  damned  opinions  ; 
willing,  and  with  all  my  power  affecting,  hereafter  firmly  to  believe 
in  the  true  and  perfect  faith  of  Christ  and  his  holy  church,  purposing 
to  follow  the  doctrine  of  Christ  and  his  holy  apostles,  with  a  pure  and 
free  heart,  voluntary  mind,  will,  and  intent,  utterly  forsake,  relinquish, 
renounce,  and  despise  the  said  detestable  errors,  heresies,  blasphemies, 
and  abominable  opinions  ;  granting  and  confessing, 

"  That  the  blessed  Trinity  consisteth  in  three  distinct  persons, 
and  one  Godhead ;  as  God  the  Father,  God  the  Son,  and  God  the 
Holy  Ghost,  co-equal  in  power  and  might. 

•  Mr.  Gelibrand  to  Mr.  Field,  cited  b}'  Bishop  Bancroft  in  his  "  Dangeroxis  Posi- 
tions," page  75.  t  Tlxisi  was  by  nie  fuithfully  transcribed  out  of  the  records  of  Can- 
terbury. 


28  ELIZABETH.  BOOK    IX.       CENT.    XVI.  J5 

"  Secondly.  That  Jesus  Christ  is  both  God  and  man,  and  my 
Saviour  and  Redeemer,  and  of  all  other  baptized  and  believing  in 
him  ;  who,  of  his  Father,  of  his  own  substance,  in  his  humanity, 
was  conceived  by  the  Holy  Ghost,  incarnate,  and  for  our  redemption, 
being  very  God,  became  man. 

"  And  that  by  the  death  of  Jesus  Christ  we  be  not  only  made 
partakers  of  his  Testament,  and  so  deduced  to  the  knowledge  of  his 
godly  will  and  power,  but  also  that  we  have  full  redemption  and 
remission  of  our  sins  in  his  blood. 

"  And  where  I  did  most  ungodly,  detestably,  and  blasphemously 
affirm,  that  the  Old  and  New  Testaments  were  fables ;  now,  being 
most  sorry  for  that  abominable  and  damnable  assertion,  I  do  most 

humbly  and  *  believe  the  same  Testaments  to  contain  all 

truths  necessary  to  salvation,  and  that  I  and  all  others  are  bound  to 
believe  the  same,  as  the  undoubted  word  of  God,  and  that  without 
that  I  cannot  be  saved. 

"  And  therefore  the  said  errors,  blasphemies,  and  all  other  heresies, 
false  doctrines,  and  damned  opinions  in  general,  contrary  and  repug- 
nant to  the  faith  of  Christ,  I  utterly  abjure,  forsake,  and  purely 
renounce,  before  you,  most  reverend  father  in  God,  and  the  rest  of 
this  holy  synod  here  assembled.  And  moreover,  I  swear  by  this 
holy  Evangelist,  by  me  here  bodily  touched,  that  from  henceforth  I 
shall  never  hold,  teach,  believe,  or  affirm  the  said  errors,  heresies, 
blasphemies,  or  damned  opinions,  or  any  other  against,  contrary,  or 
repugnant  to  the  holy  faith  of  Christ's  church.  Nor  yet  shall  I,  by 
myself  or  any  other  person,  privately  or  apertly  defend,  maintain, 
succour,  favour,  or  support  any  person  that  to  my  knowledge  holdeth, 
believeth,  affirmeth,  or  teacheth  any  such  heresies,  errors,  or  damned 
opinions.  So  help  me  God,  and  these  holy  evangelists.  In  witness 
whereof  to  this  ray  present  abjuration  and  renunciation,  I  have,  with 
my  own  hand,  voluntarily  subscribed  my  proper  name. 

"JOHN  HILTON." 

Upon  this  his  abjuration,  penance  was  imposed  on  him.  First,  that 
he  should  attend  at  Paul's  Cross  upon  the  preacher,  Sunday  next, 
all  the  time  of  the  sermon,  and  there  penitently  stand  before, the 
said  preacher,  with  a  faggot  on  his  shoulders.  Secondly.  That  he 
should  not  preach,  minister  sacraments,  nor  exercise  any  ecclesiastical 
function  in  the  church,  except  specially  licensed  by  the  archbishop 
thereunto.  Thirdly.  That  he  should  recant  the  said  heresies  and 
damnable  opinions,  in  the  church  of  St.  Martin's -in-the-Fields,  at  a 
sermon  there  to  be  made  by  the  archdeacon,  and  there  to  show  him- 
self very  penitent.     I  find  in  the  records  a  recognizance  of  five  hun- 

*  Here  the  record  is  so  ill  written,  that  this  word  is  not  legible. 


76  CHURCH    HISTORY    OF    BRITAIN.  A.D.  1585. 

dred  pounds  drawn  up  to  the  queen,  whereby  the  said  Hilton  bound 
himself  for  the  performance  hereof;  but,  because  the  rude  draught 
of  the  bond  is  crossed,  I  conceive  it  not  insisted  on,  and,  finding 
nothing  to  the  contrary,  presume  the  aforesaid  penance  by  him 
exactly  performed. 

29.  Exchange  of  important  Letters  betwixt  the  Earl  of  Leicester 
and  the  Archbishop. 
The  ministers  or  brethren,  now  missing  their  mark,  abated  much  of 
their  former  activity,  insomuch  as  that  Mr.  Cartwright,  whom  I  con- 
jecture the  president  mentioned  in  the  last  assembly,  began  to  make, 
by  the  mediation  of  the  earl  of  Leicester,  (who  now  designed  him 
master  of  his  new-built  hospital  in  Warwick,)  compliance  with 
Whitgift,  though  the  wary  archbishop,  not  over-fond  of  his  friend- 
ship, kept  him  at  distance,  as  these  two  letters,  here  inserted,  will 
sufficiently  inform  us. 

*'My  good  Lord, 

"I  MOST  heartily  thank  you  for  your  favourable  and  courteous 
usage  of  Mr.  Cartwright ;  who  hath  so  exceeding  kindly  taken  it 
also,  as  I  assure  your  Grace  he  cannot  speak  enough  of  it.  I  trust 
it  shall  do  a  great  deal  of  good  ;  and  he  protesteth  and  professeth  to 
me  to  take  no  other  course,  but  to  the  drawing  of  all  men  to  the 
unity  of  the  church,  and  that  your  Grace  hath  so  dealt  with  him 
as  no  man  shall  so  command  him  and  dispose  of  him  as  you  shall ; 
and  doth  mean  to  let  his  opinion  publicly  be  known  even  in  the  pul- 
pit, if  your  Grace  so  permit  him,  what  he  himself  will  and  would  all 
others  should  do  for  obedience  to  the  laws  established ;  and  if  any 
little  scruple  be,  it  is  not  great,  and  easy  to  be  reformed  by  your 
Grace,  whom  I  do  most  heartily  entreat  to  continue  your  favour  and 
countenance  towards  him,  with  such  access,  sometimes,  as  your  leisure 
may  permit.  For  I  perceive  he  doth  much  desire  and  crave  it.  I 
am  to  thank  your  Grace  also  very  heartily  for  Mr.  Fenn  ;  albeit,  I 
understand  he  is  something  more  opinionate  than  I  wish  him.  But 
I  trust  he  will  also  yield  to  all  reasons  :  and  I  mean  to  deal  with  the 
bishop  of  Coventry  and  Lichfield  to  make  some  trial  of  him :  for 
surely  he  is  an  honest  man.  Thus,  my  good  lord,  praying  to  God 
to  bless  his  church,  and  to  make  his  servants  constant  and  faithful, 
1  bid  your  Grace  farewell. 

"  At  the  Court,  this  14th  of  July, 

"  Your  Grace's  very  assured  friend, 

"R.  LEICESTER."* 

•  Taken  out  of  the   mamiscript  of  bishop  Whitgift's  letters,  belonging  to  Sii-  Peter 
Manwood,  and  sincf;?  in  my  possession. 


28  ELIZABETH.  BOOK    IX.       CENT.    XVI.  77 

"My  singular  good  Lord, 

"Master  Cartwright  shall  be  welcome  to  me  at  all 
times ;  and,  using  himself  quietly  as  becometh  him,  and  as  I  hope 
he  will,  he  shall  find  me  willing  to  do  him  any  good.  But  to  grant 
unto  him,  as  yet,  my  license  to  preach,  without  longer  trial,  I  can- 
not ;  especially  seeing  he  protesteth  himself  to  be  of  the  same  mind 
he  was  at  the  writing  of  his  book,  for  the  matter  thereof,  though  not 
for  the  manner.  Myself  also,  I  thank  God,  not  altered  in  any  point 
by  me  set  down  to  the  contrary ;  and  knowing  many  things  to  be 
very  dangerous ;  wherefore,  notwithstanding  I  am  content,  and 
ready  to  be  at  peace  with  him,  so  long  as  he  liveth  peaceably,  yet 
doth  my  conscience  and  duty  forbid  me  to  give  unto  him  any  fur- 
ther public  approbation,  until  I  be  better  persuaded  of  his  confor- 
mity. And  so,  being  bold  to  use  my  accustomed  plainness  with 
your  lordship,  I  commit  you  to  the  tuition  of  Almighty  God,  this 
17thof  July,  1585. 

"JOHN  CANTUAR." 

30.  Seminaries  enlarged  and  transported. 
September  15th,  seminaries  and  priests  to  the  number  of 
thirty-two,  late  prisoners  in  the  Tower,  Marshalsea,  King's  Bench, 
and  other  places,  were  pardoned,  enlarged,  and  transported  over 
into  Normandy,  though  occasionally  they  were  forced  to  land  at 
Boulogne. 

31.   The  Earl  of  Leicester  sent  as  Commander  into  the  Low 

Countries. 
December  8th,  the  earl  of  Leicester,  who  hitherto  had  done  but 
little  good  in  England,  went  now  over  to  do  less  in  the  Low  Coun- 
tries, commanding  a  great  army  and  name,  with  the  illustrious  title 
of  "general  of  the  auxiliaries  of  the  queen  of  England."  He  was 
not  so  much  pleased  with  his  place  there,  but  that  some  of  his  back- 
friends were  as  much  delighted  with  his  room  here.  Mean  time  the 
ministers  lost  the  best  stake  in  their  hedge,  in  his  absence  their 
patron  paramount.  For,  though  by  letters  he  might  solicit  their 
cause,  yet  the  greatest  strength  is  not  so  extensive  but  to  have  the 
virtue  thereof  abated  at  such  a  distance ;  and  afterwards  it  fared 
worse  with  the  ministers  when  Whitgift,  archbishop  of  Canterbury, 
February  2nd,  was  sworii  of  the  Privy  Council,  (an  honour  which 
his  predecessor  Grindal  never  obtained,  yea,  never  desired,)  by  the 
procurement  (as  it  is  believed)  of  the  lord  Burleigh. 

32.  The  Liturgy  supported  by  its  Opposers. 
Now  for  the  present,  I  will  trouble  the  reader  no  longer  with  these 
brawls  about  discipline,  only  one  story  must  not  be  omitted,  though  it 


78  CHURCH    HISTORY    OF    BRITAIN.  A.D.  1585. 

be  fathered  rather  on  public  report,  than  fixed  on  any  particular  author 
in  those  days  avowing  the  same.  Some  complained  against  the 
liturgy  to  the  lord  Burleigh,  of  whom  he  demanded,  whether  they 
desired  the  taking  away  thereof.  They  answered,  ""  No.  But  only 
the  amendment  of  what  was  offensive  therein.""  He  required  them 
to  make  a  better,  such  as  they  would  have  settled  in  the  stead 
thereof.  Whereupon  the  first  classis  framed  a  new  one,  somcAvhat 
according  to  the  form  of  Geneva.  The  second  classis,  disliking  it, 
altered  it  in  six  hundred  particulars.*  The  third  quarrelled  at  these 
alterations,  and  resolved  on  a  new  model.  The  fourth  classis  dis- 
sented from  the  former.  Thus  because  they  could  not  agree  amongst 
themselves,  that  wise  statesman  put  them  off  for  the  present,  until 
they  should  present  him  a  pattern  with  a  perfect  consent. 

33.  Accusations  not  to  be  believed  in  full  Latitude. 

Three  protestant  bishops  this  year  exchanged  this  life  for  another. 
The  first  was  Richard  Curteys,  (some  time  fellow  of  St.  John's  in 
Cambridge.)  bishop  of  Chichester.  The  second,  Nicholas  Robinson, 
bishop  of  Bangor,  and  John  Scory,  bishop  of  Hereford.  Of  the  two 
former  we  have  not  enough  to  furnish  out  their  character.  Of  the 
latter  too  much,  if  all  be  true  which  I  find  charged  upon  him.  Sure 
I  am,  he  began  very  well,  being  an  exile  and  confessor  in  the  days 
of  queen  Mary  ;  but  is  accused  afterwards  to  be  so  guilty  of  oppres- 
sions, extortions,  and  simonies,  that  a  Bill  was  put  up  against  him 
in  the  Star-chamber,  containing  matter  enough  not  only  to  disgrace 
but  degrade  him,  if  prosecuted.  But  he  bought  out  his  innocence 
with  his  money.  Here  know,  that  our  author, -[-  though  a  person  of 
wit  and  worship,  deriveth  his  intelligence  from  a  French  writer  dis- 
affected in  religion,  and  therefore  not  to  be  believed  in  full  latitude, 
when  calling  him  Scoria  or  "  Dross,"'  in  allusion  to  his  name  ;  but 
as  all  is  not  gold  that  glisters,  all  is  not  dross,  reputed  so  by  our 
popish  adversaries. 

34 — 38,  The  Death  of  John  Fecke^iham.  His  Courtesy  to 
Protestants  ;  made  Abbot  of  Westminster.  Queen  Eliza- 
beth sendeth  for  him^  and  proffers  him  Preferment ;  kindly 
used  in  Restraint. 

The  same  year  also  John  Feckenham,  late  abbot  of  Wesminster, 
ended  his  life  ;  whereon  we  must  enlarge  ourselves,  if  not  for  his,  for 
history's  sake,  seeing  he  was  a  landmark  therein  ;  his  personal  expe- 
rience being  a  chronicle,  who,  like  the  axletree,  stood  firm  and  fixed 

•   See  "  the  View  of  the   Dh-ectory,"   printed  at  Oxford,  1G4G.  t  SlR  John 

Haukincton  in  his  character  of  the  bishop,  page  131. 


28  ELIZABETH.  BOOK    IX.       CENT.    XVI.    "  79 

in  his  own  judgment,  whilst  the  times,  like  the  wheels,  turned  back- 
wards and  forwards  round  about  him.  He  was  born  in  Worcester- 
shire, in  the  forest  of  Feckenham,  (whence  he  fetched  his  name,) 
bred  a  Benedictine  monk  in  the  abbey  of  Evesham,  where  he  sub- 
scribed with  the  rest  of  his  Order  to  the  resio-nation  of  that  house 
into  the  hands  of  king  Henry  VIII.  Afterwards  he  studied  in 
Oxford,  then  applied  himself  first  to  Bell,  bishop  of  Worcester,  and 
after  his  death  to  Bonner,  of  London,  where  he  crossed  the  proverb, 
''  Like  master,  like  man,"  the  patron  being  cruel,  the  chaplain 
kind,  to  such  who  in  judgment  dissented  from  him.  He  never  dis- 
sembled his  religion,  being  a  zealous  papist,  and  under  king  Edward 
VI.  suffered  much  for  his  conscience. 

In  the  reign  of  queen  Mary,  he  w^as  wholly  employed  in  doing 
good  offices  for  the  afflicted  protestants,  from  the  highest  to  the 
lowest.  The  earl  of  Bedford,  and  (who  afterwards  were)  of  War- 
wick and  Leicester,  tasted  of  his  kindness  :  so  did  Sir  John  Cheke, 
yea,  and  the  lady  Elizabeth  herself;  so  interposing  his  interest  with 
queen  Mary  for  her  enlargement,  that  he  incurred  her  Grace's  dis- 
pleasure. Hence  it  is  that  papists  complain,  that  in  the  reign  of 
queen  Elizabeth  he  reaped  not  a  crop  of  courtesy  proportionable  to 
his  large  seed  thereof  in  the  days  of  queen  Mary. 

Queen  Mary  afterwards  preferred  him  from  being  dean  of  PauFs  to 
be  abbot  of  Westminster  ;  which  church  she  erected  and  endowed  for 
Benedictine  monks,  of  which  Order  fourteen  only  could  be  found  in 
England,  then  extant  since  their  dissolution,  which  were  unmarried, 
unpreferred  to  cures,  and  unaltered  in  their  opinions.*  These  also 
were  brought  in  with  some  difficulty  at  first  and  opposition,  for  the 
prebendaries  of  Westminster,  legally  settled  in  their  places,  would 
not  resign  them,  till  cardinal  Pole,  partly  by  compulsion,  partly  by 
compensation,  obtained  their  removal. 

Queen  Elizabeth,  coming  to  the  crown,  sent  for  abbot  Feckenham 
to  come  to  her,  whom  the  messenger  found  setting  of  elms  in  the 
orchard  of  Westminster  abbey.  But  he  would  not  follow  the 
messenger  till  first  he  had  finished  his  plantation,  which  his  friends 
impute  to  his  soul  employed  in  mystical  meditations,"!- — that  as  the 
trees  he  there  set  should  spring  and  sprout  many  years  after  his 
decease,  so  his  new  plantation  of  Benedictine  monks  in  Westminster 
should  take  root  and  flourish,  in  defiance  of  all  opposition  ;  which 
is  but  a  bold  conjecture  of  others  at  his  thouglits.  Sure  I  am,  those 
monks  long  since  are  extirpated ;  but  how  his  trees  thrive  at  this 
day,  is  to  me  unknown.  Coming  afterwards  to  the  queen,  what 
discourse  passed  betwixt  them,  they  themselves  knew  alone.     Some 

•  Sanders  De  Schismate  Angliccmo,  in  the  reign  of  c^ueen  Mary.  t  Reinerius 

in  ylpost.  Bened.  page  235. 


80  CHURCH    HISTORY    OF    BRITAIN.  A.D.  1585. 

have  confidently  guessed  she  proffered  him  the  archbishopric  of 
Canterbury,  on  condition  he  would  conform  to  her  laws  ;  which  he 
utterly  refused. 

In  the  treaty  between  the  protestants  and  papists,  primo  Eliza- 
bethce^  he  was  present :  but  in  what  capacity,  I  cannot  satisfy 
myself :  surely  more  than  a  disputant,  (amongst  whom  he  was  not 
named,)  yet  not  so  much  as  a  moderator.  And  yet  his  judgment, 
perchance  because  abbot,  and  so  principal  man  in  that  place,  was 
asked  with  respect,  and  heard  with  reverence,  his  moderation  being 
much  commended:*  Now,  although  he  was  often  confined,  some- 
times to  the  Tower,  sometimes  to  friends''  houses,  (and  died,  it 
seems,  at  last  in  restraint  in  Wisbeach  Castle,)  yet  generally  he 
found  fair  usage  from  the  protestants.  He  built  a  conduit  in  Hol- 
born,  and  a  cross  in  Wisbeach,  and  relieved  the  poor  wheresoever 
he  came.  So  that  flies  flock  not  thicker  about  spilt  honey  than 
besfg'.'irs  constantly  crowded  about  him. 

39-  A  Recruit  of  English  Benedictines  made  after  Fechenhams 

Death, 

Abbot  Feckenham  thus  being  dead,  the  English  Benedictines 
beyond  the  seas  began  to  bestir  themselves  (as  they  were  con- 
cerned) about  the  continuation  of  their  Order.  We  know  some 
maintain,  that  if  any  one  species  or  kind  of  creatures  be  utterly 
extinct,  the  whole  universe,  by  sympathy  therewith,  and  conscious- 
ness of  its  own  imperfection,  will  be  dissolved.  And  the  catholics 
suspected  what  a  sad  consequence  there  would  be,  if  this  ancient 
Order  of  English  black  monks  should  suffer  a  total  and  final  defec- 
tion. The  best  was,  Unus  homo  nohls^  "  there  was  one,  and  but 
one,  monk  left  ;'**  namely,  father  Sigebert  Buckley  :  and,  therefore, 
before  his  death,  provision  was  made  for  others  to  succeed  him,  and 
they  (for  fear  of  failing)  disposed  in  several  countries  in  manner 
following : — 

In  Rome.  —  1.  Father  Gregory  Sayer ;  2.  Father  Thomas 
Preston  ;  3.  Father  Anselm  of  Manchester ;  4.  Father  Anthony 
Martin,  commonly  called  Athanasius. 

In  Valladolid  in  Spain. — 1.  Father  Austin  St.  John  ;  2. 
Father  John  Mervin ;  3.  Father  Mark  Lambert ;  4.  Father 
Maurice  Scot ;  5.  Father  George  Gervis.-f- 

From  these  nine  new  Benedictines  the  whole  Order  (which  hung 
formerly  on  a  single  string)  was  then  replenished  to  a  competent — 
and  since  to  a  plentiful — number. 

•  Fox's  "Acts  and  Monuments)."  t  Reinerius  De  Apost.  Bened.  page  24'2. 


so  ELIZABETH.  BOOK    IX.       CENT.    XVI.  81 

40 — 42.  English  Papists^  why  they  fell  off  from  the  Queen  of 
Scots  unto  the  King  of  Spain^  pretending  a  Title  to  the 
Crown  of  England. 

Hitherto  our  English  papists  affectionately  leaned  (not  to  say, 
fondly  doted)  on  the  queen  of  Scots,  promising  themselves  great 
matters  from  her  towards  the  advancing  of  their  religion.  But  now 
they  began  to  fall  off  in  their  affections ;  partly,  because  beholding 
her  a  confined  person,  unable  to  free  herself,  and  more  unlikely  to 
help  others  ;  partly,  because  all  catholics  came  off  with  loss  of  life 
w^hich  practised  her  enlargement.  As  for  her  son,  the  king  of  Scots, 
from  whom  they  expected  a  settlement  of  popery  in  that  land,  their 
hopes  were  lately  turned  into  despairs,  who  had  his  education  on 
contrary  principles. 

Whereupon  hereafter  they  diverted  their  eyes  from  the  north  to 
the  west,  expecting,  contrary  to  the  course  of  nature,  that  their  sun 
should  rise  therein,  in  magnifying  the  might  of  the  king  of  Spain, 
and  his  zeal  to  propagate  the  Roman  Catholic  faith.  And  this  was 
the  practice  of  all  Jesuits,  to  possess  their  English  proselytes  with 
high  opinions  of  the  Spanish  power,  as  the  nation  designed,  by 
Divine  Providence,  to  work  the  restitution  of  their  religion  in 
England. 

In  order  hereunto,  and  to  hearten  their  countrymen,  some  (for  it 
appears  the  result  of  several  persons  employed  in  the  designing 
and  effecting  thereof)  drew  up  a  title  of  the  king  of  Spain  to  the 
English  crown,  as  much  admired  by  their  own  party,  as  slighted  by 
the  queen  and  her  loyal  subjects,  for  being  full  of  falsehoods  and 
forgeries.  Indeed,  it  is  easy  for  any  indifferent  herald  so  to  derive 
a  pedigree,  as,  in  some  seeming  probability,  to  entitle  any  prince  in 
Christendom  to  any  principality  in  Christendom  ;  but  such  will 
shrink  on  serious  examination.  Yea,  I  believe  queen  Elizabeth 
might  pretend  a  better  title  to  the  kingdoms  of  Leon  and  Castile  in 
Spain,  (as  descended  by  the  house  of  York,  from  Edmond  earl  of 
Cambridge,  and  his  lady,  co-heir  to  king  Peter,)  than  any  claim 
that  the  king  of  Spain  could  make  out  to  the  kingdom  of  England. 
However,  much  mischief  was  done  hereby,  many  papists  paying 
their  good  wishes  where  they  were  not  due,  and  defrauding  the 
queen  (their  true  creditor)  of  the  allegiance  belonging  unto  her. 

43,  44.  An  Act  without  Precedent.  Good  Reason  why  the 
Nonconformists  were  quiet. 

Now  did  the  queen  summon  a  parliament ;  wherein  her  majesty 
appeared  not  in  person,  but  passed  over  the  presidentship  of  that 
her  great  council  unto  John  Whitgift  archbishop  of  Canterbury, 
William  Cecil  lord  treasurer,  and  to  the  earl  of  Derby  :  a  thing  done 

Vol.  III.  a 


82  CHURCH    HISTORY    OF    BRITAIN.  A.D.  1587. 

without  precedent,  when  the  king  at  home  and  in  health.  But  the 
pleasure  of  so  powerful  a  princess  might  create  a  leading  case  in 
things  of  this  nature. 

Wonder  not  if  the  nonconformists  were  very  quiet  in  this  parlia- 
ment ;  beholding  the  archbishop,  their  great  adversary,  in  so  great 
power  and  place.  However,  their  activity  in  the  next — will  make 
their  party  amends  for  their  stillness  in  this — session. 

45 — 47.  The  Death  of  Mary  Queen  of  Scotland.  Her  Poetry, 
Her  Body  removed  to  Westminster. 

This  year  ended  the  doleful  life  of  a  distressed  lady, — Mary  queen 
of  Scots ;  whose  trial  and  death  belongeth  to  the  state-historian. 
She  was  aged  forty-six  years,  passing  the  last  twenty  in  imprison- 
ment :  one  of  a  sharp  wit,  undaunted  spirit,  comely  person,  beautiful 
face,  majestic  presence  ;  one  reason  why  queen  Elizabeth  declined 
(what  the  other  so  much  desired)  a  personal  conference  with  her,  as 
unwilling  to  be  either  out-shone  or  even-shone  in  her  own  hemi- 
sphere. For  her  morals,  the  belief  of  moderate  men  embraceth  as 
middle  courts  betwixt  Buchanan  aspersing,  and  Causinus's  hyper- 
bolical commending  her,  because  zealous  in  his  own  religion. 

She  was  an  excellent  poet,  both  Latin  and  English.  Of  the  for- 
mer I  have  read  a  distich  made,  and  written  by  her  own  hand  on  a 
pane  of  glass  at  Buxton- Wells  :-^ 

Buxtona,  guce  calidce  celebraris  •  nomine  lymphtz 
Forte  mihi  posthac  non  adeunda,  Vale. 

**  Buxton,  wlio  dost  witli  waters  warm  excel, 
By  me,  perchance,  never  more  seen,  Farewell." 

And  at  Fotheringhay-Castle  I  have  read,  written  by  her  in  a  window, 
with  a  pointed  diamond  : — 

"  From  the  top  of  all  my  tnist, 
Mishap  hath  laid  me  in  the  dust." 

But  her  adversaries  conceive,  had  she  not  been  laid  there,  the 
happiness  of  England  had  been  prostrated  in  the  same  place.  She  was 
buried  in  the  choir  of  Peterborough ;  and  Dr.  Wickham,  bishop 
of  Lincoln,  preached  her  funeral  sermon  ;  causelessly  carped  at  by 
the  Martin  Mar-Prelate,  as  too  favourable  concerning  her  final  cori- 
dition,  though  he  uttered  nothing  inconsistent  with  charity  and 
Christian  discretion. 

Some  twenty  years  after,  king  James  caused  her  corpse  to  be 
solemnly  removed  from  Peterborough  to  Westminster,  where,  in  the 

•  So  it  is  in  the  glass  I  had  in  my  hand,  though  it  be  celebrubere  in  Camden's 
Britannia  in  Derbyshire. 


so  ELIZABETH.  LOOK    IX.       CENT.    XVI.  83 

south  side  of  tlie  cliapel  of  king  Henry  VII.  lie  erected  a  stately- 
monument  to  her  memory,  and  thereon  this  epitaph,  wherein  such 
cannot  but  commend  the  piety  of  her  son,  who  will  not  believe  all 
the  praises  of  his  mother  : — 

JD,  0.  M. 

Marice  Stuartw,  Scotorum  regmcie^  Franciw  dotarice^  Jqcohi  V. 
Scotorum  regis  filice^  et  hwredis  unicce  Henrici  VII.  Ang.  regis 
ex  Margaretd  majori  natu  filia  (Jacobi  IIII  regi  Scotorum 
matrimonio  copulata)  proneptis^  Edivardi  IIII.  Angliw  regis  ex 
Elizabetha  filiarum  natu  maxima  ahneptis,  Francisci  II.  Gallo- 
rum  regis  conjugis^  coronw  A?iglic^,  dtim  tixit,  certw  et  indubitatm 
hmredis^  et  Jacobi  Magnw  Britannice  monarchw  potentissimi 
matris. 

Stirpe  'cere  regid  et  afitiquissimd  prognata  erat,  maximis  totius 
Europce principibus  agnatione  et  cognatione  conjuncta^  et  exquisitissi- 
mis  animi  et  corporis  dotibus  et  ornamentis  cumulatissima.  Verilm^ 
ut  sunt  varies  rerum  humanarum  vices,  postquam  amios  plus  minus 
viginti  in  custodid  detenta,  fortiter  et  strenue,  (sed  frustrd,)  cum 
malewlorum  obtrectationibus,  timidorum  suspicionibus^  et  inimi- 
corum  capitaUum  insidiis  conflictata  esset ;  tandem  inaudito  et  infesto 
regibus  exemplo  securi  percutitur. 

Et  contempto  mundo,  devictd  morte,  lassato  (nrnifice,  Christo  Ser- 
tatori  animce  salutem,  Jacobo  filio  spem  regni  et  posteritatis,  et 
universis  ccedis  infaustoe  spectatoribus  exemplum  patientice  com- 
mendans,  pie  et  intrepide  cermcem  regiam  securi  maledictm  subjecit^ 
et  vitw  caducm  sortem  cum  ccelestis  regni  perennitate  commutamt. 

Beside  this,  there  is  a  long  inscription  in  verses,  one  distich  whereof 
I  remember,  because  it  is  the  same  in  effect  with  what  was  made  of 
Maud  the  empress. 

ON    MAUD. 

Magna  ortu,  majorque  viro,  sed  inaxiuia  partUy 
Hie  jacet  Henrici  filiay  sponsa,  parens. 

ON    aUEEN    MARY. 

Magna  viro,  major  natUy  sed  maxima  partUy 
Conditur  hie  regis  Jiliay  sponsay  parens. 

So  that  it  is  no  disgrace  for  a  queen  to  wear  part  of  an  epitaph  at 
the  second-hand  with  some  little  alteration. 

48,  49.  A  Design  propounded^  and  blasted  hy  the  Queen. 

About  this  time  it  was  that  some  Privy  Counsellors  endeavoured 
to  persuade  queen  Elizabeth  to  raise  and  foment  a  difference  betwixt 
the  pope  and  king  of  Spain,  and  to  assist  the  former  (not  as  pope, 
but  temporal  prince)  by  her  shipping  to  regain   Naples,  detained 

Cr2 


84  CHURCH    HISTORY    OF    BRITAIN.  A.D.  1587. 

from  him  by  the  Spanish  king.  They  alleged  the  design  advanta- 
geous, to  work  a  diversion  of  Spanish  forces,  and  prevent  an  invasion 
of  her  own  land. 

But  her  majesty  would  not  listen  to  the  motion  to  entertain  com- 
pliance in  any  capacity,  on  any  conditions  with  the  pope  ;  as  dis- 
honourable in  herself,  distasteful  to  the  protectant  princes;  nor 
would  she  touch  pitch  in  jest,  for  fear  of  being  defiled  in  earnest; 
but  crushed  the  design  in  the  birth  thereof. 

50.  Conformity  to  the  Height. 
A  first  onset  was  now  made  by  the  nonconformists  against  the 
hierarchy  ;  though  the  more  they  opposed  it,  the  more  the  queen 
did  countenance  their  persons  and  preserve  their  power ;  insomuch 
that  she  would  not  in  Lent  feed  on  any  fish,  (as  forbidden  by  the 
canons  of  the  church,)  until  she  had  first  attained  a  solemn  license  * 
from  the  archbishop  of  Canterbury,  and  every  year  of  her  life 
renewed  the  same. 

51 ,  52.    The  High-Commission  Court.     A  memorable  Story  in 

Geneva. 
The  power  of  the  High  Commission  began  now  to  extend  far, 
and  penalties  to  fall  heavy  on  offenders.  Whereupon  the  favourers 
of  the  nonconformists  much  opposed  it  in  their  printed  books ; 
some  questioning  the  court  as  not  warranted  by  law,  others  taxing 
their  proceedings,  as  exceeding  their  commission.  But  hear  their 
arguments  on  both  sides  : — 

AGAINST      THE      HIGH      COM-  FOR  THE  HIGH  COMMISSION. 

MISSION. 

It  is  pretended  founded  on  the  The  words  in  the  statute  run 

sisitvLte,  prima  Elizabetkce^^here-  thus:     "They    shall    have    full 

in  the  parliament  empowered  the  power  and  authority  by  virtue  of 

queen  by  her  letters  patents  to  this  Act,  and  of  the  letters  patents 

appoint  commissioners  to  punish  under  your  Highness,  your  heirs, 

offenders  in  ecclesiastical  causes,  and  successors,   to  exercise,   use, 

But  no  mention  therein  of  tem-  execute  all  the  premisses  accord- 

poral    penalties ;    and    therefore  ing  to  the  tenour  and  effect  of 

the  commissioners  are  to  confine  the     said   letters     patents,    any 

themselves    to    church-censures,  matter  or  cause  to  the  contrary 

by  excommunicating,   &c. — ille-  in    any    wise    notwithstanding." 

gaily  inflicting  any  other  punish-  Now  their  letters  patents  enable 

ments.  them  to  attack,  fine,  or  imprison, 

^c.  in   doing  whereof  they  are 

*  Camden's  "  Elizabeth  :"  manuscript  shortly  likely  to  be  printed. 


30  ELIZABETH. 


BOOK    IX.       CENT.    XVI. 


85 


Such  commissioners  proceed- 
ing against  offenders  by  attach- 
ment^ fine^  or  imprisonment^  are 
contrary  to  the  express  words 
of  Charta  Magna,  providing, 
that  "  no  free  man  shall  be  taken 
or  imprisoned,  or  be  disseised  of 
his  freehold  and  liberty,  and  but 
by  the  lawful  judgment  of  his 
peers,  or  of  the  law  of  the  land." 


Theirwhole  Commission  is  void 
in  law ;  because  it  beareth  date 
in  July,  but  was  not  signed  till 
November  next  after,  contrary 
to  the  statute,  which  enjoineth, 
that  letters  patents  should  be 
dated  the  day  of  their  delivery 
into  Chancery,  or  els^e  they  shall 
be  void. 


sufficiently  empowered  by  the 
Commission. 

When  Charta  Magna  was 
made,  ecclesiastical  jurisdiction, 
though  it  was  de  jure^  it  was  not 
de  facto,  in  the  king.  Whereby 
it  plainly  appears,  that  those 
words  related  not  to  the  ecclesi- 
astical jurisdiction,  but  only  to 
crimes  belonging  to  the  common 
law.  But  since  the  parliament 
hath  declared  ecclesiastical  juris- 
diction in  the  queen,  the  eccle- 
siastical persons  might  impose 
such  penalties,  even  to  the  con- 
demning of  their  titles,  though 
never  tried  by  a  jury. 

It  appeareth  by  the  preamble 
of  that  statute,  that  the  words 
cannot  be  stretched  to  letters 
patents  of  that  nature,  but  be- 
long only  to  such, — to  private 
persons,  wherein  grantees  are  un- 
justly expelled  out  of  their  right, 
by  colour  of  letters  patents  bear- 
ing an  elder  date. 


But  the  most  general  exception  against  the  High  Commission  was 
this :  that  proceeding  ex  officio  mero  by  way  of  inquiry  against 
such  whom  they  pleased  to  suspect,  they  tendered  unto  them  an 
oath  which  was  conceived  unjust,  that,  in  cases  criminal,  a  party 
should  be  forced  to  discover  what  might  be  penal  to  himself.  The 
lawfulness  of  which  oath  was  learnedly  canvassed  with  arguments 
on  both  sides. 


AGAINST     THE      OATH      EX 
OFFICIO. 

The  common  laws  have  ever 
rejected  and  impugned  it ;  never 
put  in  ure  by  any  civil  magistrate 
in  the  land,  but  as  it  is  corruptly 
crept  in  amongst  other  abuses  by 
the  sinister  practices  and  pre- 
tences of  the  Romish  prelates 
and  clergymen.     And  where  loss 


FOR  THE  OATH  EX  OFFICIO. 

It  is  true,  to  give  this  oath  to 
the  defendant  in  causes  of  life 
and  death,  is  contrary  to  the  jus- 
tice of  the  land.  But  where  life 
or  -limb  is  not  concerned,  it  is 
usually  tendered  in  Chancery, 
Court  of  Requests,  Council  of 
Marches,    and    Council   in   the 


86 


CHURCH    HISTORY    OF    BRITAIN. 


A. D.  1587. 


of  life,  liberty,  or  good  name, 
may  ensue,  the  common  law  hath 
forbidden  such  oath. 


It  is  contrary  to  the  fundamen- 
tal law  of  liberty — Nemo  tenetiir 
'  mtm  prodere. 


It  appeareth  by  the  lord  Dyer^s 
book,  that  one  Hynde,  called  be- 
fore the  commissioners  ecclesias- 
tical for  usury,  refused  to  swear ; 
whereupon  he  was  committed. 
But  upon  an  information  in  the 
Common  Pleas,  he  had  a  corpus 
cum  causa.,  to  remove  him  ;  so 
(as  it  scemeth)  the  judges  were 
then  of  opinion,  that  the  com- 
missioners could  not  give  him 
such  an  oath. 


North,  yea,  in  other  Courts  of 
Record  at  Westminster;  where 
the  judges  (time  out  of  mind) 
by  corporal  oath  did  examine  any 
person,  whom  (in  discretion)  they 
suspected  to  have  dealt  lewdly 
about  any  writ,  return,  entry  of 
rule,  pleading,  or  any  such  like 
matter,  not  being  capital. 

It  is  granted,  but  withal  pro- 
ditusperdenunciationem^famam^ 
(Sfc.  tmetur  seipsum  ostendere. 
Some  faults  are  simply  secret,  no 
way  bruited  or  published  abroad ; 
in  which  cases  the  person  guilty 
is  not  bound  to  make  confession 
thereof,  though  urged  on  his  oath, 
to  any  officer  civil  or  ecclesiasti- 
cal. But  if  once  discovery  be  made 
by  presentment,  denunciation, 
fame,  &c.  according  to  law,  then 
is  not  the  fault  merely  secret,  but 
revealed  (in  some  sort)  to  the 
magistrate,  or  abroad  ;  who,  for 
avoiding  scandal  to  Christian  re- 
ligion, and  reformation  of  the 
party,  may  thus  inquire  of  the 
offence,  to  see  it  redressed  and 
punished. 

There  is  no  such  report  in  the 
lord  Dyer:  all  that  is  extant  is  only 
this  marginal  note,  upon  Skroggs's 
case  in  Michaelmas  term,  18th 
of  Elizabeth  :  Simile  M.  \^  fol. 
per  Hynde^  qui  noluit  jurare 
coram  justiciariis  ecclesiasticis, 
super  articu  OS  pro  usurd.  Which 
seems  added  by  some  unskilful 
person  ;  it  being  improbable  so 
learned  a  judge  would  have 
termed  the  commissioners  justi- 
ciarios  ecclesiasticos.  Besides, 
this  cause  of  Hynde  can  no 
where  else  be  found. 


so  ELIZABETH. 


BOOK    IX.       CENT.    XVI. 


87: 


Though  such  proceedings  ex 
officio  were  practised  by  the 
popish  prelates  against  the  saints 
and  servants  of  God,  yet  it  was 
never  used  by  protestants  in  their 
ecclesiastical  censures. 


The  justice  of  the  land  de- 
testeth  that  the  judge  should 
himself  be  an  accuser.  For  by 
law  no  man  may  be  accuser  and 
witness,  indicter  and  juror;  there- 
fore, much  less  judge  and  accu- 
ser; whicli,  notwithstanding,  he 
is  that  tendereth  the  oath  ex 
officio. 

Even  the  Heathen  Romans 
were  so  Christian,  that  by  ancient 
custom  no  vestal  virgin  or  fla- 
men  of  Jupiter  was  restrained  to 
swear ;  §  whereof  Plutarch  ||  ren- 
dereth  three  reasons.  First.  Be- 
cause an  oath  is  a  kind  of  torture 
to  a  free  man.  Secondly.  It  is 
absurd  in  smaller  matters  not  to 
credit  their  words  xclio^  in  higher 
matters  touching  God,  are  be- 
lieved. Thirdly.  An  oath,  in 
case  they  were  forsworn,  draweth 
a  curse  on  them,  a  detestable 
omination  towards  the  priests  of 
God.  And  why  may  not  as 
much  be  allowed  to  the  true  mi- 
nisters of  the  Gospel? 

*  Fox's  ''  Acts  and  Moniiments,"  folio  1512 
folio  1536.  §  GfiLLius,  lib.  x.  cap.  15. 


Certain  commissioners, — where- 
of some  bishops,  some  Privy 
Counsellors,  some  civilians,  and 
some  judges  and  common  law- 
yers,— in  the  reign  of  king  Ed- 
ward VI.  charged  bishop  Bonner 
with  a  corporal  oath,  ex  officio,^ 
to  answer  to  questions  ministered 
unto  him  ;  and  for  refusal  he  was 
pronounced  contumacious.-]"  The 
like  oath,  in  matter  criminal  and 
penal,  was  tendered  to  Stephen 
Gardiner,J  as  appeareth  by  the 
sentence  of  his  deprivation  of  the 
bishopric  of  Winchester. 

The  laws  civil  and  ecclesiastical 
hold  not  the  ]\i^gt proceeding  of 
office  to  be  an  accuser  ;  but  that 
whereupon  the  inquiry  is  ground- 
ed to  represent  the  accusation. 


By  the  granting  of  this  pecu- 
liar privilege  to  these  persons  it 
plainly  appeareth,  that  all  others 
might  by  magistrates  be  put  to 
their  oaths.  Besides,  such  were 
superstitiously  freed  from  swear- 
ing absolutely,  and  not  only  in 
matters  criminal,  here  contro- 
verted ;  an  unreasonable  immu- 
nity, which  none  will  challenge 
to  themselves. 


t  Ibid.  foUo  1516.  X  Ibid. 

Plutarch's  "  Problems,"  43. 


88 


CHURCH    HISTORY    OF    BRITAIN. 


A.D.  1587. 


The  Scripture,  which  ought  to 
be  the  rule  of  our  actions,  affords 
neither  precepts  nor  precedent  of 
such  proceedings,  where  witnesses 
were  produced,  and  the  accusers 
brought  face  to  face. 


It  is  not  necessary  that  a  posi- 
tive or  affirmative  warrant  be  cited 
out  of  Scripture  for  all  our  prac- 
tices :  sufficeth  it  that  may  be 
done  which  is  not  contrary  to 
God's  word,  and  conformable  to 
the  politic  laws  of  the  land. 
Yet  have  we  some  footsteps  of 
inquiry  in  the  Judaical  law.  When 
one  was  found  secretly  murdered 
in  the  field,  and  the  murderer 
neither  known  nor  suspected,  the 
elders  of  the  next  city  (of  whose 
guiltiness  there  was  no  detection 
nor  cause  of  presumption,  save 
only  the  vicinage  and  nearness 
of  the  place)  were  solemnly  and 
secretly  to  swear  before  the 
priest,  conceptis  rerbis,  that  their 
hands  had  not  shed  this  blood, 
&c.  Deut.  xxi.  7.  If  this  was 
equal  in  matters  capital,  how  can 
it  be  challenged  for  tyrannical  in 
matters  criminal? 

Allowing   all   due   respect  to 
martyr,  in  his  comment  on  the     TindaFs  memory,  his  judgment 

much  failed  him  in  matters  of 
oaths.  For,  in  the  following 
words,  he  taketh  away  all  neces- 
sary oaths,  (and  leaveth  none  but 
voluntary,)  which  no  wise  man 
will  defend. 

Even  Geneva  itself  doth  some- 
times proceed  by  oaths,  ex  officio, 
against  such  suspected  offenders, 
as  in  the  two  following  cases  will 
appear: — 

There  was  one  Cumperel,  of  Geneva,  ordained  minister  for  a 
parish  in  that  territory,  called  Drallian,  who  had  a  secret  design 
underhand  to  place  himself  in  the  state  of  Berne ;  which  in  him 
was  esteemed  a  heinous  fault.  The  Consistory,  coming  at  some 
notice  hereof,  ministered  unto  him  an  oath  of  mere  office^  to  answer 


William     Tindal,    a    worthy 


fifth  of  Matthew,*  saith  plainly, 
that  "  a  judge  ought  not  to  com- 
pel a  man  to  swear  against  him- 
self.^' 


No  protestant  church  beyond 
the  seas  hath  made  use  of  such 
tyrannical  proceedings. 


*  Page  208. 


so  ELIZABETH.  BOOK    IX.       CENT.    XVI.  89 

to  several  questions.  Bat  because  Cumperel  answered  not  directly 
to  those  interrogatories,  (two  whereof  concerned  the  very  cogitations 
of  his  heart,)  and  because  there  were  mhementia  indicia^  "  great 
presumption"  in  the  common  fame,  the  Consistory*  pronounced 
that  they  had  just  cause  to  depose  him  from  his  ministry. 

There  was  a  wealthy  widow  living  in  Geneva,  called  Balthaser  ;  in 
whose  house  there  was  a  dancing  held,  which  is  a  grievous  crime  in 
that  church,  and  condemned  by  their  last  form  of  discipline. 
Amongst  these  dancers  one  was  a  syndic,  (one  of  the  four  chief 
magistrates  of  the  city,)  the  other  an  elder  (Henrith  by  name)  of 
the  church  for  that  year.  The  matter  coming  to  Calvin's  ear,  they 
were  all  convented  before  the  Consistory  without  any  accuser  or 
party,  and  therefore  of  mere  office  put  to  their  corporal  oaths  to  con- 
fess the  truth.  The  elder f  pleaded  for  himself  the  words  of  St. 
Paul,  ''  Receive  not  an  accusation  against  an  elder  under  two  or 
three  witnesses  C  which  would  nothing  bestead  him  ;  so  that  he  was 
deposed  from  his  eldership,  and  the  syndic  from  his  magistracy, 
until  he  should  show  some  public  testimony  of  his  repentance. 

53 — BQ.  First  Grievance  complained  of  in  tendering  the  Oath, 
The  second^  thirds  and  fourth  Grievance. 

But,  enough  of  this  unwelcome  subject :  only  1  must  add,  that 
some  there  were,  not  offended  with  the  oath  itself,  which  took  excep- 
tions at  the  injurious  manner  of  offering  it.  They  complained 
(how  justly  God  knows)  of  some  created  fames  oil  no  grounds,  and 
pretended  suspicions  of  crimes  against  those  persons  to  whom  they 
bare  ill  affection,  and  then  tendered  this  oath  (the  picklock  of  con- 
science) unto  them,  merely  to  find  matter  to  ensnare  them. 

Secondly.  They  complained,  that,  to  discover  their  complices, 
(in  their  disciplinary  assemblies,)  children  were,  on  their  oaths,  inter- 
rogated against  their  own  fathers,  contrary  to  the  ride  in  civil  law, 
Filius  non  torquetur  in  caput  patris,  "  A  child  ought  not  to  be 
tortured  in  point  of  peril  to  his  father's  life.""  And  although  these 
accusations  were  not  capital,  yet  because  their  parents'  credit  was 
so  deeply  concerned  therein,  such  proceedings  had  a  strong  tang  of 
tyranny. 

Thirdly.  The  party  to  whom  the  oath  was  given  might  not  before- 
hand be  acquainted  (a  favour  usually  afforded  in  the  Star-chamber) 
with  the  particulars  whereon  they  were  to  be  examined.  And  if  by 
the  rule  of  Solomon,  "  He  that  answereth  a  matter  before  he 
heareth  it,  it  is  folly  and  shame  unto  him,"  Prov.  xviii.  13  ;  much 
more  is  it  indiscreet  to  swear  to  answer  a  matter  before  a  man  hear  it. 

*  Inter  Epistol.  Calvini  in  fol.  pages  421,  422.  t  Calvin  in  his  Letter  to 

Farellus,  page  64. 


90  GHURCH    HISTORY    OF    BKITAIN.  A.D.  1587. 

Fourthly.  They  complained,  this  oath  ex  officio  (like  what  is  said 
of  black  witches)  had  only  power  to  do  mischief,  not  to  heal  and 
help  any.  For,  none  were  cleared  by  the  taking  thereof,  if  deny- 
ing what  was  charged  upon  them ;  but  the  judges  ecclesiastical  oft- 
times  proceeded  to  a  further  inquiry  by  examination  of  witnesses, 
on  the  points  denied  by  the  parties. 

57 — 61.  Four  Ranks  of   Refusers  of  this  Oath.      The  Jirst 
Raiik^  the  second,  third,  and  the  last  Rank. 

The  nonconformists  who  refused  to  take  this  oath  may  be  ranked 
into  four  forms.  First.  Such  as  would  answer  neither  yea  nor  nay, 
what  they  would  resolve  to  do  concerning  the  oath ;  but  returned, 
"  If  our  faults  be  hidden, '  tarry  till  the  Lord  come  and  make  the  coun- 
sels of  our  hearts  manifest,'  1  Cor.  iv.  5.  But  if  they  be  manifest, 
let  our  accuser  and  the  witnesses  come  forth  before  us." 

A  second  sort  refused  not  the  oath  in  a  cause  criminal,  but  did  it 
with  this  limitation  and  protestation, — that  they  intended  not  to  be 
bound  thereby  to  accuse  either  themselves  or  their  brethren. 

A  third  sort  conceived  themselves  bound  to  reveal  their  own  and 
brothers'  crimes  and  offences,  to  remove  evil  from  the  land,  as  they 
said ;  but,  as  for  such  actions  of  their  brothers'*  falsely-reputed 
offences,  which  were  none  in  the  judgment  of  the  party  examined, 
these  they  held  themselves  not  bound  to  reveal. 

The  last  sort,  though  they  took  the  oath  as  to  other  things,  yet 
protested  they  counted  not  themselves  bound  to  answer  to  any 
such  things  whereon  witnesses  may  be  had ;  but  if  the  crime  was  so 
hidden  and  secret  that  witnesses  may  not  be  had,  they  thought  they 
might  lawfully  be  charged.  For  instance  :  they  held  a  preacher 
might  not  be  examined  on  oath  concerning  any  thing  he  had 
preached  in  public,  alleging  the  words  of  our  Saviour,  "  Why  askest 
thou  me  ?  ask  them  that  heard  me  ;  they  know  what  I  said," 
John  xviii.  21.  It  is  hard  to  make  the  opinion  of  the  first  and  last 
form  to  dwell  peaceably  together. 

We  take  our  leave  of  this  subject,  when  we  have  told  the  reader, 
that,  some  twenty  years  since,  one  being  urged  by  archbishop  Laud 
to  take  the  oath  ex  officio,  refused  it  on  this  reason  :  "An  oath,"  saith 
he,  "  by  the  words  of  the  apostle  '  is  an  end  of  all  strife,'  Heb.  vi. 
IG  ;  whereas  this,"  saith  he,  "  is  the  beginning  of  strife,  yields  matter 
for  the  lawyers  to  molest  me."  But  since  the  High  Commission  and 
this  oath  are  taken  away  by  Act  of  Parliament,  it  is  to  be  hoped, 
that  (if  such  swearing  were  so  great  a  grievance)  nihil  analogum 
"  nothing  like  unto  it"  (which  may  amount  to  as  much)  shall 
hereafter  be  substituted  in  the  room  thereof. 


so  ELIZABETH.  BOOK    IX.       CENT.    XVI.  91 

62.  Nonconformists  persecuted  in  the  Star-Chamber. 
Let  it  not  here  be  forgotten,  that,  because  many  did  question  the 
legality  and  authority  of  the  High  Commission,  archbishop  Whitgift 
so  contrived  the  matter,  that  the  most  sturdy  and  refractory  noncon- 
formists (especially  if  they  had  any  visible  estates)  were  brought 
into  the  Star-chamber,  the  power  whereof  was  above  dispute  ;  where 
some  of  them,  beside  imprisonment,  had  very  heavy  fines  imposed 
upon  them.  And  because  most  of  the  queen's  Council  were  present 
at  the  censures,  this  took  off  the  odium  from  the  archbishop,  (which 
in  the  High  Commission  lighted  chiefly,  if  not  only,  upon  him,)  and 
fell  almost  equally  on  all  present  therein. 

63 — Q5.   The  Death  of  Mr.  Fox,  and  of  Dr.  Humphrey. 

John  Fox  this  year  ended  his  life,  to  whom  in  some  respect,  our 
History  of  him  may  resemble  itself.  For  he  in  his  life-time  was  so 
large  a  reliever  of  poor  people,  (to  and  above  his  estate,)  that  no 
wonder  if  at  his  death  with  some  charitable  churls  he  bequeathed 
no  legacies  unto  them.  Thus  have  we  been  so  bountiful  in  de- 
scribing the  life,  and  transcribing  the  letters,  of  this  worthy  confessor, 
that  the  reader  will  excuse  us  if,  at  his  death,  we  give  no  farther 
character  of  his  piety  and  painfulness.  Only  let  me  add,  that 
whereaa  there  passeth  a  tradition,  grounded  on  good  authority,  that 
Mr.  Fox  foretold  the  ruin  and  destruction  of  the  invincible  (so  called) 
armada  in  the  eighty-eight ;  the  story  is  true  in  itself,  though  he 
survived  not  to  see  the  performance  of  his  own  prediction. 

Nor  will  it  be  amiss  to  insert  his  epitaph,  as  we  find  it  on  his 
monument  in  St.  Giles,  nigh  Cripplegate  in  London. 

CHRISTO    S.    S. 

Johanni  Focco  ecclesiw  Anglican w  Martyrologo  Jidelissimo^ 
antiquitatis  historicoe  indagatori  sagacissimo^  ecangelicw  "ceritatis 
propugnatori  acerrimo^  thaumaturge  admirabili^  qui  martyres 
Marianos^  tanquam  phwnices,  ex  cinerihus  redivicos  pra'stitit. 

His  dear  friend^  Dr.  Laurence  Humphrey,  may  be  said  to  die 
with  him,  (though  his  languishing  life  lasted  a  year  longer,)  so  great 
his  grief  to  be  parted  from  his  fellow-colleague ;  bred  together  in 
Oxford,  and  banished  together  into  Germany.  But  see  more  of  his 
character  in  the  year  1596,  where,  by  mistake,  (which  here  I  freely 
confess,)  his  death  is  inserted. 

(j6 — 69.   The  first  Protestant  Hospital.     Beautiful  Buildings 
begin  in  England.     Nonconformists  stir. 

About  this  time  Mr.  William  Lambert  finished  his  hospital  at 
Greenwich,  founded  and  endowed  by  him  for  poor  people.     He  was 


92  CHURCH    HISTORY    OF    BRITAIN.  A.D.  1587. 

the  first  protestant  who  erected  a  charitable  house  of  that  nature,  as 
our  antiquary*  observeth  ;  though  I  cannot  wholly  concur  with  his 
observation,  seeing  king  Edward  VI.  founded  Christchurch  and  St. 
Thomas's  Hospitals. 

Indeed  now  (pardon  a  short  disgression)  began  beautiful  buildings 
in  England  as  to  the  generality  thereof;  whose  homes  were  but 
homely  before,  as  small  and  ill-contrived,  much  timber  being  need- 
lessly lavished  upon  them.  But  now  many  most  regular  pieces  of 
architecture  were  erected,  so  that,  as  one  saith,  they  began  to  dwell 
latliis  and  lautius,  but  I  suspect  not  Iwtius,  hospitality  daily  much 
decaying. 

Amongst  other  structures,  Wimbledon  House  in  Surrey  was  this 
year  begun,  (and  finished  the  next,  as  appeareth  by  an  inscription 
therein,)  by  Sir  Thomas  Cecil,  afterwards  lord  Burleigh,  on  the 
selfsame  token,  that,  many  years  after,  Gondemar  (treated  therein  by 
the  lord  with  a  plentiful  feast)  was  highly  affected  with  his  enter- 
tainment, and  much  commended  the  uniformity  of  the  fabric,  till  the 
date  thereof,  showed  unto  him,  dashed  all,  as  built  when  the  Spanish 
armada  was  defeated. 

Indeed,  at  this  time  there  was  more  uniformity  in  the  buildings, 
than  conformity  in  the  church-behaviour  of  men  ;  the  sticklers 
against  the  hierarchy  appearing  now  more  vigorous,  though  for  a 
time  they  had  concealed  themselves. 


SECTION  VIL 

TO  MR.  HAMOND  WARD,  AND  MR.  RICHARD  FULLER, 
OF  LONDON,  MERCHANTS. 

It  is  usual  for  the  plaintiff  to  put  two  or  three  names 
upon  the  same  writ,  taken  out  of  the  Upper  Bench, 
always  provided  the  persons  dwell  in  the  same  county ; 
and  this  is  done  to  save  charges.  My  thanks  do  here 
embrace  the  same  way  of  thrift ;  that  so  the  small  stock 
of  my  History  may  hold  out  the  better  amongst  my 
many  friends  and  favourers.  And  this  my  joint  Dedi- 
cation is  the  more  proper,  because  you  live  in  the  same 
city,  are  of  the  same  profession,  and,  if  not  formerly, 

*  Camden's  Britannia  in  Kent. 


80  ELIZABETH.  BOOK    IX.       CENT.    XVI.  93 

this  may  minister  the  welcome  occasion  of  your  future 
acquaintance. 

1.    A  Sioeteenfold  Petition  presented  hy  the   Commons  to  the 
Lords  in  Parliament. 

But  now  a  session  of  parliament  was  held  at  Westminster,  wherein 
the  House  of  Commons  presented  to  the  Lords  Spiritual  and  Tem- 
poral a  petition  ;  complaining  how  many  parishes,  especially  in  the 
north  of  England  and  Wales,  were  destitute  of  preachers,  and  no 
care  taken  to  supply  them.  Sixteen  were  the  particulars ;  whereof 
the  six  first  were  against  insufficient  ministers,  very  earnestly  press- 
ing their  taking  the  same  into  their  serious  consideration,  for  speedy 
redress  of  the  grievances  therein  contained. 

"  7.  That  no  oath  or  subscription  might  be  tendered  to  any  at 
their  entrance  into  ministry,  but  such  as  is  expressly  prescribed  by 
the  statutes  of  this  realm,  except  the  oath  against  corrupt  entering. 

"  8.  That  they  may  not  be  troubled  for  omission  of  some  rites  or 
portions  prescribed  in  the  Book  of  Common-Prayer. 

"  9.  That  they  may  not  be  called  and  urged  to  answer  before  the 
officials  and  commissaries,  but  before  the  bishops  themselves. 

"  10.  That  such  as  had  been  suspended  or  deprived  for  no  other 
offence,  but  only  for  not  subscribing,  might  be  restored ;  and  that 
the  bishops  would  forbear  their  excommunication  ex  officio  mero^  of 
godly  and  learned  preachers,  not  detected  for  open  offence  of  life  or 
apparent  error  in  doctrine. 

"  11.  That  they  might  not  be  called  before  the  High  Commission, 
or  out  of  the  diocess  where  they  lived,  except  for  some  notable 
offence. 

"  12.  That  it  might  be  permitted  to  them,  in  every  archdeaconry, 
to  have  some  common  exercises  and  conferences  amongst  themselves, 
to  be  limited  and  prescribed  by  the  ordinaries. 

"  13.  That  the  high  censure  of  excommunication  may  not  be 
denounced  or  executed  for  small  matters. 

"  14.  Nor  by  chancellors,  commissaries,  or  officials,  but  by  the 
bishops  themselves,  with  assistance  of  grave  persons. 

"  15,  16.  That  non-residency  may  be  quite  removed  out  of  the 
church,  or  at  least  that,  according  to  the  queen  s  injunctions,  (Article 
44,)  no  non-resident,  having  already  a  licence  or  faculty,  may  enjoy 
it,  unless  he  depute  an  able  curate,  that  may  weekly  preach  and 
catechize,  as  is  required  in  her  majesty's  Injunctions.'' 

Of  all  these  particulars,  the  House  fell  most  fiercely  on  the  debate 
of  pluralities,  and  (the  effect  thereof)  non-residents. 


94  CHURCH    HISTORY    OF    BRITAIN.  A.D.  1587- 

2 — 8.  The  Archbishop's  Plea  for  Non-residents.  The  Lord  Greifs 
Rejoinder.  The  Lord  Treasurer'' s  Moderation.  Others 
interpret.  The  Lord  Grey  (query,  whether  of  Wilton,  or, 
what  most  probable,  of  Ruthyn,  afterwards  Earl  of  Kent) 
replied. 

Archbishop  Whitgift  pleaded,  that  licences  for  non-residency  were 
at  the  present  but  seldom  granted.  And  yet,'  in  way  of  recovering 
health  by  changing  of  air,  of  study  for  a  time  in  the  university,  of 
mortal  enmity  borne  by  some  in  the  parish,  of  prosecution  of  law, 
or  of  being  employed  in  public  affairs,  they  cannot  be  wholly  abro- 
gated. That  there  were  in  England  four  thousand  five  hundred 
benefices  with  cure,  not  above  ten,  and  most  of  them  under  eight 
pounds  in  the  first-fruits"*  book,  which  cannot  be  furnished  with  able 
pastors,  as  the  petitioners  desire,  because  of  the  smallness  of  their 
livings.  Moreover,  he  affirmed  that,  whatever  was  pretended  to  the 
contrary,  England  at  that  time  flourished  with  able  ministers  more 
than  ever  before,  yea,  had  more  than  all  Christendom  besides. 

The  lord  Grey  rejoined  to  this  assertion  of  more  learned  ministers 
in  the  church  of  England  than  ever  heretofore,  nay,  than  in  all  the 
Reformed  churches  in  Christendom,  this :  That  it  was  not  to  be 
attributed  to  the  bishops  or  their  actions,  but  to  God,  who  now 
opened  the  hearts  of  many  to  see  into  the  truth,  and  that  the 
schools  were  better  observed. 

The  lord  treasurer  Burleigh  seeming  to  moderate  betwixt  them, 
after  a  long  and  learned  oration  concluded,  that  he  was  not  so  scru- 
pulous as  absolutely  to  like  of  the  Bill  against  pluralities  without  any 
exception :  for  he  did  favour  both  learning,  and  wished  a  competent 
reward  to  it ;  and  therefore  could  like  and  allow  a  learned  man  to  have 
two  benefices,  so  they  were  both  in  one  parish,  that  is  to  say,  in  one 
diocess,  and  not  one  in  the  diocess  of  Winchester,  and  another  in  the 
north,  where  the  several  diocesans  would  have  no  regard  of  them ; 
whereas,  being  both  in  one  diocess,  the  bishop  would  look  unto 
them. 

Here  it  was  signified  that  her  majesty  was  acquainted  with  the 
matter,  and  that  she  was  very  forward  to  redress  the  faults,  and  there- 
fore required  the  bishops  not  to  hinder  her  good  and  gracious  pur- 
pose, for  that  her  majesty  would  confer  with  them. 

The  lord  Grey  again  said,  he  greatly  wondered  at  her  majesty,  that 
she  would  make  choice  to  confer  with  those  who  were  all  enemies  to 
reformation,  for  that  it  merely  touched  their  freeholds  ;  and  therefore 
he  thought  it  good  the  House  should  make  choice  of  some  to  be 
joined  with  them  ;  also  he  wished  the  bishops  might  be  served  as 
they  were  in  king  Henry  the  eighth's  days,  when,  as  in  the  case  of 
praemunire,  they  were  all  thrust  out  of  doors. 


30  ELIZABETH.  BOOK    IX.       CENT.    XVI,  d5 

Then  the  lord  treasurer  said,  that  the  bishops,  if  they  were  wise, 
would  themselves  be  humble  suitors  to  her  majesty  to  have  some  of 
the  temporal  lords  joined  with  them. 

The  lord  chamberlain  utterly  disliked  the  lord  Grey's  motion, 
alleging  that  it  was  not  to  be  liked  of,  that  the  lords  should  appoint 
her  majesty  any  to  confer  withal,  but  that  it  should  be  left  to  her 
own  election. 

9.   The  Bishops  providently  petition  the  Queen. 

Matters  flying  thus  high,  the  archbishop,  with  the  rest  of  the 
clergy,  conceived  it  the  safest  way  to  apply  themselves  by  petition  to 
the  queen  ;  which  they  presented  as  followeth  : — 


"  The  woful  and  distressed  state  whereinto  we  are  like  to  fall, 
forceth  us  with  grief  of  heart,  in  most  humble  manner,  to  crave  your 
majesty's  most  sovereign  protection.  For  the  pretence  being  made 
the  maintenance  and  increase  of  a  learned  ministry,  when  it  is 
thoroughly  weighed,  decayeth  learning,  spoileth  their  livings,  taketh 
away  the  set  form  of  prayer  in  the  church,  and  is  the  means  to  bring 
in  confusion  and  barbarism.  How  dangerous  innovations  are  in  a 
settled  estate,  whosoever  hath  judgment  perceiveth.  Set  dangers 
apart,  yet  such  great  inconveniences  may  ensue,  as  will  make  a  state 
lamentable  and  miserable.  Our  neighbours'  miseries  might  make 
us  fearful,  but  that  we  know  who  rules  the  same.  All  the  Reformed 
churches  in  Europe  cannot  compare  with  England  in  the  number  of 
learned  ministers.  These  benefits  of  your  majesty's  most  sacred 
and  careful  government  with  hearty  joy  we  feel  and  humbly 
acknowledge;  senseless  are  they  that  repine  at  it,  and  careless  who 
lightly  regard  it.  The  respect  hereof  made  the  prophet  to  say,  Dii 
estis.  All  the  faithful  and  discreet  clergy  say,  0  dea  certe^ '  nothing 
is  impossible  with  God.'  Requests  without  grounded  reasons  are 
lightly  to  be  rejected.  We,  therefore,  not  as  directors,  but  as  hum- 
ble remembrancers,  beseech  your  Highness's  favourable  beholding 
of  our  present  state,  and  what  it  will  be  in  time  to  come,  if  the  Bill 
against  pluralities  should  take  any  place." 

To  the  petition  were  annexed  a  catalogue  of  those  inconveniences 
to  the  state  present,  state  to  come,  cathedral  churches,  universities, 
to  her  majesty,  to  religion,  in  case  pluralities  were  taken  away,  here 
too  large  to  be  inserted.  So  that,  in  eflfect,  nothing  was  effected  as 
in  relation  to  this  matter,  but  things  left  in  statu  quo  prius^  at  the 
dissolution  of  this  parliament. 


96  CHURCH   HISTORY    OF    BRITAIN.  A«D.  1588. 

10 — 13.  The  Death  of  Bishop  Barnes,  and  of  Bernard  Gilpin, 
hardly  escaped  in  Queen  Mary's  days  :  A  single  Man,  yet 
a  true  Father. 

Amongst  the  mortalities  of  this  year,  most  remarkable  the 
death  of  Richard  Barnes,  bishop  of  Durham  ;  one  commendable 
in  himself,  but  much  suffering  for  the  corruption  and  viciousness  of 
John  Barnes,  his  brother  and  chancellor.*  This  bishop  was  bred  in 
Brazen-nose  College,  made  suffragan  of  Nottingham,  the  last  I 
believe  who  wore  that  title,  and  behaved  himself  very  gravely  in  his 
diocess ;  a  great  friend  at  last  to  Bernard  Gilpin,  though  at  first  by 
some  ill  instruments  incensed  against  him ;  and,  seeing  they  were 
loving  in  their  lives,  their  memories  in  my  book  shall  not  be  divided, 
though  I  confess  the  latter  died  some  three  years  before. 

This  Bernard  Gilpin,  born  of  a  right  worshipful  family,  at  Kent- 
mere  in  Westmoreland,  had  Cuthbert  Tonstall,  bishop  of  Durham, 
for  his  great  uncle.  He  was  bred  first  in  Queen's  College,  then 
Christ's  Church,  in  Oxford ;  and  no  doubt  the  prayers  of  Peter 
Mart}T  conduced  to  his  conversion,  to  be  a  protestant.  For  he  hear- 
ing this  Gilpin  dispute  cordially  on  the  popish  party,  desired  of  God 
that  so  good  affections  might  not  be  misguided,  and  at  last  obtained 
his  desire. 

He  weathered  out  the  reign  of  queen  Mary ;  partly  with  his  tra- 
vels beyond  the  seas,  chiefly  residing  at  Louvain  and  Paris  ;  partly, 
after  his  return,  by  the  favour  of  his  uncle  Tonstall ;  before  whom 
he  was  often  cited,  (chiefly  about  the  eucharist,)  but  was  discharged 
by  confessing  the  real  presence,  and  that  the  manner  thereof  tran- 
scended his  apprehension  ;  Tonstall  not  enforcing  him  to  the  particu- 
larity of  transubstantiation,  as  using  himself  to  complain  on  pope 
Innocent,  for  defining  de  modo  to  be  an  article  of  faith.  However, 
his  foes  so  hardly  beset  him,  that  once  he  ordered  his  servant  to  pro- 
vide for  him  a  long  shroud,  not  for  his  winding  but  burning  sheet, 
as  expecting  at  last  he  should  be  brought  to  the  stake  for  his  religion. 
But  men  may  make  clothes  either  for  mirth  or  for  mourning,  whilst 
God  alone  orders  whether  or  no  they  shall  wear  them. 

After  the  coming  of  queen  Elizabeth  to  the  crown,  he  with  more 
earnestness  refused  a  bishopric,  than  others  affected  it.  His  par- 
sonage at  Houghton-le-Spring,  as  it  might  seem  a  bishop's  palace  for 
building,  so  was  it  no  less  for  hospitality ;  fourteen  villages  belong- 
ing to  that  mother -church,  the  poor  whereof,  beside  many  others, 
were  daily  relieved  at  his  door.  Twenty  scholars  he  commonly 
boarded  in  his  house,  which  seemed  a  little  college.  In  a  word,  he 
was  commonly  called  Father  Gilpin ;  and  well  deserved  it  for  his 

•  See  '<  the  Life  of  Bernard  Gilpin,"  page  190. 


31   ELIZABETH.  BOOK    IX.       CENT.    XVI.  97 

paternal  affections  to  all ;  making  liis  yearly  progress  into  Readsdale, 
and  Tynedale  in  Northumberland,  (where  people  sat  in  darkness  of 
ignorance,  and  shadow  of  death,)  and  instructing  them  by  his  hea- 
venly preaching. 

14 — 16.  The  hra-ce  Coming-forth  of  the  Spanish  Armada  ;  the 
shameful  Flight  and  Return  thereof  This  Deliverance 
principalhj  ivronght  by  God's  Arm.     A.  D.  1588. 

Now  began  that  fatal  year  generally  foretold  that  it  would  be  won- 
derful ;  as  it  proved  no  less.  Whence  the  astrologers  fetched  their 
intelligence  hereof, — whether  from  heaven  or  hell,  from  other  stars  or 
from  Lucifer  alone, — is  uncertain.  This  is  most  sure,  that  this  pre- 
diction, though  hitting  the  mark,  yet  missed  their  meaning,  who 
both  first  reported  and  most  believed  it.  Out  comes  their  invin- 
cible navy  and  army,  perfectly  appointed  for  both  elements,  water 
and  land,  to  sail  and  march  complete  in  all  warlike  equipage  ;  so  that 
formerly,  with  far  less  provision,  they  had  conquered  another  new 
world.  Mighty  was  the  bulk  of  their  ships,  the  sea  seeming  to  groan 
under  them,  (being  a  burden  to  it  as  they  went,  and  to  themselves 
before  they  returned,)  with  all  manner  of  artillery,  prodigious  in  num- 
ber and  greatness  ;  so  that  the  report  of  their  guns  do  still  and  ought 
ever  to  sound  in  the  ears  of  the  English,  not  to  fright  them  with  any 
terror,  but  to  fill  them  with  deserved  thankfulness. 

It  is  said  of  Sennacherib,  coming  against  Jerusalem  with  his  num-e- 
rous  army,  "  By  the  way  that  he  came  shall  he  return,  and  shall  not 
come  into  this  city,  saith  the  Lord,"  2  Kings  xix.  33.  As  the  latter 
part  of  this  threatening  was-verified  here,  no  Spaniard  setting  foot  on 
English  ground  under  other  notion  than  a  prisoner ;  so  God  did  not 
them  the  honour  to  return  the  same  way,  who  coming  by  south-east, 
a  way  they  knew,  went  back  by  south-west,  a  way  they  sought, 
chased  by  our  ships  past  the  fifty-seventh  degree  of  northern  latitude, 
then  and  there  left  to  be  pursued  after  by  hunger  and  cold.  Thus, 
having  tasted  the  English  valour  in  conquering  them,  the  Scotch 
constancy  in  not  relieving  them,  the  Irish  cruelty  in  barbarous  butcher- 
ing them,  the  small  reversion  of  this  great  navy  which  came  home 
might  be  looked  upon  by  religious  eyes,  as  relics,  not  for  the  adora- 
tion but  instruction  of  their  nation  hereafter,  not  to  account  any 
tiling  invincible  which  is  less  than  infinite. 

Such  as  lose  themselves  by  looking  on  second  causes  impute  the 
Spanish  ill  success,  partly  to  the  prince  of  Parma,  who  either  mind- 
bound  or  wind-bound,  staying  himself,  or  stopped  by  the  Hollander, 
would  or  could  not  come  to  their  seasonable  succour  ;  and  partly  to 
the  duke  of  Medina's  want  of  commission  to  fight  with  the  English, 
(save  on  the  defensive,)  till  joined  with  Parma.     Thus,  when  God 

Vol.  hi.  h 


98  CHURCH    HISTORY    OF    BRITAIN.  A.D.  1588. 

will  have  a  design  defeated,  amidst  tlie  plenty,  yea,  superfluity,  of 
all  imaginable  necessaries,  some  unsuspected  one  shall  be  wanting  to 
frustrate  all  the  rest.  We  will  not  mention  (save  in  due  distance  of 
helps)  the  industry  and  loyalty  of  the  lord  Howard,  admiral,  the 
valour  of  our  captains,  the  skill  of  our  pilots,  the  activity  of  our  ships  ; 
but  assign  all  to  the  goodness  of  God,  as  queen  Elizabeth  did. 
Leave  we  her  in  the  choir  of  St.  PauFs  church,  devoutly  on  her  knees, 
with  the  rest  of  her  nobles  in  the  same  humble  posture,  returning  their 
unfeigned  thanks  to  the  God  and  Giver  of  all  victory;  whilst,  going 
abroad,  we  shall  find  some  of  her  subjects  worse  employed, — in  im- 
placable enmity  about  ecclesiastical  discipline  one  against  another. 
And  let  not  the  mentioning  of  this  deliverance  be  censured  as  a 
deviation  from  the  "  Church  History  of  Britain ;"  silence  thereof 
being  a  sin.  For  had  the  design  taken  effect,  neither  protestant 
church  in  Britain  had  remained,  nor  history  thereof  been  made  at 
this  present. 

17 — 20.  Scurrilous  Pamphlets  dispersed.  Their  Reasons  for  the 
Lawfulness  of  such  Pamphlets,  These  Books  disclaimed  hy 
the  discreet  Sort,  and  why.  The  histruments  employed  in 
making  these  Books  heavily  punished. 
But  bullets  did  not  fly  about  so  much  at  sea,  as  bastardly  libels 
by  land ;  so  fitly  called,  because  none  durst  father  them  for  their 
issue.  They  are  known,  though  not  by  their  parents,  by  their 
names.  1.  "The  Epitome  ;"  2.  "  The  Demonstration  of  Discipline;" 
3.  "The  Supplication;"  4.  "Diotrephes ;"  5.  "The  Minerals;" 
6.  "Have  you  any  Work  for  the  Cooper?"  7.  "Martin  Senior 
Mar-prelate  ;  "  8.  "Martin  Junior  Mar-prelate  ; "  9.  "More  Work 
for  the  Cooper,"  &c.  The  main  drift  and  scope  of  these  pamphlets 
(for,  know  one  and  know  all,  these  foul-mouthed  papers,  like  Black 
Moors,  did  all  look  alike)  was  to  defame  and  disgrace  the  English 
prelates,  scoffing  at  them  for  their  garb,  gait,  apparel,  vanities  of 
their  youth,  natural  defects,  and  personal  infirmities.  It  is  strange 
how  secretly  they  were  printed,  how  speedily  dispersed,  how  ge- 
nerally bought,  how  greedily  read,  yea,  and  how  firmly  believed, 
especially  of  the  common  sort,  to  whom  no  better  music  than  to 
hear  their  betters  upbraided. 

Some  precise  men  of  that  side  thought  these  jeering  pens  well 
employed.  For  having  formerly,  as  they  say,  tried  all  serious  and 
sober  means  to  reclaim  the  bishops,  which  hitherto  proved  unefFec- 
tual ;  they  thought  it  not  amiss  to  try  this  new  way,  that  whom  they 
could  not  in  earnest  make  odious,  in  sport  they  might  render  ridicu- 
lous. Wits  will  be  working ;  and  such  as  have  a  satirical  vein 
cannot  better  vent  it  than  in  lashing  of  sin.     Besides,  they  wanted 


•^1  ELIZABETH.  BOOK    IX.       CENT.    XVI.  99 

not  a  warrant  (as  they  conceived)  in  Holy  Writ,  where  it  was  no 
solecism  to  the  gravity  of  Elijah  to  mock  Baafs  priests  out  of  their 
superstition  chiefly,  1  Kings  xviii.  27.  This  was  conceived  would 
drive  on  their  design,  strengthen  their  party  by  working  on  the  peo- 
ple's affections,  which  were  marvellously  taken  with  the  reading 
thereof. 

But  the  more  discreet  and  devout  sort  of  men,  even  of  such  as 
were  no  great  friends  to  the  hierarchy,  upon  solemn  debate  then 
resolved,  (1  speak  on  certain  knowledge  from  the  mouths  of  such 
whom  I  must  believe,)  that,  for  many  foul  falsehoods  therein  sug- 
gested, such  books  were  altogether  unbeseeming  a  pious  spirit,  to 
print,  publish,  or  with  pleasure  peruse ;  which,  supposed  true  both 
in  matter  and  measure,  charity  would  rather  conceal  than  discover ; 
the  best  of  men  being  so  conscious  of  their  own  badness,  that  they 
are  more  careful  to  wash  their  own  faces,  than  busy  to  throw  dirt  on 
others.  Any  man  may  be  witty  in  a  biting  way :  and  those  that 
have  the  dullest  brains  have  commonly  the  sharpest  teeth  to  that 
purpose.  But  such  carnal  mirth,  whilst  it  tickles  the  flesh,  doth 
wound  the  soul.  And,  which  was  the  main,  these  base  books  would 
give  a  great  advantage  to  the  general  foe  :  and  papists  would  make 
too  much  use  thereof  against  protestant  religion,  especially  seeing  an 
archangel  thought  himself  too  good  to  bring — and  Satan  not  bad 
enough  to  have  brought — railing  speeches  against  him,  Jude  9. 

But,  leaving  private  men  to  abound  in  their  own  sense  :  how 
highly  the  state  (as  it  then  stood)  distasted  these  books,  will  plainly 
appear  by  the  heavy  censures  inflicted  on  such  as  were  but  acces- 
sary thereunto.  To  pass  by  John  Penry  and  John  Udall,  ministers, 
accused  for  making  some  of  them,  (of  whom  in  due  place,)  together 
with  the  printers,  and  Humphry  Newman,  a  cobbler,  chief  disperser 
of  them  :  the  Star-chamber  deeply  fined  Sir  Richard  Knightly  and 
Sir Wigston,  for  entertaining  and  receiving  the  press  ;  gentle- 
men, whom  their  adversaries  allow  qualified  with  piety,  gravity, 
and  wisdom  ;  *  which  made  many  admire  how  their  discretion  could 
be  deluded,  and  more  bemoan  that  their  goodness  should  be  abused 
by  others,  who  had  designs  upon  them.  Here  archbishop  Whitgift 
bestirred  himself  to  improve  his  interest  with  the  queen,  till  his 
importunity  had  angered  her,  and  till  his  importunity  had  pleased 
her  again,  that  they  might  be  delivered  out  of  prison,  and  eased  of 
their  fines  :  which,  upon  their  submission,  was  performed  :  f  whose 
mildness  to  mediate  for  his  adversaries,  as  it  was  highly  commended 
by  some,  so  there  wanted  not  those  who  imputed  his  moderation 
therein  to  declining  of  envy,  gaining  of  applause,  and  remorse  of  his 

•  Sir  George  Paul  in  "  the  Life  of  Archbishop  Whitgift,"  page 40.         -f  Camden's 
Elizabetha  in  anno  1588. 

H  2 


100  CHURCH  HISTORY  OF  BRITAIN.  A.  D.  1588. 

own  conscience  for  over-rigorous  proceedings  :  it  being  no  charity  to 
cure  the  wound  he  hath  caused,  and  solicit  the  remitting  of  those 
fines  which  he  had  procured  to  be  imposed.  Thus  impossible  it  is 
to  please  froward  spirits,  and  to  make  them  like  the  best  deed  who 
dislike  the  doer  thereof.  And  if  any  desire  to  know  the  motions 
and  stages  of  the  press  which  printed  these  books,  know  it  was  first 
set  up  at  Moulsey,  near  Kingston  in  Surrey,*  thence  conveyed  to 
Fausley  in  Northamptonshire,  thence  to  Norton,  and  afterwards  to 
Coventry.  Hence  it  was  removed  to  Welstone  in  Warwickshire, 
whence  the  letters  were  sent  to  another  press,  in  or  near  Manchester, 
and  there  discovered  by  Henry  earl  of  Derby,  in  the  printing  of 
"More  Work  for  the  Cooper .'"'  No  wonder  then  if  many  errata 
were  committed  by  this  (call  it  as  you  please  "pilgrim"  or  "vaga- 
bond"*') press,  when  itself  was  ever  in  a  wandering  and  straggling 
condition. 

21 — 23.  Jets  of  the  Synod  of  Coventry.  The  English  Church 
distracted  betwixt  contrary  Disciplines.  The  Success  of  the 
solemn  Humiliation  of  the  Ministers  at  Northampton. 

A  synod  of  the  presbyterians,  of  the  Warwickshire  classis,  was 
called  at  Coventry,  die  decimo  quarti ;  that  is,  "  on  the  tenth  of 
April ; "  wherein  the  questions,  brought  the  last  year  from  the 
brethren  of  Cambridge  synod,  were  resolved  in  manner  as  fol- 
io weth  : — 

"  1.  That  private  baptism  was  unlawful.-f* 

"  2.  That  it  is  not  lawful  to  read  Homilies  in  the  church. 

"  3.  That  the  sign  of  the  Cross  is  not  to  be  used  in  baptism. 

"  4.  That  the  faithful  ought  not  to  communicate  with  unlearned 
ministers ;  although  they  may  be  present  at  their  service,  if  they 
come  of  purpose  to  hear  a  sermon.  The  reason  is,  because  laymen 
as  well  as  ministers  may  read  public  service. 

"  5.  That  the  calling  of  bishops,  &c.  is  unlawful. 

"  6.  That  as  they  deal  in  causes  ecclesiastical,  there  is  no  duty 
belonging  unto — nor  any  publicly  to  be  given — them. 

"  7-  That  it  is  not  lawful  to  be  ordained  ministers  by  them,  or  to 
denounce  either  suspensions  or  excommunications  sent  from  them. 

"  8.  That  it  is  not  lawful  to  rest  in  the  bishop's  deprivation  of  any 
from  the  ministry,  except  (upon  consultation  with  the  neighbour- 
ministers  adjoining  and  his  flock)  it  seems  so  good  unto  them  ;  but 
that  he  continue  in  the  same  until  he  be  compelled  to  the  contrary 
by  civil  force. 

•  Sill  George  Paul,  page  39.  t  Transcribed  out  of  Bishop  Bancroft's  book 

called  "  England's  Scottizing  for  Discipline  by  Practice,"  pages  86,  87  ;  who  may  seem 
to  have  had  the  original  in  Latin. 


t3J    ELIZABETH.  BOOK    IX.       CENT.    XVI.  101 

"  9.  That  it  is  not  lawful  to  appear  in  a  bishop's  court,  but  with 
protestation  of  their  unlawfulness. 

"10.  That  bishops  are  not  to  be  acknowledged  either  for  doctors, 
elders,  or  deacons,  as  having  no  ordinary  calling. 

"  11.  That  touching  the  restoration  of  their  ecclesiastical  Disci- 
pline, it  ought  to  be  taught  to  the  people  as  occasion  shall  serve. 

"  12.  That  as  yet  the  people  are  not  to  be  solicited  publicly  to 
the  practice  of  the  Discipline,  till  they  be  better  instructed  in  the 
knowledge  of  it. 

"  13.  That  men  of  better  understanding  are  to  be  allured  pri- 
vately to  the  present  embracing  of  the  Discipline  and  practice  of  it, 
as  far  as  they  shall  be  well  able,  with  the  peace  of  the  church.'' 

Likewise  in  the  same  assembly  the  aforesaid  Book  of  Discipline 
was  approved  to  be  ''a  draught  essential  and  necessary  for  all 
times  ;"  and  certain  articles,  devised  in  approbation — and  for  the 
manner  of  the  use — thereof,  were  brought,  treated  of,  and  subscribed 
unto,  by  Mr.  Cartwright  and  others  ;  and  afterwards  tendered  far 
and  near  to  the  several  classes,  for  a  general  ratification  of  all  the 
brethren. 

Now,  if  Rebekah  found  herself  strangely  affected  when  twins 
struggled  in  her  womb.  Gen.  xxv.  22 ;  the  condition  of  the  English 
church  must  be  conceived  sad,  which  at  the  same  time  had  two 
disciplines,  both  of  them  pleading  Scripture  and  primitive  practice, 
each  striving  to  support  itself,  and  suppress  its  rival :  The  Hierarchy 
commanded  by  authority,  established  by  law,  confirmed  by  general 
practice,  and  continued  so  long  by  custom  in  this  land,  that,  had 
one  at  this  time  lived  the  age  of  Methuselah,  he  could  not  remember 
the  beginning  thereof  in  Britain  :  The  Presbytery,  though  wanting 
the  stamp  of  authority,  claiming  to  be  the  purer  metal,  founded  by 
some  clergymen,  favoured  by  many  of  the  gentry,  and  followed  by 
more  of  the  common  sort,  who,  being  prompted  with  that  natural 
principle, — that  the  weakest  side  must  be  most  watchful,  what  they 
wanted  in  strength  they  supplied  in  activity  ;  but  what  won  them 
most  repute  was  their  ministers'  painful  preaching  in  populous 
places  ;  it  being  observed  in  England,  that  those  who  hold  the 
helm  of  the  pulpit  always  steer  people's  hearts  as  they  please.  The 
worst  is,  that,  in  matters  of  fact,  all  relations  in  these  times  are 
relations ;  I  mean,  much  resent  of  party  and  interest,  to  the  preju- 
dice of  truth.  Let  me  mind  the  reader  to  re-flect  his  eye  on  our 
quotations,  (the  margin  in  such  cases  being  as  material  as  the  text, 
as  containing  the  authors,)  and  his  judgment  may,  according  to  the 
credit  or  reference  of  the  author  alleged,  believe,  or  abate  from,  the 
reputation  of  the  report.  Let  me  add,  that,  though  it  be  a  lie  in 
the  clock,  it  is  but  a  falsehood  in  the  hand  of  the  dial  when  pointing 


102  CHURCH    HISTORY    OF    BRITAIN.  A.D.  1588. 

at  a  wrong  hour,  if  rightly  following  the  direction  of  th^  wheel  which, 
moveth  it.  And  the  fault  is  not  nmine,  if  I  truly  cite  what  is  false 
on  the  credit  of  another.  The  best  certainty  in  this  kind  we  are 
capable  of  is  what  we  find  in  the  confessions  of  the  parties  them- 
selves, deposed  on  oath,  taken  by  public  notaries,  and  recorded  in 
court.  For,  such  who  herein  will  fly  higher  for  true  intelligence 
than  the  Star-chamber,  must  fetch  it  from  heaven  himself. 

In  that  court  we  find  confessed  by  one  Mr.  Johnson,*  (formerly 
a  great  presbyterian,  but  afterwards,  it  seems,  falling  from  that  side, 
he  discovered  many  passages  to  their  disadvantage,)  how  that  when 
"  the  Book  of  Discipline"  came  to  Northampton  to  be  subscribed 
unto,  there  was  a  general  censuring  used  amongst  the  brethren  there, 
as  it  were  to  sanctify  themselves  ;  partly  by  sustaining  a  kind  of 
penance  and  reproof  for  their  former  conformity  to  the  Orders  of 
the  church  ;  and,  partly,  to  prepare  their  minds  for  the  devout 
accepting  of  the  aforesaid  book.  In  which  course  of  censuring  used 
at. that  time,  there  was  such  a  ripping-up  one  of  another's  life,  even 
from  their  youth,  as  that  they  came  to  bitterness  and  reviling  temis 
amongst  themselves  ;  one  growing  thereby  odious  to  another,  and 
some  did  thereupon  utterly  forsake  those  kinds  of  assemblies.  O, 
how  woful  the  vessel  of  the  English  church,  whilst  her  vTrsprjrai,  her 
ministers,  and  under-towers,  some  tugged  it  one  way,  and  others 
towing  it  another, — enough  almost  to  split  her  in  pieces  with  the 
violence  of  their  contrary  discipline. 

24.     The   Contents  of  the  Admonition   to  the   Catholics  of 

England. 

Leave  we  them  for  a  while,  to  behold  how  the  popish  clergy  were 
employed ;  who,  in  the  beginning  of  this  year,  were  as  busy  as  bees, 
newly  ready  to  swarm.  A  book  was  set  forth  called  "  the  Admoni- 
tion,'" dispersed  amongst  catholics,  and  highly  cried  up,  consisting 
of  several  parts,  not  unfit  to  be  here  recited. 

1.  The  authors  make  their  entrance  into  the  discourse,  with  a 
most  odious  and  shameful  declamation  against  her  majesty,  stirring 
up  her  subjects'  hearts  to  contempt  of  her  Highness,  as  being  one 
odious  to  God  and  man.  They  threaten  the  nobility,  gentry,  &c. 
with  loss  of  all  their  goods,  their  lands,  their  lives,  and  with  damna- 
tion besides ;  except  that  presently,  upon  the  landing  of  the 
Spaniards,  they  joined  themselves  and  all  their  forces, — men,  muni- 
tion, victuals,  and  whatsoever  else  they  could  make, — with  their 
catholic  army,  (forsooth,)  for  the  words  be  these :  *'  If  you  will 
avoid,"  say  they,  "  the  pope's,   the  king's,  and  other  princes'  high 

•  See  "'England's  Scottizing  for  Discipline,''  3  cap.  6,  page  88, 


31  ELIZABETH.  BOOK    IX.       CENT.    XVI.  lOo 

indignation,  let  no  man  of  what  degree  soever  abet,  aid,  defend,  or 
acknowledge  her,^'  &c.  adding  that  otherwise  they  should  "  incur  the 
angels"*  curse  and  malediction,  and  be  as  deeply  excommunicated  as 
any,  because  that,  in  taking  her  majesty's  part,  they  should  fight 
against  God,  against  their  lawful  king,  against  their  country,  and 
that,  notwithstanding  all  they  should  do,  they  should  but  defend 
her  Highness  bootless,  to  their  own  present  destruction  and  eternal 
shame." 

2.  After  all  those,  and  many  other  such  threats,  in  a  high  and 
military  style,  to  scare  fools  with,  then  they  come  to  some  more 
mild  persuasions,  and  promise  the  noblemen,  that  so  they  join  with 
the  duke  of  Parma  upon  the  receipt  of  their  Admonition,  they  will 
entreat  that  their  whole  houses  shall  not  perish.  For  Parsons  did 
instigate  the  English  cardinal  to  swear  by  his  honour,  and  in  the 
word  of  a  cardinal,  that,  in  the  fury  of  their  intended  massacre, 
there  should  as  great  care  be  taken  of  every  catholic  and  penitent 
person  as  possibly  could  be,  and  that  he  was  made  a  cardinal  of 
purpose  to  be  sent  then  into  England  for  the  sweet  managing  of 
those  affairs. 

3.  Other  arguments  they  used,  drawn  from  the  certainty  of  the 
victory ;  as  that  all  the  protestants  would  either  turn  their  coats, 
copies,  arms,  or  fly  away  in  fear  and  torment  of  the  angel  of  God 
prosecuting  them  ;  that,  although  none  of  her  majesty's  subjects 
should  assist  the  Spaniards,  yet  their  own  forces,  which  they  brought 
with  them,  were  strong  enough,  their  provision  sufficient,  their 
appointment  so  surpassing,  that  they  had  more  expert  captains  than 
her  majesty  had  good  soldiers,  all  resolute  to  be  in  the  cause  which 
they  had  undertaken  ;  that  the  blood  of  all  the  blessed  bishops  shed 
in  this  land,  and  all  the  saints  in  heaven,  prayed  for  the  Spaniards' 
victory  ;  that  all  the  virtuous  priests  of  our  country,  both  at  home 
and  abroad,  had  stretched  forth  their  sacred  hands  to  the  same  end  ; 
that  many  priests  were  in  the  camp  to  serve  every  spiritual  man's 
necessity  ;  that  their  forces  were  guarded  with  all  God's  holy  angels, 
with  Christ  himself  in  the  sovereign  sacrament,  and  with  the  daily 
most  holy  oblation  of  Christ's  own  dear  body  and  blood  ;  that  the 
Spaniards  being  thus  assisted  with  so  many  helps,  though  they  had 
been  never  so  few,  they  could  not  lose  ;  and  that  her  majesty  and 
her  assistants  wanting  these  helps,  although  they  were  never  so 
fierce,  never  so  proud,  never  so  many,  never  so  well  appointed,  yet 
they  could  not  prevail.  "  Fear  you  not,"  say  they  to  such  as  would 
take  their  part ;  "  they  cannot."  And  thus  far  out  of  their  said 
Jesuitical  "  Admonition." 

The  book  goes  under  the  name  of  Cardinal  Allen,  though  the 
secular  priests  say  he  was  but  the  cloak-father  thereof,    and  that 


104  CHURCH    HISTORY    OF    BRITAIN.  A.D.  1590. 

Parsons  the  Jesuit  made  it.*  Others  conceive  it  equivocally 
begotten,  as  the  result  and  extract  of  several  brains.  No  doubt, 
had  the  Spanish  invasion  succeeded,  happy  he  who  could  have  laid 
claim  to  so  prophetical  a  piece  :  and  they  would  have  fallen  out,  as 
the  two  harlots  about  the  living  child, — who  should  have  been 
parent  thereof,  1  Kings  iii.  Whereas  now,  on  the  miscarriage  of 
their  great  navy,  all  disclaimed  the  book,  and  Parsons  procured  the 
whole  impression  to  be  burned,  (save  some  few  sent  abroad  before- 
hand to  his  friends,-|-)  that  it  might  not  remain  a  monument  of  their 
falsehood.  And  now  the  popish  priests,  some  lurked  here  in  holes, 
others  fled  into  foreign  parts,  their  confusion  being  the  greater  for 
their  former  confidence.  Thus  Sisera  comes  off  the  more  coldly, 
when  stripped  out  of  the  garment  of  divers  colours  wdierewith  his 
mother  had  arrayed  him,  in  her  fancy  running  faster  than  the  wheels 
of  her  son's  chariot  to  his  imaginary  conquest,  Judges  v.  30. 

25.   The  Death  of  Edivin  Sands,  Archbishop  of  York. 

This  year,  August  8th,  died  Edwin  Sands,  archbishop  of  York  ; 
born  in  Lancashire  of  worshipful  parentage,  bred  in  Cambridge, 
banished  to  Germany,  after  this  promoted  to  be  bishop  of  Wor- 
cester, then  succeeded  Grindal  in  London  and  York ;  an  excellent 
and  painful  preacher,  and  of  a  pious  and  godly  life,  which  increased 
in  his  old  age,  so  that,  by  a  great  and  good  stride,  whilst  he  had  one 
foot  in  tbe  grave,  he  had  the  other  in  heaven.  He  was  buried  in 
Southwell  ;  and  it  is  hard  to  say,  whether  he  was  more  eminent  in 
his  own  virtues,  or  more  happy  in  his  flourishing  posterity. 

26.  Archbishop  Whitgiffs  Discretion,     A.D.  1589. 

The  next  year  produced  not  any  great  church-matters  in  itself, 
but  was  only  preparatory  to  the  ripening  of  business,  and  raising  the 
charges  against  the  principal  patrons  of  nonconformity.  Indeed, 
archbishop  Whitgift,  according  to  his  constant  custom  and  manner, 
repaired  daily  to  the  Council-table  early  in  the  morning  ;  and,  after 
an  usual  apprecation  of  a  "  Good  morrow"  to  the  lords,  he  requested 
to  know  if  there  were  any  church-business  to  be  debated  ;  and,  if 
the  answer  were  returned  in  the  affirmative,  he  stayed  and  attended 
the  issue  of  the  matter.  But  if  no  such  matter  appeared,  he  craved 
leave  to  be  dispensed  withal ;  saying,  "  Then,  my  lords,  here  is  no 
need  of  me  ;"  and  departed  :  a  commendable  practice,  clearing  him- 
self from  all  aspersions  of  civil  pragmaticalness,  and  tending  much  to 
the  just  support  of  his  reputation. 

*  Watsok's  Quodlibets,  page  240.  f  Watson  ut prius. 


33  ELIZABETH.  BOOK    IX.       CENT.    XVI.  105 

27.    Articles   objected   against   Mr.    Thomas    Cartwright. 
A.D.  1590. 

On  the  first  of  September,  Mr.  Cartwright,  bachelor  in  divinity, 
Avas  brouglit  before  her  majesty's  commissioners,  there  to  take  his 
oath,  and  give  in  his  positive  answer  to  the  following  articles : — * 

"  1.  Imprimis.  We  do  object  and  articulate  against  him,  that  he, 
being  a  minister  (at  least  a  deacon)  lawfully  called,  according  to  the 
godly  laws  and  orders  of  this  church  of  England,  hath  forsaken, 
abandoned,  and  renounced  the  same  orders  ecclesiastical,  as  an  anti- 
christian  and  unlawful  manner  of  calling  unto  the  ministry  or  dea- 
conship. 

"  2.  Item.  That  he,  departing  this  realm  into  foreign  parts,  with- 
out license,  as  a  man  discontented  with  the  form  of  government  eccle- 
siastical here  by  law  established,  the  more  to  testify  his  dislike  and 
contempt  thereof,  and  of  the  manner  of  his  former  vocation  and 
ordination,  was  contented  in  foreign  parts,  as  at  Antwerp,  Middle- 
burgh,  or  elsewhere,  to  have  a  new  vocation,  election,  or  ordination, 
by  imposition  of  hands  unto  the  ministry,  or  unto  some  other  order 
or  degree  ecclesiastical,  and  in  other  manner  and  form  than  the  laws 
ecclesiastical  of  this  realm  -do  prescribe.  Let  him  declare  upon  his 
oath  the  particular  circumstances  thereof. 

"  3.  Item.  That  by  virtue  or  colour  of  such  his  later  vocation, 
election,  or  ordination,  becoming  a  pretended  bishop  or  pastor  of 
such  congregations  as  made  choice  of  him,  he  established,  or  pro- 
cured to  be  established,  at  Antwerp  and  at  Middleburgh,  among 
merchants,  and  others,  her  majesty's  subjects,  a  certain  consistory, 
seminary,  presbytery,  or  eldership  ecclesiastical,  consisting  of  him- 
self, being  bishop  or  pastor,  (and  so  president  thereof,)  of  a  doctor, 
of  certain  ancients,  seniors,  or  elders  for  government  ecclesiastical, 
and  of  deacons  for  distributing  to  the  poor. 

"  4.  Item.  That  [to]  the  said  eldership,  and  the  authority  thereof, 
certiiin  English-born  subjects,  were  called,  elected,  or  ordained  by 
imposition  of  hands,  to  be  ministers  or  ecclesiastical  doctors,  (being 
not  of  that  degree  before,)  as  Hart,  Travers,  Grise,  or  some  of 
them  ;  and  some  that  were  also  ministers  afore  according  to  the 
orders  of  the  church  of  England,  as  Fenner,  Acton,  were  so  called, 
and  other  English  subjects  were  also  called,  and  likewise  ordained 
elders  ;  and  some  others  were  ordained  deacons,  in  other  manner 
and  form  than  the  laws  ecclesiastical  of  the  realm  do  prescribe  or 
allow  of. 

"  5.  Item.  That  such  eldership  so  established,  under  the  pre- 
sidentship  of  him  the  said  Thomas  Cartwright,  had  used  (beside 

*  The  copy  of  these  articles  was  found  b)^  a  friend,  iu  Mr.  Travers's  study,  after  his 
death  ;  viko  as  kindiy  communicated  as  I  have  truly  transcribed  them. 


106  CHURCH    HISTORY    OF    BRITAIN.  A.D.  1590. 

this  authority  of  this  vocation  and  ordination  of  officers  ecclesiastical) 
the  censures  and  keys  of  the  church, — as  public  admonition,  suspen- 
sion from  the  supper,  and  from  execution  of  offices  ecclesiastical, 
and  the  censures  of  excommunication  ;  likewise  authority  of  making 
laws,  degrees,  and  orders  ecclesiastical,  and  of  dealing  with  the  doc- 
trine and  manners  of  all  persons  in  that  congregation,  in  all  matters 
whatsoever  so  far  as  might  appertain  to  conscience. 

"  6.  Item,  That  he  the  said  Thomas  Cartwright,  in  the  public 
administration  of  his  ministry  there,  among  her  majesty"'s  subjects, 
used  not  the  form  of  Liturgy,  or  Book  of  Common-Prayer,  by  the 
laws  of  this  land  established,  nor  in  his  government  ecclesiastical, 
the  laws  and  orders  of  this  land,  but  rather  conformed  himself  in 
both  to  the  use  and  form  of  some  other  foreign  churches. 

"  7.  Item.  That  since  his  last  return  from  beyond  the  seas, 
being  to  be  placed  at  Warwick,  he  faithfully  promised  (if  he  might 
be  but  tolerated  to  preach)  not  to  impugn  the  laws,  orders,  policy, 
government,  nor  governors  in  this  church  of  England;  but  to  persuade 
and  procure,  so  much  as  he  could,  both  publicly  and  privately,  the 
estimation  and  peace  of  this  church. 

"  8.  Item.  That  he,  having  no  ministry  in  this  church,  (other 
than  such  as  before  he  had  forsaken,  and  still  condemneth  as  unlaw- 
ful,) and  without  any  license,  (as  law  requireth,)  he  hath  since  taken 
upon  him  to  preach  at  Warwick,  and  at  sundry  other  places  of  this 
realm. 

"  9.  Item.  That  since  his  said  return,  in  sundry  private  con- 
ferences with  such  ministers  and  others  as  at  sundry  times,  by  word 
and  letter,  have  asked  his  advice  or  opinion,  he  hath  showed  mislike 
of  the  laws  and  government  ecclesiastical,  and  of  (livers  parts  of 
the  Liturgy  of  this  church ;  and  thereby  persuaded  and  prevailed 
also  with  many  in  sundry  points  to  break  the  orders  and  form  of 
the  Book  of  Common-Prayer,  who  observed  them  before,  and  also 
to  oppose  themselves  to  the  government  of  this  church,  as  himself 
well  knoweth,  or  verily  belie veth. 

"  10.  Item.  That  in  all  or  most  of  such  his  sermons  and  exer- 
cises, he  hath  taken  occasion  to  traduce  and  inveigh  against  the 
bishops,  and  other  governors  under  them  in  this  church. 

"  11.  Item.  That  he  hath  grown  so  far  in  hatred  and  dislike 
towards  them,  as  that  at  sundry  times,  in  his  prayer  at  sermons,  and 
namely,  preaching  at  Banbury,  about  a  year  since,  in  such  place  as 
others  well-disposed  pray  for  bishops,  he  pmyed  to  this  or  like  effect : 
'  Because  that  they  which  ought  to  be  pillars  in  the  church  do  bend 
themselves  against  Christ  and  his  truth,  therefore,  O  Lord,  give  us 
grace  and  power,  all  as  one  man,  to  set  ourselves  against  them."' 
And  this  in  effect,  by  way  of  emphasis,  he  then  also  repeated. 


O'S  ELIZABETH.  BOOK.    IX.       CENT.    XVI.  107 

"  ]2.  Item.  That  preaching  at  sundry  times  and  places,  he 
usually  reacheth  at  all  occasions  to  deprave,  condemn,  and  impugn 
the  manner  of  ordination  of  bishops,  ministers,  and  deacons  ;  sun- 
dry ]  oints  of  the  polity,  government,  laws,  orders,  and  rites  eccle- 
siastical, and^of  the  public  Liturgy  of  the  church  of  England,  con- 
tained in  the  Book  of  Common-Prayer  ;  as,  namely,  the  use  of  the 
surplice,  the  interrogatories  to  godfathers,  &c.  in  the  name  of  the 
infants,  the  cross  in  baptism,  the  ring  in  marriage,  the  thanksgiving 
after  child-birth,  burials  by  ministers,  the  kneeling  at  communion, 
some  points  of  the  Litany,  certain  collects  and  prayers,  the  reading 
of  portions  of  Scripture  for  the  Epistle  and  Gospel,  and  the  manner 
of  singing  in  cathedral  churches,  and  others. 

"  13.  Item,  That  preaching  at  the  baptizing  of  one  of  Job 
Throgmorton's  children,  he  spoke  much  of  the  unlawfulness  and  in 
derogation  of  the  government,  polity,  laws,  and  Liturgy  ecclesias- 
tical of  this  realm  ;  and  to  the  justification  of  a  government  by 
elderships  in  every  congregation,  and  by  conference  and  synods,  &c. 
abroad,  as  Divine  institutions  commanded  by  Christ,  and  the  only 
lawful  church-government ;  seeking  to  prove  and  establish  such 
elderships  out  of  that  word  in  one  of  the  Psalms,  where  thrones  are 
mentioned. 

"  14.  Item.  That  by  toleration  and  impunity  he  did  grow  so  con- 
fident, and  withal  implacable,  against  the  laws,  government,  and 
orders  of  this  church  of  England,  that  he  could  not  endure  Mr.  Bourd- 
man  and  others  (preaching  sundry  times  at  Warwick)  to  speak 
in  defence  thereof;  but  took  upon  him  to  confute,  in  sundry  sermons 
there,  these  things  which  the  said  Bourdman  had  truly  and  duti- 
fully in  that  behalf  spoken  and  delivered. 

"  15.  Item.  That  in  his  sermons  at  Warwick  and  elsewhere, 
within  the  said  time,  he  often  delivered  many  frivolous,  strange,  and 
undiscreet  positions  ;  as,  namely,  that  to  kneel  down  and  pray  when 
a  man  comes  into  the  church,  or  pray  there  privately,  was  but  to 
offer  the  sacrifice  of  fools ;  that  it  was  requisite,  all  the  hearers  that 
were  able  should  stand  upon  their  feet  during  sermons  ;  and,  dis- 
coursing about  women,  and  their  child-birth,  &c.  did  speak  thereof 
so  indiscreetly  and  offensively  that  sundry  of  them,  in  great  grief,  had 
conspired  to  have  mischieved  him  with  stones  in  the  open  streets. 

"  16.  Item.  That  by  his  persuasions  privately  and  publicly 
delivered,  sundry  persons  in  and  about  Warwick  were  appointed  to 
impugn,  both  in  words  and  deeds,  the  laws,  orders,  and  rites  pre- 
scribed by  the  Book  of  Common- Prayer ;  insomuch  as  both  his 
own  wife,  by  his  procurement  and  consent,  refused,  after  child-birth, 
to  come  and  give  thanks  in  such  place  of  the  church,  and  in  that 
solemn  manner  as  thereby  is  prescribed  ;  and  some  other  women 


108  CHURCH    HISTORY    OF    JBRITAIN.  A.D.   1590. 

also  of  that  town,  by  such  persuasion  and  example,  did  use  the  like 
contempt. 

"  17.  Item.  That  sundry  times  (or  at  least  once)  when  he  com« 
municated  at  the  Lord's  supper  there,  he  sate,  or  stood  upon  his 
feet ;  and  divers  others,  induced  by  his  persuasions*  and  example, 
both  then  and  at  other  times  did  the  like.  And  that,  at  other  times, 
there  or  in  other  places  where  he  hath  communicated,  both  himself 
and  otliers  (as  he  had  appointed  or  persuaded  afore)  did  walk  along, 
and  receive  the  sacrament  of  the  minister  as  they  passed  by  him. 

"  18.  Item.  That  for  these,  and  such  like  disorders,  he  was  pre- 
sented to  the  bishop  of  Wigorne,  his  ordinary  :  before  whom,  being 
convented  in  the  consistory  there,  he  spake  to  the  justification  and 
upholding  of  such  doing  of  his  and  of  others,  and  there  very  pub- 
licly and  oflfensively  affirmed  and  disputed,  that  the  Book  of 
Common-Prayer,  &c.  is  not  established  by  law. 

"  19.  Item.  That  when,  by  authority  from  the  said  bishop,  for 
his  contempt  he  was  suspended  from  preaching,  et  ah  omni  functione 
ministerii^  he  appealed  from  the  said  suspension,  yet  did  not  prose- 
cute within  a  year  after ;  whereby  (the  cause  being  according  to  law 
remitted  again  to  the  bishop)  he,  the  said  Thomas  Cartwright, 
according  to  the  former  proceedings,  falling  again  into  the  sentence 
of  suspension,  (which  was  also  intimated  and  made  known  unto 
him,)  nevertheless,  in  contempt  of  the  authority  ecclesiastical,  he 
hath  preached  at  Warwick,  Coventry,  and  elsewhere  since  the  said 
time. 

"  20.  Item.  When  one  of  his  men-servants  had  committed  for- 
nication, and  gotten  a  bastard  in  his  house,  he,  taking  upon  him 
the  authority  of  the  ordinary,  did  appoint  unto  the  delinquent  a 
public  form  of  penance,  or  satisfaction,  in  St.  Mary's  church  at 
Warwick,  and  caused  him  to  perform  the  same. 

*'  21.  Item.  Since  his  placing  at  Warwick,  he,  with  others,  at 
such  times  as  they  thought  fit,  have  agreed  to  have,  and  so  have  had, 
divers  public  fasts,  without  the  queen's  authority,  and  have  invited 
and  persuaded  both  sundry  persons  to  be  there  present,  and  also  cer- 
tain to  preach,  to  the  number  of  three,  four,  or  five,  successively, 
one  after  another ;  being  all  noted  to  be  such  as  mislike  and  impugn 
sundry  points  of  the  laws,  government,  and  Liturgy  ecclesiastical  of 
this  church  of  England.  In  which  sermons,  both  he  the  said  Cart- 
wright,  and  such  others  also  as  then  preached,  did  impugn  and 
inveigh  against  the  present  laws,  government,  polity,  and  Liturgy 
ecclesiastical  of  this  church  of  England. 

"  22.  Item.  That,  from  time  to  time,  since  his  abode  in  Warwick, 
by  his  practice  and  dealing,  he  hath  nourished  a  faction  and  heart- 
burning of  one  inhabitant  there  against  another,  severing  them  in 


2S  ELIZABETH.  BOOK    IX.       CENT.    XVI.  109 

his  own  and  his  followers''  speeches,  by  the  names  of  the  godly ^  or 
brethren  favour ing  sincerity^  and  the  profane. 

"  23.  Item.  That  he  doth  know,  or  [hath]  credibly  heard,  who 
were  the  penners,  printers,  or  some  of  the  dispersers  of  the  several 
libels,  going  under  the  name  of  Martin  Mar-prehate,  of  the  '  Demon- 
stration of  Discipline,'  of  Diotrephes,  and  such  like  books,  before 
it  was  known  to  authority ;  and  yet,  in  favour  of  such,  and  contempt 
of  good  laws,  did  not  manifest  the  same  to  any  who  had  authority  to 
punish  it. 

"  24.  Item.  That  being  asked  his  opinion  of  such  books,  he 
answered  thus  in  effect,  or  something  tending  this  way,  namely, 
meaning  the  bishops,  and  others  there  touched,  would  not  amend  by 
grave  books  and  advertisements,  and  therefore  it  was  meet  they 
should  thus  be  dealt  with,  to  their  further  reproach  and  shame. 

"  2^.  Item.  That  for  and  in  the  behalf  of  the  church  of  England, 
he  penned,  or  procured  to  be  penned,  all  or  some  part  of  a  little 
book  entitled  in  one  part,  Disciplina  Ecclesiw  sacra  V^rbo  Dei 
descripta;  and  in  the  other  part,  Disciplina  Synodica  ex  Ecclesi- 
arum  Usu^  ^c.  And,  after  it  was  perused  by  others,  whom  he  first 
acquainted  therewith,  he  recommended  the  same  to  the  censures  and 
judgments  of  more  brethren,  (being  learned  preachers,)  and  some 
others  assembled  together  by  his  means,  for  that  and  other  like  pur- 
poses :  which,  after  deliberation,  and  some  alterations,  was  by  them, 
or  most  of  them,  allowed,  as  the  only  lawful  church-government,  and 
fit  to  be  put  in  practice  ;  and  the  ways  and  means  for  the  practising 
thereof  in  this  realm  were  also  then,  or  not  long  after,  agreed  or  con- 
cluded upon  by  them. 

"  26.  Item.  That  for  the  better  and  more  due  practice  of  it 
within  the  space  of  these  seven,  six,  five,  four,  three,  two,  or  one 
year  last  past,  the  said  Thomas  Cartwright,  and  sundry  others,  (as 
aforesaid,  according  to  former  appointment  and  determinations  by 
them  made,)  have  met  in  assemblies,  termed  synods,  more  general, 
(as  at  London,  at  terms  and  parliament-times ;  in  Oxford  at  the 
Act;  in  Cambridge  at  the  times  of  Commencement,  and  Stour- 
bridge-fair,)  and  also  more  particular  and  provincial  synods,  and  at 
classes  or  conferences  of  certain  selected  ministers,  in  one  or  more 
places  of  sundry  several  shires,  as,  Warwick,  Northampton,  Rut- 
land, Oxford,  Leicester,  Cambridge,  Norfolk,  Suffolk,  Essex,  and 
others. 

"  27.  Iteyn.  That  at  such  synods  and  conferences  it  hath  been 
concluded,  that  all  the  ministers  which  should  be  received  to  be 
either  of  the  said  general  synods,  or  of  any  more  particular  and 
provincial,  or  of  a  classis  or  conference,  should  subscribe  to  the  said 
discipline,  that  they  did  allow  it,  would  promote  it,  practise  it,  and 


110  CHURCti    HISTOUY    OF    BRITAIN.  A.  D.  1590. 

be  governed  by  it.  And  according  to  the  form  of  a  schedule  here- 
unto annexed,  or  such  like,  both  he  the  said  Thomas  Cartwright, 
and  many  others,  at  sundry  or  some  general  assemblies,  as  at 
provincial  and  at  several  conferences,  have,  within  the  said  time, 
subscribed  the  same,  or  some  part  thereof. 

"  28.  Item.  That  at  such  synods  and  all  other  assemblies,  a 
moderator  of  that  meeting  was  first  by  him  and  them  chosen, 
according  to  the  prescription  of  the  said  book.  And  at  some  of 
such  meetings  and  assemblies,  amongst  other  things,  it  was  re- 
solved and  concluded,  that  such  particular  conferences  in  several 
shires  should  be  erected  ;  how  many  persons,  and  with  what  letters 
from  every  of  them,  should  be  sent  to  the  general  assembly ;  and 
that  one  of  them,  at  their  coming  home  to  their  conference,  should 
make  known  the  determinations  of  the  general  assembly,  to  be  by 
every  of  them  followed  and  put  in  practice;  which  course,  in  sundry 
places  of  this  realm,  hath,  within  the  time  aforesaid,  been  accord- 
ingly followed  and  performed. 

"29.  Item.  That  he,  with  others,  in  some  such  classis  or  con- 
ference, or  in  a  synod,  or  more  general  assembly  holden,  did  treat 
and  dispute,  among  other  points,  these  six  articles  contained  in 
another  schedule  annexed,  and  set  down  their  resolution  and 
determination  of  them. 

"  30.  Item.  That  he,  with  others,  assembled  in  such  a  general 
assembly  or  synod  at  Cambridge,  did  conclude  and  decree,  as  in 
another  schedule  annexed,  or  in  some  part  thereof,  is  contained  ; 
which  decrees  were  made  known  afterwards  at  Warwick  to  sundry 
classes  there  by  his  means  assembled,  and  allowed  also  by  them  then 
met  together  in  the  same  or  like  form. 

*'  31.  Item.  That  all  such  several  meetings,  synods,  and  con- 
ferences, within  the  said  time,  many  other  determinations,  as  well 
what  should  be  done  and  performed,  or  omitted  ;  as  also  what 
should  be  holden  consonant  to  God's  word,  or  disagreeing  from  it ; 
have  been  set  down  by  the  said  Thomas  Cartwright  and  others :  as, 
namely,  that  all  admitted  to  either  assembly  should  subscribe  the 
said  Book  of  Discipline,  holy  and  synodical ;  that  those  who  were 
sent  from  any  conference  to  a  synod  should  bring  letters  fiduciary 
or  of  credence ;  that  the  last  moderator  should  write  them  ;  that 
the  superscription  thereof  should  be  to  a  known  man  of  the  assembly 
then  to  be  holden  ;  that  no  book  made  by  any  of  them  should  be 
put  in  print,  but  by  consent  of  the  classis  at  least ;  that  some 
of  them  must  be  earnest,  and  some  more  mild  and  temperate, 
whereby  there  may  be  both  of  the  spirit  of  Elias  and  Elizeus  ;  that 
all  admitted  amongst  them  should  subscribe,  and  promise  to  conform 
themselves  in  their  proceedings,  administration  of  sacraments,  and  of 


33  ELIZABETH.  BOOK    IX.       CENT.    XVI.  Ill 

discipline,  to  the  form  of  that  book  ;  and  that  they  would  subject 
themselves  to  the  censuring  of  the  brethren,  both  for  doctrine  and 
life ;  and,  lastly,  that  upon  occasion,  when  any  their  brethren  shall 
be  sent  by  them  upon  affairs  of  the  church,  (as  to  the  great  meet- 
ings, parliament,  &c.)  they  all  would  bear  their  charges  in  common ; 
that  there  might  be  no  superiority  amongst  them,  and  that  the 
moderatorship  (as  it  happened)  is  not  a  superiority  or  honour,  but  a 
burden  :  that  no  profane  writer,  or  any  other  than  canonical  Scrip- 
ture, may  be  alleged  in  sermons :  that  they  should  all  teach,  that 
the  ministry  of  those  who  did  not  preach  is  no  ministry,  but  a  mere 
nullity  :  that  it  is  not  lawful  to  take  any  oath,  whereby  a  man  may 
be  driven  to  discover  any  thing  penal  to  himself,  or  to  his  brother, 
especially  if  he  be  persuaded  the  matter  to  be  lawful  for  which  the 
punishment  is  like  to  be  inflicted,  or,  having  taken  it,  in  this 
case  need  not  discover  the  very  truth  :  that  to  a  bishop,  or  other 
officer  ecclesiastical,  (as  is  used  now  in  the  church  of  England,) 
none  obedience  ought  to  be  given,  neither  in  appearing  before  them, 
in  doing  that  which  they  command,  nor  in  abstaining  from  that 
which  they  inhibit  :  that  in  such  places  as  the  most  of  the  people 
favoured  the  cause  of  sincerity,  eldership  should  warily  and  wisely 
be  placed  and  established,  which  consistory  in  some  places  hath  been 
either  wholly  or  in  part  erected  accordingly  :  yea,  in  some  colleges 
in  the  university,  as  he  knoweth,  hath  heard,  or  verily  belie veth."" 

These  Articles  were  tendered  to  Mr.  Cartwright  in  the  consistory 
of  Paul's,  before  John  Aylmer,  bishop  of  London,  the  two  Lord 
Chief  Justices,  Justice  Gawdy,  serjeant  Puckering,  afterwards  Lord 
Keeper,  and  Attorney-General  Popham. 

28.  Mr.  Cartwright  refuseth  to  answer  on  Oath. 

These  commissioners  did  move  him  to  give  in  his  answer,  the 
rather  because  the  chief  points  in  the  interrogatories  were  delivered 
in  general  terms  unto  him  ;  and  they  severally  assured  him,  on  their 
credits,  that,  by  the  laws  of  the  realm,  he  was  to  take  his  oath,  and 
to  answer  as  he  was  required.  Bui  Mr.  Cartwright  desired  to  be 
borne  withal ;  pleading,  that  he  thought  he  was  not  bound  by  the 
laws  of  God  so  to  do.  Hereupon  he  was  sent  to  the  rest  of  his 
brethren  to  the  Fleet,  where  he  secretly  and  silently  took  up  his 
lodging ;  many  admiring  at  the  panic  peaceableness,  and  so  quiet  a 
calm,  where  so  violent  a  tempest  was  feared  to  arise. 

29.   Wiggington's  riddling  Words. 
Some,  soon  after,  November  6th,  expected  the  appearance  of  the 
presbyterian  party,  accounting  it  more  valour  to  free,  than  to  keep 
their  friends,  from  prison ;  the  rather,  because  of  a  passage  in  a 


112  CHURCH    HISTORY     OF    BRITAIN.  A.J).  1591. 

letter  of  Mr.  Wiggington's  to  one  Mr.  Porter  at  Lancaster :  "  Mr. 
Cartwright  is  in  the  Fleet  for  the  refusal  of  the  oath,  as  I  hear ;  and 
Mr.  Knewstubs  is  sent  for ;  and  sundry  worthy  ministers  are  dis- 
quieted, who  have  been  spared  long.  So  that  we  look  for  some 
bickering  ere  long,  and  then  a  battle  which  cannot  long  endure.**' 
Words  variously  expounded,  as  men's  fancies  directed  them.  Some 
conceived  that  this  "bickering"  and  "battle"  did  barely  import 
a  passive  conflict,  wherein  their  patience  was  to  encounter  the 
power  of  their  adversaries,  and  to  conquer  by  suffering ;  parallel 
to  the  apostle's  words,  "  Without  were  fightings,"  2  Cor.  vii.  5 ; 
meaning  combats  to  wrestle  with  in  many  difficulties  opposing  their 
proceedings.  Others  expounded  the  words  literally,  (not  of  a  tame 
but  wild  battle,)  and  of  some  intended  violence,  as  if  shortly  they 
would  muster  their  (hitherto  invisible)  forces  to  storm  the  Fleet, 
and  rescue  their  friends  therein.  A  third  sort  beheld  Wiggington, 
the  writer  of  these  words,  as  one  but  "  of  the  sober  sort  of  distracted 
men  ; "  and  therefore  in  vain  do  staid  heads  make  serious  comments 
on  light  men's  random  expressions,  where  the  knot  is  neither  to  be 
untied  nor  cut,  but  cast  away. 

30.   The  King  of  Scots  ivrites  in  Favour  of  the  Nonconformists. 

A.D.  1591. 

Now  the  principal  pillars  of  the  presbyterian  party — being  some  in 
restraint,  more  in  trouble,  all  in  fear — applied  themselves,  by  their 
secret  solicitors,  to  James,  king  of  Scotland;  and  procured  his  letter  to 
the  queen  in  their  behalf,  seconded  with  another  to  the  same  effect. 
They  conceived  so  potent  a  petitioner  must  needs  prevail,  especially 
in  this  juncture  of  time  ;  the  queen  having  lately  (since  she  put  his 
mother  to  death)  adulced  him  with  fair  language  and  kind  carriage. 
This  letter  was  sent  to  one  Mr.  Johnson,  a  Scotch  merchant  in  Lon- 
don ;  by  him  presented  to  the  queen,  perused  by  her  majesty,  and 
remitted  to  her  Privy  Council.     But  behold  the  tenour  thereof: — 

'*  Right    excellent,   high    and    mighty    Princess,    our 
DEAREST  Sister  and  Cousin, 

"  In  our  heartiest  manner  we  recommend  us  unto  you.  Hearing 
of  the  apprehension  of  Mr.  Udall  and  Mr.  Cartwright,  and  certain 
other  ministers  of  the  Evangel  within  your  realm,  of  whose  good 
erudition  and  faithful  travails  in  the  church  we  hear  a  very  credible 
commendation,  howsoever  that  their  diversity  from  the  bishops  and 
others  of  your  clergy,  in  matters  touching  them  in  conscience,  hath 
been  a  mean,  by  their  dilation,  to  work  them  your  misliking  ;  at  this 
present  we  cannot  (weighing  the  duty  which  we  owe  to  such  as  are 
afflicted  for  their  conscience  in  that  profession)  but  by  our  most 


o4   ELIZABETH.  BOOK    IX.       CENT.    XVI.  113 

efFectuous  and  earnest  letter  interpone  us  at  your  hands  to  stay  any 
harder  usage  of  them  for  that  cause  ;  requesting  you  most  earnestly 
that  for  our  cause  and  intercession  it  may  please  you  to  let  them  be 
relieved  of  their  present  strait,  and  whatsoever  further  accusation  or 
pursuit  depending  on  that  ground,  respecting  both  their  former 
merit,  in  setting  forth  the  Evangel,  the  simplicity  of  their  conscience 
in  this  defence  which  cannot  well  be,  their  let  by  compulsion,  and 
the  great  slander  which  could  not  fail  to  fall  out  upon  their  further 
streighting  [straitness]  for  any  such  occasion.  Which  we  assure 
us  your  zeal  to  religion,  beside  the  expectation  we  have  of  your  good- 
will to  pleasure  us,  will  willingly  accord  to  our  request,  having  such 
proofs  from  time  to  time  of  our  like  disposition  to  you  in  any  matters 
w^hich  you  recommend  unto  us  ;  and  thus,  right  excellent,  right  high, 
and  mighty  princess,  our  dear  sister  and  cousin,  we  commit  you  to 
God's  protection. 

"  Edinburgh,  June  12th,  1591.'' 

This  letter  prevailed  little  with  the  queen  ;  nor  do  I  find  that  the 
king  of  Scotland  was  discontented  thereat ;  princes  politically  under- 
standing their  mutual  secret  language,  (not  to  say  silent  signs,)  whose 
desires  to  foreign  princes  for  private  persons  carry  this  tacit  reserva- 
tion,— If  it  may  stand  with  the  conveniency  and  pleasure  of  him  to 
whom  it  is  written.  Besides,  they  know  by  their  own  experience, 
that  often  there  is  the  least  of  themselves  in  their  own  letters,  as 
granted  merely  for  quietness'  sake,  to  satisfy  the  importunity  of 
others. 

31.  Mr  Cartwright  discharged  the  Star-Chamher  hy  the  Inter- 
cession of  Archbishop  Whit  gift. 

One  word  from  archbishop  Whitgift  befriended  Mr.  Cartwright 
more  than  both  the  letters  from  the  king  of  Scotland.  This  prelate, 
reflecting  on  his  abilities,  and  their  ancient  acquaintance  in  Trinity 
College ;  and  remembering,  as  an  honourable  adversary,  they  had 
brandished  pens  one  against  another ;  and  considering  that  both  of 
them  now  were  well-stricken  in  years ;  and,  some  will  say,  fearing 
the  success  in  so  tough  a  conflict ;  on  Mr.  Cartwright's  general  pro- 
mise to  be  quiet,  procured  his  dismission  out  of  the  Star-chamber 
and  prison  wherein  he  was  confined.  Henceforward  Mr.  Cartwright 
became  very  peaceable :  not  that  he  began  to  desert  the  cause,  but 
the  cause  him  ;  the  original  state  of  the  point  of  nonconformity  being 
much  altered  and  disguised  from  itself,  and  many  state-businesses 
(which  Mr.  Cartwright  disclaimed)  by  turbulent  spirits  shuffled 
into  it. 

Vol.  III.  I 


114  CHURCH    HISTORY    OF    RIIITAIN.  A.D.  1591. 

32 — 37-  A  Preface  to  the  ensuing  Discourse.  The  Character  of 
Hacket.  His  mofistrous  Opinions  and  Practices.  Pro- 
claimed  by  his  two  Prophets-  Jfi  Adventure  with  more 
Boldness  than  Discretion.     Hacket?s  Eocecution. 

Next  followeth  the  just  death  of  Hacket  for  his  damnable  blas- 
phemy ;  and  I  am  sensible  of  a  sad  dilemma  concerning  the  same. 
For  not  relating  the  story  will  be  interpreted  favouring  of  him  and 
wronging  the  truth.  Relating  it  may  be  accounted  gracing  his  im- 
pieties by  recording  them.  And  seeing  it  is  hard  for  one  soul  to 
attend  two  things  at  once,  some  will  say,  no  author  can  write  and 
detest,  nor  reader  peruse  and  detest,  these  his  blasphemies  so,  at  the 
same  instant,  but  that  there  will  be  a  short  interval  betwixt  them, 
yet  long  enough  to  have  piety  wounded  therein.  However,  arming 
ourselves  and  others  with  caution  premised,  we  enter  on  this  sorrow- 
ful subject ;  the  rather  because  the  best  may  be  bettered  by  the 
worst  of  men,  when  considering  that  natural  corruption  in  their 
hearts  is  not  less  headstrong,  but  more  bridled.  Think  not  that 
Hacket  and  his  two  companions  were  worse  by  nature  than  all  others 
of  the  English  nation.  I  tell  you,  Nay;  for  if  God's  restraining 
grace  be  taken  from  us,  we  shall  all  run  into  the  same  excess  of  riot. 

This  William  Hacket  was  born  in  Oundle  in  Northamptonshire ; 
of  so  cruel  and  fierce  a  nature,  that  he  is  reported  to  have  bit  off  and 
eaten  down  the  nose  of  his  schoolmaster  :  a  maltster  by  trade  ;  which 
calling  being  too  narrow  for  his  active  soul,  he  undertook  to  be  a  dis- 
coverer of  and  informer  against  recusants ;  an  employment  which 
often  procured  his  admittance  into  the  presence  of  great  persons, 
when  his  betters  were  excluded  ;  one  of  a  bold  and  confident  nature, 
Avho  though  but  an  invited  guest  where  many  clergymen  were  present, 
would  always  presume  to  say  grace  and  pray  before  them ;  a  great 
stickler  for  the  Geneva  discipline,  being  very  great  with  AViggington 
and  other  the  most  violent  of  that  faction  ;  always  inculcating  that 
some  extraordinary  course  must  be  presently  taken  with  the  obstruc- 
tors thereof.  Once  he  desperately  took  his  dagger,  and  violently 
struck  the  same  into  the  picture  of  the  queen,  aiming  at  her  heart 
therein  by  proportion.  He  pretended  also  to  revelations,  immediate 
raptures  and  discourses  with  God,  as  also  to  bufFetings  of  satan, 
attesting  the  truth  thereof  with  most  direful  oaths  and  execrations. 

One  argument  Hacket  used  to  allege,  to  prove  his  own  invulnera- 
bility,— because  he  proffered  leave  to  any  one  to  kill  him  that  would ; 
the  cunning  impostor  knowing  full  well  that  it  was  death  for  any  to 
do  it,  beings  ecured  from  such  violence,  not  by  any  secret  quality  in 
himself,  but  by  the  good  laws  of  the  queen,  against  whom  he  so 
bitterly  inveighed.     He  railed  also  against  the  archbishop  Whitgift 


o4  ELIZABETH.  BOOK    TX.       CEXT.    XVI.  115 

and  chancellor  Hatton,  with  other  of  the  Privy  Counsellors;  pre- 
tending himself  sent  from  heaven  to  reform  church  and  state,  and 
bring  in  a  new  discipline  into  both  by  extraordinary  means. 

Afterwards  he  gave  it  out,  that  the  principal  spirit  of  the  Messias 
rested  in  him  ;  and  he  had  two  attendants  ;  Edmund  Coppinger,  the 
queen's  servant  and  one  of  good  descent,  for  his  prophet  of  mercy  ; 
and  Henry  Arthington,  a  Yorkshire  gentleman,  for  his  prophet  of 
judgment.  These  proclaimed  out  of  a  cart  in  Cheapside,  July  16th, 
that  Christ  was  come  in  Hacket,  with  his  fan  in  his  hand,  to  purge 
the  godly  from  the  wicked  ;  with  many  other  precedent,  concomitant, 
and  consequent  impieties.  For  who  can  otherwise  conceive  but  such 
a  prince-principal  of  darkness  must  be  proportionably  attended  with 
a  black  guard  of  monstrous  opinions  and  expressions  ?  They  cried 
also,  "  Repent,  England  !  repent !  "  good  counsel  for  all  that  heard, 
but  best  for  them  that  gave  it.  With  much  ado  (such  the  press  of 
people)  they  got  home  to  Broken- Wharf,  where  Hacket  lay ;  and, 
next  day,  all  three  were  sent  to  Bridewell,  though  some  conceived 
Bedlam  the  more  proper  place  for  them.  And,  some  days  after, 
Hacket,  being  solemnly  arraigned  before  the  Judges  at  Westminster, 
demeaned  himself  very  scornfully,  but  was  found  guilty  on  a  double 
indictment  and  condemned. 

During  his  imprisonment  in  Bridewell,  one  Dr.  Childerly,  rector 
of  St.  Dunstan's-in-the-East,  repaired  unto  him,  and  proffered  to 
gripe  arms  with  him  and  try  the  wrists  ;  which  Hacket  unwillingly 
submitted  to  do  ;  though  otherwise  boasting  himself  invulnerable  and 
impenetrable.  The  doctor,  though  with  some  difficulty,  (Hacket 
being  a  foul,  strong  lubber,)  yet  fairly  twisted  his  wrists  almost  to  the 
breaking  thereof,  but  not  to  the  bowing  of  him  to  any  confession  or 
remorse  ;  whilst  the  other  presently  hasteth  home  to  his  house,  locked 
himself  up  in  his  study,  and  with  fasting  and  prayer  begged  pardon  of 
God  for  his  pride  and  boldness,  that,  having  neither  promised  precept 
nor  precedent  for  his  practice  in  Scripture,  he  should  adventure  on 
such  a  trial,  Wherein  justly  he  might  have  been  worsted  for  his  pre- 
sumption ;  and  discreet  men  will  more  commend  the  relenting  tender- 
ness of  his  heart,  than  the  sleight  and  strength  of  his  hands. 

Hacket  was  brought  to  the  gibbet  near  to  the  Cross  in  Cheapside  ; 
and  there  belched  forth  most  blasphemous  execrations,  till  the  halter 
stopped  his  breath.  I  know  what  one  lawyer  pleadeth  in  his  behalf, 
though  it  be  little  credit  to  be  the  advocate  of  such  a  client, — that 
the  bishops  had  made  him  mad  with  persecuting  of  him.  Sure  it 
was,  if  he  were  mad,  not  any  learning  but  overmuch  pride  made  him 
so ;  and  sure  it  is,  he  discovered  no  distemper  in  other  particulars, 
personating,  at  least  wise,  if  not  performing,  all  things  with  a  com- 
posed gravity.     But  there  is  a  madness  which  physicians  count  most 

I  2 


116  CHURCH    HISTORY    OF    BRITAIN.  A. D.  1591. 

imcurable,  and  call  it  modesta  insania  ;  when  one  is  mad  as  to  one 
particular  point  alone,  whilst  serious  and  sober  in  all  other  things. 
Whether  Hacket  were  not  touched  with  this  or  no,  I  will  not  decide  ; 
but  leave  him  to  stand  or  fall  to  his  own  master.  Coppinger  died 
in  Bridewell,  starving  himself  (as  it  is  said)  by  wilful  abstinence. 
Arthington,  the  prophet  of  judgment,  lived  to  prove  the  object  of 
God's  and  the  queen's  mercy,  and  printed  a  plain  book  of  his  hearty 
repentance  :  Happy  herein  that  he  met  with  a  general  belief  of  his 
serious  sorrow  and  sincere  amendment  ! 

38.  This  Accident   unhappily  improved  against  the   Noncon^ 

formists. 

This  business  of  Hacket  happened  very  unseasonably  for  the 
presbyterians.  True  it  is,  they  as  cordially  detested  his  blasphemies 
as  any  of  the  episcopal  party.  And  such  of  them  as  loved  Hacket 
the  nonconformist,  abhorred  Hacket  the  heretic,  after  he  had 
mounted  to  so  high  a  pitch  oP  impiety.  But,  beside  the  glutinous 
nature  of  all  aspersions  to  stick  where  they  light,  they  could  not  wash 
his  odium  so  fast  from  themselves,  but  their  adversaries  were  as  ready 
to  rub  it  on  again.  This  rendered  them  at  this  time  so  hated  at 
court,  that,  for  many  months  together,  no  favourite  durst  present  a 
petition  in  their  behalf  to  the  queen,  being  loath  to  lose  himself,  to 
save  others,  so  offended  was  her  majesty  against  them. 

39.  J/r.  Stone   by  his  Confession  discovereth   the    Meeting   of 

the  B7'ethren,  with  the  Circumstances  thereof 

The  same  day  wherein  Hacket  was  executed,  July  27th,  Thomas 
Stone,  parson  of  Warkton  in  Northamptonshire,  (by  virtue  of  an  oath 
tendered  him  the  day  before  by  the  queen''s  attorney,  and  solemnly 
taken  by  him,)  was  examined  by  the  examiner  for  the  Star-chamber 
in  Gray's  Inn,  from  six  of  the  clock  in  the  morning,  till  seven  at  night, 
to  answer  unto  thirty-three  articles  ;  but  could  only  effectually  depose 
to  these  which  follow,  faithfully  by  me  transcribed  out  of  a  confession 
written  with  his  own  hand,  and  lately  in  my  possession. 

Interrogation  I. — Who  and  how  many  assembled  and  met 
together  with  the  said  defendants,  T.  C,  H.E.,  E.  S.,  &c.  all  or 
any  of  them  where,  when,  how  often  ?  &c. 

The  answer  of  Thomas  Stone — To  the  interrogatory 
touching  the  circumstances  of,  1.  Places  of  meeting  : 
(1.)  Greater. — First.  In  London,  i.  At  Traverses  house  ;  ii.  At 
Egerton's  house  ;  iii.  At  Gardener's  house  ;  iv.  At  Barber's  house. 
Second.  In  Cambridge. — In  St.  John's  College.  (2.)  Less. — 
First.    In  Northampton,     i.  At  Johnson's  house;    ii.  At  Snape's 


34  ELIZABETH.  BOOK    IX.       CENT.    XVI.  117 

house.     Second.  In  Kettering,  or  near  it.     i.  At  Damme''s  house  ; 
ii.  At  Stone's  house. 

2.  Times  :  (1.)  Since  the  beginning  of  the  last  parliament. 
(2.)  Sundry  times  at  London,  how  oft  he  remembered  not.  (3.) 
Sundry  times  at  Northampton,  how  oft  not  remembered.  (4.) 
Sundry  times  at  Kettering,  how  not  remembered.  (5.)  Once  at 
Cambridge,  about  Stourbridge-fair  time  was  one  or  two  years.  (6.) 
Once  at  London,  a  little  before  Mr.  Cartwright  was  committed,  at 
Mr.  Gardener's  house.  (7.)  Once  at  this  deponent's  house,  the 
certain  time  not  remembered. 

3.  Persons  :  (1.)  Meeting  in  London  jointly  or  severally. — 
Mr.  Travers,  Mr.  Chark,  Mr.  Egerton,  Mr.  Gardener,  Mr.  Barber, 
Mr.  Brown,  Mr.  Somerscales,  Mr.  Cartwright,  Mr.  Chatterton, 
Mr.  GyfFord,  Mr.  Allen,  Mr.  Edmunds,  Mr.  Gyllybrand,  Mr. 
Culverwell,  Mr.  Oxenbridge,  Mr.  Barbon,  Mr.  Fludde,  this  depo- 
nent. (2.)  Meeting  in  Cambridge. — Mr.  Chatterton  and  others  of 
Cambridge,  Mr.  Cartwright,  Mr.  GyfFord,  Mr.  Allen,  Mr.  Snape, 
Mr.  Fludde,  this  deponent.  (3.)  Meeting  in  Northampton,  jointly 
or  severally. —  Mr.  Johnson,  Mr.  Snape,  Mr.  Sybthorpe,  Mr. 
Edwards,  Mr.  Fludde,  this  deponent,  Mr.  Spicer,  Mr.  Fleshware, 
Mr.  Harrison,  Mr.  Littleton,  Mr.  Williamson,  Mr.  Rushbrook, 
Mr.  Baxter,  Mr.  Barbon,  Mr.  King,  Mr.  Proudtome,  Mr.  Massie, 
Mr.  Bradshaw.  (4.)  Meeting  at  Kettering,  or  near  to  it. — Mr. 
Dammes,  Mr.  Pattison,  Mr.  Okes,  Mr.  Baxter,  Mr.  Rushbrook, 
Mr.  Atkinson,  Mr.  Williamson,  Mr.  Massie,  this  deponent. 

Inter ROG.  II. — Who  called  these  assemblies,  by  what  authority, 
how,  or  in  what  sort  ? 

Answer. — That  he  knew  not  by  whom  they  were  called,  neither 
knew  he  any  other  authority  therein,  saving  a  voluntary  or  free 
motion,  one  giving  another  intelligence  as  occasion  served,  some- 
times by  letters,  and  sometimes  by  word  of  mouth. 

Intekrog.  III. — Who  were  moderators  in  them,  and  what  their 
office  ? 

Answer. — That  he  remembered  not  who  were  moderators  in  any 
meeting  particularly,  saving  once  at  Northampton,  when  Mr.  Johnson 
was  admonished  ;  and  that  was  either  himself,  or  Mr.  Snape,  he 
knew  not  well  whether. 

Interrog.  IV. — What  things  were  debated  in  those  meetings 
or  assemblies  ? 

Answer. — That  the  things  chiefly  and  most  often  considered  of 
in  those  assemblies  were  these  : — First.  The  subscription  to  the 
Book  of  Common- Prayer  ;  how  far  it  might  be  yielded  unto,  rather 
than  any  should  forego  his  ministry.  Secondly.  The  Book  of  Dis- 
cipline was  often  perused,   discussed,  &c.     Thirdly.  Three  petitions 


118  CHURCH    HISTORY    OF    BRITAIN.  A.  D.  1591. 

OT  supplicatiops  were  agreed  upon  to  be  drawn,  1.  To  lier  majesty. 
2.  To  the  lords  of  the  Council.  3.  To  the  bishops.  The  thiugs 
debated  of  in  particular,  he  remembered  not  more  than  these  :  1.  The 
perfecting  of  the  Book  of  Discipline,  and  purpose  to  subscribe  to  it 
at  Cambridge.  2.  This  question  disputed  :  Whether  it  were  con- 
venient for  Mr.  Cartwright  to  reveal  the  circumstances  of  the  con- 
ference, a  little  before  he  was  committed  ?  3.  The  admonishing  of 
Mr.  Johnson  once  at  Northampton.  4.  The  debating  of  this  ques- 
tion :  Whether  the  books  called  Apocrypha  were  warrantable  to  be 
read  publicly  in  the  church  as  the  canonical  Scriptures  ? 

Interrog.  V. — Whether  any  censures  were  exercised,  what 
kinds,  when,  where,  upon  whom,  by  Avhom,  for  what  cause  ? 

Answer. — That  he  never  saw  any  censure  exercised,  saving  ad- 
monition once  upon  Mr.  Johnson  of  Northampton,  for  miscarrying 
himself  in  his  conversation,  to  the  scandal  of  his  calling;  neither 
was  that  used  with  any  kind  of  authority,  but  by  a  voluntary 
yielding  unto  it,  and  approving  of  it,  as  well  in  him  that  was 
admonished,  as  in  him  which  did  admonish. 

Interrog.  VI. — Whether  any  of  the  said  defendants  had 
moved  or  persuaded  any  to  refuse  an  oath,  and  in  what  case  ?  &c. 

Answer. — That  he  never  knew  any  of  the  defendants  to  use 
words  of  persuasion  to  any  to  refuse  an  oath ;  only  Mr.  Snape  sent 
him  down  in  writing  certain  reasons  drawn  out  of  the  Scripture, 
which  moved  him  to  refuse  the  general  oath,  e.r  officio,  which  I 
stood  persuaded  tliat  he  sent  to  none  other  end,  but  to  declare  that 
he  refused  not  to  swear  upon  any  contempt,  but  only  for  conscience' 
sake. 

I  have  insisted  the  longer  on  this  deposition,  because  the  first 
^and  fullest  that  I  find  in  the  kind  thereof,  containing  their  classes 
more  formally  settled  in  Northamptonshire,  than  any  where  else  in 
England.  For  as  the  west  part  of  that  shire  is  observed  to  be  the 
highest  place  of  England,  as  appeareth  by  the  rivers  rising  there, 
and  running  thence  to  the  four  winds  ;  so  was  that  county  a  pro- 
bable place  (as  the  midst  of  the  land)  for  tlie  presbyterian  discipline, 
there  erected,  to  derive  itself  into  all  the  quarters  of  the  kingdom. 

40.  The  Reasons  why  Mr.  Stone  made  this  Confession  against 
the  Hope  and  Expectation  of  the  Brethren. 
But  when  the  news  of  Mv.  Stone's  answer  was  brought  abroad,  he 
was  generally  censured  by  those  of  his  party ; — as  well  such  as  were 
yet  at  liberty,  conceiving  themselves  endangered  by  his  discovery, 
as  by  those  already  in  prison,  complaining  tliat  he  added  affliction 
to  their  bonds.  Yea,  his  embracing  a  difl^erent  course  from  the 
rest  cast  an  aspersion  on  others  of  his  side,  as  less  sound  in  judg- 


34  ELIZABETH.  BOOK    IX.       CENT.    XVI.  110 

ment,  or  tender  in  conscience,  because  peremptorily  concealing  what 
lie  thought  fitting  to  confess.  Many  that  highly  esteemed  him 
before,  hereafter  accounted  him  no  precious  but  a  counterfeit 
stone :  so  that  he  found  it  necessary  in  his  own  vindication  to 
impart  the  reasons  of  his  confession  to  such  as  condemned  him,  if 
not  for  a  traitor,  at  least  for  a  coward  in  the  cause. 

1.  He  judged  it  unlawful  to  refuse  an  oath,  limited  and  bounded 
within  the  compass  of  the  conferences,  being  required  before  a  law- 
ful magistrate,  in  a  plea  for  the  prince,  to  a  lawful  end,  to  try  out  the 
truth  in  a  doubtful  fact,  suspected  and  feared  to  be  dangerous  both 
to  church  and  common- weal  ;  but  such  was  that  oath  which  was  ten- 
dered to  him,  ergo — 

2.  He,  being  lawfully  sworn,  judged  it  unlawful  to  be  mute, 
much  more  to  speak  any  untruth. 

•J.  If  he  had  not  been  urged  by  oath  to  reveal,  yet  did  he  judge 
that  silence  unlawful  which  justly  causeth  suspicion  of  evil, — as  of 
treason,  rebellion,  sedition,  &c. 

4.  He  judged  that  concealment  unlawful  which  was  not  only 
scandalous,  but  also  dangerous  ;  as  this  that  might  occasion  and 
encourage  wicked  persons  to  hide  their  complices  in  their  worst 
attempts. 

5.  He  judged  that  the  clearing  of  a  doubtful  fact  requireth  the 
clearing  of  the  circumstances,  which  cannot  be  cleared  till  they  be 
known. 

6.  He  judged  that  silence  unlawful  which  leaveth  the  truth  friend- 
less, or  few  friends  when  she  hath  need  of  many. 

7.  He  judged  it  a  point  or  note  of  Puritanism  for  any  to  stand 
so  upon  the  integrity  of  their  own  actions  as  that  they  should  not 
be  doubted  of,  suspected,  examined,  censured,  &c. 

8.  He  saw  no  probability  nor  possibility  in  reason  to  have  the 
circumstances  longer  concealed.  (1.)  Because  many  of  them  are 
already  made  known,  partly  by  the  letters  and  writings  of  the  bre- 
thren in  bonds,  which  have  been  intercepted  ;  partly  also  by  certain 
false  brethren  ;  and,  lastly,  by  certain  faithful  but  weak  brethren, 
whose  confessions  are  to  be  seen  under  their  own  hands.  (2.) 
Because  the  magistrate  is  resolutely  set  to  search  them  out :  And, 
Lastly,  Because  divers  are  to  be  called  and  to  answer  upon  oath, 
which  approve  not  the  concealing  of  them. 

9.  He  judged  the  inconveniences  which  come  by  the  concealing 
to  be,  if  not  more  in  number,  yet  greater  in  weight,  and  more 
inevitable  than  those  that  come  by  reveal  ings,  which  as  it  may 
appear  in  some  of  the  former  reasons  alleged  to  prove  the  unlawful- 
ness of  concealing,  so  may  it  further  appear  in  these  that  follow  : — 

10.  The  good  name  and  credit  of  any  (of  a  minister  much  more) 


120  CHURCH    HISTORY    OF    BRITAIN.  A.D.  1591. 

ought  to  be  dearer  to  liim,  and  to  all  those  that  love  him,  than  his 
liberty,  &c.  But,  by  this  concealing,  the  credit  of  many  good 
ministers  is  eclipsed. 

11.  This  concealing  hath  caused  a  continuance  of  some  in  bonds 
and  imprisonment  hitherto,  would  cause  others  to  be  committed, 
and  withal  causeth  suspicion  of  evils, — treason,  rebellion,  sedition, 
&c.  and  thereby  also  evil  report,  slander,  &c. 

12.  As,  by  concealing,  the  aforesaid  suspicion  and  slander  lieth 
still  upon  us  all  which  have  been  in  these  actions  ;  so  doth  the  same 
grow  every  day  more  grievous  by  the  wicked  attempts  of  hypocrites 
and  profane  persons,  which  carry  the  name  of  Puritans,  Precisians, 
&c.  as  those  of  late  in  Cheapside. 

15.  Although  it  be  very  like,  that  the  revealing  will  bring  punish- 
ment upon  the  rest,  yet  is  it  not  certain  nor  necessary  ;  but  the  con- 
cealing doth  certainly  cause  suspicion,  slander,  &c. 

14.  The  concealing  argueth  either  some  guiltiness,  or  at  the 
least  some  faintness  and  fear,  to  be  seen  or  known  in  these  actions. 

15.  It  leaveth  the  truth  (which  now  travaileth)  poor,  naked, 
destitute,  and  void  of  friends.  It  casteth  the  care,  credit,  counte- 
nance, defence,  and  maintenance  of  it  upon  those  few  which  are  in 
prison,  which  ought  to  be  supported  and  maintained  by  all. 

16.  It  leaveth  the  burden  upon  eight  or  nine  men's  shoulders, 
which  ought  to  be  eased  by  many.* 

What  satisfaction  this  gave  to  his  party,  I  know  not.  Sure  I 
am,  the  bishops,  till  his  dying  day,  beheld  him  as  an  ingenuous 
man,  carrying  his  conscience  with  the  reason  thereof  in  his  own 
breast,  and  not  pinning  it  on  the  precedent  of  any  other;  where- 
upon they  permitted  him  peaceably  to  possess  his  parsonage,  (being 
none  of  the  meanest,)  though  he  continued  a  stiff  nonconformist, 
only  quietly  enjoying  his  own  opinion.  Indeed,  he  was  a  downright 
Nathanael,  if  not  guilty  of  too  much  of  the  dove  in  him ;  faulty  in 
that  defect  wherein  more  offend  in  the  excess, — not  minding  the 
world  so  much  as  became  a  provident  parent.  But  we  leave  him 
Avhen  we  have  told  the  reader,  that  he  was  bred  a  student  in  Christ 
Church,  and  was  Proctor  of  Oxford,f  anno  1580,  and  died  quietly 
an  old  man,  anno  1617,  at  Warkton  in  Northamptonshire. 

41.  Sy nodical  Meetings  finally  blasted. 

Thus,  one  link   being  slipped  out,   the  whole  chain  was  quickly 

broken  and  scattered.     Stone's  discovery  marred  for  the  future  all 

their  formal  meetings,  as  classically  or  synodically  methodized.     If 

any  of  these  ministers  hereafter  came  together,  it  was  for  visits,  not 

•  Carefully  by  me  transcribed  out  of  his  own  letters  to  his  friends.  f  Brian 

Twine  in  Jppcndkc  Aid,  Ac  Oxon. 


34  ELIZABETH.  BOOK    IX.       CENT.    XVI.  121 

visitations ;   to   enjoy   themselves,  not  enjoin  others  orders  to  be 
observed  by  them. 

42.  Perkins's  Piety  procures  his  Peace. 
Whereas  Mr.  Stone  confesseth  their  meeting  in  Cambridge,  with 
Mr.  Chadderton  and  others,  I  find  some  of  these  others  elsewhere 
specified;*  namely,  Mr.  Perkins,  and  Mr.  Thomas  Harrison,  after^ 
wards  the  reverend  vice-master  of  Trinity-College,  both  of  them 
concurring,  though  neither  of  them  very  active  in  this  cause.  Mr. 
Perkins,  whatsoever  his  judgment  was  in  point  of  church- discipline, 
never  publicly  meddled  with  it  in  his  preaching  ;  and,  being  pressed 
by  others  about  the  lawfulness  of  subscription,  he  declined  to  mani- 
fest his  opinion  therein,  glad  to  enjoy  his  own  quiet,  and  to  leave 
others  to  the  liberty  of  their  own  consciences.  Solomon's  observation 
found  truth  in  him  :  "  When  a  man's  ways  please  the  Lord,  he  maketh 
even  his  enemies  to  be  at  peace  with  him,""  Pro  v.  xvi.  7 ;  whose  piety 
procured  freedom  to  his  preaching,  and  fair  respect  to  his  person 
even  from  those  who  in  affections  differed,  and  in  opinion  dissented, 
from  him  :  for  all  held  Perkins  for  a  prophet ;  I  mean,  for  a  painf  J 
and  faithful  dispenser  of  God's  will  in  his  word. 

43 — 47.   Transition  to  a  more  pleasant  Subject.     The  Founda- 
tion of  an  University  in  Dublin.     The  several  Benefactors 
thereto.     The  Addition  of  two  Emissary  Hostels.     Dublin 
a  Colony  of  Cambridge. 
But  I  am  weary  of  writing  these  sad  dissensions  in  our  church, 
and  fain  would  pass  over  to  some  more  pleasing  subject ;  from  the 
renting  of  God's  church,  to  the  repairing  of  it ;  from  the  confound- 
ing thereof  to  the  founding  and  building  of  some  eminent  place  for 
learning  and  religion.     But  finding  none  of  that  nature  this  very 
year  in  England,  I  am  fain  to  seek  one  beyond  the  seas;  and  at  last 
have  lighted  on  the  university  and  college  of  Dublin,  which  now 
began  to  be  erected. 

Anciently  Ireland  was  the  seminary  of  saints  ;  people  from  all 
parts  of  Christendom  repairing  thither,  there  to  find  and  thence  to 
fetch  the  perfect  pattern  of  monastical  devotion.  Many  hundred 
years  after,  namely,  in  the  reign  of  king  Edward  II.  Alexander 
Bickner,  archbishop  of  Dublin,  obtained  license  of  the  pope  to  erect 
an  university  in  Dublin.  But  the  design  succeeded  not  according  to 
his  desire  and  others'  expectation.  Now  at  the  last  the  same  was 
effected  by  royal  authority,  and  a  college  there  erected,  and  dedi- 
cated to  the  Holy  Trinity.  This  mindethme  of  a  pleasant  passage  : 
In  the  reign  of  king  Henry  YIII.  it  was  enjoined,  that  all  churches 

•  Dr.  Ba.ncroft  in  his  book  of  "  Dangerous  Positions,"  chap.  vii.  page  39, 


122  CHURCH  HISTORY  OF  BRITAIN.  A.D.  1591. 

dedicated  to  St.  Thomas  Becket,  shc-kl  be  new  named,  and  con- 
signed over  to  some  real  saint.  Now,  whilst  country  people  sate  in 
consultation,  Avhat  new  saint  such  churches  should  assume,  being 
divided  in  their  opinions,  to  whom  the  same  should  be  dedicated,  an 
old  man  gave  this  advice,  "Even  dedicate  it  to  the  Holy  Trinity, 
which  will  last  and  continue  when  all  other  saints  may  chance  to  be 
taken  away."" 

Many  eminent  persons  concurred  to  advance  so  worthy  a  work. 
And  because  we  are  to  speak  of  a  college,  wherein  seniority  takes 
place,  we  will  rank  these  persons,  not  according  to  their  dignity,  but 
time  of  their  benefaction. 

1.  Henry  Usher,  then  archdeacon  of  Dublin,  bred  in  Cambridge, 
(afterward  archbishop  of  Armagh,  and  uncle  to  James  Usher  the 
present  archbishop  thereof,)  took  a  journey  with  nmch  danger  into 
England,  and  with  more  difficulty  procured  the  mortmain  from, 

2.  Queen  Elizabeth,  who  graciously  granted  it,  naming  the  cor- 
poration. Collegium  Sanctce  ac  Indimduoe  Trinitatis^  ex  fundatione 
Regince  Elizahethce,  juxta  Dublin. 

3.  William  Cecil,  baron  Burleigh,  and  treasurer  of  England,  is 
appointed  in  the  mortmain  first  chancellor  of  the  university,  as  being 
an  active  instrument  to  procure  the  same. 

4.  Sir  William  Fitz- Williams,  Lord-deputy  of  Ireland,  (whose 
arms  are  deservedly  graven  over  the  college-gate,)  issued  out  his  let- 
ters for  collection  to  all  the  counties  in  Ireland,  to  advance  so  good 
a  design  ;  and  the  Irish  (though  then  generally  papists)  were  very 
bountiful  thereunto. 

5.  Mr.  Luke  Chaloner,  fellow  of  Trinity  College  in  Cambridge, 
received  and  disbursed  the  moneys,  had  the  oversight  of  the  fabric, 
which  he  faithfully  procured  to  be  finished,  meriting  that  verse 
inscribed  on  his  fair  monument  in  Dublin-college  chapel,  built  by  his 
daughter :  * — 

•     Conditur  hoc  tumulo  Chaloneri  triste  cadavery 
Cvjus  ope,  et i^recibus,  coridiur  ista  doinus. 

**  This  tomb  witliin  it  here  contains 


Of  Chaloner  the  sad  remains  ; 

By  who.se  praj'er  and  helping  hand 

This  house  erected  here  doth  stand." 

6.  The  mayor  and  alderm'en  of  Dublin  bestowed  on  the  College 
the  site  thereof,  (with  some  accommodations  of  considerable  grounds 
about  it,)  being  formerly  a  religious  house,  termed  Allhallows^ 
which,  at  the  suppression  of  abbeys,  was  bestowed  on  their  corpora- 
tion. 

*  Sin-.-e  married  to  the  archbishop  of  Araiagh. 


34  ELIZABETH.  BOOK    IX.       CENT.    XVI.  123 

7.  Adam  Loftus,  Fellow  of  Trinity  College  in  Cambridge,  at  tliis 
present  arclibishop  of  Dublin,  and  chancellor  of  Ireland,  was  the 
first  master  of  the  College,  holding  it  as  an  honorary  title,  though 
not  so  much  to  receive  credit  by,  as  to  return  lustre  to,  the  place. 

8.  Sir  Warham  Saint-Leger  was  very  bountiful  in  paying  yearly 
pensions  for  the  maintenance  of  the  first  students  thereof,  before  the 
college  was  endowed  with  standing  revenues. 

9.  Sir  Francis  Shane,  a  mere  Irishman,  but  good  protestant,  was 
a  principal  benefactor,  and  kept  this  infant-foundation  from  being 
strangled  in  the  birth  thereof. 

10.  Robert  Devereux,  earl  of  Essex,  lord -lieutenant  of  Ireland, 
and  second  chancellor  of  this  university,  bestowed,  at  the  entreaty  of 
the  students  of  this  college,  a  cannoneer's  pay,  and  the  pay  of  cer- 
tain dead  places  of  soldiers,  to  the  value  well-nigh  of  four  hundred 
pounds  a-year  for  the  scholars'*  maintenance,  which  continued  for 
some  years. 

11.  King  James,  that  great  patron  of  learning,  to  complete  all, 
confirmed  the  revenues  of  this  college  in  perpetuum^  endowing  it 
with  a  great  proportion  of  good  land  in  the  province  of  Ulster. 

Thus  through  many  hands  this  good  work  at  last  was  finished ; 
the  first  stone  whereof  was  laid  May  13th,  1591  ;  and  in  the  year 
1593,  scholars  were  first  admitted,  and  the  first  of  them  James 
Usher,  smce  archbishop  of  Armagh,  that  mirror  of  learning  and 
religion,  never  to  be  named  by  me  without  thanks  to  him,  and  to 
God  for  him.  Nor  must  it  be  forgotten,  that  what  Josephus  reports 
of  the  temple  built  by  Herod,  Kar  sksIvov  tov  xuipov  6iKoh[xou[ji.ivov 
Tov  vuov,  Tcig  [xh  rjfJ^spctg  ou^  v=iv,  kv  de  raig  vv^\  ylvsa^oii  roug  Ofx^povg, 
ws  f/^Yj  xMXvorai  to  'ipyov,  "  During  the  time  of  the  building  of  the  tem- 
ple, it  rained  not  in  the  day-time,  but  in  the  night,  that  the  shov/ers 
might  not  hinder  the  work  ;  "'*  I  say,  what  by  him  is  reported  hath 
been  avouched  to  me  by  witnesses  above  exception,  that  the  same 
happened  here,  from  the  founding  to  the  finishing  of  this  College ; 
the  officious  heavens  always  smiling  by  day,  (though  often  weeping 
by  night,)  till  the  work  was  completed. 

The  whole  species  of  the  University  of  Dublin  was  for  many 
years  preserved  in  the  individuum  of  this  one  College.  But,  since, 
this  instrument  hath  made  better  music,  when  what  was  but  a  mono- 
chord  before  hath  got  two  other  smaller  strings  unto  it,  — the  addi- 
tion of  New  College,  and  Kildare  Hall.  What  remaineth,  but  that 
I  wish  that  all  those  worthy  divines  bred  therein,  may  have  their 
doctrine  drop  as  the  rain,  and  their  speech  distil  as  the  dew,  as  the 
small  rain  upon  the  tender  herb,  and  as  the  showers  upon  the  grass  ! 
Deut.  xxxii.  2. 

*  Jnliq.  Jud.  lib,  xv.  x"ap.  20. 


124  CHURCH    HISTORY    OF    BRITAIN.  A.D.  1591. 

Let  none  censure  this  for  a  digression  from  our  Church  History  of 
England.  His  discourse  that  is  resident  on  the  son  doth  not  wholly 
wander  from  the  father  ;  seeing  none  will  deny  but  ihsit  proles  is  pars 
parentis,  "  the  child  is  part  of  the  parent."  Dublin  University  was 
a  colonia  deducta  from  Cambridge,  and  particularly  from  Trinity 
College  therein,  (one  motive  perchance  to  the  name  of  it,)  as  may 
appear  by  the  ensuing  catalogue  of  the  Provosts  thereof : — 

1.  Adam  Loftus,  Fellow  of  Trinity  College,  first  Provost. 

2.  Walter  Travers,  Fellow  of  the  same  College,  second  Provost. 

3.  Henry  Alva,  Fellow  of  St.  John's  College  in  Cambridge,  third 
Provost. 

4.  Sir  William  Temple,  who  wrote  a  learned  comment  on  Ramus, 
Fellow  of  King's  College,  fourth  Provost. 

5.  Joseph  Mede,  Fellow  of  Christ  College  in  Cambridge,  chosen 
Provost,  but  refused  to  accept  it. 

6.  

7.  William  Chappel,  Fellow  of  the  same  College,  seventh  Provost. 
Know  also  that  this  University  did  so  Cantabrize,  that  she  imitated 

her  in  the  successive  choice  of  her  chancellors  ;  the  daughter  dutifully 
approving  and  following  the  judgment  of  her  mother  therein. 

48.  The  Death  of  Arthur  Faunt. 
This  year  was  fatal  to  no  eminent  protestant  divine ;  and  I  find 
but  one  of  the  Romish  persuasion  dyingtherein, — Arthur  (shall  I 
say,  or  Laurence  ?)  Faunt,  born  of  worshipful  parentage  at  Folston  in 
Leicestershire,  bred  in  Merton  College  in  Oxford,  whence  he  fled 
(with  Mr.  Pots,  his  tutor)  to  Louvain,  and  never  more  returned  into 
England.  From  Louvain  he  removed  to  Paris,  thence  to  Munich, 
an  University  in  Bavaria,  (where  William  the  duke  exhibited  unto 
him,)  thence  to  Rome,  where  he  was  admitted  a  Jesuit.  Hence 
pope  Gregory  XIIL  sent  him  to  be  governor  of  the  Jesuits'*  College 
at  Posen  in  Poland,  newly  erected  by  Sigismund,  king  thereof.  Yea, 
so  great  was  the  fame  of  this  Faunt,  that  (if  his  own  letters  may  be 
believed)  three  princes  courted  him  at  once  to  come  to  them.  He 
altered  his  Christian  name  of  Arthur,  because  (as  his  kinsman  tells  us)* 
no  Calendar-saint  was  ever  of  that  name  ;  and  assumed  the  name  of 
Laurence,  dying  this  year  at  Wilna  in  Lithuania,  leaving  books  of 
his  own  making,  much  prized  by  those  of  his  own  profession. 

49,  50.   The  Contest  hetwinct  Hooker  and   Travers.     Hookers 

Character. 
Now  began  the  heat  and  height  of  the  sad  contest  betwixt  Mr. 
Richard  Hooker,  master — and  Mr.  Walter  Travers,  lecturer — of  the 

•  Bl'Hton  in  his  "  Description  of  Leicestershire,"  page  10. 


S4  ELIZABETH.  ROOK    IX.       CENT.    XVI.  125 

Temple.  We  will  be  the  larger  in  the  relating  thereof,  because  we 
behold  their  actions,  not  as  the  deeds  of  private  persons,  but  the 
public  champions  of  their  party.  Now,  as  an  army  is  but  a  champion 
diffused,  so  a  champion  may  be  said  to  be  an  army  contracted.  The 
prelatical  party  wrought  to  the  height  in  and  for  Hooker,  nor  was  the 
presbyterian  power  less  active  in  assisting  Mr.  Travers  ;  both  sides 
being  glad  they  had  gotten  two  such  eminent  leaders,  with  whom  they 
might  engage  with  such  credit  to  their  cause. 

Hooker  was  born  in  Devonshire,  bred  in  Oxford,  Fellow  of  Corpus- 
Christi  College  ;  one  of  a  solid  judgment  and  great  reading,  Yea, 
such  the  depth  of  his  learning,  that  his  pen  was  a  better  bucket  than 
his  tongue  to  draw  it  out :  a  great  defender  both  by  preaching  and 
writing  of  the  discipline  of  the  church  of  England,  yet  never  got 
(nor  cared  to  get)  any  eminent  dignity  therein  ;  conscience,  not  covet- 
ousness,  engaging  him  in  the  controversy.  Spotless  was  his  conver- 
sation ;  and,  though  some  dirt  was  cast,  none  could  stick  on  his 
reputation.  Mr.  Travers  was  brought  up  in  Trinity  College  in 
Cambridge ;  and  because  much  of  church-matter  depends  upon  him, 
I  give  the  reader  the  larger  account  of  his  carriage. 

51,  52.  Travers  takes  his  Orders  heyond  Seas.  He  with  Mr, 
Cartwright  invited  to  be  Divinity-professors  in  St.  Andrew'^s. 

Travers,  meeting  with  some  discontents  in  the  College,  after  the 
death  of  Dr.  Beaumont,  (in  whose  time  he  was  elected  Fellow,)  took 
occasion  to  travel  beyond  seas  ;  and,  coming  to  Geneva,  contracted 
familiarity  with  Mr.  Beza,  and  other  foreign  divines,  with  whom  he 
by  letters  continued  correspondency  till  the  day  of  his  death.  Then 
returned  he,  and  commenced  bachelor  of  divinity  in  Cambridge,  and 
after  that  went  beyond  sea  again,  and  at  Antwerp  was  ordained 
minister  by  the  presbytery  there ;  whose  testimonial  I  have  here 
faithfully  transcribed  out  of  the  original :  — 

Quam  multis  de  causis  sit  et  cequum  et  consultum  unumquemque 
eorum  qui  ad  verbi  Dei  ministerium  adscismmttir,  wcationis  suw 
testimonium  habere :  asserimus,  coactd  Antmrpiw  ad  8  Mail.,  1578, 
duodecim  ministrorum  rerbi  cum  totidem  fere  senioribus  synodo., 
prcestantissimum  pietate  et  eruditione  rirum  ac  fratrem  referendum 
doctorem  Gualterum  Traverseum.,  omnium  qui  aderant  suffragiis 
ardentissimis  que  votis,  consueto  ritu  fiiisse  in  sancto  mrbi  Dei 
ministerio  institittum,  precibusque  ac  manuum  impositione  con." 
firmatum.  Poster o  autem  die  post  Sabbatum  ab  illo  in  frequenti 
Anglorum  coetu  concionem,  rogante  eo  qui  a  synodo  delegatus  erat 
ministro,  propeiisissimisque  totius  ecclesiw  animis  acceptum  fuisse. 
Quod  quidem  domini  ac  fratris  nostri  colendi  apud  Anglos  minis- 
terium.,  ut    benignitate  sua   D^tis   Omnipotens    donor um    .morum 


126         CHURCH  HISTORY  OF  BRITAIN.         A.D.  1591. 

incremento  et  ampUssimo  functionis  ejus  fructu  ornare  dignetur^ 
enixe  precamur  per  Jesum  Christum.  Amen  !  Dat  Anticerpice^  14 
Mali,  1578. 

DET.  L0GELERIU8  VILERIU8,  verbi  Dei  minister, 
JOHANNES  HOCHELCUS,  verbi  Dei  minister, 
JOHANNES  TAFFINUS,  rerbi  Dei  minister. 

Thus  put  in  orders  by  the  presbytery  of  a  foreign  nation,  he  con- 
tinued there  some  years,  preached  (with  Mr.  Cartwright)  unto  the 
English  factory  of  merchants  at  Antwerp,  until  at  last  he  came  over 
into  England,  and  for  seven  years  together  became  lecturer  in  the 
Temple,  (refusing  all  presentative  preferment,  to  decline  subscription,) 
and  lived  domestic  chaplain  in  the  house  of  the  lord-treasurer  Cecil, 
being  tutor  for  a  time  to  Robert  his  son,  afterwards  earl  of  Salisbury. 
And  although  there  was  much  heaving  and  shoving  at  him,  (as  one 
disaffected  to  the  discipline,)  yet  God's  goodness,  his  friend's  great- 
ness, and  his  own  honesty,  kept  him  (but  with  much  difficulty)  in 
his  ministerial  employment. 

Yea,  now  so  great  grew  the  credit  and  reputation  of  Mr.  Travers, 
that,  by  the  advice  of  Mr.  Andrew  Melvin,  he  and  Mr.  Cartwright 
were  solemnly  sent  for,  to  be  Divinity  Professors  in  the  university  of 
St.  Andrew's  ;  as  by  this  autograph  (which  I  have  in  my  hands,  and 
here  think  fit  to  exemplify)  may  plainly  appear  : — 

Magno  quidem,  fr aires  charissimi,  gaudio  nos  afficit  constantia 
testra,  et  inmcta  ilia  animi  fortitudo,  qua  contra  satanw  imperium 
et  reluctantem  Christi  imperio  mundi  fastum  armatit  vos  Domini 
Spiritus,  in  asserendd  apud  populares  vestros  ecclesiw  sum  disci- 
plind.  Sed  permolestum  tamen  nobis  semper  fuit,  pertinaci  inimi- 
corum  odio  et  molentid  factum  esse,  ut  cum  latere  et  solum  subinde 
tertere  cogimini,  minus  aliquanto  fructus  ex  laboribus  vestris  ad 
pios  omnes  perteniat,  qudm  si  docendo  publice  et  concionando 
destinatam  ecclesiw  Dei  operam  navare  licuisset.  Hoc  quia  in 
patrid  vobis  negatum  mdebamus,  non  aliud  nobis  magis  in  wtis 
erat,  qudm  ut  exulanti  in  wbis  Christo  hospitium  aliquod  in  ultima 
Scotia  prwberetur.  Quod  ut  fieri  non  incommode  possit,  speramus 
longo  nos  conatu  perfecisse. 

Vetus  est  et  non  ignobilis  apud  nos  Academia  Andreana ;  in 
qud  cum  alice  artes,  turn  philosophia  imprimis  ita  hucusque  culta 
fuit^  ut  quod  ab  exteris  nationihus  peter etur,  parum  nobis,  aut  nihil 
in  eo  genere  deesset.  Verum  divina  ilia  sapientia,  quam  vel  solam, 
Tel  proecipuam  colere-  Christianos  decet,  neqlecta  diu  in  scholis 
jacuit ;  quod  a  primd  statim  religionis  instauratione,  summus 
omnium  ardor  exstaret  in  erudiendd  plebe ;  in  aliis  ad  sacrum 
rerbi  ministerium  instituendis  paucissimi  laborarent :  nonlemut 


34  ELIZABETH.  BOOK    IX.       CENT.    XVI.  127 

periculum  subesset,  ne  (quod  propitius  nobis  Deus  a^certat)  concio- 
natorum  aliquando  inopid  periret^  quod  tantd  cum  spe  in  hominum 
animos  conjectum  est  verce  pietatis  semen. 

Animadvertit  hoc  tandem  ecclesiasticus  senattis,  et  cum  regeregni- 
que  proceribus  diligenter  egit^  ne  hanc  officii  sui  et  solicitudinis 
partem  desiderari  amplius  paterentur.  Placuit  et  summo  omnium 
applausu  in  proximis  ordinum  comitiis  decretum  est,  ut  quod  ampli- 
tudine  ceteris  et  opulentid  collegium  prwstat  theologian  perpetud 
studiis  consecretur  :  utque  ad  verbi  Dei  ministerium  nemo  admit- 
tatur,  nisi  linguarum,  utriusque  Testamenti  et  locorum  communium 
curriculo  prius  confecto  :  confici  autem  quadriennii  spatio  a  quinque 
professoribus  posse.  Ex  hoc  numero  adhuc  desunt  Thomas  Cart- 
wrigtus  et  Gualterus  Traversus  :  reliquos  nobis  domi  ecclesia  nostra 
suppeditabit.  Messem  hie  mdetis  singulari  vestrd  eruditione  et 
pietate  non  indignam.  Ad  quam  plus  vos  princeps  et  proceres 
nostri  ;  ad  quam  boni  vos  omnes  et  fratres  xestri  ;  ad  quam  Christi 
ws  ecclesia  et  Christus  ipse  operarios  inmtat.  Reliquum  est,  ut 
humanissime  wcantes  sequi  'celitis  ;  et  ad  docendi  hanc  promnciam, 
viobis  honorificam,  ecclesice  Dei  salutarem  maturetis ;  magnas  a 
principe,  majores  a  Christi  ecclesid,  maximas  et  immortales  a 
maximo  et  immortali  Deo  gratias  inituri.  Quod  ut  sine  mora 
facere  dignemini,  per  eum  ipsum  vos  etiam  atque  etiam  obtestamur, 
cut  acceptum  ferri  debet,  quod  ecclesiw  filii  sui  prodesse  tantopere 
possitis.      Valete.     Edinburgi. 

J  A.  GLASGNEY,  Academiw  Cancellarius, 
ALAYNU8,  Bector, 
THOMAS  SMETONIUS,  Decanus, 
ANDREAS  MEL  VI N US,  Collegii  Prwfectus, 
MB.  DA  VID   WEMS,  Minister  Glascomensis. 
This  proffer  both  jointly  refused,  with  return  of  their  most  affec- 
tionate  thanks ;  and  such  who  know  least  are  most   bold  in  their 
conjectures  to  adventure  at  the  reasons  of  their  refusal ; — as,  that 
they  would  not  leave  the  sun   on  their  backs,  and  remove  so  far 
north ;  or  they  were  discouraged  with   the  slenderness  of  the  salary 
assigned  unto  them.     In  plain  truth  they  were  loath  to  leave,  and 
their  friends  loath  to  be  left  by  them,  conceiving  their  pains  might 
as  well  be  bestowed  in   their  native  country  ;  and  Travers   quietly 
continued   lecturer  at   the   Temple  till  Mr.   Hooker  became  the 
Master  thereof. 

53 — ^^,  The  Character  of  Hooker  as  to  his  Preaching.   The  De- 
scription of  Travers.     They  clash  about  Matters  of  Doctrine. 

Mr.  Hooker^s  voice  was  low,  stature  little,  gesture  none  at  all, 
standing  stone-still  in   the  pulpit,  as  if  the  posture  of  his  body  were 


128  CHURCH    HISTORY    OF    BRITAIN.  A.  D.  1501. 

the  emblem  of  his  mind,  unmovable  in  his  opinions.  Where  his 
eye  was  left  fixed  at  the  beginning,  it  was  found  fixed  at  the  end  of 
his  sermon.  In  a  word,  the  doctrine  he  delivered  had  nothing  but 
itself  to  garnish  it.  His  style  was  long  and  pithy,  driving  on  a 
whole  flock  of  several  clauses  before  he  came  to  the  close  of  a 
sentence.  So  that  when  the  copiousness  of  his  style  met  not  with 
proportionable  capacity  in  his  auditors,  it  was  unjustly  censured  for 
perplexed,  tedious,  and  obscure.  His  sermons  followed  the  inclina- 
tion of  his  studies,  and  were  for  the  most  part  on  controversies,  and 
deep  points  of  school-divinity. 

Mr.  Traverses  utterance  was  graceful,  gesture  plausible,  matter 
profitable,  method  plain,  and  his  style  carried  in  it  indolem  pietatis, 
"  a  genius  of  grace  ''  flowing  from  his  sanctified  heart.  Some  say, 
that  the  congregation  in  the  T«mple  ebbed  in  the  forenoon,  and 
flowed  in  the  afternoon  ;  and  that  the  auditory  of  Mr.  Travers 
was  far  the  more  numerous, — the  first  occasion  of  emulation  betwixt 
them.  But  such  as  knew  Mr.  Hooker,  knew  him  to  be  too  wise  to 
take  exception  at  such  trifles,  the  rather  because  the  most  judicious 
is  always  the  least  part  in  all  auditories. 

Here  might  one  on  Sundays  have  seen  almost  as  many  writers  as 
hearers.  Not  only  young  students,  but  even  the  gravest  benchers, 
(such  as  Sir  Edward  Coke  and  Sir  James  Altham  then  were,)  were 
not  more  exact  in  taking  instructions  from  their  clients,  than  *in 
writing  notes  from  the  mouths  of  their  ministers.  The  worst  was, 
these  two  preachers,  though  joined  in  affinity,  (their  nearest  kindred 
being  married  together,)  acted  with  different  principles,  and  clashed 
one  against  another.  So  that  what  Mr.  Hooker  delivered  in  the 
forenoon,  Mr.  Travers  confuted  in  the  afternoon.  At  the  building 
of  Solomon's  temple  "  neither  hammer,  nor  axe,  nor  tool  of  iron 
was  heard  therein,"  1  Kings  vi.  7  ;  whereas,  alas  !  in  this  temple  not 
only  much  knocking  was  heard,  but  (which  was  the  worst)  the  nails 
and  pins  which  one  master-builder  drave  in,  were  driven  out  by  the 
other.  To  pass  by  lesser  differences  betwixt  them  about  predes- 
tination : — 

HooKKR  MAINTAINED — The  church  of  Rome,  though  not  a 
pure  and  perfect,  yet  is  a  true  church  ;  so  that  such  who  live  and 
die  therein,*  upon  their  repentance  of  all  their  sins  of  ignorance, 
may  be  saved. 

Travers  defended — The  church  of  Rome  is  no  true  church 
at  all ;  so  that  such  as  live  and  die  therein,  holding  justification  in 
part  by  works,  cannot  be  said  by  the  Scriptures  to  be  saved. 

Thus,  much  disturbance  was  caused  to  the  disquieting  of  people's 

•  Being  weak,  ignorant,  and  reduced. 


So  ELIZABETH.  BOOK    IX.       CENT.    XVI.  129 

consciences,   the   disgrace  of  the  ordinance,   the  advantage  of  the 
common  enemy,  and  the  dishonour  of  God  himself. 

56 — 63.  Travers  is  silenced  by  the  Archbishop.  Many  pleased 
with  the  Deed,  but  not  with  the  Manner  of  doing  it. 
Traverses  Plea  in  his  Petition.  A  charitable  Adversary. 
Tr avers  must  have  no  Favour.  Whitgiffs  politic  Carriage. 
Travers  goeth  into  Ireland,  and  returneth.  His  contented 
Life,  and  quiet  Death.     A.  D.  1592. 

Here  archbishop  Whitgift  interposed  his  power,  and  silenced 
Travers  from  preaching  either  in  the  Temple  or  any  where  else.  It 
was  laid  to  his  charge  :  1.  That  he  was  no  lawful-ordained  minister 
according  to  the  church  of  England.  2.  That  he  preached  here 
without  licence.  3.  That  he  had  broken  the  order  made  in  the 
seventh  year  of  her  majesty's  reign ;  wherein  it  was  provided,  that 
erroneous  doctrine,  if  it  came  to  be  publicly  taught,  should  not  be 
publicly  refuted  ;  but  that  notice  thereof  should  be  given  to  the 
ordinary,  to  hear  and  determine  such  causes,  to  prevent  public 
disturbance. 

As  for  Traverses  silencing,  many  which  were  well-pleased  with 
the  deed  done  were  offended  at  the  manner  of  doing  it.  For  all 
the  congregation  on  a  sabbath  in  the  afternoon  were  assembled 
together,  their  attention  prepared,  the  cloth  (as  I  may  say)  and 
napkins  were  laid,  yea,  the  guests  set,  and  their  knives  drawn 
for  their  spiritual  repast,  when  suddenly,  as  Mr.  Travers  was 
going  up  into  the  pulpit,  a  sorry  fellow  served  him  with  a  letter, 
prohibiting  him  to  preach  any  more.  In  obedience  to  authority, 
(the  mild  and  constant  submission  whereunto  won  him  respect 
with  his  adversaries,)  Mr.  Travers  calmly  signified  the  same  to 
the  congregation,  and  requested  them  quietly  to  depart  to  their 
chambers.  Thus  was  our  good  Zaccheus  struck  dumb  in  the 
Temple,  but  not  for  infidelity ;  unpartial  people  accounting  his  fault 
at  most  but  indiscretion.  Mean  time,  his  auditory  (pained  that 
their  pregnant  expectation  to  hear  him  preach  should  so  publicly 
prove  abortive,  and  sent  sermonless  home)  manifested  in  their  variety 
of  passion,  some  grieving,  some  frowning,  some  murmuring,  and  the 
wisest  sort,  who  held  their  tongues,  shook  their  heads,  as  disliking 
the  managing  of  the  matter. 

Travers  addressed  himself  by  petition  to  the  lords  of  the  Privy 
Council,  (where  his  strength  lay,  as  Hooker's  in  the  archbishop  of 
Canterbury  and  High  Commission,)  grievously  complained  that  he 
was  punished  before  he  was  heard,  silenced  (by  him  apprehended 
the  heaviest  penalty)  before  sent  for,  contrary  to  -equity  and  reason  : 

Vol.  III.  K 


130  CHURCH    HISTORY    OF    BRITAIN.  A.D.  1592. 

''  The  law  condemning  none  before  it  hear  him,  and  know  what  he 
hath  done,"'*  John  vii.  51. 

1.  To  the  exception  against  the  lawfulness  of  his  ministry,  he 
pleaded  that  the  communion  of  saints  allows  ordination  legal  in  any- 
Christian  church.  Orders  herein  are  like  degrees  ;  and  a  doctor 
graduated  in  any  university  hath  his  title  and  place  granted  him  in 
all  Christendom. 

2.  For  want  of  licence  to  preach,  he  pleaded  that  he  was  recom- 
mended to  this  place  of  the  Temple  by  two  letters  of  the  bishop  of 
London,  the  diocesan  thereof. 

S.  His  an ti -preaching  in  the  afternoon  against  what  was 
delivered  before,  he  endeavoured  to  excuse  by  the  example  of 
St.  Paul,  who  "  gave  not  place  to  Peter,  no,  not  an  hour,  that 
the  truth  of  the  Gospel  might  continue  amongst  them,''  Galatians 
ii.  5. 

But  we  are  too  tedious  herein,  especially  seeing  his  petition  is 
publicly  extant  in  print,  with  Mr.  Hooker's  answer  thereunto ; 
whither  we  refer  the  reader  for  his  more  ample  satisfaction. 

By  the  way,  it  must  not  be  forgotten,  that  in  the  very  midst  of 
the  paroxysm  betwixt  Hooker  and  Travers,  the  latter  still  bare  (and 
none  can  challenge  the  other  to  the  contrary)  a  reverend  esteem  of 
his  adversary.  And  when  an  unworthy  aspersion  (some  years  after) 
was  cast  on  Hooker,  (if  Christ  was  dashed,  shall  Christians  escape 
clean  in  their  journey  to  heaven  ?  )  Mr.  Travers  being  asked  of  a 
private  friend  what  he  thought  of  the  truth  of  that  accusation  :  "  In 
truth,"  said  he,  "  I  take  Mr.  Hooker  to  be  a  holy  man."  A  speech 
which,  coming  from  an  adversary,  sounds  no  less  to  the  commend- 
ation of  his  charity  who  spake  it,  than  to  the  praise  of  his  piety  of 
whom  it  was  spoken. 

The  Council-table  was  much  divided  about  Traverses  petition. 
All  Whitgift's  foes  were  ipso  facto  made  Travers's  favourers ; 
besides,  he  had  a  large  stock  of  friends  on  his  own  account.  But 
Whitgift's  finger  moved  more  in  church-matters,  than  all  the  hands  of 
all  the  Privy  Counsellors  besides  ;  and  he  was  content  to  suffer  others 
to  be  believed  (and  perchance  to  believe  themselves)  great  actors  in 
church-govcinment,  whilst  he  knew  he  could  and  did  do  all  things 
himself  therein.  No  favour  must  be  afforded  Travers  on  any  terms. 
1.  Dangerous  w^as  his  person,  a  Cart w right  junior,  none  in  England 
either  more  loving  Geneva,  or  more  beloved  by  it.  2.  Dangerous 
the  place,  the  Temple  being  one  of  the  inns  (therefore  a  public)  of 
court  (therefore  a  principal)  place  ;  and  to  suffer  one  opposite  to 
the  English  discipline  to  continue  lecturer  there,  what  was  it  but  in 
effect  to  retain  half  the  lawyers  of  England  to  be  of  counsel  against 
the  ecclesiastical  government  thereof.''    3.  Dangerous  the  precedent : 


S5  ELIZABETH.  BOOK    IX.       CENT.    XVI.  lol 

this  leading  case  would  be  presumed  on  for  others  to  follow,  and  a 
rank's  breaking  may  be  an  army's  ruining. 

This  was  the  constant  custom  of  Whitgift, — if  any  lord  or  lady 
sued  to  him  to  show  favour  for  their  sakes  to  nonconformists,  his 
answer  to  them  was  rather  respectful  to  the  requester,  than  satisfac- 
tory to  the  request.  Pie  would  profess  how  glad  he  was  to  serve 
them,  and  gratify  them  in  compliance  with  their  desire,  assuring 
them  for  his  part  all  possible  kindness  should  be  indulged  unto 
them ;  but,  in  fine,  he  would  remit  nothing  of  his  rigour  against 
them.  Thus  he  never  denied  any  great  man's  desire,  and  yet  never 
granted  it,  pleasing  them  for  the  present  with  general  promises,  and 
(in  them  not  dissembling,  but  using  discreet  and  right  expressions) 
still  kept  constant  to  his  own  resolution.  Hereupon  afterwards  the 
nobility  surceased  making  more  suits  unto  him,  as  ineffectual,  and 
even  left  all  things  to  his  own  disposal. 

Thus  Mr.  Travers,  notwithstanding  the  plenty  of  his  potent 
friends,  was  overborne  by  the  archbishop,  and,  as  he  often  com- 
plained, could  never  obtain  to  be  brought  to  a  fair  hearing.  But 
liis  grief  hereat  was  something  abated,  when  Adam  Loftus,  arch- 
bishop of  Dublin,  and  Chancellor  of  Ireland,  his  ancient  colleague 
in  Cambridge,  invited  him  over  to  be  Provost  of  Trinity-college  in 
Dublin.  Embracing  the  motion,  over  he  went,  accepting  the  place; 
and  continued  some  years  therein,  till,  discomposed  with  the  fear  of 
their  civil  wars,  he  returned  into  England,  and  lived  here  many 
years  very  obscurely,  (though  in  himself  a  shining  light,)  as  to  the 
matter  of  outward  maintenance. 

Yet  had  he  Agur's  wish,  "  neither  poverty,  nor  riches,"  though 
his  ENOUGH  seemed  to  be  of  shortest  size.  It  matters  not  whether 
men's  means  be  mounted,  or  their  minds  descend,  so  be  it  that  both 
meet  as  here  in  him  in  a  comfortable  contentment.  Yea,  when  the 
right  reverend  and  religious  James  Usher,  then  bishop  of  Meath, 
since  archbishop  of  Armagh,  (brought  up  under  him,  and  with  him 
agreeing  in  doctrine,  though  dissenting  in  discipline,)  proffered 
money  unto  him  for  his  relief,  Mr.  Travers  returned  a  thankful 
refusal  thereof.  Sometimes  he  did  preach,  rather  when  he  durst, 
than  when  he  would ;  debarred  from  all  cure  of  souls  by  his  non- 
conformity. He  lived  and  died  unmarried ;  and  though  leaving 
many  nephews  (some  eminent)  scholars,  bequeathed  all  his  books  of 
oriental  languages,  (wherein  he  was  exquisite,)  and  plate  worth  fifty 
pounds,  to  Sion  College  in  London.  O  !  if  this  good  man  had  had 
a  hand  to  his  heart,  or  rather  a  purse  to  his  hand,  what  charitable 
works  would  he  have  left  behind  him  !  But,  in  pursuance  of  his 
memory,  I  have  intrenched  too  much  on  the  modern  times.  Only 
this  I  will  add,  perchance  the  reader  will  be  an^rj  with  me  for  saying 

k2 


132  CHURCH    HISTORY    OF    BRITAIN.  A.  D.  1592. 

thus  much ;  and  I  am  almost  angry  with  myself  for  saying  no  more 
of  so  worthy  a  divine. 

64 — 69.  The  Death  of  worthy  Mr.  Greenham  of  the  Plague ; 
Fellow  of  Pembroke- Hallu,  in  Cambridge.  He  is  humbled 
with  a7i  obstinate  Parish.  His  Dexterity  in  healing 
afflicted  Coiisciences,  He.,  leaving  his  Cure,  cometh  to 
London.  A  great  Instrument  of  the  good  Keeping  of  the 
Lord^s-Day. 

Return  we  to  the  year  1592,  which  we  find  in  London  filled  with 
funerals,  so  that  within  twelve  months  more  than  ten  thousand  were 
swept  away  therein  of  the  plague  ;  and,  amongst  them,  reverend 
Mr.  Richard  Greenham, — the  reason  why  we  find  not  the  exact  date 
of  his  death.  In  contagious  times,  the  corpses  of  those  who,  living, 
were  best  beloved  are  rather  hurried  than  carried  to  the  grave  ;  and, 
in  such  confusions,  those  parishes  who  have  the  best  memories  prove 
forgetful,  their  registers  being  either  carelessly  kept  or  totally 
omitted.  Thus  our  Greenham  was  mortally  visited  with  the  plague, 
whereof  we  find  Munster,  Franciscus  Junius,  Kimedontius,  and 
other  worthy  divines  formerly  deceased  in  Germany  ;  that  patent  of 
preservation  against  the  pestilence, — "  A  thousand  shall  fall  at  thy 
side,  and  ten  thousand  at  thy  right  hand,  but  it  shall  not  come  nigh 
thee,'"  Psalm  xci.  7, — running  (as  all  other  temporal  promises)  with 
this  secret  clause  of  revocation,  "  If  God  in  his  wisdom  were  not 
pleased  otherwise  to  countermand  it.^"* 

It  may  be  said  of  some  persons,  in  reference  to  their  history,  that 
they  were  born  men  ;  namely,  such  of  whose  birth  and  youth  we 
find  no  particular  account.  Greenham  is  one  of  these  ;  for,  for 
want  of  better  intelligence,  we  find  him  full-grown  at  the  first,  when 

aiino   Domini   ,    he    was   admitted    into    Pembroke-Hall,   in 

Cambridge.  In  w'hich  house,  some  years  after,  the  youth  of  Mr. 
Lancelot  Andrews,*  afterwards  bishop  of  Winchester,  was  well 
acquainted  with  Mr.  Greenham  ;  and  I  dare  boldly  say,  if  Green- 
ham gained  any  learning  by  Andrews,  Andrews  lost  no  religion  by 
Greenham.  He  afterwards  left  the  university,  and  became  minister 
three  miles  off  at  Dry-Drayton. 

Dry-Drayton,  indeed  !  which — though  often  watered  with  Mr. 
Greenham''s  tears,  and  oftener  with  his  prayers  and  preaching,  who 
moistened  the  rich  with  his  counsel,  the  poor  with  his  charity — 
neither  produced  proportionable  fruitfulness.  The  generality  of  his 
parish  remained  ignorant  and  obstinate,  to  their  pastor's  great  grief, 
and  their  own  greater  damage  and  disgrace.     Hence  the  verses, — 

•  Some  say  he  had  a  hand  in  making  some  of  Mr   Greenhani's  works. 


So  ELIZABETH.  BOOK    IX.       CENT.    XVI.  133 

**  Greenham  had  pastures  green, 
But  sheep  full  lean." 

Thus  God  alone  is  the  good  Shepherd,  who  doth  feed  and  can  fat 
his  sheep,  and  can  make  them  to  thrive  under  his  keeping. 

He  used  often,  at  the  entreaty  of  some  doctors,  to  preach  at  St. 
Mary's,  in  Cambridge  ;  where,  sometimes,  so  great  his  zeal  in 
pressing  important  points,  that  he  hath  lost  himself  in  the  driving- 
home  of  some  application,  even  to  the  forgetting  of  his  text,  (as 
himself  would  confess,)  till  he  recovered  the  same  on  some  short 
recollection.  He  always  bitterly  inveighed  against  non-residents ; 
professing,  that  he  wondered  how  such  men  could  take  any  comfort 
in  their  wealth.  "For,  methinks,"  saith  he,  "they  should  see 
written  on  every  thing  which  they  have,  Pretium  sanguinis,  '  This 
is  the  price  of  blood."*  "*'  But  his  master-piece  was  in  comforting 
wounded  consciences.  For,  although  Heaven*'s  hand  can  only  set  a 
broken  heart,  yet  God  used  him  herein  as  an  instrument  of  good  to 
many,  who  came  to  him  with  weeping  eyes,  and  went  from  him  with 
cheerful  souls.  The  breath  of  his  gracious  counsel  blew  up  much 
smoking  flax  into  a  blazing  flame. 

Hereupon,  the  importunity  of  his  friends  (if  herein  they  proved 
so)  persuaded  him  to  leave  his  parish,  and  remove  to  London,  where 
his  public  parts  might  be  better  advantaged  for  the  general  good. 
They  pleaded  the  little  profit  of  his  long  pains  to  so  poor  and 
peevish  a  parish.  Pity  it  was  so  good  a  fisherman  should  cast  his 
nets  elsewhere  than  in  that  ocean  of  people.  What  was  Dry- 
Drayton  but  a  bushel  to  hide — London  a  high  candlestick  to  hold 
up — the  brightness  of  his  parts  ?  Over-entreated  by  others,  even 
almost  against  his  own  judgment,  he  resigned  his  cure  to  a  worthy 
successor,  and  repaired  to  London ;  where,  after  some  years'* 
preaching  up  and  down  in  no  constant  place,  he  was  resident  on 
no  cure,  but  the  curing  of  consciences.  I  am  credibly  informed,* 
he  in  some  sort  repented  his  removal  from  his  parish,  and  disliked 
his  own  erratical  and  planetary  life,  which  made  him  fix  himself 
preacher  at  last  at  Christ  Church,  in  London,  where  he  ended  his 
days. 

He  lived  sermons,  and  was  most  precise  in  his  conversation  ;  a 
strict  observer  of  the  Lord's  day,  and  a  great  advancer  thereof 
through  the  whole  realm,  by  that  treatise  which  he  wrote  of  the 
sabbath.  No  book  in  that  age  made  greater  impression  on  people's 
practice,  as  one  (then  a  great  wit  in  the  university,  now  a  grave 
Avisdom  in  our  church)  hath  ingeniously  expressed  : — *|* 

*  By  my  own  father,  Mr.  Thomas  Fuller,  who  was  well  acquainted  with  him. 
t  Mr.  Joseph  Hall  [afterwards  the  venerable  bishop  of  Noi-wich]. 


134  CHURCH    HISTORY    OF    BRITAIN.  A.D.  1592. 

ON    MR.    GREENHAm's    BOOK    OF    THE    SABBATH. 

"  A\'hile  Greenbam  writeth  on  the  sabbath's  rest, 
His  soul  enjoys  not  what  his  pen  express'd : 
His  work  enjoys  not  what  itself  doth  say, 
For  it  shall  never  find  one  resting-day. 
A  thousand  hands  shall  toss  each  page  and  line. 
Which  shall  be  scanned  by  a  thousand  eyne  ; 
That  sabbath's  rest,  or  this  sabbath's  unrest, 
Hard  is  to  say  whether  's  the  happiest." 

Thus  godly  Greenham  is  fallen  asleep  :    we  softly  draw  the  curtains 
about  him,  and  so  proceed  to  other  matter. 


SECTION  VIII. 

TO  THE  LADY  ANNE  ARCHER,  OF  TANWORTH,  IN 
WARWICKSHIRE. 

Madam, 

You,  being  so  good  a  housewife,  know,  far  better 
than  I,  how  much  strength  and  handsomeness  good 
hemming  addeth  to  the  end  of  a  cloth.  I,  therefore, 
being  now  to  put  a  period  to  this  long  and  important 
century,  as  big  as  the  whole  Book  besides,  (but  chiefly 
containing  her  reign,  the  honour  of  your  sex  and  our 
nation,)  have  resolved,  to  prevent  the  unravelling  there- 
of, to  close  and  conclude  it  with  this  Dedication  to  your 
ladyship.  On  which  account  alone  you  are  placed  last 
in  this  Book,  though  otherwise  the  first  and  freest  in 
encouraging  my  weak  endeavours. 

1.   The  uncertain  Date  of  Mr.  UdaVs  Death.     A.D.  1592. 

Of  Mr.  Udafs  death  come  we  now  to  treat :  though  through 
some  defect  in  the  records,*  (transposed  or  lost,)  we  cannot 
tell  the  certain  day  of  his  condemnation  and  death.  But  this 
appears  in  the  office,  that  two  years  since  (namely  32  of  Elizabeth, 
July  2'Jrd)  he  was  indicted  and  arraigned  at  Croydon,  for  defaming 
the  queen's  government  in  a  book  by  him  written,  and  entitled, 
"  A  Demonstration  of  the  Discipline  which  Christ  hath  prescribed 
in  his  Word  for  the  Government  of  his  Church,  in  all  Times  and 
Places,  until  the  World's  End."     But  the  mortal  words   (as  I  may 

*  Searched  hy  me  and  my  friend?  in  the  office  of  the  Clerk  of  Assize  for  Sm-rey. 


35  ELIZABETH.  BOOK    IX.       CENT.    XVI.  130 

term  them)  are  found  in  the  preface  of  his  book,  written  "  to  the 
supposed  governors  of  the  church  of  England,  archbishops,  bishops," 
&c.  and  are  inserted  in  the  body  of  his  indictment  as  followeth : — 
*'  Who  can  without  blushing  deny  you  to  be  the  cause  of  all 
ungodliness  ?  seeing  your  government  is  that  which  giveth  leave 
to  a  man  to  be  any  thing,  saving  a  sound  Christian.  For,  certainly, 
it  is  more  free  in  these  days  to  be  a  Papist,  Anabaptist,  of  the 
Family  of  Love,  yea,  any  most  wicked  whatsoever,  than  that  which 
w^e  should  be.  And  I  could  live  these  twenty  years  any  such  in 
England,  (yea,  in  a  bishop^s  house  it  may  be,)  and  never  be  much 
molested  for  it ;  so  true  is  that  which  you  are  charged  with  in  a  Dia- 
logue lately  come  forth  against  you,  and  since  burned  by  you,  that  you 
care  for  nothing  but  the  maintenance  of  your  dignities,  be  it  to  the 
damnation  of  your  own  souls  and  infinite  millions  more." 

To  this  indictment  he  pleaded  "  Not  guilty,"  denying  himself 
to  be  the  author  of  the  book.  Next  day  he  was  cast  by  the  jury, 
and  submitted  himself  to  the  mercy  of  the  court,  whereby  he  pre- 
vailed that  judgment  against  him  was  respited  till  the  next  assizes, 
and  he  remanded  to  the  Marshalsea. 

2 — 5.  Mr.  UdaVs  Supplication  to  the  Lords  of  the  Assises. 
Various  Censures  on  his  Condemnation.  He  died  peace- 
ably in  his  Bed.      His  solemn  Burial. 

March  following,  (the  o3rd  of  queen  Elizabeth,)  he  was  brought 
again  to  the  bar  before  the  judges,  to  whom  he  had  privately  pre- 
sented a  petition  with  all  advantage,  but  it  found  no  entertainment. 
Insomuch,  that  in  this  month  of  March,  (the  day  not  appearing  in 
the  records,)  he,  at  the  assizes  held  in  Southwark,  was  there  con- 
demned to  be  executed  for  a  felon. 

Various  were  men's  censures  on  these  proceedings  against  him. 
Some  conceived  it  rigorous  in  the  greatest  (which  at  the  best  is 
cruel  in  the  least)  degree,  considering  the  worth  of  his  person  and 
weakness  of  the  proof  against  him.  For  he  was  a  learned  man, 
blameless  for  his  life,  powerful  in  his  praying,  and  no  less  profitable 
than  painful  in  his  preaching.  For,  as  Musculus  in  Germany,  if  I 
mistake  not,  first  brought  in  the  plain  (but  effectual)  manner  of 
preaching  by  Use  and  Doctrine ;  so  Udal  was  the  first  who 
added  Reasons  thereunto, — the  strength  and  sinews  of  a  sermon. 
His  English-Hebrew  Grammar  he  made  whilst  in  prison,  as  appears 
by  a  subscription  in  the  close  thereof.  The  proof  was  not  pregnant ; 
and  it  is  generally  believed  that  he  made  only  the  preface,  (out  of 
which  his  indictment  was  chiefly  framed,)  and  not  the  body  of  the 
book  laid  to  his  charge.  Besides,  it  was  harsh  to  inflict  immediate 
and  direct  death  for  a  consequential  and  deductory  felony,  it  being 


136  CHURCH    HISTORY    OF    BRITAIN.  A.D.  1594, 

pent-housed  out  beyond  the  foundation  and  intent  of  the  statute  to 
build  the  indictment  thereupon.  Others  thought,  that  some  exem- 
plary severity  was  necessary,  not  only  to  pinion  the  wings  of 
such  pamphlets  from  flying  abroad,  but  even  thereby  to  crush  their 
eggs  in  the  nest.  Surely,  the  multitude  of  visits  unto  him,  during 
his  durance,  no  whit  prolonged  his  life.  For,  flocking  to  popular 
prisoners  in  such  cases  is  as  ominous  a  presage  of  their  death,  as  the 
flying  and  fluttering  of  ravens  near  and  about  the  house  and  cham- 
ber of  a  sick  body. 

But  a  higher  Judge  had  formerly  passed  another  sentence  on 
UdaFs  death,  that  his  soul  and  body  should  not  by  shameful  vio- 
lence be  forced  asunder,  but  that  they  should  take  a  fair  farewell  each 
of  other.  How  long  he  lived  after  his  condemnation,  we  know  not ; 
there  being  a  tradition  that  Sir  Walter  Raleigh  procured  a  reprieve, 
m  a  fair  way  to  his  pardon  :  this  is  certain,  that  without  any  other 
sickness,  save  heart-broken  with  sorrow,  he  ended  his  days.  Right 
glad  were  his  friends,  that  his  death  prevented  his  death  ;  and  the 
wisest  of  his  foes  were  well  contented  therewith ;  esteeming  it 
better,  that  his  candle  should  go  than  be  put  out,  lest  the  snuflP 
should  be  unsavoury  to  the  survivors,  and  his  death  be  charged  as 
a  cruel  act  on  the  account  of  the  procurers  thereof. 

The  ministers  of  London  flocked  to  his  funerals  ;  and  he  was 
decently  interred  in  the  church-yard  of  St.  George^s  in  Southwark, 
not  far  from  bishop  Bonner's  grave.  So  near  may  their  bodies, 
when  dead,  in  positure  be  together,  whose  minds,  when  Fiving,  in 
opinion  were  far  asunder.  Nor  have  I  aught  else  to  observe  of 
him,  save  that  I  am  informed  that  he  was  father  of  Ephraim  Udal, 
a  solid  and  pious  divine,  dying  in  our  days,  but  in  point  of  disci- 
pline of  a  diflferent  opinion  from  his  father. 

6.  Henry  Barrow^  John  Greenwood^  and  John  Penry  executed. 

And  now  the  sword  of  justice  being  once  drawn,  it  was  not  put 
up  again  into  the  sheath,  before  others  were  executed.  For,  March 
31st,  Henry  Barrow,  gentleman,  and  John  Greenwood,  clerk,  (who 
some  days  before  were  indicted  of  felony  at  the  Sessions-Hall  without 
Newgate,  before  the  lord  mayor  and  the  two  Chief  Justices,  for 
writing  certain  seditious  pamphlets,)  were  hanged  at  Tyburn.*  And, 
not  long  after,  John  Penry,  a  Welshman,  was  apprehended  at 
Stebunhith,  by  the  vicar  thereof,  arraigned,  and  condemned  of 
felony  at  the  King's  Bench  at  Westminster,  for  being  a  principal 
pcnner  and  publisher  of  a  libellous  book  called  Martin  Mar-Prelate, 
and  executed  at  St.  Thomas  Waterings.  Daniel  Studely,  girdler ; 
Saxio  Billot,  gentleman ;    and  Robert  Bowley,  fishmonger,  were 

•  Stow'r  "  Chromcle,"  page  765. 


87  ELIZABETH.  BOOK    IX.       CENT.    XVI.  137 

also  condemned  for  publishing  scandalous  books ;  but  not  finding 
their  execution,  I  believe  them  reprieved  and  pardoned. 

7?  8.   The  Queen's  last  Coming  to  Oxford.     Her  Latin  Oration. 

About  this  time,  if  not  somewhat  sooner,  (for  my  inquiry  cannot 
arrive  at  the  certain  date,)  queen  Elizabeth  took  her  last  farewell  of 
Oxford,  where  a  Divinity  Act  was  kept  before  her,  on  this  question, 
"  Whether  it  be  lawfid  to  dissemble  in  matters  of  religion  P'"*  One 
of  the  opponents  endeavoured  to  prove  the  affirmative  by  his  own 
example,  who  then  did  what  was  lawful,  and  yet  he  dissembled  in 
disputing  against  the  truth  ;  the  queen  being  well  pleased  at  the 
wittiness  of  the  argument.  Dr.  Westphaling,  (who  had  divers 
years  been  bishop  of  Hereford,)  coming  then  to  Oxford,  closed  all 
with  a  learned  determination  ;  wherein  no  fault,  except  somewhat  too 
copious,  (not 'to  say  tedious,)  at  that  time  her  Highness  intending 
that  night  to  make  a  speech,  and  thereby  disappointed.* 

Next  day  her  Highness  made  a  Latin  oration  to  the  heads  of 
houses,  (on  the  same  token  she  therein  gave  a  check  to  Dr.  Reynolds 
for  his  nonconformity.)  in  the  midst  whereof,  perceiving  the  old  lord 
Burleigh  stand  by,  with  his  lame  legs,  she  would  not  proceed  till 
she  saw  him  provided  of  a  stool,*]-  and  then  fell  to  her  speech  again, 
as  sensible  of  no  interruption,  having  the  command  as  well  of  her 
Latin  tongue,  as  of  her  loyal  subjects. 

9,   10.   The  Death  of  Archbishop  Pierce  and  Bishop   Elmar. 

A.D.  1594. 

John  Pierce,  [Piers,]  archbishop  of  York,  ended  his  life,  dean  of 
Christ  Church  in  Oxford,  bishop  of  Rochester,  Salisbury,  and  arch- 
bishop of  York.  When  newly-beneficed,  a  young  man  in  Oxford- 
shire, he  had  drowned  his  good  parts  in  drunkenness,  conversing 
with  his  country-parishioners  ;  but,  on  the  confession  of  his  fault  to 
a  grave  divine,  reformed  his  conversation,  so  applying  himself  to  his 
studies  that  he  deservedly  gained  great  preferment,  and  was  highly 
esteemed  by  queen  Elizabeth,  whose  almoner  he  continued  for  many 
years ;  and  he  must  be  a  wise  and  good  man  whom  that  thrifty 
princess  would  intrust  with  distributing  her  money.  He  was  one  of 
the  most  grave  and  reverend  prelates  of  his  age  ;  and,  after  his 
reduced  life,  so  abstemious,  that  his  physician  in  his  old  age  could 
not  persuade  him  to  drink  wine.  So  habited  he  was  in  sobriety,  in 
detestation  of  his  former  excess. 

The  same  year  died  John  Elmar,  [Aylmer,]  bishop  of  London, 
bred  in  Cambridge,  well-learned,  as  appeareth  by  his  book,  titled 

*  Sir  John  Harrington  in  his  additional  supply  to  Bishop  Godwin,  page  134. 
t  Idem,  page  136. 


138  CHURCH    HISTORY    OF    BRITAIN.  A.I>.  1594. 

*'  the  Harborough  of  Princes  :"'  *  one  of  a  low  stature,  but  stout 
spirit ;  very  valiant  in  his  youth,  and  witty  all  his  life.  Once  when 
his  auditory  began  at  sermon  to  grow  dull  in  their  attentions,  he  pre- 
sently read  unto  them  many  verses  out  of  the  Hebrew  text ;  whereat 
they  all  started,  admiring  what  use  he  meant  to  make  thereof.  Then 
showed  he  them  their  folly,  that,  whereas  they  neglected  English, 
whereby  they  might  be  edified,  they  listened  to  Hebrew,  whereof 
they  understood  not  a  word.  He  was  a  stiff  and  stern  champion  of 
church-discipline  ;  on  which  account  none  more  mocked  by  Martin 
Mar-Prelate,  or  hated  by  nonconformists.  To  his  eldest  son  he 
left  a  plentiful  estate ;  and  his  second,  a  doctor  of  divinity,  was  a 
worthy  man  of  his  profession. 

11,  12.   The  Death  of  William  Reginald^  and  of  Cardijial 

Allen. 

But  of  the  Romanists,  two  principal  pillars  ended  their  lives 
beyond  the  seas.  First.  William  Reginald,  alias  Rose,  born  at 
Pinhoo  in  Devonshire,  bred  in  Winchester  school,  then  in  New- 
College  in  Oxford."!*  Forsaking  his  country,  he  went  to  Rome,  and 
there  solemnly  abjured  the  protestant  religion  ;  and  thereupon  was 
permitted  to  read  (a  favour  seldom  or  never  bestowed  on  such 
novices)  any  protestant  books,  without  the  least  restriction,  presum- 
ing on  his  zeal  in  their  cause.  From  Rome,  he  removed  to  Rheims 
in  France ;  where  he  became  professor  of  divinity  and  Hebrew,  in 
the  English  College ;  where,  saith  my  author,^  with  studying, 
writing,  and  preaching  against  the  protestants,  perchance  he  exhausted 
himself  with  too  much  labour,  and,  breaking  a  vein,  almost  lost  his 
life  with  vomiting  of  blood.  Recovering  his  strength,  he  vowed  to 
spend  the  rest  of  his  life  in  writing  against  protest;mts  ;  and  death 
at  Antwerp  seized  on  him,  (the  24th  of  August,  [in]  the  fiftieth 
year  of  his  age)  as  he  was  a-making  of  a  book,  called  Calmno- 
Turcismus,  which  after,  by  his  dear  friend,  William  GifFord,  was 
finished,  set  forth,  and  dedicated  to  Albert  duke  of  Austria. 

William  Allen,  [Ailyn,  Alan,]  commonly  called  the  cardinal  of 
England,  followed  him  into  another  world  ;  born  of  honest  parents, 
and  allied  to  noble  kindred  in  Lancashire  ;  brought  up  at  Oxford  in 
Oriel  College,  where  he  was  proctor  of  the  University,  in  the  days 
of  queen  Mary,  and  afterwards  head  of  St.  Mary  Hall,  and  canon  of 

•  This  is  incorrect.  In  J55(i,  John  Knox  publirihed  at  Geneva  a  treatise  under  the 
title  of,  "  The  First  Blast  against  the  monstrous  Regiment  and  Empire  of  Women."  His 
design  was  to  show,  that,  by  the  laws  of  God,  women  could  not  exercise  sovereign 
authoritj'.  This  treatise  operated  greatly  to  the  injiu-y  of  prote.-tantism,  on  the  minds  of 
popish  kings  and  princes.  Aylmer,  perceiving  its  penncious  tendency,  published  an 
answer,  a.  d.  1559,  entitled,  **  An  Harborowe  for  faithfull  and  treue  Subjects  against  the 
late-blowne  Blaste,  concerning  the  Govenmient  of  Women,"  &c. — Edit.  1  PiTZiEL'S 
De  illuilribux  Angliit  !Scriploribiis,  in  anno  1594.  X  Idem,  ibidem. 


37  ELIZABETH.  BOOK    IX.       CENT.    XVI.  139 

York.  But,  on  the  change  of  religion,  he  departed  the  land,  and 
became  professor  of  divinity  at  Douay  in  Flanders,  then  canon  of 
Cambray,  master  of  the  English  College  at  Rheims,  made  cardinal 
1587,  August  7th,  by  pope  Sixtus  Quintus ;  the  king  of  Spain 
bestowing  on  him  an  abbey  in  the  kingdom  of  Naples,*  and  nomi- 
nating him  to  be  archbishop  of  Mechlii^ :  but  death  arrested  him  to 
pay  the  debt  to  nature,  October  16th  ;-|-  and  he  was  buried  in  the 
church  of  the  English  College  at  Rome.  This  is  that  Allen  whom 
we  have  so  often  mentioned,  conceived  so  great  a  champion  for  their 
cause,  that  pope  Gregory  XIII.  said  to  his  cardinals,  Venite,  fra- 
tres  mei^  ostendam  wbis  Alanum  :|  which  the  author  thus  translates, 
or  rather  comments  on,  "  Come,  my  brethren,  and  I  will  show  you 
a  man,  in  England  born,  to  whom  all  Europe  may  give  place  for  his 
high  prudence,  reverend  countenance,  and  purport  of  government."" 
His  loss  was  much  lamented  by  the  catholics,  not  without  cause  ; 
whose  gravity  and  authority  had  done  many  good  offices,  in  com- 
posing the  grudgings  which  began  to  grow  betwixt  Secular  Priests 
and  Jesuits  ;  which  private  heart-burnings,  soon  after  his  death, 
blazed  out  in  the  prison  of  Wisbeach  into  an  open  scandal,  as  now 
we  come  to  report. 

13 — 19.  A  sad  Subject  to  write  of  Christian  Discords.     The 
Beginning  of  the  Schism  betwixt   the  Seculars   and   the 
Jesuits.     The  Seculars  refuse  to  obey   Weston^  and  why. 
Weston  employed  but  as  a  Scout  to  discover  the  Temper  of 
the  Secular  Priests.     He  will  not  stand  to  the  Determina- 
tion of  a  grave  Priest  chosen  Umpire  :  at  last  is  forced  by 
Letters  from  his  Provincial  to  leave  off  his  Agency.     The 
Schism,  notwithstanding,  continues  and  increases. 
Here  I  protest,  (though  uncertain  how  far  to  find  belief,)  that  I 
take  no  delight  in  relating  these  discontents,  much   less  shall  my 
pen  widen   the  wound  betwixt  them.     For  though   I   approve  the 
opinions  of  neither,  yet  am  I  so  much  friend  to  the  persons  of  both 
parties  as  not  to  make  much  to  myself  of  their  discords  ;   the  rather, 
because  no  Christian  can  heartily  laugh  at  the  factions  of  his  fiercest 
enemies,  because  that  sight  at  the  same  time  pincheth  him  with  the 
sad  remembrance,  that  such  divisions  that  have  formerly,  do  at  the 
present,  or  may  hereafter,  be  found  amongst  those  of  his  own  pro- 
fession,— such   is  the  frailty  of  human  nature  in  what  side   soever. 
However,  hereafter  let  not  papists  without  cause  or  measure  vaunt 
of  their  unity,  seeing  their  pretended   ship  of  St.  Peter  is  not  so 
solidly  compacted,   but  that  it  may  spring  a  leak.     Nor  let  them 

•  Camden's  Elizabetha  in  hoc  anno.  ■\  PiTZ.^us  De  illus.  Ang.  Scriptoribus, 

page  703.  t  WATPON't*  Qiwdlibcts,  page  97. 


140  CHURCH    HISTORY    OF    BRITAIN.  A.D.  1594. 

boast  so  confidently  of  their  suiFeringa,  and  blame  our  severity  unto 
them,  as  if  enduring  such  hard  usage  in  their  imprisonment.  Surely, 
like  Joseph,  "  their  feet  were  not  hurt  in  the  stocks,  the  iron  did 
not  enter  into  their  soul,'*"'  Psalm  cv.  18 ;  neither,  with  Jeremy, 
were  they  "  cast  into  a  dirty  dungeon,  where  they  sunk  in  mire," 
Jer.  xxxviii.  6 ;  nor,  with^eter,  were  they  "bound  with  two 
chains,"'  Acts  xii.  6 ;  nor,  with  Paul  and  Silas,  were  they  "  thrust 
into  the  inner  prison,  and  made  fast,"  Acts  xvi.  24 ;  but  had,  in 
their  durance,  liberty,  list,  and  leisure,  to  begin,  foment,  and  prose- 
cute this  violent  schism  betwixt  themselves. 

Until  this  time  the  prime  catholics  in  Wisbeach  Castle  had  lived 
there  in  restraint,  with  great  unity  and  concord.  And  the  papists 
do  brag  that  then  and  there  the  English  church  was  most  visible, 
until  one  Father  Weston,  alias  Edmonds,  a  Jesuit,  coming  thither, 
erected  a  government  amongst  them,  making  certain  sanctions  and 
orders,  which  all  were  bound  to  observe  ;  secretly  procuring  subjects 
to  himself,  and  claiming  a  superiority  over  all  the  catholics  there. 
Yet  so  cunningly  he  contrived  the  matter,  that  he  seemed  not  am- 
bitiously to  affect  but  religiously  to  accept  this  authority  proffered 
unto — yea,  seemingly  forced  upon — him.  For,  one  of  his  friends 
writes  to  Father  Henry  Garnet,  provincial,  then  living  in  England, 
to  this  effect : — "  Good  Father  Weston,  in  the  humility  of  his  heart, 
lies  on  his  bed,  like  the  man  sick  of  the  palsy,  in  the  Gospel.  Nor 
will  he  walk  confidently  before  others  in  the  way  of  the  righteous, 
except  first  he  be  let  down  through  the  tiles,  and  it  be  said  unto  him 
from  the  provincial,  '  Arise,  take  up  thy  bed  and  walk."*  "  Yet,  if 
the  Seculars  may  be  believed,  he  did  not  only  arise  but  run,  before 
that  word  of  command  given  him  by  Garnet,  and  put  his  jurisdiction 
in  execution.  Beside  those  of  his  own  Society,  many  of  the  Secular 
Priests,  submitted  themselves  unto  him,  seduced,  say  some,*  by  the 
seeming  sanctity  of  the  Jesuits,  and  having  their  judgments  bribed 
to  that  side  by  unequal  proportions  of  money  received,  besides  pro- 
mising themselves,  that,  in  case  the  land  was  invaded  by  the  activity 
of  the  Jesuits,  all  power  and  preferment  would  be  at  their  dispose, 
and  so  they  should  be  sooner  and  higher  advanced. 

But  the  greatest  number  and  learned  sort  of  the  Secular  Priests 
stoutly  resisted  his  superiority  ;  affirming  how  formerly  it  had  been 
offered  to  Thomas  Watson,  bishop  of  Lincoln,  (late  prisoner  amongst 
them,)  and  he  refused  it,  as  inconsistent  with  their  present  condition, 
affliction  making  them  equals,  and  a  prison  putting  a  parity  betwixt 
them  :  (if  any  Order  might  pretend  to  this  priority,  it  was  most 
proper  for  the  Benedictines,  extant  in  England,  above  a  thousand 
years  ago  :)  that  the  Jesuits  were  punies ;  and  if  all  Orders  should 

•  Dcclarutio  Mvtuurn  ac  Tiirbativnum,  ^c.  ad  Clcmcntcm  VIII.  cxhibita,  page  12. 


38  ELIZABETH.  BOOK    IX.       CENT.    XVI.  141 

sit  down,  as  Jacob's  children  at  the  table  of  Joseph,  "  the  eldest 
according  to  his  age,  and  the  youngest  according  to  his  youth,'^ 
Genesis  xliii.  33  ;  the  last  and  least  place  of  honour  was  due  unto 
them  ;  that  the  Secular  Priests  had  borne  the  heat  of  the  day  in 
preaching  and  persecution  ;  some  of  them  having  endured  above 
twenty  years'  imprisonment  for  conscience"*  sake,  (as  Mr.  Bluet  for 
one,*)  before  some  of  the  Jesuits  knew  what  durance  meant ;  that 
Weston  was  not  eminent  fur  learning,  religion,  or  any  prime  quality, 
save  only  the  affecting  that  place  which  his  betters  had  declined  ;  that 
it  was  monstrous,  that  he,  being  a  Jesuit,  and  so  a  member  of  another 
society,  should  be  made  a  head  of  their  body.  The  lay  catholics 
were  much  offended  with  the  schism.  Some  withheld,  others  threat- 
ening to  withhold,  their  charity  from  both  parties,  conceiving  it  the 
ready  means,  when  maintenance  was  detained  from  both  sides,  to 
starve  them  into  agreement. 

One  might  admire  why  father  Weston  should  so  earnestly  desire 
so  silly  a  dominion,  having  his  power,  as  well  as  his  own  person,  con- 
fined within  the  walls  of  Wisbeach  Castle,  a  narrow  diocess,  only  to 
domineer  over  a  few  prisoners ;  the  gaoler,  yea,  the  very  turnkey, 
being  his  superior  to  control  him,  if  offering  to  exceed  that  compass. 
But,  O  the  sweetness  of  supremacy,  though  in  never  so  small  a  cir- 
cuit !  It  pleased  his  pride  to  be  prior  of  a  prison,  but  "agent"  was 
the  title  wherewith  he  styled  himself. -|-  Indeed,  the  English  Jesuits, 
both  abroad  in  England,  and  beyond  the  seas,  made  use  of  Weston's 
forwardness  to  try  the  temper  of  the  Secular  Priests,  and  to  make 
this  bold  Jesuit  to  back  and  break  a  skittish  colt  for  further  designs. 
If  Weston  were  unhorsed,  his  fall  would  be  little  lamented  ;  and  he 
might  thank  his  own  boldness  in  adventuring,  and  the  ill-managing 
of  his  place.  If  he  sat  the  beast  and  it  proved  tame,  then  others 
would  up  and  ride ;  and  father  Garnet,  Provincial  of  the  Jesuits, 
intended  in  like  manner  to  procure  from  the  pope  a  superiority  over 
all  the  Secular  Priests  in  England.  Wisbeach  prison  would  be 
enlarged  all  over  the  kingdom,  and  the  precedent  would  reach  far  in 
the  consequence  thereof;  which  increased  the  Secular  opposition 
against  this  leading  case  of  jurisdiction. 

About  this  time  came  to  Wisbeach  an  aged  priest,  who  had  given 
great  testimony  of  the  ability  of  his  judgment  and  ardency  of  his 
affections  to  the  catholic  cause,  being  the  General  Collector  of  the 
charitable  contributions  unto  the  prisoners:  in  which  place  he  had  been 
so  diligent  in  gathering,  secret  in  conveying,  faithful  in  delivering, 
unpartial  in  dispensing  such  sums  committed  unto  him,  that 
deservedly  he  had  purchased  reputation  to  himself;  who  as  he  had 
been  a  benefactor  to  both  parties,  so  now  he  was  made  an  arbitrator 

*  Watson's  Qvodlibeis,  page  4.  t  Bedaratio  Motnnm,  S^c.  page  17. 


142  CHURCH    HISTORY    OF    BRITAIN.  A.D.  1595. 

betwixt  them ;  -with  promise  of  both  sides  to  rest  satisfied  with  his 
decision.  He  condemned  the  Jesuits  guilty  of  a  scandalous  sepa- 
ration, and  that  Weston  ought  to  desist  from  his  superiority.  But 
the  Jesuits  ^vould  not  stand  to  his  sentence,  confessing  their  separa- 
tion scandalous,  but  on\j  per  accidens,  and  therefore  not  to  be  left 
off.  And  whereas,  the  aforesaid  priest  had  determined  that  that 
separation  could  not  be  continued  without  sin,  the  Jesuits,  in  deri- 
sion, demanded  of  him  whether  he  meant  a  venial  sin  or  a  mortal  ? 
and  so  the  whole  business  took  no  ciFect. 

Some  months  after,  two  reverend  priests,  often  sent  for  by  both 
sides,  were,  by  joint  consent,  made  judges  in  this  cause  ;  who 
resolved  that  Weston's  agency  should  be  abolished,  as  the  original 
of  evil  and  seminary  of  much  discord  :  and  because  Weston  refused 
to  obey  their  order,  these  two  priests  posted  up  to  London,  (where 
Garnet,  the  Jesuits'*  Provincial  did  lodge,)  and  from  him,  with  much 
ado,  obtained  peremptory  letters  to  Weston,  presently  to  leave  off 
his  pretended  superiority :  a  message  which  went  to  the  proud 
Jesuit's  heart,  who  was  formerly  heard  to  say,  that  he  had  rather 
throw  himself  headlong  from  the  castle  wall,  than  desist  from  his 
office.*  But  no-vv  there  was  no  remedy,  but  he  must  obey,  desiring 
only  he  might  make  a  speech  to  his  Society,  exhorting  them  to  unity 
and  concord ;  and,  in  the  midst  of  his  oration,  as  if  he  w^ould  have 
surrendered  his  soul  and  place  both  together,  he  fell  speechless  into  a 
swoon,  and  hardly  recovered  again  ;-|-  so  mortal  a  wound  it  is  to  a  proud 
heart  to  part  with  authority  !  Thus  ended  Weston's  agency,  the  short 
continuance  whereof  was  the  best  commendation  of  his  command. 

But  this  was  but  a  palliate  cure  to  skin  the  sore  over  which  festered 
within.  The  enmity  still  continued  ;  Seculars  complaining  that  the 
Jesuits  traduced  them  to  lay  catholics,  as  cold  and  remiss  in  the  cause, 
only  dull  to  follow  beaten  paths,  not  active  to  invent  more  compen- 
dious ways  for  the  advance  of  religion.  The  Jesuits  also  boasted 
much  of  their  own  merit;  how  their  Order,  though  last  starting,  had 
with  its  speed  overtaken  and  over-run  all  before  them.  Indeed,  they 
are  excellent  at  the  art  of  self-praising,  not  directly,  but  by  certain 
consequence ;  for  though  no  man  blazed  his  own  praise,  (for  one  to 
be  a  lierald  to  commend  himself,  the  same  on  the  same  is  false  blazon, 
as  well  against  the  rules  of  modesty  as  prudence,)  yet  every  one  did 
praise  his  partner,  laying  an  obligation  on  him  to  do  the  like,  who  in 
justice  must  do  as  much,  and  in  bounty  often  did  more,  gratefully 
repaying  the  commendations  lent  him  with  interest :  and  thus  mutu- 
ally arching  up  one  another,  they  filled  the  ears  of  all  papists  with 
loud  relations  of  the  transcendent  industry,  piety,  learning  of  the  men 

•  Dcrlaraih  Motumn  ac,  S{c.  page  20.  t  Ibide7n. 


So  ELIZABETH.  BOOK    TX.       CENT.    XVI.  143 

of  tlierr  Society,  to  the  manifest  derogation  of  all  other  Orders.    But, 
more  of  these  discords  in  the  year  following. 

20,  21.   The  strict  Keeping  of  the  Sabbath  first  revived. 
A.D.  1595. 

About  this  time,  throughout  England,  began  the  more  solemn  and 
strict  observation  of  the  Lord's  day,  (hereafter  botli  in  writing  and 
preaching,  commonly  called  "  the  sabbath,")  occasioned  by  a  book 
this  year  set  forth  by  one  P.  Bound,  doctor  of  divinity,  (and  en- 
larged with  additions,  anno  1606,)  wherein  these  following  opinions 
are  maintained : — 

1.  That  the  commandment  of  sanctifying  every  seventh  day,  as 
in  the  Mosaical  Decalogue,  is  moral  and  perpetual. 

2.  That  whereas  all  other  things  in  the  Jewish  church  were  taken 
away,  (priesthood,  sacrifices,  and  sacraments,)  this  sabbath  was  so 
changed  that  it  still  remaineth.* 

3.  That  there  is  a  great  reason  why  we  Christians  should  take  our- 
selves as  straitly  bound  to  rest  upon  the  Lord's  day,  as  the  Jews 
were  upon  their  sabbath  ;  it  being  one  of  the  moral  commandments, 
where  all  are  of  equal  authority. •(• 

4.  The  rest  upon  this  day  must  be  a  notable  and  singular  rest,  a 
most  careful,  exact,  and  precise  rest,  after  another  manner  than  men 
are  accustomed. J 

5.  Scholars  on  that  day  not  to  study  the  liberal  arts,  nor  lawyers 
to  consult  the  case,  nor  peruse  men's  evidences. § 

6.  Serjeants,  apparitors,  and  summoners  to  be  restrained  from 
executing  their  offices.  || 

7-  Justices  not  to  examine  causes  for  the  conservation  of  the 
peace.^ 

8.  That  ringing  of  more  bells  than  one,  that  day,  is  not  to  be 
justified.** 

9.  No  solemn  feasts,  nor  wedding-dinners,  to  be  made  on  that 
day-|"(- — with  permission  notwithstanding  of  the  same  to  lords,  knights, 
and  gentlemen  of  quality  ;t+  which  some  conceive  not  so  fair  dealing 
with  him. 

10.  All  honest  recreations  and  pleasures,  lawful  on  other  days, 
(as  shooting,  fencing,  bowling,)  on  this  day  to  be  forborne. §§ 

11.  No  man  to  speak  or  talk  of  pleasures,  or  any  other  worldly 
matter.  II II 

It  is  almost  incredible  how  taking  this  doctrine  was,  partly  because 
of  its  own  purity,  and  partly  for  the  eminent  piety  of  such  persons 

•  Dr.  Bound's  book  of  the  Sabbath,  page  91.  t  Page  247.  X  Page  124. 

§  Page  163.  H  Page  164.  H  Page  1G6.  *•  Page  102.  tj  Pages 

206,  209.  XX  Page  211.  §§  Page  102.  |1!|  Pages  272,  275. 


144'  CHURCH    HISTORY    OF    BRITAIN.  A. D.  1595. 

as  maintained  it ;  so  tliat  tlie  Lord's  day,  especially  in  corporations, 
began  to  be  precisely  kept,  people  becoming  a  law  to  themselves, 
forbearing  such  sports  as  yet  by  statute  permitted ;  yea,  many 
rejoicmg  at  their  own  restraint  herein.  On  this  day  the  stoutest 
fencer  laid  down  the  buckler  ;  the  most  skilful  archer  unbent  his  bow, 
counting  all  shooting  beside  the  mark  ;  May-games  and  morris-dances 
grew  out  of  request ;  and  good  reason  that  bells  should  be  silenced 
from  gingling  about  men's  legs,  if  their  very  ringing  in  steeples  were 
adjudged  unlawful.  Some  of  them  were  ashamed  of  their  former 
pleasures,  like  children,  which,  grown  bigger,  blushing  themselves 
out  of  their  rattles  and  whistles.  Others  forbore  them  for  fear  of 
their  superiors  ;  and  many  left  them  off  out  of  a  politic  compliance, 
lest  otherwise  they  should  be  accounted  licentious. 

Yet  learned  men  were  much  divided  in  their  judgments  about 
these  Sabbatarian  doctrines.  Some  embraced  them  as  ancient  truths 
consonant  to  Scripture,  long  disused  and  neglected,  now  seasonably 
revived  for  the  increase  of  piety.  Others  conceived  them  grounded 
on  a  wrong  bottom  ;  but,  because  they  tended  to  the  manifest  advance 
of  religion,  it  was  pity  to  oppose  them,  seeing  none  have  just  reason 
to  complain,  being  deceived  into  their  own  good.  But  a  third  sort 
flatly  fell  out  with  these  positions,  as  galling  men's  necks  with  a 
Jewish  yoke,  against  the  liberty  of  Christians ;  that  Christ,  as  Lord 
of  the  sabbath,  had  removed  the  rigour  thereof,  and  allowed  men 
lawful  recreations  ;  that  this  doctrine  put  an  unequal  lustre  on  the 
Sunday  on  set  purpose  to  eclipse  all  other  holy-days,  to  the  derogation 
of  the  authority  of  the  church ;  that  this  strict  observance  was  set  up 
out  of  faction  to  be  a  character  of  difference,  to  brand  all  for  libertines 
who  did  not  entertain  it. 

22.   Thomas  Rogers  first  publicly  opposeth  Dr.  BountTs  Opinions. 

However,  for  some  years  together  in  this  controversy,  Dr.  Bound 
alone  carried  the  garland  away,  none  offering  openly  to  oppose,  and 
not  so  much  as  a  feather  of  a  quill  in  print  did  wag  against  him. 
Yea,  as  he  in  his  second  edition  observeth,  that  many,  both  in  their 
preachings,  writings,  and  disputations,  did  concur  with  him  in  that 
argument ;  and  three  several  profitable  treatises,  one  made  by  Mr. 
Greenham,  were  within  few  years  successively  written,  by  three 
godly  learned  ministers.*  But  the  first  that  gave  a  check  to  the  full 
speed  of  this  doctrine,  was  Thomas  Rogers,  of  Horn  ingsheath  in  Suffolk ; 
in  his  preface  to  the  Book  of  Articles.  And  now  because  our  present 
age  begins  to  dawn,  and  we  come  within  the  view  of  that  truth  whose 
footsteps  heretofore  we  only  followed  at  distance,  I  will  interpose  no- 
thing of  my  own  ;  but  of  a  Historian  only  turn  a  Notary,  for  the  behoof 

*  Dr.  Bound  iu  his  preface  to  the  reader,  second  edition. 


38  ELIZABETH.  BOOK    IX.       CENT.    XVI.  14o 

of  the  reader,  faithfully  transcribing  such  passages  as  we  meet  with 
in  order  of  time. 

*' Notwithstanding,  what  the  Brethren  wanted  in  strength  and 
learning,  they  had  in  wiliness  ;  and  though  they  lost  much  one  way 
in  the  general  and  main  point  of  their  discipline,  yet  recovered  they 
not  a  little  advantage  another  way,  by  an  odd  and  new  device  of 
theirs  in  a  special  article  of  their  classical  instructions.  For  while 
worthies  of  our  church  were  employing  their  engines  and  forces, 
partly  in  defending  the  present  government  ecclesiastical,  partly  in 
assaulting  the  presbytery  and  new  discipline,  even  at  that  very  instant 
the  Brethren  (knowing  themselves  too  weak  either  to  overthrow  our 
holds,  and  that  which  we  hold,  or  to  maintain  their  own)  abandoned 
quite  the  bulwarks  which  they  had  raised  and  gave  out  were  impreg- 
nable, suffering  His  to  beat  them  down  without  any  or  very  small 
resistance  ;  and  yet,  not  careless  of  their  affairs,  left  not  the  wars  for 
all  that,  but,  from  an  odd  corner,  and  after  a  new  fashion  which  we 
little  thought  of,  (such  was  their  cunning,)  set  upon  us  afresh  again, 
by  dispersing  (in  printed  books,  which,  for  ten  years'*  space  before 
they  had  been  in  hammering  among  themselves  to  make  them  com- 
plete) their  sabbath-speculations,  and  presbyterian,  that  is,  more  than 
either  kingly  or  popely,  directions  for  the  observation  of  the  Lord's 
day."* 

And  in  the  next  page  he  proceedeth  :  "  It  is  a  comfort  unto  my 
soul,  and  will  be  till  my  dying  hour,  that  I  have  been  the  man  and 
the  means  that  the  Sabbatarian  errors  and  impieties  are  brought  into 
light  and  knowledge  of  the  state,  whereby,  whatsoever  else,  sure  I 
am,  this  good  hath  ensued, — namely,  that  the  said  books  of  the 
sabbath,  comprehending  the  above-mentioned,  and  many  more  such 
fearful  and  heretical  assertions,  have  been  both  called  in  and  forbid- 
den any  more  to  be  printed  and  made  common.  Your  Grace's 
predecessor,  archbishop  Whitgift,  by  his  letters  and  officers  at  synods 
and  visitations,  anno  1599,  did  the  one,  and  Sir  John  Popham,  Lord 
Chief  Justice  of  England,  at  Bury  St.  Edmund's  in  Suffolk,  anno 
1600,  did  the  other.'t 

But  though  both  minister  and  magistrate  jointly  endeavoured  to 
suppress  Bound's  book,  with  the  doctrine  therein  contained,  yet 
all  their  care  did  but  for  the  present  make  the  Sunday  set  in  a 
cloud  to  arise  soon  after  in  more  brightness.  As  for  the  archbishop, 
his  known  opposition  to  the  proceedings  of  the  Brethren  rendered 
his  actions  more  odious  ;  as  if  out  of  envy  he  had  caused  such  a 
pearl  to  be  concealed.  As  for  Judge  Popham,  though  some  con- 
ceived it  most  proper  for  his  place  to  punish  felonious  doctrines, 
(which  robbed  the  queen's  subjects  of  their  lawful  liberty,)  and  to 

*  Rogers's  preface  to  tlie  Articles,  paragraph  20.  t  Jdem.  paragraph  23. 

Vol.  III.  .    L 


146  CHURCH     HISTORY    OF    BRITAIN.  A.D.  1595. 

behold  them  branded  with  a  mark  of  infamy  ;  yet  others  accounted 
him  no  competent  judge  in  this  controversy.  And  though  he  had 
a  dead  hand  against  offenders,  yet  these  Sabbatarian  doctrines, 
though  condemned  by  him,  took  the  privilege  to  pardon  themselves, 
and  were  published  more  generally  than  before.  The  price  of  the 
doctor**s  book  began  to  be  doubled  ;  as,  commonly,  books  are  then 
most  called  on  when  called  in,  and  many  who  hear  not  of  them 
when  printed  inquire  after  them  when  prohibited  ;  and  though  the 
book's  wings  were  clipped  from  flying  abroad  in  print,  it  ran  the 
faster  from  friend  to  friend  in  transcribed  copies  ;  and  the  Lord's  day 
in  most  places  was  most  strictly  observed.  The  more  liberty  people 
were  offered,  the  less  they  used  it ;  refusing  to  take  the  freedom 
authority  tendered  them.  For,  the  vulgar  sort  have  the  actions  of 
theiB  superiors  in  constant  jealousy,  suspecting  each  gate  of  their 
opening  to  be  a  trap,  every  hole  of  their  digging  to  be  a  mine, 
wherein  some  secret  train  is  covertly  conveyed,  to  the  blowing  up  of 
the  subject's  liberty ;  which  made  them  almost  afraid  of  the  recrea- 
tions of  the  Lord's  day  allowed  them ;  and,  seeing  it  is  the  greatest 
pleasure  to  the  mind  of  man  to  do  what  he  pleaseth,  it  was  sport  for 
them  to  refi-ain  from  sports,  whilst  the  forbearance  was  in  themselves 
voluntary,  arbitrary,  and  elective,  not  imposed  upon  them.  Yea, 
six  years  after,  Bound's  book  came  forth,  with  enlargements,  pub- 
licly sold ;  and  scarce  any  comment,  catechism,  or  controversy  was 
set  forth  by  the  stricter  divines,  wherein  this  doctrine  (the  diamond 
in  this  ring)  was  not  largely  pressed  and  proved  ;  so  that,  as  one 
saith,  the  sabbath  itself  had  no  rest.  For  now,  all  strange  and  un- 
known writers,  without  further  examination,  passed  for  friends  and 
favourites  of  the  presbyterian  party,  who  could  give  the  word,  and  had 
any  thing  in  their  treatise  tending  to  the  strict  observation  of  the 
Lord's  day.  But  more  hereof,  God  willing,  in  the  fifteenth  year  of 
king  James. 

23 — 28.  The  Articles  of  Lambeth.  The  high  Opinions  some 
had  of  these  Articles.  Others  value  them  at  a  lower  Rate, 
So7ne  Jlatly  condemned  both  the  Articles  and  Authors  of 
them.  How  variously  foreign  Divines  esteemed  of  them. 
These  Articles  excellent  Witnesses  of  the  general  Doctrine 
of  England. 

Now  also  began  some  opinions  about  predestination,  free-will, 
perseverance,  &c.  much  to  trouble  both  the  schools  and  pulpit. 
Whereupon  archbishop  Whitgift,  out  of  his  Christian  care  to  pro- 
pagate the  truth  and  suppress  the  opposite  errors,  caused  a  solemn 
meeting  of  many  grave  and  learned  divines  at  Lambeth;  where, 
beside    the    archbishop,     Richard    Bancroft,    bishop    of    London, 


•38  ELIZABETH.  BOOK    IX.       CENT.    XVI.  14? 

Richard  Vauglian,  bishop  elect  of  Bangor,  Humphrey  Tyndall, 
dean  of  Ely,  Dr.  Whitaker,  queen's  professor  in  Cambridge,  and 
others  were  assembled.  These,  after  a  serious  debate  and  mature 
deliberation,  resolved  at  last  on  the  now  following  articles : — 

1 .  Deus  ah  ceterno  prcedestinavit  quosdam  ad  mtam :  quosdam 
reprohamt  ad  mortem. 

2.  Causa  motens  aut  efficiens  prcedestinationis  ad  mtam  non  est 
prcBmsio  fidei^  aut  per  sever  antice^  aut  honorum  operum^  aut  idlius 
rei  quce  insit  in  personis  prwdestinatis^  sed  sola  voluntas  beneplaciti 
Dei. 

*S.  Prc^destinatorum  proefinitus  et  certus  est  mwierus,  qui  nee 
auger i  nee  minui  potest. 

4.  Qid  non  sunt  prcedestinati  ad  salutem^  necessarid  propter  pec- 
cata  sua  damnabuntur. 

5.  Vera^  viva  et  justificans  fides ^  ^t  Spiritus  Dei  justificantis^  non 
extinguitur^  non  excidit^  non  etanescit  in  electis^  aut  finaliter^  aut 
totaliter. 

6.  Homo  Tere  fidelis,  id  est,  fide  justificante  prceditus,  certus  est 
plerophorid  fidei  de  remissione  peccatorum  suorum,  et  salute  sempi- 
ternd  sua  per  Christum. 

7.  Gratia  salutaris  non  tribuitur,  non  excommunicatur,  non 
conceditur  universis  hominibus,  qua  serxari  possint  si  Telint. 

8.  Nemo  potest  venire  ad  Christum,  nisi  datum  ei  fuerit,  et  nisi 
Pater  eum  traxerit ;  et  omnes  homines  non  trahuntur  a  Patre  ut 
teniant  ad  Filium. 

9.  Non  est  positum  in  arhitrio  aut  potestate  uniuscujusque 
hominis  servari. 

"  1.  God  from  eternity  hath  predestinated  certain  men  unto  life ; 
certain  men  he  hath  reprobated. 

"  2.  The  moving  or  efficient  cause  of  predestination  unto  life  is 
not  the  foresight  of  faith,  or  of  perseverance,  or  of  good  works,  or  of 
any  thing  that  is  in  the  person  predestinated ;  but  only  the  good- 
will and  pleasure  of  God. 

"  3.  There  is  predetermined  a  certain  number  of  the  predestinate, 
which  can  neither  be  augmented  nor  diminished. 

"  4.  Those  who  are  not  predestinated  to  salvation  shall  be  neces- 
sarily damned  for  their  sins. 

"  5.  A  true,  living,  and  justifying  faith,  and  the  Spirit  of  God 
justifying,  is  not  extinguished,  falleth  not  away,  it  vanisheth  not 
away  in  the  elect,  either  finally  or  totally. 

"  6.  A  man  truly  faithful,  that  is,  such  an  one  who  is  endued 
with  a  justifying  faith,  is  certain,  with  the  full  assurance  of  faith, 
of  the  remission  of  his  sins,  and  of  his  everlasting  salvation  by 
Christ. 

l2 


148  CHURCH    HISTORY    OF    BRITAIN.  A.D.  159.5, 

"  7.  Saving  grace  is  not  given,  is  not  granted,  is  not  conamuni- 
cated  to  all  men,  by  which  they  may  be  saved  if  they  will. 

"  8.  No  man  can  come  unto  Christ  unless  it  shall  be  given  unto 
him,  and  unless  the  Father  shall  draw  him  ;  and  all  men  are  not 
drawn  by  the  Father,  that  they  may  come  to  the  Son. 

"  9.  It  is  not  in  the  will  or  power  of  every  one  to  be  saved." 
Matthew  Hutton,  the  right  reverend  archbishop  of  York,   did 
also  fully  and  freely  in  his  judgment  concur  with  these  divines,  as 
may  appear  by  his  letter  here  inserted  : — 

Accept  ja?7ipridem  liter  as  tuas,   reterendissime  prcmul,    ceteris 
illius  bene'colentice  et  amoris  erga  me  tui  plenas  ;  in  quihus  efflagitas 
opinionem  meam  de  articidis  quibusdam  nuper  Cantahngiw  agi- 
tatis,  non  sine  aliqiod  piorum  offensione,  qui  gramter   molesteque 
feriint  matrem  academiam,  jam  multitudine  liberorum  et  quidem 
doctissimorum  florentem,  ed  dissensione  filiorum  nonnihil  contrista- 
tam  esse.      Sed  fieri  non  potest  qiiin  veniant  offendicida ;  neque 
desinet  inimicus  Jiomo  inter  triticum  zizania  seminare,  donee  eum 
Dominus  sub  pedibus  co7itriverit.     Legi  articulos  et  relegi,  et  dum 
pararem  aliquid  de  singidis  dicere,  Tisum  est  mihi  midto  potius  de 
ipsa  electione  et  reprobatione^  unde  ilia  dissensio  orta  esse  mdetur, 
meam  sententiam  et  opinionem  paucis  mrbis  explicare,  quam  sin- 
gidis sigUlatim  respondens  fratrum  forsitan  quorundam  animas, 
quos  in  Teritate  diligo,  exacerbare.     Meminisse  potes,  ornatissime 
a?itistes,  cum  Cantabrigiw  una  essemus,  et  sacras  literas  in  scholis 
publicis  interpretaremur^  eandem  regidam  seculi  eam  semper  fuisse 
inter  nos  consensionem  in  omnibus  reUgionis  causis,  et  ne  minima 
quidem  xel  dissensionis^  Tel  simultatis  suspicio  unquam  appareret. 
Igitur  hoc  tempore  si  judicio  dominationis  tuce^  id  quod  pingui 
Minerm  scripsi  probatum  ire  intellexero^  multo  mihi  minus  dis- 
placebo.      Deus  te  diutissime  servet  incolumem^  ut  turn  reginw  sere- 
nissimw  et  toti  regno  fidelissimus  coiisiliarius^  turn  etiam  ecclesice 
huic  nosirw  Anglicance  pastor  utilissimus  midtos  adhuc  annos  esse 
possis.      Vale.  E  muswo  meo  apud  Bishop-Thorp.     Calend,    Octob. 
anno  Domini  1595. 

But  when  these  articles  came  abroad  into  the  world,  men's  brains 
and  tongues,  as  since  their  pens,  were  employed  about  the  authority 
of  the  same,  and  the  obedience  due  unto  them  ;  much  puzzled  to 
find  the  new  place,  where  rightly  to  rank  them  in  reputation  ;  how 
much  above  the  results  and  resolutions  of  private  divines,  and  how 
much  beneath  the  authority  of  a  provincial  synod.  Some  there 
[were]  that  almost  equalled  their  authenticalness  with  the  acts  of  a 
synod,  requiring  the  like  conformity  of  men's  judgments  unto  them. 
They  endeavoured  to  prove  that  those  divines  met  not  alone  in  their 
private  capacities,  but  also  representing  others;  alleging  this  passage 


S8  ELIZABETH.  BOOK    IX.       CENT.    XVT.  149 

in  a  public  letter  from  Cambridge,*  subscribed  with  the  hands  of  the 
Leads  of  that  university : — "  We  sent  up  to  London  by  common 
consent  in  November  last,  Dr.  Tyndall  and  Dr.  Whitaker,  (men 
especially  chosen  for  that  purpose,)  for  conference  with  my  lord  of 
Canterbury,  and  other  principal  divines  there,"'  &c. 

Others  maintain  the  contrary.  For,  grant  each  man,  in  this  con- 
ference at  Lambeth,  one  of  a  thousand  for  learning  and  religion ; 
yet  was  he  but  one  in  power  and  place,  and  had  no  proxy  or  depu- 
tation, the  two  Cambridge  doctors  excepted,  to  appear  in  the  behalf 
of  others  ;  and  therefore  their  determinations,  though  of  great  use 
to  direct,  could  be  but  of  little  authority  to  conclude  and  command 
the  consent  of  others. 

But  a  third  sort,  offended  with  the  matter  of  the  articles,  thought 
that  the  two  archbishops,  and  the  rest  at  this  meeting,  deserved 
censure  for  holding  an  unlawful  conventicle.  For  they  had  not 
express  command  from  the  queen  to  meet,  debate,  and  decide  such 
controversies.  Those  of  the  opposite  party  were  not  solemnly 
summoned  and  heard ;  so  that  it  might  seem  rather  a  design  to 
crush  them  than  clear  the  truth.  The  meeting  was  warranted  with 
no  legal  authority,  rather  a  private  action  of  Dr.  John  Whitgift, 
Dr.  Matthew  Hutton,  &c.  than  the  public  act  of  the  archbishops  of 
Canterbury  and  York.  One  gO€th  further  to  affirm,  that  those 
articles  of  Lambeth  were  afterwards  forbidden  by  public  authority  ; 
but  when,  where,  and  by  whom,  he  is  not  pleased  to  impart  unto 
us.-|-  And  strange  it  is,  that  a  public  prohibition  should  be  whis- 
pered so  softly,  that  this  author  alone  should  hear  it,  and  none  other 
to  my  knowledge  take  notice  thereof. 

As  for  foreign  divines,  just  as  they  were  biassed  in  judgment,  so 
on  that  side  ran  their  affections,  in  raising  or  decrying  the  esteem  of 
these  articles.  Some  printed,^  set  forth,  and  cited  them,§  as  the 
sense  of  the  church  of  England  ;  others  as  fast  slighted  them,  as 
the  narrow  positions  of  a  few  private  and  partial  persons.  As  for 
Corvinus,  as  we  know  not  whence  he  had  his  intelligence,  so  we  find 
no  just  ground  for  what  he  reporteth,  that  archbishop  Whitgift  for 
his  pains  incurred  the  queen's  displeasure,  and  a  praemunire.  ||  We 
presume  this  foreigner  better  acquainted  with  the  imperial  law  and 
local  customs  of  Holland,  than  with  our  municipal  statutes,  and  the 
nature  of  a  praemunire.  Indeed,  there  goes  a  tradition,  that  the 
queen  should  in  merriment  say  jestingly  to  the  archbishop,  "  My 

•  See  it  cited  at  large  in  our  ••*  Hiritory  of  Cambridge,"  anno  1595,  f  Mr. 

MouNTAGU  in  his  "Appeal/  pages  55,  56,  71,  7'2.  t  Thysius  twice  printed  them 

at  Harderwick,  anno  1613.         §  Bogerman  in  his  107th  and  108th  notes  on  the  second 
part  of  Grotius.  ll  In  his  "  Answer  to  the  Notes  of  Bogerman,"  second  part,  page 

566,  and  so  forward  to  page  570, 


150  CHURCH    HISTORY    OF    BRITAIN.  A.D.  1596. 

lord,  I  now  shall  want  no  money ;  for  I  am  informed  all  your  goods 
are  forfeited  unto  me  by  your  calling  a  council  without  my  consent.^ 
But  how  much  of  truth  herein,  God  knows.  And  be  it  referred  to 
our  learned  in  the  law,  whether,  without  danger  of  such  a  censure, 
the  two  archbishops,  by  virtue  of  their  place,  had  not  any  implicit 
leave  from  the  queen  to  assemble  divines,  for  the  clearing,  declaring, 
and  asserting  of  difficult  truths,  provided  they  innovate  or  alter 
nothing  in  matters  of  religion.* 

And  now  I  perceive,  I  must  tread  tenderly,  because  I  go  not  (as 
before)  on  men''s  graves,  but  am  ready  to  touch  the  quick  of  some 
yet  alive.  I  know  how  dangerous  it  is  to  follow  truth  too  near  to 
the  heels  ;  yet  better  it  is  that  the  teeth  of  an  historian  be  struck 
out  of  his  head  for  writing  the  truth,  than  that  they  remain  still  and 
rot  in  his  jaws,  by  feeding  too  much  on  the  sweetmeats  of  flattery. 
All  that  I  will  say  of  the  credit  of  these  articles  is  this, — that  as 
medals  of  gold  and  silver,  though  they  Avill  not  pass  in  payment  for 
current  coin,  because  not  stamped  wntli  the  king's  inscription,  yet 
they  will  go  with  goldsmiths  for  as  much  as  they  are  in  weight ;  so, 
though  these  articles  want  authentic  reputation  to  pass  for  provincial 
Acts,  as  lacking  sufficient  authority,  yet  will  they  be  readily  received 
of  orthodox  Christians  for  as  far  as  their  own  purity  bears  con- 
formity to  God's  word.  And  though  those  learned  divines  be  not 
acknowledged  as  competent  judges  to  pass  definitive  sentence  in  those 
points,  yet  they  will  be  taken  as  witnesses  beyond  exception;  whose 
testimony  is  an  infallible  evidence  what  was  the  general  and  received 
doctrine  of  England  in  that  age,  about  the  fore-named  controversies. 

29.  Bishop  Wickham,    Dr.  Whitakei\  Daniel  Halseworth,  and 
Robert  Southwell  end  their  Lives. 

This  year  ended  the  life.  First,  of  Dr.  AVilliam  Wickham,  bred 
in  King's  College,  in  Cambridge,  first  bishop  of  Lincoln,  after  of 
Winchester,  whose  name-sake,  William  Wickham,  in  the  reign  of 
king  Edward  III.  sat  in  the  same  see  more  years  than  this  did 
weeks.  Indeed,  w^e  know  little  of  his  life,  but  so  much  of  his 
death,  as  we  must  not  mention  it  without  some  pity  to  him,  whilst 
in  pain,  and  praise  to  God  for  our  own  health  ;  such  was  his  torture 
with  the  stone  before  his  death,  that  for  fourteen  days  together  he 
made  not  water.f  Secondly.  Worthy  Dr.  William  Whitaker, 
whose  larger  character  we  reserve,  God  willing,  for  our  "  History  of 
Cambridge."    And  amongst  the  Romanists,  Daniel  Halseworth,  who, 

*  On  tljiis  -wliole  aiTair,  as  well  as  ou  otlier  collateral  matters  belonging  to  that  impor- 
tant period,  Fuller's  information  was  very  incon-ect ;  a  circumstance  that  operated  as  one 
of  the  piii^cipal  inducements  with  Strj-pe  to  write  his  accurate  "  Life  ot  Whitgift." — 
Edit.  t  Bishop  Godwin  in  his  <'  Catalogue  of  the  Bishop?  of  Winchester," 


39  ELIZABETH.  BOOK    JX.       CENT.    XVI.  151 

as  Pitzseus  describes  him,*  (papists  give  no  scant  measure  in  praising 
those  of  their  own  party,)  was  well  skilled  in  Latin,  Greek,  and 
Hebrew  ;  an  elegant  poet,  eloquent  orator,  acute  philosopher,  expert 
mathematician,  deep-studied  lawyer,  and  excellent  divine.  Flying 
from  England,  he  lived  successively  in  Savoy,  Rome,  and  Milan, 
having  too  many  professions  to  gather  wealth  ;  and,  with  all  his  arts 
and  parts,  both  lived  in  poverty  and  died  in  obscurity.  More 
eminent,  but  more  infamous,  was  the  death  of  Robert  Southwell,  a 
Jesuit,  born  in  Suffolk, -[-  bred  beyond  the  seas,  where  he  wrote 
abundance  of  books  ;  who,  returning  into  England,  was  executed, 
March  3rd,  for  a  traitor  at  London,  and  honoured  for  a  martyr 
amongst  men  of  his  own  religion. 

30.   The  Complaint  of  the  Seculars  against  the  Jesuits^  and 

principally  against  Parsons.  A.D.  1596. 
The  Secular  Priests  continued  their  complaints,  as  against  Jesuits 
in  general,  so  particularly  against  Robert  Parsons.  This  Parsons 
about  eighteen  years  since  was  in  England,  where,  by  his  statizing 
and  dangerous  activity,  he  had  so  incensed  the  queen's  Council,  that 
the  Secular  Priests  made  him  a  main  occasion  why  such  sharp  laws 
were  so  suddenly  made  against  catholics  in  England. |  But  no 
sooner  did  danger  begin  to  appear,  but  away  went  Parsons  beyond 
the  seas  ;  wherein  some  condemned  his  cowardliness,  and  others 
commended  his  policy,  seeing  such  a  commander-in-chief  as  he  was 
in  the  Romish  cause,  ought  to  repose  his  person  in  safety,  and 
might  be  nevertheless  virtually  present  in  the  fight,  by  the  issuing- 
out  of  his  orders  to  meaner  officers.  Nor  did  Parsons,  like  a 
wheeling  cock,  turn  aside  with  intent  to  return,  but  ran  quite  out  of 
the  cockpit,  and  then  crowed  in  triumph  when  he  was  got  on  his 
own  dunghill,  safely  resident  in  the  city  of  Rome.  Here  he  com- 
piled— and  hence  he  dispatched — many  letters  and  libels  into 
England ;  and,  amongst  the  rest,  that  book  of  the  succession  to  the 
English,  (entitling  the  Spaniard  thereunto,)  setting  it  forth  under 
the  false  name  of  Doleman,§  an  honest,  harmless  Secular  Priest,  and 
his  professed  adversary.  And,  surely,  Parsons  was  a  fit  fellow  to 
derive  the  pedigree  of  the  kings  of  England,  who  might  first  have 
studied  to  deduce  his  own  descent  from  a  lawful  father,  being 
himself  (otherwise  called  "  Cowback"")///«5  populi  et  filius  peccati, 
as  catholics  have  observed.  ||  Many  letters  also  he  sent  over,  full  of 
threats,  and  assuring  his  party  that  the  land  would  be  invaded  by 
foreigners  ;   writing  therein,  not  what  he  knew  or  thought  was — but 

*  Be  AnglidB  Script oribus  cetate  16,  page  794.  t  Idem,  ibidem.  X  Beclaratio 

Motuum  ad  Clcmcntem  rHL  page  24.  ^  Camden's  FJizabdha  in  anno  1594, 

page  72.  II  Watson's  Quodlibch,  pages  109,  23(». 


152  CHURCH    HISTORY    OF    BRITAI^^  A.D.  159G. 

"vvliat  lie  desired  and  endeavoured  should  be — true.  Some  of  these 
letters  being  intercepted,  made  the  queen's  officers  (as  they  had  just 
cause)  more  strict  in  searching — as  her  judges  more  severe  in 
punishing — the  papists.  Hereupon  the  Seculars  complained,  that 
such  proceedings  against  them  (termed  "persecution''  by  them, 
and  "justice"  by  our  state)  were  caused  by  the  Jesuits,  and  that 
Parsons  especially,  though  he  had  kindled  the  fire,  left  others  to 
bear  the  heat  thereof.  Yea,  which  were  more,  he  was  not  himself 
contented  to  sleep  in  a  whole  skin  at  Rome,  but  lashed  others  of  his 
own  religion,  and  having  got  his  neck  out  of  the  collar,  accused 
others  for  not  drawing  weight  enough,  taxing  the  Seculars  as  dull 
and  remiss  in  the  cause  of  religion  ;  and,  to  speak  plainly,  they 
differed  as  hot  and  cold  poison,  the  Jesuits  more  active  and  prag- 
matical, the  Seculars  more  slow  and  heavy,  but  both  maintaining 
treacherous  principles,  destructive  to  the  commonwealth. 

31.  A  general  Calm. 

If  we  look  now  on  the  nonconformists,  we  shall  find  them  all  still 
and  quiet.  After  a  storm  comes  a  calm.  Wearied  with  a  former 
blustering,  they  began  now  to  repose  themselves  in  a  sad  silence, 
especially  since  the  condemnation  of  Udal  and  Penryhad  so  terrified 
them,  that,  though  they  miglft  have  secret  designs,  we  meet  not 
their  open  and  public  motions  ;  so  that  this  century  affordeth  little 
more  than  the  mortalities  of  some  eminent  men. 

32.  The  Death  of  Bishop  Fletcher  and  Bishop  Coldwell. 
We  begin  with  Richard  Fletcher,  bishop  of  London,  bred  in 
Benet  College  in  Cambridge  ;  one  of  a  comely  person  and  goodly 
presence, — qualities  not  to  be  cast  away  in  a  bishop,  though  a 
bishop  not  to  be  chosen  for  them.  He  loved  to  ride  the  great 
horse,  and  had  much  skill  in  managing  thereof ;  condemned  for  very 
pi-oud,  (such  his  natural  stately  garb,)  by^such  as  knew  him  not; 
and  commended  for  Jmmility  by  those  acquainted  with  him.  He 
lost  the  queen's  favour  because  of  his  second  unhappy  match,  and 
died  suddenly,  more  of  grief  than  any  other  disease.  With  him 
let  me  couple  another  heart-broken  bishop,  John  Coldwell,  of  Salis- 
bury, doctor  of  physic,  (St.  Luke,  we  know,  was  both  an  evangelist 
and  physician,)  who  never  enjoyed  himself  after  he  had  consented 
(though  little  better  than  surprised  thereunto)  to  the  alienation  of 
Sherborn  manor  from  the  bishopric. 

33.   The  Death  of  Laurence  Humphrey. 
Here   I   am  at  a   loss  for  the   date  of  the  death  of  Laurence 
Humphrey,  but  confident  I  hit  the  butt,  though  miss  the  mark,  as 


59  ELIZABETH.  BOOK    IX.       CENT.    XVI.  153 

about  this  time.  He  was  a  conscientious  and  moderate  noncon- 
formist, (condemned  for  lukewarm  by  sucli  as  were  scalding-hot,) 
dean  of  Winchester  and  Master  of  Magdalen  College  in  Oxford,  to 
which  he  bequeathed  a  considerable  sum  of  gold,  left  in  a  chest,  not 
to  be  opened,  except  some  great  necessity  urged  thereunto.  But, 
lately,  whilst  Dr.  John  Wilkinson  was  President  of  the  College, 
this  gold  was  shared  between  him  and  the  Fellows.*  And  though 
one  must  charitably  believe  the  matter  not  so  bad  as  it  is  reported, 
yet  the  most  favourable  relation  thereof  gave  a  general  distaste. 

34.  A  great  Antiquary's  good  Intention  discouraged. 

Sure  I  am,  a  great  antiquary,  lately  deceased,  (rich  as  well  in  his 
state,  as  learning,)  at  the  hearing  hereof  quitted  all  his  intentions  of 
benefaction  to  Oxford  or  any  place  else,  on  suspicion  it  would  be 
diverted  to  other  uses.  On  the  same  token  that  he  merrily  said, 
"  I  think  the  best  way  for  a  man  to  perpetuate  his  memory,  is  to 
procure  the  pope  to  canonize  him  for  a  saint ;  for  then  he  shall  be 
sure  to  be  remembered  in  their  calendar :  whereas,  otherwise,  I  see 
all  protestant  charity  subject  to  the  covetousness  of  posterity  to 
devour  it,  and  bury  the  donor  thereof  in  oblivion." 

35.  The  Charity  of  a  Spanish  Protestant. 

Mr.  Balthazar  Zanches,  a  Spaniard,  bom  in  Xeres  in  Estre- 
madura,  founded  an  alms-house,  at  Tottenham  High-Cross  in 
Middlesex,  for  eight  single  people,  allowing  them  competent  mainte- 
nance. Now,  seeing  protestant  founders  are  rare,  Spanish  protes- 
tants  rarer,  Spanish  protestant  founders  in  England  rarest,  I  could 
not  pass  this  over  with  silence ;  nor  must  we  forget,  that  he  was  the 
first  confectioner  or  comfit-maker  in  England,  bringing  that  mystery 
to  London ;  and,  as  I  am  informed,  the  exactness  thereof  continues 

*  In  the  relation  of  this  affair  some  errors  occur,  which  are  thus  corrected  hy  Heylin : 
**  Our  author  is  mistaken  in  Dr.  Humphrey,  though  he  he  wiUing  to  entitle  him  to  some 
benefaction.  The  sum  there  foimd  amounted  to  above  twelve  htmdred  double  pistolets  j 
the  old  Doctor  [Wilkinson]  having  no  fewer  than  one  himdred  for  his  part  of  the  spoil, 
and  every  Fellow  thirty  a-piece  for  theirs :  each  pistolet  exchanged  at  sixteen  shillings 
and  sixpence,  and  yet  the  exchanger  got  well  by  the  bargain  too.  Too  gi-eat  a  sum  for 
Dr.  Humphrey — who  had  many  childi'en,  and  no  provident  woman  to  his  wife — to  leave 
behind  him  to  the  college,  had  he  been  so  minded.  The  money  (as  the  tradition  went  in 
that  college)  was  left  there  by  the  foimder,  [bishop  Wainfleet,]  to  remedy  and  repair  such 
niiDS  as  either  the  casualty  of  fire,  or  the  ravages  of  a  civil  war,  might  bring  upon  it :  to 
which  the  nature  of  the  coin  (being  all  French  pieces) — remember  that  the  English  at 
that  time  [a.  d.  1459]  were  masters  of  a  great  part  of  France — gives  a  farther  testi- 
mony." FuUer  thus  candidly  acknowledges  his  mistake  :  "  As  I  have  been  mistaken  in 
the  person.  Dr.  Humphrey  for  bishop  Wainfleet,  donor  of  this  gold,  following  common 
report  therein ;  so  I  could  heartily  have  wished  I  had  also  erred  in  the  thing  itself  j — I 
mean,  that  an  amotion  of  such  devoted  treasure  had  never  been  done." — Edit. 


154         CHURCH  HISTORY  OF  BRITAIN.         A.D.   1600. 

still  in  his  family,  in  which  respect  they  have  successively  been  the 
queens'*  and  kings'  confectioners. 

36.  The  Acts  in  Parliament.  A.  D.  1597- 
A  Parliament  [was]  held  at  Westminster,  wherein  the  deprivation 
of  popish  bishops  in  the  first  of  this  queen's  reign  was  declared  legal. 
Some  will  wonder  what  need  is  of  this  statute  at  so  many  years'* 
distance ;  but  the  preface  intimates  the  necessity  thereof.  The 
legality  also  of  our  bishops,  and  their  officers,  were  again  by  Act 
of  Parliament  confirmed.  And  whereas  there  was  a  pretended  con- 
cealment of  some  lands  of  the  bishopric  of  Norwich,  the  same  by 
Act  of  Parliament  were  settled  on  that  see,  and  the  exchange  of 
lands  ratified,  made  in  the  reign  of  king  Henry  VIII.  The  con- 
temporary Convocation  did  nothing  of  moment. 

37,  38.   The  Death  of  Thomas  Stapleton,  and  of  Dr.  Cosine. 

A.D.  1598. 

Thomas  Stapleton  this  year  ended  his  life,  and  was  buried  at  St. 
Peter"'s  church  in  Lou  vain.  It  is  written  in  his  epitaph,  qui  Cices- 
trice  in  Anglid  nohili  loco  hiatus.,  where  Cicestriw  is  taken  not  for 
the  city^  but  diocess  of  Chichester ;  having  otherwise  good  assurance 
that  he  was  born  at  Henfield  in  Sussex,  the  same  year  and  month 
wherein  Sir  Thomas  More  was  beheaded,*  observed  by  the 
catholics  as  a  grand  providence.  He  was  a  most  learned  assertor  of 
the  Romish  religion,  wanting  nothing  but  a  true  cause  to  defend. 
On  one  account  I  am  beholding  unto  him  ;  namely,  for  dissuading 
Pitzseusf  from  being  a  soldier  to  be  a  scholar,  whose  History  of  our 
English  writers  hath  so  often  been  useful  unto  me. 

Richard  Cosine,  doctor  of  the  law  and  dean  of  arches,  this  year 
ended  his  life ;  one  of  the  greatest  civilians  which  our  age  or 
nation  hath  produced ;  a  most  moderate  man  in  his  own  nature,  but 
most  earnest  assertor  of  the  ecclesiastical  discipline ;  as  by  his 
printed  works  doth  appear. 

39.  The  Death  of  Robert  Turner.  A.D.  1599. 
Robert  Turner's  death  was  now  much  bemoaned  by  the  papists. 
He  was  born  at  Barnstaple  in  Devon,  bred  for  a  while  in  Oxford  ; 
whence  flying  beyond  the  seas,  he  became  canon  of  Breslaw  in 
Silesia,  and  at  the  same  time  Privy  Counsellor  to  the  duke  of 
Bavaria,  falling  afterward  into  his  displeasure,  probably  because  more 
pragmatical  than  became  a  foreigner.  However,  Ferdinand  of  Gratz, 
afterwards  emperor,  took  him  frou)  the  duke  to  be  his  own  secretary 
for   the    Latin    tongue,   wherein   he   excelled ;    as  by   his   printed 

•  See  PjTZ.4;t.s  in  his  Life.  \  Idem,  ihidcm. 


43  ELIZABETH.  BOOK    IX.       CENT.    XVI.  155 

*'  Orations"'*  doth  appear.     He  lieth  buried  at  Gratz  under  a  hand- 
some monument. 

40.  The  Death  of  Richard  Hooker. 
Great  was  the  grief  of  protestants  for  the  decease  of  Richard 
Hooker,  Turner's  countryman,  as  born  also  in  Devonshire  and  bred 
in  Corpus  Christi  College  in  Oxford,  living  and  dying  a  single  man  ;* 
of  whom  largely  before  :  his  innocency  survived  to  triumph  over 
those  aspersions  which  the  malice  of  others  (advantaged  by  his 
own  dove-like  simplicity)  had  cast  upon  him.  I  am  informed  Sir 
Edwin  Sands  hath  erected  a  monument  over  him,  in  his  parish- 
church  in  Kent,  where  he  lieth  interred. 

41.  An  over-politic  Act  disliked. 
I  cannot  omit  what  I  find  in  this  year  in  Mr.  Camden's  manu- 
script Life  of  queen  Elizabeth. -f*  A  report  was  cast  out  by  our  poli- 
ticians, in  the  midst  of  harvest,  of  the  danger  of  a  present  foreign 
invasion  ;  done  out  of  design,  to  prevent  the  popularity  of  the  earl 
of  Essex,  and  to  try  the  people's  inclinations.  Instantly  all  were 
put  into  a  posture  of  defence  ;  mowers,  reapers,  all  harvest-folk  left 
their  work  to  be  employed  in  musters.  This  afterwards  appeared 
but  a  court -project,  whereat  the  country  took  much  distaste,  so  ill 
it  is  to  jest  with  edged  tools,  especially  with  scithes  and  sickles. 
My  author  addeth,  that  people  affirmed  that  such  May-games  had 
been  fitter  in  the  spring,  (when  sports  were  used  amongst  the  Romans 
to  Flora,)  and  not  in  the  autumn,  when  people  were  seriously  employed 
to  fetch  in  the  fruits  of  the  earth.  But,  by  his  leave,  these  expressions 
flow  from  critics,  and  fly  far  above  the  capacities  of  countrymen. 

42.  The  Death  of  John  Sanderson^  ajid   Thomas  Case. 
A.D.  1600. 

This  century  concluded  the  lives  of  two  eminent  Roman 
catholics ;  John  Sanderson,  born  in  Lancashire,  bred  in  Trinity 
College  in  Cambridge,  where  he  set  forth  an  excellent  Logic,  called 
Sanderson's  Logic,  forty  years  ancienter  than  that  which  his  worthy 
name-sake  of  Oxford  (of  a  different  judgment  in  religion)  hath  since 
printed  on  the  same  subject.  From  Cambridge  he  fled  to  Cambray 
in  Artois,  where  he  lived  with  good  comfort,  and  died  with  great 
credit  with  those  of  his  own  persuasion.  The  other,  Thomas  Case, 
of  St.  John's  in  Oxford,  doctor  of  physic ;  it  seems,  always  a 
Romanist  in  his  heart,  but  never  expressing  the  same,  till  his  mortal 
sickness  seized  upon  him. 

•  Hooker's  "Life,"  by  Izaak  Walton,  was  not  published  at  this  time;  otherwise  Fuller 
could  not  have  committed  such  a  mistake  as  the  one  here  recorded.— Edit.  f  Which 

shorllv  wiU  be  set  forth  in  a  new  edition. 


THE 


CHURCH  HISTORY  OF  BRITAIN. 


BOOK  X. 


CONTAINING  THE  RKIGN  OF  KING  JAMES. 


TO    THE 

HONOURABLE  ROBERT  LORD  BRUCE, 

SOLE  SON  TO 

THE  RIGHT  HON.  THOMAS  EARL  OF  ELGIN. 


Having,  by  God's  assistance,  drawn  down  my  His- 
tory to  the  death  of  queen  EKzabeth,  some  dissuade  me 
from  continuing  it  any  further  ;  because  that,  as  St. 
Peter  out  of  wariness  (alias  cowardUness)  followed 
Christ  (who  was  "the  Truth,"  Matt.  xxvi.  58)  "afar 
off;"  so  they  lay  this  down  for  a  maxim, — that  the 
story  of  modern  times  must  not  be  written  by  any 
alive ;  a  position,  in  my  poor  opinion,  both  disgraceful 
to  historians,  and  prejudicial  to  posterity. 

Disgraceful  to  historians — As  if  they  would  make 
themselves  like  unto  the  beasts  of  the  forest,  as  charac- 
tered by  David,  "who  move  in  the  darkness  till  the 
sun  ariseth,  and  they  get  them  away,"  Psalm  civ.  20, 
22 :  loving  to  write  of  things  done  at  distance,  where 
obscurity  may  protect  their  mistakes  froni  discovery  ; 
but  putting  up  their  pens  as  soon  as  the  day  dawns  of 
modern  times,  and  they  within  the  reach  of  reputation. 

Prejudicial  to  posterity — Seeing,  intentions  in  this 
nature,  long-delayed,  are  at  last  defeated.  The  young 
man,  moved  by  his  mother  to  marry,  returned,  that  as 
yet  it  was  "  too  soon;"  and,  some  years  after,  pleaded, 
that  now  it  was  "  too  late."  *  So  some  say,  truth  is 
not  ripe  enough  to  be  written  in  the  age  we  live  in, 
which  proveth  rotten  too  much  for  the  next  generation 
faithfully  to  report,  when  the  impresses  of  memorable 

*  Plutarch  in  his  "  Morals." 


160  DEDICATION. 

matters  are  almost  worn  out ;  the  histories  then  written 
having  more  of  the  author's  hand  than  footsteps  of  truth 
therein. 

Sure  I  am,  the  most  informative  histories  to  posterity, 
and  such  as  are  most  highly  prized  by  the  judicious, 
are  such  as  were  written  by  the  eye-witnesses  thereof; 
as  Thucydides,  the  reporter  of  the  Peloponessian  war. 

However,  one  may  observe  such  as  write  the  story  of 
their  own  times  like  the  two  messengers  which  carried 
tidings  to  David.  Of  these,  Ahimaaz  (sent  the  rather 
by  permission  than  injunction)  only  told  David  what  he 
knew  would  please  him,  acquainting  him  with  his 
victory.  But  being  demanded  of  his  son's  death,  he 
made  a  tale  of  a  tumult,  (no  better  than  an  officious  lie 
for  himself,)  the  issue  whereof  was  to  him  unknown, 
2  Sam.  xviii.  29.  Cushi,  the  other  messenger,  having 
his  carriage  less  of  cunning,  and  more  of  conscience ; 
informing  the  king  of  his  son's  death,  but  folding  it  up 
in  a  fair  expression :  ^^  The  enemies  of  my  lord  the 
king,  and  all  that  rise  against  thee  to  do  thee  hurt,  be 
as  that  young  man  is  !"  2  Sam.  xviii.  32. 

Ahimaaz  is  imitated  by  such  historians  who  leave 
that  unwritten  which  they  suspect  will  be  unwelcome. 
These,  following  the  rule,  Summa  lex  solus  authorise 
when  they  meet  with  any  necessary  but  dangerous 
truth,  pass  it  over  with  a  blank  flourished  up  with 
some  ingenious  evasion. 

Such  writers  succeed  to  plain  Cushi  in  their  relations 
who  give  a  true  account  of  actions  ;  and,  to  avoid  all 
exasperating  terms,  (which  may  make  a  bad  matter 
worse  in  relating  it,)  use  the  most  lenitive  language  in 
expressing  distasteful  matter,  adventuring  with  their 
own  danger  to  procure  the  information  of  others. 
Truly  one  is  concerned  in  conscience  to  transmit  to 
the  next  age  some  short  intimations  of  these  times, 
out  of  fear  that  records  are  not  so  carefully  kept  in 
these  so  many  and  sudden  changes  as  they  were  in 
former  ages. 


DEDICATION.  161 

I  know  Machiavel  was  wont  to  say,  that  "  he  who 
undertakes  to  write  a  history  must  be  of  no  rehgion  ;" 
if  so,  he  himself  was  the  best-quahfied  of  any  in  his 
age  to  be  a  good  historian. 

But  I  beheve  his  meaning  was  much  better  than  his 
w^ords  ;  intending  therein,  that  "  a  writer  of  histories 
must  not  discover  his  inchnation  in  religion  to  the  pre- 
judice of  truth  :"  Levi-like,  who  said  to  his  father  and 
mother,  "  I  have  not  seen  them," — owning  no  acquaint- 
ance of  any  relations. 

This  I  have  endeavoured  to  my  utmost  in  this  Book ; 
knowing,  as  that  oil  is  adjudged  the  best  that  hath  no 
taste  at  all ;  so  that  historian  is  preferred  who  hath  the 
least  tang  of  partial  reflections. 

However,  some  candour  of  course  is  due  to  such  his- 
torians, (wherein  the  courtesy  not  so  great  in  giving  as 
the  injury  in  detaining  it,)  which  run  the  chiding  of 
these  present  times  in  hope  that  after-ages  may 
excuse  them.  And  I  am  confident,  that  these  my 
labours  shall  find  the  same  favour,  which  may  he  in 
mere  men,  should  be  in  all  gentlemen,  must  he  in  true 
Christians ;  the  rather  because  this  Book  appeareth 
patronized  by  a  Dedication  to  your  Honour. 

I  have  selected  your  lordship  for  a  patron  to  this 
part  of  my  History,  wherein  the  reign  of  king  James  is 
contained  ;  under  whose  peaceable  government  your 
grandfather  was  his  Privy  Counsellor,  and  Master  of 
the  Rolls ;  when  your  family  was  not  brought,  but 
brought  back  into  England,  where  it  had  flourished 
barons  many  years  before.  Plants  are  much  melio- 
rated by  transplanting,  especially  when  after  many 
years  they  are  restored  to  their  native  soil  as  cordial 
unto  them.  And  thus,  the  continuance  and  increase 
of  all  happiness  to  yourself  and  noble  consort,  is  the 
unfeigned  prayer  of 

Your  Honour's  most  obliged  servant, 

THOMAS  FULLER. 

Vol.  tit.  m 


THE 


CHURCH    HISTORY   OF   BRITAIN. 

BOOK  X. 


SECTION  I. 

THE  SEVENTEENTH  CENTURY. 

1.  The  Seculars  fomented  hy  the  Bishop  of  London  against  the 
Jesuits.  43  Elizabeth.  A.D.  1601. 
The  difference  betwixt  the  Seculars  and  the  Jesuits  still  continued 
and  increased.  AVherefore,  bishop  Bancroft,  counting  the  Seculars 
the  better  but  weaker  side,  afforded  them  countenance  and  mainte- 
nance in  London-house,  accommodating  them  with  necessaries  to 
write  against  their  adversaries,  hoping  the  protestants  might  assault 
the  Romish  cause  with  the  greater  advantage,  when  they  found  a 
breach  made  to  their  hand  by  the  others'  own  dissensions.  But 
such  who  bore  no  grood-will  to  the  bishop,  beholding  the  frequent 
repairing  and  familiar  conversing  of  such  priests  in  his  house,  made 
a  contrary  construction  of  his  actions,  and  leported  him  popishly 
affected.  Thus  those  who  publicly  do  things  in  themselves  liable 
to  offence,  and  privately  reserve  the  reasons  of  their  actions  in  their 
own  bosoms,  may  sufficiently  satisfy  their  consciences  towards  God, 
but  will  hardlv  avoid  the  censures  of  men,  to  which  too  unwarily 
thev  expose  themselves.  With  more  general  applause  was  the 
bounty  of  archbishop  Whitgift  bestowed  ;  who  now  finished  his 
hospital,  founded  and  endowed  by  him  at  Croydon  in  Surrey,  for  a 
Warden,  and  eight-and-twenty  Brethren  ;  as  also  a  free-school,  with 
liberal  maintenance,  for  the  education  of  youth.  God,  the  best  of 
creditors,  no  doubt,  long  since  hath  plentifully  repaid  what  was 
lent  to  him,  in  his  members. 

2,  3.  Acts  in  the  last  Parliament  of  Queen  Elizabeth.     Acts  of 
this  Years  Convocation. 
The  last  Parliament  in  this  queen's  reign  was   now  begun  at 
Westminster,  October  27th,  and  dissolved  the  month  next  following, 


43  ELIZABETH.  LOOK    X.       CENT.    XVII.  103 

November  1.9th.  OF  such  things  whicli  at  distance  may  seem  to 
relate  to  churcli-affairs,  in  this  Parliament  it  Avas  enacted,  tliat  over- 
seers of  the  poor  should  be  nominated  yearly  in  Easter-week  under 
the  hand  and  seal  of  two  Justices-of-Peace,*  and  that  these  with 
t';e  churchwardens  should  take  care  for  the  relief  of  the  poor, 
binding-out  of  apprentices,  &:c.  As  also,  that  the  Lord  Chancellor 
should  award  commissions  under  the  Great  Seal,  into  any  part  of  the 
realm,  (as  cause  should  require.)  to  the  bishop  of  every  diocess,-f-  and 
his  chancellor,  and  any  four  or  more  persons  of  honest  behaviour,  to 
inquire  by  oaths  of  twelve  men,  into  the  mis-emplo)Tnent  of  any 
lands  or  goods  given  to  pious  uses ;  and  by  their  orders  to  appoint 
them  to  be  duly  and  faithfully  paid  or  employed  to  their  true  uses  and 
intents.  In  pursuance  of  this  statute,  much  good  was  and  is  done 
to  this  day,  in  several  parts  of  the  kingdom,  the  law  being  very 
tender,  that  the  true  intentions  of  the  donor  should  take  effect,  as 
by  this  eminent  instance  may  appear :  By  the  rule  of  the  law, 
copyhold  land  cannot  be  aliened,  but  by  surrender ;  but  yet  if  a 
man  devise  such  land  to  a  charitable  use,  though  it  had  not  been 
surrendered,  this  is  adjudged  good,  and  shall  be  construed  an 
appointment  to  a  charitable  use  within  this  statute. ;): 

Xow  if  we  look  into  the  Convocation,  parallel  to  this  Parliament, 
therein  we  shall  find,  that  it  began  with  a  Latin  sermon  of  William 
Barlow,  doctor  of  divinity,  and  one  of  her  majesty\s  chaplains,  (after- 
wards bishop  of  Rochester,  then  of  Lincoln.)  preaching  on  this  text, 
Xegotiamini  dum  tenio^  Luke  xix.  13.  In  this  Convocation, 
Matthew  Sutcliife,  doctor  of  the  law,  and  dean  of  Exeter,  was 
chosen  Prolocutor ;  but  nothing  save  matters  of  course  passed 
therein.     Xor  find  I  any  eminent  divine  deceased  this  year. 

4.  Franch  Godwm  made  Bishop  of  Landaff.'^ 

Francis  Godwin,  doctor  of  divinity,  sub-dean  of  Exeter,  son  of 
Thomas  Godwin,  bishop  of  Wells,  (like  another  Gregory  Xazianzen, 
a  bishop,  son  to  a  bishop, §)  was  promoted  to  the  church  of  Landaff. 
He  was  bom  in  the  fourth  year  of  queen  Elizabeth,  who  was  not  a 
little  sensible  of  and  thankful  for  God's  favour  unto  her,  in  suffering 
her  so  long  to  hold  the  helm  of  the  English  church,  till  one  bom 
within  her  reign  was  found  fit  to  be  a  bishop.  He  was  stored  with 
all  polite  learning,  both  judicious  and  industrious  in  the  study  of 
antiquity ;  to  whom  not  only  the  church  of  Landaff,  (whereof  he 
well  deserved,)  but  all  England  is  indebted,  as  for  his  other  learned 
writings,  so  especially  for  his  "  Catalogue  of  Bishops.^     He  was 

•  StattUo  43  of  queen  EiizaLeth,  cap.  2.  t  PAd.  cap.  4.  *  15  Ja.cobi  I.  in 

Rivet 'g  case  ia  Cbancery.  $  /«  ^it^  Greg.  Nazienzen. 

m2 


1G4  CHURCH    HISTORY    OF    BRITAIN.  A.D.  1602- 

trans. ated,   anno  1617,  to  Hereford  ;  and  died  many  years  after,  a 
very  old  man,  in  the  reign  of  king  Charles. 

5,  6.  Watson's  Quodlihets  against  the  Jesuits.  The  black 
Character  of  Jesuits  painted  with  the  Pencil  of  a  Secular 
Priest.  A.D.  1602. 
Now  came  forth  a  notable  book  against  the  Jesuits,  written  in  a 
scholastic  way,  by  one  Watson,  a  Secular  Priest,  consisting  of  ten 
quodlihets^  each  whereof  is  subdivided  into  as  many  articles.  It 
discovereth  the  Jesuits  in  their  colours,  ferreting  them  out  of  all 
their  burrows  of  equivocation  and  mental  reservation,  holding 
Proteus  so  hard  to  it,  that,  in  despite  of  his  changing  into  many 
shapes,  he  is  forced  to  appear  in  his  own  proper  form.  No  entire 
answer,  for  aught  I  can  learn,  was  ever  returned  to  this  book  ;  the 
Jesuits,  according  to  their  old  trick,  slighting  what  they  cannot  con- 
fute, and.  counting  that  unworthy  to  be  done  which  they  found  them- 
selves unable  to  do.  Indeed,  for  matters  of  fact  therein,  they  are 
so  punctually  reported  with  the  several  circumstances  of  time  and 
place,  that  the  guilty  consciences  of  such  as  are  concerned  therein 
(though  snapping  and  snarling  at  pieces  and  passages  thereof)  for 
the  main  may  well  give  it  over  for  unanswerable. 

Yet  the  whole  book  is  written  with  an  imbittered  style,  so  that 
protestant  charity  hath  a  better  conceit  of  Jesuits,  than  to  account 
them  altogether  so  bad.  Take  one  passage  of  many  : — "  No,  no, 
their  course  of  life  doth  show  what  their  study  is,  and  that,  how- 
soever they  boast  of  their  perfections,  holiness,  meditations,  and 
exercises,  yet  their  platform  is  heathenish,  tyrannical,  satanical,  and 
able  to  set'  Aretine,  Lucian,  Machiavel,  yea,  and  Don  Lucifer,  in  a 
sort,  to  school,  as  impossible  for  him,  by  all  the  art  he  hath,  to 
besot  men  as  they  do."*  This  is  the  same  Watson,  who,  though 
boasting  of  the  obedience  of  the  Secular  Priests  to  their  sovereigns, 
and  taxing  the  Jesuits  for  want  thereof,  was,  notwithstanding,  him- 
self afterwards  executed  for  a  traitor  in  the  reign  of  king  James. 
It  seems,  as  well  Seculars  as  Jesuits  are  so  loaden  with  loyalty,  that 
both  need  the  gallows  to  ease  them  of  the  burden  thereof. 

7.  A  Quiet  in  the  English  Church,  and  the  Cause  thereof. 

Great  at  this  time  was  the  calm  in  the  English  church,  the  Bre- 
thren not  endeavouring  any  thing  in  opposition  to  the  hierarchy. 
This  some  impute  not  to  their  quietness,  but  weariness,  because  so 
long  they  had  in  vain  sought  to  cast  off  that  yoke  from  them. 
Besides,  they  did  not  so  much  practise  for  the  present,  as  project 
for  the  future,   to  procure  hereafter  an  establishment   of  their  eccle- 

*  Second  Qnodlibet,  third  article,  page  G2. 


44  ELIZABETH.  BOOK     X.        (ENT.    XVII.  105 

siastical  government.  For  they  beheld  the  queen's  old  ag;  as  a 
taper  of  virgin-wax  now  in  the  socket,  ready  to  be  extinguished ; 
which  ^nade  them  address  and  apply  themselves  with  all  diligence 
to  James  king  of  Scotland,  the  heir-apparent  to  the  crown,  as  to  the 
rising  sun,  whom  they  hoped  will  be  more  favourable  to  their  pro- 
ceedings :  hopes  not  altogether  groundless,  whilst  they  considered 
the  power  of  the  presbytery  in  the  church  of  Scotland,  where  bishops, 
though  lately  restored  to  their  place,  were  so  restrained  in  their 
power,  that  small  wvas  their  command  in  church-affairs ;  which  made 
the  Brethren  in  England  thence  to  promise  great  matters  to  them- 
selves ;  but  with  what  success,  shall  be  seen  hereafter.  As  for  Mr. 
Thomas  Cartwright,  the  chieftain  of  that  party  in  England,  we  find 
him  at  this  time  growing  rich  in  the  town  of  Warwick,  (there 
master  of  an  hospital,)  by  the  benevolence  and  bounty  of  his 
followers,  where  he  preached  very  temperately,  according  to  his  pro- 
mise made  to  the  archbishop.* 

8,  9.  Several  Reasons  assigned  of  Mr.   Cartwrighfs  Modera- 
tio7i.      The  Character  of  Mr.  Cartivright. 

Some  ascribe  this  his  mildness  to  his  old  age  and  experience  ;  it 
being  commonly  observed,  that,  in  controversies  of  this  kind,  men, 
when  they  consult  with  their  own  gray  hairs,  begin  to  abate  of  their 
violence.  Others  conceive  that  archbishop  Whitgift  had  conquered 
him  with  his  kindness,  having  formerly  procured  him  both  his  pardon 
and  dismission  out  of  all  his  troubles;  so  that  his  coals  of  courtesies, 
heaped  on  Mr.  Cartwright's  head,  made  the  good  metal  (the  ingenuity 
in  him)  to  melt  into  moderation.  For,  in  his  letters  written  with  his 
own  hand,  March  24th,  afino  1601,  he  confcsseth  himself  much  ob- 
liged unto  him,  vouchsafing  him  the  style  of  "  a  right  reverend  father 
in  God,  and  his  lord  the  archbishop's  Grace  of  Canterbury,"  which  title 
of  "  Grace,"  he  also  often  yieldeth  him  through  out  his  letters,  acknow- 
ledging his  bond  of  most  humble  duty  so  much  the  straiter,  because  his 
Grace's  favour  proceedeth  from  a  frank  disposition,  without  any 
desert  of  his  own.-[-  Others,  and  that  not  improbably,  do  think  that 
Mr.  Cartwright  grew  sensible,  with  sorrow,  how  all  sects  and  schisms, 
being  opposite  to  bishops,  (Brownists,  Barrowists,  &c.)  did  shroud 
and  shelter  themselves  under  his  protection,  whom  he  could  neither 
reject  with  credit,  nor  receive  with  comfort ;  seeing  his  conscience 
could  not  close  with  their  enormous  opinions,  and  his  counsel  could 
not  regulate  their  extravagant  violences,  which  made  him  by  degrees 
decline  their  party.  Yet,  for  all  this,  there  want  not  those  who  will 
maintain,  that  all  this  while  Mr.  Cartwright  was  not  more  remiss,  but 

*  Sir  George  Paul,  in  "the  Life  of  ArcUbishop  Whitgift,"  page  54.  t  Idem, 

lit  piiuf. 


I(i6  CHURCH    HISTORY    OF    BRITAIN.  A.  D.  1602. 

more  reserved,  in  his  judgment ;  being  still  as  sound,  but  not  as  sharp, 
in  the  cause,  out  of  politic  intents  ;  like  a  skilful  pilot  in  a  great  tem- 
pest, yielding  to  the  violence  of  a  storm,  therewith  to  be  carried  away, 
contrary  to  his  intents  for  the  present,  but  waiting  when  the  wind 
should  soon  turn  about  to  the  north,  and  blow  him  and  his  a  pros- 
perous gale,  according  to  their  desires. 

What  hisop  inions  were,  may  appear  by  the  premisses  ;  and  his  life 
may  be  presumed  most  pious,  it  concerning  liim  to  be  strict  in  his 
conversation  \Uio  so  stickled  for  the  reformation  of  all  abuses  in  the 
church  :  an  excellent  scholar,  pure  Latin ist,  (his  travels  advantaging 
the  ready  use  thereof,)  accurate  Grecian,  exact  Hebrician  ;  as  his 
Comments  on  the  Proverbs,  and  other  works,  do  sufficiently  testify. 
But  the  master-piece  of  all  his  writings  was,  that  his  Confutation  of 
the  Rhemish  Translation  of  the  New  Testament  into  English,  at  the 
importunity  of  many  ministers  of  London  and  Suffolk ;  and  Sir 
Francis  Walsingham,  the  queen''s  secretary,  Mr.  Cartwright''s  especial 
patron,  gave  him  a  hundred  pounds  to  buy  him  books,  and  encourage 
him  in  that  work.*  However,  the  setting-forth  thereof  was  stopped 
by  archbishop  Whitgift ;  probably  we  may  conceive,  because  some 
passages  therein  did  glance  at  and  gird  the  episcopal  discipline  in 
England ;  and  after  it  had  lain  thirty  years  neglected,  it  was  first  set 
forth  anno  1618,  and  then,  without  cither  privilege  or  licence  ;  except 
any  will  say  that  truth  is  a  licence  for  itself.  In  a  word,  no  English 
champion  in  that  age  did,  with  more  valour  or  success,  charge  and 
rout  the  Romish  enemy  in  matters  of  doctrine.  But  when  that 
adversary  sometimes  was  not  in  the  field,  then  his  active  spirit  fell 
foul,  in  point  of  discipline,  with  those  which  otherwise  were  of  his 
own  religion. 

10.  Bishop  Westphaling,  Deem  Nowelk  Mr.  Perkins^    Gregory 
Sayer^  and  William  Harris^  depart  this  World. 

The  same  year  proved  fatal  to  many  other  eminent  clergymen  ; 
and  I  hope,  without  offence,  I  may  join  them  together,  their  bodies 
at  the  same  time  meeting  at  the  grave,  though  their  minds  before 
had  parted  in  different  opinions. 

1.  Herbert  Westphaling,  bishop  of  Hereford,  though,  perchance, 
his  ambiguous  death  is  more  properly  referred  to  the  last  year ; 
brought  up  in  Christ  Church  in  Oxford,  being  the  first  bishop  of  that 
foundation  ;  a  man  of  great  piety  of  life,  and  of  such  gravity,  that 
he  was  seldom  or  never  seen  to  laugh  ;-[-  leaving  no  great  but  a  well- 
gotten  estate,  out  of  which  he  bequeathed  twenty  pounds  ^^r  annum 
to  Jesus  College  in  Oxford. 

•  See  llie  preface  of  JMr,  Cartvvi-ight's  book.  f  GornriN  De  Prj-siilibus  Anglice, 

page  .540. 


44  elizabp:th.  book  x.     cent.  xvii.  167 

2.  Alexander  Nowell,  doctor  of  divinity,  and  dean  of  St.  Paul's 
in  London,  born  in  Lancashire,  bred  in  Oxford,  afterwards  fled  into 
Germany,  in  the  reign  of  queen  Mary.  He  was  the  first  of  English 
exiles  that  returned  in  the  days  of  queen  Elizabeth.*  And  I  have 
read  how  in  a  parliament  he  was  chosen  burgess  of  a  town  of  Cornwall ; 
but  his  election  pronounced  void^  because  he  was  a  deacon  :  a  man 
of  a  most  angelical  life  and  deep  learning  :  a  great  defender  of  justifi- 
cation by  faith  alone,  and  yet  a  great  practiser  of  good  works  ;  witness 
two  hundred  pounds  a-year  rent,  for  the  maintenance  of  thirteen 
students,  bestowed  on  Brazen-nose  College,  wherein  he  had  his 
education  if  a  great  honourer  of  the  marriage  of  the  clergy,  and  yet 
who  lived  and  died  single  himself:  an  aged  man,  of  ninety  years  of 
age,  yet  fresh  in  his  youthful  learning  ;  yea,  like  another  Moses,  his 
eyes  w^ere  not  dim,  nor  did  he  ever  make  use  of  spectacles  to  read  the 
smallest  print.j 

3.  William  Perkins,  who  was  born  in  the  first,  and  died  in  the 
last,  of  queen  Elizabeth;  so  that  his  life,  (as  we  have  elsewhere 
observed, §  to  which  we  remit  the  reader,)  running  parallel  with  this 
queen's  reign,  began,  continued,  and  ended  therewith. 

4.  Gregory  (before  his  entrance  into  religion,  Robert)  Sayer, 
bred  in  Cambridge,  then,  leaving  the  University,  fled  beyond  sea, 
where  he  became  a  Benedictine  monk,  of  the  congregation  of  St. 
Justin  in  Padua.  He  lived  in  several  parts  of  Europe,  as  at  Rheims, 
Rome,  Montcassino  in  Venice,  Avhere  he  died,  and  was  buried,  October 
30th,  having  written  many  volumes  in  great  esteem  with  men  of  his 
profession.  II 

5.  William  Harris,  as  obscure  among  protestants,  as  eminent  with 
the  popish  party  :  a  Master  of  Arts  of  Lincoln  College  in  Oxford  ; 
whence,  leaving  the  land,  he  fled  beyond  sea,  living  at  Douay,  and 
afterwards  he  came  over  into  England  ;5[  where,  it  seems,  he  had 
the  hap  to  escape  the  queen's  oflScers,  and  to  die  in  his  bed.  His 
book  called  "  the  Theatre  of  the  most  true  and  ancient  Church  of 
England,"  is  highly  accounted  of  Roman  catholics. 

11.  Relief  sent  to  the  City  of  Geneva. 
About  this  time  the  low  estate  of  the  city  of  Geneva,  the  nursery 
of  the  Reformed  religion,  was  lively  represented  to  the  prelates, 
clergy,  and  w^ell-disposed  persons  of  England ;  being  for  the  present 
in  a  very  doleful  condition.  Long  since  it  had  been  undone,  but 
because  it  had  so  many  enemies  to  undo  it ;   so   that,  by   God's 

•  Donald  Lupton  in  Lis  "Life."  t  Camden's  "Elizabeth"  in  anno  1602. 

X  Hugh    Holland  in  bis  Icones  Firorum  Illustrium,.  §  In  "  the  Holy  State," 

where  see  his  Life  at  large.  li  Pitz^bus  Dc  Scriptorihus  Anglicis,  ictate  ckcimd 

septi/nu,  page  801.  ^  Idem,  ibidem. 


168  CHURCH    HISTORY    OF    BRITAIN.  A.D.   1602. 

providence,  "  out  of  the  devourer  came  meat,''  Judges  xiv.  14  ;  such 
neighbouring  princes  and  states,  which  were  both  willing  and  able 
to  swallow  up  this  Zoar,  did  preserve  it.  For,  rather  than  Savoy- 
should  suppress  it,  Venice,  Florence,  the  popish  Cantons  in  Switzer- 
land, and  France  itself,  would  support.  Butforall  this  politic  geometry, 
Avherewith  long  it  had  hung  safe  betwixt  several  competitors,  it  was, 
lately,  shrewdly  shaken  by  the  puissance  of  the  duke  of  Savoy  ;  who, 
addicted  to  the  Spanish  faction,  had  banished  all  protestants  out  of 
his  dominions.  Archbishop  Whitgift,  whose  hand  was  ever  open 
to  any  pious  design,  led  with  his  liberal  example,  and  the  rest 
cheerfully  followed  ;  so  that  large  sums  of  money  Avere  seasonably- 
made  over  for  the  relief  of  Geneva. 

12.  The  Death  of  Queen  Elizabeth. 
Queen  Elizabeth,  the  mirror  of  her  sex  and  age,  having,  above 
forty  years,  to  the  admiration  of  envy  itself,  managed  this  kingdom, 
finding,  when  she  began,  few  friends  that  durst  help,  and  leaving  no 
foes  that  could  hurt  her,  exchanged  her  earthly  for  a  heavenly  crown  ; 
who,  as  she  lived  and  died  an  unspotted  virgin,  so  her  maiden 
memory  is  likely,  in  this  respect,  to  remain  sole  and  single  ;  seeing 
history  aiFords  no  prince  to  be  matched  to  her  fame  in  all  consider- 
able particulars.  Her  corpse  were  solemnly  interred  under  a  fair 
tomb  in  Westminster  ;  the  lively  draught  whereof  is  pictured  in 
most  London — and  many  country — churches  ;  every  parish  being 
proud  of  the  shadow  of  her  tomb  :  and  no  wonder,  when  each  loyal 
subject  erected  a  mournful  monument  for  her  in  his  heart.  But, 
soon  after,  all  English  souls  were  employed  equally  to  divide  them- 
selves betwixt  exclamations  of  sorrow  for  her  death,  and  acclamations 
of  joy  for  king  James  succeeding  her. 

13.  King  James  sends  a  welcome  Message  to  the  episcopal 
Party.     1  James  I.  J.D.  1602. 

And  now  it  is  strange  with  what  assiduity  and  diligence  the  two 
potent  parties,  the  defenders  of  episcopacy  and  presbytery,  with 
equal  hopes  of  success,  made,  beside  private  and  particular  ad- 
dresses, public  and  visible  applications  to  king  James,  the  first  to 
continue,  the  latter  to  restore,  or  rather  set  up  their  government ;  so 
that  whilst  each  side  was  jealous  his  rival  should  get  the  start  by 
early  stirring,  and  rise  first  in  the  king's  favour,  such  was  their  vigi- 
lancy,  that  neither  may  seem  to  go  to  bed  ;  incessantly  diligent 
both  before  and  since  the  queen's  death,  in  dispatching  posts  and 
messages  into  Scotland  to  advance  their  several  designs.  We  take 
notice  of  two  principal : — Mr.  Lewis  Pickering,  a  Northampton- 
shire gentleman,   and  zealous   for  the  prcsbytcrian   party,  was  the 


1  JAMES  I.  ISOOK    X.       CENT.    XVII.  169 

third  person  of  quality,  who,  riding  incredibly  swift,  (good  news 
makes  good  horsemen,)  brought  king  James  the  tidings  of  queen 
Elizabeth's  death.  But  how  far,  and  with  what  answer,  he  moved 
the  king  in  that  cause,  is  uncertain.  Dr.  Thomas  Nevill,  dean  of 
Canterbury,  came  into  Scotland  some  days  after  him,  (except  any 
will  say,  that  he  comes  first  that  comes  really  to  effect  what  he  was 
sent  for,)  being  solemnly  employed  by  archbishop  Whitgift  *  to  his 
majesty  in  the  name  of  the  bishops  and  clergy,  of  England,  to  ten- 
der their  bounden  duties,  and  to  understand  his  Highnesses  plea- 
sure for  the  ordering  and  guiding  of  ecclesiastical  causes.  He 
brought  back  a  welcome  answer,  to  such  as  sent  him,  of  his  High- 
nesses purpose,  which  was  to  uphold  and  maintain  the  government  of 
the  late  queen,  as  she  left  it  settled. 

14 — 17-  Watsons  silly  Treason.  His  motley  Complices.  Their 
wild  Mea?is  whereby  to  attain  a  mad  End.  The  two 
Priests  executed. 

Soon  after  followed  the  treason  of  William  Watson,  on  this 
occasion :  This  Watson,  Secular  Priest,  had  written  a  bitter  book 
against  the  Jesuits,  as  being  one  knowing  (though  not  so  secret)  of 
their  faults,  as  their  own  confessors,  taxing  them  with  truth  so  plain 
they  could  not  deny,  so  foul  they  durst  not  confess  it.  Now,  such 
is  the  charity  of  Jesuits,  that  they  never  owe  any  man  any  ill-will, 
making  present  payment  thereof.  These  holy  fathers,  as  Watson 
intimated  on  the  scaffold, -f*  at  his  death,  and  forgave  them  for  the 
same,  cunningly  and  covertly  drew  him  into  this  action,  promoting 
him,  who  was  ambitious,  (though  pretending  to  much  mortification,) 
treasonably  to  practise  his  own  preferment. 

Watson,  with  William  Clark,  another  of  his  own  profession, 
having  fancied  a  notional  treason,  imparted  it  to  George  Brooke,  one 
angry  with  nature,  not  so  much  for  making  him  lame,  as  a  younger 
brother.  These  break  it  to  Brooke's  brother,  the  lord  Cobham,  to 
the  lord  Gray  of  Whaddon,  and  Sir  Walter  Raleigh,  the  one  a 
known  protestant,  the  other  a  reputed  Puritan,  the  third  an  able 
statesman  ;  beside  some  other  knights,  displeased  Avith  their  present 
fortunes,  (how  quickly  is  discontent  inflamed  into  disloyalty !) 
because,  since  the  turning  of  the  wheel,  at  the  queen's  death,  on  the 
wrong  side  of  preferment.  Watson  devised  an  oath  of  secrecy  for 
them  all,  which  was  no  more  than  needful,  considering  their  differ- 
ent interests,  rather  pieced  than  united,  patched  than  pieced 
together. 

*  Sir  George  Pall  in  the  arc-hbishop's  "  Life,"'  uum.  126.  i  Stow^s  "  Clure- 

rik'le,"  page  831. 


170  CHURCH    HISTORY    OF    BRITAIN.  A.]).  1603. 

Had  one  lost  his  religion,  he  might  have  found  it  (though  I  con- 
fess a  treason  is  but  a  bad  place  to  seek  it  in)  in  this  conspiracy, 
wherein  men  of  all  persuasions  were  engaged.  Their  parts  were  as 
different  as  their  opinions  ;  some  of  them  being  conceived  too  wise 
to  begin — and  others  too  weak  to  finish — so  dangerous  a  design. 
The  ends  they  propounded  to  themselves,  (as  they  were  charged 
therewith,)  were  to  kill  the  king,  raise  rebellion,  alter  religion,  at 
least  gain  a  toleration,  and  procure  a  foreign  invasion,  with  many 
more  things,  which  may  be  spoken  easier  in  a  minute  than  done  in 
an  age,  especially  their  interest  being  not  much  at  home,  and 
nothing  abroad.  They  ante-divided  all  offices  of  state  betwixt 
themselves, — lord  marshal  to  one,  treasurer  to  another,  master  of 
the  horse  to  a  third,  secretary  to  a  fourth,  &c.  Only  Sir  Walter 
Raleigh,  able  to  discharge  any,  had  no  particular  office  assigned 
unto  him.  Watson  was  to  be  lord  chancellor,  being  very  fit  for  the 
place,  had  he  but  as  much  skill  to  decide  causes  as  write  quodlibets. 
There  wanted  nothing  to  estate  them  in  all  these  offices,  but  only 
their  getting  of  them. 

Wonder  not  that  this  treason  was  discovered  so  soon,  but  covered 
so  long.  The  tw^o  priests  alone,  with  George  Brooke,  were  executed, 
November  2.9th,  who,  to  use  the  words  of  king  James  in  his  letter 
to  Sir  Benjamin  Tichbourne,  sheriff  of  Hampshire,  (for  the  plague 
being  in  London,  term  was  removed  to  Winchester,  where  they 
were  tried,)  taire  the  principall  plotter  is  and  intisaris  of  all  the  rest  ^ 
to  the  emhracing  of  the  saidis  treasonabil  machinations.  The  rest 
were  pardoned  their  lives,  not  their  lands.  We  must  not  forget, 
that  the  priests  pleaded  the  silliest  for  themselves  of  all  that  were 
arraigned;  alleging  that  their  practice  against  the  king  could  not  be 
treason,  because  done  against  him  before  he  was  crowned  ;  Watson 
instancing  in  Saul,  who  ^vas  anointed  in  Ramah,  1  Sam.  x.  1,  and 
afterw^ard  made  king  in  Mizpeh,  1  Sam.  x.  24.  Clark  insisted  on  Re- 
hoboam,  as  being  no  king  till  the  people  had  made  him  so,  1  Kings 
xii.  1  ;  not  remembering  (what  our  lawyers  there  minded  them  of) 
the  difference  betwixt  successive  kings,  deriving  their  claim  from  their 
ancestors,  and  one  newly-elected ;  the  English  Crown  also  being  as 
incapable  of  an  interregnum,  as  nature  of  a  vacuity.  Mean  time  the 
Jesuits  looked  on,  and  laughed  at  Watson's  execution,  to  see  how 
bunglingly  Secular  Priests  went  about  a  treason,  resolving  in  the  next 
platform  thereof  (wdiich  now  they  were  contriving)  to  rectify  the 
errors  Watson  had  committed  :  not  to  engage  in  a  squint-eyed 
company,  where  two  did  not  look  the  same  way,  but  to  select  a 
competency  of  cordial  catholics  for  the  purpose. 


1  JAMES   I.  BOOK    X.       CENT.    XVII.  171 

18,  19.  Mr,  Cartwright  dedicates  a  Book  to  King  James.      Mr, 
Cartwrighfs  Death. 

No  sooner  was  king  James  settled  on  the  English  throne,  but 
Mr.  Cartwright  presented  unto  him  his  Latin  comment  on  Eccle- 
siastes,  thankfully  mentioning  in  his  Dedication,  how  he  had,  some 
twenty  years  before,  been  chosen  to  be  Professor  in  a  Scotch 
University,  though  declining  the  acceptance  thereof,  because  of  his 
pastoral  charge,  being  then  minister  to  the  English  congregation  at 
Antwerp :  Thanks,  perchance,  not  so  proper  to  the  person  of  king 
James,  (though  in  loyalty  and  good  manners  justly  tendered  unto 
him,)  as  due  rather  to  those  who  in  his  minority  steered  the  affairs 
of  Scotland.  Nor  let  any  wonder,  that  an  Englishman  should  be 
proffered  preferment  in  Scotland,  seeing  it  was  but  one  for  another, 
remembering  that  I  have  read  in  the  Life  of  Mr.  Knox  that  he  was 
offered  an  English  bishopric  in  the  reign  (as  I  take  it)  of  king 
Edward  VL  and  likewise  refused  the  same. 

But  Mr.  Cartwright  survived  not  long  after,  (otherwise,  no  doubt, 
we  should  have  heard  of  him  in  Hampton-court  Conference,  as  the 
champion  of  his  party,)  who  died  at  the  age  of  sixty,  on  the  27th  of 
December  following.  To  what  we  have  formerly  largely  written  of 
his  character,  we  now  only  add,  that  he  was  born  in  Hertfordshire, 
and  married  the  sister  of  Mr.  Stubbs,  whose  hand  was  struck  off  for 
writing  an  interpreted  libel  against  queen  Elizabeth\s  marriage  with 
Monsieur.*  This  I  dare  boldly  say,  she  was  a  most  excellent  wife, 
if  she  proved  like  her  brother,  whom  Mr.  Camden  (no  great  friend 
of  Puritans)  cordially  commendeth  for  a  right  honest  man,  gene- 
rally beloved  whilst  living,  and  lamented  when  dead.  He  was 
afflicted  towards  his  old  age  with  many  infirmities,  insomuch  that  he 
was  forced  continually  to  study  upon  his  knees. "I-  My  ears  shall  be 
deaf  to  the  uncharitable  inference  of  those,  who  impute  this  extraor- 
dinary painful  posture  as  a  just  punishment  upon  him,  in  that  he 
had  so  bitterly  inveighed  against  the  gesture  of  those  as  superstitious 
who  reverently  received  the  sacrament  on  their  knees.  Mr.  Dod 
preached  his  funeral  sermon. 

20.   The  Presbyterian  Petition  to  the  King  and  Parliament. 

And  now,  because  there  was  a  general  expectation  of  a  parliament 
suddenly  to  succeed,  the  presbyterian  party,  that  they  might  not  be 
surprised  before  they  had  their  tackling  about  them,  went  about  to 
get  hands  of  the  ministers  to  a  petition,  which  they  intended  season- 
ably to  present  to  the  king  and  parliament.  Mr.  Arthur  Hildersham, 
and  Mr.  Stephen  Egerton,  with  some  others,  were  chosen,  and 
chiefly  intrusted  to    manage    this   important    business.     This   was 

•  Camdkn  in  his  '*  Elizabeth."  1  Sec  his  Life  latt^ly  set  forth  hy  Mr.  Clark. 


172  CHURCH    HISTORY    OF    BRITAIN.  A.D.  1604. 

called  "  the  Millenary  Petition,""  as  one  of  a  thousand  ;  *  though 
indeed  there  were  but  seven  hundred  and  fifty  preachers'  hands  set 
thereunto :  but  those  all  collected  only  out  of  five-and-twenty 
counties.  However,  for  the  more  rotundity  of  the  number,  and 
grace  of  the  matter,  it  passeth  for  a  full  thousand;  which,  no  doubt, 
the  collectors  of  the  names  (if  so  pleased)  might  easily  have  com- 
pleted. I  dare  not  guess  what  made  them  desist  before  their  num- 
ber was  finished  ;  whether  they  thought  that  these  were  enough  to 
do  the  deed,  and  more  were  rather  for  ostentation  than  use ;  or, 
because  disheartened  by  the  intervening  of  the  Hampton-court 
Conference,  they  thought  that  these  were  even  too  many  to  petition 
for  a  denial.  It  is  left  as  yet  uncertain,  whether  this  Conference 
was  by  the  king's  favour  graciously  tendered,  or  by  the  mediation 
of  the  lords  of  his  Council  powerfully  procured  ;  or  by  the  bishops, 
as  confident  of  their  cause,  voluntarily  proffered  ;  or  by  the  minis- 
ters' importunity  effectually  obtained.  Each  opinion  pretends  to 
probability,  but  the  last  most  likely.  And,  by  what  means  soever 
this  Conference  was  compassed,  Hampton-Court  was  the  place,  the 
14th  of  January  the  time,  and  the  following  names  the  persons 
which  were  employed  therein. 

For  Conformity. — Archbishop  of  Canterbury,  Whitgift; 
bishops  of  London,  Bancroft ;  Durham,  Matthews ;  Winchester, 
Bilson  ;  Worcester,  Babington  ;  St.  David's,  Rudd  ;  Chichester, 
Watson ;  Carlisle,  Robinson  ;  Peterborough,  Dove :  Dean  of  the 
Chapel,  of  Christ-Church,  of  Worcester;  Westminster,  Andrews  ;  St. 
Paul's,  Overall ;  Chester,  Barlow  ;  Salisbury,  Bridges;-)*  of  Windsor 
Dr.  Field  and  Dr.  King. 

Against  Conformity. — Dr.  Reynolds  and  Dr.  Sparks ;  Mr. 
Knewstubs  and  Mr.  Chaderton.  These  remaining  in  a  room  with- 
out, were,  not  called  in  the  first  day. 

Moderator,  king  James  ;  spectators,  all  the  lords  of  the  Privy 
Council,  whereas  some  at  times  interposed  a  few  words ;  place,  a 
withdrawing-room  within  the  privy  chamber. 

21.   The  Jirst  Day's  Conference  at  Hampton  Court.    ^.  Z>.  1604. 

To  omit  all  gratulatory  preambles,  as  necessary  when  spoken,  as 
needless  if  now  repeated,  we  will  present  only  the  substance  of  this 
day's  Conference  ;  his  majesty  thus  beginning  it : — 

"  It  is  no  novel  device,  but  according  to  the  example  of  all  Chris- 
tian princes,  for  kings  to  take  the  first  course  for  the  establishing  of 

*  See  Mr.  Hildersh.am's  "  Life,"  set  forth  by  Mr.  Clark.  t  Though  all  these 

deans  were  summoDetl  by  letters,  and  present  in  the  Presence-chamber ;  yet  only  five 
(namely,  of  the  Chapel,  W't'itniiuster,  Paxil's,  Chester,  and  Salisbury)  on  the  first  day 
were  called  in.  , 


1   JAMES  T.  BOOK    X.       CENT.    XVIT.  17^ 

the  church,  both  in  doctrine  and  policy,  To  this  the  very  Heathen 
related  in  their  proverb,  A  Jove  principium :  particularly,  in  this 
land,  king  Henry  VUI.  toward  the  end  of  his  reign,  altered  much, 
king  Edward  VI.  more,  queen  Mary  reversed  all,  and,  lastly,  queen 
Elizabeth  (of  famous  memory*)  settled  religion  as  now  it  standeth. 

"  Herein  I  am  happier  than  they,  because  they  were  fain  to  alter 
all  things  they  found  established  ;  whereas  I  see  yet  no  such  cause 
to  change,  as  to  confirm  what  I  find  well-settled  already.  For, 
blessed  be  God's  gracious  goodness,  who  hath  brought  me  into  the 
promised  land,  where  religion  is  purely  professed,  where  I  sit  amongst 
grave,  learned,  and  reverend  men,  not  as  before,  elsewhere,  a  king 
without  state,  without  honour,  without  order,  where  beardless  boys 
would  brave  us  to  the  face. 

"  And,  I  assure  you,  we  have  not  called  this  assembly  for  any 
innovation  ;  for  we  acknowledge  the  government  ecclesiastical,  as  now 
it  is,  to  have  been  approved  by  manifold  blessings  from  God  himself, 
both  for  the  increase  of  the  Gospel,  and  with  a  most  happy  and 
glorious  peace.  Yet  because  nothing  can  be  so  absolutely  ordered, 
but  that  something  may  be  added  thereunto,  and  corruption  in  any 
state  (as  in  the  body  of  man)  will  insensibly  grow  either  through 
time  or  persons  ;  and  because  we  have  received  many  complaints  since 
our  first  entrance  into  this  kingdom,  of  many  disorders  and  much 
disobedience  to  the  laws,  with  a  great  falling  away  to  popery  ;  our 
purpose  therefore  is,  like  a  good  physician,  to  examine  and  try  the 
complaints,  and  fully  to  remove  the  occasions  thereof  if  scandalous, 
cure  them  if  dangerous,  and  take  knowledge  of  them  if  but  frivolous  ; 
thereby  to  cast  a  sop  into  Cerberus's  mouth,  that  he  bark  no  more. 
For  this  cause  we  have  called  you,  bishops  and  deans,  in,  severally  by 
yourselves,  not  to  be  confronted  by  the  contrary  opponents ;  that  if 
any  thing  shall  be  found  meet  to  be  redressed,  it  might  be  done 
without  any  visible  alteration. 

"  Particularly,  there  be  some  special  points  wherein  I  desire  to  be 
satisfied,  and  which  may  be  reduced  to  three  heads  :  1.  Concerning 
the  Book  of  Common-Prayer,  and  Divine  Service  used  in  the  church. 
2.  Excommunication  in  ecclesiastical  courts.  3.  The  providing  of 
fit  and  able  ministers  for  Ireland. 

"  In  the  Common-Prayer  Book  I  require  satisfaction  about  three 
things  : 

"  First,  about  Confirmation.  For  the  very  name  thereof,  if  argu- 
ing a  confirming  of  baptism,  as  if  this  sacrament  without  it  were  of  no 
validity,  is  plainly  blasphemous.  For  though  at  the  first  use  thereof 
in  the  church  it  was  thought  necessary  that  baptized  infants,  who  for- 
merly had  answered  by  their  patf'i?ii^  should,  when  come  to  years  of 

•  Note,  his  majesty  never  remembered  her,  but  with  some  honourable  addition. 


174  CHURCH    HISTORY    OF    BRITAIN.  A.  D.  1604. 

discretion,  after  tlieir  profession  made  by  themselves,  be  confirmed 
>vitli  the  blessing  of  the  bishop,  I  abhor  the  abuse  wherein  it  is  made 
a  sacrament,  or  corroboration  to  baptism. 

"2.  As  for  Absolution,  I  know  not  how  it  is  used  in  our  church, 
but  have  heard  it  likened  to  the  pope's  pardons.  There  be  indeed 
two  kinds  thereof  from  God  :  One  general ;  all  prayers  and  preach- 
ing importing  an  absolution:  The  oi\\Qx particular^  to  special  par- 
ties, having  committed  a  scandal,  and  repenting.  Otherwise  where 
excommunication  precedes  not,  in  my  judgment  there  needs  no  abso- 
lution. 

"  3.  Private  Baptism  is  the  third  thing  wherein  I  would  be  satisfied 
in  the  Common-Prayer.  If  called  private  from  the  place,  I  think  it 
agreeable  with  the  use  of  the  primitive  church  ;  but  if  termed/»ru*a/^, 
that  any  beside  a  lawful  minister  may  baptize,  I  utterly  dislike  it."*' 

And  here  his  majesty  grew  somewhat  earnest  in  his  expressions, 
against  the  baptizing  by  women  and  laics. 

"  In  the  second  head  of  Excommunication,  I  offer  two  things  to 
be  considered  of:   First,  the  matter;  Secondly,  the  persons. 

"  For  the  First :  I  would  be  satisfied  whether  it  be  executed  (as 
it  is  complained  of  to  me)  in  light  causes,  and  that  too  commonly, 
which  causeth  the  undervaluing  thereof. 

"For  the  persons:  I  would  be  resolved,  why  chancellors  and 
commissaries,  being  laymen,  should  do  it,  and  not  rather  the  bishops 
themselves,  or  some  minister  of  gravity  and  account,  deputed  by 
them  for  the  more  dignity  to  so  high  and  weighty  a  censure.  As  for 
providing  ministers  for  Ireland,  I  shall  refer  it,  in  the  last  day's 
Conference,  to  a  consultation." 

Archbishop  of  Canterbury.* — Confirmation  hath  been  used 
in  the  catholic  church  ever  since  the  apostles ;  and  it  is  a  very 
untrue  suggestion,  (if  any  have  informed  your  Highness,)  that  the 
church  of  England  holds  baptism  imperfect  without  it,  as  adding  to 
the  virtue  and  strength  thereof. 

Bishop  or  London. — The  authority  of  Confirmation  depends 
not  only  on  antiquity,  and  the.practice  of  the  primitive  church,  but 
is  an  apostolical  institution,  named  in  express  words,  Heb.  vi.  2;-(* 
and  so  did  Mr.  Calvin  expound  the  very  place,  earnestly  wishing 
the  restitution  thereof  in  the  Reformed  churches. 

The  bishop  of  Carlisle  is  said  gravely  and  learnedly  to  have 
urged  the  same,  and- the  bishop  of  Durham  noted  something  out  of 
St.  Matthew  for  the  imposition  of  hands  on  children. 

The  conclusion  was  this,  "  For  the  fuller  explanation  that  we 
make  Con-fir mation,  neither  a  sacrament  nor  a  corroboration  thereof^ 

•  He  addressed  himself  to  the  king  on  his  knee.  f  Citing  Cyprian  Er).  73,  and 

Jer.  ofh'pr.fux  T.Kriferiam. 


1  JAMES  T.  BOOK    X.       CENT.    XVII.  175 

their  lordships  shoukl  consider  whether  it  might  not  without  alter- 
ation (whereof  his  Majesty  was  still  very  wary)  be  entitled  an 
Examination  with  a  confirmation^'' 

Archbishop  of  Canterbury. — As  for  the  point  of  Abso- 
lution, wherein  your  majesty  desires  satisfaction  :  it  is  clear  from  all 
abuse  or  superstition,  as  it  is  used  in  our  church  of  England,  as  will 
appear  on  the  reading  both  of  the  Confession  and  Absolution 
following  it,  in  the  beginning  of  the  Communion  Book. 

Here  the  king  perused  both,  and  returned. 

His  Majesty. — I  like  and  approve  them,  finding  it  to  be  very 
true  what  you  say. 

Bishop  of  London. — It  becometh  us  to  deal  plainly  with  your 
majesty.  There  is  also  in  the  book  a  more  particular  and  personal 
Absolution  in  the  Visitation  of  the  Sick. 

Here  the  dean  of  the  chapel  turned  unto  it  and  read  it. 

Bishop  of  London. — Not  only  the  Confessions  of  Augusta, 
Boheme,  and  Saxon,*  retain  and  allow  it,  but  Mr.  Calvin  also  doth 
approve  both  such  a  general  and  such  a  private  (for  so  he  terms  it) 
Confession  and  Absolution. 

His  Majesty. — T  exceedingly  well  approve  it,  being  an  apos- 
tolical and  godly  ordinance,  given  in  the  name  of  Christ,  to  one 
that  desircth  it,  upon  the  clearing  of  his  conscience. 

The  conclusion  was  this,  —  that  the  bishops  should  consult, 
whether  unto  the  Rubric  of  the  General  Absolution,  these  words, 
'*  Remission  of  sins,"  might  not  be  added  for  explanation-sake. 

Archbishop  of  Canterbury. — To  the  point  of  Private 
Baptism  :  the  administration  thereof  by  women  and  lay  persons  is 
not  allowed  in  the  practice  of  the  church,  but  inquired  of,  and 
censured  by  bishops  in  their  visitations. 

His  Majesty. — The  words  of  the  book  cannot  but  intend  a 
permission  of  women  and  private  persons  to  baptize. 

Bishop  of  Worcester. — The  doubtful  words  may  be  pressed 
to  that  meaning  ;  yet  the  compilers  of  the  book  did  not  so  intend 
them,  as  appeareth  by  their  contrary  practice.  But  they  propounded 
them  ambiguously,  because  otherwise  (perhaps)  the  book  would  not 
(then)  have  passed  the  parliament. 

To  this  he  cited  the  testimony  of  the  archbishop  of  York. 

Bishop  of  London. — Those  reverend  men  intended  not  by 
ambiguous  terms  to  deceive  any,  but  thereby  intended  a  permission 
of  private  persons  to  baptize,  in  case  of  necessity.  [Here  he  pro- 
duced the  letters  of  some  of  those  first,  compilers.]  This  is 
agreeable  to  the  practice  of  the  ancient  church,  when  three  thousand 
being  baptized  in  a  day.   Acts  ii.  41,   (which  for  the  apostles  alone 

•  These  lie  severrlly  recited. 


176  CHURCH    HISTORY    OF     BRITATX.  A.D.  1604. 

to  do,  was  at  the  least  improbable,)  some,  being  neither  priests  nor 
bishops,  must  be  presumed  employed  therein  ;  and  some  Fathers 
are  of  the  same  opinion. 

Here  he  spake  much,  and  earnestly  about  the  necessity  of  baptism. 

His  Majesty. — That  in  the  Acts  was  an  act  extraordinary,  and 
done  before  a  church  was  settled  and  grounded ;  wherefore  no  sound 
reasoning  thence  to  a  church  stablished  and  flourishing.  I  maintain 
the  necessity  of  baptism,  and  always  thought  the  place,  John  iii.  5, 
"  Except  one  be  born  again  of  water,"  &c.  was  meant  thereof.  It 
may  seem  strange  to  you,  my  lords,  that  I  think  you  in  England 
give  too  much  to  baptism,  seeing,  fourteen  months  ago,  in  Scotland, 
I  argued  with  my  divines  there  for  attributing  too  little  unto  it ; 
insomuch  that  a  pert  minister  asked  me,  if  I  thought  baptism  so 
necessary,  that,  if  omitted,  the  child  should  be  damned.  I  answered, 
"  No :  but  if  you,  called  to  baptize  a  child,  though  privately,  refuse 
to  come,  I  think  you  shall  be  damned.""  But  this  necessity  of 
baptism  I  so  understand,  that  it  is  necessary  to  be  had,  if  lawfully 
to  be  had ;  that  is,  ministered  by  lawful  ministers,  by  whom  alone, 
and  no  private  person  in  any  case,  it  may  be  administered  :  though 
I  utterly  dislike  all  re-baptization  on  those  whom  women  or  laics 
have  baptized. 

Bishop  of  Winchester. — To  deny  private  persons  to  baptize 
in  case  of  necessity,  were  to  cross  all  antiquity,  and  the  common 
practice  of  the  church  ;  it  being  a  rule  agreed  on  amongst  divines, 
that  the  minister  is  not  of  the  essence  of  the  sacrament. 

His  Majesty. — Though  he  be  not  of  the  essence  of  the  sacra- 
ment, yet  is  he  of  the  essence  of  the  right  and  lawful  ministry 
thereof,  according  to  Christ's  commission  to  his  disciples,  "  Go 
preach,  and  baptize,"  &c.   Matt,  xxviii.  19. 

The  result  was  this, — to  consult,  whether  in  the  Rubric  of  Private 
Baptism,  which  leaves  it  indifferently  to  all,  these  words,  "  Curate 
or  lawful  minister,"  may  not  be  inserted. 

For  the  point  of  Excommunication,  his  majesty  propounded, 
whether  in  causes   of  lesser  moment  the  name  might  not  be  altered. 

CT 

and  the  same  censure  retained  ?  Secondly.  Whether,  in  place 
thereof,  another  coercion,  equivalent  thereunto,  might  not  be  invented. 
Which  all  sides  easily  yielded  unto,  as  long  and  often  desired  ;  and 
so  was  the  end  of  the  first  day's  Conference. 

22.   The  second  Day's  Conference  at  Hampton  Court. 
On  Monday,  January  IGtb,   they  all  met  in  the  same  place,  with 
all   the   deans  and   doctors    above-mentioned  ;     Patrick    Galloway, 
minister  of  Perth,  in   Scotland,   admitted  also  to  be  there ;    and 
hopeful  prince  Henry  sate  on  a  stool  by  his  father. 


1   JAMES    r.  fiOOK    X.        CENT.    XVH.  177 

The  king  made  a  piiliy  speech  to  tlie  same  purpose  whicli  he 
made  the  first  day,  differing  only  in  the  conclusion  thereof,  being  an 
address  to  the  four  opposers  of  conformity,  there  present,  whom  he 
understood  the  most  grave,  learned,  and  modest  of  the  aggrieved 
sort,  professing  himself  ready  to  hear  at  large  what  they  could  object, 
and  willed  them  to  begin. 

Dii.  Reynolds. — All  things  disliked  or  questioned  may  be 
reduced  to  these  four  heads  : — 

1.  That  the  doctrine  of  the  church  might  be  preserved  in  purity, 
according  to  God's  word. 

2.  That  good  pastors  might  be  planted  in  all  churches  to  preach 
the  same. 

o.  That  the  church-government  might  be  sincerely  ministered 
according  to  God's  word. 

4,  That  the  Book  of  Common-Prayer  might  be  fitted  to  more 
increase  of  piety. 

For  the  First :  May  your  majesty  be  pleased,  that  the  Book  of 
Articles  of  Religion,  concluded  on  1562,  may  be  explained  where 
obscure,  enlarged  where  defective ;  namely,  whereas  it  is  said,  article 
XVI.  "  After  we  have  received  the  Holy  Ghost,  we  may  depart 
from  grace  ;"  those  words  may  be  explained  with  this  or  the  like 
addition,  "  Yet  neither  totally  nor  finally."  To  which  end  it 
would  do  very  well,  if  the  nine  orthodoxal  assertions  concluded  on 
at  Lambeth  might  be  inserted  into  the  Book  of  Articles. 

Secondly.  Whereas  it  is  said  in  article  XXIII.  that  it  is  not 
lawful  for  any  in  the  congregation  to  preach,  before  he  be 
lawfully  called  ;  these  words  ought  to  be  altered,  because  imply- 
ing one  out  of  the  congregation  may  preach,  though  not  lawfully 
called. 

Thirdly.  In  article  XXV.  there  seemeth  a  contradiction,  one 
passage  therein  confessing  Confirmation  to  be  a  depraved  imitation 
of  the  apostles,  and  another  grounding  it  on  their  example. 

Bishop  of  London. — May  your  majesty  be  pleased,  that  the 
ancient  canon  may  be  remembered :  Schismatlci  contra  episcopos 
non  sunt  audiendi.  And,  there  is  another  decree  of  a  very  ancient 
council, — that  no  man  should  be  admitted  to  speak  against  that 
whereunto  he  hath  formerly  subscribed.  And  as  for  you,  Dr. 
Reynolds,  and  your  sociates,  how  much  are  ye  bound  to  his 
majesty's  clemency,  permitting  you,  contrary  to  the  statute  lyrimo 
EUzahethw.,  so  freely  to  speak  against  the  Liturgy  and  discipline 
established  !  Fain  would  I  know  the  end  you  aim  at,  and  whether 
you  be  not  of  Mr.  Cartwrighfs  mind,  who  affirmed,  that  we  ought 
in  ceremonies  rather  to  conform  to  the  Turks  than  to  the  papists. 
I  doubt  you  approve   his  position,  because  here  appearing  before 

Vol.  hi.  n 


178  CHURCH    HISTORY    OF    BRITAIN.  A.  D.  1604 

his  majesty  in  Turkey-gowns,  not  in  your  scholastic  habits,  accord- 
ing to  the  order  of  the  universities. 

Hrs  Majesty. — My  lord  bishop,  something  in  your  passion  I 
may  excuse,  and  something  I  must  mislike.  I  may  excuse  you  thus 
far, — that  I  think  you  have  just  cause  to  be  moved,  in  respect  that 
they  traduce  the  well-settled  government,  and  also  proceed  in  so 
indirect  a  course,  contrary  to  their  own  pretence,  and  the  intent  of 
this  meeting.  I  mislike  your  sudden  interruption  of  Dr.  Reynolds, 
whom  you  should  have  suffered  to  have  taken  his  liberty  ;  for,  there 
is  no  order,  nor  ean  be  any  effectual  issue  of  disputation,  if  each 
party  be  not  suffered,  without  chopping,  to  speak  at  large.  Where- 
fore, either  let  the  Doctor  proceed,  or  frame  your  answer  to  his 
motions  already  made,  although  some  of  them  are  very  needless. 

Bishop  of  London. — Upon  the  first  motion  concerning  falling 
from  grace,  may  your  majesty  be  pleased  to  consider  how  many  in 
these  days  neglect  holiness  of  life,  presuming  on  persisting  in  grace 
upon  predestination  :  "If  I  shall  be  saved,  I  shall  be  saved  ."''^  A 
desperate  doctrine,  contrary  to  good  divinity,  wherein  we  should 
reason  rather  ascendendo  than  descendendo^  from  our  obedience  to 
God  and  love  to  our  neighbour,  to  our  election  and  predestination. 
As  for  the  doctrine  of  the  church  of  England  touching  predestina- 
tion ;  it  is  in  the  very  next  paragraph,  namely,  "  We  must  receive 
God's  promises  in  such  wise  as  they  be  generally  set  forth  to  us  in 
Holy  Scripture,  and  in  our  doings  the  will  of  God  is  to  be  followed 
■which  we  have  expressly  declared  unto  us  in  the  word  of  God." 

His  Majesty. — I  approve  it  very  well,  as  consonant  with  the 
place  of  Paul,  "  Work  out  your  salvation  with  fear  and  trembling." 
Yet  let  it  be  considered  of,  whether  any  thing  were  meet  to  be  added 
for  clearing  of  the  doctor's  doubt,  by  putting  in  the  word  "  often," 
or  the  like.  Mean  time,  I  wish  that  the  doctrine  of  predestination 
may  be  tenderly  handled,  lest  on  the  one  side  God's  omnipotency 
be  questioned  by  impeaching  the  doctrine  of  his  eternal  predestina- 
tion, or  on  the  other  side  a  desperate  presumption  ar-reared,  by 
inferring  the  necessary  certainty  of  persisting  in  grace. 

Bishop  of  London. — The  second  objection  of  the  doctor's  is 
vain  ;  it  being  the  doctrine  and  practice  of  the  church  of  England, 
that  none  but  a  licensed  minister  may  preach,  nor  administer  the 
Lord's  supper. 

His  Majesty. — As  for  Private  Baptism,  I  have  already  with 
the  bishops  taken  order  for  the  same. 

Then  came  they  to  the  second  point  of  Confirmation  :  and,  upon 
the  perusal  of  the  words  of  the  article,  his  majesty  concluded  the 
pretended  contradiction  a  cavil. 

Bishop  of  London. — Confirmation  is  not  so  much  founded  ou 


1    JAMES   I.  BOOK    X.       CENT.    XVII.  179 

the  place  in  the  Acts  of  the  Apostles,  but  upon  Heb.  vi.  2;  which 
was  the  opinion  (beside  the  judgment  of  the  Fathers)  of  Mr. 
Calvin,  on  Heb.  vi.  2;  and  Dr.  Fulk,  on  Acts  viii.  17;  neither 
needeth  there  any  farther  proof,  seeing  (as  1  suppose)  he  that 
objected  this  holds  not  Confirmation  unlawful ;  but  he  and  his 
party  are  vexed  that  the  use  thereof  is  not  in  their  own  hands,  for 
every  pastor  to  confirm  his  own  parish  ;  for  then  it  would  be  accounted 
an  apostolical  institution,  if  Dr.  Reynolds  were  pleased  but  to  spe? k 
his  thoughts  therein. 

Dr.  Reynolds. — Indeed,  seeing  some  diocess  of  a  bishop 
hath  therein  six  hundred  parishes,  it  is  a  thing  very  inconvenient  to 
permit  Confirmation  to  the  bishop  alone  ;  and  I  suppose  it  impos- 
sible that  he  can  take  due  examination  of  them  all  which  come  to  be 
confirmed. 

Here  the  bishop  of  London  thought  himself  touched,  because 
about  six  hundred  and  nine  in  his  diocess. 

Bishop  of  London. — To  the  matter  of  fact,  I  answer,  that 
bishops  in  their  visitations  appoint  either  their  chaplains,  or  some 
other  ministers,  to  examine  them  which  are  to  be  confirmed,  and 
lightly  confirm  none  but  by  the  testimony  of  the  parsons  and 
curates,  where  the  children  are  bred  and  brought  up.  To  the  opi- 
nion I  answer,  that  none  of  all  the  Fathers  ever  admitted  any  to 
confirm  but  bishops  alone.  Yea,  even  St.  Jerome  himself  (other- 
wise no  friend  to  bishops)  confesseth  the  execution  thereof  was 
restrained  to  bishops  only.* 

Bishop  of  Winchester. — Dr.  Reynolds,  I  would  fain  have 
you,  with  all  your  learning,  show  where  ever  Confirmation  was  used 
in  ancient  times  by  any  other  but  bishops.  These  used  it,  partly 
to  examine  children,  and,  after  examination,  by  imposition  of  hands, 
(the  Jewish  ceremony  of  blessing,)  to  bless  and  pray  over  them  : 
and  partly  to  try  whether  they  had  been  baptized  in  the  right  form 
or  no.  For  in  former  ages  some  baptized  (as  they  ought)  "  in  the 
name  of  the  Father,  Son,  and  Holy  Ghost."  Some  (as  the  Arians) 
"in  the  name  of  the  Father"*''  as  the  greater,  "  and  the. Son""  as  the 
less.  Some  "  in  the  name  of  the  Father,  by  the  Son,  in  the  Holy 
Ghost."'"'  Some  not  in  the  name  of  the  Trinity,  but  only  "  in  the 
death  of  Christ."'"'  Whereupon  catholic  bishops  were  constrained  to 
examine  them  who  were  baptized  in  remotis,  concerning  their  bap- 
tism, if  right,  to  confirm  them, — if  amiss,  to  instruct  them. 

His  Majesty. — I  dissent  from  the  judgment  of  St.  Jerome  in 
his  assertion,  that  bishops  are  not  of  divine  ordination. 

Bishop    of   London. — Unless  I    could  prove  my    ordination 

•  EcclesicB  sains  in  smnmi  sacerdotis  dignitate  pendet,  cui  si  non  e.vors  quadam  et  a'i 
omnibus  eininms  data  jjoie.stas,  tot  in  errfpsiis  efiidvntur  schisinntu  tpiol  smerdoles, 

N  2 


180  CHURCH    HISTORY    OF    BRITAIN,  A.D.  1604. 

3awful  out  of  the  Scriptures,  I  would  not  be  a  bishop  four  hours 
longer. 

His  Majesty. — I  approve  the  calling  and  use  of  bishops  in  the 
church  ;  and  it  is  my  aphorism,  "  No  bishop,  no  king  ;"  nor  intend 
I  to  take  Confirmation  from  the  bishops,  Avhich  they  have  so  long 
enjoyed ;  seeing  as  great  reason  that  none  should  confirm,  as  that 
none  should  preach  without  the  bishop's  licence.  But  let  it  be 
referred,  whether  the  word  "  examination  '"*  ought  not  to  be  added  to 
the  Rubric  in  the  title  of  Confirmation  in  the  Communion-Book. 
And  now,  Dr.  Reynolds,  you  may  proceed. 

Dr.  Reynolds. — I  protest  I  meant  not  to  gall  any  man,  though 
I  perceive  some  took  personal  exceptions  at  my  words,  and  desire 
the  imputation  of  schism  may  not  be  charged  upon  me.*  To  pro- 
ceed on  article  XXXVII.  wherein  are  these  words,  "  The  bishop 
of  Rome  hath  no  authority  in  this  land:'*'  these  are  not  sufficient, 
unless  it  were  added,  "  nor  ought  to  have  any." 

His  Majesty'. — Habemus  jure  quod  hahemus ;  and,  therefore, 
inasmuch  as  it  is  said  "  he  hath  not,''  it  is  plain  enough  that  he  ought 
not  to  hate. 

Here  passed  some  pleasant  discourse  betwixt  the  king  and  lords 
about  Puritans,  till,  returning  to  seriousness,  there  began  the 

Bishop  of  London. — May  it  please  your  majesty  to  remember 
the  speech  of  the  French  ambassador.  Monsieur  Rognee,  upon  the 
view  of  our  solemn  service  and  ceremony  ;  namely,  that  if  the 
Reformed  churches  in  France  had  kept  the  same  order,  there  would 
have  been  thousands  of  protestants  more  than  there  are. 

Dr.  Reynolds. — It  were  well  if  this  proposition  might  be 
added  to  the  Book  of  Articles,  "  The  intention  of  the  minister  is 
not  of  the  essence  of  the  sacrament ;"  the  rather,  because  some  in 
England  have  preached  it  to  be  essential  :  and  here  again  I  could 
desire  that  the  nine  "  Orthodoxal  Assertions,"  concluded  at  Lam- 
beth, may  be  generally  received. 

His  Majesty. — I  utterly  dislike  the  first  part  of  your  motion, 
thinking  it  unfit  to  thrust  into  the  Book  of  Articles  every  position 
negative  ;  which  would  swell  the  book  into  a  volume  as  big  as  the 
Bible,  and  confound  the  reader.  Thus  one  Mr.  Craig  in  Scotland, 
with  his,  "  I  renounce  and  abhor,"  his  multiplied  detestations  and 
abrenunciations,  so  amazed  simple  people,  that,  not  able  to  con- 
ceive all  their  things,  they  fell  back  to  popery,  or  remained  in  their 
former  ignorance.  If  bound  to  this  form,  the  confession  of  my 
faith  must  be  in  my  table-book,  not  in  my  head. 

Because  you  speak  of  intention,    I  will  apply  it  thus  :    If  you 

•  It  seems  tlie  bishop  of  London,  jealous  that  he  was  reflected  on,  (as  is  afore  said,) 
called  the  Doctor  "  schismatic." 


1  JAMES  I.  BOOK.    X.       CENT.    XVII.  181 

come  hither  with  a  good  intention  to  be  informed,  the  whole  work 
will  sort  to  the  better  effect ;  but  if  your  intention  be  to  go  as  you 
came,  (whatsoever  shall  be  said,)  it  will  prove  the  intention  is  very 
material  and  essential  to  the  end  of  this  present  action. 

As  for  the  nine  "  Assertions"  you  speak  of,  I  cannot  suddenly 
answer,  not  knowing  what  those  propositions  of  Lambeth  be. 

Bishop  of  London. — May  it  please  your  majesty,  this  was  the 
occasion  of  them  :  By  reason  of  some  controversies  arising  in  Cam- 
bridge about  certain  points  of  divinity,  my  lord's  Grace  assembled 
some  divines  of  special  note  to  set  down  their  opinions,  which  they 
■drew  into  nine  "  Assertions,''  and  so  sent  them  to  the  university 
for  the  appeasing  of  those  quarrels. 

His  Majesty. — When  such  questions  arise  amongst  scholars, 
the  quietest  proceedings  were  to  determine  them  in  the  university, 
and  not  to  stuff  the  Book  of  Articles  with  all  conclusions  theological. 

Secondly.  The  better  course  would  be  to  punish  the  bjoachers 
of  false  doctrine,  than  to  multiply  Articles  ;  which,  if  never  so 
many,  cannot  prevent  the  contrary  opinions  of  men  till  they  be  heard. 

Dean  of  St.  Paul's. — May  it  please  your  majesty,  I  am 
nearly  concerned  in  this  matter,  by  reason  of  a  controversy  betwixt 
me  and  some  other  in  Cambridge,  upon  a  proposition,  which  I  there 
delivered,  namely,  that  "  whosoever  (though  before  justified)  did 
commit  any  grievous  sin,  as  adultery,  murder,  &c.  do  become,  ipso 
facto,  subject  to  God's  wrath,  and  guilty  of  damnation,  quoad prm- 
sentem  statiim^  until  they  repent  ;  yet  so  that  those  who  are  justi- 
fied according  to  the  purpose  of  God's  election,  (though  they  might 
fall  into  grievous  sin,  and  thereby  into  the  present  estate  of  damna- 
tion,) yet  never  totally  nor  finally  from  justification  ;  but  were  in 
time  renewed  by  God's  Spirit  unto  a  lively  faith  and  repentance." 
Against  this  doctrine  some  did  oppose,  teaching  that  persons  once 
truly  justified,  though  falling  into  grievous  sins,  remained  still  in 
the  state  of  justification,  before  they  actually  repented  of  these  sins  ; 
yea,  and,  though  they  never  repented  of  them  through  forgetfulness 
or  sudden  death,  they  nevertheless  were  justified  and  saved. 

His  Majesty. — I  dislike  this  doctrine,  there  being  a  necessity 
of  conjoining  repentance  and  holiness  of  life  with  true  faith  ;  and 
that  is  hypocrisy,  and  not  justifying  faith,  which  is  severed  from 
them.  For  although  predestination  and  election  depend  not  on  any 
■qualities,  actions,  or  works  of  man  which  are  mutable,  but  on  God's 
eternal  decree ;  yet  such  is  the  necessity  of  repentance,  after  knowtj 
sins  committed,  that  without  it  no  reconciliation  with  God,  or 
remission  of  sins. 

Dr.  Reynolds. — The  Catechism  in  the  Common-Prayer  Book  is 
too  brief,  and  that  by  Mr.  Noweli,  (late  dean  of  Paul's,)  too  long  for 


182  CHUKCH  HISTORY  OF  BKITAIX.  A.D.  1G04. 

nt vices  to  \earn  by  heart.     I  request,  therefore,  that  one  uniform 
Catechism  may  be  made,  and  none  other  generally  received. 

His  Majp:sty. — I  think  the  doctor's  request  very  reasonable ; 
yet  so,  that  the  Catechism  may  be  made  in  the  fewest  and  pfeinest 
affirmative  terms  that  may  be,  not  like  the  many  ignorant  Cate- 
chisms in  Scotland,  set  out  by  every  one  who  was  the  son  of  a  good 
man ;  insomuch  that  what  was  Catechism-doctrine  in  one  congre- 
gation was  scarcely  received  as  orthodox  in  another.  And  herein  I 
would  have  two  rules  observed  :  First.  That  curious  and  deep 
questions  be  avoided  in  the  fundamental  instruction  of  a  people. 
Secondly.  That  there  should  not  be  so  general  a  departure  from  the 
papists,  that  every  thing  should  be  accounted  an  error  wherein  we 
agree  with  them. 

Dr.  Reynolds. — Great  is  the  profanation  of  the  sabbath-day, 
and  contempt  of  your  majesty's  proclamation  ;  which  I  earnestly 
desire  may  be  reformed. 

This  motion  found  an  unanimous  consent. 

Dr.  Reynolds. — May  your  majesty  be  pleased  that  the  Bible 
be  new  translated,  such  as  are  extant  not  answering  the  original. 

And  he  instanced  in  three  particulars : — 

Gal.  iv.  25,  in  the  original  crva-Toix^l  is  ill  translated,  "  Bordereth."* 
Psalm  cv.  28,  in  the  original,  '*  They  M-ere  not  disobedient,'"*  is  ill 
translated,  "  They  were  not  obedient."  Psalm  cvi.  30,  in  the  original, 
*'  Phinehas  executed  judgment,"  is  ill  translated,  "  Phinehas  prayed." 

Bishop  of  London. — If  every  man's  humour  might  be  followed, 
there  would  be  no  end  of  translating. 

His  Majesty. — I  profess  I  could  never  yet  see  a  Bible  well 
translated  in  English ;  but  I  think,  that,  of  all,  that  of  Geneva  is 
the  worst.  I  wish  some  special  pains  were  taken  for  an  uniform 
translation,  which  should  be  done  by  the  best-learned  in  both  univer- 
sities, then  reviewed  by  the  bishops,  presented  to  the  Privy  Council, 
lastly,  ratified  by  royal  authority,  to  be  read  in  the  whole  church, 
and  no  other. 

Bishop  of  London. — But  it  is  fit  that  no  marginal  notes  should 
be  added  thereunto. 

His  Majesty. — That  caveat  is  well  put  in  ;  for  in  the  Geneva 
translation,  some  notes  are  partial,  untrue,  seditious,  and  savouring 
of  traitorous  conceits  :  As,  when  from  Exodus  i.  19,  disobedience 
to  kings  is  allowed  in  a  marginal  note  ;  and,  2  Chron.  xv.  16,  king 
Asa  taxed  in  the  note  for  only  deposing  his  mother  for  idolatry, 
and  not  kiding  her.  To  conclude  this  :  let  errors  in  the  matter  of 
faith  be  amended,  and  indiiferent  things  be  interpreted,  and  a  gloss 
added  unto  them.  For  as  Bartolus  de  Regno  saith,  that  "  a  king 
with  some   weakness  \^  better  than  still   a    change  ;"  so.   rather  a 


1  JAMES  I.  BOOK    X.       CENT.    XVII.  183 

church  with  some  faults  than  an  innovation.  And  surely,  if  these 
were  the  greatest  matters  that  grieved  you,  I  need  not  have  been 
troubled  with  such  importunate  complaints. 

Dk.  Reynolds. — May  it  please  your  majesty,  that  unlawful 
and  seditious  books  be  suppressed,  such  as  Ficlerus,  a  papist,  De 
Jure  Magistratus  in  Suhditos,  applied  against  the  late  queen  for  the 
pope. 

Bishop  of  London. — There  is  no  such  licentious  divulging  of 
those  books ;  and  none  have  liberty,  by  authority,  to  buy  them, 
except  such  as  Dr.  Reynolds,  who  was  supposed  would  confute  them. 
And  if  such  books  come  into  the  realm  by  secret  conveyances, 
perfect  notice  cannot  be  had  of  their  importation.  Besides,  Ficlerus 
was  a  great  disciplinarian  :  whereby  it  appears  what  advantage  that 
sort  gave  unto  the  papists,  who  mutatis  per'sonis,  ^PP^y  ^^^^^  own 
arguments  against  princes  of  their  religion,  though  for  my  part  I 
detest  both  the  author  and  applier  alike. 

The  Lord  Cecil. — Indeed,  the  unlimited  liberty  of  dispersing 
Popish  and  seditious  pamphlets  in  Paul's  Church-yard,  and  both  the 
Universities,  hath  done  much  mischief;  but  especially  one  called 
Speculum  Tragicum. 

His  Majesty. — That  is  a  dangerous  book,  indeed. 

Loud  H.  Howard. — Both  for  matter  and  intention. 

Lord  Chancellor. — Of  such  books,  some  are  Latin,  some  are 
English  ;  but  the  last  dispersed  do  most  harm. 

Secretary  Cecil. — But  my  lord  of  London  (and  no  man  else) 
hath  done  what  he  could  to  suppress  them. 

His  Majesty. — Dr.  Reynolds,  you  are  a  better  college-man 
than  a  states-man,  if  meaning  to  tax  the  bishop  of  London  for  suffer- 
ing those  books,  between  the  Secular  Priests  and  Jesuits,  to  be 
published  ;  which  he  did  by  warrant  from  the  Council,  to  nourish  a 
schism  betwixt  them. 

Lord  Cecil. — Such  books  were  tolerated,  because  by  them  the 
title  of  Spain  was  confuted. 

Lord  Treasurer. — And  because  therein  it  appears,  by  the 
testimony  of  the  priests  themselves,  that  no  papists  are  put  to  death 
for  conscience  only,  but  for  treason. 

Dr.  Reynolds. — Indeed,  I  meant  not  such  books  as  were 
printed  in  England,  but  only  such  as  came  from  beyond  the  seas. 
And  now,  to  proceed  to  the  second  general  point,  concerning  the 
planting  of  learned  ministers  :   I  desire  they  be  in  every  parish. 

Hisr  Majesty. — I  have  consulted  with  my  bishops  about  it, 
whom  I  have  found  willinp:  and  ready  herein.  But,  as  siibita 
evacuatio  is  periculosa  ;  so  subita  mutatio.  It  cannot  presently  be 
performed,  the  Universities  not  affording  them.     And  yet  they  afford 


184  CHURCH    HISTORY    OF    BRITAIN.  A.D.  1604. 

more  learned  men  than  tlie  realm  doth  maintenance  ;  which  must 
be  first  provided.  Id  the  mean  time,  ignorant  ministers,  if  young, 
are  to  be  removed,  if  there  be  no  hope  of  amendment ;  if  old,  thek 
death  must  be  expected,  because  Jerusalem  cannot  be  built  up  in 
a  day. 

Bishop  of  Winchester. — Lay-patrons  much  cause  the  insuf- 
ficiency of  the  clergy,  presenting  mean  clerks  to  their  cures  ;  (the  law 
admitting  of  such  sufficiency;)  and,  if  the  bishop  refuseth  them, 
presently  a  quare  impedit  is  sent  out  against  him. 

Bishop  of  London. — Because  this,  I  see,  is  a  time  of  moving 
petitions,  [this  he  spake  kneeling,]  may  I  humbly  present  two  or 
three  to  your  majesty .?  First.  That  there  may  be  amongst  us  a 
praying  ministry,  it  being  now  come  to  pass,  that  men  think  it  is  the 
only  duty  of  ministers  to  spend  their  time  in  the  pulpit.  I  confess, 
in  a  church  newly  to  be  planted,  preaching  is  most  necessary,  not 
so,  in  one  long-established,  that  prayer  should  be  neglected. 

His  Majesty. — I  like  your  motion  exceeding  well,  and  dislike 
the  hypocrisy  of  our  time,  who  place  all  their  religion  in  the  ear, 
"whilst  prayer  (so  requisite  and  acceptable,  if  duly  performed)  is 
accounted  and  used  as  the  least  part  of  religion. 

Bishop  of  London. — My  second  motion  is,  that,  until  learned 
men  may  be  planted  in  every  congregation,  godly  Homilies  may  be 
read  therein. 

His  Majesty. — I  approve  your  motion,  especially  where  the 
living  is  not  sufficient  for  the  maintenance  of  a  learned  preacher. 
Also,  where  there  be  multitudes  of  sermons,  there  I  would  have 
Homilies  read  divers  times.  [Here  the  king  asked  the  assent  of 
the  plaintiffs,  and  they  confessed  it.]  A  preaching  ministry  is  best ; 
but,  where  it  may  not  be  had,  godly  prayers  and  exhortations  do 
much  good. 

Lord  Chancellor.* — Livings  rather  want  learned  men,  than 
learned  men  livings  ;  many  in  the  universities  pining  for  want  of 
places.  I  wish,  therefore,  some  may  have  single  coats  [one  living] 
before  others  have  doublets  [pluralities].  And  this  method  I  have 
observed  in  bestowing  the  king's  benefices. 

Bishop  of  London. — I  commend  your  honourable  care  that 
Svay ;  but  a  doublet  is  necessary  in  cold  weather. 

Lord  Chancellor. — I  dislike  not  the  liberty  of  our  church,  in 
granting  to  one  man  two  benefices,  but  speak  out  of  mine  own 
purpose  and  practice,  grounded  on  the  aforesaid  reason. 

Bishop  of  London. — My  last  motion  is,  that  pulpits  may  not 
be  made  pasquils,  wherein  every  discontented  fellow  may  traduce  his 
superiors . 

•   Egeiton,  kuxl  Ellctiaere, 


.1  JAMES  I.  BOOK    X.       CENT.    XVII.  185 

His  Majesty. — I  accept  Avliat  you  offer ;  for  the  pulpit 
is  no  place  of  personal  reproof.  Let  tliem  complain  to  me,  if 
injured. 

Bishop  of  London If  your  majesty  shall  leave  yourself  open 

to  admit  of  all  complaints,  your  Highness  shall  never  be  quiet,  nor 
your  under-officers  regarded  ;  whom  every  delinquent,  when  censured, 
will  threaten  to  complain  of. 

His  Majesty. — I  mean,  they  shall  complain  to  me  by  degrees. 
First,  to  the  ordinary  ;  from  him  to  the  archbishop  ;  from  him  to 
the  lords  of  the  Council ;  and,  if  in  all  these  no  remedy  be  found, 
then  to  myself. 

Dr.  Reynolds. — I  come  now  to  subscription,*  as  a  great 
impeachment  to  a  learned  ministry  ;  and  therefore  entreat  it  may  not 
be  exacted  as  heretofore ;  for  which  many  good  men  are  kept  out, 
though  otherwise  willing  to  subscribe  to  the  statutes  of  the  realm, 
Articles  of  Religion,  and  the  king's  supremacy.  The  reason  of  their 
backwardness  to  subscribe,  is,  because  the  Common-Prayer  enjoinetli 
the  Apocrypha-books  to  be  read  in  the  church,  although  some 
chapters  therein  contain  manifest  errors  repugnant  to  Scripture.  For 
instance :  Ecclesiasticus  xlviii.  10,  Elias  in  person  is  said  to  come 
before  Christ,  contrary  to  what  is  in  the  New  Testament  of  Elias  in 
resemblance,  that  is,  John  the  baptist,  Matt.  xi.  14 ;  Luke  i.  IJ. 

Bishop  of  London. — Most  of  the  objections  against  those  books 
are  the  old  cavils  of  the  Jews,  renewed  by  St.  Jerome,  who  first 
called  them  Apocrypha  ;  which  opinion,  upon  Ruffinus's  challenge, 
he,  after  a  sort,  disclaimed. 

Bishop  of  Winchester. — Indeed,  St.  Jerome  saith,  Oa/^o^^^(?^ 
stmt  ad  informandos  mores ^  non  ad  confirmandam  fidem. 

His  Majesty. — To  take  an  even  order  betwixt  both  :  I  would 
not  have  all  canonical  books  read  in  the  church  :+  nor  any  chapter 
out  of  the  Apocrypha,  wherein  any  error  is  contained.  Wherefore, 
let  Dr.  Reynolds  note  those  chapters  in  the  Apocrypha-books  wherein 
those  offences  are,  and  bring  them  to  the  archbishop  of  Canterbury 
against  Wednesday  next.     And  now,  doctor,  proceed. 

Dr.  Reynolds. — The  next  scruple  against  subscription,  is, 
because  it  is  twice  set  down  in  the  Common-Prayer  Book,  "  Jesus 
said  to  his  disciples,""  when  by  the  text  in  the  original,  it  is  plain, 
that  he  spake  to  the  pharisees. 

His  Majesty. — Let  the  word  "  disciples"  be  omitted,  and  the 
words,  "  Jesus  said,"'  be  printed  in  a  different  letter. 

Mr.  Knewstubs. — I  take  exceptions  at  the  Cross  in  baptism  ; 

*  This  concemeth  the  fourth  general  head,  (namely,  the  Communion  Book,)  as  he  first 
propounded  it ;  however,  here  he  took  occasion  to  lu-ge  it.  t  Namely,  in  the  Domi- 

nical Gospels. 


186  CHURCH    HISTORY    OF    BRITAIN.  A. D.  1604. 

\vliereat  the  weak  brethren  are  offended,  contrary  to  the  counsel  of  tlie 
apostle,  Romans  xiv.  1  Corinth,  viii. 

Here  we  omit  Mr.  Knewstubs's  exception  against  the  interro- 
gatories in  baptism  ;  because  he  spake  so  perplexedly  that  his  meaning 
is  not  to  be  collected  therein. 

His  Majesty. — Distingue  tempora^  et  concordahunt  Scripturw^ 
great  the  difference  betwixt  those  times  and  ours.  Then,  a  church 
not  fully  settled  ;  now,  ours  long  established.  How  long  will  such 
brethren  be  weak  ?  Are  not  forty-five  years  sufficient  for  them  to  grow 
strong  in  ?  Besides,  who  pretends  this  weakness  ?  We  require  not 
subscriptions  of  laics  and  idiots,  but  of  preachers  and  ministers, 
who  are  not  still  (I  trow)  to  be  fed  with  milk,  being  enabled  to  feed 
others.  Some  of  them  are  strong  enough,  if  not  headstrong ;  con- 
ceiving themselves  able  enough  to  teach  him  who  last  spake  for  them, 
and  all  the  bishops  in  the  land. 

Mr.  Knewstubs. — It  is  questionable  whether  the  church  hath 
power  to  institute  an  outward  significant  sign. 

Bishop  of  London. — The  Cross  in  baptism  is  not  used  other- 
wise than  a  ceremony. 

Bishop  of  Winchester. — Kneeling,  lifting  up  of  the  hands, 
knocking  of  the  breast,  are  significant  ceremonies,  and  these  may 
lawfully  be  used. 

Dean  of  the  Chapel. — The  Rabbins  write,  tHat  the  Jews 
added  both  signs  and  words  at  the  institution  of  the  passover  ; 
namely,  when  they  ate  sour  herbs,  they  said,  "  Take  and  eat  these 
in  remembrance,"  &c.  when  they  drank  wine,  they  said,  "  Drink 
this  in  remembrance,"  &c.  Upon  which  addition  and  tradition,  our 
Saviour  instituted  the  sacrament  of  his  last  supper,  thereby  approv- 
ing, a  church  may  institute  and  retain  a  sign  significant. 

His  Majesty. — I  am  exceeding  well  satisfied  in  this  point,  but 
would  be  acquainted  about  the  antiquity  of  the  use  of  the  Cross. 

Dr.  Reynolds. — It  hath  been  used  ever  since  the  apostles' 
time.  But  the  question  is,  How  ancient  the  use  thereof  hath  been 
in  baptism  ? 

Dean  of  Westminster. — It  appears  out  of  Tertullian, 
Cyprian,  and  Origen,  that  it  was  used  i7i  immortali  lavacro. 

Bishop  of  Winchester. — In  Constantine's  time  it  was  used 
in  baptism. 

His  Majesty. — If  so,  I  see  no  reason  but  that  we  may  con- 
tinue it. 

Mr.  Knewstubs. — Put  the  case,  the  church  hath  power  to  add 
significant  signs,  it  may  not  add  them  where  Christ  hath  already 
ordained  them  ;  which  is  as  derogatory  to  Christ's  institution,  as  if 
one  should  add  to  the  Great  Seal  of  England. 


1  JAMES   r.  BOOK    X»       CENT.    XVII.  187 

His  Majesty. — The  case  is  not  alike  ;  seeing,  the  sacrament 
is  fully  finished,  before  any  mention  of  the  Cross  is  made  therein. 

Mr.  Knewstubs. — If  the  church  hath  such  a  power,  the  greatest 
scruple  is,  how  far  the  ordinance  of  the  church  bindeth,  without 
impeaching  Christian  liberty. 

His  Majesty. — I  will  not  argue  that  point  with  you  but 
answer  as  kings  in  parliament,  Le  Roy  savisera.  This  is  like  Mr. 
John  Black,  a  beardless  boy,  who  told  me,  the  last  Conference  in 
Scotland,*  that  he  would  hold  conformity  with  his  majesty  in 
matters  of  doctrine ;  but  every  man,  for  ceremonies,  was  to  be  left 
to  his  own  liberty.  But  I  will  have  none  of  that ;  I  will  have  one 
doctrine,  one  discipline,  one  religion,  in  substance  and  in  ceremony. 
Never  speak  more  to  that  point, — how  far  you  are  bound  to  obey. 

Db.  Reynolds. — Would  that  the  Cross  (being  superstitiously 
abused  in  popery)  were  abandoned,  as  the  brasen  serpent  was 
stamped  to  powder  by  Hezekiah,  because  abused  to  idolatry. 

His  Majesty. — Inasmuch  as  the  Cross  was  abused  to  supersti- 
tion in  time  of  popery,  it  doth  plainly  imply  that  it  was  well  used 
before.  I  detest  their  courses  who  peremptorily  disallow  of  all 
things  which  have  been  abused  in  popery  ;  and  know  not  how  to 
answer  the  objections  of  the  papists,  when  they  charge  us  with 
novelties,  but  by  telling  them,  we  retain  the  primitive  use  of  things, 
and  only  forsake  their  novel  corruptions.  Secondly.  No  resem- 
blance betwixt  the  brasen  serpent,  (a  material,  visible  thing,)  and 
the  sign  of  the  Cross,  made  in  the  air.  Thirdly.  Papists,  as  I  am 
informed,  did  never  ascribe  any  spiritual  grace  to  the  Cross  in 
baptism.  Lastly.  Material  Crosses,  to  which  people  fell  down  in 
time  of  popery,  (as  the  idolatrous  Jews  to  the  brasen  serpent,)  are 
already  demolished,  as  you  desire. 

Mr.  Knewstubs. — I  take  exception  at  the  wearing  of  the 
Surplice,  a  kind  of  garment  used  by  the  priests  of  Isis. 

His  Majesty. — I  did  not  think,  till  of  late,  it  had  been  bor- 
rowed from  the  Heathen,  because  commonly  called  "  a  rag  of 
Popery."  Seeing  now  we  border  not  upon  Heathens,  neither  are 
any  of  them  conversant  with  or  commorant  amongst  us,  thereby  to 
be  confirmed  in  Paganism  ;  I  see  no  reason  but  for  comeliness -sake 
it  may  be  continued. 

Dr.  Reynolds. — I  take  exception  at  these  words  in  the  mar- 
riage, "  With  my  body  I  thee  worship." 

His  Majesty. — I  was  made  believe,  the  phrase  imported  no 
less  than  Divine  adoration,,  but  find  it  an  usual  English  term;  as 
when  we  say  "  a  gentleman  of  worship  ;"  and  it  agreeth  with  the 
Scriptures,  "  giving  honour  to  the  wife."    As  for  you,  Dr  Reynolds, 

*  In  December,  ItJOl. 


188         CHURCH  HISTORY  OF  BRITAIN.         A.D.  1604. 

[this  tlie  king  spake  smiling,]  many  men  speak  of  Robin  Hood, 
-who  never  shot  in  his  bow :  If  you  had  a  good  wife  yourself,  you 
would  think  all  worship  and  honour  you  could  do  her  were  well 
bestowed  on  her. 

Deak  of  Sarum. —  Some  take  exception  at  the  ring  in 
marriage. 

Dr.  Reynolds. — I  approve  it  well  enough. 

His  Majesty. — I  was  married  with  a  ring,  and  think  others 
scarce  well-married  without  it. 

Dr.  Reynolds. — Some  take  exceptions  at  the  churching  of 
women,  by  the  name  of  "  purification."' 

His  Majesty. — I  allow  it  very  well.  Women  being  loath  of 
themselves  to  come  to  church,  I  like  this  or  any  other  occasion  to 
draw  them  thither. 

Dr.  Reynolds.  —  My  last  exception  is  against  com.mitting 
ecclesiastical  censures  to  lay-chancellors,  the  rather,  because  it  was 
ordered,  anno  1571,  that  lay-chancellors,  in  matters  of  correction, 
and,  anno  1589,  in  matters  of  instance,  should  not  excommunicate 
any,  but  be  done  only  by  them  who  had'  power  of  the  keys,  though 
the  contrary  is  commonly  practised. 

His  Majesty. — I  have  confeiTcd  with  my  bishops  about  this 
point,  and  such  order  shall  be  taken  therein  as  is  convenient. 
Meantime,  go  on  to  some  other  matter. 

Dr.  Reynolds. — I  desire,  that,  according  to  certain  provincial 
constitutions,  the  clergy  may  have  meetings  every  three  weeks  : — 

1.  First,  in  rural  deaneries,  therein  to  have  prophesying,  as  arch- 
bishop Grindal  and  other  bishops  desired  of  her  late  majesty. 

2.  That  such  things  as  could  not  be  resolved  on  there,  might  be 
referred  to  the  archdeacons'*  visitations. 

8.  And  so  to  the  episcopal  synod,  to  determine  such  points  before 
not  decided. 

His  Majesty. — If  you  aim  at  a  Scottish  presbytery,  it  agree tli 
as  well  with  monarchy,  as  God  and  the  devil.  Then  Jack,  and 
Tom,  and  Will,  and  Dick  shall  meet  and  censure  me  and  my 
Council.  Therefore  I  reiterate  my  former  speech,  Le  roy  samsera. 
Stay,  I  pray,  for  one  seven  years,  before  you  demand  ;  and  then  if 
you  find  me  grow  pursy  and  fat,  I  may,  perchance,  hearken  unto 
you  ;  for  that  government  will  keep  me  in  breath,  and  give  me 
work  enough.  I  shall  speak  of  one  matter  more,  somewhat  out  of 
order,  but  it  skilleth  not.  Dr.  Reynolds,  you  have  often  spoken 
for  my  supremacy,  and  it  is  well.  But  know  you  any  here  or  else- 
where, who  like  of  the  present  government  ecclesiastical,  and  dislike 
my  supremacy  ? 

Dr.  Reynolds. — I  know  none. 


1  JAMES  I.  BOOK  X.   CENT.  XVII.  189 

His  Majesty. — Why,  then,  I  will  tell  you  a  tale  :  After  that 
the  religion  restored  by  king  Edward  VI.  w^as  soon  overthrown  by 
queen  Mary  here  in  England,  we  in  Scotland  felt  the  effect  of  it.  For, 
thereupon,  Mr.  Knox  writes  to  the  queen  regent,  a  virtuous  and 
moderate  lady  ;  telling  her,  that  she  was  the  supreme  head  of  the 
church,  and  charged  her,  as  she  would  answer  it  to  God's  tribunal, 
to  take  care  of  Christ's  Evangel,  in  suppressing  the  popish  prelates, 
who  withstood  the  same.  But  how  long,  trow  you,  did  this  con- 
tinue ?  Even  till,  by  her  authority,  the  popish  bishops  were 
repressed,  and  Knox,  with  his  adherents,  being  brought  in,  made 
strong  enough.  Then  began  they  to  make  small  account  of  her 
supremacy,  when,  according  to  that  7nore  light  wherewith  they  were 
illuminated,  they  made  a  farther  reformation  of  themselves.  How 
they  used  the  poor  lady  my  mother,  is  not  unknown,  and  how  they 
dealt  with  me  in  my  minority.  I  thus  apply  it :  my  lords  the 
bishops,  [this  he  said,  putting  his  hand  to  his  hat,]  I  may  thank 
you  that  these  men  plead  thus  for  my  supremacy.  They  think 
they  cannot  make  their  party  good  against  you,  but  by  appealing 
unto  it.  But  if  once  you  were  out  and  they  in,  I  know  what  would 
become  of  my  supremacy  ;  for,  "  No  bishop,  no  king  !  *"  I  have 
learned  of  what  cut  they  have  been,  who,  preaching  before  me  since 
my  coming  into  England,  passed  over,  with  silence,  my  being 
supreme  governor  in  causes  ecclesiastical.  AVell,  doctor,  have  you 
any  thing  else  to  say  ? 

Dn.  Rkynolds. — No  more,  if  it  please  your  majesty. 

His  Majesty. — If  this  be  all  your  party  hath  to  say,  I  will 
make  them  conform  themselves,  or  else  I  will  harry  them  out  of  the 
land,  or  else  do  worse. 

Thus  ended  the  second  day's  Conference  ;  and  the  third  began  on 
the  Wednesday  following,  January  18th,  many  knights,  civilians, 
and  doctors  of  the  law,  being  admitted  thereunto,  because  the  High 
Commission  was  the  principal  matter  in  debate. 

23.   The  third  Days  Conference  at  Hampton  Court. 

His  Majesty. — I  understand,  that  the  parties  named  in  the 
High  Commission  are  too  many,  and  too  mean  ;  and  the  matters 
they  deal  w'ith,  base,  such  as  ordinaries  at  home  in  their  courts 
might  censure. 

Archbishop  of  Canterbury. — It  is  requisite  their  number 
should  be  many,  otherwise  I  should  be  forced  often-times  to  sit 
alone,  if,  in  the  absence  of  the  lords  of  the  Council,  bishops,  and 
judges  at  law,  some  deans  and  doctors  were  not  put  into  that  Com- 
mission, whose  attendance  I  might  command  with  the  more  autho- 
rity.    I  have  often  complained  of  the  meanness  of  matters  handled 


l.yi)  CHURCH    HISTORY    OF    LUUTAIN.  A.D.  1604. 

therein,  but  cannot  remedy  it.  For  though  the  offence  be  so  small, 
that  the  ordinary  may — the  offender  oft-times  is  so  great  and  contu- 
macious that  the  ordinary  dare  not — punish  him  ;  and  so  is  forced 
to  crav^  help  at  the  High  Commission. 

A  NAMELESS  LoRD.* — The  proceedings  in  that  Court  are  like 
the  Spanish  Inquisition  ;  wherein  men  are  urged  to  subscribe  more 
than  law  requireth  ;  and,  by  the  oath  ex  officio^  forced  to  accuse 
themselves,  being  examined  upon  twenty  or  twenty-four  articles  on 
a  sudden,  without  deliberation,  and  for  the  most  part  against  them- 
selves. 

In  proof  hereof,  he  produced  a  letter  of  an  ancient  honourable 
Counsellor,  anno  1584,  verifying  this  usage  to  two  ministers  in 
Cambridgeshire. 

Archrishop  of  Canterbury. — Your  lordship  is  deceived  in 
the  manner  of  proceeding.  For,  if  the  article  touch  the  party  for 
life,  liberty,  or  scandal,  he  may  refuse  to  answer.  I  can  say  nothing 
to  the  particulars  of  the  letter,  because  twenty  years  since  ;  yet 
doubt  not  but  at  leisure  to  give  your  lordship  satisfaction. 

Here  we  omit  a  discourse  about  subscription,  because  not 
methodized  into  the  speech  of  several  persons. 

Lord  Chancellor. — There  is  necessity  and  use  of  the  oath 
ex  officio^  in  divers  courts  and  causes. 

His  Majesty. — Indeed,  civil  proceedings  only  punish  facts; 
but  it  is  requisite  that  fame  and  scandals  be  looked  unto  in  courts 
ecclesiastical ;  and  yet  great  moderation  is  to  be  used  therein. 

1.  In  gramoribus  criminihus. 

2.  In  such  whereof  there  is  a  public  fame,  caused  by  the  inordi- 
nate demeanour  of  the  offender. 

And  here  he  soundly  described  the  oath  ex  officio^  for  the  ground 
thereof,  the  wisdom  of  the  law  therein,  the  manner  of  proceeding 
thereby,  and  profitable  effect  from  the  same. 

Archbishop  of  Canterbury. — Undoubtedly  your  majesty 
speaks  by  the  special  assistance  of  God's  Spirit. 

Bishop  of  London. — I  protest,  my  heart  melteth  with  joy,  that 
Almighty  God,  of  his  singular  mercy,  hath  given  us  such  a  king,  as, 
since  Christ's  time,  the  like  hath  not  been. 

This  he  spake  on  his  knee. 

Then  passed  there  much  discourse  between  the  king,  the  bishops, 
and  the  lords,  about  the  quality  of  the  persons  and  causes  in  the 
High  Commission,  rectifying  excommunications  in  matters  of  le?s 
moment,  punishing  recusants,  providing  divines  for  Ireland,  Wales, 
and  the  northern  borders.  Afterwards  the  four  preachers  were 
called  in,  and  such  alterations  in  the  Liturgy  were  read  unto  them, 

*  I  (lave  not  guess  liiiii,  for  fear  of  failing. 


1   JAMES  T.  BOOK    X.       CENT.    XVII.  191 

which  the  bishops,  by  the  king's  advice,  had  made,  and  to  which,  by 
their  silence,  they  seemed  to  consent. 

His  Majesty. — I  see  the  exceptions  against  the  Communion- 
Book  are  matters  of  weakness;  therefore  if  the  persons  reluctant  be 
discreet,  they  will  be  won  betime?,  and  by  good  persuasions  ;  if 
indiscreet,  better  they  were  removed  ;  for  by  their  factions  many  are 
driven  to  be  papists.  From  you,  Dr.  Reynolds,  and  your  associates, 
I  expect  obedience  and  humility,  the  marks  of  honest  and  good 
men  ;  and  that  you  would  persuade  others  abroad  by  your  example. 

Dr.  Reynolds. — We  here  do  promise  to  perform  all  duties  to 
bishops,  as  reverend  fathers,  and  to  join  with  them  against  the  com- 
mon adversary  for  the  quiet  of  the  church. 

Mr.  Chaderton. — I  request,  the  wearing  of  the  Surplice,  and 
the  Cross  in  baptism,  may  not  be  urged  on  some  godly  ministers  in 
Lancashire,  fearing,  if  forced  unto  them,  many  won  by  their 
preaching  of  the  Gospel  will  revolt  to  popery  ;  and  I  particularly 
instance  in  the  vicar  of  Rochdale. 

This  he  spake  kneeling. 

Archbishop  of  Canterbury.-— You  could  not  have  light 
upon  a  worse ;  for,  not  many  years  ago,  (as  my  lord  chancellor* 
knows,)  it  was  proved  before  me,  that,  by  his  unreverent  usage  of 
the  eucharist,  (dealing  the  bread  out  of  a  basket,  every  man  putting 
in  his  hand,  and  taking  out  a  piece,)  he  made  many  loathe  the  com- 
munion, and  refuse  to  come  to  church. 

His  Majesty. — It  is  not  my  purpose,  and  I  dare  say  it  is  not 
the  bishops'  intent,  presently  and  out  of  hand,  to  enforce  these 
things  without  fatherly  admonitions,  conferences,  and  persuasions 
premised.  But  I  wish  it  were  examined,  whether  such  Lancashire 
ministers,  by  their  pains  and  preaching,  have  converted  any  from 
popery,  and  withal  be  men  of  honest  life  and  quiet  conversation. 
If  so,  let  letters  be  written  to  the  bishop  of  C]iester,-f-  (who  is  a 
grave  and  good  man,)  to  that  purpose,  that  some  favour  may  be 
afforded  unto  them,  and  let  the  lord  archbishop  write  the  letters. 

Bishop  of  London. — If  this  be  granted,  the  copy  of  these 
letters  will  fly  all  over  England ;  and  then  all  nonconformists  will 
make  the  like  request,  and  so  no  fruit  follow  of  this  Conference,  but 
things  will  be  worse  than  they  were  before.  I  desire,  therefore,  a 
time  may  be  limited,  within  the  compass  whereof  they  shall  con- 
form. 

His  Majesty. — I  assent  thereunto ;  and  let  the  bishop  of  the 
diocess  set  down  the  time. 

Mr.  Knewstubs. — I  request  [here  he  fell  down  on  his  knees] 

*  Who,  being  tliere  present,  averred  the  same.  t  This  was  Richard  Vanghaii, 

afterwards  bishop  of  London. 


102  CHURCH    HISTORY    OF    BRITAIN.  A.D.  1604. 

the  like  favour  of  forbearance  to  some  honest  ministers  in  Suffolk. 
For,  it  will  make  much  against  their  credits  in  the  country,  to  be 
now  forced  to  the  surplice,  and  cross  in  baptism. 

Archbishop  of  Canterbury. — Nay,  sir, 

His  Majesty. — Let  me  alone  to  answer  him.  Sir,  you  show 
yourself  an  uncharitable  man.  We  have  here  taken  pains,  and,  in 
the  end,  have  concluded  on  unity  and  uniformity ;  and  you,  for- 
sooth, must  prefer  the  credits  of  a  few  private  men  before  the  peace 
of  the  church.  This  is  just  the  Scotch  argument,  when  any  thing 
^vas  concluded  which  disliked  some  humours.  Let  them  either  con- 
form themselves  shortly,  or  they  shall  hear  of  it. 

Lord  Cecil. — The  indecency  of  ambling  communions  is  very 
offensive,  and  hath  driven  many  from  the  church. 

Bishop  of  London. — And,  Mr.  Chaderton,  I  could  tell  you  of 
sitting  communions  in  Emmanuel  College. 

Mr.  Chaderton. — It  is  so,  because  of  the  seats  so  placed  as 
they  be  ;  and  yet  we  have  some  kneeling  also  in  our  chapel. 

His  Majesty. — No  more  hereof  for  the  present,  seeing  they  have 
jointly  promised  hereafter  to  be  quiet  and  obedient. 

Whereat  he  rose  up  to  depart  into  an  inner  chamber. 

Bishop  of  London. — God's  goodness  be  blessed  for  your 
majesty,  and  give  health  and  prosperity  to  your  Highness,  your 
gracious  queen,  the  young  prince,  and  all  the  royal  issue  ! 

24 — 26.  The  general  Censure  of  the  Conferencers.  The  Non- 
conformists' Complaint.  The  Product  of  this  Co7iference. 
Thus  ended  the  three  days'  Conference ;  wherein  hoAv  discreetly 
the  king  carried  himself,  posterity,  out  of  the  reach  of  flattery,  is  the 
most  competent  judge — such  matters  being  most  truly  discerned  at 
a  distance.  It  is  generally  said,  that  herein  he  went  above  himself; 
that  the  bishop  of  London  appeared  even  u'ith  himself;  and  Dr. 
Reynolds  fell  much  beneath  himself.  Others  observed,  that  arch- 
bishop Whitgift  spake  most  gravely  ;  Bancroft,  when  out  of  passion, 
most  politicly ;  Bilson,  most  learnedly;  and  of  the  divines,  Mr. 
Reynolds,  most  largely  ;  Knewstubs,  most  affectionately ;  Chaderton, 
most  sparingly.  In  this  scene,  only  Dr.  Sparks  was  xo^tfov  Tr/joVcoTrov, 
making  use  of  his  hearing,  not  speech,  converted  (it  seems)  to  the 
truth  of  what  was  spoken,  and  soon  after  setting  forth  a  treatise  of 
unity  and  uniformity. 

But  the  nonconformists  complained,  that  the  king  sent  for  their 
divines,  not  to  have  their  scruples  satisfied,  but  his  pleasure  pro- 
pounded ;  not  that  he  might  know  what  they  could  say^  but  they 
what  he  would  do  in  the  matter.  Besides,  no  wonder  if  Dr.  Rey- 
nolds a  little  lost  himself,  whose  eyes  were  partly  dazzled  with  the 


1   JAMES   I.  JiOOK    X.       CENT.    XVII.  193 

light  of  the  king's  majesty,  partly  daunted  with  the  heat  of  his  dis- 
pleasure. Others  complain  that  this  Conference  is  partially  set  forth 
only  by  Dr.  Barlow,  dean  of  Chester,  their  professed  adversary, 
to  the  great  disadvantage  of  their  divines.  And  when  the  Israelites 
go  down  to  the  Philistines,  to  whet  all  their  iron  tools,  no  wonder  if 
they  set  a  sharp  edge  on  their  own,  and  a  blunt  one  on  their  enemies'* 
weapons. 

This  Conference  produced  some  alterations  in  the  Liturgy; 
women's  baptizing  of  infants,  formerly  frequent,  hereafter  forbidden  ; 
in  the  Rubric  of  absolution,  "remission  of  sins'"  inserted.  Confirma- 
tion termed  also  "  an  examination '^  of  children  ;  and  some  words 
altered  in  the  Dominical  Gospels,  with  a  resolution  for  a  new  transla- 
tion of  the  Bible.  But  whereas  it  was  hitherto  disputable  whether 
the  north,  where  he  long  lived,  or  the  south,  whither  he  lately  came, 
should  prevail  most  on  the  king"'s  judgment  in  church-government ; 
this  doubt  was  now  clearly  decided.  Henceforward  many  cripples 
in  conformity  were  cured  of  their  former  halting  therein ;  and  such 
who  knew  not  their  own  till  they  knew  the  king's  mind  in  this  matter, 
for  the  future  quietly  digested  the  ceremonies  of  the  church. 

27.   The  Copy  of  the  Millenary  Petition. 
We  have  formerly  made  mention  of  the  Millemanus  petition  for 
reformation,  which  about  this  time  was  solemnly  presented   to  his 
majesty,  and  which  here  we  have  truly  exemplified : — 

"the  humble  petition  of  the  ministers  of  the  church 
uf  england,  desiring  reformation  of  certain  cere- 
monies and  abuses  of  the  church. 

"  To  the  most  Christian  and  excellent  prince,  our  gracious 
and  dread  sovereign,  James  by  the  grace  of  God,  &c.  We,  the 
ministers  of  the  church  of  England  that  desire  reformation,  wish  a 
long,  prosperous,  and  happy  reign  over  us  in  this  life,  and  in  the 
next  everlasting  salvation. 

"  Most  gracious  and  dread  sovereign,  seeing  it  hath  pleased  the 
Divine  Majesty,  to  the  great  comfort  of  all  good  Christians,  to  advance 
your  Highness,  according  to  your  just  title,  to  the  peaceable  govern- 
ment of  this  church  and  commonwealth  of  England  ;  we,  the  ministers 
of  the  Gospel  in  this  land,  neither  as  factious  men  affecting  a  popu- 
lar parity  in  the  church,  nor  as  schismatics  aiming  at  the  disso- 
lution of  the  state  ecclesiastical ;  but  as  the  faithful  servants  of 
Christ,  and  loyal  subjects  to  your  majesty,  desiring  and  longing  for 
the  redress  of  divers  abuses  of  the  church,  could  do  no  less,  in  our 
obedience  to  God,  service  to  your  majesty,  love  to  his  church,  than 
acquaint  your  princely  majesty  with  our  particular  griefs.     For,  as 

Vol.  III.  o 


194  CHURCH    HISTORY    OF    BRITAIN.  A.D.  1604. 

your  princely  pen  writeth,  '  The  king,  as  a  good  physician,  must  first 
know  what  peccant  humours  his  patient  naturally  is  most  subject 
unto,  before  he  can  begin  his  cure.**  And,  although  divers  of  us  that 
sue  for  reformation  have  formerly,  in  respect  of  the  times,  subscribed 
to  the  Book,  some  upon  protestation,  some  upon  exposition  given 
them,  some  with  condition,  rather  than  the  church  should  have  been 
deprived  of  their  labour  and  ministry ;  yet  now,  we,  to  the  number 
of  more  than  a  thousand,  of  your  majesty's  subjects  and  ministers, 
all  groaning  as  under  a  common  burden  of  human  rites  and  ceremo- 
nies, do,  with  one  joint  consent,  humble  ourselves  at  your  majesty"'s 
feet  to  be  eased  and  relieved  in  this  behalf.  Our  humble  suit,  then, 
unto  your  majesty  is,  that  [of]  these  offences  following,  some  may  be 
removed,  some  amended,  some  qualified  : — 

"  I.  In  the  church-sermce. — That  the  Cross  in  baptism,  interroga- 
tories ministered  to  infants.  Confirmation,  as  superfluous,  may 
be  taken  away :  baptism  not  to  be  ministered  by  women,  and  so 
explained  :  the  cap  and  surplice  not  urged  :  that  examination  may  go 
before  the  communion  :  that  it  be  ministered  with  a  sermon  :  that 
divers  terms  o^ priests  and  absolution^  and  some  other  used,  with  the 
ring  in  marriage,  and  other  such  like  in  the  Book,  may  be  corrected  : 
the  longsomeness  of  service  abridged :  church-songs  and  music 
moderated  to  better  edification  :  that  the  Lord's  day  be  not  profaned, 
the  rest  upon  holy-days  not  so  strictly  urged :  that  there  may  be  an 
uniformity  of  doctrine  prescribed  :  no  popish  opinion  to  be  any 
more  taught  or  defended:  no  ministers  charged  to  teach  their  people 
to  bow  at  the  name  of  Jesus :  that  the  canonical  Scriptures  only  be 
read  in  the  church. 

"  II.  Concerning  church-ministers. — That  none  hereafter  be 
admitted  into  the  ministry  but  able  and  sufficient  men  ;  and  those  to 
preach  diligently,  and  especially  upon  the  Lord's  day :  that  such  as 
be  already  entered,  and  cannot  preach,  may  either  be  removed,  and 
some  charitable  course  taken  with  them  for  their  relief;  or  else  to  be 
forced,  according  to  the  value  of  their  livings,  to  maintain  preachers  : 
that  non-residency  be  not  permitted  :  that  king  Edward's  statute  for 
the  lawfulness  of  ministers'  marriage  be  revived  :  that  ministers  be 
not  urged  to  subscribe  but,  according  to  the  law,  to  the  Articles  of 
Religion,  and  the  king's  supremacy  only. 

*'  III.  For  church-livings  and  maintenance. — That  bishops  leave 
their  commendams  ;  some  holding  prebends,  some  parsonages,  some 
vicarages  with  their  bishoprics :  that  double-beneficed  men  be  not 
suffered  to  hold,  some  two,  some  three  benefices  with  cure  :  and  some 
two,  three,  or  four  dignities  besides  :  that  impropriations  annexed  to 
bishoprics  and  colleges  be  demised  only  to  the  preachers  incumbents, 
for  the  old  rent :  that  the  impropriations  of  laymen's  fees  may  be 


1  JAMES   I.  BOOK    X.       CENT.    XVII.  195 

charged  with  a  sixth  or  seventh  part  of  the  worth,  to  the  maintenance 
of  the  preaching  minister. 

"  IV.  For  church-discipline. — That  the  discipline  and  excom- 
munication may  be  administered  according  to  Christ's  own  institu- 
tion ;  or,  at  the  least,  that  enormities  may  be  redressed  :  as,  namely, 
that  excommunication  come  not  forth  under  the  name  of  lay  persons, 
chancellors,  officials,  &c.  that  men  be  not  excommunicated  for  trifles, 
and  twelve-penny  matters:  that  none  be  excommunicated  without  con- 
sent of  his  pastor :  that  the  officers  be  not  suffered  to  extort  unrea- 
sonable fees :  that  none  having  jurisdiction,  or  registers'  places,  put 
out  the  same  to  farm :  that  divers  popish  canons  (as  for  restraint  of 
marriage  at  certain  times)  be  reversed :  that  the  longsomeness  of 
suits  in  ecclesiastical  courts,  which  hang  sometimes  two,  three, 
four,  five,  six,  or  seven  years,  may  be  restrained :  that  the  oath  ex 
officio.,  whereby  men  are  forced  to  accuse  themselves,  be  more  sparingly 
used :  that  licences  for  marriage,  without  bans  asked,  be  more  cau- 
tiously granted. 

"  These,  with  such  other  abuses  yet  remaining,  and  practised  in 
the  church  of  England,  we  are  able  to  show  not  to  be  agreeable  to 
the  Scriptures,  if  it  shall  please  your  Highness  farther  to  hear  us,  or 
more  at  large  by  writing  to  be  informed,  or  by  conference  among 
the  learned  to  be  resolved.  And  yet  we  doubt  not  but  that,  with- 
out any  farther  process,  your  majesty,  of  whose  Christian  judgment 
we  have  received  so  good  a  taste  already,  is  able  of  yourself  to 
judge  of  the  equity  of  this  cause.  God,  we  trust,  hath  appointed 
your  Highness  our  physician  to  heal  these  diseases.  And  we  say 
with  Mordecai  to  Esther,  '  Who  knoweth,  whether  you  are  come 
to  the  kingdom  for  such  a  time  ?'  Thus  your  majesty  shall  do  that 
which,  we  are  persuaded,  shall  be  acceptable  to  God ;  honourable 
to  your  majesty  in  all  succeeding  ages ;  profitable  to  his  church, 
which  shall  be  thereby  increased ;  comfortable  to  your  ministers, 
which  shall  be  no  more  suspended,  silenced,  disgraced,  imprisoned 
for  men's  traditions ;  and  prejudicial  to  none,  but  to  those  that  seek 
their  own  quiet,  credit,  and  profit  in  the  world.  Thus,  with  all 
dutiful  submission,  referring  ourselves  to  your  majesty's  pleasure, 
for  your  gracious  answer,  as  God  shall  direct  you ;  we  most  humbly 
recommend  your  Highness  to  the  Divine  Majesty;  whom  wc 
beseech  for  Christ's  sake  to  dispose  your  royal  heart  to  do  herein 
what  shall  be  to  his  glory,  the  good  of  his  church,  and  your  endless 
comfort. 

"  Your  majesty's  most  humble  subjects,  the  ministers  of  the 
Gospel,  that  desire  not  a  disorderly  innovation,  but  a  due  and  godly 
reformation." 


o2 


196  CHURCH    HISTORY    OF    BRITAIN.  A.D.  1604. 

28.   The  Issue  of  this  Petition. 

This  calm  and  still  but  deep  petition,  being  (as  is  aforesaid)  pre- 
sented to  the  king,  it  was  given  out  that  his  majesty  lent  it  a  favour- 
able ear ;  that  some  great  ones  about  him  gave  it  a  consenting  enter- 
tainment ;  that  some  potent  strangers  (I  understand  of  the  Scottish 
nation)  had  undertaken  the  conduct  and  managing  thereof.  Whe- 
ther indeed  it  was  so,  God  knows,  or  whether  these  things  were 
made  to  make  the  people, — the  van  pretending  a  victory,  that  the 
rear  might  follow  the  more  comfortably.  Sure  it  is,  this  petition  ran 
the  gantlet  throughout  all  the  prelatical  party,  every  one  giving  it 
a  lash,  some  with  their  pens,  more  with  their  tongues ;  and  the 
dumb  ministers  (as  they  term  them)  found  their  speech  most  vocal 
against  it.  The  universities  (and  justly)  found  themselves  much 
aggrieved,  that  the  petitioners  should  proportion  a  seventh  part 
only  out  of  an  impropriation  in  a  layman''s  fee  ;  whilst  those  belong- 
ing to  colleges  and  cathedrals  should  be  demised  to  the  vicars  at  the 
old  rent,  without  fine,  without  improvement :  whereas  scholars, 
being  children  of  the  prophets,  counted  themselves  most  proper  for 
church-revenues  ;  and  this  motion,  if  effected,  would  cut  off  more 
than  the  nipples  of  the  breasts  of  both  universities  in  point  of  main- 
tenance. 

29.   Ufiiversities  justly  nettled  thereat. 

Cambridge  therefore  began,  and  passed  a  Grace  in  their  Congregation, 
that  whosoever  in  their  university  should,  by  word  or  writing,  oppose 
the  received  doctrine  and  discipline  of  England,  or  any  part  thereof, 
should  ipso  facto  be  suspended  from  their  former  and  excluded 
from  all  future  degrees.  Oxford  followed,  recompensing  the  slow- 
ness of  her  pace  with  the  firmness  of  her  footing,  making  a  strong 
and  sharp  confutation  of  the  petition.  But,  indeed,  king  James 
made  the  most  real  refutation  thereof,  not  resenting  it  (whatsoever 
is  pretended)  according  to  the  desires  and  hopes  (not  to  say  the 
reports)  of  such  who  presented  it.  And  after  his  majesty  had  dis- 
countenanced it,  some  Hotspurs  of  the  opposite  party  began  to 
maintain,  (many  copies  thereof  being  scattered  into  vulgar  hands,) 
that  now  the  property  thereof  was  altered  from  a  petition  into  a  libel, 
and  such  papers  [were]  defamatory  of  the  present  government, 
punishable  by  the  statute,  primo  Elizabethce. 

30,  31 .  Other  Millenary  Petitions.       Unfair  Dealing  in  pro- 
curing of  Hands. 

Under  favour,  I  conceive  this  petition,  by  us  lately  exemplified, 
the  pro]>er  Millenary  Petition.     Otherwise  I  observe,  that  Millenary 


2  JAMES   I.  BOOK    X.       CENT.    XVll.  1^7 

Petition  is  vox  wquiwca^  and  attributed  to  all  petitions  with 
numerous  and  indefinite  subscriptions,  which  were  started  this  year 
concerning  church-reformation.  Many  there  were  of  this  kind, 
moving  for  more  or  less  alteration,  as  the  promoters  of  them  stood 
affected.  For  all  men's  desires  will  then  be  of  the  same  size,  when 
their  bodies  shall  be  of  the  same  stature.  Of  these,  one,  most 
remarkable,  required  a  subscription  in  manner  as  followeth: — "  We, 
whose  names  are  under  written,  do  agree  to  make  our  humble 
petition  to  the  king's  majesty,  that  the  present  state  of  the 
church  may  be  farther  reformed  in  all  things  needful,'  according 
to  the  rule  of  God's  holy  word,  and  agreeable  to  the  example  of 
other  Reformed  churches,  which  have  restored  both  the  doctrine 
and  discipline,  as  it  was  delivered  by  our  Saviour  Christ,  and  his 
holy  apostles." 

Two  things  are  remarkable  therein  :  First.  That  this  was 
no  present  petition,  but  a  preparative  thereunto,  which  in  due 
time  might  have  proved  one,  if  meeting  with  proportionable 
encouragement.  Secondly.  That  it  went  farther  than  the  former, 
as  not  being  for  the  xaQoipslv,  but  for  the  a<pe<v  ;  not  for  '*  the 
paring,  pruning,  and  purging,"  but  for  "  the  extirpating  and  abolish- 
ing" of  bishops,  and  conforming  church-government  to  foreign 
presbytery.  Whether  the  subscribers  to  this  petition  were,  for 
the  main,  a  recruit  of  new  persons,  or  a  resumption  of  those  who 
under-writ  the  former,  I  dare  not  define.  Probably  many, 
sensible  that  before  they  were  petition-bound,  enlarged  them- 
selves now  in  their  additional  desires.  For,  such  who  ask  no 
more  than  what  they  would  have,  commonly  receive  less  than 
what  they  ask  ;  seeing  petitions  of  this  nature  are  seldom  granted 
in  full  latitude,  without  some  abatement.  They  allow^ed  there- 
fore some  over-measure  in  their  requests,  that,  the  surplusage 
being  defaulked,  the  remainder  might,  in  some  manner,  give 
them  satisfaction. 

Sure  I  am,  the  prelatical  party  complained,  that,  to  swell  a 
number,  the  nonconformists  did  not  choose  but  scrape  sub- 
scribers ;  not  to  speak  of  the  ubiquitariness  of  some  hands,  the 
same  being  always  present  at  all  petitions.  Indeed,  to  the  first, 
only  ministers  were  admitted ;  but  to  the  latter  brood  of 
petitions,  no  hand  which  had  five  fingers  was  refused.  Insomuch 
that  Master  George  (since  lord)  Goring,  who  then  knew  little  and 
cared  less  for  church-government,  (as  unable  to  govern  himself,) 
being  then  (fifty  years  since)  rather  a  youth  than  a  man,  a  boy  than 
a  youth,  set  his  hand  thereunto,  in  the  right,  I  believe,  of  his 
mother,  a  good  lady,  much  addicted  to  that  party;  and  king  James 
would  in  merriment  make  sport  with  him,    to  know  what  reasons 


198  CHURCH    HISTORY    OF    BRITAIN.  A. D.  1604. 

moved  him  at  that  age,  to  this  subscription.  But,  enough  of  these 
petitioners :  Perchance  we  shall  hear  more  of  them  the  next  par- 
liament. 


SECTION  11. 

TO  MATTHEW  GILL  YE,  ESQUIRE. 

Solomon  saith,  "  And  there  is  a  Friend  that  is  nearer 
than  a  brother,"  Prov.  xviii.  24.  Now,  though  I  have 
read  many  writers  on  the  text,  your  practice  is  the  best 
comment;  which  hath  most  truly  expounded  it  unto 
me.  Accept  this,  therefore,  as  the  return  of  the  thanks 
of  your  respectful  friend. 

1.   The  Death  of  Archbishop  Whitgift  AD.  1604. 

Causeless  jealousies  attend  old  age  ;  as  appears  by  archbishop 
Whitgift,  who  ended  his  life,  according  to  his  own  desire,  that  he 
might  not  live  to  see  the  parliament ;  being  more  scared  than  hurt, 
as  fearing  some  strange  opposition  therein,  and  an  assault  of  uncon- 
formists  on  church-discipline,  fiercer  than  his  age-feebled  body 
should  be  able  to  resist.*  Born  he  was  of  ancient  parentage  at  great 
Grimsby  in  Lincolnshire,  bred  in  Cambridge,  admitted  in  Queen's 
College,  removed  Scholar  to  Pembroke  Hall,  (where  Mr.  Bradford 
was  his  tutor,)  translated  Fellow  to  Peter-house,  returned  Master 
to  Pembroke,  thence  advanced  Master  of  Trinity  College  ;  suc- 
cessively parson  of  Teversham,  prebend  of  Ely,  dean  of  Lincoln, 
bishop  of  Worcester,  where  the  queen  forgave  him  his  first-fruits, — 
a  rare  gift  for  her,  who  Avas  so  good  an  housewife  of  her  revenues. 
Yea,  she  constantly  called  him  her  "little  black  husband  ;  '"*  which 
favour  nothing  elated  his  gravity,  carrying  himself  as  one  uncon- 
cerned in  all  worldly  honour.  He  survived  the  queen  not  a  full 
year,  getting  his  bane  by  going  in  a  cold  morning  by  barge  to 
Fulham,  there  to  consult  with  the  bishops  about  managing  their 
matters  in  the  ensuing  parliament.  And  no  wonder  if  those  few 
sparks  of  natural  heat  were  quickly  quenched  with  a  small  cold  in 
him,  who  was  then  above  seventy-two  years  of  age.  He  died  of  the 
palsy  ;  one  of  the  worthiest  men  that  ever  the  English  hierarchy 
did  enjoy. 

•  See  the  preface  (.0  Hampton-Court  Conference. 


2  JAMES   I.  BOOK    X.       CENT.     XV  If.  100 

2 — 6.  Mr.  Prynne^  censuring  Whitgift,  censured.  His  Untruth 
of  Jnselm.  His  Slander  of  Whitgift^  and  silly  Taxing  of 
his  Train.  WkiigifCs  Care  of  and  Love  to  Scholars. 
But  a  modern  writer,  in  liis  voluminous  book  against  the  practices 
of  English  prelates,  bitterly  inveighetli  against  him  whom  he  termeth 
"  a  pontifical "  (meaneth  he  paganish,  or  popish  ?)  "bishop,''  and 
chargeth  him  with  many  misdemeanours.  Give  me  leave  a  little, 
without  bitterness,  both  to  pass  my  censure  on  his  book,  and  make 
this  archbishop's  just  defence  against  his  calumniation.  First.  Tn 
general,  behold  the  complexion  of  his  whole  book  ;  and  it  is  black 
and  swarthy  in  the  uncharitable  subject  and  title  thereof:  "An 
Historical  Collection  of  the  several  execrable  Treasons,  Con- 
spiracies, Rebellions,  Seditions,  State-schisms,  Contumacies,  anti- 
monarchical  Practices,  and  Oppressions  of  English  Prelates,"  &c. 
Thus  he  weeds  men's  lives,  and  makes  use,  only  to  their  disgrace,  of 
their  infirmities ;  mean  time  suppressing  many  eminent  actions, 
which,  his  own  conscience  knows,  were  performed  by  them.  What 
a  monster  might  be  made  out  of  the  best  beauties  in  the  world,  if  a 
limner  should  leave  what  is  lovely,  and  only  collect  into  one  picture 
what  he  findeth  amiss  in  them  !  I  know  there  be  white  teeth  in  the 
blackest  Black- Moor,  and  a  black  bill  in  the  whitest  swan.  Worst 
men  have  something  to  be  commended,  best  men  something  in  them 
to  be  condemned.  Only  to  insist  on  men's  faults  to  render  them 
odious,  is  no  ingenuous  employment.  God,  we  know,  so  useth  his 
fan,  that  he  keepeth  the  corn,  but  driveth  away  the  cliaflP.  But  who 
is  he  that  winnoweth  so,  as  to  throw  away  the  good  grain,  and 
retain  the  chaff  only  ? 

Besides,  it  containeth  tmtruths,  or,  at  the  best,  uncertainties  ; 
■which  he  venteth  with  assurance  to  posterity.  For  instance  :  speak- 
ing of  Walter  Tyrrel,  the  French  knight,  casually  killing  king 
William  Rufus  in  Nevv^  Forest,  with  an  arrow  glancing  fi-om  a  tree, 
he  saitli,  that,  in  all  likelihood,  Anselm  archbishop  of  Canterbirry, 
our  Whitgift's  predecessor,  with  fore-plotted  treason  hired  Tyn-el 
to  murder  the  king  in  this  manner.*  Now,  to  condemn  the  memory 
of  so  pious  and  learned  a  man  as  Anselm  was,  (though  I  will  not 
excuse  him  in  all  things,)  five  hundred  years  after  the  fact  pretended, 
on  his  own  single  bare  surmise,  contrary  to  the  constant  current  of 
all  authors,  (no  one  whispering  the  least  suspicion  thereof,)  hath, 
I  believe,  but  little  of  law  and  nothing  of  Gospel  therein.  Let  the 
glancing  of  Tyrrel's  arrow  mind  men  how  they  "bend  their  bows  to 
shoot  arrows,  even  bitter  words,"  Psalm  Ixiv.  3,  at  the  memory  of 
the  deceased,  lest  it  rebound  back,  (not  as  his  did  to  hit  a  stander-by, 
but)  justly  to  wound  him  who  unjustly  delivered  it. 

•  Page  10. 


200  CHURCH    HISTORY    OF    BRITAIN.  A.D.  1G04. 

But,  to  come  to  our  reverend  Whitgift :  First,  he  chargeth  him 
for  troubling  the  judges  with  his  contestations  about  prohibitions, 
endeavouring  to  enlarge  his  ecclesiastical  jurisdiction.  This,  being 
the  accusation  but  of  a  common  lawyer,  and  that  in  favour  of  his 
own  courts,  I  leave  to  some  doctor  of  the  civil  or  canon  law,  as  most 
proper  to  make  answer  thereunto.  Only,  whereas  he  saith,  that 
Whitgift  did  it  to  the  prejudice  of  the  queen's  prerogative,  surely 
she  knew  her  own  privileges  so  well,  (beside  those  of  her  Council  to 
teach  her,)  that  she  would  never  have  so  favourably  reflected  on  him, 
if  sensible  (wise  princes  having  a  tender  touch  in  that  point)  that  he 
any  way  went  about  to  abridge  her  royal  authority.* 

Secondly.  He  taxeth  him  for  his  extraordinary  train,  of  above 
sixty  men-servants,  (though  not  so  extravagant  a  number,  if  his  per- 
son and  place  be  considered,)  "  who  were  all  trained  up  to  martial 
affairs,  and  mustered  almost  every  week  ;  his  stable  being  well 
furnished  with  store  of  great  horses.'"  But  was  it  a  fault  in  those 
martial  days,  when  the  invasion  of  a  foreign  foe  was  daily  suspected, 
to  fit  his  family  for  their  own  and  the  kingdom's  defence  ?  Did 
not  Abraham,  that  heavenly  prophet  and  holy  patriarch,  arm  his 
"  trained  servants  in  his  own  house,"  in  his  victorious  expedition 
against  the  king  of  Sodom  ?  Gen.  xiv.  14.  Yea,  if  churchmen  of 
an  anti-prelatical  spirit  had  not  since  tampered  more  dangerously 
with  training  of  servants,  (though  none  of  their  own,)  both  learning 
and  religion  had,  perchance,  looked,  at  this  day,  with  a  more  cheer- 
ful countenance. 

Whereas  it  intimates,  that  this  archbishop  had  been  better 
employed  "  in  training  up  scholars  for  the  pulpit,  than  soldiers  for 
the  field  ;  "  know,  that  as  the  latter  was  performed,  the  former  was 
not  quitted  by  him.  Witness  many  worthy  preachers  bred  under 
him  in  Trinity  College,  and  more  elsewhere  relieved  by  him.  Yea, 
his  bounty  was  too  large  to  be  confined  within  the  narrow  seas; 
B&za,  Drusius,  and  other  foreign  protestant  divines,  tasting  freely 
thereof  Nor  was  his  liberality  only  a  cistern  for  the  present  age, 
but  a  running  river  from  a  fresh  fountain,  to  water  posterity  in  that 
school  of  Croydon,  which  he  hath  beautifully  built,  and  bountifully 
endowed.  More  might  be  said,  in  the  vindication  of  this  worthy 
prelate  from  his  reproachful  pen.  But  I  purposely  forbear  ;  the 
rather,  because  it  is  possible,  that  the  learned  gentleman  since,  upon 
a  serious  review  of  his  own  work,  and  experimental  observation  of 
the  passages  of  this  age,  may  be  more  offended  with  his  own  writing 
herein,  than  others  take  just  exception  thereat. 

•  Page  140. 


JAMES  1.  BOOK    X.       CENT.    XVII. 


201 


7.  His  Burial  and  Successor. 
Archbishop  Wliitgift  was  buried  at  Croydon,  March  27th,  the 
earl  of  Worcester  and  lord  Zouch,  his  pupils,  attending  his  hearse  ; 
and  bishop  Babington,  his  pupil  also,  made  his  funeral  sermon, 
choosing  for  his  text,  2  Chron.  xxiv.  15,  16,  and  paralleling  the 
archbishop's  life  with  gracious  Jehoiada.  Richard  Bancroft,  bishop 
of  London,  brought  up  in  Jesus  College,  succeeded  him  in  the 
archbishopric  ;  whose  actions,  in  our  ensuing  History,  will  suffi- 
ciently deliver  his  character,  without  our  description  thereof. 

8—11.  A  beneficial  Statute  for  the  Church.     A  Contrivance  by 

tJie  Crown  to  wrong  the  Church.     Two  eminent  Instances 

of  former  Alienation  of  Bishopric-Lands.  Several  Censures 

on  this  neiv  Statute. 

Come   we  now  to  the  parliament  assembled  ;    and  amongst   the 

many   Acts    which    passed   therein,    none    more   beneficial  for  the 

church  than  that  which  made   the  king  himself  and  his   successors 

incapable  of  any  church-land  to  be  conveyed  unto  them,  otherwise 

than  for  three  lives,   or  twenty-one  years.     Indeed,  a  statute  had 

formerly  been  made,   the   thirteenth  of  queen   Elizabeth,  which,  to 

prevent  final  alienation  of  church-land,  did  disable  all  subjects  from 

accepting  them  ;  but   in  that  statute  a  liberty  was  left  unto   the 

Crown   to  receive  the   same.*     It  was   thought  fit  to   allow  to  the 

Crown  this   favourable   exception,   as  to  the  patron-general   of  the 

whole   English   church  ;  and  it  was   but  reason  for  the  sovereign, 

who  originally  gave  all  the  loaf  to  the  church,  on  occasion  to  resume 

a  good  shiver  thereof. 

But  he  who  shuts  ninety-nine  gates  of  Thebes,  and  leaveth  one 
open,  shuts  none  in  effect.  Covetousness  (shall  I  say,  an  apt 
scholar  to  learn,  or  an  able  master  to  teach,  or  both  ?)  quickly  found 
out  a  way  to  invade  the  lands  of  the  church,  and  evade  the  penalty 
of  the  law  ;  which  thus  was  contrived  :  Some  potent  courtier  first 
covertly  contracts  with  a  bishop,  (some  whereof,  though  spiritual 
in  title,  were  too  temporal  in  truth,  as  more  minding  their  private 
profit  than  the  public  good  of  the  church,)  to  pass  over  such  a 
proportion  of  land  to  the  Crown.  This  done,  the  said  courtier 
begs  the  land  of  the  queen  even  before  her  Highness  had  tasted 
thereof,  or  the  lips  of  her  exchequer  ever  touched  the  same  ;  and 
so  an  estate  thereof  is  settled  on  him  and  his  heirs  for  ever.  And 
thus  covetousness  came  to  her  desired  end  ;  though  forced  to  go  a 
longer  journey,  and  fain  to  fetch  a  farther  compass  about. 

For  instance  :  Dr.  Col  dwell,  doctor  of  physic,  and  bishop  of 
Salisbury,  gave  his  sec  a   very  strong  purge,  when  he  consented  to 

•  Becau.se  it  was  not  forbidden  in  the  statute  in  express  words. 


2i)2  CHURCH    HISTOKY    OF    BRITAIN.  A.D.  1G04. 

the  alienation  of  Sherborne  manor  from  his  bishopric.  Indeed,  the 
good  old  man  was  shot  between  wind  and  water,  and  his  consent  was 
assaulted  in  a  dangerous  juncture  of  time  to  give  any  denial.  For, 
after  he  was  elected  bishop  of  Salisbury,  and  after  all  his  church- 
preferments  were  disposed  of  to  other  persons,  yet  before  his  election 
was  confirmed  past  a  possibility  of  a  legal  reversing  thereof,  Sir  W. 
Raleigh  is  importunate  with  him  to  pass  Sherborne  to  the  Crown, 
and  effected  it,  though  indeed  a  good  round  rent  was  reserved  to 
the  bishopric.     Presently    Sir    Walter  beggeth   the  same  of  the 

queen,  and   obtained  it.     Much  after  the  same   manner  Sir  

Killegrew  got  the  manor  of  Crediton,  a  bough  almost  as  big  as  all 
the  rest  of  the  body,  from  the  church  of  Exeter,  by  the  consent  of 
Dr.  Babington  the  bishop  thereof. 

To  prevent  future  wrong  to  the  church  in  that  kind,  it  was  now 
enacted,  that  the  Crown  itself,  henceforward,  should  be  incapable  of 
any  such  church-land  to  be  conveyed  unto  it.  Yet  some  were  so 
bold  as  to  conceive  this  law  void  in  the  very  making  of  it,  and  that 
all  the  obligation  thereof  consisted,  not  in  the  strength  of  the  law, 
but  only  in  the  king's  and  his  successors'*  voluntary  obedience  there- 
unto ;  accounting  it  injurious  for  any  prince  in  parliament  to  tie  his 
successors,  who  neither  can  nor  will  be  concluded  thereby  farther 
than  it  stands  with  their  own  convenience.  However,  it  was  to  stand 
in  force,  till  the  same  power  should  be  pleased  to  rescind  it.  But 
others  beheld  this  law,  not  with  a  politic,  but  religious  eye,  con- 
ceiving the  King  of  heaven,  and  the  king  of  England,  the  parties 
concerned  therein,  and  accounting  it  sacrilege  for  any  to  alienate 
what  is  given  to  God  in  his  church. 

12.  King  James  a  great  Church-Lover. 
Thus  was  the  king  graciously  pleased  to  bind  himself  for  the 
liberty  of  the  church.  He  knew  full  well  all  courtiers',  and  espe- 
cially his  own  countrymen's,  importunity  in  asking,  and  perhaps 
was  privy  to  his  own  impotency  in  denying  ;  and,  therefore,  by  this 
statute,  he  eased  himself  of  many  troublesome  suitors.  For  here- 
after no  wise  man  would  beg  of  the  king  what  was  not  in  his  power 
to  grant,  and  what,  if  granted,  could  not  legally  be  conveyed  to  any 
petitioner.  Thus  his  majesty  manifested  his  good- will  and  affection 
to  religion  ;  and,  althougli  this  law  could  not  finally  preserve 
church-lands  to  make  them  immortal,  yet  it  prolonged  their  lives 
for  many  years  together. 

13.   The  Jets  of  this  Convocation,  why  as  yet  not  recovered. 
Pass  we  now  into  the  Convocation,  to  see  what  was  done  there. 
But  here  the  history  thereof,  as   I  may  say,  is  "  shot  betwixt  the 


2  JAMES  I.  BQOK    X.       CENT.    XVII.  203 

joints  of  the  armour  ;**'  in  the  interval,  after  Whitgift's  death,  and 
before  Bancroft's  removal  to  Canterbury;  so  that  I  can  find  the 
original  thereof  neither  in  the  office  of  the  vicar-general,  nor  in  the 
registry  of  London ;  nor  can  I  recover  it,  as  yet,  from  the  office  of 
the  dean  and  chapter  of  Canterbury,  where  most  probably  it  is  to  be 
had,  the  jurisdiction  belonging  to  them  in  the  vacancy. 

14.  Many  Canons  made  therein^  Bishop  Bancroft  sitting 

President. 

Take  this  as  the  result  thereof :  a  book  of  canons  was  compiled, 
not  only  being  the  sum  of  the  queen's  articles,  orders  of  her  com- 
missioners, advertisements,  canons  of  1571  and  1597,  which  were  in 
use  before  ;  but  also  many  more  were  added,  the  whole  number 
amounting  unto  one  hundred  and  forty-one.  Some  wise  and  mode- 
rate men  supposed  so  many  laws  were  too  heavy  a  burden  to  be 
long  borne,  and  that  it  had  been  enough  for  tlie  episcopal  party  to 
have  triumphed,  not  insulted  over  their  adversaries  in  so  numerous 
impositions.  However,  an  explanation  was  made,  in  one  of  the 
canons,  of  the  use  of  the  Cross  in  baptism,  to  prevent  scandal ; 
and  learned  Thuanus,  in  his  History,  taketh  an  especial  notice 
thereof. 

15.  Bishop  Rudd,  why  opposing  the  Oath  against  Simony. 

Motion  being  made  in  this  Convocation  about  framing  an  oath 
against  simony,  to  be  taken  by  all  presented  to  church-preferment, 
bishop  Rudd  of  St.  David's,  as  conscientious  as  any  of  his  Order, 
and  free  from  that  fault,  opposed  it ;  chiefly,  because  he  thought 
it  unequal,  that  the  patron  should  not  be  forced,  as  well  as  the 
clerk,  to  take  that  oath.  Whereupon  it  was  demanded  of  him, 
whether  he  would  have  the  king  to  take  that  oath  when  he  presented 
a  bishop  or  dean  ;  and  hereat  the  bishop  sat  down  in  silence. 

16,  17-    The  Petition  of  the  Town  of  Ripon  to  Queen   Anne. 

King  James'' s  bountiful  Grant.     These  Lands  since  twice 

sold. 
About  this  time  the  corporation  of  Ripon  in  Yorkshire  pre- 
sented their  petition  to  queen  Anne  on  this  occasion  :  They  had  a 
fair  collegiate  church,  stately  for  the  structure  thereof,  formerly 
erected  by  the  nobility  and  gentry  of  the  vicinage ;  the  means 
whereof,  at  the  dissolution  of  abbeys,  were  seized  on  by  the  king, 
so  that  small  maintenance  was  left  to  the  minister  of  that  populous 
parish.  Now,  although  Edwin  Sands,  archbishop  of  York,  with  the 
earl  of  Huntingdon,  lord  Burleigh  and  Sheffield,  successively  Pre- 
sidents of  the  North,  had  recommended  their  petition  to  queen 


204  CHURCH    HISTORY    OF    BRITAIN.  A.D.  1604. 

Elizabeth,  they  obtained  nothing  but  fair  unperformed  promises  : 
whereupon,  now  the  Riponeers  humbly  addressed  themselves  to 
queen  Anne  ;  and  hear  her  answer  unto  them  : — 

"Anna  R. — Anne,  by  the  grace  of  God,  queen  of  England, 
Scotland,  France,  and  Ireland,  &c.  to  all,  to  whom  these  presents 
shall  come,  greeting  : — Whereas  there  hath  been  lately  exhibited  and 
recommended  unto  us  a  frame  and  platform  of  a  College  general,  to 
be  planted  and  established  at  Ripon  in  the  county  of  York,  for  the 
manifold  benefit  of  both  the  Borders  of  England  and  Scotland : 
upon  the  due  perusing  of  the  plot  aforesaid,  hereunto  annexed,  and 
upon  signification  given  of  the  good  liking  and  approbation  of  the 
chief  points  contained  therein,  by  sundry  grave,  learned,  and  religious 
parties,  and  some  other  of  honourable  place  and  estate ;  we  have 
thought  good,  for  the  ample  and  perpetual  advancement  of  learning 
and  religion,  in  both  the  Borders  of  our  aforesaid  realms,  to  conde- 
scend to  yield  our  favour  and  best  furtherance  thereunto  :  and  for 
the  better  encouraging  of  other  honourable  and  worthy  personages 
to  join  with  us  in  yielding  their  bounty  and  benevolence  thereunto, 
we  have  and  do  signify  and  assure,  and  by  the  word  of  a  sacred 
princess  and  queen,  do  expressly  promise  to  procure,  with  all  con- 
venient speed,  to  and  for  the  yearly  better  maintenance  of  the  said 
College,  all  and  every  of  the  requests  specified  and  craved  to  that 
end,  in  a  small  schedule  hereunto  annexed.  In  confirmation 
whereof,  we  have  signed  these  presents  by  our  hand  and  name 
above-mentioned,  and  have  caused  our  privy  signet  to  be  set  unto 
the  same.  Dated  at  our  Honour  at  Greenwich,  July  4th,  anno 
Domini  1604,  and  of  our  reign,''  &c. 

After  the  sealing  thus  subscribed  ;  Gulielmus  Toulerius^  Secreta- 
rius  de  mandato  serenissimce  Annw  reginw  Anglice,  Scotiw^  Fran- 
cioe^  Hibernice. 

Such  need  never  fear  success  who  have  so  potent  a  person  to  solicit 
their  suit.  King  James,  being  forward  of  himself  to  advance  learning 
and  religion,  and  knowing  Christ's  precept,  "  Let  your  light  shine 
before  men  ;  "  knew  also  that  Ripon  was  an  advantageous  place  for 
the  fixing  thereof ;  as  which  by  its  commodious  position  in  the  north, 
there  would  reflect  lustre  almost  equally  into  England  and  Scotland. 
Whereupon  he  founded  a  dean  and  chapter  of  seven  prebends, 
allowing  them  two  hundred  forty-seven  pounds  a  year,  out  of  his  own 
Crown-land,  for  their  maintenance. 

I  am  informed,  that  lately  the  lands  of  this  church  are,  by  mistake, 
twice  sold  to  several  purchasers  ;  namely  :  Once  under  the  notion  of 
dean-and-chapter's  lands  ;  and  again,  under  the  property  of  king's 
lands.  I  hope  the  chapmen,  when  all  is  right-stated  betwixt  them, 
will  agree  amongst  themselves  on  their  bargain.     Mean  time,  Ripon 


2  JAMES  I.  -  BOOK    X.       CENT.    XVTI.  205 

churcli  may  the  better  comport  with  poverty,  because  only  remitted 
to  its  former  condition. 

18.   The  Petition  of  the  Family  of  Love  to  King  James. 

The  Family  of  Love  (or  lust  rather)  at  this  time  presented  a 
tedious  petition  to  king  James  ;  so  that  it  is  questionable,  whether  his 
majesty  ever  graced  it  with  his  perusal ;  wherein  they  endeavoured 
to  clear  themselves  from  some  misrepresentations,  and,  by  fawning 
expressions,  to  insinuate  themselves  into  his  majesty's  good  opinion  ; 
which  here  we  present : 

"  To  the  king's  most  excellent  majesty,  James  the  first,  by  the 
grace  of  God  king  of  England,  Scotland,  France,  and  Ireland, 
Defender  of  the  Faith,  &c. 

"  Most  gracious  and  sovereign  lord,  whereas  there  is  published 
in  a  book  written  by  your  Highness,  as  an  instruction  to  your  most 
noble  son,*  (whom  Almighty  God  bless  with  much  honour,  happiness, 
and  long  life,)  of  a  people  that  are  of  a  vile  sect  among  the  Anabap- 
tists, called  '  the  Family  of  Love,"*  who  do  hold  and  maintain  many 
proud,  uncharitable,  unchristian,  and  most  absurd  opinions,  unto 
whom  your  Highness  doth  also  give  the  name  of  Puritans,  assuming  in 
the  said  book,  that  divers  of  them  (as  Brown,  Penry,  and  others)  do 
accord  with  them  in  their  foul  errors,  heady  and  fantastical  opinions  ; 
which  are  there  set  down  at  large  by  your  majesty ;  advising  your 
royal  son  (as  is  most  meet)  to  punish  them,  if  they  refuse  to  obey 
the  law,  and  will  not  cease  to  stir  up  rebellion. 

"  Now,  most  gracious  sovereign,  because  it  is  meet  that  your 
Highness  should  understand,  by  their  supplication,  and  declaration 
of  the  truth  herein  by  themselves,  (of  whom  your  majesty  hath  been 
thus  informed,)  prostrate  at  your  princely  feet,  as  true,  faithful,  loyal, 
and  obedient  subjects,  to  all  your  laws  and  ordinances,  civil,  politic, 
spiritual,  temporal ;  they  with  humble  hearts  do  beseech  your  princely 
majesty  to  understand,  and  that  the  people  of  the  Family  of  Love, 
or  of  God,  do  utterly  disclaim  and  detest  all  the  said  absurd  and 
self-conceited  opinions,  and  disobedient  and  erroneous  sorts  of  the 
Anabaptists,  Brown,  Penry,  Puritans,  and  all  other  proud- minded 
sects  and  heresies  whatsoever  ;  protesting,  upon  pain  of  our  lives, 
that  we  are  not  consenting  nor  agreeing  with  any  such  brain-sick 
preachers,  nor  their  rebellious  and  disobedient  sects  whatsoever,  but 
have  been,  and  ever  will  be,  truly  obedient  to  your  Highness  and 
your  laws,  to  the  effusion  of  our  blood,  and  expenses  of  our  goods 
and  lands  in  your  majesty's  service  ;  highly  lauding  Almighty  God, 
who  hath  so  graciously  and  peaceably  appointed  unto  us  such  a 
virtuous,  wise,  religious,  and  noble  king,  and  so  careful  and  impartial 

*  lu  liis  Basilicon  Doron. 


206  CHdRCH    HISTORY    OF    BRITAIN.  A.D.  1604. 

a  justiciar  to  govern  over  us ;  beseeching  Him  daily  to  bless  your 
Highness  with  his  godly  wisdom  and  holy  understanding,  to  the 
furtherance  of  his  truth  and  godliness,  and  with  all  honour,  happiness, 
peace,  and  long  life,  and  to  judge  rightly  between  falsehood  and 
truth. 

"  And  because  your  majesty  shall  have  a  perfect  view,  or  an 
assured  persuasion,  of  the  truth  of  the  same  our  protestation,  if 
therefore  there  be  any  indifferent  man  of  the  kingdom,  that  can  justly 
touch  us  with  any  such  disobedient  and  wicked  handling  of  ourselves, 
as  seemeth  by  your  majesty's  book  it  hath  been  informed  unto  your 
Highness,  unless  they  be  such  mortal  enemies,  the  disobedient 
Puritans,  and  those  of  their  heady  humours,  before-named,  who  are 
much  more  zealous,  religious,  and  precise,  in  the  tithing  of  mint, 
anise,  and  cummin,  and  in  the  preferring  of  such  like  pharisaical 
and  self-chosen  outward  traditions  and  grounds,  or  hypocritical  righte- 
ousness, than  in  the  performing  of  judgment,  mercy,  and  faith,  and 
such  like  true  and  inward  righteousness,  which  God  doth  most  chiefly 
require  and  regard.  Matt,  xxiii.  23,  &c.  and  whose  malice  hath — for 
twenty-five  years  past  and  upwards,  and  ever  since,  with  very  many 
untrue  suggestions,  and  most  foul  errors,  and  odious  crimes,  the 
which  we  could  then,  if  need  were,  prove — ^sought  our  utter  overthrow 
and  destruction.  But  that  we  have  behaved  ourselves  in  all  orderliness 
and  peaceableness  of  life  where  we  dwell,  and  with  whom  w^e  had  to 
deal,  or  if  we  do  vary  or  swerve  from  the  established  religion  in  this 
land,  either  in  service,  ceremonies,  sermons,  or  sacraments,  or  have 
publicly  spoken  or  inveighed,  either  by  word  or  writing,  against  our 
late  sovereign  princess''s  government  in  cases  spiritual  or  temporal, 
then  let  us  be  rejected  for  sectaries,  and  never  receive  the  benefit  of 
subjects. 

"  Only,  right  gracious  sovereign,  we  have  read  certain  books 
brought  forth  by  a  German  author,  under  the  characters  of  H.  N.* 
who  affirmeth  therein,  that  he  is  prepared,  chosen,  and  sent  of  God 
to  minister  and  set  forth  the  most  holy  service  of  the  love  of  God, 
and  Christ,  or  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  unto  the  children  of  men  upon 
the  universal  earth  ;  out  of  which  service  or  writings  we  be  taught  all 
dutiful  obedience  towards  God  and  magistrates,  and  to  live  a  godly 
and  honest  life,  and  to  love  God  above  all  things,  and  our  neighbours 
as  ourselves  ;  agreeing  therein  with  all  the  Holy  Scriptures  as  we 
understand  them.  Against  which  author  and  his  books  we  never  yet 
heard  or  knew  any  law  established  in  this  realm  by  our  late  gracious 
sovereign,  but  that  we  might  read  them  without  offence  ;  whose 
writings  we  suppose,  under  your  Highnesses  correction,  your  majesty 
hath  yet  never  seen  or  perused,  heard  of  by  any  indifferent  nor  true 

*  Hem-y  Nicholas. 


2  JAMES  I.  BOOK    X.       CENT.    XVII.  207 

information.  For  the  said  H.  N.  in  all  his  doctrine  and  writings, 
(being,  as  we  are  credibly  informed,  as  much  matter  in  volume,  if 
they  were  all  compiled  together,  as  the  whole  Bible  containeth,)  doth 
neither  take  part  with  nor  write  against  any  particular  party  or 
company  whatsoever,  as  naming  them  by  their  names,  nor  yet  praise 
or  dispraise  any  of  them  by  name  ;  but  doth  only  show  in  particular  in 
his  said  writings,  as  saith  he,  the  unparlial  service  of  love  requireth  what 
is  good  or  evil  for  every  one,  wherein  the  man  hath  right  or  wrong  in 
any  point,  whether  it  be  in  the  state  of  his  soul  towards  God,  or  in 
the  state  of  his  body  towards  the  magistrates  of  the  world  and  towards 
onfe  another,  to  the  end  that  all  people  (when  they  hear  or  read  his 
writing,  and  do  thereby  perceive  their  sin,  and  estranging  from  God 
and  Christ)  might  endeavour  them  to  bring  forth  the  due  fruits  of 
repentance,  which  is  reformation  and  newness  of  life,  according  as  all 
the  Holy  Scriptures  doth  likewise  require  the  same  of  every  one,  and 
that  they  might  in  that  sort  become  saved  through  Jesus  Christ,  the 
only  Saviour  of  all  the  world. 

"  Notwithstanding,  dear  sovereign,  yet  hath  the  said  author  and 
his  doctrine  a  long  time,  and  still  is  most  shamefully  and  falsely 
slandered  by  our  foresaid  adversaries  both  in  this  land,  and  in  divers 
others,  as  to  be  replenished  with  all  manner  of  damnable  errors,  and 
filthy  liberty  of  the  flesh. 

"  And  we  his  well-wil'lers  and  favourers  in  the  upright  drift  of  his 
doctrine,  as  aforesaid,  have  also  been  of  them  complained  of  and 
accused  unto  our  late  gracious  sovereign,  and  the  magistrates  of  this 
land,  both  long  time  past,  and  now  lately  again,  as  to  be  a  people 
so  infected  and  stained  with  all  manner  of  detestable  wickedness  and 
errors,  that  are  not  worthy  to  live  upon  the  earth,  but  yet  would 
never  present  any  of  his  books  unto  his  majesty  to  peruse ;  nor  yet 
set  them  forth  in  any  indifferent  or  true  manner  to  the  view  of  the 
world,  lest  their  malicious  and  slanderous  reports  and  accusations 
against  the  same  and  us,  should  thereby  be  revealed  and  disproved 
to  their  great  shame.  Through  which  their  most  odious  and  false 
complaints  against  us,  the  magistrates  did  then,  and  also  have  now 
lately,  cast  divers  of  us  into  prison,  to  our  great  hinderance  and  dis- 
credit ;  but  yet  have  never  proved  against  us,  by  sufficient  and  true 
testimony,  any  one  of  their  foul  accusations,  as  the  records  in  such 
cases,  and  the  magistrates  that  have  dealt  therein,  can  testify  ;  but 
are  so  utterly  void  of  due  and  lawful  proof  thereof,  that  they  have 
framed  divers  subtile  articles  for  us,  being  plain  and  unlearned  men, 
to  answer  upon  our  oath,  whereby  to  urge  and  gather  some  things 
from  ourselves,  so  to  prove  their  false  and  unchristian  accusations  to 
be  true,  or  else  will  force  us  to  renounce,  recant,  and  condemn 
that  wliich  we  do  not  wilfully  maintain  nor  justify ;  (much  like  as  it 


208  CHURCH    HISTORY    OF    BRITAIN.  A.D.  1604. 

was  practised  in  the  primitive  church  against  the  Christians;)  yea, 
they  are  not  ashamed  to  lay  their  own  and  all  other  men's  disobe- 
dient and  wicked  acts  (of  what  profession  soever  it  be)  upon  our 
backs,  to  the  end  cunningly  to  purchase  favour  and  credit  to  them- 
selves, and  to  make  us  seem  monstrous  and  detestable  before  the 
magistrates  and  the  common  people  everywhere ;  for  that  we  and 
the  doctrine  of  H.  N.  might  without  any  indifferent  trial,  and  lawful 
or  orderly  proceedings  as  heretofore  hath  been  used  in  the  Christian 
church  in  such  cases  for  confuting  and  condemning  of  heresy,  be 
utterly  rooted  out  of  the  land  ;  with  divers  other  most  cruel  prac- 
tices, proceeding  out  of  their  bitter  and  envious  hearts  towards  us, 
tending  to  the  same  unchristian  and  merciless  purpose ;  the  which 
we  will  here  omit  to  speak  of,  because  we  have  already  been  over- 
tedious  to  your  Highness,  and  most  humbly  crave  your  most  gracious 
pardon  and  patience  therein,  in  respect  we  speak  to  clear  ourselves 
of  such  matters  as  may  touch  our  lives  and  liberties,  (which  are  two 
of  the  chiefest  jewels  that  God  hath  given  to  mankind  in  this 
world,)  and  also  for  that  we  have  few  friends,  or  any  other  means 
than  this,  to  acquaint  your  Highness  with  the  truth  and  state  of  our 
cause,  whereof  we  think  your  majesty  is  altogether  ignorant ;  but 
have  very  many  enemies,  whom  we  do  greatly  suspect  will  not  be 
slack  to  prosecute  their  false  and  malicious  purpose  against  us  unto 
your  Highness,  even  like  as  they  have  accustomed  in  times  past  to 
do  unto  our  late  sovereign  queen  ;  through  which  prevailing  in  their 
slanderous  defacing  of  us  and  our  cause,  divers  of  us,  for  want  of 
friends  to  make  it  rightly  known  unto  her  majesty,  have  sundry 
times  been  constrained  to  endure  their  injurious  dealing  towards  us 
to  our  great  vexation  and  hinderance. 

"  Wherefore,  most  gracious  sovereign,  this  is  now  our  humble 
suit  unto  your  Highness,  that  when  your  kingly  affairs  of  impor- 
tance, which  your  majesty  hath  now  in  hand,  shall  be  well  overpast, 
(for  the  prosperous  performance  whereof  we  will,  as  duty  bindeth 
us,  daily  pray  unto  Almighty  God,)  that  then  your  Highness  will 
be  pleased  (because  we  have  always  taken  the  same  author's  work 
aforesaid  to  proceed  out  of  the  great  grace  and  love  of  God  and 
Christ,  extended  towards  all  kings,  princes,  rulers,  and  people,  upon 
the  universal  earth,  as  he  in  many  of  his  works  doth  witness  no  less, 
to  their  salvation,  unity,  peace,  and  concord  m  the  same  godly  love) 
to  grant  us  that  favour,  at  your  majesty's  fit  and  convenient  time,  to 
peruse  the  books  yourself  with  an  impartial  eye,  conferring  them 
with  the  Holy  Scriptures,  wherein  it  seemeth  by  the  books  that  are 
set  forth  under  your  Highness's  name,  that  you  have  had  great 
travail,  and  are  therefore  better  able  to  judge  between  truth  and 
falsehood.     And  we  will,  whensoever  it  shall  please   your  Highness 


2  JAMES  I.  EOOK    X.       CENT.    XVII.  209 

to  appoint  the  time,  and  to  command  and  license  us  thereto,  do  our 
best  endeavours  to  procure  so  many  of  the  books  as  we  can  out  of 
Germany,  (where  they  be  printed,)  to  be  delivered  unto  your 
majesty,  or  such  godly,  learned,  and  indifferent  men,  as  it  shall 
please  your  majesty  to  appoint. 

"  And  we  will  also,  under  your  Highnesses  lawful  licence,  and 
commandment  in  that  behalf,  do  our  like  endeavour  to  procure 
some  of  the  learned  men  in  that  country,  (if  there  be  any  yet 
remaining  alive  that  were  well-acquainted  with  the  author  and  his 
works  in  his  life-time,  and  which  likewise  have  exercised  his  works 
ever  since,)  to  come  over  and  attend  upon  your  majesty  at  your 
appointed  time  convenient ;  who  can  much  more  sufficiently  instruct 
and  resolve  your  Highness  in  any  unusual  words,  phrase,  or  matter, 
that  may  haply  seem  dark  and  doubtful  to  your  majesty,  than  any 
of  us  in  this  your  land  are  able  to  do. 

"  And  so,  upon  your  Highnesses  advised  consultation  and  censure 
thereupon,  (finding  the  same  works  heretical  or  seditious,  and  not 
agreeable  to  God's  holy  word  and  testimonies  of  all  the  Scriptures,) 
to  leave  them,  to  take  them  as  your  majesty's  laws  shall  therein 
appoint  us ;  having  no  intent  or  meaning  to  contend  or  resist  there- 
against,  however  it  be,  but  dutifully  to  obey  thereunto  according  to 
the  counsel  of  Scriptures,  and  also  of  the  said  author's  work. 

"  And  our  further  humble  suit  unto  your  Highness  is,  that,  of 
your  gracious  favour  and  clemency,  you  will  grant  and  give  order 
unto  your  majesty's  officers  in  that  behalf,  that  all  of  us  your  faith- 
ful loving  subjects,  which  are  now  in  prison  in  any  part  of  this  your 
realm  for  the  same  cause,  may  be  released  upon  such  bail  or  bond 
as  we  are  able  to  give ;  and  that  neither  we,  nor  any  of  that 
company,  (behaving  ourselves  orderly  and  obediently  under  your 
Highness's  laws,)  may  be  any  further  persecuted  or  troubled  therein, 
until  such  time  as  your  majesty  and  such  godly,  learned,  and  indif- 
ferent men  of  your  clergy,  as  your  Highness  shall  appoint  thereto, 
shall  have  advisedly  consulted  and  determined  of  the  matter, 
whereby  we  may  not  be  utterly  wasted  by  the  great  charge  of 
imprisonment  and  persecution,  and  by  the  hard  dealing  of  our 
adversaries ;  for  we  are  but  a  people  few  in  number,  and  yet  most 
of  us  very  poor  in  worldly  wealth. 

"  O  sacred  prince  !  we  humbly  pray  that  the  Almighty  wnll  move 
your  princely  heart  with  true  judgment  to  discern  between  the  right 
and  the  wrong  of  our  cause,  according  to  that  most  certain  and 
Christian  rule  set  down  by  our  Saviour  Christ  unto  his  disciples, 
'  Ye  shall  know  the  tree  by  the  fruit,'  Matt.  xii.  33 ;  and  in  our 
obedience,  peaceable  and  honest  lives  and  conversation,  to  protect 
us  ;  and  in  our  disobedience  and  misdemeanour  to  punish  us,  as 

Vol.  III.  p 


210         CHURCH  HISTORY  OF  BRITAIN.         A.  D.  1604. 

resisters  of  God's  ordinance,  of  tlie  kingly  authority,  and  most  high 
office  of  justice  committed  to  your  majesty  to  that  putpose  towards 
your  subjects,  Rom.  xiii. 

"  And,  gracious  sovereign,  we  humbly  beseech  your  Highness 
with  princely  regard  in  equity  and  favour  to  ponder  and  grant  the 
humble  suit  contained  in  this  most  lowly  supplication  of  your  loyal, 
true-hearted,  faithful  subjects  ;  and  to  remember  that  your  majesty, 
in  your  book  of  princely,  grave,  and  fatherly  advice,  to  the  happy 
prince,  your  royal  son,  doth  conclude,  Principis  est  par  cere  subjectis 
et  deheliare  superbos ;  and  then,  no  doubt,  God  will  bless  your 
Highness,  with  all  your  noble  offspring,  with  peace,  long  life,  and 
all  honours  and  happiness,  long  to  continue  over  us  ;  for  which  we 
will  ever  pray  with  incessant  prayers  to  the  Almighty." 

I  find  not  wdiat  effect  this  their  petition  produced  ;  whether  it 
was  slighted,  and  the  petitioners  looked  upon  as  inconsiderable,  or 
beheld  as  a  few  frantic  folk  out  of  their  wits  ;  which  consideration 
alone  often  melted  their  adversaries'  anger  into  pity  unto  them. 

19 — 22.  The  Familists  will  in  no  wise  he  accounted  Puritans. 
Phrases  in  their  Petition  censured.  Mr.  Rutherford  cause- 
lessly asperseth  the  Bishops  and  Courtiers  of  Queen  JEli^a- 
beth.     Familists  turned  into  modern  Ranters. 

The  main  design  driven  on  in  the  petition  is,  to  separate  them- 
selves from  the  Puritans,  (as  persons  odious  to  king  James,)  that 
they  might  not  fare  the  worse  for  their  vicinity  unto  them  ;  though 
these  Familists  could  not  be  so  desirous  to  leave  them  as  the  others 
were  glad  to  be  left  by  them.  For  if  their  opinions  were  so  sense- 
less, and  the  lives  of  these  Familists  so  sensual,  as  is  reported,  no 
purity  at  all  belonged  unto  them. 

Some  take  exceptions  at  their  prayer  for  king  James  ;  wishing 
him,  and  his,  "  peace,  long  life,  all  honour  and  happiness,"  without 
mentioning  of  life  eternal  and  the  blessings  thereof.*  Whilst 
others  are  so  much  of  "  the  Family  of  Charity"  to  this  Family  of 
Love,  as  to  excuse  the  omission  as  casual,  or  else  extend  happiness 
as  comprehensive  of  the  world  to  come.  Others  are  more  justly 
offended  to  see  gold  and  dung  joined  together  ;  God's  word  and 
the  words  of  H.  Nicholas  equally  yoked  by  them  as  infallible  alike. 
They  confess  in  this  book  "  some  unusual  words  which  are  dark  and 
doubtful,"  which  at  this  day  is  affected  by  many  sectarists,  (whilst 
truth  is  plain  and  easy,)  amusing  people  with  mystical  expressions, 
which  their  auditors  understand  not,  and,  perchance,  not  they  them- 
selves.    So   that,   as  one  saith  very  well  of  their  high-soaring  pre- 

•  SamPei  Ri'THERFORD  in  his  '*  Survey,"  page  353. 


S  JAMES    I.  BOOK    X.       CENT.    XVII.  211 

tended  spiritual  language,  that  "  it  is  a  great  deal  too  high  for  this 
world,  and  a  great  deal  too  low  for  the  world  to  come."" 

I  find  one,  in  his  confutation  of  this  petition,  inveighing  against 
our  bishops,  that  they  were  friends  unto  Familism,  and  favoured 
the  promoters  thereof;  adding  moreover,  that  *'  few  of  the  prelatical 
way  refuted  them."  Now,  though  the  best  friends  of  bishops,  yea, 
and  the  bishops  themselves,  will  confess  they  had  too  many  faults  ; 
yet,  I  am  confident,  this  is  a  false  and  uncharitable  aspersion  upon 
them.  No  better  is  that  when  he  saith,  that  "  divers  of  the  court 
of  queen  Elizabeth,  and  some  nobles,  were  Familists;"*  wherein  I 
am  sure  plenty  of  instances  hath  put  him  to  such  a  penury  that  he 
cannot  insist  upon  any  one.  But  I  am  inclined  the  rather  to  pardon 
his  error  herein,  because  the  author  reporting  this  is  a  foreigner  then 
living  in  Scotland ;  and,  should  I  treat  of  the  character  of  the 
court  of  king  James  at  Edinburgh  at  the  same  time,  possibly  my 
pen,  at  so  great  a  distance,  might  commit  far  worse  mistakes. 

Some  will  say,  "  Where  are  these  Familists  now  a-days  ?  Are 
they  utterly  extinct,  or  are  they  lost  in  the  heap  of  other  sects,  or 
are  they  concealed  under  a  new  name.'^''  The  last  is  most  probable. 
This  family,  which  shut  their  doors  before,  keeps  open  house  now. 
Yea,  "  Family"  is  too  narrow  a  name  for  them,  they  are  grown  so 
numerous.  Formerly,  by  their  own  confession  in  this  petition,  they 
had  three  qualities, — "  few,  poor,  and  unlearned  ; "  for,  the  last 
billa  'cera,  their  lack  of  learning,  they  still  retain,  being  otherwise 
many,  and  some  rich,  but  all  under  the  name  of  ''*  Ranters  ;''  and 
thus  I  fairly  leave  them,  on  condition  they  will  fairly  leave  me,  that 
I  may  hear  no  more  of  them  for  delivering  truth  and  my  own  con- 
science in  what  I  have  written  concerning  their  opinions. 

23.   The  Death  of  Hall  and  Eli. 

I  find  no  protestant  tears  dropped  on  the  grave  of  any  eminent 
divine  this  year.  But  we  light  on  two  Romanists  dying  beyond 
sea,  much  lamented:  One,  Richard  Hall,  bred  in  Christ's  College, 
in  Cambridge,  whence  he  ran  over  to  Rome,  whence  he  returned 
into  the  Low  Countries,  and  died  canon  and  official  of  the  cathedral 
of  St.  Omer :  The  other,  Humphrey  Eli,  an  Herefordshire-man  by 
birth,  Fellow  of  St.  John's,  in  Oxford  ;  whence  going  beyond  sea, 
at  Rome  he  commenced  doctor  of  law,  and  afterwards  died  professor 
thereof,  in  the  university  of  Ponta  Mousan.-|-  He  is  charactered  to 
"be,  jurisperitus  doctus.,  paupet\  et  pacificus^  "  a  lawyer  learned, 
poor,  and  peaceable."    And  thus  much  my  charity  can  easily  believe 

*  In  his  notes  on  his  "  Petition   of  SuiTey,"   page  349.  t  IJi  the  duchy  of 

Lon-aine. 

p2 


212  CHURCH    HISTORY    OF    BRITAIN.  A.D.  1605. 

of  him :    but  the   distich*   (the  epitaph  I  take  it  on  his  tomb)  is 
damnably  hyperbolical : — 

Albion  hcereseos  velatur  node,  viator, 
Desine  mirari,  sol  suus  hie  latitat. 

"  Wonder  not,  England 's  dark  with  error's  night ; 
For,  lo,  here  buried  lies  her  sun  so  bright." 

Or  else  the  poet  lies  who  made  the  verses.     But  his  ashes  shall  not 
be  disturbed  by  me. 

24 — 30.  The  Plotters  in  the  Powder  Treason.  Garnefs  deciding 
a  Case  of  Conscience.  Two  other  Difficulties  removed. 
The  Odium  must  be  cast  on  the  Puritans.  Will-worship  a 
painful  Labour.  God  gives  them  Warning  to  desist,  but 
they  tvill  take  none.  The  Latitude  of  their  Design.  A.  D. 
1605. 

The  Romish  Catholics  now  utterly  despairing,  either  by  flattery 
to  woo,  or  force  to  wrest,  any  free  and  public  exercise  of  their  reli- 
gion, some  of  them  entered  into  a  damnable  and  devilish  conspiracy, 
to  blow  up  the  Parliament-house  with  gunpowder.  In  this  plot 
were  engaged, — 1.  Robert  Catesby ;  2.  Thomas  Percy;  3.  Sir 
Everard  Digby ;  4.  Francis  Tresham  ;  5.  Robert  Winter ;  6. 
Thomas  Winter ;  7-  John  Wright ;  8.  Christopher  Wright ; 
9.  Ambrose  Rookwood  ;  10.  Robert  Keyes ;  11.  John  Grant ;  12. 
Thomas  Bates,  Catesby's  man  ;  13.  Guido  Faux  [Guy  Fawkes]. 
Twelve,  beside  their  foreman.  But,  how  '■'•  honest  and  true,""  let 
their  ensuing  action  declare.  Surely,  all  of  resolute  spirits,  most  of 
ancient  families,  some  of  plentiful  fortunes,  and  Percy,  though  weak 
in  purse  himself,  pretended  to  command  the  wealthiest  coffers  of 
another. 

But,  a  treason  without  a  Jesuit  or  one  of  Jesuitical  principles 
therein  is  like  a  dry  wall  without  either  lime  or  mortar.  Gerrard 
must  be  the  cement,  with  the  sacrament  of  secrecy,  to  join  them 
together.  Garnet  and  Tismond  (whelps  of  the  same  litter)  com- 
mended and  encouraged  the  design.  But  here  an  important  scruple 
was  injected, — How  to  part  their  friends  from  their  foes  in  the 
parliament,  they  having  many  in  the  House,  of  alliance,  yea,  of  the 
same  (in  conscience  a  nearer  kindred)  religion  with  themselves.  To 
slay  the  righteous  with  the  wdcked,  be  it  far  from  God,  Gen.  xviii.  25, 
and  all  good  men.  And  yet,  as  such  an  unpartial  destruction  was 
uncharitable  ;  so  an  exact  separation  seemed  as  impossible.  Here 
Garnet,  instead  of  untying,  cut  this  knot  asunder  with  this  his  sharp 
decision  :   "  That,  in  such  a  case  as  this,  it  was  lawful  to  kill  friend 

•  PiTZ.Ei's  Dp  ilhtstrilmx  Angli<£  Srriptorihus,  page  804. 


4  JAMES   I.  BOOK    X.       CKNT.    XVII.  213 

and  foe  together."'  Indeed,  the  good  husbandman  in  the  Gospel 
permitted  the  tares  to  grow  for  the  corn's  sake,  Matt.  xiii.  29  ; 
whereas  here,  by  the  contrary  counsel  of  the  Jesuit,  the  corn  (so 
they  reputed  it)  was  to  be  rooted  up  for  the  tares'  sake. 

This  scruple  in  conscience  thus  satisfied  by  Garnet,  two  other 
difficulties  in  point  of  performance  presented  themselves.  For, 
Charles,  duke  of  York,  probably  by  reason  of  his  minority,  would 
not  be  present,  and  the  lady  Elizabeth  would  certainly  be  absent 
from  the  Parliament-house.  How  then  should  these  two  (the  next 
heirs  to  the  crown)  be  compassed  within  their  power  ?  But  for  the 
first,  Percy  proffered  his  service,  promising  to  possess  himself,  by  a 
fraudulent  force,  of  the  person  of  the  duke.  Catesby  undertook 
the  other  difficulty,  under  a  pretended  hunting-match,  (advantaged 
thereunto  by  the  vicinity  of  Ashby  to  the  lord  Harrington's,  where 
the  princess  had  her  education,)  to  train  her  into  their  command. 
All  rubs  thus  removed,  their  way  was  made  as  smooth  as  glass, — 
and  as  slippery  too,  as  by  the  sequel  may  appear. 

But  first  be  it  remembered,  that,  though  these  plotters  intended 
at  last  with  honour  to  own  the  action,  when  success  had  made  all 
things  secure  ;  yet  they  purposed,  when  the  blow  was  first  given, 
and  whilst  the  act  was  certain,  but  the  success  thereof  doubtful,  to 
father  the  fact  on  the  Puritans.  They  thought  their  backs  were 
broad  enough  to  bear  both  the  sin  and  shame  ;  and  that  this  saddle, 
for  the  present,  would  finely  fit  their  backs,  Avhose  discontent,  as 
these  plotters  would  pretend,  unable  otherwise  to  achieve  their 
desired  alteration  in  church-government,  had,  by  this  damnable 
treason,  effected  the  same.  By  transferring  the  fact  on  the  then 
most  innocent  Puritans,  they  hoped,  not  only  to  decline  the  odium 
of  so  hellish  a  design,  but  also,  by  the  strangeness  of  the  act  and 
unsuspectedness  of  the  actors,  to  amuse  all  men,  and  beget  an  uni- 
versal distrust,  that  every  man  would  grow  jealous  of  himself.  And 
whilst  such  amazement  tied,  in  a  manner,  all  men's  hands  behind 
them,  these  plotters  promised  themselves  the  working-out  their  own 
ends,  part  by  their  home-strength,  and  the  rest  by  calling  in  the 
assistance  of  foreign  princes. 

They  fall  a-working  in  the  vault.  Dark  the  place,  in  the  depth 
of  the  earth  ;  dark  the  time,  in  the  dead  of  the  night ;  dark  the 
design,  all  the  actors  therein  concealed  by  oath  from  others,  and 
thereby  combined  amongst  themselves.  O  !  how  easy  is  any  work, 
when  high  merit  is  conceived  the  wages  thereof !  In  piercing 
through  the  wall  nine  feet  thick,  they  erroneously  conceived  that 
they  thereby  hewed  forth  their  own  way  to  heaven.*  But  they 
digged  more  with  their  silver  in  an  hour,  than  with   their  iron  in 

*  Si'EED's  *'  Cbronicle  ''  in  king  James. 


214  CHURCH    HISTORY    OF    BRITAIN.  A.D.  1G05. 

many  days  ;  namely,  when  discovering  a  cellar  hard  by,  they  hired 
the  same,  and  these  pioneers  saved  much  of  their  pains  by  the 
advantage  thereof.  And  now  all  things  were  carried  so  secretly,  no 
possibility  of  any  detection,  seeing  the  actors  themselves  had 
solemnly  sworn  that  they  would  not — and  all  others  might  as  safely 
swear  they  could  not — make  any  discovery  thereof. 

But  so  it  fell  out,  that  the  sitting  of  the  parliament  was  put  off 
from  time  to  time ;  namely,  from  the  seventh  of  February, 
(whereon  it  was  first  appointed  to  meet,)  it  was  adjourned  till  the 
fifth  of  October,  and  afterward  from  the  fifth  of  October,  put  off 
till  the  fifth  of  November ;  and  accordingly  their  working  in  the 
vault,  which  attended  the  motion  of  the  parliament,  had  several 
distinct  intermissions,  and  resumptions  thereof;  as  if  Divine 
Providence  had  given  warning  to  these  traitors,  by  the  slow  pro- 
ceeding and  oft  adjourning  of  the  parliament,  mean  time  seriously 
to  consider  what  they  went  about,  and  seasonably  to  desist  from  so 
damnable  a  design,  as  suspicious  at^last  it  would  be  ruined  which  so 
long  had  been  retarded.  But  no  taking-oflp  their  wheels  will  stay 
those  chariots  from  drowning  which  God  hath  decreed  shall  be 
swallowed  in  the  Red  Sea,  Exodus  xiv.  25. 

"  Behold  !  here  is  fire  and  wood  ;  but  where  is  the  lamb  for  the 
burnt-offering  ? ''''  Alas  !  a  whole  flock  of  lambs  were  not  far  off, 
all  appointed  to  the  slaughter.  The  king,  prince  Henry,  peers, 
bishops,  judges,  knights,  and  burgesses,  all  designed  to  destruction. 
*'  Let  me  smite  him,"  said  Abishai  of  Saul,  "  even  at  once,  and  I 
will  not  smite  him  the  second  time,"  1  Sam.  xxvi.  8.  So  here,  a 
blow  so  sound,  secret,  and  sudden,  was  intended  it  would  not  need 
iteration  :  Once  and  ever,  the  first  act  would  finish  all  in  an  instant. 
But,  thanks  be  to  God,  nothing  was  blown  up  but  the  treason,  or 
brought  to  execution  but  the  traitors. 

31 — 34.    The  apish  Behaviour  of  Keyes.      The  mystical  Letter. 
The  first  Seai^ch  proves  ineffectual.       The  second  Search 
discovers  all. 
Indeed,  some  few  days  before   the   fatal   stroke  should  be   given. 
Master  Keyes,  being  at   Tichmarsh   in   Northamptonshire,   at   the 
house  of  Master  Gilbert   Pickering,   his  brother-in-law,   (but   of  a 
different  religion,  as  a  true  protestant,)   suddenly  whipped-out   his 
sword,  and  in  merriment  made  many  offers  therewith  at  the  heads, 
necks,  and  sides  of  many  gentlemen  and  gentlewomen  tlien  in   his 
company.     This  then  was  taken  as  a  mere  frolic,  and  for  the  present 
passed    accordingly ;    but    afterwards,    when    the    treason    was  dis- 
covered, such  as  remembered  his  gestures  thought  thereby  he  did  act 
what  he  intended  to  do  if  the  plot  had  taken  effect ;    hack  and  hew. 


4  JAMES  I.  BOOK    X.       CENT.    XVII.  215 

kill   and    slay,    all  eminent   persons   of  a   different   religion   from 
themselves. 

"  Curse  not  the  king,  no,  not  in  thy  thought ;  for  a  bird  of  the 
air  shall  carry  the  voice, ""  Eccles.  x.  20 ;  as  here  such  a  discovery 
was  made.  With  a  pen,  fetched  from  the  feather  of  a  fowl,  a  letter 
was  written  to  the  lord  Mounteagle,  in  manner  following : — 

"  My  Lord, 

"  Out  of  the  love  I  bear  to  some  of  your  friends,  I  have  a  care 
of  your  preservation  ;  therefore,  I  would  advise  you,  as  you  tender 
your  life,  to  devise  some  excuse  to  shift  off  your  attendance  at  this 
Parliament.  For,  God  and  man  have  concurred  to  punish  the 
wickedness  of  this  time.  And  think  not  slightly  of  this  advertise- 
ment, but  retire  yourself  into  your  country,  where  you  may  expect 
the  event  in  safety.  For,  though  there  be  no  appearance  of  any 
stir,  yet,  I  say,  they  shall  receive  a  terrible  blow  this  Parliament, 
and  yet  they  shall  not  see  who  hurts  them.  This  counsel  is  not  to 
be  contemned,  because  it  may  do  you  good,  and  can  do  you  no 
harm  ;  for  the  danger  is  past  so  soon  as  you  have  burned  the  letter. 
And  I  hope  God  will  give  you  the  grace  to  make  good  use  of  it ; 
to  whose  holy  protection  I  commend  you."*"* 

A  strange  letter,  from  a  strange  hand,  by  a  strange  messenger ; 
without  date  to  it,  name  at  it,  and  (I  had  almost  said)  sense  in  it : 
a  letter,  which,  even  when  it  was  opened,  was  still  sealed,  such  the 
affected  obscurity  therein. 

The  lord  Mounteagle,  as  loyalty  advised  him,  communicates  the 
letter  to  the  earl  of  Salisbury,  he  to  the  king.  His  majesty,  on  the 
second  perusal,  expounded  the  mystical  "blow"  meant  therein 
must  be  by  gunpowder ;  and  gives  order  for  searching  the  rooms 
under  the  Parliament-house,  under  pretence  to  look  for  lost  hang- 
ings, which  were  conveyed  away.  The  first  search,  about  evening, 
discovered  nothing  but  Percy's  cellar,  full  of  wood,  and  Johnson  his 
man  (under  that  name  was  Faux  disguised)  attending  therein. 
However,  the  name  of  Percy  and  sight  of  Faux  so  quickened  the 
jealousy  of  the  lord  Mounteagle,  that  this  first  slight  search  led  to  a 
second  scrutiny,  more  strictly  and  secretly  performed. 

This  was  made  at  midnight  by  Sir  Thomas  Knevet,  gentleman  of 
his  majesty's  privy  chamber,  and  others,  into  the  vault  under  the 
Parliament-house.  There  "  the  mystery  of  iniquity"  was  quickly 
discovered  ;  a  pile  of  fuel,  faced  over  with  billets,  lined  under  with 
thirty-six  ban-els  of  powder,  beside  iron  bars,  to  make  the  force  of 
the  fire  more  effectual.  Guido  Faux  was  apprehended  in  the  out- 
ward room,  with  a  dark  lantern  in  his  hand,  (the  lively  emblem  of 


216  CHURCH  HISTORY  OF  BRITAIN.  A.D.  1605. 

their  design,  whose  dark  side  was  turned  to  man,  whilst  the  light 
part  was  exposed  to  God,)  and  three  matches,  ready  to  give  fire  to 
the  train.  This  caitiff  professed  himself  only  grieved  that  he  was 
not  in  the  inner  room,  to  blow  himself  and  them  all  up  together ; 
affirming  moreover,  that,  not  God,  but  the  devil  made  the  discovery 
of  the  plot. 

35 — 38.  The  Traitors  jly^  and  are  taken.  Cateshy  and  Percy 
fight  desperately  for  their  Lives.  The  Lord  is  just.  The 
Rest  are  legally  eocecuted. 

Mean  time,  Catesby,  Percy,  Rookwood,  both  the  Wrights,  and 
Thomas  Winter,  were  hovering  about  London,  to  attend  the  issue 
of  the  matter.  Having  sate  so  long  abrood  and  hatching  nothing, 
they  began  to  suspect  all  their  eggs  had  proved  addle.  Yet, 
betwixt  hope  and  fear,  they  and  their  servants  post  down  into  the 
country,  through  Warwick  and  Worcester  into  StaiFordshire.  Of 
traitors  they  turn  felons,  breaking  up  stables,  and  stealing  horses  as 
they  went.  But  many  of  their  own  men,  by  a  far  more  lawful 
felony,  stole  away  from  their  masters,  leaving  them  to  shift  for 
themselves.  The  neighbouring  counties,  and  their  own  consciences, 
rise  up  against  these  riotous  roisters,  as  yet  unknown  for  traitors. 
At  last  Sir  Richard  Walsh,  High  Sheriff  of  Worcestershire,  over- 
took them  at  Holbeck  in  Staffordshire,  at  the  house  of  Mr.  Stephen 
Littleton  ;  where,  upon  their  resistance,  the  two  Wrights  were 
killed,  Rookwood  and  Thomas  Winter  shrewdly  wounded. 

As  for  Percy  and  Catesby,  they  fought  desperately  for  their  lives, 
as  knowing,  no  quarter  but  quartering  would  be  given  unto  them ; 
and,  as  if  they  scorned  to  turn  their  backs  to  any  but  themselves, 
setting  back  to  back,  they  fought  against  all  that  assaulted  them. 
Many  swords  were  drawn  upon  them,  but  gunpowder  must  do  the 
deed,  which  discharged  that  bullet  which  dispatched  them  both. 

Never  were  two  bad  men's  deaths  more  generally  lamented  of  all 
good  men  ;  only  on  this  account, — that  they  lived  no  longer,  to  be 
forced  to  a  farther  discovery  of  their  secret  associates. 

It  must  not  be  forgotten,  how,  some  hours  before  their  appre- 
hension, as  these  plotters  were  drying  dank  gunpowder  in  an  inn,  a 
miller,  casually  coming  in,  (haply  not  heeding  the  black  meal  on  the 
hearth,)  by  careless  casting-on  of  a  billet,  fired  the  gunpowder. 
Up  flies  the  chimney,  with  part  of  the  house:  all  therein  are 
frighted,  most  hurt ;  but  especially  Catesby  and  Rookwood  had 
their  faces  soundly  scorched,  so  bearing  in  their  bodies,  not 
o-TjyjOtaTce,  "  the  marks  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,'"'  Gal.  vi.  17,  but 
the  print  of  their  own  impieties.  Well  might  they  guess,  how  good 
that  their  cup  of  cruelty  was,  whose  dregs  they  meant  others  should 


5  JAMES   I.  BOOK    X.       CENT.    XVII.  217 

drink,   by  this  little  sip  which    they    themselves   had   unwillingly 
tasted  thereof. 

The  rest  were  all  at  London  solemnly  arraigned,  convicted,  con- 
demned. So  foul  the  fact,  so  fair  the  proof,  they  could  say  nothing 
for  themselves.  Master  Tresham  dying  in  the  prison,  prevented  a 
more  ignominious  end. 

1.  Sir  Everard  Digby,  Robert  Winter,  Grant  and  Bates,  were 
hanged,  drawn,  and  quartered,  at  the  west  end  of  St.  Paul's, 
January  30th.  Three  of  them,  but  especially  Sir  Everard  Digby, 
died  very  penitently  and  devoutly ;  only  Grant  expressed  most 
obstinacy  at  his  end. 

2.  Thomas  Winter,  Ambrose  Rookwood,  Keyes,  and  Faux  were 
executed,  as  the  former,  in  the  Parliament-yard  in  Westminster, 
January  :31st.  Keyes  followed  Grant  in  his  obstinacy,  and  Faux 
showed  more  penitency  than  all  the  rest.* 

3.  Garnet,  Provincial  of  the  English  Jesuits,  was  arraigned 
some  weeks  after,  by  four  several  names,-]-  and  executed  on  the 
Saturday ;  which  he  said  was  called  institutio  crucis ;  of  whom 
largely  in  the  next  year. 

They  all  craved  testimony,  that  they  died  Roman  catholics.  My 
pen  shall  grant  them  this  their  last  and  so  equal  petition,  and  bears 
witness  to  all  whom  it  may  concern,  that  they  lived  and  died  in 
the  Romish  religion.  And  although  the  heinousness  of  their 
offence  might,  with  some  colour  of  justice,  have  angered  severity 
into  cruelty  against  them  ;  yet  so  favourably  were  they  proceeded 
with,  that  most  of  their  sons  or  heirs,  except  since  disinherited  by 
their  own  prodigality,  at  this  day  enjoy  their  paternal  possessions. 

39 — 41 .  The  Presumption  of  a  posthume  Report  justly  censured. 
The  Memory  of  this  Treason  perpetuated  hij  Act  of  Par- 
liament.   Just  Complaint  that  the  Day  is  no  better  observed. 

Heaven  having  thus  defeated  hell  of  its  desired  success,  earth 
since  hath  endeavoured  to  defraud  heaven  of  its  deserved  praise.  A 
posthume  report  is  brought  forth  into  the  world,  (nursed  as  it  is  fit, 
by  the  mothers  thereof,)  that  king  James  was  privy  to  this  plot  all 
along ;  and  that  his  observing  ran  parallel  with  the  traitors'  acting 
therein,  so  that  he  could  discover  it  when  he  pleased,  but  was  not 
pleased  to  discover  it  until  the  eve  of  the  fifth  of  November  :  a  fancy 
inconsistent  with  that  ordinary  piety  which  all  charitable  men  must 
allow  king  James  as  a  Christian,  and  with  that  extraordinary  policy 
which  his  adversaries  admire  in  him  as  a  statesman.  Was  it  pro- 
bable, that  he  would  tempt  God  so  profanely,  as  solemnly  to  thank 
him  for  revealing  that  to  him  which  he  knew  before.?     Would  king 

*  Stow's  "  Chronicle,"  page  882.  t  If>id.  page  883. 


218  CHURCH    HISTORY    OF    BRITAIN.  A.D.  1605. 

JaQies's  wisdom  (not  to  say,  his  wariness,  not  to  say,  his  fearful- 
ness)  dally  so  long  with  destruction,  as  to  put  it  off  to  the  last  hour, 
•when,  U710  actu^  tactu;  ictu^  nictii,  all  might  have  been  confounded? 
Was  it  not  hard  for  him  to  equivocate  before  such  a  master  of  equi- 
vocation as  Garnet  the  Jesuit  was  ?  who,  certainly,  if  he  had  smelt 
any  juggling  of  king  James  therein,  would,  no  doubt,  have  pro- 
claimed it  to  all  the  world  at  his  execution.  I  deny  not,  but  that 
the  king,  both  by  intelligence  from  foreign  parts,  and  secret  infor- 
mation from  those  secular  priests  tliat  bishop  Bancroft  secretly  kept 
in  his  house,  was  advertised  in  general  of  some  great  plot  which  the 
Jesuited  papists  were  hatching  against  the  ensuing  parliament :  but, 
for  the  particulars,  that  riddling  letter  brought  him  the  first  notice 
thereof,  whatsoever  is  fancied  to  the  contrary.  But,  if  wild  con- 
jectures in  such  cases  from  obscure  authors  shall  be  permitted  to 
justle  for  credit  against  received  records,  all  former  unquestionable 
history  wdll  be  quickly  reduced  to  an  universal  uncertainty.  But 
there  is  a  generation  of  people,  who,  to  enhance  the  reputation  of 
their  knowledge,  seem  not  only,  like  moths,  to  have  lurked  under 
the  carpets  of  the  council-table,  but,  even  like  fleas,  to  have  leaped 
into  the  pillows  of  princes'  bed-chambers  ;  thence  deriving  their  pri- 
vate knowledge  of  all  things,  which  were,  or  were  not,  ever  done  or 
thought  of.  In  defiance  of  whom  I  add,  "  Give  unto  Caesar  the 
things  that  are  Csssar's,  and  unto  God  the  things  that  are  God's."** 
Let  king  James,  by  reading  the  letter,  have  the  credit  of  discovering 
this  plot  to  the  world,  and  God  the  glory  for  discovering  it  unto 
king  James. 

A  learned  author,*  making  mention  of  this  treason,  breaketh  forth 
into  the  following  rapture  : — 

Excidat  ilia  dies  avo,  ne  postera  credant 
Secula  y  nos  cert^  taceamus,  et  obruta  viultd 
Node  tcgi  propricB  patiamur  crimina  gentis. 

"  O  !  let  tliat  day  be  quite  dash'd  out  of  time, 
And  not  believed  by  the  next  generation  ; 
In  nigbt  of  silence  we  '11  conceal  the  crime, 
Thereby  to  save  the  credit  of  onr  nation." 

A. wish,  which,  in  my  opinion,  hath  more  of  poetry  than  of  piety 
therein,  and  from  which  I  must  be  forced  to  dissent.  For,  I  con- 
ceive not  the  credit  of  our  countrymen  concerned  in  this  plot ;  not 
beholding  this  as  a  national  act,  whose  actors  were  but  a  party  of  a 
party, — a  desperate  handful  of  discontented  persons  of  the  papistical 
faction.  May  the  day  indeed  be  ever  forgotten  as  to  the  point  of 
imitation,  but  be  ever  remembered  to  the  detestation  thereof!  May 
it  be  solemnly  transmitted  to  all  posterity,  that  they  may  know  how 

t  C-amden's  Britannia  in  Middlesex. 


4  JAMES  I.  BOOK    X.       CENT.    XVII.  219 

bad  man  can  be  to  destroy,  and  how  good  God  hath  been  to  deliver  ! 
that  especially  we  Englishmen  may  take  notice,  how  woful  we  might 
have  been,  how  happy  we  are,  and  how  thankful  we  ought  to  be.  In 
order  whereunto  the  parliament  (first  moved  therein  by  Sir  Edward 
Mountague,  afterward  baron  of  Boughton)  enacted  an  annual  and 
constant  memorial  of  that  day  to  be  observed. 

Certainly,  if  this  plot  had  taken  effect,  the  papists  would  have 
celebrated  this  day  with  all  solemnity,  and  it  should  have  taken  the 
upper  hand  of  all  other  festivals.  The  more  therefore  the  shame 
and  pity,  that,  amongst  protestants,  the  keeping  of  this  day,  not  as 
yet  full  fifty  years  old,  begins  already  to  wax  weak  and  decay.  So 
that  the  red  letters,  wherein  it  is  written,  seem  daily  to  grow  dimmer 
and  paler  in  our  English  Calendar.  God  forbid,  that  our  thankful- 
ness for  this  great  deliverance,  formerly  so  solemnly  observed,  should 
hereafter  be  like  the  squibs  which  the  apprentices  in  London  make 
on  this  day ;  and  which  give  a  great  flash  and  crack  at  the  first,  but 
soon  after  go  out  in  a  stink. 

42,  43.   The  Death  of  Archbishop  Hutton.      A  foul  Mistake 

rectified. 

Matthew  Hutton,  archbishop  of  York,  ended  his  religious  life; 
descended  from  an  ancient  family  of  Hutton  Hall,  as  I  take  it,  in 
Lancashire;  Fellow  of  Trinity  College  in  Cambridge,  to  the 
enlarging  whereof  he  gave  a  hundred  ,marks ;  afterwards  Master  of 
Pembroke  Hall,  and  Margaret  Professor ;  then  bishop  of  Durham, 
and  archbishop  of  York.  One  of  the  last  times  that  ever  he 
preached  in  his  cathedral  was  on  this  occasion  :  The  catholics  in 
Yorkshire  were  commanded  by  the  queen's  authority  to  be  present 
at  three  sermons;  and  at  the  two  first  behaved  themselves  so  obstre- 
perously, that  some  of  them  were  forced  to  be  gagged  before  they 
would  be  quiet.  The  archbishop  preached  the  last  sermon  most 
gravely  and  solidly,  taking  for  his  text,  "  He  that  is  of  God  heareth 
God's  words :  ye  therefore  hear  them  not,  because  ye  are  not  of 
God,''  John  viii.  47. 

Here  I  must  clear  the  memory  of  this  worthy  prelate  from  a  mis- 
take committed,  surely  not  wilfully,  but  through  false  intelligence, 
by  a  pen,*  otherwise  more  ingenuous,  and  professing  respect  to  him, 
and  some  familiarity  with  him  : — 

"  This  archbishop's  eldest  son  is  a  knight,  lately  sheriff  of  York- 
shire, and  of  good  reputation.  One  other  son  he  had,  Luke  Hutton 
by  name,  so  valiant  that  he  feared  not  men,  nor  laws ;  and,  for  a 
robbery  done  on  St.  Luke's  day,  for  name's  sake,  he  died  as  sad  a 
death  (though  I  hope  with  a  better  mind)  as  the  thief  of  whom  St. 

•  Sir  John  Harrington  in  his  additional  to  bishop  Godwin,  page  192. 


220  CHUllCH    HISTOllY    OF    BRITAIN.  A.D.  1606. 

Luke  writes.  The  arclibishop  herein  showed  that  constancy  and 
severity  worthy  of  his  place  ;  for  he  would  not  endeavour  to  save 
him,  as  the  world  thought  he  easily  iuight."''' 

The  Truth. — This  worthy  prelate  had  but  three  sons  :  1.  Mark, 
who  died  young.  2.  Sir  Timothy  Hutton,  knighted  anno  1605,  and 
sheriff  of  Yorkshire.  3.  Sir  Thomas  Hutton,  knight,  who  lived  and 
died  also  respected  in  his  own  country.  As  for  this  Luke  Hutton, 
he  was  not  his,  but  son  to  Dr.  Hutton,  prebendary  of  Durham. 

This  archbishop  was  a  learned  man,  excepted  even  by  a  Jesuit, 
(who  wrote  in  disgrace  of  the  English  as  neglecting  the  reading  of 
Fathers,)  and  another  Matthew  more,  qui  unus  in  paiicis  versari 
patres  dicitur.  He  founded  a  hospital  in  the  north,  and  endowed 
it  wdth  the  yearly  revenue  of  thirty-five  pounds. 

44.   The  Death  of  the  Bishops  of  Rochester  and  Chichester. 

Two  other  bishops  this  year  also  ended  their  lives.  In  March, 
John  Young,*  doctor  in  divinity,  once  master  of  Pembroke  Hall  in 
Cambridge,  bishop  of  Rochester,  in  which  see  he  sat  above  twenty- 
seven  years.  And  Anthony  Watson,  fellow  of  Christ's  College,  in 
Cambridge  ;  first  dean  of  Bristol,  and  afterwards  bishop  of  Chichester  ; 
whom  queen  Elizabeth  made  her  almoner;  namely,  after  bishop 
Fletcher,  at  whose  indiscreet  second  man*iage  the  queen  took  distaste. 
Bishop  Watson  died  in  September,  and  always  led  a  single  life. 

45 — 50.   Garnefs  Education  and  early   Viciousness  canvassed 
in  the  Tower  by  the  Protestant  Divines.      Confession  only  of 
Ante-facts.  Earl  of  Salisbiirifs  Question  answered.  Garnefs 
Arraignment  and  Condemnation.     Popish  false  Relations 
disproved.     A.D.  1606. 
Father  Henry  Garnet  was  now  most  solemnly  and  ceremoniously 
brought  to  the  scaffold  ;  who,  because  he  is  cried  up  by  the  papists 
for  so  precious  a  piece  of  piety,  we  will  be  the  larger  in  the  delivery 
of  his  true  character.     For,  although  we  will  not  cast  dirt  on  the 
foulest  face,  it  is  fit  we  should  wash  off  the   paint  of  counterfeit 
holiness  from  the  hypocritical  pretenders  thereunto.     Bred  he  was  in 
Winchester  school ;  where,  with  some  other  scholars,  he  conspired 
to  cut  off  his  schoolmaster's,  Bilson's,  right  hand, -|-  (early  his  enmity 
against  authority  retrenching  his  riot,)  but  that  his  design  was  dis- 
covered.    Being  prepositor  of  the  school,    (whose  frown  or  favour 
was  considerable  to  those  under  his  inspection,)  he   sodomitically 
abused  five  or  six  of  the  handsomest  youths  therein. J     Hereupon 
his  schoolmaster  advised  him,  yea,  he  advised  himself  rather  silently 

•  See  Bishop  Godwin   in  his  "  Catalogue."  t  Attested   by  bishop  Bilson  of 

Winchester,  alive  at  Garnet's  death,  and  many  years  after.  {  Robert  Abbot  in 

his  yJntilof/i(i,  Epistle  to  the  Reader. 


5  JAMES  I.  BOOK    X.       CENT.    XVTT.  221 

to  slink  away,  than  to  stand  candidate  for  a  repulse  in  liis  preferment 
to  New  College.  Over  he  fled  to  Rome  ;  where,  after  some  years, 
he  so  improved  himself,  that,  from  a  prepositor  over  boys,  he  was 
m.ade  Provincial  over  men,  even  the  whole  Order  of  English  Jesuits. 

Hence  he  returned  into  England,  and  was  not  only  privy  to,  but 
a  principal  plotter  of,  the  gunpowder- treason.  Being  attached,  and 
imprisoned  in  the  Tower,  the  earl  of  Salisbury,  and  Dr.  Overal,  dean 
of  St.  Paul's,  with  other  divines,  repaired  unto  him,  charging  it  on 
his  conscience  for  not  revealing  so  dangerous  a  conspiracy.  Garnet 
pleaded  for  himself,  that  it  was  concredited  unto  him  under  the 
solemn  seal  of  confession  ;  the  violation  whereof  he  accounted  the 
highest  impiety.  This  they  disproved ;  because  he  had  discoursed 
thereof,  frequently  and  publicly,  with  Catesby,  Gerrard,  and  Green- 
wood,— circumstances  inconsistent  with  the  essential  secrecy  of  confes- 
sion. Garnet  sought  to  salve  himself  with  a  fine  distinction,  so  fine 
that  it  brake  to  pieces  in  the  spinning, — that  it  was  told  him  in  via 
ad  confessionem^  "  in  order  to  confession  ;  ""  which,  though  wanting 
some  formalities  thereof,  did  equally  oblige  his  conscience  to 
conceal  it. 

Dean  Overal  rejoined,  that  confession  was  of  ante-facts^  not 
post-facts ;  and  that  it' is  not  confession^  but  menacing^  to  impart  to  a 
priest  intended  villanies.  He  farther  urged,  that  their  most  conscien- 
tious casuists  allowed,  yea,  enjoined  priests'*  discovery  in  such  case, 
when  a  greater  good  accrued  by  revealing  than  concealing  such 
secrecies.  "  I  was  minded,"  quoth  Garnet,  "  to  discover  the  plot, 
but  not  the  persons  therein." 

Here  the  earl  of  Salisbury  interposed  :  "  And  who,"  said  he,  "  hin- 
dered you  from  discovering  the  plot."  "  Even  you  yourself," 
answered  Garnet ;  *'  for  I  knew  full  well,  should  I  have  revealed  the 
plot,  and  not  plotters,  you  would  have  racked  this  poor  body  of  mine 
to  pieces,  to  make  me  confess."  And,  now  we  have  mentioned  the 
rack,  know,  that  never  any  rack  was  used  on  Garnet,  except  a  wit-rack, 
wherewith  he  was  worsted,  and  this  cunning  archer  outshot  in  his  own 
bow.  For  being  in  prison  with  father  Oldcorne,  alias  Hall,  his 
confessor,  they  were  put  into  an  equivocating  room,  as  I  may  term 
it,  which  pretended  nothing  but  privacy,  yet  had  a  reservation  of 
some  invisible  persons  within  it,  ear-witnesses  to  all  the  passages 
betwixt  them,  whereby  many  secrecies  of  Garnet''s  were  discovered.* 

In  Guildhall  he  was  arraigned  before  the  lord  mayor,  and  the 
lords  of  the  Privy  Council ;  Sir  Baptist  Hicks,  afterwards  viscount 
Camden,  being  foreman  of  the  jury,  consisting  of  knights,  esquires, 
and  the  most  substantial  citizens,  whose  integrities  and  abilities  were 
above  exception.     I  see,  therefore,  no  cause  why  the  defender  of 

•  Abbot  in  A)itUogia,  cap.  i.  fol.  5. 


222  CHURCH    HISTORY    OF    BRITAIN.  A.D.  1607- 

Garnet,  after  his  death,  accuseth  those  men  as  incompetent  or 
improper  for  their  place,  as  if  he  would  have  had  him  tiled  per pa7^es, 
by  a  jury  of  Jesuits,  (and  would  he  have  them  all  Provincials  too  ?) 
which  I  believe,  though  summoned,  would  unwillingly  have  appeared 
in  that  place.  Garnet,  pleading  little  against  pregnant  proofs,  was 
condemned,  and  some  days  after,  (May  ord,)  publicly  executed  in 
St.  Paul's  church-yard. 

The  secretary  of  the  Spanish  ambassador,  (for  we  charitably 
believe  his  master  honester  and  wiser,)  writing  into  Spain  and  Italy 
what  here  he  took  upon  hearsay,  filled  foreign  countries  with  many 
falsehoods  concerning  Garnet's  death. 

A3    NAMELY,  WHEREAS, 

1.  That  he   manifested  much         1.  He  betrayed  much  servile 
alacrity  of  mind,  in  the  cheerful-    fear  and   consternation  of  spirit, 
ness  of  his  looks  at  his  death.  much  beneath  the  erected  resolu- 
tion of  a  martyr. 

2.  His  zealous  and  fervent  2.  Plis  prayers  were  faint, cold, 
prayers  much  moved  the  people,      and    perplexed,    oft    interrupted 

with  his  listening  to  and  answer- 
ing of  others. 

3.  The  people  hindered  the  3.  That  favour,  by  special 
hangman  from  cutting  the  rope,  order  from  his  majesty,  was  mer- 
quartering  him  while  alive.  cifully  indulged  unto  him. 

4.  The  people  so  clawed  the  4.  No  violence  was  done  unto 
executioner,  that  he  hardly  es-  him,  able  many  years  after  to 
caped  with  life.  give  a  cast  of  his  office,  if  need 

required. 

5.  When  he  held  up  Garnet's         5.  Acclamations  in  that  kind 
head  to  the  people,  there  was  a    were   as    loud    and    general,    as 
panic  silence,  none  saying,  "  God    heretofore  on  the  same  occasion, 
save  the  king." 

Thus  suffered  father  Garnet;  after  whose  death  some  subtle 
persons  have  impudently  broached,  and  other  silly  people  senselessly 
believed,  a  certam  miracle  of  his  working,  which  we  here  relate  as  we 
find  it  reported  : — 

51 55.  The  solemn  Tale  ofGarnefs  Straw-Miracle.    Garnefs 

Picture  appears  in  a  Straw.      This  Miracle  not  presently 
done ;    not   perfectly  done.     Garnefs  Beatification   occa- 
sioned by  this  mock  Miracle.     A.  D.  I6O7. 
John  Wilkinson,  a  thorough-paced  catholic,  living  at  St.  Omers, 
posted  over  into  England,  as  having  a  great  desire  to  get  and  keep 
some  of  Garnet's  relics.     Great  was  his  diligence  in   coming  early 


5  JAMES  I.  BOOK    X.       CENT.    XVII.  223 

before  others  to  the  place  of  his  execution,  which  advantaged  him 
near  to  Garnet's  person  ;  and  greater  his  patience  in  staying  till  all 
was  ended,  and  the  rest  of  the  people  departed  :  when,  behold,  a 
straw,  besprinkled  with  some  drops  of  his  blood,  and  having  an  ear  of 
corn  at  the  end  thereof,  leaped  up  on  this  Wilkinson,  not  taking  the 
rise  of  its  leap  from  the  ground,  he  was  sure  ;  but  whether  from  the 
scaffold,  or  from  the  basket  wherein  Garnet's  head  was,  he  was 
uncertain.*  Was  not  this  Wilkinson  made  of  jet,  that  he  drew  this 
straw  so  wonderfully  unto  him  ?  Well,  however  it  came  to  pass, 
joyfully  he  departs  with  this  treasure,  and  deposits  the  same  with  the 
wife  of  Hugh  Griffith,  a  tailor,  a  zealot  of  his  own  religion,  who 
provided  a  crystal  case  for  tlie  more  chary  keeping  thereof. 

Some  weeks  after,  upon  serious  inspection  of  this  strj^w,  the  face 
of  a  man  (and  we  must  believe  it  was  Garnet's)  was  perceived 
therein,  appearing  on  the  outside  of  a  leaf,  which  covered  a  grain 
within  it,  and  where  the  convexity  thereof  represented  the  pro-' 
minency  of  the  face  with  good  advantage.  Wilkinson,  Hugh 
Griffith,  and  his  wife,  Thomas  Laithwaite,  and  others,  beheld  the 
same ;  though  there  be  some  difference  in  their  depositions,  whose 
eyes  had  the  first  happiness  to  discover  this  portraiture.  Soon  after, 
all  England  was  belittered  with  the  news  of  this  straw,  and  catholics 
cried  it  up  for  no  less  than  a  miracle. 

There  are  two  infallible  touchstones  of  a  true  miracle,  which  always 
is  done  euSfcof,  "presently,"  and  rsXe/o;^,  "perfectly."  Neither  of 
these  on  examination  appeared  here.  For  when  this  straw  salient 
leaped  first  up  into  Wilkinson's  lap,  it  is  to  be  presumed,  that  he, 
having  it  so  long  in  his  possession,  critically  surveyed  the  same,  the 
volume  whereof  might  quickly  be  perused ;  and  yet  then  no  such 
effigiation  was  therein  discovered,  which,  some  nineteen  weeks  after, 
became  visible,  about  the  nineteenth  of  September  following. 
Surely,  had  this  pregnant  straw  gone  out  its  full  time  of  forty 
weeks,  it  would  have  been  delivered  of  a  perfect  picture  indeed ; 
whereas  now,  miscarrying  before  that  time,  wonder  not  if  all  things 
were  not  so  complete  therein. 

For  the  face  therein  was  not  so  exact,  as  which  might  justly 
entitle  heaven  to  the  workmanship  thereof.  Say  not,  "  It  was  done 
in  too  small  a  scantling  to  be  accurate  ;  "  for  Deus  est  maximus  in 
minimis^  "  God's  exquisiteness  appears  the  most  in  models,*" 
Exodus  viii.  18.  Whereas,  when  witnesses  were  examined  about 
this  mock  miracle  before  the  archbishop  of  Canterbury,  Francis 
Bowen  deposed,  that  he  believed  that  a  good  artisan  might  have 
drawn  one  more  curiously;  and  Hugh  Griffith  himself  attested,  that 

*  Abbot,  lib.  ut  prius,  cap.  xiv.  fol.  198  ;  out  of  whom,  for  the  mitin,  all  this  story 
is  taken,  with  the  confutation  thereof. 


224  CHURCH    HISTORY    OF    BRITAIN.  A.D.  1607- 

it  was  no  more  like  Garnet,  than  to  any  other  man  who  had  a 
beard  ;  and  that  it  was  so  small,  none  could  affirm  it  to  resemble 
him ;  adding  moreover,  that  there  was  no  glory  or  streaming  rays 
about  it,  which  some  did  imprudently  report. 

However,  this  inspirited  straw  was  afterward  copied  out,  and  at 
Rome  printed  in  pomp,  with  many  superstitious  compartments 
about  it,  (as  a  coronet,  a  cross,  and  nails,)  more  than  ever  were  in 
the  original.  Yea,  this  miracle,  how  silly  and  simple  soever,  gave 
the  ground- work  to  Garnet's  beatification  by  the  pope  some  months 
after.  Indeed,  Garnet  complained  before  his  death,  that  he  could 
not  expect  that  the  church  should  own  him  for  a  martyr ;  and  sig- 
nified the  same  in  his  letter  to  his  dear  mistress  Anne,  (but  for  her 
surname  call  her  Garnet,  or  Vaux,  as  you  please,)  because  nothing 
of  religion,  and  only  practices  against  the  state,  were  laid  to  his 
charge.  It  Seemed  good  therefore  to  his  Holiness,  not  to  canonize 
Garnet  for  a  solemn  saint,  much  less  for  a  martyr,  but  only  to 
beatificate  him,  which,  if  I  mistake  not,  in  their  heavenly  heraldry 
is  by  papists  accounted  the  least  and  lowest  degree  of  celestial  dig- 
nity, and  yet  a  step  above  the  commonalty,  or  ordinary  sort  of  such 
good  men  as  are  saved.  This  he  did  to  qualify  the  infamy  of 
Garnet's  death,  and  that  the  perfume  of  this  new  title  might  out- 
scent  the  stench  of  his  treason.  But  we  leave  this  Garnet  (loath 
longer  to  disturb  his  blessedness)  in  his  own  place,  and  proceed  to 
such  church-matters  as  were  transacted  in  this  present  parliament. 

56.  Acts  against  Papists  in  Parliament,  but  principally  the 
Oath  of  Obedience. 

Evil  manners  prove  often,  though  against  their  will,  the  parents  of 
good  laws  ;  as  here  it  came  to  pass.  The  parliament,  begun  and 
holden  at  Westminster,  November  5th,  and  there  continued  till 
May  27th  following,  enacted  many  things  for  the  discovering  and 
repressing  of  popish  recusants,  extant  at  large  in  the  printed 
Statutes.  Whereof  none  was  more  effectual,  than  that  oath  of 
obedience  which  every  catholic  was  commanded  to  take,  the  form 
whereof  is  here  inserted ;  the  rather,  because  this  oath  may  be 
termed,  like  two  of  Isaac's  wells,  ^^'^Zc  and  Sit/iah,  "contention'"* 
and  "hatred,"  Genesis  xxvi.  20,  21  ;  the  subject  of  a  tough  con- 
troversy betwixt  us  and  Rome,  about  the  legal  urging  and  taking 
thereof;-  protestants  no  less  learnedly  asserting  than  papists  did 
zealously  oppose  the  same.  The  form  of  which  oath  is  as  fol- 
loweth  : — 

"  I,  A.  B.  do  truly  and  sincerely  acknowledge,  profess,  testify, 
and  declare  in  my  conscience  before  God  and  the  world,  that  our 
sovereign  lord  king  James  is  lawful  and  rightful  king  of  this  realm, 


•^  JAMES  I.  BOOK    X.       CE^^T.    XVII.  22o 

and  of  all  other  his  majesty's  dominions  and  countries  ;  and  that 
the  pope,  neither  of  himself,  nor  by  any  authority  of  the  church  or 
see  of  Rome,  or  by  any  other  means  with  any  other,  hath  any 
power  or  authority  to  depose  the  king,  or  to  dispose  any  of  his 
majesty's  kingdoms  or  dominions,  or  to  authorize  any  foreign  prince 
to  invade  or  annoy  him  or  his  countries,  or  to  discharge  any  of  his 
subjects  of  their  allegiance  and  obedience  to  his  majesty,  or  to  give 
licence  or  leave  to  any  of  them  to  bear  arms,  raise  tumult,  or  to 
offer  any  violence  or  hurt  to  his  majesty's  royal  person,  state,  or 
government,  or  to  any  of  his  majesty's  subjects  within  his  majesty's 
dominions. 

"Also  I  do  swear  from  my  heart,  that,  notwithstanding  any 
declaration  or  sentence  of  excommunication  or  deprivation,  made  or 
granted,  or  to  be  made  or  granted,  by  the  pope  or  his  successors,  or 
by  any  authority  derived  or  pretended  to  be  derived  from  him  or 
his  see,  against  the  said  king,  his  heirs,  or  successors,  or  any  absolu- 
tion of  the  said  subjects  from  their  obedience  ;  I  will  bear  faith  and 
true  allegiance  to  his  majesty,  his  heirs  and  successors,  and  him  and 
them  will  defend  to  the  uttermost  of  my  power,  against  all  con- 
spiracies and  attempts  whatsoever,  which  shall  be  made  against  his 
or  their  persons,  their  crown,  and  dignity,  by  reason  or  colour  of 
any  such  sentence  or  declaration,  or  otherwise;  and  will  do  my  best 
endeavour  to  disclose  and  make  known  unto  his  majesty,  his  heirs, 
and  successors,  all  treasons,  and  traitorous  conspiracies,  which  I 
shall  know,  or  hear  of,  to  be  against  him,  or  any  of  them. 

"  And  I  do  farther  swear,  that  I  do  from  my  heart  nbhor,  detest, 
and  abjure,  as  impious  and  heretical,  this  damnable  doctrine  and 
position,  that  princes,  which  be  excommunicated  or  deprived  by  the 
pope,  may  be  deposed  or  murdered  by  their  subjects,  or  any  other 
whatsoever. 

"  And  I  do  believe,  and  in  conscience  am  resolved,  that  neither 
the  pope  nor  any  person  whatsoever  hath  power  to  absolve  me  of 
this  oath,  or  any  part  thereof;  which  I  acknowledge  by  good  and 
full  authority  to  be  lawfully  ministered  unto  me,  and  do  renounce 
all  pardons  and  dispensations  to  the  contrary.  And  all  these  things 
I  do  plainly  and  sincerely  acknowledge  and  swear,  according  to- 
these  express  words,  by  me  spoken,  and  according  to  the  plain  and 
common  sense,  and  understanding  of  the  same  words,  without  any 
equivocation  or  mental  evasion  or  secret  reservation  whatsoever. 
And  I  do  make  this  recognition  and  acknowledgment  heartily, 
willingly,  and  truly,  upon  the  true  faith  of  a  Christian.  So  help 
ME  God  !  " 

This  oath  was  devised  to  discriminate  the  pernicious   from   the 
peaceable  papists.     "  Sure  bind,  sure  find."     And  the  makers  of 
Vol.  hi.  q 


226  CHURCH    HISTORY    OF    BRITAIN.  A.  D.  1607. 

this  "were  necessitated  to  be  larger  therein,  because  it  is  hard  to 
strangle  equivocation  ;  >vhich,  if  unable  by  might  to  break — will 
endeavour  by  sleight  to  slip — the  halter. 

57.  The  Pope's  two  Briefs  agaiiist  this  Oath, 
No  sooner  did  the  news  thereof  arrive  at  the  ears  of  his  Holiness, 
but  presently  he  dispatcheth  his  brief  into  England,  prohibiting  all 
catholics  to  take  this  oath,  so  destructive  to  their  own  souls  and  the 
see  of  Rome ;  exhorting  them  patiently  to  suffer  persecution,  and 
manfully  to  endure  martyrdom.*  And,  because  report  was  raised, 
that  the  pope  wrote  this  brief  "not  of  his  own  accord,  and  proper 
will,  but  rather  for  the  respect,  and  at  the  instigation  of  others ; "" 
next  year  he  sent  a  second  to  give  faith  and  confirmation  to  the 
former. -[-  Notwithstanding  all  w^iich,  this  oath,  being  tendered  to, 
was  generally  taken  by  catholics,  without  any  scruple  or  regret. 
And  particularly,  George  Blackwell,  arch-priest  of  the  English, 
being  apprehended  and  cast  into  prison,  by  taking  this  oath  wrought 
his  own  enlargement  ;  which  made  cardinal  Bellarmine,  some  forty 
years  ago  acquainted  with  him,  in  his  letters  kindly  to  reprove  him 
for  the  same. J 

58.  Pens  tilting  at  Pens  about  the  Lawfulness  of  this  Oath. 

And  now,  the  alarm  being  given,  "  whether  this  oath  was  lawful 
or  no,*"  both  parties  of  protestants  and  papists  drew  forth  their 
forces  into  the  field.  King  James  undertook  the  pope  himself;  the 
wearer  of  three,  against  the  w^earer  of  a  triple  crown,  (an  even 
match,)  effectually  confuting  his  briefs.  Bishop  Andrews  takes 
Bellarmine  to  task ;  bishop  Barlow  pours  out  upon  Parsons ;  Dr. 
Morton,  Dr.  Robert  Abbot,  Dr.  Buckeridge,  Dr.  Collins,  Dr. 
Burrel,  Mr.  Thomson,  Dr.  Peter  Moulin,  maintain  the  legality  of 
the  oath,  against  Suarez,  Eudsemon,  Becanus,  Cofteteus,  [Coef- 
fetau,]  Peleterius,  and  others  ;  to  whose  worthy  works  the  reader  is 
referred  for  his  farther  satisfaction.  I  may  call  at — not  go  into — 
these  controversies,  lest,  by  staying  so  long,  I  be  benighted  in  my 
way  ;  the  rather,  because  the  nearer  we  approach  our  home,  the 
■  longer  the  miles  grow  ;  I  mean,  matter  multiplieth  toward  the  con- 
clusion of  our  work.  And  now  it  is  not  worth  the  while  to  go  into 
the  contemporary  Convocation,  where  we  meet  with  nothing  but 
formality  and  continuations. 

*  See  King  James's  Works,  page  250.  t  Extant,  ibid,  page  258.  1  Extant, 

ihid.  page  206. 


5  JAMES   r.  ROOK    X.       v  ENT-    XVI F.  227 

SECTION  IIL 

THOM^  DACRES,  DE  CHESHUNT,  ARMIGERO. 

AuDiSTi  saepius  de  rotunda  tabula,  quam  Wintonia 
jactitat :  banc  regem  Arthurum  instituisse  ferunt ;  ne 
inter  milites  ejus  discumbentes  aliquid  discordiae  ob 
^fcoToxahdpUv  oriretur. 

Nosti  quales  oUm  libri  fuerunt  cum  in  gyrum  rota- 
rentur.  Hinc  adbuc  inter  Latinos  volumen  a  volvendo 
obtinet.  Nihil  igitur  interest  quo  ordine  patroni  mei 
collocentur,  cum  in  circulari  forma  inter  primum  et 
imum  nihil  sit  discriminis. 

Sed  quorsiim  haec  ?  Cum  genus  tuum,  licet  splen- 
didum,  (tanta  est  comitas  quae  te  illustrem  reddidit,) 
non  fastuose  consulas.     Tibi  omnia  prospera.     Vale. 

1.    The    Names,   Places,    and  several  Emplo?/ments  of  the 
Translators  of  the  Bible. 

We  may  remember,  that  one  of  the  best  things  produced  by 
Hampton-Court  Conference  was  a  resolution  in  his  majesty  for  a 
new  translation  of  the  Bible.  Which  religious  design  was  now 
effectually  prosecuted ;  and  the  translators,  being  seven-and -forty 
in  number  digested  into  six  companies,  and  several  books  assigned 
them,  in  order  as  folio  we  th,  according  unto  the  several  places 
wherein  they  were  to  meet,  confer,  and  consult  together ;  so  that 
nothing  should  pass  without  a  general  consent. 

Westminster,  Ten. — Dr.  Andrews,  Fellow  and  Master  of 
Pembroke  Hall  in  Cambridge,  then  Dean  of  Westminster,  after 
Bishop  of  Winchester :  Dr.  Overai,  Fellow  of  Trinity  College, 
Master  of  Catherine  Hall  in  Cambridge,  then  Dean  of  St.  PauFs, 
after  Bishop  of  Norwich  :  Dr.  Sara  via :  Dr.  Clarke,  Fellow  of 
Christ  College  in  Cambridge,  Preacher  in  Canterbury  :  Dr.  Laifield, 
Fellow  of  Trinity  College  in  Cambridge,  Parson  of  St.  Clement- 
Danes  ;  being  skilled  in  architecture,  his  judgment  was  much  relied 
on  for  the  fabric  of  the  tabernacle  and  temple  :  Dr.  Leigh,  arch- 
deacon of  Middlesex,  Parson  of  Allhallows-Barking  :  Mr.  Burgley  : 
Mr.  King :  Mr.  Thompson  :  Mr.  Bedwell  of  Cambridge,  and,  I 
think,  of  St.  John's,  Vicar  of  Tottenham  nigh  London. —  The  Pen- 
tateuch; the  story  from  Joshua  to  the  first  book  of  the  Chronicles, 
excluswely. 

q2 


22^  CHURCH    HISTORY    OF    BRITAIK.  A.  D.  1607^. 

Cambridge,  Eiaht. — Mr.  Lively  :  Mr.  Richardson,  Fello^v  of 
Emmanuel,  after  D.  D.  ^Master  first  of  Peter-house,  then  of  Trinity 
College  :  Mr.  Chaderton,  after  D.  D.  Fellow  first  of  Christ  College, 
the  Master  of  Emmanuel :  Mr.  Dillingham,  Fell  aw  af  Cln-ist  Col- 
lege, beneficed  at in  Bedfordshire,  where  he  died  a  single  and  a 

"wealthy  man  :  Mr,  Andrews,  after  D.D.  brother  to  the  Bishop  of 
"Winchester,  and  Master  of  Jesus  College  :  Mr.  Harrison,  the 
reverend  Vice-Master  of  Trinity  College  :  Mr.  Spalding,  Fellow  of 
St.  John's  in  Cambridge,  and  Hebrew  Professor  therein  :*  Mi*. 
Bing,  Fellow  of  Peter-House  in  Cambridge,  and  Hebrew  Professor 
therein. — From  the  first  of  the  Chronicles^  icith  the  rest  of  the  story  j 
and  the  Hagiographa  ;  nam^hf^  Job,  Psalms,  Proverbs,  Canticlesy 
Ecdesiastes. 

Oxford,  Seven. — Dr.  Harding,  President  of  Magdalen  College  r- 
Dr.  Reynolds,  President  of  Corpus-Christi  College  :  Dr.  Holland^ 
Rector  of  Exeter  College,  and  King''s  Professor  :  Dr.  Kilby,  Rector 
of  Lincoln  College,  and  Regius  Professor :  Mr.  Smith,  after  D.  D. 
and  Bishop  of  Gloucester.  He  made  the  learned  and  religious 
preface  to  the  translation  :  Mr.  Brett,  of  a  worshipful  family,  bene- 
ficed at  Quainton  in  Buckinghamshire  :  Mr.  Faireclowe. — The  four 
greater  Prophets,  with  the  Lamentations,  and  the  twelve  lesser 
Prophets. 

Cambridge,  Seven. — Dr.  Duport,  Prebend  of  Ely,  and  Master 
of  Jesus  College  :  Dr.  Brainthwait,  first  Fellow  of  Emmanuel,  then 
JSIaster  of  Gonvile  and  Caius  College  :  Dr.  Radcliffe,  one  of  the 
senior  Fellows  of  Trinity  College  :  Mr.  Ward,  Emmanuel,  after 
D.  D.  Master  of  Sidney  College,  and  Margaret  Professor  :  Mr. 
Downes,  Fellow  of  St.  John's  College,  and  Greek  Professor:  Mr, 
Boyse,  Fellow  of  St.  John's  College,  Prebend  of  Ely,  Parson  of 
Boxworth  in  Cambridgeshire  ;  Mr.  AV^ard,  Reg-al,  after  D.D.  Pre- 
bend of  Chichester,  Rector  of  Bishop- Waltham  in  Hampshire. — 
The  Prayer  of  Manasseh,  and  the  rest  of  the  Ap'rocrypha. 

Oxford,  Eight. — Dr.  Ravis,  Dean  of  Christ  Church,  after- 
wards Bishop  of  London  :  Dr.  Abbot,  Master  of  University  Col- 
lege, afterwards  Archbishop  of  Canterbury :  Dr.  Eedes  r  Mr, 
Thompson  :  Mr.  Savill  :  Dr.  Peryn  :  Dr.  Ravens  :  Mr.  Harmer. — 
The  four  Gospels,  Acts  of  the  Apostles,  Apocalypse. 

^yESTMl^'STER,  Seveii. — Dr.  Barlow,  of  Trinity  Hall  in 
Cambridge,  Dean  of  Chester,  after  Bishop  of  Lincoln :  Dr. 
Hutchenson  :  Dr.  Spencer :  Mr.  Fenton :  Mr.  Rabbet  :  Mr, 
Sanderson  :  Mr.  Dakins. — The  Epistles  of  St.  Paul,  the  Canonical 
Epistles. 

•  See  our  catalogne  of  flie  Hebrew  professors   in  Cambridge  to  marslial  tlieir  snc- 
ee«3ion. 


5  JAMES  I.  BOOK    X.       CENT.    XVIT.  229 

2.    The  King's  Instructions  to  the  Translators. 
Now,  for  the   better  ordering  of  their  proceedings,  his  majesty 
recommended  the  following   rules  by  them  to  be  most  carefully 
observed : — 

1.  The  ordinary  Bible  read  in  the  church,  commonly  called  the 
Bishops'  Bible,  to  be  followed,  and  as  little  altered  as  the  original 
will  permit. 

2.  The  names  of  the  prophets,  and  the  holy  writers,  with  the 
other  names  in  the  text,  to  be  retained  as  near  as  may  be,  accord- 
ingly as  they  are  vulgarly  used. 

3.  The  old  ecclesiastical  words  to  be  kept,  namely,  as  the  word. 
""  church  '"*  not  to  be  translated  congregation^  &c. 

4.  When  any  word  hath  divers  significations,  that  to  be  kept 
which  hath  been  most  commonly  used,  by  the  most  eminent 
FathcTs,  being  agreeable  to  the  propriety  of  the  place,  and  the 
analogy  of  faith. 

5.  The  division  of  the  chapters  to  be  altered  either  not  at  all, 
or  as  little  as  may  be,  if  necessity  so  require. 

6.  No  marginal  notes  at  all  to  be  affixed,  but  only  for  the  expla- 
nation of  the  Hebrew  or  Greek  words,  which  cannot  without  some 
circumlocution  so  briefly  and  fitly  be  expressed  in  the  text. 

7.  Such  quotations  of  places  to  be  marginally  set  down,  as  shall 
serve  for  the  fit  reference  of  one  Scripture  to  another. 

8.  Every  particular  man  of  each  company  to  take  the  same  chapter 
or  chapters  ;  and,  having  translated,  or  amended  them  severally  by 
himself  where  he  thinks  good,  all  to  meet  together,  confer  what  they 
have  done,  and  agree  for  their  part  what  shall  stand. 

9.  As  any  one  company  hath  dispatched  any  one  book  in  this 
manner,  they  shall  send  it  to  the  rest,  to  be  considered  of  seriously 
and  judiciously  ;   for,  his  majesty  is  vety  careful  in  this  point. 

10.  If  any  company,  upon  the  review  of  tho  book  so  sent,  shall 
doubt  or  differ  upon  any  places,  to  send  them  word  thereof,  note 
the  places,  and  therewithal  send  their  reasons  :   to  which  if  they  con- 

.sent  not,  the  difference  to  be  compounded  at  the  general  meeting, 
which  is  to  be  of  the  chief  persons  of  each  company,  at  the  end  of 
the  work. 

11.  When  any  place  of  special  obscurity  is  doubted  of,  letters  to 
be  directed  by  authority,  to  send  to  any  learned  in  the  land  for  his 
judgment  in  such  a  place. 

12.  Letters  to  be  sent  from  every  bishop,  to  the  rest  of  his 
clergy,  admonishing  them  of  this  translation  in  hand  ;  and  to  move 
and  charge  as  many  as,  being  skilful  in  the  tongues,  have  taken  pains 
in  that  kind,  to  send  his  particular  observations  to  the  company 
•either  at  Westminster,  Cambridge,  or  Oxford. 


230  CHUKCH    HISTORY    OF    BRITAIN?.  A.D.  1607. 

13.  The  directors  in  each  company  to  be  the  deans  of  Westminster 
and  Chester,  for  that  place  ;  and  the  king'*s  professors  in  the  Hebrew 
and  Greek  in  each  uniyersity. 

14.  These  translations  to  be  used,  when  they  agree  better  witb 
the  text  than  the  bishop's  Bible;  namely,  TindaFs,  Matthew's, 
Coverdale's,  Whitchurch's^  the  Geneva. 

Besides  the  said  directions  before-mentioned,  three  or  four  of 
the  most  ancient  and  grave  divines  in  either  of  the  nniversities,  not 
employed  in  translating,  to  be  assigned  by  the  vice-chancellor,  upon 
conference  with  the  rest  of  the  heads,  to  be  overseers  of  the  trans- 
lations, as  well  Hebrew  as  Greek,  for  the  better  observation  of  the 
fourth  rule  above-specified. 

3.  Mr.  Lively^s  Death, 
The  untimely  death  of  Mr.  Edward  Lively,  much  weight  of  the 
^ork  lying  on  his  skill  in  the  oriental  tongues,  happening  about  this 
time,  ("  happy  that  servant  whom  his  master,  when  he  cometh, 
findeth  so  doing,"}  not  a  little  retarded  their  proceedings.  How- 
ever, the  rest  vigorously,  though  slowly,  proceeded  in  this  hard,, 
lieavy,  and  holy  task ;  nothing  offended  with  the  censures  of  impa- 
tient people,  condemning  their  delays,  though  indeed  but  due  deli- 
beration, for  laziness.  Our  pen  for  the  present  taketh  its  leave  of 
them,  not  doubting  but  within  two  years  to  give  a  good  account  of 
them,  or  rather  that  they  will  give  a  good  account  of  themselves.. 

4 — 6.  The  Death  of  Dr.  ReynMs,  A  strange  Encounter,  His 
admirable  Parts  and  Piety.  Most  conformable  in  his 
Practice  to  the  Church  of  England. 

In  the  translating  of  the  Bible,  one  of  the  eminent  persons 
employed  therein  was  translated  into  a  better  life,  May  21st ; 
namely.  Dr.  John  Reynolds,*  king's  professor  in  Oxford,  born  in 
Devonshire,  with  bishop  Jewel  and  Mr»  Hooker,  and  all  three  bred 
in  Corpus-Christi  College  in  Oxford.  No  one  county  in  England 
bare  three  such  men,  (contemporary  at  large,)  in  what  college 
soever  they  were  bred ;  no  college  in  England  bred  such  three  men, 
in  what  county  soever  they  were  bom. 

This  John  Reynolds  at  the  first  was  a  zealous  papist,  whilst 
William  his  brother  was  as  earnest  a  protestant ;  and  afterwards 
Providence  so  ordered  it,  that,  by  their  mutual  disputation,  John 
Reynolds  turned  an  eminent  protestant,  and  William  an  inveterate 
papist,  in  which  persuasion  he  died. 

This  gave  the  occasion  to  an  excellent  copy  of  verses,  concluding 
with  this  distich  : — 

*  He  was  liachelor  of  arta  before  bishop  Jewel's  death. 


5  JAMES  I.  BOOK    X.       CENT.    XVII.  231 

Quod genns  hoc  pugnce  est  ?  ubi  victus  gaudet  uterqiie, 
Et  simul  cdteruter  se  superdsse  dolet. 

^'  What  war  is  tliis  ?  when  conquered  both  axe  glad, 
And  either  to  have  conquer'd  other  sad." 

Daniel  saith,  "  Many  sliall  run  to  and  fro,  and  knowledge  shall 
be  increased,"  Dan.  xii.  4.  But  here  indeed  was  a  strange  trans- 
cursion,  and  remarkable  the  effects  thereof. 

His  memory  was  little  less  than  miraculous,  he  himself  being  the 
truest  table  to  the  multitude  of  voluminous  books  he  had  read  over ; 
whereby  he  could  readily  turn  to  all  material  passages  in  every  leaf, 
page,  volume,  paragraph, — not  to  descend  lower,  to  lines  and  letters. 
As  his  memory  was  a  faithful  index,  so  his  reason  was  a  soYidi  judex, 
of  what  he  read  ;  his  humility  set  a  lustre  on  all,  (admirable  that 
the  whole  should  be  so  low,  whose  several  parts  were  so  high,)  com- 
municative of  w'iich  he  knew  to  any  that  desired  information  herein, 
like  a  tree  loauen  with  fruit,  bowing  down  its  branches  to  all  that 
desired  to  ease  it  of  the  burden  thereof,  deserving  this  epitaph : — 
Incertum  est  utrum  doctioi'  an  melior. 

His  disaffection  to  the  discipline  established  in  England  was  not 
so  great  as  some  bishops  did  suspect,  or  as  more  nonconformists  did 
believe.  No  doubt  he  desired  the  abolishing  of  some  ceremonies 
for  the  ease  of  the  conscience  of  others,  to  which  in  his  own  prac- 
tice he  did  willingly  submit,  constantly  wearing  hood  and  surplice, 
and  kneeling  at  the  sacrament.  On  his  death-bed  he  earnestly 
desired  absolution,  according  to  the  foim  of  the  church  of  England, 
and  received  it  from  Dr.  Holland,  whose  hand  he  affectionately 
kissed,*  in  expression  of  the  joy  he  received  thereby.  Dr.  Featley 
made  his  funeral  oration  in  the  college ;  Sir  Isaac  Wake,  in  the 
university. 

7 — 10.    Mr.  Molle's  Birth  and  Breeding;    his  sad  Dilemma; 
his  Constancy/  in  the  Inquisition ;  his  Death  in  Durance. 

About  this  time  Mr.  John  Molle,  governor  to  the  lord  Ross  in 
his  travels,  began  his  unhappy  journey  beyond  the  seas.  This  Mr. 
Molle  was  born  in  or  near  South-Molton  in  Devon.  His  youth 
was  most  spent  in  France,  where  both  by  sea  and  land  he  gained 
much  dangerous  experience.  Once  the  ship  he  sailed  in  sprung  a 
leak ;  wherein  he  and  all  his  company  had  perished,  if  a  Hollander, 
bound  for  Guernsey,  passing  very  near,  had  not  speedily  taken 
them  in  ;  which  done,  their  ship  sunk  immediately.  Being  trea- 
surer for  Sir  Thomas  Shirley  of  the  English  army  in  Brittany, 
he   was  in   the  defeat   of  Cambray   wounded,   taken  prisoner,  and 

*  Dr.  CrackenthortE;  in  his  defence  of  the  English  ngainst  Spalato. 


232  CHURCH    HISTORY    OF    BRITAIN.  A.  D.  1607- 

ransomed ;  Providence  designing  him  neither  to  be  swallowed  by 
the  surges,  nor  slain  by  the  sword,  but  in  due  time  to  remain  a 
land-mark  of  Christian  patience  to  all  posterity.  At  last  he  was 
appointed  by  Thomas,  earl  of  Exeter,  who  formerly  had  made  him 
examiner  in  the  Council  of  the  North,  to  be  governor  in  travel  to  his 
grandchild,  the  lord  Ross  ;  undertaking  the  charge  with  much 
reluctancy,  (as  a  presage  of  ill  success,)  and  with  a  profession  and  a 
resolution  not  to  pass  the  Alps. 

But  a  vagary  took  the  lord  Ross  to  go  to  Rome  ;  though  some 
conceive  this  motion  had  its  root  in  more  mischievous  brains.  In 
vain  doth  Mr.  Molle  dissuade  him,  grown  now  so  wilful  he  woidd 
in  some  sort  govern  his  governor.  What  should  this  good  man  do? 
To  leave  him,  were  to  desert  his  trust;  to  go  along  with  him,  was 
to  endanger  his  own  life.  At  last  his  affections  to  his  charge  so  pre- 
vailed against  his  judgment,  that  unwillingly-willing  he  went  with 
him.  Now,  at  what  rate  soever  they  rode  to  Rome,  the  fame  of 
their  coming  came  thither  before  them  ;  so  that  no  sooner  had  they 
entered  their  inn,  but  officers  asked  for  Mr.  Molle,  took  and  carried 
him  to  the  Inquisition-house,  where  he  remained  a  prisoner,  whilst  the 
lord  Ross  was  daily  feasted,  favoured,  entertained  ;  so  that  some  will 
not  stick  to  say,  that  here  he  changed  no  religion  for  a  bad  one. 

However,  such  Mr.  Molle's  glorious  constancy,  that,  whilst  he 
looked  forward  on  his  cause,  and  upwards  to  his  crown,  neither 
frights  nor  flattery  could  make  any  impression  on  him.  It  is  ques- 
tionable, whether  his  friends  did  more  pity  his  misery  or  admire  his 
patience.  The  pretence  and  allegation  of  his  so  long  and  strict 
imprisonment  was,  because  he  had  translated  Du  Plessis's  book  of 
"  The  Visibility  of  the  Church,"  out  of  French  into  English ;  but, 
besides,  there  were  other  contrivances  therein,  not  so  fit  for  a  public 
relation.  In  vain  did  his  friends  in  England,  though  great  and 
many,  endeavour  his  enlargement  by  exchange,  for  one  or  more 
Jesuits  or  priests,  who  were  prisoners  here ;  papists  beholding  this 
Molle  as  "  a  man  of  a  thousand,"  who,  if  discharged  the  Inqui- 
sition, might  give  an  account  of  Romish  cruelty  to  their  great  dis- 
advantage. 

In  all  the  time  of  his  durance,  he  never  heard  from  any  friend,* 
nor  any  from  him,  by  word  or  letter  ;  no  Englishman  being  ever 
permitted  to  see  him,  save  only  one,  namely,  Mr.  Walter  Strickland, 
of  Boynton-house,  in  Yorkshire.  With  very  much  desire  and 
industry,  he  procured  leave  to  visit  him,  an  Irish  friar  being 
appointed  to  stand  by  and  be  a  witness  of  their  discourse.  Here  he 
remained  thirty  years  in  restraint ;    and  in  the   eighty-first  year  of 

•  So  I  am  informed  bv  a  letter  from  Mr.  HenrA-  Molle,  his  son. 


5  JAMES  I.  J300K    X.       CENT.    XVII.  233 

his  age  died  a  prisoner,   and  constant  confessor  of  Christ's  cause. 
God  be  magnified  in  and  for  the  sufferings  of  his  saints  ! 

11.   The  Death  of  Bishop  Vaughan. 

In  this  year  Richard  Vaughan,  doctor  of  divinity,  bred  in  St. 
John's  College,  in  Cambridge,  successively  bishop  of  Bangor, 
Chester,  and  London,  ended  his  life  :  a  corpulent  man,  but  spirit- 
ually-minded ;  such  his  integrity,  not  to  be  bowed  (though  force 
was  not  wanting)  to  any  base  connivance  to  wrong  the  church 
he  was  placed  in.  His  many  virtues  made  his  loss  to  be  much 
bemoaned, 

12 — 17.  Mr.  Brightmaris  Birth  and  Breeding.  A  Patron  para- 
mount. Eccceptions  against  Mr.  BrightmarCs  Book.  His 
angelical  Life.  His  sudden  Death.  Whence  we  derive 
our  Intelligence. 

Greater  was  the  grief,  which  the  death  of  Mr.  Thomas  Brightman 
caused  to  the  disafFectors  of  the  church-discipline  of  England.  He 
was  born  in  the  town  of  Nottingham,  bred  in  Queen's  College,  in 
Cambridge ;  where  a  constant  opposition,  in  point  of  judgment 
about  ceremonies,  was  maintained  between  him  and  Dr.  Meryton, 
afterwards  dean  of  York.  Here  he  filled  himself  with  abilities  for 
the  ministry,  waiting  a  call  to  vent  himself  in  the  country. 

It  happened,  this  very  time,  that  Sir  John,  son  to  Mr.  Peter 
Osborne,  (both  lovers  of  learned  and  godly  men,)  not  only  bought 
and  restored  the  rectory  of  Hawnes,  in  Bedfordshire  (formerly 
alienated)  to  the  church,  but  also  built  thereon  from  the  ground  a 
fair  house,  which  he  furnished  with  fitting  utensils  for  the  future 
incumbent  thereof.  This  done,  at  his  desire  of  an  able  minister, 
Dr.  Whitaker  recommended  Mr.  Brightman  unto  him,  on  whom 
Sir  John  not  only  freely  conferred  the  living,  but  also  the  profits  of 
two  former  years,  which  the  knight  inned  at  his  own  cost,  and  kept 
in  his  possession. 

Here  Mr.  Brightman  employed  himself,  both  by  preaching  and 
writing,  to  advance  God's  glory,  and  the  good  of  the  chm-ch ; 
witness  his  learned  Comments  in  most  pure  Latin  on  the  Canticles 
and  Revelation  ;  though  for  the  latter  greatly  grudged  at  on  several 
accounts  : — 

1.  For  the  title  thereof,  conceived  too  insolent  for  any  creature 
to  affix,  "  A  Revelation  of  the  Revelation  ;"  except  immediate 
inspiration,  which  made  the  lock,  had  given  the  key  unto  it. 

2.  For  being  over-positive  in  his  interpretations ;  the  rather, 
because  the  Rev.  Mr.  Calvin  himself,  being  demanded  his  opinion 


234  CHURCH    HISTORY    OF    BRITAIN.  A.D.  1609. 

of  some  passages  in  the  Revelation,  (as  a  learned  man  reporteth,*) 
answered  ingenuously,  that  he  knew  not  at  all  what  so  obscure  a 
writer  meant. 

8.  For  over-particularizing  in  personal  expositions  ;  applying 
several  angels  mentioned  therein,  to  the  lord  Cromwell,  archbishop 
Cranmer,  Cecil  lord  Burleigh,  &c.*f"  such  restrictiveness  being  unsuit- 
able with  the  large  concernment  of  Scripture ;  as  if  England,  half 
an  island  in  the  western  corner,  were  more  considerable  than  all 
the  world  besides,  and  the  theatre  whereon  so  much  should  be  per- 
formed. 

4.  In  resembling  the  church  of  England  to  lukewarm  Laodicea, 
praising  and  preferring  the  purity  of  foreign  protestant  churches. 

Indeed,  his  daily  discourse  was  against  episcopal  government, 
which,  he  declared,  would  shortly  be  pulled  down.  He  spake  also 
of  great  troubles,  which  would  come  upon  the  land ;  of  the  destruc- 
tion of  Rome,  and  the  universal  calling  of  the  Jews  ;  affirming,  that 
some  then  alive  should  see  all  these  things  effected. 

However,  his  life  was  most  angelical,  by  the  confession  of  such 
wdio  in  judgment  dissented  from  him.  His  manner  was  always  to 
carry  about  him  a  Greek  Testament,  which  he  read  over  every  fort- 
night;  reading  the  Gospels  and  the  Acts,  the  first  ;  the  Epistles 
and  the  Apocalypse,  the  second  week.  He  was  little  of  stature, 
and  (though  such  commonly  choleric)  yet  never  known  to  be  moved 
with  anger  ;  and  therefore  when  his  pen  falls  foul  on  Romish  super- 
stition, his  friends  account  it  zeal,  and  no  passion. 

His  desire  was  to  die  a  sudden  death,  if  God  so  pleased ; — surely 
not  out  of  opposition  to  the  English  Liturgy,  praying  against  the 
same,  but  for  some  reasons  best  known  to  himself.  God  granted 
him  his  desire, — a  death,  sudden  in  respect  of  the  shortness  of  the 
time,  though  premeditated  on  and  prepared  for  by  him,  who  "  waited 
for  his  change,"  and,  being  a  watchful  soldier,  might  be  assaulted, 
not  surprised.  For,  riding  in  a  coach  with  Sir  John  Osborne,  and 
reading  of  a  book,  (for  he  would  lose  no  time,)  he  fainted  ;  and, 
though  instantly  taken  out  in  a  servant's  arms,  and  set  on  his  lap,  on 
a  hillock,  all  means  affordable  at  that ,  instant  being  used  for  his 
recovery,  died  on  the  place,  on  the  twenty-fourth  of  August,  and  is 
buried  in  the  chancel  of  Hawnes,  (Rev.  Dr.  Bulkley  preaching  his 
funeral  sermon,)  after  he  had  faithfully  fed  his  flock  therein  for 
fifteen  years. 

He  was  a  constant  student,  much  troubled  before  his  death  with 

•  BoDiN  in  his  "  Metliod  of  Historj',"  cap.  7.  t  Rev.  xiv.  18,  lie  maketh 

arclibibhop  Cranmer  the  angel  to  have  power  over  the  fire  ;  and,  Rev.  xvi.  5,  he  makes 
William  Cecil,  lord  tveasiirer  of  England,  the  angel  of  the  waters,  (if  lord  admiral,  it  had 
been  more  proper,)  justifying  the  pouring  out  of  the  third,  \ial. 


7  JAMES  I.  BOOK    X.       CENT.    XVII.  235 

obstructions  both  of  the  liver  and  gall ;  and  is  supposed  by  physi- , 
clans  to  have  died  of  the  latter,  about  the  fifty-first  year  of  his  age. 
And  now,  no  doubt,  he  is  in  the  number  of  those  virgins,  who 
"  were  not  defiled  with  women,  and  follow  the  Lamb  whithersoever 
he  goeth,''  Rev.  xiv.4;  who  always  led  a  single  life,  as  preferring  a  bed 
unfilled^  before  a  bed  undefiled.  This  my  intelligence  I  have  received 
by  letter,  from  my  worthy  friend,  lately  gone  to  God,  Mr.  William 
Buckly,  bachelor  of  divinity,  and  once  Fellow  of  Queen's  College, 
in  Cambridge,  who,  living  hard  by  Hawnes,  at  Clifton,  at  my 
request  diligently  inquired,  and  returned  this  his  character,  from 
aged,  credible  persons,  familiar  with  Mr.  Brightman. 

18.    A.D.  1608. 

This  year  silentl}^  slipped  away  in  peace,  plenty,  and  prosperity ; 
being  ended  before  eflTectually  begun,  as  to  any  memorable  church- 
matter  therein.  Indeed,  all  the  reign  of  Jving  James  was  better  for 
one  to  live  under,  than  to  write  of ;  consisting  of  a  champaign  of 
constant  tranquillity,  without  any  tumours  of  trouble  to  entertain 
posterity  with. 

19 — 24.  An  Act  for  Chelsea  College.  The  Glory  of  the  Design. 
King  James''s  Mortmain  and  personal  Benefaction.  Dr. 
Sutcliffes  Bounty.  The  Structure.  The  first  Provost 
and  Fellows.     A.  D.  1609. 

In  the  Parliament  now  sitting  at  Westminster,  (in  whose  parallel 
Convocation  nothing  of  consequence,)  the  most  remarkable  thing 
enacted  was  the  Act  made  to  enable  the  Provost  and  Fellows  of 
Chelsea  College  to  dig  a  trench  out  of  the  river  Lea  ;  "  to  erect 
engines,  water-works,  &c.  to  convey  and  carry  water  in  close  pipes 
under-ground,  unto  the  city  of  London  and  the  suburbs  thereof,  for 
the  perpetual  maintenance  and  sustentation  of  the  Provost  and 
Fellows  of  that  College,  and  their  successors,  by  the  rent  to  be 
made  of  the  said  waters  so  conveyed."  Where,  first  lighting  on  the 
mention  of  this  College,  we  will  consider  it  in  a  fourfold  capacity  : 
1.  As  intended  and  designed.  2.  As  growing  and  advanced.  3. 
As  hindered  and  obstructed.  4.  As  decaying  and  almost,  at  the 
present,  ruined.  I  shall  crave  the  reader  pardon,  if  herein  I  make 
excursions  into  many  years,  (but  without  discomposing  of  our  chro- 
nology on  the  margin,)  because  it  is  my  desire,  though  the  college  be 
left  imperfect,  to  finish  and  complete  my  description  thereof,  so  far  as 
my  best  intelligence  will  extend ;  being  herein  beholding  to  Dr. 
Samuel  Wilkinson,  the  fourth  and  present  Provost  of  that  College, 
courteously  communicating  unto  me  the  considerable  records  thereof. 

It  was  intended  for  a  spiritual  garrison,  with  a  magazine  of  all 


236  CHURCH    HISTORY    OF    BRITAIN.  A.D.  1609* 

books  for  that  purpose  ;  where  learned  divines  should  study  and 
write  in  maintenance  of  all  controversies  against  the  papists.  Indeed, 
the  Romanists  herein  may  rise  up,  and  condemn  those  of  the  pro- 
testant  confession.  For,  as  Solomon  used  not  his  military  men  for 
any  servile  work,  in  building  the  temple,  whereof  the  text  assigneth 
this  reason,  "  For  they  were  men  of  war,"  2  Chron.  vlii.  9  ;  so  the 
Romish  church  doth  not  burden  their  professors  with  preaching,  or 
any  parochial  incumbrances,  but  reserves  them  only  for  polemical 
studies.  Whereas  in  England,  the  same  man  reads,  preacheth, 
catechizeth,  disputes,  delivers  sacraments,  &c.  So  that,  were  it  not 
for  God's  marvellous  blessing  on  our  studies,  and  the  infinite  odds 
of  truth  on  our  sides,  it  were  impossible,  in  human  probability, 
that  we  should  hold  up  the  bucklers  against  them.  Beside  the 
study  of  divinity,  at  the  least  two  able  historians  were  to  be  main- 
tained in  this  College,  faithfully  and  learnedly  to  record  and 
publish  to  posterity  all  memorable  passages  in  church  and  common- 
wealth. 

In  pursuance  of  this  design,  his  majesty  incorporated  the  said 
foundation,  by  the  name  of  "  king  James'*s  College  in  Chelsea  ;"  and 
bestowed  on  the  same,  by  his  letters  patents,  the  reversion  of  good 
land  in  Chelsea,  then  in  possession  of  Charles  earl  of  Nottingham, 
the  lease  thereof  not  expiring  till  about  thirty  years  hence ;  and  also 
gave  it  a  capacity  to  receive  of  his  loving  subjects  any  lands,  not 
exceeding  in  the  whole  the  yearly  value  of  three  thousand  pounds. 

Next  king  James,  let  me  place  Dr.  Matthew  SutclifFe,  dean  of 
Exeter  ;  who,  though  no  prince  by  birth,  seems  little  less  by  his 
bounty  to  this  college.  As  Araunah,  but  a  private  subject,  gave 
things  "as  a  king*"  to  God's  service,  2  Sam.  xxiv.  23;  such  the 
royal  liberality  of  this  doctor,  bestowing  on  this  college  the  farms 
of,  1.  Kingston,  in  the  parish  of  Staverton  ;  2.  Of  Hazzard,  in  the 
parish  of  Haberton  ;  3.  Of  Appleton,  in  the  parish  of  Churchton  ; 
4.  Of  Kramerland,  in  the  parish  of  Stoke-rivers  :  all  in  the  county 
of  Devon,  and,  put  together,  richly  worth  three  hundred  pounds  per 
annum.  Beside  these,  by  his  will,  dated  November  1st,  1628,  he 
bequeathed  unto  Dr.  John  Prideaux,  and  Dr.  Clifford,  (as  feoffees 
in  trust,  to  settle  the  same  on  the  college,)  the  benefit  of  the  extent 
on  a  statute  of  four  thousand  pounds,  acknowledged  by  Sir  Lewis 
Stukeley,  &c.  a  bountiful  benefaction,  and  the  greater,  because  the 
said  doctor  had  a  daughter,  and  she  children  of  her  own.  And, 
although  this  endowment  would  scarce  make  the  "  pot  of  pottage  " 
seethe  for  "  the  sons  of  the  prophets,"  2  Kings  iv.  38,  39  ;  yet, 
what  feasts  would  it  have  made  in  his  private  family,  if  continued 
therein !  Seeing  therefore  so  public  a  mind  in  so  private  a  man, 
the  more  the  pity  that  this  good  doctor  was  deserted,  Uriah-like, 


7  James  i.  book  x.     cent.  xvir.  237 

engaged  in  the  fore-front  to  figlit  alone  against  an  army  of  diffi- 
culties, 2  Sam.  xi.  15  ;  which  he  encountered  in  this  design,  whilst 
such  men  basely  retired  from  him,  which  should  have  seasonably 
succoured  and  seconded  him  in  this  action. 

The  fabric  of  this  college  was  begun  on  a  piece  of  ground  called 
Thameshot,  containing  about  six  acres,  and  then  in  possession  of 
Charles  earl  of  Nottingham,  who  granted  a  lease  of  his  term  therein 
to  the  said  Provost,  at  the  yearly  rent  of  seven  pounds  ten  shillings. 
King  James  laid  the  first  stone  thereof,  and  gave  all  the  timber 
requisite  thereunto,  which  was  to  be  fetched  out  of  Windsor  Forest. 
And  yet  that  long  range  of  building,  which  alone  is  extant,  scarce 
finished  at  this  day,  (thus  made,  though  not  of  free  stone,  of  free 
timber,)  as  I  am  informed,  cost  (O  the  dearness  of  church  and 
college-work  I)  full  three  thousand  pounds.  But,  alas  !  what  is  this 
piece  (not  an  eighth  part)  to  a  double  quadrant,  beside  wings  on 
each  side,  which  was  intended  ?  If  the  aged  fathers,  which  remem- 
bered the  magnificence  of  Solomon's — wept  at  the  meanness  of  the 
second — temple,  Ezra  iii.  12 ;  such  must  needs  be  sad  which  con- 
sider the  disproportion  betwixt  what  was  performed,  and  what  was 
projected  in  this  college ;  save  that  I  confess,  that  the  destruction 
of  beautiful  buildings,  once  really  extant,  leave  greater  impressions 
in  men's  minds,  than  the  miscarriages  of  only  intentional  structures, 
and  the  faint  ideas  of  such  future  things  as  are  probably  propounded, 
but  never  effected. 

And  here  we  will  insert  the  number  and  names  of  the  Provost 
and  first  Fellows,  (and  some  of  them  probable  to  be  last  Fellows, 
as  still  surviving,)  as  they  were  appointed  by  the  king  himself, 
an?io  1610,  May  8th. 

Provost. — Matthew  Sutcliffe,  dean  of  Exeter. 
Fellows. — 1.  John  Overal,  dean  of  St.  Paufs ;  2.  Thomas 
Morton,  dean  of  Winchester ;  iJ.  Richard  Field,  dean  of  Glouces- 
ter;  4.  Robert  Abbot,  D.D.  5.  John  Spenser,  D.D.  0.  Miles 
Smith,  D.D.  T.William  Covitt,  D.D.  S.John  Howson,  D.D. 
9.  John  Layfield,  D.D.  10.  Benjamin  Charrier,  D.D.  11.  Martin 
Fotherby,  D.D.  12.  John  Boys,  D.D.  13.  Richard  Bret,  D.D. 
14.  Peter  Lily,  D.D.  15.  Francis  Burley,  D.D.  16.  William 
Hellier,  archdeacon  of  Barnstable ;  17.  John  White,  fellow  of 
Manchester  College. 

Historians. — William  Camden,  Clarencieux  ;  John  Haywood, 
doctor  of  law. 

See  here  none,  who  were  actual  bishops,  were  capable  of  places 
in  this  college.  And,  when  some  of  these  were  afterwards  advanced 
to  bishoprics,  others  translated  to  heaven,  king  James  by  his  now 
letters  patents,  November  14th,  1622,  substituted  others  in  their 


238  CHURCH    HISTORY    OF    BRITAIN.  A.  D,  1609. 

room.     Amongst  whom  the  archbishop  of  Spalato,   (but  no  more 
than  dean  of  Windsor  in  England,)  was  most  remarkable. 

25 — 27.  The  King's  Letters  to  the  Archbishop ;  and  his  to  the 
Bishops.  Divers  Opinioiis  touching  the  Non-Proceeding 
of  the  College.     The  present  sad  Conditio?!  of  it. 

To  advance  this  work,  his  majesty,  anno  1616,  sent  his  letters  to 
the  archbishop  of  Canterbury,  to  stir  up  all  the  clergy  in  his  province 
to  contribute  to  so  pious  a  work,  according  to  the  tenor  thereof  here 
inserted : — 

"Whereas  the  enemies  of  the  Gospel  have  ever  been  forward 
to  write  and  publish  books  for  confirming  of  erroneous  doctrine, 
and  impugning  the  truth,  and  now  of  late  seem  more  careful  than 
before  to  send  daily  into  our  realms  such  their  writings,  whereby 
our  loving  subjects,  though  otherwise  well-disposed,  might  be 
seduced,  unless  some  remedy  thereof  should  be  provided  :  we,  by 
the  advice  of  our  Council,  have  lately  granted  a  corporation,  and 
given  our  allowance  for  erecting  a  college  at  Chelsea,  for  learned 
divines  to  be  employed  to  write,  as  occasion  shall  require,  for  main- 
taining the  religion  professed  in  our  kingdoms,  and  confuting  the 
impugners  thereof.  Whereupon,  Dr.  SutclifFe,  designed  Provost 
of  the  said  college,  hath  now  humbly  signified  unto  us,  that,  upon 
divers  promises  of  help  and  assistance,  towards  the  erecting  and 
endowing  the  said  college,  he  hath  at  his  own  charge  begun,  and 
well  proceeded  in  building,  as  doth  sufficiently  appear  by  a  good 
part  thereof  already  set  up  in  the  place  appointed  for  the  same  : 
we,  therefore,  being  willing  to  favour  and  farther  so  religious  a 
work,  will  and  require  you  to  write  your  letters  to  the  bishops  of 
your  province,  signifying  unto  them,  in  our  name,  that  our  pleasure 
is,  they  deal  with  the  clergy,  and  others  of  their  diocess,  to  give 
their  charitable  benevolence  for  the  perfecting  of  this  good  work  so 
well  begun  :  and,  for  the  better  performance  of  our  desire,  we  have 
given  order  to  the  said  Provost  and  his  associates  to  attend  you, 
and  others  whom  it  may  appertain,  and  to  certify  us  from  time  to 
time  of  their  proceeding."*"* 

A  copy  of  this  his  majesty's  letter  was  sent  to  all  the  bishops  of 
England,  with  the  archbishop'^s  additional  letter,  in  order  as  fol- 
loweth  : — 

"  Now  because  it  is  so  pious  and  religious  a  work,  conducing  both 
to  God's  glory,  and  the  saving  of  many  a  soul  within  this  kingdom  ; 
I  cannot  but  wish  that  all  devout  and  well-affected  persons  should 
by  yourself,  and  the  preachers  in  your  diocess,  as  well  publicly  as 
otherwise,  be  excited  to  contribute  in  some  measure  to  so  holy  an 
intendment  now  well  begun.     And,  although   these   and    the  like 


7  JAMES  I.  BOOK    X.       CENT.    XVII.  239 

motions  have  been  frequent  in  these  latter  times,  yet  let  not  those 
whom  God  hath  blessed  with  any  wealth  be  weary  of  well-doing, 
that  it  may  not  be  said,  that  the  idolatrous  and  superstitious  papists 
be  more  forward  to  advance  their  falsehoods,  than  we  are  to  maintain 
God's  truth. 

"  Whatsoever  is  collected,  I  pray  your  lordship  may  be  carefully 
brought  unto  me  ;  partly  that  it  pass  not  through  any  defrauding 
hand,  and  partly  that  his  majesty  may  be  acquainted  what  is  done  in 
this  behalf." 

Yet,  for  all  these  hopeful  endeavours,  and  collections  in  all  the 
parishes  of  England,  slow  and  small  were  the  sums  of  money  brought 
in  to  this  work.  Many  of  them  were  scattered  out,  in  the  gathering 
them  up  ;  the  charges  of  the  collectors  consuming  the  profit  thereof. 
If  (as  it  is  vehemently  suspected)  any  of  these  collections  be  but 
detained  by  private  persons,  I  conceive  it  no  trespass  against  Christian 
charity  to  wish,  that  the  pockets  which  keep  such  money  may 
rot  all  their  suits  that  wear  them,  till  they  make  true  restitution 
thereof. 

Various  are  men's  conjectures  (as  directed  by  their  own  interest) 
what  obstructed  so  hopeful  proceedings  ;  and  it  is  safer  for  me  to 
recite  all,  than  resolve  on  any  of  them. 

Some  ascribe  it  to,  1.  The  common  fatality  which  usually  attends 
noble  undertakings.  As  partus  octimestres,  "  children  born  in  the 
eighth  month,"  are  always  not  long-lived  ;  so  good  projects  quickly 
expire. 

2.  The  untimely  death  of  prince  Henry,  our  principal  hope,  and 
the  chief  author  of  this  design.*  If  so,  Brubuit  domino  firmius 
esse  sua. 

"  Tbe  modest  college  bliislied  to  be  stronger 
Than  was  its  lord  ;  he  dead,  it  lived  no  longer." 

But,  upon  my  serious  perusal  of  the  records  of  this  college,  I  find 
not  so  much  as  mention  of  the  name  of  prince  Henry,  as  in  any 
degree  visibly  contributive  thereunto. 

y.  The  large,  loose,  and  lax  nature  thereof ;  no  'one  prime  person 
(Sutcliffe  excepted,  whose  shoulders  sunk  under  the  weight  thereof, 
zealously  engaging  therein  ;  king  James's  maintenance  amounting  to 
little  more  than  countenance  of  the  work.  Those  children  will  have 
thin  chaps  and  leanjcheeks,  who  have  every  body  (and  yet  nobody) 
nurses  unto  them. 

4.  The  original  means  of  the  college,  principally  founded  on  the 
fluid  and  unconstant  element,  "  unstable  as  water," — the  rent  of  a 
new  river,  when  made  ;  which  at  the  best   (thus  employed)   was 

*  Continuation  of  Srow's  "  Siu-vey  of  London,"  page  533. 


240  £HURCH    HISTORY    OF    BRITAIN.  A.D.  1609. 

bebeld  but  as  a  religious  monopoly.  And,  seeing  that  design  then 
took  no  effect,  (though  afterwards  in  another  notion  and  nature  it 
was  perfected,)  no  wonder  if  the  college  sunk  with  the  means 
thereof. 

5.  Some  of  the  greatest  prelates,*  (how  much  self  is  there  in  all 
men !  )  though  seemingly  forward,  really  remiss  in  the  matter ;  sus- 
pecting these  controversial  divines  would  be  looked  on  as  the  princi- 
pal champions  of  religion,  more  serviceable  in  the  church  than  them- 
selves, and  haply  might  acquire  privileges  prejudicial  to  their  episcopal 
jurisdiction. 

6.  The  jealousy  of  the  universities,  beholding  this  design  with 
suspicious  eyes,  as  which,  in  process  of  time,  might  prove  detri- 
mental unto  them  ;  two  breasts,  Cambridge  and  Oxford,  being 
counted  sufficient  for  England  to  suckle  all  her  children  with. 

7.  The  suspicion  of  some  patriots  and  commoners  in  Parliament, 
such  as  carried  the  keys  of  countrymen'^s  coffers  under  their  girdles, 
(may  I  safely  report  what  I  have  heard  from  no  mean  mouths  ?  ) 
that  this  college  would  be  too  much  courtier  ;  and  that  the  divinity 
(but  especially  the  history  thereof)  would  'Iajtw/3/^siv,  "  propend 
too  much  in  favour  of  king  James,''  and  report  all  things  to  the  dis- 
advantage of  the  subject.  Wherefore,  though  the  said  patriots  in 
parliament  countenanced  the  act,  (as  counting  it  no  policy,  publicly 
to  cross  the  project  of  king  James,  especially  as  it  was  made  popular 
with  so  pious  a  plausibility,)  yet,  when  returned  home,  by  their  Sus- 
picious items  and  private  instructions,  they  beat  off  and  retarded 
people's  charities  thereunto.  The  same  conceived  this  foundation 
superfluous,  to  keep  men  to  confute  popish  opinions  by  writings, 
whilst  the  maintainers  of  them  were  everywhere  connived  at  and 
countenanced,  and  the  penal  laws  not  put  in  any  effectual  execution 
against  them. 

8.  Its  being  begun  in  a  bad  time,  when  the  world  swarmed  with 
prowling  projectors,  and  necessitous  courtiers,  contriving  all  ways  to 
get  moneys.  We  know,  that  even  honest  persons,  if  strangers, 
and  casually  coming  along  with  the  company  of  those  who  are  bad, 
contract  a  suspicion  of  guilt,  in  the  opinions  of  those  to  whom  they 
are  unknown.  And  it  was  the  unhappiness  of  this  innocent,  yea, 
useful,  good  design,  that  it  appeared  in  a  time  when  so  many 
monopolies  were  on  foot. 

9.  Some  great  churchmen,  who  were  the  more  backward  because 
Dr.  Sutcliffe  was  so  forward  therein.  Such  as  had  not  freeness 
enough  to  go  before  him  had  frowardness  too  much  to  come  after 
him,    in    so    good    a    design ;     the    rather   because    they    distasted 

•Tliis  fifth  and  sixtli  obstruction  signify  nothing  to  discreet  men;^  however,  they  must 
pass  for  company-sake,  and  are  alleged  by  some  as  very  material. 


i    JAMES   1.  BOOK.    X.       CENT.    XVII.  241 

his  person  and  opinions  ;  Dr.  Sutcliffe  being  a  known,  rigid  anti- 
remonstrant  ;  and  when  old,  very  morose  and  testy  in  his  writings 
against  them  ;  an  infirmity,  which  all  ingenuous  people  will  pardon 
in  him,  that  hope  and  desire  to  attain  to  old  age  themselves. 

Thus  have  I  opened  my  wares,  with  sundry  sorts  of  commodi- 
ties therein,  assigning  those  reasons  which  I  have  either  read,  or 
heard  from  prime  men  of  several  interests ;  and  am  confident,  that, 
in  the  variety,  yea,  contrariety,  of  judgments,  now  a-days,  even  those 
very  reasons  which  are  cast  away  by  some,  as  weak  and  frivolous, 
will  be  taken  up,  yea,  preferred  by  others,  as  most  satisfactory  and 
substantial. 

At  this  present  it  hath  but  little  of  the  case,  and  nothing  of  the 
jewel,  for  which  it  was  intended.  Almost  rotten  before  ripe,  and 
ruinous  before  it  was  finished,  it  stands  bleak  like  "  a  lodge  in  a 
garden  of  cucumbers ;"  having  plenty  of  pleasant  water  (the 
Thames)  near  it,  and  store  of  wholesome  air  about  it,  but  very 
little  of  the  necessary  element  of  earth  belonging  unto  it.  Yea, 
since,  I  am  informed,  that,  seeing  the  College  taketh  not  eflfect, 
according  to  the  desire  and  intent  of  the  first  founders,  it  hath  been 
decreed  in  chancery,  (by  the  joint  consent  of  Dr.  Daniel  Featley, 
the  third  Provost  of  this  College,  and  Dr.  John  Prideaux,  the  sur- 
viving feoflTee  intrusted  in  Dr.  Sutcliffe 's  will,)  that  the  foresaid 
farms  of  Kingstone,  Hazzard,  and  Appleton,  should  return  again  to 
the  possession  of  Mr.  Halce,  as  the  heir-general  to  the  said  Dr. 
Sutcliffe.  On  what  consideration,  let  others  inquire;  it  is  enough 
to  persuade  me.  it  was  done  in  equity,  because  done  by  the  lord 
Coventry,  in  the  High  Court  of  Chancery  :  So  that  now,  only  the 
farm  of  Kramerland,  in  Devonshire,  of  Sutcliffe's  donation,  remains 
to  this  college.  All  I  will  add  is  this  :  as  this  college  was  intended 
for  controversies,  so  now  there  is  a  controversy  about  the  college ; 
costly  suits  being  lately  commenced  betwixt  William  lord  Mounston, 
(who  married  the  widow  of  the  aforesaid  earl  of  Nottingham,)  and 
the  present  Provost  thereof,  about  the  title  of  the  very  ground 
whereon  it  is  situated. 

28.   The  Death  of  Bishop  Overton,  Heton,  and  Ravis. 

Three  bishops,  all  Oxford-men,  ended  their  lives  this  year.  First. 
William  Overton,  about  the  beginning  of  April ;  bred  in  Magdalen 
College  ;  one  sufficiently  severe  to  suppress  such  whom  he  suspected 
of  nonconformity.  The  second,  Martin  Heton,  first,  dean  of  Win- 
chester, and  then  bishop  of  Ely ;  I  say,  of  Ely,  which  see  had  stood 
empty  almost  twenty  years  in  the  reign  of  queen  Elizabeth,  after 
the  death  of  bishop  Cox.  So  long  the  lantern  of  that  church  (so 
artificial    for  the  workmanship   thereof)   wanted  a  light  to  shine 

Vol.    hi.  r 


242  CHURCH    HISTORY    OF    BRITAIN.  A.D.  1610. 

therein.*  Some  suspected,  this  place,  so  long  empty,  would  never 
be  filled  again  ;  seeing  no  bishopric  so  large  in  revenues  was  so  little 
in  jurisdiction,  not  having  the  small  county  of  Cambridge  wholly 
belonging  unto  it.-f*  Some  cunning  courtiers,  observing  this  breach 
in  Ely  minster,  as  fiercely  assaulted  it,  with  hope  to  get  gain  to  them- 
selves. During  the  vacancy,  it  was  offered  to  many  churchmen,  (or 
chapmen,  shall  I  say  ?)  but  either  their  consciences  or  coffers  would 
not  come  up  to  the  conditions  thereof.  Amongst  others,  Mr.  Parker, 
brought  up  in  Peter  House  in  Cambridge,  and  archdeacon  of  Ely, 
(saith  my  author,j)  iniquis  conditionihus  episcopatum  ohlatum 
respuit,  tantam  opum  usuram,  nisi  salvd  ecclesid,  negligens.  At 
last,  but  with  the  revenues  much  altered  and  impaired,  it  was  con- 
ferred on  Dr.  Heton,  who,  after  ten  years'  possession  thereof,  died 
July  14th  ;  and  seems  the  more  obscure  because  of  the  lustre  and 
learning  of  Dr.  Lancelot  Andrews,  who  immediately  succeeded  him. 
The  third  bishop  deceasing  this  year,  December  14th,  was  Thomas 
Ravis,  some  time  dean  of  Christ  Church,  and  successively  bishop  of 
Gloucester  and  London  ;  born  at  Maiden  in  Essex,  "  of  worthy 
parentage,''  claris  parentibus^  saith  the  epitaph  on  his  tomb  in  St. 
Paul's,)  who  left  the  memory  of  a  grave  and  good  man  behind  him. 
Nor  must  it  be  forgotten,  that,  as  he  first  had  his  learning  in 
Westminster -school  ;  so  he  always  continued,  both  by  his  counsel 
and  countenance,  a  most  especial  encourager  of  the  studies  of  all 
deserving  scholars  belonging  to  that  foundation. 

29,  30.  Nicholas  Fuller  engages  for  his  Clients^  to  the  Loss 
of  his  own  Liberty  and  Life. 
As  archbishop  Bancroft  was  driving  on  conformity  very  fiercely 
throughout  all  his  province,  he  met  with  an  unexpected  rub,  which, 
notwithstanding,  he  quickly  removed.  For,  about  this  time, 
Nicholas  Fuller,  a  bencher  of  Gray's  Inn,  eminent  in  his  profession, 
pleaded  so  boldly  for  the  enlargement  of  his  clients  that  he  procured 
his  own  confinement.  The  case  thus  :  Thomas  Lad,  a  merchant  of 
Yarmouth  in  Norfolk,  was  imprisoned  a  long  time  by  the  High 
Commission,  and  could  not  be  bailed,  because  (having  formerly 
answered  upon  his  oath  twice  before  the  chancellor  of  Norwich^  to 
certain  articles  touching  a  conventicle)  he  refused  to  answer  upon  a 
new  oath  without  sight  of  his  former  answers.  Richard  Mansel,  a 
preacher,  charged  to  be  a  partaker  in  a  petition  exhibited  to  the 
House  of  Commons  in  Parliament,  and  refusing  the  oath  eon  officio, 
to  answer  to  certain  articles  to  him  propounded,  was  long  impri- 
soned by  the  commissioners  at  Lambeth,  and  could  not  be  bailed. 

•  Camden's  BrifAitmia  in  Cainbridgesliire.  )  Part  is  of  the  diocess  of  Norwich 

\  A  inaiinscript  of  the  bishops  of  Ely.,  lent  me  ])y  Mr.  A\right. 


8  JAMES   r.  BOOK    X.        CENT.    XVII.  24o 

Both  prisoners  were  brought  to  the  bar  upon  the  writ  of  habeas 
corpus^  where  Nichohis  Fuller  pleaded  they  ought  to  be  discharged, 
endeavouring  by  a  large  argument  (lately  printed)  to  prove,  that  the 
ecclesiastical  commissioners  have  no  power  by  virtue  of  their  com- 
mission to  imprison,  to  put  to  the  oath  ex  officio^  or  to  fine  any  of 
his  majesty's  subjects. 

Archbishop  Bancroft  got  some  legal  advantage  against  Mr.  Fuller 
in  the  managing  thereof,  and  then  let  him  alone  to  improve  the 
same.  Fuller's  friends  complained,  that  only  by  the  colour  of  right, 
and  the  rigour  of  might,  he  was  cast  into  prison.  Here  this  learned 
counsellor  could  give  himself  no  better  nor  other  advice,  but  only 
pure  patience.  Many  were  his  petitions  to  the  king  for  his  enlarge- 
ment, whom  the  archbishop  had  pre-acquainted  with  the  case,  repre- 
senting him  to  the  king  as  the  champion  of  nonconformists  ;  so  that 
there  he  lay,  and  died  in  prison.  However,  he  left  behind  him  the 
reputation  of  an  honest  man,  and  a  plentiful  estate  to  his  family, 
(besides  his  bountiful  benefaction  to  Emmanuel  College,  and  other 
pious  uses,)  at  this  day  enjoyed  by  his  grandchild,*  a  gentleman 
deservedly  beloved  in  his  country. 

31.   The  last  Sessio7i  of  a  long  Parliament.     A.D.  1610. 

On  the  twenty-sixth  of  October  began  the  fifth  session  of  this  long- 
lasting  parliament ;  a  session  which  may  be  found  in  the  records, 
though  it  be  lost  in  our  statute-book,  because  nothing  therein  was 
enacted,  as  soon  after  dissolved  by  proclamation. 

32,  33.    The  Death  of  Gervase  Bahington  ;  his  Parts  and 

Praise. 

Gervase  Babington,  bishop  of  Worcester,  ended  his  pious  life, 
May  17th.  He  was  born  in  Nottinghamshire,  of  worshipful  extrac- 
tion. Now,  although  lately  the  chief  of  the  family,  abused  by  papists, 
(otherwise  in  himself  an  accomplished  gentleman,*|*)  had  tainted 
his  blood  with  treason  against  the  queen  ;  the  learning,  loyalty,  and 
religion  of  this  worthy  prelate  may  serve  to  rectify  the  surname,  and 
justly  restore  that  family  to  its  former  repute  with  all  posterity.  He 
was  bred  Fellow  of  Trinity  College  in  Cambridge  ;  first,  chaplain 
to  Henry  earl  of  Pembroke,  whose  countess  made  an  exact  transla- 
tion of  the  Psalms  ;  and  they  first  procured  him  to  be  preferred 
treasurer'  of  Landaif. 

He  was  soon  after  made  bishop  of  LandafF,  which  in  merriment  he 
used  to  call  "  Aflfe,"  the  land  thereof  long  since  being  alienated. 

•  Mr.  Douse  Fuller,  of  Berks,  esq.  1  Anthony  Babington,  of  Detliick  [Deddick] 

in  Derbyshire. 

r2 


244  CHURCH    HISTORY    OF    BRITAIN.  A.  D.  1611. 

Thence  was  he  translated  to  Exeter,  thence  to  Worcester,  thence  to 
heaven.  He  was  an  excellent  pulpit-man  ;  happy  in  raising  the 
affections  of  his  auditory  ;  which,  having  got  up,  he  would  keep  up 
till  the  close  of  his  sermon  :  an  industrious  writer  ;  witness  his  large 
Comment  on  the  five  books  of  Moses,  the  Lord's  Prayer,  Creed, 
and  Commandments,  with  other  portions  of  Scripture.  Nought 
else  have  I  to  observe  of  this  bishop,  save  that  as  a  Babington"'s 
arms  were  argent^  ten  torteauxes,  (four,  three,  two  and  one,) 
Gules,  the  self-same  being  the  arms  of  the  bishopric  of  Worcester  ; 
his  paternal  coat  being  just  the  same  with  that  of  his  episcopal  see, 
with  which  it  is  empaled. 

34 — 3y.  The  Death  of  Archbishop  Bancroft.  He  is  vindicated 
from  Cruelty,  and  the  Aspersion  of  Covetousness.  Falsely 
traduced  for  Popish  Inclinations.  A  good  Patron  of 
Church-Revenues. 

The  same  year,  November  2nd,  expired  Richard  Bancroft,  arch- 
bishop of  Canterbury.  He  was  brought  up  in  Jesus  College  in 
Cambridge,  preferred  by  degrees  to  the  bishopric  of  London.  Sir 
Christopher  Hatton  was  his  patron,  who  made  him  his  examiner. 
His  adversaries  character  him  a  greater  statesman  than  divine,  a 
better  divine  than  preacher,  though  his  printed  sermon  sufficiently 
attesteth  his  abilities  therein.  Being  a  Cambridge-man,  he  was 
made  chancellor  of  Oxford,  to  hold  the  scales  even  with  cardinal 
Pole,  an  Oxford-man,  made  chancellor  of  Cambridge. 

I  find  two  faults  charged  on  his  memory, — cruelty  and  covetous- 
ness ;  un-episcopal  qualities,  seeing  a  bishop  ought  to  be  godly  and 
hospitable.  To  the  first,  it  is  confessed  he  was  most  stiff  and  stern 
to  press  conformity;  and  what  more  usual  than  for  offenders  to 
nickname  necessary  severity  to  be  "  cruelty  ?  "*  Now,  though  he 
was  a  most  stout  champion  to  assert  church-discipline,  let  me  pass 
this  story  to  posterity  from  the  mouth  of  a  person  therein  con- 
cerned:— An  honest  and  able  minister  privately  protested  unto  him, 
that  it  went  against  his  conscience  to  conform,  being  then  ready  to 
be  deprived.  "Which  way,'"*  saith  the  archbishop,  "will  you  live, 
if  put  out  of  your  benefice  ?  "  The  other  answered,  he  had  no  way 
but  to  go  a-begging,  and  to  put  himself  on  Divine  Providence. 
"  Not  that,""  saith  the  archbishop,  *'  you  shall  not  need  to  do  ;  but 
come  to  me,  and  I  will  take  order  for  your  maintenance."  What 
impression  this  made  on  the  minister's  judgment,  I  am  not  able  to 
report. 

As  for  his  covetousness,  a  witty  writer  *  (but  more  satirist  than 
historian)  of  king  James's  Life,  reports  this  pasquin  of  him  : — 

•  Mr.  Arthur  Wilson. 


9  JAMES  I.  BOOK    X.       CENT.    XVII.  245 

**  Here  lies  his  Grace,  in  cold  clay  clad, 
Who  died  for  want  of  what  he  had.'' 

True  it  is,  he  maintained  not  the  state  of  officers,  like  predecessor 
or  successor  in  house-keeping,  having  a  citizen-tradesman  (more 
acquainted  with  thrift  than  bounty)  for  his  domestical  steward  ;  yet 
"was  he  never  observed  in  his  own  person  to  aim  at  the  enriching  of 
his  kindred,  but  had  intentions  to  make  pious  uses  his  public  heirs ; 
bequeathing  his  library,  the  confluence  of  his  own  collections  with  his 
predecessors,  Whitgift,  Grindal,  Parker,  to  Chelsea-College  ;  and, 
if  that  took  not  effect,  to  the  public  library  in  Cambridge;  where  at 
this  day  they  remain.  His  clear  estate  at  his  death  exceeded  not  six 
thousand  pounds  ;  no  sum  to  speak  a  single  man  covetous  who  had 
sat  six  years  in  the  see  of  Canterbury,  and  somewhat  longer  in  London. 

It  is  needless  to  clean  his  memory  from  the  aspersion  of  popery, 
two  eminent  acts  of  his  own  being  his  sufficient  compurgators  : 
One,  in  setting  the  Secular  Priests  against  the  Jesuits,  (as  St.  Paul 
did  the  Pharisees  against  the  Sadducees,)  thereby  so  dividing  their 
languages,  as  scarce  they  can  understand  one  another  at  this  day : 
The  other,  his  forwardness  in  founding  Chelsea-College,  which,  as 
a  two-edged  sword,  was  to  cut  on  both  sides,  to  suppress  papists  and 
sectaries. 

One  passage  more  of  this  prelate,  and  I  have  done  :  a  company 
of  young  courtiers  appeared  extraordinarily  gallant  at  a  tilting,  far 
above  their  fortunes  and  estates.  These  gave  for  a  private  motto 
amongst  themselves,  Sohat  ecclesia,  "  Let  the  church  pay  for  all." 
Bancroft,  then  bishop  of  London,  arriving  at  the  notice  thereof, 
finds,  on  inquiry,  that  the  queen  was  passing  a  considerable  parcel  of 
church-land  unto  them.  The  prelate  stops  the  business  with  his 
own  and  his  friends'*  interest,  leaving  these  gallants  to  pay  the  shot 
of  their  pride  and  prodigality  out  of  their  own  purses.  Add  to 
this,  that  I  am  credibly  informed  from  a  good  hand,  how  in  the 
days  of  king  James,  a  Scotchman  and  a  prevalent  courtier  had 
swallowed  up  the  whole  bishopric  of  Durham,  had  not  this  arch- 
bishop seasonably  interposed  his  power  with  the  king,  and  dashed 
the  design.  George  Abbot  succeeded  Bancroft  in  Canterbury,  of 
whom  largely  hereafter. 

38.   The  new  Traiislatimi  of  the  Bible  finished,  hy  the  Command 
of  King  James,    and    Care    of  some    chosen    Divines. 
^.D.  1611. 

And  now,  after  long  expectation  and  great  desire,  came  forth  the 
new  translation  of  the  Bible,  (most  beautifully  printed,)  bv  a  select 
and  competent  number  of  divines,  appointed  for  that  purpose  ;  not 
being  too  many,  lest  one  should  trouble  another ;    and  yet  many, 


246  CHURCH    HISTORY    OF    BRITAIN.  A.D.  1611. 

lest  any  things  might  haply  escape  them  :  Avho,  neither  coveting 
praise  for  expedition,  nor  fearing  reproach  for  slackness,  (seeing,  in 
a  business  of  moment,  none  deserve  blame  for  convenient  slowness,) 
had  expended  almost  three  years  in  the  work,  not  only  examining 
the  channels  bv  the  fountain,  translations  with  the  oriorinal,  which 
was  absolutely  necessary  ;  but  also  comparing  channels  with  channels, 
which  was  abundantly  useful,  in  tlie  Spanish,  Italian,  French,  and 
Dutch  languages.  So  that  their  industry,  skilfulness,  piety,  and 
discretion,  have  therein  bound  the  church  unto  them  in  a  debt  of 
special  remembrance  and  thankfulness.  These,  with  Jacob,  "  rolled 
away  the  stone  from  the  mouth  of  the  -well  "^  of  life.  Genesis  xxix.  10  ; 
so  that  now  even  Rachels,  weak  women,  may  freely  come,  both  to 
drink  themselves,  and  water  the  flocks  of  their  families  at  the  same. 

39.  The  causeless  Cavil  of  the  Papists  thereat. 
But  day  shall  sooner  lack  a  night  to  attend  it,  and  the  sunshine 
be  unseconded  with  the  sullen  shade,  than  a  glorious  action  shall 
want  detractors  to  defame  it.  The  popish  Romanists  much  excepted 
hereat.  "  Was  their  translation,"  say  they,  "good  before?  Why 
do  they  now  mend  it  ?  AVas  it  not  good  ?  Why  then  was  it 
obtruded  on  the  people  ?"*"*  These  observe  not,  that,  whilst  thus  in 
their  passion  they  seek  to  lash  the  protestants,  their  whips  fly  in  the 
faces  of  the  most  learned  and  pious  Fathers,  especially  St.  Jerome, 
who,  not  content  with  the  former  translations  of  the  Septuagints, 
Aquila,  Symmachus,  and  others,  did  himself  translate  the  Old  Tes- 
tament out  of  the  Hebrew.  Yea,  their  cavil  recoils  on  themselves, 
and  their  own  vulgar  translation,  whereof  they  have  so  many  and 
diflferent  editions.  Isidorus  Clarius,  a  famous  papist,  (first  a  friar, 
afterward  a  bishop,)  "  observed  and  amended,"  as  he  said,  "  eight 
thousand  faults  in  the  vulgar  Latin."*  And  since  his  time,  how  do 
the  Paris  editions  differ  from  the  Louvain,  and  Hentenius's  from 
them  both  !  How  infinite  are  the  differences  (many  of  them 
weighty  and  material)  of  that  which  pope  Clement  VHl.  published, 
from  another  which  Sixtus  V.  his  immediate  predecessor,  set  forth  ! 
Thus,  we  see,  to  better  and  refine  translations,  hath  been  ever 
counted  a  commendable  practice  even  in  our  adversaries. 

40.   They  take  Exceptions  at  the  several  Senses  of  Words  noted 

in  the  Margin. 

Beside   this,  the  Romanists  take  exception,  because  in   this  our 

new    translation  the  various  senses  of  words  are  set  in  the  margin. 

This  they  conceive  a   shaking  of  the  certainty  of  the  Scriptures  ; 

"  Loca  ad  octo  millia  annotala  atquc  emendata  a  nobis  sunt.—  IsiDORUS  Clarkts  in 
Prafatioiie  Bihliorum  Sacrosanct,  edit,  renitiis,  1542;  but  which  in  the  following 
•^tion  is  left  out. 


9  JAMES   I.  LOOK    X.       CENT.    XVII.  247 

sucli  variations  being,  as  suckers,  to  be  pruned  off,  because  they  rob 
the  stock  of  the  text  of  its  due  credit  and  reputation.  Somewhat 
conformable  whereto  pope  Sixtus  V.  expressly  forbade  that  any 
variety  of  readings  of  the  vulgar  edition  should  be  put  in  the  mar- 
gin.* But  on  serious  thoughts  it  will  appear,  that  these  translators, 
affixing  the  diversity  of  the  meaning  of  words  in  the  side-column, 
deserve  commendations  for  their  modesty  and  humility  therein.  For 
though,  as  St.  Chrysostom-[-  observeth,  Travra  ra  otvayKcact  o>jXa, 
"all  things  that  are  necessary  to  salvation  are  plainly  set  down  in 
the  Scriptures  ;  "  yet,  seeing  there  is  much  difficulty  and  doubtful- 
ness, not  in  doctrinal  but  in  matters  of  less  importance,  fearfulness 
did  better  beseem  the  translators  than  confidence,  entering  in  such 
cases  a  caution,  where  words  are  of  diiFerent  acceptations. 

41.  Sofne  Brethren    complain  for   Lack  of  the    Geneva 

Annotations. 
Some  of  the  Brethren  were  not  well  pleased  with  this  translation, 
suspecting  it  would  abate  the  repute  of  that  of  Geneva,  with  their 
Annotations  made  by  English  exiles  in  that  city,  in  the  days  of 
queen  Mary,  dedicated  to  queen  Elizabeth,  and  printed  w^ith  the 
general  liking  of  the  people  above  thirty  times  over.  Yea,  some 
complained,  that  they  could  not  see  into  the  sense  of  the  Scripture 
for  lack  of  the  spectacles  of  those  Geneva  Annotations.  For, 
although  a  good  translation  is  an  excellent  Comment  on  the  Bible, 
w^herein  much  darkness  is  caused  by  false  rendering  of  it,  and 
wherein  many  seeming  riddles  are  read,  if  the  words  be  but  read, 
expounded  if  but  truly  rendered  ;  yet  some  short  exposition  on  the 
text  was  much  desired  of  the  people.  But,  to  say  nothing  of  the 
defects  and  defaults  of  the  Geneva  Annotations,  (though  the  best 
in  those  times,  which  are  extant  in  English,)  those  notes  were  so 
tuned  to  that  translation  alone,  that  they  would  jar  with  any  other, 
and  could  no  way  be  fitted  to  this  new  edition  of  the  Bible.  Leave 
we  then  these  worthy  men,  now  all  of  them  gathered  to  their  fathers, 
and  gone  to  God,  however  they  were  requited  on  earth,  well 
rewarded  in  heaven  for  their  worthy  work.  Of  whom,  as  also  of 
that  gracious  king  that  employed  them,  we  may  say,  "  Wheresoever 
the  Bible  shall  be  preached  or  read  in  the  whole  world,  there  shall 
also  this  that  they  have  done  be  told  in  memorial  of  them." 

42.  Dr.  H.  in  Oxford  causelessly  inveigheth  against  the  Geneva 

Notes. 
And  as,  about  this  time,  some  perchance  overvalued  the  Geneva 
notes,  out  of  that  especial  love  they  bare  to  the  authors  and  place 

•  SiXTUS  QuiNTLij  Praf.  BiOL  \  On  2  Tliess.  ii. 


248  CHURCH    HISTORY    OF    BRITAIN.  A.D.  1011. 

whence  it  proceeded ;  so,  on  the  other  side,  some  without  cause  did 
slight,  or  rather  without  charity  did  slander  the  same.  For  in 
this  or  the  next  year,  a  doctor  [Howson]  in  solemn  assembly  in  the 
university  of  Oxford,  publicly  in  his  sermon  at  St.  Mary's,  accused 
them  as  guilty  of  misinterpretation  touching  the  Divinity  of  Christ, 
and  his  Messiahship,  as  if  symbolizing  with  Arians  and  Jews 
against  them  bolh;  for  which  he  was  afterwards  suspended  by  Dr. 
Robert  Abbot,  propter  condones  puhlicas  minus  orihodoxas^  et 
offensionis  pleiias.  But  more  properly  hereof,  God  willing,  here- 
after in  our  particular  History  of  Oxford.  We  will  proceed  to 
report  a  memorable  passage  in  the  Low  Countries,  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 
afraid  that  this  alien  accident  is  already  brought  home  to  England, 
and,  though  only  Belgic  in  the  occasion,  is  too  much  British  in  the 
influence  thereof. 


SECTION  IV. 

TO  EDWARD  LLOYD,  ESQUIRE. 

Rivers  are  not  bountiful  in  giving,  but  just  in  restor- 
ing, their  waters  unto  the  sea,  Eccles.  i.  7.  However, 
they  may  seem  grateful  also,  because  openly  returning 
thither  what  they  secretly  received  thence.  This  my 
Dedication  unto  you  cannot  amount  to  a  present,  but  a 
restitution ;  wherein  only  I  tender  a  public  acknow- 
ledgment of  your  private  courtesies  conferred  upon  me. 

1,    2.    Dangerous   Opinions    broached   by   Conradus    Vorsfius. 
Reasons  moving  King  James  to  oppose  him.     A.D.  1611. 

King  James  took  into  his  princely  care  the  seasonable  sup- 
pression of  the  dangerous  doctrines  of  Conradus  Vorstius.  This 
doctor  had  lived  about  fifteen  years  a  minister  at  Steinfurt,  within 
the  territories  of  the  counts  of  Tecklenburg,  Bentheim,  &c.  The 
counts  whereof  (to  observe  by  the  way)  were  the  first  in  Germany, 
not  in  dignity  or  dominion,  but  in  casting-oiF  the  yoke  of  papacy, 
and  ever  since  continuing  protestants.  This  Vorstius  had  both 
■written  and  received  several  letters  from  certain  Samosatenian  here- 
tics in    Poland,   or    thereabouts;    and   it    happened   that   he    had 


9  JAMES  I.  BOOK    X.       CENT.    XVII.  249 

handled  pitch  so  long  that  at  last  it  stuck  to  his  fingers,  and  became 
infected  therewith.  Hereupon,  he  set  fortli  two  books,  the  one 
entitled,  Tractatus  Theologicus  de  Deo^  dedicated  to  the  landgrave 
of  Hesse  ;  the  other.  Exegesis  apologetica^  printed  in  this  year,  and 
dedicated  to  the  states  ;  both  of  them  farced  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  as  might  be,)  by  a  sacred  adoration  (which  the  more 
humble,  the  more  high)  of  the  Divine  Tncomprehensibleness  ;  this 
wretch  did  seek  to  stoop  God  to  man,  by  debasing  his  purity, 
assigning  him  a  material  body  ;  confining  his  immensity,  as  not 
being  everywliere ;  shaking  his  immutability,  as  if  his  will  were 
subject  to  change ;  darkening  his  omnisciency,  as  uncertain  in 
future  contingents  :  with  many  more  monstrous  opinions,  fitter  to 
be  remanded  to  hell,  than  committed  to  writing.  Notwithstand- 
ing all  this,  the  said  Vorstius  was  chosen,  by  the  Curators  of 
the  University  of  Leyden,  to  be  their  public  Divinity  Professor,  in 
the  place  of  Arminius  lately  deceased ;  and,  to  that  end,  his  Excel- 
lency, and  the  States-General,  by  their  letters,  sent  and  sued  to  the 
count  of  Tecklenburg,  and  obtained  of  him,  that  Vorstius  should 
come  from  Steinfurt,  and  become  public  Professor  in  Leyden. 

It  happened  that  his  majesty  of  Great  Britain,  being  this  autumn 
in  his  hunting  progress,  did  light  upon  and  perused  the  aforesaid 
books  of  Vorstius.  And  whereas  too  many  do  but  sport  in  their 
most  serious  employment,  he  was  so  serious  amidst  his  sports  and 
recreations,  that,  with  sorrow  and  horror,  he  observed  the  dangerous 
positions  therein,  determining  speedily  to  oppose  them,  moved  there- 
unto with  these  principal  considerations.  First.  The  glory  of  God  ; 
seeing  this  "  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  infiniteness,  so  far  as 
it  lay  in  the  power  of  the  treacherous  positions  of  an  heretic  ? 
Secondly.  Charity  to  his  next  neighbours  and  allies.  And,  Lastly, 
a  just  fear  of  the  like  infection  within  his  own  dominions,  consider- 
ing 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  into  England  out  of  the  Low  Coun- 
tries, about  the  midst  of  the  reign  of  queen  Elizabeth  ;-f-  (before 
which  time,  neither  general  practice  nor  legal  punishment  of  that 
vice  in  this  kingdom ;)  so  we  must  sadly  confess,  that  since  that 

•  In  his  "  Declaration  against  Vorstius,"  page  365.  j  See  Camden's  "  Eliza- 

beth," anno  1581. 


2o0  CHURCH    HISTORY    OF    BRITAIN.  A.D.  1611. 

time,  in  a  spiritual  sense,  many  English  souls  have  taken  a  cup 
too  much  of  Belgic  wine  ;  whereby  their  heads  have  not  only  grown 
dizzy  in  matters  of  less  moment,  but  their  whole  bodies  stagger  in 
the  fundamentals  of  their  religion. 

3 — 5.  The  States  entertain  not  the  Motion  of  King  James 
against  Vorstius,  according  to  just  Expectation.  Vorstius 
gives  no  Satisfaction  in  his  new  Declaration.  Xing  James 
setteth  forth  a  Declaration  against  Vorstius,  first  written 
in  French,  since  by  his  Leave  translated  into  English,  and 
amongst  his  other  Works. 

Hereupon  king  James  presently  dispatched  alettertoSir  Ralph  Win- 
wood,  his  ambassador,  resident  with  the  States,  willing  and  requiring 
him  to  let  them  to  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  majesty's 
to  the  States,  dated  October  6th,  to  the  same  effect.  But  neither 
found  that  success  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  commonwealtli,"" 
as  the  ambassador  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  near  at  hand,  they 
could  not  so  well  examine  the  soundness  of  Vorstius's  doctrine,  as 
a  foreign  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  indig- 
nity would  redound  to  the  count  of  Tecklenburg,  to  slight  that 
which  so  lately  they  had  sued  from  him.  The  opposition  of  Vorstius 
was  endeavoured  by  a  mal-contented  party  amongst  themselves,  dis- 
affected 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's  motion  herein  proceeded 
rather  from  the  instance  of  others,  than  his  own  inclination,  so  they 
gave  out  that  he  began  to  grow  remiss  in  the  matter,  careless  of  the 
success  thereof;  that  it  would  be  injurious,  yea,  destructive  to 
Vorstius  and  his  family,  to  be  fetched  from  his  own  home,  where 
he  lived  with  a  sufficient  salary,  (promised  better  provisions  from 
tlie  landgrave  of  Hesse,  to  be  Divinity  Professor  in  his  dominions,) 
now  to  thrust  him  out  with  his  wife  and  children,  lately  settled  at 
Leyden  ;  that  if  Vorstius  had  formerly  been  faulty  in  unwary  and 
offensive  expressions,  he  had  since  cleared  himself  in  a  new 
declaration. 


9  JAMES  1.  BOOK    X.       CENT.    XVII.  25-1 

For,  lately  he  set  forth  a  book,  entitled,  *'  A  Christian  and 
modest  Answer,"  which  notwithstanding  by  many  was  condemned, 
as  no  revocation,  but  a  repetition  of  his  former  opinions,  not  less 
pernicious,  but  more  plausible,  with  sophistical  qualifications.  So 
that  he  was  accused  to  aim,  neither  at  the  satisfaction  of  the  learned, 
whom  he  had  formerly  offended ;  nor  the  safety  of  the  ignorant, 
whom  he  might  hereafter  deceive ;  but  merely  his  own  security  for 
the  present.  His  grand  evasion  was  this, — that  what  he  had  written 
before  "  was  but  probably  propounded,  not  dogmatically  delivered."" 
But,  alas  !  how  many  silly  souls  might  easily  be  infected,  mistaking 
his  slanting  problems  for  downright  positions  !  In  a  word,  he  took 
not  out  any  venom,  but  put  in  more  honey  into  his  opinions,  which 
the  corruption  of  man's  nature  would  swallow  with  more  greediness. 
And  how  dangerous  it  is  for  wit-wanton  men  to  dance  with  their 
nice  distinctions,  on  such  mystical  precipices,  where  slips  in  jest 
may  cause  deadly  downfals  in  earnest,  the  Roman  orator  doth  in  part 
pronounce.  Mala  est  et  impia  consuetudo^  contra  Deum  disputandi^ 
sive  serio  id  fit^  swe  simulate. 

Now  king  James   being  as  little   satisfied  in  judgment  with  the 
writings  of  Vorstius  in  his  own  defence,  as   ill  pleased,   in  point  of 
honour,  with  the  doings  of  the  States,  in  return  to  his  request,  gave 
instructions  to  his  ambassador  to  make  public    protestation  against 
their  proceedings  ;   which  Sir  Ralph  Winwood,  in  pursuance  of  his 
master's  command,  most  solemnly  performed.    Nor  did  his  majesty's 
zeal  stop  here,  with  Joash  king  of  Israel,   smiting  only  but  thrice, 
and  then  desisting  ;  but,  after  his  request,   letter,   and  protestation 
had  missed  their   desired  effect,  he  wrote  in   French  a  declaration 
against   Vorstius  :  a  work   well  beseeming   the   "  Defender   of  the 
Faith;"    "by  which   title,"   to    use   his  ambassador's    expression, 
"  he  did  more  value   himself,   than   by  the  style  of  king  of  Great 
Britain."     Once  I  intended  to  present  the  reader  with  a  brief  of  his 
majesty's  Declaration,  till   deterred   with   this  consideration, — that 
although  great  masses  of  lead,  tin,  and  meaner  metals,  may  by  the 
extraction   of  chymists  be  epitomized  and  abridged   into  a  smaller 
quantity  of  silver,  yet  what  is  altogether  gold  already  cannot,   with- 
out  extraordinary   damage,  be   reduced   into  a  smaller  proportion. 
And  seeing  each  word  in  his  majesty's  Declaration  is  so  pure  and 
precious,  that  it  cannot  be  lessened  without  loss,  we  remit  the  reader 
to  the  same  in  his  majesty's  Works ;  and  so  take  our  leave  of   Vor- 
stius for  the  present ;   whose  books,  by  the  king's   command,  were 
publicly   burned  at   St.    Paul's    Cross   in   London,     and  in    both 
universities. 


252  CHURCH    HISTORY    OF    BRITAIN.  A.D.  1611. 

6 — 12.   The    Character  of  Bartholomew     Legate.      Discourse 
hetwixt  King  James  and  legate.     Bishop  King  gravelleth 
him  with  a  Place  of  Scripture.     Wholesome  Caution  pre- 
mised before  the  Naming  of  Legates  Blasphemies.     Con- 
demned for  an  obstinate  Heretic.     Queries  left  to  Lawyers 
to  decide.     Legate  burned  in  Smithjield. 
But  leaving  this  outlandish — let  us  come  to  our  English — Vorstius, 
though   of    far  less   learning,    of    more    obstinacy  and  dangerous 
opinions  :   I  mean,  that  Arian,  who  this  year  suffered  in  Smithfield. 
His    name,   Bartholomew  Legate  ;   native   county,   Essex ;  person, 
comely  ;  complexion,  black  ;  age,  about  forty  years  ;  of  a  bold  spirit, 
confident  carriage,   fluent  tongue,  excellently  skilled  in  the  Scrip- 
tures :  and  well  had  it  been  for  him   if  he  had  known  them  less,  or 
understood  them  better ;  whose  ignorance  abused  the  word  of  God, 
therewith   to  oppose   "  God   the    Word."      His  conversation,  for 
aught  I  can  learn  to  the  contrary,  very  unblamable ;  and  the  poison 
of  heretical  doctrine  is  never  more  dangerous  then  when  served  up 
in  clean  cups  and  washed  dishes. 

King  James  caused  this  Legate  often  to  be  brought  to  him,  and 
seriously  dealt  with  him  to  endeavour  his  conversion.  One  time 
the  king  had  a  design  to  surprise  him  into  a  confession  of  Christ^s 
Deity,  (as  his  majesty  afterwards  declared  to  a  right  reverend 
prelate,*)  by  asking  him  whether  or  no  he  did  not  daily  pray  to 
Jesus  Christ  ?  Which  had  he  acknowledged,  the  king  would  have 
infallibly  inferred,  that  Legate  tacitly  consented  to  Christ's  Divinity, 
as  a  "  Searcher  of  the  hearts.""  But  herein  his  majesty  failed  of  his 
expectation,  Legate  returning,  that  indeed  he  had  prayed  to  Christ 
in  the  days  of  his  ignorance,  but  not  for  these  last  seven  years. 
Hereupon  the  king  in  choler  spurned  at  him  with  his  foot.  "  Away, 
base  fellow ! "''  saith  he,  "  it  shall  never  be  said,  that  one  stayeth  in 
my  presence,  that  hath  never  prayed  to  our  Saviour  for  seven  years 
together." 

Often  was  he  con  vented  before  the  bishops  in  the  Consistory  of  St. 
Paul's;  where  he  persisted  obstinate  in  his  opinions,  flatly  denying 
the  authority  of  that  court.  And  no  wonder  that  he  slighted  the 
power  of  earthly  bishops,  denying  the  Divinity  of  Him  who  is  "  the 
Shepherd  and  Bishop  of  our  souls,'"  1  Peter  ii.  25.  The  disputa- 
tion against  him  was  principally  managed  by  John  King,  bishop  of 
London,  who  gravelled  and  utterly  confuted  him  with  that  place  of 
Scripture  :  ''  And  now,  O  Father,  glorify  thou  me  with  thine  own 
self  with  the  glory  which  I  had  with  thee  before  the  world  was," 
John  xvii.  5.  This  text,  I  say,  was  so  seasonably  alleged,  so  plainly 

•  James  arclibisliop  of  Armagh  ;  from  whose  mouth  I  had  the  relation. 


9  JAMES  I.  BOOK    X.      CENT.    XVII.  253 

expounded,  so  patlietically  enforced,  by  the  eloquence  and  gravity  of 
that  bishop,  (qualities  wherein  he  excelled,)  that  it  gave  marvellous 
satisfaction  to  a  multitude  of  people  there  present,  that  it  is  con- 
ceived it  happily  unproselyted  some  inclinable  to  his  opinions ; 
though  Legate  himself  remained  pertinacious,  both  against  the 
impressions  of  arguments  and  Scripture,  daily  multiplying  his 
enormous  opinions.  It  is  the  happiness  nature  indulgeth  to 
monsters,  that  they  are  all  barren  ;  whereas,  on  the  contrary,  mon- 
strous positions  are  most  procreative  of  the  like,  or  worse  than 
themselves. 

Before  we  set  down  his  pestilent  opinions,  may  writer  and  reader 
fence  themselves  with  prayer  to  God  against  the  infection  thereof; 
lest,  otherwise,  touching  such  pitch  (though  but  with  the  bare 
mention)  defile  us,  casually  tempting  a  temptation  in  us,  and  awaking 
some  corruption,  which  otherwise  would  sleep  silently  in  our  souls. 
And  if,  notwithstanding  this  our  caution,  any  shall  reap  an  accidental 
evil  to  themselves  by  reading  his  damnable  opinions,  my  pen  is  no 
more  accessary  to  their  harm,  than  that  apothecary  is  guilty  of  murder, 
if  others,  out  of  a  licourish  curiosity,  kill  themselves  with  that  poison 
which  he  kept  in  his  shop  for  sovereign  use  to  make  antidotes 
thereof.     His  damnable  tenets  were  as  followeth  : — 

1.  That  the  Creeds  called  the  Nicene  Creed,  and  Athanasius's 
Creed,  contain  not  a  profession  of  the  true  Christian  faith. 

2.  That  Christ  is  not  "  God  of  God ;  begotten,  not  made  ; ''  but 
begotten  and  made. 

3.  That  there  are  no  persons  in  the  Godhead. 

4.  That  Christ  was  not  God  from  everlasting,  but  began  to  be 
God  when  he  took  flesh  of  the  virgin  Mary. 

5.  That  the  world  was  not  made  by  Christ. 

6.  That  the  apostles  teach  Christ  to  be  man  only. 

7.  That  there  is  no  generation  in  God,  but  of  creatures. 

8.  That  this  assertion,  "  God  to  be  made  man,''  is  contrary  to  the 
rule  of  faith,  and  monstrous  blasphemy. 

9.  That  Christ  was  not  before  the  fulness  of  time,  except  by 
promise. 

10.  That  Christ  was  not  God,  otherwise  than  an  anointed  God. 

11.  That  Christ  was  not  in  the  form  of  God  equal  with  God, 
that  is,  in  substance  of  God,  but  in  righteousness,  and  giving  sal- 
vation. 

12.  That  Christ  by  his  Godhead  wrought  no  miracle. 

13.  That  Christ  is  not  to  be  prayed  unto. 

For  maintaining  these  opinions.  Legate  had  long  been  in  prison  in 
Newgate,  yet  with  liberty  allowed  him  to  go  abroad  ;  not  contented 
wherewith,  he  openly  boasted,  and  often  threatened  to  sue  the  court 


254  CHURCH    HISTORY    OF    BRITAIN.  A,D.  1611. 

which  committed  him,  for  reparations  for  false  imprisomnent ;  so  that 
his  own  indiscretion  in  this  kind  hastened  his  execiltion. 

For  hereupon  bishop  King  finally  con  vented  him  in  the  Consistory 
of  St.  Paul's  ;  and  that  worthy  prelate,  foreseeing  that  his  proceedings 
herein  would  meet  with  many  listening  ears,  prying  eyes,  and  prating 
tongues,  chose  many  reverend  bishops,  able  divines,  and  learned 
lawyers  to  assist  him.  So  that  the  Consistory,  so  replenished  for  the 
time  being,  seemed  not  so  much  a  large  Court,  as  a  little  Convocation. 
By  the  counsel  and  consent  of  these,  by  his  definitive  sentence, 
March  3rd,  he  "  pronounced,  decreed,  and  declared  the  foresaid 
Bartholomew  Legate  an  obdurate,  contumacious,  and  incorrigible 
heretic.'"*  And  by  an  instrument  called  a  significavit^  certified  the 
same  into  the  chancery,  delivering  him  up  unto  the  secular  power; 
the  church-keys  in  such  cases  craving  the  help  of  the  civil  sword. 
Whereupon,  king  James,  with  his  letters,  dated  March  11th,  under 
the  Privy-Seal,  gave  order  to  the  Broad-Seal  to  direct  the  writ  de 
hwretico  comburendo  to  the  sheriffs  of  London,  for  the  burning  of 
the  foresaid  Legate. 

Now,  as  the  bishop  herein  surrendered  Legate  to  the  secular  power, 
my  Ecclesiastical  History  in  like  manner  resigns  him  to  the  civil 
historian,  together  with  all  the  doubts,  difficulties,  and  legal  scruples 
attending  on  or  resulting  from  his  condemnation.  Let  the  learned 
in  the  law  consider  on  what  statute  the  writ  for  his  burning  was 
grounded, — whether  on  those  old  statutes  enacted  in  the  reigns  of 
Richard  IL  and  Henry  IV.  or  on  the  branch  of  some  other  new 
statute  to  that  eifect.  Let  them  satisfy  us  how  far  those  laws  were 
repealed  m  primo  Elizahethce^  and  how  far  they  still  stand  in  force ; 
as,  though  not  to  pretended  Lollardism,  yet  to  blasphemy.  Let 
them  examine  the  judgment  of  the  learned  Fitz-Herbert,  whether 
sound  in  his  assertion.,  that  "  heretics,  before  the  writ  of  their  burning 
be  issued  out  against  them,  must  first  be  convicted  of  heresy  before 
a  provincial  Convocation."*  Whilst  others  affirm,  that  they  being 
convicted  before  their  ordinary,  sufficeth  ;  provided  it  be  for  such 
opinions  which  Convocations  have  formerly  condenmed  for  heretical. 

To  Smithfield  he  was  brought  to  be  burned,  March  18th.  See 
here  :  It  is  neither  the  pain,  nor  the  place,  but  only  the  cause  makes 
a  martyr.  In  this  very  Smithfield,  how  many  saints,  in  the  Marian- 
days,  suffered  for  the  testimony  of  .lesus  Christ  !  Whereas  now  one 
therein  dieth  in  his  ow^n  blood  for  denying  him.  Vast  was  the 
conflux  of  people  about  him.  Never  did  a  scare-fire  at  midnight 
summon  more  hands  to  quench  it,  than  this  at  noon-day  did  eyes  to 
behold  it.     At  last,  refusing  all  mercy,   he  was   burned   to  ashes. 

•  Be  Natura  Brcviu/n,  fol.  2G9,  a. 


9  JAMES   I.  BOOK    X.       CENT.    XVII.  255 

And  so  we  leave  him,  tlie  first  that  for  a  long  time  suffered  death  in 
that  manner  :  and,  O  that  he  might  be  the  last  to  deserve  it  ! 

13,  14.   Wightman   worse   than    Legate.     The   Success  of  this 

Severity. 

In  the  next  month,  April  11th,  Edward  Wightman  of  Burton- 
upon-Trent,  convicted  before  Richard  Neile,  bishop  of  Coventry 
and  Liclifield,  was  burned  at  Lichfield  for  far  worse  opinions  (if 
worse  might  be)  than  Legate  maintained.  Mary  Magdalene  indeed 
was  once  possessed  with  seven  devils  ;  but  ten  several  heresies  were 
laid  to  Wightman's  charge  ;  namely,  those  of  Ebion,  Cerinthus, 
Valentinian,  Arius,  Macedonius,  Simon  Magus,  Manes,  Manichseus, 
Photinus,  and  of  the  Anabaptists.*  Lord  !  what  are  we  when  God 
leaves  us  !  Did  ever  man  maintain  one  heresy,  and  but  one  heresy  ? 
"  Chains  of  darkness,"  Jude  6,  we  see,  have  their  links,  and  errors  are 
complicated  together. 

God  may  seem  well-pleased  with  this  seasonable  severity  ;  for,  the 
fire,  thus  kindled,  quickly  went  out  for  want  of  fuel.  I  mean, 
there  was  none  ever  after  that  openly  avowed  these  heretical  doctrines  ; 
only  a  Spanish  Arian,  who,  condenmed  to  die,  was  notwithstanding 
suffered  to  linger  out  his  life  in  Newgate,  where  he  ended  the  same. 
Indeed,  such  buniing  of  heretics  much  startled  common  people, 
pitying  all  in  pain,  and  prone  to  asperse  justice  itself  with  cruelty, 
because  of  the  novelty  and  hideousness  of  the  punishment.  And 
the  purblind  eyes  of  vulgar  judgment  looked  only  on  what  was  next 
to  them,  (the  suffering  itself,)  which  they  beheld  with  compassion, 
not  minding  the  demerit  of  the  guilt,  which  deserved  the  same. 
Besides,  such,  being  unable  to  distinguish  betwixt  constancy  and 
obstinacy,  were  ready  to  entertain  good  thoughts  even  of  the  opinions 
of  those  heretics  who  sealed  them  so  manfully  with  their  blood. 
Wherefore  king  James  politicly  preferred,  that  heretics  hereafter, 
though  condemned,  should  silently  and  privately  waste  themselves 
away  in  the  prison,  rather  than  to  grace  them,  and  amuse  others, 
with  the  solemnity  of  a  public  execution,  which  in  popular  judgments 
usurped  the  honour  of  a  persecution. 

15,  16.  The  Death  of  Mr.  Sutton,  Founder  of  that  famous 
Hospital,  the  Charter-House.  The  several  Manors  belong- 
ing thereunto. 

I  find  no  eminent  divine  or  scholar  deceased  in  this  year  ;  only 
one,  whose  bounty  made  many  of  both  kinds,  ended  his  life  ;  namely, 
Richard  Sutton,  the  Phoenix  of  our  age,  and  sole  founder  of  Charter- 
house  Hospital,  esquire  ;   born  of  genteel   parentage  at   Knaith  in 

•  So  reckoned  up  in  the  warrant  for  his  burning. 


25(5  CHURCH    HISTORY    OF    BRITAIN.  A.D.   1611. 

Lincolnshire  :  in  his  youth  bred  a  soldier,  gaining  both  wealth  and 
credit  by  his  valour  ;  but  afterwards  embracing  a  more  peaceable 
profession  of  a  merchant.  This  his  foundation  he  called,  "  the 
Hospital  of  king  James  ;  "  all  discreet  subjects  having  learned  this 
lesson  from  politic  Joab, — calling  Rabbah  after  the  name  of  king 
David,  2  Sam.  xii.  28, — to  entitle  their  sovereign  to  the  honour  of 
their  achievements,  which  are  of  extraordinary  proportion.  Children 
not  yet  come  to — and  old  men  already  past — helping  of  themselves, 
have  in  this  hospital  their  souls  and  bodies  provided  for  !  The  latter 
nmst  be  "  decayed  gentlemen,"  the  most  proper  objects  of  charity,  as 
whose  ingenuous  spirits  are  most  sensible  of  want,  and  most  unable 
to  provide  for  themselves. 

It  is  utterly  improbable  that  it  will  ever  come  within  the  compass 
of  my  power  to  found  any  place  for  pious  uses.  All,  wherein  my 
weak  ability  can  express  its  forwardness,  is  to  honour  the  charity  of 
others,  and,  for  the  present,  alphabetically  to  methodize  the  manors 
which  Mr.  Sutton  in  several  counties  settled  for  the  maintenance 
of  this  his  hospital : — 

1.  Balsham  manor,  in  Cambridgeshire.  2.  Bassingthorpe  manor, 
in  Lincolnshire.  3.  Blacke-grove  manor,  in  Wiltshire.  4.  Broad- 
hinton,  land,  in  Wiltshire.  5.  Castle-camp  manor,  in  Cambridge- 
shire. 6.  Chilton  manor,  in  Wiltshire.  7-  Dunsby  manor,  in  Lin- 
colnshire. 8.  Elcombe  manor  and  park,  in  Wiltshire.  9.  Hackney, 
land,  Middlesex.  10.  Hallingbury-bouchers  manor,  in  Essex. 
11.  Missenden  manor,  in  Wiltshire.  12.  Much-stanbridge  manor, 
in  Essex.  13.  Norton  manor,  in  Essex.  14.  Salthorpe  manor,  in 
Wiltshire.  15.  South-minster  manor,  in  Essex.  16.  Tottenham, 
land,  in  Middlesex.  17-  Ufford  manor,  in  Wiltshire.  18.  Wateles- 
cote  manor,  in  Wiltshire.  19.  Westcot  manor,  in  Wiltshire. 
20.  Wroughton  manor,  in  Wiltshire. 

See  here  the  most  liberal  endowment  made  by  one  man.  May  it 
most  truly  be  said  of  our  London  merchants,  as  of  those  of  Tyre, 
''  whose  merchants  are  princes  .?"  Isaiah  xxiii.  8. 

17 — 19.   The  Jesuits  carping  at  his  good  work.     His  politic 
Modesty  in  his  Corrective.     Answers  to  Jesuits''  Cavils. 

But  no  work  so  virtuous  which  some  malicious  spirits  will  not 
endeavour  to  disgrace.  One  who  writeth  himself,  J.  H.  but  gene- 
rally conceived  to  be  Mr.  Knott,  the  Jesuit,  in  his  answer  to 
Dr.  Potter's  book  of  "  Charity  mistaken,"'*  lets  fly  asfolloweth: — 

"  Do  your  hospitals  deserve  so  much  as  to  be  named  ?  Have  you 
anything  of  that  kind  in  effect  of  particular  note,  saving  the  few 

•  Part  ii.  cliap.  1,  parag,  2. 


0  JAMES   I.  BOOK    X.       CENT.    XVJT.  257 

mean  nurseries  of  idle  beggai^s  and  debauched  people  ?  Except, 
perhaps,  Sutton's  hospital,  which,  as  I  have  been  informed,  was  to 
take  no  profit  till  he  was  dead.  He,  who,  as  I  have  also  understood, 
died  so  without  any  children,  or  brothers,  or  sisters,  or  known  kin- 
dred, as  that,  perad venture,  it  might  have  escheated  to  the  king. 
He,  who  lived  a  wretched  and  penurious  life,  and  drew  that  mass  of 
wealth  together  by  usury  ;  in  which  case,  according  to  good  con- 
science, his  estate,  without  asking  him  leave,  was,  by  the  law  of  God, 
obnoxious  to  restitution,  and  ought  to  have  been  applied  to  pious 
uses.  Whereas  anciently  in  this  country,  and  at  all  times,  and 
specially  in  this  last  age,  men  see  abundance  of  heroical  actions  of 
this  kind  performed  in  foreign  parts.  And  if  it  were  not  for  fear  of 
noting  many  other  great  cities,  as  if  there  were  any  want  of  most 
munificent  hospitals  in  them,  wherein  they  abound  ;  I  could  tell 
you  of  one  called  the  linnunciata,  in  the  city  of  Naples,  which  spends 
three  hundred  thousand  crowns  per  annum ;  which  comes  to  above 
fourscore  thousand  pounds  sterling  by  the  year;  which  ever  feeds 
and  cures  a  thousand  sick  persons,  and  pays  for  the  nursing  and 
entertaining  of  three  thousand  sucking  children  of  poor  people  ;  and 
hath  fourteen  other  distinct  hospitals  under  it,  where  the  persons  of 
those  poor  creatures  are  kept,  and  where  they  are  defrayed  of  all 
their  necessary  charges  every  week.  I  could  also  tell  you  of  an 
hospital  in  Rome,  called  St.  Spirito,  of  huge  revenues ;  but  it  is 
not  my  meaning  to  enter  into  particulars,  which  would  prove 
endless." 

Before  we  come  to  the  particular  examination  of  this  his  accusation, 
it  is  observable  how  many  qualificatives,  correctives,  and  restrictives, 
(''  perhaps,  as  I  have  been  informed,  as  I  have  also  understood, 
perad  venture,'')  he  inserteth  in  this  his  relation.  Indeed,  such  quali- 
fications are  better  than  equivocations  ;  yet,  what  some  may  impute 
to  modesty  is  his  policy,  if  well  considered.  For  if  any  protestant 
confute  what  he  hath  written,  this  accuser  will  take  sanctuary  under 
the  protection  of  those  restrictions,  defending  himself  that  he  de- 
livered nothing  positively  ;  whilst  ignorant  papists  of  his  own  pro- 
fession, not  heeding  his  doubting  limitations,  swallow  all  down  for 
dogmatical  truth. 

More  particularly  the  Reformed  religion  in  England  hath  been  the 
mother  of  many  brave  foundations  :  many  famous  hospitals,  as  that 
at  Warwick,  built  by  the  earl  of  Leicester  ;  Croydon,  by  archbishop 
Whitgift ;  Guildford,  by  archbishop  Abbot;  (not  to  speak  of 
Christ  Church,  and  St.  Thomas's  Hospital,  built  by  king  Ed- 
ward VI.)  though  none  of  them  have  thrived  and  battled  so  fast 
and  so  fairly  as  this  of  Sutton's  foundation.  Whereas  he  chargeth 
him  to  have  had  no  children,  it  is  confessed,  seeing  he  died  a  bachelor  ; 

Vol.  III.  s 


258  CHURCH  history  of  Britain.  a.d.  1613. 

whose  life,  had  he  been  of  their  opinion,  had  been  cried  up  for  a 
precious  piece  of  virginity.  That  he  had  no  known  kindred,  is 
false  ;  some  of  them  afterwards,  but  in  vain,  endeavouring  to  over- 
throw his  will ;  though  he  made  the  poor  to  be  his  "  mother,  and 
sister,  and  brother."  As  for  his  getting  wealth  by  unlawful  ways,  I 
am  not  to  justify  the  particular  circumstances  of  any  man's  actions. 
Should  a  secret  scrutiny  be  made  how  all  founders  of  monasteries 
first  came  by  their  wealth,  many  would  be  found  justly  obnoxious 
to  censure. 

20,  21 .  Mr.  Sutton's  constant  Prayer.  Sutton'^s  Hospital^  how 
exceedmg  the  Annunciata. 

Indeed,  our  Sutton  began  with  a  good  stock,  had  no  charge  to 
burden  him,  lived  to  be  very  aged,  seventy-nine  years  ;  and,  by 
God's  blessing  on  his  providence,  industry,  and  thrift,  advanced  the 
main  of  his  estate.  This  I  can  confidently  report  from  the  mouth 
of  a  credible  witness,  who  heard  it  himself,  and  told  it-  to  me,  that 
Mr.  Sutton  used  often  to  repair  into  a  private  'garden,  where  he 
poured  forth  his  prayers  to  God  ;  and,  amongst  other  passages,  was 
frequently  overheard  to  use  this  expression  :  "  Lord,  thou  hast  given 
me  a  large  and  liberal  estate ;  give  me  also  a  heart  to  make  use 
thereof;  "  which  at  last  was  granted  to  him  accordingly. 

As  for  the  overgrown  hospital  of  the  Aimwiciata  at  Naples,  we 
envy  not  the  wealth  thereof;  though  reports,  at  such  distance, 
lose  nothing  in  the  relation.  Nor  do  we  wonder  that  it  cureth 
yearly  a  thousand  sick  persons,  considering  what  disease  first  came 
from  Naples,  and  was  thence  denominated.  As  for  the  three  thou- 
sand children  nursed  therein,  it  is  to  be  feared  many  wanted  fathers  to 
own  them  ;  and  this  not  so  much  the  fruit  of  charity  as  of  wanton- 
ness. However,  that  hospital  hath  at  several  times  been  advanced 
by  a  College  of  benefactors :  whereas  Sutton's  may  stand  peerless 
in  this  respect, — that  it  was  founded,  finished,  and  endowed  by  him- 
self alone ;  disbursing  thirteen  thousand  pounds  *  (paid  down 
before  the  ensealing  of  the  conveyance)  for  the  ground  whereon  it 
stood,  with  some  other  appurtenances  ;  beside  six  thousand  pounds 
expended  in  the  building  thereof,  and  that  vast  yearly  endowment, 
whereof  heretofore.  We  mention  not  the  large  sums  bequeathed 
by  him  to  the  poor,  to  prisons,  to  colleges,  to  mending  highways, 
to  the  Chamber  of  London,  beside  twenty  thousand  pounds  left  to 
the  discretion  of  his  executors.  What  remaineth,  but  that  we  pray, 
that,  according  to  his  pious  intentions,  the  same  may  be  continued 
to  the  glory  of  God,  credit  of  the  protestant  religion,  comfort  to  the 
poor,  good  example  to  the  rich,  and  perpetual  memory  of  king  James, 

*  Stow's  '*  Survey  of  London,"  page  43. 


10  JAMES   I.  BOOK    X.       CENT.    XVII.  25Q 

the  honorary — and  Mr.  Sutton,  the  effectual — founder  thereof! 
that  this  sun,  amongst  the  lesser  lights  of  protestant  charities,  may- 
shine  on  earth,  as  long  as  the  sun,  that  faithful  witness,  endureth  in 
heaven  !  Being  more  confident  that  my  desire  herein  will  take 
effect,  considering  the  honourable  governors  of  this  hospital  are  per- 
sons so  good  they  will  not  abuse  it  themselves,  and  so  great  they 
will  not  suffer  it  to  be  abused  by  others. 

22.   The  Death  of  Prince  Henry.     A.D.  1612. 

England  at  this  time  enjoying  abundance  of  peace,  plenty,  and 
prosperity,  in  full  speed  of  her  happiness,  was  checked  on  a  sudden 
Avith  the  sad  news  of  the  death  of  prince  Henry,  November  6th,  in 
the  rage  of  a  malicious  extraordinary  burning  fever.  He  was  gene- 
rally lamented  of  the  whole  land  ;  both  universities  publishing  their 
verses  in  print ;  and  give  me  leave  to  remember  four  made  by  Giles 
Fletcher,  of  Trinity  College  in  Cambridge,  on  this  prmce's  plain 
grave,  because  wanting  an  inscription  :  and  it  will  be  honour  enough 
to  me,  if  I  can  make  thereof  a  translation  : — 

Si  sapis,  attonitus  saci'o  decede  sejmlchro, 

Nee  cineri  quce  sunt  nomina  qucere  novo, 
Prudens  celavit  sculptor,  nam  quisque  rescivit, 

Protinus  in  lachrymas  solvitur,  et  moriiur. 

"  If  wise,  amazed  depart  tHs  holy  grave  ; 
Nor  these  new  ashes  ask,  what  names  they  havei 
The  graver,  in  concealing  them,  was  wise ; 
For,  whoso  knows,  straight  melts  in  tears,  and  dies." 

Give  me  leave  to  add  one  more,  made  by  Mr.  George  Hei'bert, 
untranslatable  for  its  elegancy  and  expressiveness  : — 

Ulteriora  tittieyis  cum  'morte  paciscitur  orhis. 

And  thus  we  take  our  leave  of  the  memory  of  so  worthy  a  prince, 
never  heard  by  any  alive  to  swear  an  oath  ;  for  which  archbishop 
Abbot  commended  him  in  his  Funeral  Sermon  ;  the  prince  being 
wont  to  say,  that  he  knew  no  game  or  value  to  be  won  or  lost,  that 
could  be  worth  an  oath. 

23.   The  Marriage  of  the  Palatine.     A.D.\6\S. 

"  One  generation  goeth,  and  another  generation  cometh  ;  but  the 
earth  remaineth  for  ever."*"*  The  stage  stands,  the  actors  alter. 
Prince  Henry's  funerals  are  followed  with  the  prince  Palatine's 
nuptials,  solemnized  with  great  state,  February  14th,  in  hopes  of 
happiness  to  both  persons,  though  sad  in  the  event  thereof,  and 
occasioning  great  revolutions  in  Christendom. 

s  2 


2G0  CHURCH    HISTORY    OF    BRITAIN.  A.D.  1C14. 

24,  25.   The  Divorce  of  the  Earl  of  Essex  discussed.     A  memo- 
rahle  Speech  of  Bishop  King. 

Expect  not  of  me  an  account  of  the  divorce  of  the  lady  Frances 
Howard  from  the  earl  of  Essex,  and  of  her  re-marriage  to  Robert 
Carr,  earl  of  Somerset ;  which  divorce  divided  the  bishops  of  the 
land  in  their  judgments  : — 

Against  it. — George  Abbot,  archbishop  of  Canterbury  ;  John 
King,  bishop  of  London  ;  alleging  the  common  fame  of  incontinency 
betwixt  her  and  the  earl  of  Somerset. 

For  it. — Thomas  Bilson,  bishop  of  Winchester;  Lancelot 
Andrews,  bishop  of  Ely  ;  Richard  Neile,  bishop  of  Coventry  and 
Lichfield  :  these  proceeded,  secundum  allegata  et  probata.,  of  the 
earl's  inability,  quoad  hanc  ;  and  the  lady's  untainted  virginity. 

Only  I  will  insert  one  passage  :  Bishop  Overal  discoursing  with 
bishop  King  about  the  divorce,  the  latter  expressed  himself  to  this 
effect :  "  I  should  never  have  been  so  earnest  against  the  divorce, 
save  that  because  persuaded  in  my  conscience  of  falsehood  in  some 
of  the  depositions  of  the  witnesses  on  the  lady's  behalf."  This  sure 
I  am,  from  her  second  marriage  is  extracted  as  chaste  and  virtuous 
a  lady  as  any  of  the  English  nation.* 

26,  27.  Wadham  College  founded,  where  formerly  a  Monastery 
of  Augustines. 

Nicholas  Wadham,  esquire,  of  Merryfield  [Merefield]  in  the 
county  of  Somerset,  did  by  his  last  will  bequeath  four  hundred 
pounds  per  anuum^  and  six  thousand  pounds  in  money,  to  the 
building  of  a  College  in  Oxford  ;  leaving  the  care  and  trust  of  the 
whole  to  Dorothy  his  wife ;  one  of  no  less  learned  and  liberal  than 
noble  extraction  ;  a  sister  to  John  lord  Petre,  and  daughter  to  Sir 
William  Petre,  secretary  to  four  kings,  and  a  worthy  benefactor  to 
All  Souls'  College.  In  her  life-time  she  added  almost  double  to 
what  her  husband  bequeathed ;  whereby,  at  this  day,  it  is  become 
one  of  the  most  uniform  buildings  in  England,  as  no  additional 
result  at  several  times  of  sundry  fancies  and  founders,  but  the  entire 
product  all  at  once  of  the  same  architect. 

This  year  the  same  was  finished,  built  in  a  place  where  formerly 
stood  a  monastery  of  the  Augustine  friars ;  who  were  so  eminent 
for  their  abilities  in  disputing,  that  the  university  did  by  a  particular 
statute  impose  it  as  an  exercise  upon  all  those  that  were  to  proceed 
Master  of  Arts,  that  they  should  first  be  disputed  upon  by  the 
Augustine  friars  :  which  old  statute  is  still  in  force,  produced  at  this 
day  for  an  equivalent  exercise,  yet  styled,  ''  answering  Augustines.'' 

•  Anne  coixntess  of  Beilfortl. 


12  JAMES  I.  BOOK    X.       CENT.    XVII.  261 

The  College  hath  from  its  beginning  still  retained  something  of  its 
old  genius,  having  been  continually  eminent  for  some  that  were 
acute  philosophers  and  good  disputants. 

Wardens. — Dr.  Wright,  admitted  1613 ;  Dr.  Flemming, 
admitted  1613  ;  Dr.  Smith,  1616  ;  Dr.  Escott,  1635 ;  Dr.  Pitt, 
1644;  Dr.  John  Wilkins,  1648. 

Bishops. — Robert  Wright,  bishop  of  Bristol,  then  of  Coventry 
and  Lichfield. 

Benefactors. — Philip  Bisse,  doctor  of  divinity,  canon  of 
Wells,  and  archdeacon  of  Taunton,  gave  one  thousand  eight  hun- 
dred and  forty-nine  books  for  their  library,  valued  at  twelve  hundred 
pounds. 

Learned  Writers. — Humphrey  Sydenham,  a  very  eloquent 
preacher. 

So  that  very  lately  *  there  were  in  this  College,  one  Warden, 
fifteen  Fellows,  fifteen  Scholars,  two  Chaplains,  tw^o  Clerks,  besides 
Officers  and  Servants  of  the  foundation,  with  many  other  Students  ; 
the  whole  number  one  hundred  and  twenty.  As  for  Dr.  John 
Wilkins,  the  present  Warden  thereof,  my  worthily-respected  friend, 
he  hath  courteously  furnished  me  with  my  best  intelligence  from 
that  university. 

28.  A  Parliament  suddenly  called^  soon  dissohed. 

A  parliament  was  called  ;  wherein  many  things  were  transacted, 
nothing  concluded.  In  this  parliament.  Dr.  Harsnet,  bishop  of 
Chichester,  gave  oflfence  in  a  sermon  preached  at  court,  pressing  the 
word,  Beddite  Cwsari  quw  sunt  Cc&saris,  as  if  all  that  was  levied  by 
subsidies,  or  paid  by  custom  to  the  crown,  was  but  a  redditum  of 
what  was  the  king's  before.  Likewise  Dr.  Neile,  bishop  of 
Rochester,  uttered  words  in  the  House  of  the  Lords,  interpreted  to 
the  disparagement  of  some  reputed  zealous  patriot  in  the  House  of 
Commons.  Both  these  bishops  were  questioned  upon  it ;  and,  to 
save  them  from  the  storm,  this  was  the  occasion  chiefly  (as  was  sup- 
posed) of  the  abrupt  breaking-up  of  the  parliament. 

29 — 33.  The  Death  of  Bishop  Rudd.  A  remarkable  Passage. 
The  Bishop^  by  plain  Preaching^  gains  the  Queen's 
Favour  ;  a7id,  by  too  personal  Preaching^  loseth  it  again  : 
yet  died  generally  beloved  and  lamented.     A.D.  1614. 

Anthony  Rudd,  bishop  of  St.  David's,  ended  his  life,  March  27th. 
He  was  born  in  Yorkshire,  bred  in  Trinity  College  in  Cambridge, 
where  he  became  Fellow  :  a  most  excellent  preacher,  whose  sermons 

•  Namely,  anno  1634, 


262  CHURCH    HISTORY    OF    BRITAIN.  A.D.  1615. 

were  very  acceptable  to  queen  Elizabeth.  Hereon  dependeth  a 
memorable  story  ;  which  because  but  defectively  delivered  by  Sir 
John  Harrington,  I  request  the  reader^s  patience,  and  require  his 
belief,  to  this  large  and  true  relation  thereof. 

Bishop  Rudd  preaching  in  his  course  before  queen  Elizabeth  at 
Whitehall,  her  majesty  was  highly  affected  with  his  sermon  ;  inso- 
much that  she  commanded  archbishop  Whitgift  to  signify  unto  him, 
that  he  should  be  his  successor  in  case  the  archbishopric  ever  fell  in 
the  queen's  disposal. 

Not  long  after  the  archbishop,  meeting  bishop  Rudd,  "  Brother," 
said  he,  "  I  bring  good  tidings  to  you,  though  bad  to  myself ;  for 
they  cannot  take  full  effect  till  after  my  death.  Her  Grace  is  so 
pleased  with  your  last  sermon,  she  enjoined  me  to  signify  to  you 
her  pleasure, — that  you  shall  be  my  successor  in  Canterbury,  if 
surviving  me."  The  bishop  modestly  declined  his  words,  desiring 
the  long  life  of  his  Grace  ;  and,  in  case  of  his  advancement  to 
heaven,  confessed  many  other  in  England  far  fitter  for  the  place 
than  his  own  unworthiness ;  adding,  after  some  other  exchange  of 
words,  *'  Good  my  lord,  might  I  be  my  own  judge,  I  conceive  I 
have  preached  better  sermons  at  court,  surely  such  as  cost  me  more 
time  and  pains  in  composing  them."  "I  tell  you,"  replied  the 
archbishop,  *'  the  truth  is  this, — the  queen  now  is  grown  weary  of 
the  vanities  of  wit  and  eloquence,  wherewith  her  youth  was  formerly 
affected  ;  and  plain  sermons,  which  come  home  to  her  heart,  please 
her  the  best."  Surely  his  Grace  was  too  mortified  a  man,  (though 
none  naturally  love  their  successors  whilst  themselves  are  alive,) 
intentionally  to  lay  a  train  to  blow  up  this  archbishop-designed, 
though  by  the  other"'s  unadvised  practice  of  his  words  it  proved  so  in 
the  event. 

For,  next  time  when  it  came  to  the  bishop's  course  to  preach  at 
Court,  then  lying  at  Richmond,  anno  159G,  he  took  for  his  text. 
Psalm  xc.  12  :  "  O  teach  us  to  number  our  days,  that  we  may 
incline  our  hearts  unto  wisdom  :"  and,  in  the  close  of  his  sermon, 
touched  on  the  infirmities  of  age,  ''  when  the  grinders  shall  be  few 
in  number,  and  they  wax  dark  that  look  out  at  the  windows," 
Eccles.  xii.  3  ;  personally  applying  it  to  the  queen,  how  age  had 
furrowed  her  face,  and  besprinkled  her  hair  with  its  meal.  Wliereat 
her  majesty,  to  whom  inrfratissimum  acroama^  to  hear  of  death,  was 
highly  displeased.  Thus,  he  not  only  lost  liis  reversion  of  the 
archbishopric  of  Canterbury,  (which  indeed  never  fell  in  the  queen's 
days,)  but  also  the  present  possession  of  her  majesty's  fiivour. 

Yet  he  justly  retained  the  repute  of  a  reverend  and  godly  prelate, 
and  carried  the  same  to  the  grave.  He  wrought  much  on  the 
Welsh  by  his  wisdom,  and  won  their  affections;  and,  by  moderate 


IS  JAMES  I.  BOOK    X.       CENT.    XVII.  263 

tlirift,  and  long  staying  in  the  same  see,  left  to  his  son,  Sir  Rise 
Rudd,  baronet,  a  fair  estate  at  Aberglaseny  in  Carmarthenshire. 

34,  35.   Casauhon  invited  into  England ;  where  he  dieth,  and  is 

buried. 

Some  three  years  since,  on  the  death  of  king  Henry  IV.  Isaac 
Casaubon,  that  learned  critic,  was  fetched  out  of  France  by  king 
James,  and  preferred  prebendary  of  Canterbury.  Thus  desert  will 
never  be  a  drug,  but  be  vented  at  a  good  rate  in  one  country  or 
another,  as  long  as  the  world  afFordeth  any  truly  to  value  it.  King 
Henry  is  not  dead  to  Casaubon,  as  long  as  king  James  is  alive. 
He  who  formerly  flourished  under  the  bays,  now  thriveth  altogether 
as  well  under  the  olive.  Nor  is  Casaubon  sensible  that  England  is 
the  colder  climate,  whilst  he  finds  the  beams  of  his  majesty  so 
bright  and  warm  unto  him  ;  to  whom  also  the  lesser  lights  of 
prelates  and  peers  contributed  their  assistance. 

Presently  he  falls  a-writing,  as  natural,  and  almost  as  necessary, 
as  breathing  unto  him  :  First :  To  Fronto  Ducseus  his  learned 
friend.  Then  :  To  cardinal  Perron,  in  the  just  vindication  of  our 
English  church.  After  these,  he  began  his  "  Exercitations  on 
Baronius's  Ecclesiastical  Annals,*'''  which  more  truly  may  be  termed, 
"  the  Annals  of  the  Church  of  Rome.*"  But,  alas  !  death  here 
stopped  him  in  his  full  speed,  July  1st ;  and  he  lieth  entombed  in 
the  south  aisle  of  Westminster  Abbey  :  not  on  the  east  or  poetical 
side  thereof,  where  Chaucer,  Spenser,  Drayton,  are  interred,  but  on 
the  west  or  historical  side  of  the  aisle,  next  the  monument  of  Mr. 
Camden  ;  both  whose  plain  tombs,  made  of  white  marble,  show  the 
simplicity  of  their  intentions,  the  candidness  of  their  natures,  and 
perpetuity  of  their  memories.  Mr.  Casaubon''s  was  erected  at  the 
cost  of  Thomas  Morton,  bishop  of  Durham,  that  great  lover  of 
learned  men,  dead  or  alive. 

36,  37.  T?te  supposed  Occasion  of  Mr.  Selden's  Writing  against 
the  Divine  Right  of  Tithes.  Many  write  in  Answer  to  his 
Book.     A.D.  1615. 

The  king  comes  to  Cambridge  in  a  sharp  winter,  March  7th, 
when  all  the  world  was  nothing  but  air  and  snow.  Yet  the  scholars'* 
wits  did  not  freeze  with  the  weather  :  witness  the  pleasant  play  of 
"  Ignoramus,''''  which  they  presented  to  his  majesty.  Yet  whilst 
many  laughed  aloud  at  the  mirth  thereof,  some  of  the  graver  sort 
were  sad  to  see  the  common  lawyers  made  ridiculous  therein.  If 
gowns  begin  once  to  abase  gowns,  cloaks  will  carry  away  all. 
Besides,  of  all  wood  the  pleaders'*  bar  is  the  worst  to  make  a  stage 
of.     For,  once  in  an  age,  all  professions  must  be  beholding  to  their 


264  CHURCH    HISTORY    OF    BRITAIN.  A.D.  1610. 

patronage.  Some  conceive,*  that,  in  revenge,  Mr.  John  Selden 
soon  after  set  forth  his  book  of  tithes,  wherein  he  historically 
proveth  that  they  were  payable  jure  humano^  and  not  otherwise. 

I  cannot  suspect  so  high  a  soul  guilty  of  so  low  reflections,  that 
his  book  related  at  all  to  this  occasion  ;  but  only  that  the  latitude 
of  his  mind,  tracing  all  paths  of  learning,  did  casually  light  on  the 
road  of  this  subject.  His  book  is  divided  into  two  parts  ;  whereof 
the  first  is  a  mere  Jew,  of  the  practice  of  tithing  amongst  the 
Hebrews  ;  the  second,  a  Christian,  and  chiefly  an  Englishman,  of 
their  customs  in  the  same.  And  although  many  divines  undertook 
the  answer  of  this  book, — as  Mr.  Stephen  Nettles,  fellow  of  Queen's 
College  in  Cambridge,  (applying  himself  to  the  Judaical  part,)  Dr. 
Tillesly,  and  Mr.  Montague,  (all  writing  sharply,  if  strongly 
enough,) — yet,  sure  it  is,  never  a  fiercer  storm  fell  on  all  parsonage 
barns  since  the  Reformation,  than  what  this  treatise  raised  up. 

38,  39.  Melmn  freed  from  the  Tower. 
By  this  time  Mr.  Andrew  Melvin,  a  Scotchman,  got  to  be 
enlarged  out  of  the  Tower ;  whither  he  had  been  committed  for 
writing  some  satirical  verses  against  the  ornaments  on  the  altar,  or 
communion-table,  in  the  king's  chapel.  When  first  brought  into 
the  Tower,  he  found  Sir  William  Seymour  (now  the  right  honour- 
able, most  truly  noble,  and  religious  marquis  of  Hertford)  there 
imprisoned  for  marrying  the  lady  Arabella,  so  nearly  allied  to  the 
crown,  without  the  king's  consent.  To  whom  Melvin,  being  an 
excellent  poet,  (but  inferior  to  Buchanan  his  master,)  sent  this 
distich  : — 

Causa  mihi  tecum  comviunis  carceHs^  Ara 

ReGIA  BELLA  tM,  REGIA  SACRA  mihi. 

As  for  his  invective  verses  against  the  chapel-ornaments,  I  con- 
ceive the  following  copy  most  authentic ;  though  there  be  various 
lections  of  them,  bat  all  in  the  main  agreeing  together : — 

Quod  duo  stent  libri  clausi  Anglis  regid  iii  ard, 

Lumina  co'cu  duo,  poUubra  sicca  duo. 
An  clausum  caecumque  Dei  tenet  Anglia  cultum 

Lumine  caeca  suo,  sorde  scpulta  sua? 
Romano  ct  ritu  dum  regalem  instruit  aram, 

Purpuream  pingit  hLVuriosa  ■\  lupam. 

Mr.  George  Herbert,  of  Trinity  College  in  Cambridge,  made  a 
most  ingenious  retortion  of  this  hexastich,  which  as  yet  all  my 
industry  cannot  recover.  Yet  it  much  contenteth  me,  that  I  am 
certainly  informed,  that  the  posthume  remains  (shavings  of  gold  are 

•  Author  of  Dr.  rreston's  Life.  t  -V//(/.s,  rcligiosa. 


14  JAMES  I.  BOOK    X.       CENT.    XVII.  265 

carefully  to   be  kept !)   of  that  not  less  pious   than   witty  writer 
are  shortly  to  be   put  forth  into  print,  when  this  his  Anti-pelvi- 

Melti 

But  now  at  last  Melvin's  liberty  was  procured  by  the  intercession 
of  the  chief  of  the  Reformed  in  France  ;  and,  being  released,  he 
afterwards  became  Professor  at  Sedan,  in  the  duke  of  Bouillon's 
country.  Here  he  ceased  not  to  traduce  the  church  of  England, 
against  which  he  wrote  a  scroll  of  sapphics,  entitled,  "  Tami-Chami- 
Categeria^ 

40,  41 .   The  Death  of  Bishop  Bilson.     CampiarCs  Falsehood. 

This  year  Thomas  Bilson,  bishop  of  Winchester,  who  carried 
prelature  in  his  very  aspect,  ended  his  life  ;  first  schoolmaster,  then 
warden  of  Winchester ;  afterwards  bishop  of  Worcester,  and  lastly, 
of  Winchester  :  a  deep  and  profound  scholar,  excellently  well  read 
in  the  Fathers,  principally  showed  in  his  defence  of  Christ's  descent 
into  hell. 

By  the  way,  it  is  a  falsehood  what  Campian  writes  confidently, 
that  Cheyney,  bishop  of  Gloucester,  had  affirmed  unto  him  ;  namely, 
that  concerning  this  article  it  was  moved  in  a  Convocation  at 
London,  Quemadmodum  sine  tumultu  penitus  eximatur  de  Symbolo, 
"  How  it  might  without  any  noise  be  wholly  taken  out  of  the 
Creed.'''  For,  no  such  debate  appeareth  upon  record  in  our  Convo- 
cations ;  and  as  for  Campian,  his  single  affirmation  is  of  no  validity. 

42.  Archbishop  of  Spalato. 

Marcus  Antonius  de  Dominis,  archbishop  of  Spalato,  came  over 
into  England,  December  6th  ;  was  here  courteously  welcomed,  and 
plentifully  preferred ;  of  whose  hypocrisy  and  ingratitude  largely 
hereafter ;  namely,  anno  1622. 

43.   The  King  goes  into  Scotland.     A.  D.  1616. 

March  14th,  king  James  went  into  Scotland  to  visit  his  native 
country,  with  a  princely  train.  In  his  passage  thither,  he  was 
much  affected  with  a  sermon  which  one  of  his  chaplains  preached 
upon  this  text :  "  And  Abraham  was  very  rich  in  cattle,  in  silver, 
and  in  gold.  And  he  went  on  his  journeys  from  the  south  even  to 
Bethel,  to  the  place  where  his  tent  had  been  at  the  beginning," 
Gen.  xiii.  2,  3.  As  for  his  entertainment  in  Scotland,  we  leave  it 
to  their  historians  to  relate.  For  may  my  pen  be  plundered  by  the 
Borderers,  or  moss-troopers,  if  offering  to  cross  Tweed  into  another 
country  ! 


266  CHURCH  HISTORY  OF  BRITAIN.  A.D.  IGVf. 

44,  45.   The  Death  of  Bishop  James,  Bishop  Robinson,  and 
Bishop  Bennet. 

This  year  died  Dr.  William  James,  born  in  Cheshire,  Master 
first  of  the  University  College,  then  Dean  of  Christ  Church  in 
Oxford,  Chaplain  to  Robert  Dudley,  earl  of  Leicester,  and  Con- 
fessor to  him  at  his  death  ;  and  at  last  made  bishop  of  Durham. 
He  expended  much  on  the  repairing  of  the  chapel  of  Durham- 
house,  in  the  Strand,  and  in  his  younger  days  was  much  commended 
for  his  hospitality. 

Two  other  prime  prelates  accompanied  him  to  the  other  world, 
Dr.  Henry  Robinson,  Provost  of  Queen"*s  College,  in  Oxford, 
Bishop  of  Carlisle ;  of  great  temperance,  mild  in  speech,  but  weak 
in  constitution.  The  other,  Robert  Bennet,  Fellow  of  Trinity 
College,  in  Cambridge,  Chaplain  to  the  lord  Burleigh,  termed  by  a 
great  divine,  eruditiis  Benedictus,  Bishop  of  Hereford,  well-deserving 
of  his  see,  whose  houses  he  repaired. 

46 — 49.  Dr.  Mockefs  Translation  of  our  English  Liturgy; 
cavilled  at  by  many.  The  pinching  Accusation.  Imperial 
Decrees  command  not  in  England.  On  the  Burning  of 
his  Book  Dr.  Mocket  dieth.     J.D.  I617. 

Dr.  Mocket,  Warden  of  All  Souls  in  Oxford,  Chaplain  to  George 
Abbot,  archbishop  of  Canterbury,  set  forth  a  book  in  pure  Latin, 
containing  "  the  Apology  of  the  Church  of  England  ;'*'  "  the 
greater  and  lesser  Catechism ;"  "  the  nine-and-thirty  Articles  ;" 
"  the  Common  Prayer  ;""'  "  the  Ordination  of  Bishops,  Priests,  and 
Deacons  ;"  "  the  Polity,  or  Government  of  the  Church  of  England."' 
As  for  the  Homilies,  too  tedious  to  be  translated  at  large,  he 
epitomized  them  into  certain  propositions,  by  him  faithfully 
extracted. 

No  sooner  appeared  this  book  in  print,  but  many  faults  were 
found  therein.  Indeed,  it  fared  the  worse  for  the  author,  the  author 
for  his  patron  the  archbishop,  against  whom  many  bishops  began 
then  to  combine.  Some  accused  him  of  presumption  for  under- 
taking such  a  task  without  commission  from  the  king;*  it  being 
almost  as  fatal  for  private  persons  to  tamper  with  such  public 
matters,  as  for  a  subject  to  match  into  the  blood-royal  without  leave 
of  his  sovereign.  Others  complained,  that  he  enlarged  the  liberty 
of  a  translator  into  the  licence  of  a  commenter,  and  the  propo- 
sitions out  of  the  Homilies  by  him  collected  were  made  to  lean  to 
the  judgment  of  the  collector.  James  Montague,  bishop  of  Win- 
chester, a  potent  courtier,  took  exceptions  that  his  bishopric  in  the 

•  Yet  cum  privilcffio  is  prefixed  oii  the  first  page. 


15  JAMES  I.  BOOK    X.       CENT.    XVII.  267 

marshalling  of  them  was  wronged  in  the  method,  as  put  after  any 
whose  bishop  is  a  privy  counsellor.* 

But  the  main  matter  objected  against  it  was,  that  this  doctor  was 
a  better  chaplain  than  a  subject,  contracting  the  power  of  his  prince 
to  enlarge  the  privilege  of  his  patron  ;  allowing  the  archbishop  of 
Canterbury's  power  to  confirm  the  election  of  bishops  in  his  pro- 
vinces, citing  for  the  same,  the  sixth  canon  of  the  first  Nicene 
Council  established  by  imperial  authority  :f  "  If  any  be  made  a 
bishop  without  the  consent  of  his  metropolitan,  he  ought  not  to  be 
a  bishop." 

This  was  counted  a  high  offence,  to  attribute  an  obliging  authority 
either  to  canon  or  civil  law ;  both  which,  if  crossing  the  common 
law  of  the  land,  are  drowned  in  their  passage  as  they  sail  over  from 
Calais  to  Dover  ;  and  king  James,  justly  jealous  of  his  own  prero- 
gative, approved  not  such  a  confirming  power  in  the  archbishop, 
which  might  imply  a  negative  voice,  in  case  he  disliked  such  elects 
as  the  king  should  recommend  unto  him. 

Hereupon,  Dr.  Mockefs  book  was  censured  to  be  burned ;  which 
was  done  accordingly.  Now,  although  the  imperfections  and  indis- 
cretions of  this  translator  might  be  consumed  as  dross  in  the  fire, 
•yet  the  undoubted  truth  of  the  Articles  of  the  English  church 
therein  contained,  as  flame-free  and  perfectly  refined,  will  endure  to 
all  eternity.  The  doctor  took  this  censure  so  tenderly,  especially 
so  much  defeated  in  his  expectation — to  find  punishment  where  he 
looked  for  preferment ;  as  if  his  life  were  bound  up  by  sympathy  in 
his  book,  he  ended  his  days  soon  after. 

50.   The  Death  of  Robert  Abbot,  Bishop  of  Salisbury, 

Though  his  death  much  affected  his  friends  in  Oxford,  yet  far 
greater  the  grief  of  that  university  for  the  decease  of  Robert  Abbot, 
bishop  of  Salisbury,  who  died  this  year,  March  2nd  :  one  of  the 
honours,  not  only  of  that  see,  but  of  the  church  of  England  ;  born 
at  Guildford,  in  Surrey,  of  religious  parents  ;  as  persevering  in  the 
truth,  though  persecuted  for  the  same  in  the  reign  of  queen  Mary ;  J 
whose  two  younger  brothers,  George  and  Maurice,  the  one  came  to 
be  archbishop  of  Canterbury,  the  other  was  lord-n.ayor  of  London, 
and  the  first  knight  of  king  Charles's  dubbing.  This  good  bishop's 
deserts,  without  any  other  friend  or  spokesman,  preferred  him  to  all 
his  promotions.  For,  upon  his  oration  made  on  queen  Elizabeth's 
inauguration,  he  was  chosen  Scholar  (and  afterwards  Fellow  and 
Master)  of  Balliol  College.  Upon  a  sermon  preached  at  Worcester, 
he  was  made   lecturer  of  that   city.     Upon  a  sermon  preached   at 

*  In   his  Politica  Ecclesi<ie  Anjlicana:,   cap.  v.  page  314.  f  ibid,  page  309. 

t  Abel  Rcclivims,  page  540. 


268  CHURCH    HISTORY    OF    BRITAIN.  A.D.  1618. 

Paul's  Cross,  Mr.  John  Stanhope  preferred  him  to  the  rich  benefice 
of  Bingham,  in  Nottinghamshire.  Upon  a  sermon  preached  before 
king  James,  he  was  nominated  successor  to  Dr.  Holland,  in  the 
king's  professor's  place,  in  Oxford. 

Upon  the  fame  of  his  incomparable  lectures  de  Potestate  Begid^ 
and  other  labours,  he  was  made  bishop  of  Salisbury.  In  conferring 
which  place,  the  king  conquered  all  opposition,  which  some  envious 
persons  raised  against  him.  Witness  his  majesty's  pleasant  speech  : 
"  Abbot,  I  have  had  much  to  do  to  make  thee  a  bishop  ;  but  I 
know  no  reason  for  it,  unless  it  were  because  thou  hast  written  a 
book  against  a  popish  prelate,"  meaning  William  Bishop,  entitled 
by  the  pope,  "  the  nominal  bishop  of  the  aerial  diocess  of  Chal- 
cedon  ;"  which  enraged  the  court-papists  against  him  to  obstruct  his 
preferment.  "  The  hour-glass  of  his  life,"  saith  my  author,*  "  ran 
out  the  sooner  for  having  the  sand  or  gravel  thereof  stopped;"  so 
great  his  grief  of  the  stone ;  though,  even  whilst  his  body  was  on 
the  rack,  his  soul  found  ease  in  the  assurance  of  salvation. 

51,  52.   The  Imposture  of  the  Boy  of  Bilston,  found  out  by 
Bishop  Morton.      A.  D.  1618. 

About  this  time,  a  boy  dwelling  at  Bilston  in  Staffordshire, 
William  Perry  by  name,  not  full  fifteen  years  in  age,  but  above 
forty  in  cunning,  was  practised  on  by  some  Jesuits,  (repairing  to  the 
house  of  Mr.  Gifford  in  that  county,)  to  dissemble  himself  possessed. 
This  was  done  on  design  that  the  priests  might  have  the  credit  to 
cast  out  that  devil,  (which  never  was  in,)  so  to  grace  their  religion 
with  the  reputation  of  a  miracle. 

But  now  the  best  of  the  jest  (or  rather  the  worst  of  the  earnest,) 
was,  the  boy,  having  gotten  a  habit  of  counterfeiting,  leading  a  lazy 
life  thereby,  to  his  own  ease  and  parents'  profit,  (to  whom  he  was 
more  worth  than  the  best  plough-land  in  the  shire,)  would  not  be 
un-deviled  by  all  their  exorcisms,  so  that  the  priests  raised  up  a  spirit 
which  they  could  not  allay.  At  last,  by  the  industry  of  Dr. 
Morton,  bishop  of  Coventry  and  Lichfield,  the  juggling  was  laid  open 
to  the  world  by  the  boy's  own  confession  and  repentance  ;  who, 
being  bound  an  apprentice  at  the  bishop's  cost,  verified  the  proverb, 
that  "  an  untoward  boy  may  make  a  good  man." 

53,  54.  Cheaters  of  several  Kinds,     King  James'^s  Dexterity  in 
detecting  them. 
Indeed,  all  this  king's  reign  was  scattered  over  with  cheaters  in 
this  kind.     Some  papists,  some  sectaries,  some  neither ;  as  who  dis- 
sembled such  possession,  either  out  of  malice,   to  be  revenged  on 

•  Dr.  Fe^tley,  in  "  the  Life  of  Biahop  Abbot,"  page  549. 


IC  JAMES  I.  BOOK    X.       CENT.    XVII.  269 

those  whom  they  accused  of  ^Yitchcraft,  or  covetousness,  to  enrich 
themselves ;  seeing  such,  who,  out  of  charity  or  curiosity,  repaired 
unto  them,  were  bountiful  in  their  relief.  But  take  a  few  of  many  : — 
Papists. — Sarah  Williams,*  lying  past  all  sense  in  a  trance,  had 
a  devil,  say  the  Romanists,  slipped  up  into  her  leg. 

Grace  Sourebuts,-|-  of  Samlesbury,  in   the  county  of  Lancaster, ' 
was  persuaded,  by    Southworth,  a  priest,    to  dissemble  possession, 
to  gain  himself  credit  by  exorcising  her. 

Mary  and  Amie,  two  maids  of  Westminster,|  pretended  them- 
selves in  raptures  from  the  virgin  Mary  and  Micliael  the  archangel. 

Edward  Hance,§  a  popish  priest,  born  at  Lutterworth  in  Leicester- 
shire, gave  it  out  that  he  was  possessed  of  the  Blessed  Trinity. 

No  Papists. — Richard  Haydok,  Fellow  of  New  College  in 
Oxford,  preached  in  his  dreams  Latin  sermons  against  the  hierarchy. 
He  afterwards  recanted,  lived  in  good  esteem  to  a  great  age  in  Salis- 
bury, practising  physic,  being  also  an  excellent  poet,  limner,  and 
engraver. 

Anne  Gunter,  a  maid  of  Windsor,  gave  it  out  she  was  possessed 
of  a  devil,  and  was  transported  with  strange  ecstatical  phrensies. 

A  maid  at  Standon  in  Hertfordshire,  which  personated  a  demo- 
niac so  lively,  that  many  judicious  persons  were  deceived  by  her. 

See  we  this  catalogue  consists  most  of  the  weaker  sex ;  either 
because  satan  would  plant  his  battery  where  easiest  to  make  a 
breach ;  or  because  he  found  such  most  advantaged  for  dissembling, 
and  his  cloven-foot  best  concealed  under  long  coats.  Indeed, 
some  feminine  weaknesses  made  them  more  strong  to  delude ;  the 
ruins  of  the  disease  of  the  mother  being  the  best  foundation  to  build 
such  imposture  thereon. 

King  James  remembering  what  Solomon  saith,  "  It  is  the  honour 
of  a  king  to  search  out  a  matter,'^  Prov.  xxv.  2,  was  no  less  dex- 
terous than  desirous  to  make  discovery  of  these  deceits.  Various 
were  his  ways  in  his  detecting  them;  awing  some  into  confession 
with  his  presence,  persuading  others  by  promise  of  pardon  and  fair 
usage.  He  ordered  it  so,  that  a  proper  courtier  made  love  to  one  of 
these  bewitched  maids,  and  quickly  Cupid's  arrows  drove  out  the 
pretended  darts  of  the  devil.  Another  there  was,  the  tides  of  whose 
possession  did  so  ebb  and  flow,  that  punctually  they  observed  one 
liour  till  the  king  came  to  visit  her.  The  maid  loath  to  be  so 
unmannerly  as  to  make  his  majesty  attend  her  time,  antedated  her 
fits  many  hours,  and  instantly  ran  through  the  whole  zodiac 
of  tricks  which  she  used  to  play.  A  third,  strangely-affected  when 
the  first  verse  of  St.  John's  Gospel  was  read  unto  her  in  our  trans- 

•  See  Bishop  Harsnet's  book  on  this  subject,  page  81.  t  John  Gee's  "  Foot 

oat  of  the  Snare,"  page  53.  t  Idevi,  page  54,  §  Idcviy  page  5.5. 


270  CHURCH    HISTORY    OF    BRITAIN.  A.J).  1618. 

lation,  was  tame  and  quiet  whilst  the  same  was  pronounced  in 
Greek  ;  her  English  devil,  belike,  understanding  no  other  language. 
The  frequency  of  such  forged  possessions  wrought  such  an  altera- 
tion upon  the  judgment  of  king  James,  that  he,  receding  from  what 
he  had  written  in  his  "  Demonology,"  grew  first  diffident  of,  and 
then  flatly  to  deny,  the  workings  of  witches  and  devils,  as  but 
falsehoods  and  delusions. 

55,  56.  The  King's  Declaration  for  Liberty  on  the  Lord's  Day. 
The  various  Effects  thereof. 

King  James,  having,  last  year,  in  his  progress  passed  through 
Lancashire,  took  notice,  that,  by  the  preciseness  of  some  magistrates 
and  ministers,  in  several  places  of  this  kingdom,  in  hindering  people 
from  their  recreations  on  the  Sundays,  the  papists  in  this  realm 
being  thereby  persuaded  that  no  honest  mirth  or  recreation  was 
tolerable  in  our  religion.  Whereupon,  May  14th,  the  Court 
being  then  at  Greenwich,  he  set  forth  a  Declaration  to  this  effect, 
that,  "  for  his  good  people''s  lawful  recreations,  his  pleasure  was, 
that,  after  the  end  of  Divine  service,  they  should  not  be  disturbed, 
letted,  or  discouraged  from  any  lawful  recreations ;  such  as  dancing 
either  of  men  or  women  ;  archery  for  men,  leaping,  vaulting,  or  any 
such  harmless  recreations ;  nor  from  having  of  May-games,  Whit- 
sun-ales,  or  morris-dances,  and  setting-up  of  May-poles,  or  other 
sports  therewith  used,  so  as  the  same  be  had  in  due  and  convenient 
time,  without  impediment  or  let  of  Divine  service ;  and  that 
women  should  have  leave  to  carry  rushes  to  the  church  for  the 
decoring  of  it,  according  to  their  old  custom  ;  withal  prohibiting  all 
unlawful  games  to  be  used  on  the  Sundays  only,  as  bear-baiting, 
bull-baiting,  interludes,  and  (at  all  times  in  the  meaner  sort  of  people 
by  law  prohibited)  bowling."" 

But  when  this  Declaration  was  brought  abroad,  it  is  not  so  hard 
to  believe,  as  sad  to  recount,  what  grief  and  distraction  thereby 
was  occasioned  in  many  honest  men''s  hearts ;  who  looked  on  it,  not 
as  local  for  Lancashire,  but  what  in  process  of  time  would  enlarge 
itself  all  over  England.*  Some  conceived  the  recreations  specified 
impeditive  to  the  observation  of  the  Lord's  day  ;  yea,  unsuitable 
and  unbeseeming  the  essential  duties  thereof.  But  others  main- 
tained, that  if  private  men's  speeches  must  not  be  pressed  to  an 
odious  construction,  much  more  men  were  bound  candidly  to  inter- 
pret the  acts  of  authority  ;  and  in  charity  must  presume  and  be 
persuaded,  that  religious  princes  will  command  nothing  what  they 
conceive  either  to  be  unjust  or  not  expedient,  all  things  considered. 
They  considered,  moreover,   (which  was  mainly  material,)   tliat  this 

•  So  it  was  in  the  reign  of  king  Charles,  «««o  1633. 


16  JAMES  I.  BOOK    X.       CENT.    XYIl.  271 

Declaration  was  not  dogmatical  or  doctrinal,  to  say  or  aver  these  things 
to  be  theologically  lawful ;  but  it  was  edictiim  civile,  what  the  king 
thought  fit  upon  just  reasons  to  permit,  without  restraint  or  punish- 
ment. The  hardness  of  men's  hearts  on  one  side,  which  will  break 
loose  though  restrained,  and  the  hope  of  gaining  others  on  the  other 
side  by  a  favourable  allowance,  might  be  just  motives  in  authority 
to  give  way  to  things  cimliter,  that  they  may  be  done  impune,  and 
yet  not  prejudice  any  point  of  religion,  and  not  to  be  done  licite, 
as  in  divorces  extra  ccisum  adulterii,  usury,  &c. 

57 — 60.  Reasons  of  the  Refusers  to  publish   this  Declaration. 
The  Arguments   for  the  lawful  publishing  of  the  Decla- 
ration.    A    Third  Sort  resolve  on  a  strange  E.vpedient. 
Lancashire  Ministers  more  scared  than  hurt.     A  Fourth 
Sort  read  it  with  Approbation  of  the  Contents  therein. 
But  the  difficulty  was  increased,  when  ministers  daily  feared  to  be 
urged  upon  their  canonical  obedience,  to  promulgate  and  publish  the 
said  Declaration  in  their  parish- churches;   which  some  resolved  flatly 
to  refuse,  especially  such  who  formerly  had  strictly  preached   and 
pressed  the  observation   of  the  Lord's  day,  alleging  for  and  apply- 
ing to  themselves   that  place  of  St.  Paul  :   "  For,  if  I  build   again 
the  things  which  I  have   destroyed,  I  make  myself  a  transgressor,'' 
Gal.  ii.  18.     Beside  this,  they  enforced  the  reasons  following  for 
their   recusancy;  yea,  though  the  king  himself  should  enjoin  them 
on  their  allegiance  : — 

1.  That  the  publishing  of  this  Declaration  w^ould  be  inter- 
pretative an  approbation  thereof;  whereas,  on  the  contrary,  they 
are  commanded,  to  "have  no  fellowship  with  the  unfruitful  works 
of  darkness,  but  rather  to  reprove  them,"  Ephesians  v.  11. 

2.  That  hereby  they  should  draw  a  just  woe  upon  them,  pro- 
nounced by  the  prophet:  "Woe  unto  them  that  decree  unrighteous 
decrees,  and  that  write  grievousness  which  they  have  prescribed," 
Isaiah  x.  1.  Where,  as  the  learned  interpret,  even  public  notaries, 
which  are  but  instrumental,  are  threatened  w^ith  a  curse.* 

o.  That  the  promulgation  of  a  law  is  de  essentia  legis  ;  so  that 
people  would  neither  take  notice  of  this  Declaration,  nor  liberty  by 
it,  till  it  were  published,  and  so  the  publisher  should  per  se  be  a 
promoter  of  a  sin. 

4.  That  obedience  to  authority  obligeth  only  in  licitis  et 
honestis ;  and  the  apostle  confer- seth,  that  he  himself  had  "power 
to  edification,  and  not  to  destruction,"  2  Cor.  xiii.  10;  whereunto 
the  publishing  thereof  did  manifestly  tend. 

On  the  other  side,  some  learned  and  pious  ministers,  who  in  their 

•  JuNics  and  Piscator  on  the  place. 


272  CHURCH    HISTORY    OF    BRITAIl^r.  A.D.  1618. 

judgments  were  convinced  that  some  of  the  aforesaid  recreations 
were  incompatible  with  the  sanctification  of  the  sabbath ;  notwith- 
standing, in  case  his  majesty  should  enjoin  it,  on  serious  deliberation 
resolved,  in  obedience  to  the  king,  publicly  to  read  or  cause  the 
reading  of  the  Declaration,  not  looking  at  the  contents  therein,  but 
at  the  authority  commanding  the  publication  thereof;  the  rather, 
because  no  subscription  was  required,  or  vocal  assent,  to  approve 
what  therein  was  contained  to  be  just,  or  affirm  it  to  be  true  ;  but 
a  bare  ministerial  declaring  of  the  king's  will  and  pleasure  therein, 
which  they  conceived  themselves  bound  in  conscience  to  perform, 
for  the  reasons  ensuing  : — 

1.  The  refusal,  well  observed,  doth  resolve  into  a  principle,  which 
would  take  away  the  necessity  of  obedience  universally,  when  the 
party  commanded  can  pretend  the  magistrate  ought  not  to  com- 
mand him  any  such  thing;  and,  if  the  prince  must  suspend  his 
edicts  upon  each  subject''s  doubt,  he  should  never  set  forth  any,  con- 
sidering the  variety  of  judgments  and  the  distractions  which  are  in 
his  subjects. 

2.  A  sheriff  may,  yea,  must,  disperse  the  king's  proclamations, 
which  he  liketh  not;  and  a  clerk,  at  the  command  of  his  master,  a 
Justice  of  Peace,  may  lawfully  write  the  mittimus  of  that  person  to 
prison  whom  in  his  particular  judgment  he  conceiveth  to  be  inno- 
cent ;  and  (what  is  most  proper  to  our  purpose,  because  a  religious 
instance)  a  minister,  without  any  sin,  may  safely  pronounce  an 
excommunication,  legally  delivered  unto  him,  though  in  his  own 
private  conscience  he  be  convinced  that  the  party  is  unjustly  excom- 
municated. 

3.  There  are  many  precedents  hereof  in  antiquity.  A  Father  * 
gives  this  censure,  that  when  the  Jews,  commanded  by  Antiochus, 
gave  up  the  Divine  Books  to  his  officers,  to  be  destroyed,  it  was 
peccatum  imperantis  et  minantis;  non  jyopuli,  cum  dolor e  et  tremor e 
tradentis^  "  a  sin  of  him  that  commanded  and  threatened  it ;  not  of 
the  people,  who  surrendered  up  those  volumes  with  fear  and  sorrow."" 
And  St.  Augustine  resolveth  it  in  the  case  of  a  Christian  soldier, 
fighting  under  a  sacrilegious  emperor ;  that,  though  he  be  not 
satisfied  in  the  lawfulness  of  the  commands,  he  may  notwithstanding 
lawfully  obey.  Ita  ut  fortasse  reum  faciat  regem  iniquitas  imper- 
andi^  innocentem  militem  ostendat  ordo  sermendi.^  And,  what  is 
most  apposite  to  the  matter  in  hand,  (because  the  edict  of  a  godly 
emperor,  seriously  distasted  by  a  godly  bishop,)  Mauritius  set  forth 
a  command,  that  no  soldier  should  be  admitted  into  a  monastery; 
and  though  Gregory  the  Great  was  persuaded,  the  prohibition  was 

*  Optatus  Milevitanus,  lib.  7.  t  Contra  Fausluin,  lib.  xxii.  cap.  75. 


16  JAMES  I.  BOOK    X.       CENT.    XVII.  273 

in  itself  injurious  and  unlawful,  yet  he  did,  in  dkersas  terrarum 
partes  transmitter e  legem^  quia  erat  subjectus  ejus  jussionibus.* 

Convinced  with  these  reasons,  some  ministers  (not  with  any 
delight  in  the  message,  but  in  duty  to  the  authority  which  sent) 
intended,  if  put  to  the  trial,  sadly  and  unwillingly  to  publish  the 
Declaration. 

A  third  sort  took  up  a  resolution  to  read  the  Declaration,  or 
suffer  it  to  be  read,  and  presently  after  to  preach  against  the  con- 
tents of  what  they  had  published  ;  hoping,  so,  warily  to  avoid  the 
danger  of  disobedience  in  refusing  to  promulgate  it,  and  of  profane- 
ness  in  seeming  to  approve  it.  But,  whether  by  this  middle  way, 
setting  God  and  the  king  as  openly  opposite,  they  would  have 
declined  or  contracted  more  odium,  it  is  hard  to  determine. 

But  now,  after  so  long  and  many  diversities  of  opinions  and  argu- 
ments on  several  sides,  their  own  fear  proved  at  last  their  only  foe  ; 
the  king's  goodness  taking  away  the  subject  of  their  jealousy  ;  so 
that  no  minister  in  the  county  was  enjoined  to  read  the  book  in  his 
parish,  wherewith  they  had  so  affrighted  themselves.  However, 
their  arguments  may  be  kept  cold,  and  laid  up  provisionally  against 
the  time  they  had  use  thereof;  especially  for  such  who  survived  till 
the  seventh  of  king  Charles,  when  the  Declaration  for  liberty  on  the 
Lord's  day  was  enjoined  (though  not  by  the  king)  the  ministers  to 
publish  clean  through  the  land. 

However,  there  wanted  not  many,  both  in  Lancashire  and 
elsewhere,  who  conceived  the  Declaration  came  forth  seasonably,  to 
suppress  the  dangerous  endeavour  of  such  who  now  began  in  their 
pulpits  to  broach  the  dregs  of  Judaism,  and  force  Christians  to  drink 
them.  So  that  those  legal  ceremonies,  long  since  dead,  buried,  and 
rotten  in  the  grave  of  our  Saviour,  had  now  their  ghosts,  as  it  were, 
walking ;  frighting  such  people  with  their  terrible  npparitions,  who 
were  persuaded  by  some  preachers  to  so  rigorous  observation  of  the 
sabbath,  that  therein  it  was  unlawful  to  dress  meat,  sweep  their 
houses,  kindle  the  fire,  or  the  like.  Yea,  and  the  papists  in 
Lancashire  especially, — a  frontier  country,  as  I  may  term  it,  of 
papists  and  protestants,  where  the  Reformed  religion  had  rather  a 
truce  than  a  peace,  standing  on  its  guard  and  posture  of  defence ;  I 
say,  in  Lancashire  the  Romanists  made  advantage  of  this  strictness  to 
pervert  many  to  popery,  persuading  them,  that  the  protestant 
religion  was  the  school  of  Tyrannus,  where  no  lawful  liberty  was 
allowed.  And  no  wonder  if  many  common  people  were  hereby 
fetched  off  unto  them  ;  "  starting  aside  as  a  broken  bow,"  chiefly 
because  overbent  for  lack  of  lawful  recreation.     But  enough  hereof, 

•  Lib.  ii.  Ep.  Gl. 

Vol.  hi.  t 


274  CHURCH    HISTORY    OF    BRITAIN.  A.D.  1618. 

and  too  much,  (if  not  pressed  thereunto  in  pursuance  of  our  History,) 
and  yet  ere  long  we  must  have  more  on  the  same  sad  subject. 

61.  The  heretical  Opinions  of  John  Thraske. 

Now  of  the  broakers*  of  Judaism,  John  Thraske  was  a  principal. 
Whether  ever  he  sucked  on  the  breasts  of  either  university,  or  only 
was  brought  up  by  hand  in  some  petty  school,  I  know  not.  This  I 
know,  that,  seeking  to  be  made  deacon  or  minister,  by  James 
bishop  of  Bath  and  Wells,  Dr.  Samuel  Ward,  then  poser  and  the 
bishop's  chaplain,  refused  him,  as  altogether  insufficient.  However, 
afterwards  he  got  Orders,  and  then  began  to  vent  his  opinions;  that 
the  Lord's  day  was  to  be  observed  with  the  same  strictness  by 
Christians,  as  it  was  by  Jews  ;  and  that  all  meats  and  drinks  for- 
bidden in  the  Levitical  law  bound  Christians  to  the  same  obser- 
vance; thereby  opening  a  door  to  let  in  the  rabble  of  all  ceremonies. 
Thus  he  brought  in  a  constant  Lent  of  his  own  making.  And, 
whereas  divines  can  forbid  no  meat  as  unlawful,  (though  politicians 
may,  as  unthrifty  for  the  state;  and  physicians,  as  unheal thful  for  the 
body,)  because  Christ  hath  given  us  that  licence,  "  To  the  clean  all 
things  are  clean  ; ''  yet  he  seduced  many  souls  with  his  tenets,  and 
his  own  wife  amongst  many  others.  For  these  he  was  censured  in 
the  Star-chamber,  but  afterwards  recanted  his  opinions,  and  lived, 
as  unsettled  in  judgment  as  place,  in  several  parts  of  the  kingdom 
I  have  heard  him  preach  a  sermon,  nothing  relating  to  the  aforesaid 
doctrine;  and  when  his  auditors  have  forgotten  the  matter,  they  will 
remember  the  loudness  of  his  stentorious  voice;  which,  indeed,  had 
more  strength  than  any  thing  else  he  delivered.  He  afterwards 
relapsed,  not  into  the  same  but  other  opinions,  rather  humorous 
than  hurtfid,  and  died  obscurely  at  Lambeth,  in  the  reign  of  king 
Charles.  Nor  must  we  forget,  that  his  wife  could  never  be  unper- 
verted  again,  but  perished  in  her  Judaism  ;  because,  as  our  Saviour 
observeth,  proselytes  in  general  are  twofold  worse  than  their  leader, 
Matt,  xxiii.  15  ;  and  her  sex,  as  pliable  to  receive  as  tenacious  to 
retain,  had  weakness  enough  to  embrace  an  error,  and  obstinacy  too 
much  to  forsake  it. 

62,  63.   The  Troubles  in  the  Low  Countries. 

At  this  time  began  the  troubles  in  the  Low  Countries  about 
matters  of  religion,  heightened  between  two  opposite  parties, — 
Remonstrants  and  Contra-Remonstrants  ;  their  controversies  being 
chiefly  reducible  to  five  points  :  Of  predestination  and  reprobation  ; 
of  the  latitude  of  Christ's  death;  of  the  power  of  man's  free-will, 
both  before  and  after  his  conversion  ;  and  of  the  elect's  perseverance 

*  Whether  the  word  bro/ars,  or  hroachers,  is  hei*e  mteiuleil,  who  will  decide  ? — Edit. 


10  JAMES   r.  BOOK    X.       CENT.    XVII.  275 

in  grace.  To  decide  these  difficulties,  tlie  States  of  the  United 
Provinces  resolved  to  call  a  National  Synod  at  Dort  ;  and,  to  give 
the  more  lustre  and  weight  to  the  determinations  thereof,  desired 
some  foreign  princes  to  send  them  the  assistance  of  their  divines  for 
so  pious  a  work  ;  especially,  they  requested  our  king  of  Great 
Britain  to  contribute  his  aid  thereunto,  (being  himself  as  forward 
to  do,  as  they  desire,  any  thing  conducible  to  God's  glory  and  the 
church's  good,)  who,  out  of  his  own  princely  wisdom  and  free 
favour,  made  choice  of  George  Carleton,  doctor  of  divinity,  then 
bishop  of  Landaff,  and  afterward  bishop  of  Chichester  ;  Joseph 
Hall,  doctor  of  divinity,  then  dean  of  Worcester,  and  afterward 
bishop  of  Exeter  and  Norwich  ;  John  Davenant,  doctor  of  divinity, 
then  Margaret  Professor,  and  master  of  Queen's  College  in  Cam- 
bridge, afterwards  bishop  of  Salisbury  ;  Samuel  Ward,  doctor  of 
divinity,  then  master  of  Sidney  College  in  Cambridge,  and  arch- 
deacon of  Taunton.  These,  according  to  their  summons,  repairing 
to  his  majesty  at  Newmarket,  received  from  him  there  these  follow- 
ing Instructions,*  concerning  their  behaviour  in  the  Synod  : — 

"1.  Our  will  and  pleasure  is,  that  from  this  time  forward,  upon 
all  occasions,  you  inure  yourselves  to  the  practice  of  the  Latin 
tongue ;  that,  when  there  is  cause,  you  may  deliver  your  minds 
with  more  readiness  and  facility. 

"2.  You  shall,  in  all  points  to  be  debated  and  disputed,  resolve 
amongst  yourselves  beforeiiand  what  is  the  true  state  of  the  question, 
and  jointly  and  uniformly  agree  thereupon. 

"  S.  If,  in  debating  of  the  cause  by  the  learned  men  there,  any 
thing  be  emergent,  whereof  you  thought  not  before,  you  shall  meet 
and  consult  thereupon  again,  and  so  resolve  among  yourselves 
jointly  what  is  fit  to  be  maintained.  And  this  to  be  done  agree- 
able to  the  Scriptures,  and  the  doctrine  of  the  church  of  England. 

"  4.  Your  advice  shall  be  to  those  churches,  that  their  ministers  do 
not  deliver  in  the  pulpit  to  the  people  those  things  for  ordinary  doc- 
trines which  are  the  highest  points  of  schools,  and  not  fit  for  vulgar 
capacity,  but  disputable  on  both  sides. 

"5.  That  they  use  no  innovation  in  doctrine,  but  teach  the  same 
things  which  were  taught  twenty  or  thirty  years  past  in  their  own 
churches ;  and  especially,  that  which  contradicteth  not  their  own 
Confessions,  so  long  since  published,  and  known  unto  the  world. 

"  6.  That  they  conform  themselves  to  the  public  Confessions  of 
the  neighbour  Reformed  churches  ;  with  whom  to  hold  good  corre- 
spondency, shall  be  no  dishonour  to  them. 

"  7-  That,  if  there  be  main  opposition  between  any  who  are  over- 
much addicted  to  their  own  opinions,  your  endeavour  shall  be,  that 

*  These  Instructions  I  saw  transcribed  otit  of  Dr.  Davenant's  own  manuscript. 

t2 


276  CHURCH    HISTORY    OF    BRITAIN.  A.  D.  1618. 

certain  positions  be  moderately  laid  down,  which  may  tend  to  the 
mitigation  of  heat  on  both  sides. 

"  8.  That,  as  you  principally  look  to  God'*s  glory,  and  the  peace  of 
those  distracted  churches  ;  so  you  have  an  eye  to  our  honour,  who 
send  and  employ  you  thither  ;  and,  consequently,  at  all  times  con- 
sult with  our  ambassador  there  residing,  who  is  best  acquainted  with 
the  form  of  those  countries,  understandeth  well  the  questions  and 
differences  among  them,  and  shall  from  time  to  time  receive  our 
princely  directions,  as  occasion  shall  require. 

"  9.  Finally,  in  all  other  things  which  we  cannot  foresee,  you  shall 
carry  yourselves  with  that  advice,  moderation,  and  discretion,  as  to 
persons  of  your  quality  and  gravity  shall  appertain." 

Dr.  Davenant  and  Dr.  Ward  presented  themselvesa  gain  to  his 
majesty  at  Royston,  October  8th,  where  his  majesty  vouchsafed  his 
familiar  'discourse  unto  them  for  two  hours  together,  commanding 
them  to  sit  down  by  him,  and  at  last  dismissed  them  with  his  solemn 
prayer,  that  God  would  bless  their  endeavours ;  which  made  them 
cheerfully  to  depart  his  presence. 

Addressing  themselves  now  with  all  possible  speed  to  the  sea-side, 
they  casually  missed  that  man-of-war  which  the  States  had  sent  to 
conduct  them  over,  (though  they  saw  him  on  sea  at  some  distance,) 
and  safely  went  over  in  a  small  vessel,  landing,  October  20th,  at 
Middleburgh.  On  the  27th  of  the  same  month  they  came  to 
Hague,  where  they  kissed  the  hand  of  his  excellency  Grave  Maurice  ; 
to  whom  the  bishop  made  a  short  speech,  and  by  whom  they  were 
all  courteously  entertained.  Hence  they  removed  to  Dort,  where, 
November  3rd,  the  Synod  began  ;  and  where  we  leave  them  with 
the  rest  of  their  fellow-divines,  when  first  every  one  of  them  had 
taken  this  admission-oath,  at  their  entrance  into  the  Synod : — 

"  I  promise  before  God,  whom  I  believe  and  adore,  the  present 
Searcher  of  the  heart  and  reins,  that  in  all  this  synodal  action, 
wherein  shall  be  appointed  the  examination,  judgment,  and  decision, 
as  well  of  the  known  Five  Articles,  and  difficulties  thence  arising, 
as  of  all  other  doctrinals ;  that  I  will  not  make  use  of  any  human 
writing,  but  only  of  God's  word,  for  the  certain  and  undoubted  rule 
of  faith  ;  and  that  I  shall  propound  nothing  to  myself  in  this  whole 
cause,  beside  the  glory  of  God,  the  peace  of  the  church,  and  espe- 
cially the  preservation  of  the  purity  of  doctrine  therein.  So  may 
my  Saviour  Jesus  Christ  be  merciful  unto  me,  whom  I  earnestly 
pray,  that,  in  this  my  purpose,  he  would  always  be  present  with  me 
with  the  grace  of  his  Spirit.''* 

I  say,  "  we  leave  them  here  with  their  fellow-divines."  For,  should 
my  pen  presume  to  sail  over  the  sea,  it  would  certainly  meet  with 

*  ^vta  Si/nndi  Dordraccno',  page  G4. 


16  JAMES  I.  BOOK    X.       CENT.    XVII.  277 

a  storm  in  the  passage  ;  the  censure  of  such  who  will  justly  con- 
demn it  for  meddling  with  transmarine  matters,  especially  doctrinal 
points,  utterly  alien  from  my  present  subject.  Only  a  touch  of 
an  historical  passage  therein,  confining  ourselves  to  our  own  coun- 
trymen. 

64—66.  The  States'  liberal  Allowance  to  the  English  Divines. 
Weekly  Intelligence  to  the  King  from  his  Divines.  Mr- 
Balcanqual  admitted  into  the  Synod. 

These  four  divines  had  allowed  them  by  the  States  ten  pounds  ster- 
ling a-day,  threescore-and-ten  pounds  by  the  week  ;  an  entertainment 
far  larger  than  what  was  appointed  to  any  other  foreign  theologues  ; 
and  politicly  proportioned,  in  grateful  consideration  of  the  greatness 
of  his  majesty  who  employed  them.  And  tliese  English  divines, 
knowing  themselves  sent  over,  not  to  gain  wealth  to  themselves,  but 
glory  to  God,  and  reputation  to  their  sovereign,  freely  gave  what 
they  had  freely  received,  keeping  a  table-general,  where  any  fashion- 
able foreigner  w^as  courteously  and  plentifully  entertained. 

They  were  commanded  by  the  king  to  give  him  a  weekly  account 
(each  one  in  his  several  week,  according  to  their  seniority)  of  all 
memorable  passages  transacted  in  the  Synod.  Yet  it  happened, 
that,  for  a  month  or  more,  the  king  received  from  them  no  particulars 
of  their  proceedings  ;  whereat  his  majesty  was  most  highly  offended. 
But  afterwards,  understanding,  that  this  defect  was  caused  by  the 
countennands  of  a  higher  King,  even  of  Him  "  who  gathereth  the 
wind  in  his  fists,"  Prov.  xxx.  4,  stopping  all  passages  by  contrary 
weather  ;  no  wonder  if  he,  who  was  so  great  a  peace-maker,  was 
himself  so  quickly  pacified  :  yea,  afterwards  highly  pleased,  when 
four  weekly  dispatches  (not  neglected  to  be  orderly  sent,  but 
delayed  to  be  accordingly  brought)  came  all  together  to  his 
majesty ""s  hands. 

On  the  10th  of  December,  Gualter  Balcanqual,  bachelor  of 
divinity,  and  fellow  of  Pembroke  Hall,  came  into  the  Synod,  where 
his  credential  letters  from  king  James  were  publicly  read  ;  whose 
pleasure  it  was,  that  he  should  be  added  to  the  four  English 
colleagues,  in  the  name  of  the  church  of  Scotland.  The  president 
of  the  Synod  welcomed  him  with  a  short  oration,  which  by  Mr. 
Balcanqual  was  returned  with  another,  and  so  was  he  conducted  to 
his  place  ;  a  place  built  for  him  particularly,  as  one  coming  after  all 
the  rest,  so  that  his  seat  discomposed  the  uniformity  of  the  building, 
exactly  regular  before.  But  it  matters  not  how  the  seats  were 
ordered,  so  that  the  judgments  of  such  as  sat  therein  were  conformed 
to  the  truth  of  the  Scriptures. 


278         CHURCH  HISTORY  OF  BRITAIN.         A.D.  1619. 

67,68.  Dr.  Hair s  Return  thence.  Dr.  Goad  in  the  Room  of 
Dr.  Hall.     J.  D.  1619. 

Dr.  Joseph  Hall,  being  at  tlie  Synod  of  Dort,  and  finding  much 
indisposition  in  himself,  the  air  not  agreeing  with  his  health,  on  his 
humble  request  obtained  his  majesty's  leave  to  return.  Where- 
upon, composing  his  countenance  with  a  becoming  gravity,  he 
publicly  took  his  solemn  farewell  of  the  Synod,  with  this  speech 
following : — 

Non  facile  Tero  meciim  in  gratiam  redierit  cadaTerosa  hoec  moles^ 
quam  wgre  usque  circumgesto^  quw  mihi  hujus  cowcentus  celehritatem 
toties  inmderit,  jamque  prorsus  i7imtissimum  a  'cohis  miportune 
anocat^  et  dimllit.  Neqiie  enim  idlus  est  profectd  sub  coelo  locus 
wque  coeli  wmulus,  et  in  quo  tentorium  mini  fig  I  maluerim.,  cujusque 
ade^  gestiet  mihi  animus  oneminisse.  Beatos  xerb  vos,  quibus  hoc 
frui  datum  !  Non  dignus  eram  ego  (ut  fidelissimi  Romani  querimo- 
niam  imitari  liceat)  qui  et  Christi  et  ecclesia?  sua?  nomine^  sanctam 
hanc  protinciam  diutiils  sustinerem.  Illud  'cero  ©sou  sv  yo6va(Ti. 
Nempe  audito,  quod  res  erat,  non  alia  me  quam  adversissimd  hie 
tisum  raletudine,  serenissimus  rex  meus^  misertus  miselli  famidi  sui, 
revocat  me  domum^  quippe  quod  cineres  meos,  aut  sandapilam  'cobis 
nihil  quicquam  prodesse  posse  norit,  succentuHamtque  mihi  mrum  e 
suis  selectissimum,  quantum  theologum !  De  me  profectd  (mero  jam 
silicernio)  quicquid  fiat.,  mderit  ille  Deus  metis.,  cujus  ego  totus 
sum.  Vobis  quidem  itafeliciter  prospectum  est,  ut  sit  cur  infirmitati 
mew  haud  parum  gratidemini.,  quum  hujusmodi  instructissimo 
succedaneo  coetum  hunc  'cestrum  beaverit.  Neque  tamen  committam, 
(si  Deus  mihi  mtam  et  mres  indulserit,)  ut  et  corpore  simul  et 
animo  abesse  mdear.  Interea  sane  huic  Synodo,  ubicunque  terra- 
rum  sum,  et  tobis,  consiliis  conatibusque  meis  quibuscunque,  res 
testras  me,  pro  mrili,  sedulo  ac  serid  promoturum,  sancte  wteo. 
Interim  vobis  omnibus  ac  singulis,  honoratissimi  domini  delegati, 
reter&ndissime  presses,  gravissimi  assessores,  scribes  doctissimi, 
symmystce  colendissimi,  tibique  'cenerandissima  synodus  universa, 
wgrd animo  ac  corpore  ceternum  taledico.  Rogows  omnes  obnixiiis, 
nt  precibus  testris  imbecillem  reducem  facere,  comitari,  prosequi 


Thus  returned  Dr.  Hall  into  his  own  country  ;  since,  so  recovered 
(not  to  say  revived)  therein  that  he  hath  gone  over  the  graves  of  all  his 
English  colleagues  there,  and  (what  cannot  God  and  good  air  do  ?) 
surviving  in  health  at  this  day,  three-and- thirty  years  after,  may  well, 
with  Jesse,  "  go  amongst  men  for  an  old  man  in  these  days,"  1  Sam. 
xvii.  12.  And  living  privately,  having  passed  through  the  bishop- 
rics of  Exeter  and  Norwich,  hath  now  the  opportunity,  in  these 
lioublesomc   times,   effectually   to   practise   those   his   precepts   of 


17  JAMES  I.  BOOK    X.       CENT.    XVII.  279 

patience  and  contentment,  which  his  pen  hath  so  eloquently  recom- 
mended to  others. 

On  the  seventh  of  January,  Thomas  Goad,  doctor  of  divinity, 
chaplain  to  George  archbishop  of  Canterbury,  came  into  the  Synod, 
sent  thither  by  his  majesty  of  Great  Britain.  The  president  enter- 
tained him  with  a  solemn  oration,  highly  commending  king  James's 
care,  not  recalling  one  divine  till  he  had  substituted  another.  The 
doctor  requited  him  with  a  pithy  oration,  promising  the  utmost  of 
his  assistance  to  the  general  good :  a  promise  by  him  well-perfonned, 
giving 'afterwards  ample  testimony  of  his  general  learning  and  solid 
judgment  in  divinity  ;  nothing  being  wanting  in  him  but  that  he 
came  hither  so  late  to  this  employment. 


SECTION  V. 

TO  MR.  PETER  MOROLOYS,  AND  MR.  THOMAS  ROWSE, 
OF  LONDON,  MERCHANTS. 

The  Netherlands  are  the  scene  whereon  the  begm- 
ning  of  this  Section  was  transacted.  They  were  also 
the  native  countries  of  your  ancestors,  flying  hither 
from  persecution.  Since,  as  your  fathers  then  found 
safety  amongst  the  English,  some  of  the  English,  to 
my  knowledge,  have  felt  bounty  from  their  children. 
God  increase  your  store ;  and  make  you  like  the  good 
merchant  in  the  Gospel,  who,  to  purchase  the  great 
pearl,  ''  sold  all  that  he  had,"  Matt.  xiii.  46  ;  that  is, 
undervalued  all  worldly  wealth,  coming  in  competition 
with  God,  or  grace,  or  glory. 

1.  The  Belgic  Confession  presented  in  the  Synod. 

Before  the  end  of  the  hundred  forty-fifth  session,  April 
20th,  in  the  forenoon,  the  Belgic  Confession  was  brought  into  the 
Synod,  containing  matter  both  of  doctrine  and  discipline ;  and  the 
public  consent  thereunto  was  required.  Here  the  bishop  of  LandaiF, 
in  the  name  of  all  the  rest,  approved  all  the  points  of  doctrine.  But 
as  for  matter  of  discipline,  that  his  mother-church  and  his  own  Order 
might  not  suffer  therein,  and  he  seem  by  silence  to  betray  the  cause 
thereof,   a  protest  was  entered  by  him,   as  mouth  for   the  rest,   to 


280  CHUUCH    HISTORY    OF    BRITAIN.  A.  D.  1619. 

preserve  tlie  same,  as  by  tlie   perusing  the  following  passage  will 
appear : — 

Interea  tamen  de  disciplind  paucis  monet.  Nunquam  in  ecclesia 
ohtinuisse  ministrorum  paritatem  non  tempore  Christi  ipsius ;  tunc 
enim  duodecim  apostolos  fuisse  discipulis  superiores ;  non  aposto- 
lorum  cetate^  non  subsecutis  seculis.  Nee  Talere  ration  em  in  hac 
Confessione  usurpatam  ;  nempe^  "  quia  omnes  sunt  ceque  ministri 
Christiy  Nam  et  septuaginta  discipuli  erant  ministri  Christi,  wque 
ac  apostoli ;  non  tamen  inde  apostolis  cequales :  et  omnes  mnnino 
homines  sunt  ceque  homines,  non  inde  tamen  homo  homini  non  debet 
subesse.       Hwc,  non   ad  harum   ecclesiarum  offensionem,   sed  ad 

nostrce  Anglicanw    defensionem   sese  monuisse  professus  est. 

Britannorum  interpellationi  responsum  ne  gru  quidem. 

"  Notwithstanding,  in  the  mean  time,  he  briefly  gave  his  advice 
concerning  discipline  :  That  the  parity  of  ministers  never  prevailed 
in  the  church,  no,  not  in  the  time  of  Christ  himself;  for  then  the 
twelve  apostles  were  superior  to  the  disciples  ;  not  in  the  time  of 
the  apostles,  nor  in  the  ages  after  them.  Nor  is  that  reason  of  any 
force  alleged  in  their  Confession,  namely,  '  Because  all  are  equally 
the  ministers  of  Christ."*  For,  even  the  seventy  disciples  were 
equally  ministers  of  Christ  wdth  the  apostles  ;  and  yet  it  follows  not 
thence,  they  were  equal  with  the  apostles  :  and  all  men  altogether 
are  equally  men,  yet  thence  it  cannot  be  inferred,  that  one  man 
ought  not  to  be  subject  to  another.  These  things  he  professed 
himself  to  have  hinted,  not  to  ojffend  these  churches  therewith,  but 

to  defend  their  own  church  of  England. To  this  interpellation 

of  the  British  divines  nothing  at  all  was  answered." 

Hereby  the  equal  reader  may  judge  how  candidly  Mr.  Mountagu, 
in  his  "Appeal,"  dealeth  -with  our  English  divines,  charging  them, 
that  *'  the  discipline  of  the  church  of  England  is  in  this  Synod  held 
unlawful."  *  And  again  :  "  the  Synod  of  Dort  in  some  points  con- 
demneth,  upon  the  by,  even  the  discipline  of  the  church  of 
England." -f-  But,  let  such  as  desire  farther  satisfaction  herein 
peruse  "  the  joint  Attestation,"  which  those  English  divines  set 
forth,  anno  1626,  to  justify  their  proceedings  herein. 

2.   The  States  Bounty  to  the  British  Divines. 

On  the  twenty-ninth  of  April  the  Synod  ended.  The  States,  to 
express  their  gratitude,  bestowed  on  the  English  divines,  at  their 
departure,  two  hundred  pounds,  to  bear  their  charges  in  their  return. 
Besides,  a  golden  medal  of  good  value  was  given  to  every  one  of 
them,  wherein  the  sitting  of  the  Synod  was  artificially  represented. 
And  now,  these  divines,  who  for  many  months  had,  in  a  manner, 

*  Appeal,  page  "0.  f  Ihid.  page  108. 


17  JAMES  I.  BOOK    X.       CENT.    XVII.  281 

been  fastened  to  their  chairs  and  desks,  thought  it  a  right  due  to 
themselves,  that,  when  their  work  was  ended,  they  might  begin  their 
recreation.  Wherefore  they  viewed  the  most  eminent  cities  in  the 
Low  Countries,  and  at  all  places  were  bountifully  received,  Leyden 
only  excepted.  Wonder  not,  that  they,  who  had  most  learning, 
should  show  least  civility;  especially  having  Professors  of  Humanity 
amongst  them,  seeing  generally  the  great  ones  of  that  university  at 
this  time,  being  Remonstrants,  were  disaffected  to  the  decisions  of 
this  Synod.  This  gave  occasion  to  that  passage  in  the  speech  of 
Sir  Dudley  Carleton,  the  English  ambassador,  when,  in  the  name 
of  his  master,  he  tendered  the  States  public  thanks  for  their  great 
respects  to  the  English  divines,  using  words  to  this  effect,  that  they 
had  been  entertained  at  Amsterdam,  welcomed  at  the  Hague, 
cheerfully  received  at  Rotterdam,  kindly  embraced  at  Utrecht,  &c. 
and  that  they  had  seen  Leyden. 

3.   Their  Letter  to  King  James. 

But,  how  high  an  esteem  the  States-General  had  of  these  our 
Englishmen's  service,  will  best  appear  by  their  letter,  which  they 
sent  to  king  James,  as  followcth  : — 

Serenissime  Rex^ 

Quemadmoditm  hoc  tmice  propositmi  nobis  fuit,  lit,  quce  in 
civitatibus.  proxinciisque  nostris,  ante  annos  aliquot ^  exortce  erant 
infelices  de  religione  contentiones,  eruditorum  ac  piorum  hominum 
judicio,  legitime  tolli  ac  componi  possent ;  ut,  et  conscientiis  eorum, 
quibus  nos  prwesse  Deus  Immortalis  Toluit,  ipsique  pariter  reipub- 
licce,  sua  in  religione  acpietate  simul  ratio  constaret  et  tranquillitas  ; 
itanos  benigne  Is  respexit,  cui  hactenus  curw  fuimus,  quiconventui 
nostro  nationali,  quern  ex  omnibus  idem  sentientibus  ecclesiis  conw- 
cavimus,  ita  benedixit,  ut,  re  tantd  ad  felicem  atque  optatum  exi- 
tum  perductd,   domum  et  ad  suos  se  conferant ;  quibus,  benedic- 
tionem  Domini,  studium  nostrum  in  promotendo  pietatis  negotio, 
consensum  plane  cum  aliis  ecclesiis  unanimem,  indicabunt.     Inter 
quos,  cum  prwcipui  et  consilio  et  loco  fuerint  Magnce  Britannice 
theologi,  quos,  pro  singulari  et  divino  in  nos  et  ecclesias  nostras 
affectu,  ad  nos  mittere  dignata  est  majestas  tua  ;  curce  nobis  fait, 
ut,  quantopere  hujus  benejicii  magnitudinem  wstimemus,  ex  nobis 
intelligeret  majestas  tua.     Est  xero   illud,  rex  serenissime,  etiamsi 
cum  reliquis,  quoe  infinita  sunt,   confer atur,  tantd  majus,  quanta 
uberiores  sunt  fructus,  quos  ex  Dei  causa  expectamus,  quantoque  id 
majestatis  tuw  nomini  est  convenientius  ;  qui,  cum  nulla  re  externa 
atque  humand,  quce  potissimiim  aliis  principibus  conciliant  digni- 
tatem, quoquam  rege  sit  inferior,  Fidel  Defensionem^  tanqiiani  Dei 


282  CHURCH    HISTORY    OF    BRITAIN.  A.D.  1619. 

ecclesiwque  patronus  in  Ms  terris,  sibi  merito  asswnit,  Neque 
dubitare  possimius  quin  et  majestatis  tuce  regna  tot  et  tanta^  reli- 
quceque,  quw  in  hoc  negotio  nobis  operam  natdrunt^  ecclesice,  mag- 
nam  utilitatem  ex  hoc  instituto  nostro  percepturw  sint,  quw  exemplo 
nostro  discent,  quanto  periculo  conjunctum  sit^  quoe  bene  in  reli- 
gione  constituta  sunt  temere  mover e^  quum  sint  felices  atquefortu- 
natcv,  quamdiu  simili  remedio  opus  non  habebimt ;  cui  hactefius 
abunde,  majestatis  tuce  curd  atque  mgilantid^  prospectum  fuit.  In 
theologis  porro  utriusque  regni  Testri  omnibus^  et  singulis^  quorum 
agmen  ducit  'Gere  reverendissimus  dominus  Georgius,  Landavensis 
episcopus,  imago,  atque  expressa  mrtutis  effigies ;  eam  eruditionem, 
pietatem,  pads  studium,  eumque  zelum  deprehendimus,  ut,  cum 
ipsius  benejicii  causd  majestati  tuce  multum  debeamus,  magna  pars 
ipsius  benejicii  nobis  mdeatur,  quod  ipsi  ad  nos  missi  sint. 

Deus  immortalis  majestati  tuce^  rex  serenissime,  ita  benedicat,  ut 
illius  benedictionis  partem,  orbis  Christianus,  ex  diuturnitate 
regni  tui,  et  ecclesice  defensione,  diu  percipiat. 

4.  The  British  Divines  return  into  England. 

With  these  testimonial  letters,  over  they  came  into  England  ; 
and  first  presented  themselves  to  king  James  ;  who,  seeing  them  out 
of  a  window,  when  first  entering  the  court :  "  Here  come,""  said  he, 
"  my  good  mourners," — alluding  to  their  black  habit,  and  late  death 
of  queen  Anne.  Then,  after  courteous  entertaining  of  them,  he- 
fa  vourably  dismissed  them  ;  and  afterward  on  three  of  them  bestowed 
preferment.*  So  returned  they  all  to  their  several  professions; 
bishop  Carleton  to  the  careful  governing  of  his  diocess  ;  Dr.  Dave- 
nant,  beside  his  collegiate  cure,  to  his  constant  lectures  in  the 
schools ;  Dr.  Ward,  to  his  discreet  ordering  of  his  own  College  ; 
Dr.  Goad,  to  his  diligent  discharging  of  domestical  duties  in  the 
family  of  his  lord  and  patron ;  and  Mr.  Balcanqual,  to  his 
fellowship  in  Pembroke  Hall. 

5 — 7*  This  Synod  diversely  censured.    The  Suggester''s  Surmise 
most  improbable.     Bishop  HaWs  Letter  to  the  Author. 

Since,  it  hath  been  the  success  of  this  Synod  to  have  the  deci- 
sions thereof  to  be  approved,  applauded,  magnified  by  some  :  vili- 
fied, contemned,  condemned  by  others.  If  men  were  divided  in 
their  censures  about  Christ,  some  saying,  "  He  is  a  good  man  ;'' 
others,  "  Nay,  but  he  deceiveth  the  people,''  John  vii.  12 ;  no 
wonder,  if,  ever  since,  all  conventions  of  Christians  be  subject  to 

•  Removing  Carleton  to  Chicliester  j  preferring  Davenant  to  Salisbury  ;  and  bestowing 
tlie  Mastership  of  the  Savoy  on  Balcanqual. 


17  JAMES  I.  /      •    BOOK    X.       CENT.    XVII.  283 

variety  of  men's  verdicts  upon  them.  Of  such  as  dislike  the  Synod, 
none  falls  heavier  upon  it  than  a  London  divine,*  charging  the 
synodians  to  have  taken  a  previous  oath,  to  condemn  the  opposite 
party  on  what  terms  soever.     But  take  him  in  his  own  words : — 

"  Far  be  it  from  me  to  subscribe  the  report  or  infonuation  of 
those  who  charge  the  respective  members  of  this  Synod  with  suffer- 
ing themselves  to  be  bound  with  an  oath,  at  or  before  their  admis- 
sion thereunto,  to  vote  down  the  Remonstrants,  and  their  doctrines 
howsoever ;  yet,  when  I  read,  and  consider,  1.  How  learnedly, 
solidly,  and  substantially  they  quit  themselves,  and  argue,  whilst 
they  go  along  with  the  Remonstrants,  and  declare  wherein  they 
agree  with  them,  in  the  points  controverted  betwixt  them.  2.  How 
feebly,  and  unlike  themselves,  they  reason  when  they  come  to  the 
quick  of  the  difference.  3.  And  lastly,  how  near  at  very  many 
turns,  even  in  those  things  wherein  they  pretend  to  differ,  they 
come  unto  them,  as  if  they  had  a  very  good  mind  to  be  no  more 
two,  but  one,  with  them ;  when,  I  say,  I  consider  all  these  things, 
methinks  I  see  the  interest  and  obligation  of  an  oath,  working 
much  after  the  same  manner,  as  sometimes  it  did  in  Herod,  when 
for  his  oath-sake,  contrary  to  his  mind  and  desire  otherwise,  he 
caused  John  the  baptist's  head  to  be  given  to  Herodias  in  a  platter. 
Matt.  xiv.  9." 

See  here,  how  this  suggester,  though  at  the  first  he  takes  water, 
and  washeth  his  hands,  with  a  "  Far  be  it  from  me  to  subscribe  the 
report,''  &c.  yet  afterwards  he  crucifies  the  credit  of  a  whole  Synod, 
and  makes  them  all  guilty  of  no  less  than  damnable  perjury. 

I  could  have  wished,  that  he  had  mentioned  in  the  margin  the 
authors  of  this  suggestion  ;  whereas  now  the  omission  thereof  will 
give  occasion  to  some  to  suspect  him  for  the  first  raiser  of  the 
report :  a  heavy  accusation,  charging  a  whole  Synod  of  injustice. 
When  Festus,  the  Heathen  magistrate,  was  so  much  Christian  as 
not  to  condemn  an  accused  man  "  before  he  hath  license  to  answer 
for  himself,"  Acts  xxv.  16;  could  any  assembly  of  Christian 
ministers  be  so  Heathen  as  to  bind  themselves  by  an  oath,  right  or 
wrong,  with  blind  obedience,  to  beat  down  the  opposite  party  ? 
Wherein  they  were  all  actually  forsworn,  having  publicly  taken  so 
solemn  an  oath  to  proceed  impartially,  according  to  God's  word 
and  their  own  conscience.  What  said  Laban  to  Jacob  ?  "  If  thou 
shalt  take  other  wives  beside  my  daughters,  no  man  is  with  us  ;  see, 
God  is  witness  between  thee  and  me,"  Gen.  xxxi.  50.  So,  if  these 
divines,  having  betrothed  their  faith  to  God  and  the  world  in  so 
open  and  public  a  manner,  beside  this  oath,  did  bind  themselves 

*  Mr.  John  Goodwin  in  Lis  "Redemption  Redeemed,"  cap.  xv.  paragraph  24. 
page  395. 


284  CHURCH  HISTORY  OF  BRITAIN.         A.D.  1619. 

with  any  other,  taken  before  or  after,  in  a  clandestine  way,  contrary 
to  their  public  promise  ;  would  not  God,  the  sole  Judge  herein, 
sensible  of  this  affront  offered  to  him  and  his  truth,  heavily  punish 
so  heinous  an  offence  ?  And  can  any  charitable-minded  man 
believe,  that  learned  men  would — that  godly  men  could — be  guilty 
of  so  deep  and  damnable  dissimulation  ? 

Musing  with  myself  on  this  matter,  and  occasionally  exchanging 
letters  with  the  sons  of  bishop  Hall,  it  came  into  my  mind  to  ask 
them  Joseph's  question  to  his  brethren,  "  Is  your  father  well,  the 
old  man  of  whom  ye  spake  ?  Is  he  yet  alive  ?  "  Gen.  xliii.  27. 
And,  being  informed  of  his  life  and  health,  I  addressed  myself  in  a 
letter  unto  him,  for  satisfaction  in  this  particular ;  who  was  pleased 
to  honour  me  with  this  return  herein  inserted : — 

"  Whereas  you  desire  from  me  a  just  relation  of  the  carriage  of 
the  business  at  the  Synod  of  Dort,  and  the  conditions  required  of  our 
divines  there,  at  or  before  their  admission  to  that  grave  and  learned 
assembly  ;  I,  whom  God  was  pleased  to  employ  as  an  unworthy 
agent  in  that  great  work,  and  to  reserve  still  upon  earth,  after  all  my 
reverend  and  worthy  associates,  do,  as  in  the  presence  of  that  God 
to  Avhom  I  am  now  daily  expecting  to  yield  up  my  account,  testify 
to  you,  and  (if  you  will)  to  the  world,  that  I  cannot,  without  just 
indignation,  read  that  slanderous  imputation,  which  Mr.  Goodwin,  in 
his  '  Redemption  Redeemed,'  reports  to  have  been  raised,  and  cast 
upon  those  divines,  eminent  both  for  learning  and  piety,  that  they  suf- 
fered themselves  to  he  hound  with  an  oath,  at  or  hef ore  their  admission 
into  that  Synod^  to  tote  dozen  the  Remonstrants^  howsoever  ;  so  as  they 
came  deeply  pre-engaged  to  the  decision  of  those  unhappy  differences. 

''  Truly,  sir,  as  I  hope  to  be  saved,  all  the  oath  that  was  required 
of  us  was  this  :  after  that  the  moderator,  assistants,  and  scribes  were 
chosen,  and  the  Synod  formed,  and  the  several  members  allowed,  there 
was  a  solemn  oath  required  to  be  taken  by  every  one  of  that  assembly, 
which  was  publicly  done  in  a  grave  manner,  by  every  person  in  their 
order  standing  up,  and  laying  his  hand  upon  his  heart,  calling  the 
great  God  of  heaven  to  witness,  that  he  would  unpartially  proceed 
in  the  judgment  of  these  controversies,  which  should  be  laid  before 
him,  only  out  of  and  according  to  the  written  word  of  God,  and  no 
otherwise  ;  so  determining  of  them  as  he  should  find  in  his  conscience 
most  agreeable  to  the  Holy  Scriptures  :  which  oath  was  punctually 
agreed  to  be  thus  taken  by  the  articles  of  the  States,  concerning  the 
indiction  and  .ordering  of  the  synod,  as  appears  plainly  in  their 
tenth  article  :  and  this  was  all  the  oath  that  was  either  taken  or 
required.  And  far  was  it  from  those  holy  souls  which  are  now 
glorious  in  heaven,  or  mine,  (who  still  for  some  short  time  survive, 
to  give   this  just  witness  of  our  sincere  integrity,)  to  entertain  the 


17  JAMES  I.  BOOK    X.       CENT.    XVII.  285 

least  thought  of  any  so  foul  corruption,  as  by  any  over-ruling  power 
to  be  swayed  to  a  pre-judgment  in  the  points  controverted. 

"  It  grieves  my  soul  therefore  to  see,  that  any  learned  divine 
should  raise  imaginary  conjectures  to  himself  of  an  interest  and 
obligation  of  a  fancied  oath  (working  upon  them,  and  drawing  them 
contrary  to  the  dictation  of  their  own  conscience,  as  it  did  Herod'^s 
in  the  case  of  John  Baptist's  beheading,)  merely  out  of  his  own 
comparative  construction  of  the  different  forms  of  expressing  them- 
selves in  managing  those  controversies.  Wherein  if  at  any  time 
they  seemed  to  speak  nearer  to  the  tenet  of  the  Remonstrants,  it 
must  be  imputed  to  their  holy  ingenuity,  and  gracious  disposition 
to  peace,  and  to  no  other  sinister  respect. 

"  Sir,  since  I  have  lived  to  see  so  foul  an  aspersion  cast  upon  the 
memory  of  those  worthy  and  eminent  divines,  I  bless  God  that  I 
yet  live  to  vindicate  them,  by  this  my  knowing,  clear,  and  assured 
attestation ;  which  I  am  ready  to  second  with  the  solemnest  oath, 
if  I  shall  be  thereto  required. 

"  Your  much-devoted  friend,  precessor,  and  fellow-labourer, 

"JOSEPH  HALL,  B.N.^' 

"  HiGHAM,  Aiipist  30a,  1651." 

Let  the  reader  consider  with  himself,  how  the  suggester  speaks 
by  hearsay  of  things  done  at  distance,  whereat  himself  not  present ; 
whose  disaffection  to  the  decisions  of  that  Synod  inclines  him  to 
credit  ill  reports  against  it.  And  yet,  as  afraid,  though  willing  to 
speak  out,  in  his  "  methinks  I  see,'"  vents  but  his  own  conjectural 
surmises.  Let  him  also  weigh  in  the  balance  of  his  judgment  how 
this  purgation  of  this  Synod  is  positive  and  punctual,  from  one  an 
ear-  and  eye-witness  thereof,  being  such  an  one  as  Dr.  Hall,  and  now 
aged  ;  so  that  his  testimoiiium  herein  may  seem  testamentum ;  his 
witness,  his  will ;  and  the  truth  therein  delivered,  a  legacy  by  him 
bequeathed  to  posterity.  T  say,  the  premisses  seriously  considered, 
let  the  reader  proceed  to  sentence,  as  God  and  his  conscience  shall 
direct  him ;  and  either  condemn  a  private  person  of  slander  and 
falsity,  or  a  whole  Synod  of  injustice  and  perjury. 

8 — 10.    The  Death  of  Bishop  Montague.     A  strange  Accident  at 
his  Burial.     The  Death  of  Bishop  Overal. 

My  desire  to  make  this  history  of  the  Synod  entire,  hath  made 
me  omit  the  death  of  James  Montague,  the  worthy  bishop  of  Win- 
chester ;  who  left  this  life  the  last  year :  son  to  Sir  Edward 
Montague,  of  Boughton  in  Northamptonshire ;  bred  in  Christ's, 
afterwards  master  of  Sidney  College  in  Cambridge  ;  highly  favoured 
by  king  James,  (whose  Works  he  set  forth,)  preferring  him  to  the 


286  CHURCH    HISTORY    OF    BRITAIN.  A.D.  1621. 

bishopric  first  of  Bath  and  Wells,  then  to  Winchester.  In  Bath 
he  lies  buried  under  a  fair  tomb,  though  the  whole  church  be  his 
monument,  which  his  bounty  repaired,  or  rather  raised  out  of  the 
ruins  thereof.  One  passage  at  his  burial  I  must  not  forget,  having 
received  it  from  the  mouth  of  his  younger  brother.  Sir  Sidney 
Montague,  present  at  his  funeral  solemnities  : — 

A  certain  officer  of  Bath  church,  being  a  very  corjDulent  man, 
was  upon  the  day  of  the  bishop's  burial  appointed  to  keep  the  doors. 
He  entered  on .  this  his  employment  in  the  morning  whereon  the 
funeral  was  kept,  but  was  buried  himself  before  night,  and  before 
the  bishop's  body  was  put  into  the  ground  ;  because,  being  bruised 
to  death  by  the  pressing-in  of  people,  his  corpse  required  speedy 
interment.  So  needful  it  is  for  those  to  watch  for  their  own  change 
who  wait  on  the  graves  of  others  ! 

I  cannot  attain  the  exact  date  of  the  death  of  John  Overal, 
carrying  superintendency  in  his  surname,  the  bishop  of  Norwich  : 
first,  fellow  of  Trinity  College,  then  master  of  Catherine  Hall,  an'd 
king's  Professor  of  Divinity  in  Cambridge  :  one  of  a  strong  brain 
to  improve  his  great  reading,  and  accounted  one  of  the  most  learned 
controversial  divines  of  those  days. 

11.  A  great  Abuse  of  the  King's  Favour.  A.D.  1620. 
A  grand  grievance  was  now  much  complained  of,  but  little 
redressed  :  Some  great  courtiers  there  were,  to  whom  the  king  had 
passed  his  grants  to  compound  with  papists  for  their  recusancy. 
Some  of  these  grantees  abused  the  king's  favour,  and  compounded 
with  such  persons  for  light  sums,  even  before  their  legal  conviction  ; 
whereby  the  offenders  in  that  kind  became  the  more  backward  to 
conform  themselves  to  the  king's  lav\'s,  his  majesty  not  aiming  at 
their  punishment,  but  reformation.  And  although  this  indirect 
course  was  flatly  forbidden  by  his  royal  declaration,  set  forth,  1610  ; 
yet  was  this  corruption  connived  at,  and  is  conceived  a  main  cause 
of  the  great  and  speedy  increase  of  popery. 

12 — 17.  Archbishop  Abbot  casually  killed  a  Keeper.  The  Mis- 
chance rigidly  censured.  Many  Canonists  quickly  made. 
Archbishops  may  hunt  by  the  Laivs  of  the  La^id.  Bishop 
Andrews^  the  Archbishop'^s  great  Friend ;  his  Restitutio?! 
and  Mortification.     A.D.  A 621 . 

About  this  time,  a  sad  mischance  befell  George  Abbot,  arch- 
bishop of  Canterbury,  in  this  manner  :  He  was  invited  by  the  lord 
Zouch  to  Bramshill  in  Hampshire  to  hunt  and  kill  a  buck.  Tlic 
keeper  ran  amongst  the  herd  of  deer  to  bring  them  up  to  the 
fairer  mark,  whilst  the  archbishop,  sitting  on  his  horse-back,  let  loose 


19  JAMES  I.  BOOK    X.       CENT.    XVII.  287 

a  barbed  arrow  from  a  cross-bow,  and  unhappily  hit  the  keeper.  He 
was  shot  through  the  enmontery  of  the  left  arm ;  and  the  arrow 
dividing  those  grand  auxiliary  vessels,  he  died  of  the  flux  of  blood 
immediately ;  nature  having  provided,  that  all  the  large  vessels  are 
defended  externally  by  bones.  He  never  spake  after,  as  the  person, 
still  alive  at  Croydon,  who  brought  off  his  body  informed  me ;  and 
died  not  of  the  ill-dressing  of  the  wound,  as  some  have  printed  it. 
This  presently  put  an  end  to  the  sport  of  that  day,  and  almost  to 
the  archbishop's  mirth  to  the  last  of  his  life. 

The  fame  of  this  man's  death  flew  faster  than  the  arrow  that  killed 
him.  The  archbishop's  mischance,  in  many  men,  met  not  with  so 
much  pity  as  so  sad  a  casualty  did  deserve.  He  was  not  much 
beloved  by  the  inferior  clergy,  as  over-rigid  and  austere.  Indeed, 
he  was  mounted  to  command  in  the  church,  before  he  ever  learned 
to  obey  therein  ;  made  a  shepherd  of  shepherds,  before  he  was  a 
shepherd  of  sheep  ;  consecrated  bishop,  before  ever  called  to  a  pas- 
toral charge ;  "  which  made,"  say  some,  "  him  not  to  sympathize 
with  the  necessities  and  infirmities  of  poor  ministers."  As  for  the 
superior  clergy,  some  for  his  irregularity  and  removal  expected  pre- 
ferment, as  the  second  bowl  is  made  first,  and  the  third  second, 
when  that  nearest  the  mark  is  violently  removed. 

It  is  strange  to  see,  how  suddenly  many  men  started  up  canonists 
and  casuists  in  their  discourse,  who  formerly  had  small  skill  in  that 
profession.  In  their  ordinary  talk  they  cited  councils  and  synods. 
Some  had  up  St.  Jerome's  speech :  Venatorem  nunquam  legimus 
sanctum.  Others  were  busy  with  the  decree  of  the  council  of 
Orleans  :  (Gratian  49  B.  distinct  o4.)  Episcopo^  Presbytero^  aid 
Diacono  canes  ad  venandum^  aut  accipitres  habere  non  licet. *  Others 
distinguished  of  a  three-fold  hunting :  1.  Oppressha.  2.  Arenaria. 
3.  Saltuosa.  These  maintained,  that  the  two  former  were  utterly 
unlawful,  but  the  last  might  lawfully  be  used.  Others  distinguished 
of  homicide  :  1.  Ex  necessitate.  2.  Ex  voluntate.  3.  Ex  casu^ — 
the  case  in  hand.  In  a  word,  this  accident  divided  all  great  com- 
panies mio  pro  and  con^  "  for  or  against"  the  archbishop's  irregula- 
rity on  this  occasion  ;  yet  all  the  force  of  their  skill  could  not  mount 
the  guilt  of  this  fact  higher  than  the  fountain  thereof.  When  all 
was  done,  it  was  but  casual  homicide,  who  sought  not  for  the  man, 
but  God  was  pleased  to  bring  the  man  to  his  hand. 

Sir  Henry  Saville,  the  archbishop's  old  acquaintance  as  his  con- 
temporary in  Oxon,  repaired  on  his  behalf  to  the  oracle  of  the  law. 
Sir  Edward  Coke,  whom  he  found  a-bowling  for  his  recreation. 
"  My  lord,"  said  he,  "  I  come  to  be  satisfied  of  you  in  a  point 
of  law."     "  If  it  be  a  point  of  common  law,"  said  Sir   Edward 

*  Note,  that  these  canons  were  never  admitted  laws  in  England. 


288  CHURCH    HISTORY    OF    BRITAIN.  A.D.  1621. 

Coke,  "  I  am  unworthy  to  be  a  judge,  if  I  cannot  presently 
satisfy  you ;  but  if  it  be  a  point  of  statute  law,  I  am  unworthy  to  be 
a  judge,  if  I  should  undertake  to  satisfy  you  before  I  have 
consulted  my  books."  "  It  is  this,"'"'  said  Sir  Henry,  "  whether 
may  a  bishop  hunt  in  a  park  by  the  laws  of  the  realm  .?"  "  I 
can  presently  resolve  you,"  said  the  judge  ;  "  he  nrtay  hunt  by  the 
laws  of  the  realm  by  this  very  token, — that  there  is  an  old  law,""* 
(let  the  young  students  in  that  profession  find  it  out,)  "  that  a 
bishop,  when  dying,  is  to  leave  his  pack  of  dogs  (called  muta 
canum*)  to  the  king's  free  use  and  disposal." 

The  party,  whom  the  archbishop  suspected  his  greatest  foe,  proved 
his  most  firm  and  effectual  friend ;  even  Lancelot  Andrews,  bishop 
of  Winchester.  For  when  several  bishops  inveighed  against  the  irre- 
gularity of  the  archbishop,  laying  as  much  (if  not  more)  guilt  on 
the  act  than  it  would  bear,  he  mildly  checked  them  :  "  Brethren," 
said  he,  "  be  not  too  busy  to  condemn  any  for  uncanonicals  accord- 
ing to  the  strictness  thereof,  lest  we  render  ourselves  in  the  same 
condition.  Besides,  we  all  know,  Canones^  qui  dicunt  lapsos  post 
actam  poenitentiam  ad  clericatum  non  esse  restitiiendos^  de  rigore 
loquuntur  discipUnw^  non  injiciunt  desperationem  indulg entice.'''' 

King  James,  being  himself  delighted  in  hunting,  was  sorry 
an  ill  accident  should  betide  the  users  thereof.  But  when  he  was 
assured  how  deeply  the  archbishop  laid  this  casualty  to  his  heart, 
he  much  pitied  him,  and  said  to  a  lord,  discoursing  thereof,  "It 
might  have  been  my  chance  or  thine."  So  that,  not  long  after,  the 
archbishop,  who  had  lately  retired  himself  to  Guildford  alms-house 
of  his  own  founding,  returned  to  Lambeth,  and  to  the  performance 
of  his  office  ;  though  some  squeamish  and  nice-conscienced  elects 
scrupled  to  be  consecrated  by  him.  He  gave  during  his  own  life 
twenty  pounds  a- year  to  the  man's  widow ;  which  was  not  long  a 
widow,  as  quickly  re-married.  He  kept  a  monthly  fast  on  a  Tues- 
day, as  the  day  whereon  this  casualty  befell.  In  a  word,  this 
keeper's  death  was  the  archbishop's  mortification. 

1 8 — 20.  A  Project  against  the  Clergy  to  get  Money ;  declined 
hy  the  Lord  Treasurer,  who  is  truly  excused. 

At  this  time  the  king's  exchequer  grew  very  low,  though  Lionel 
Cranfield,  lord  treasurer,  and  earl  of  Middlesex,  neglected  no  means 
for  the  improving  thereof.  In  order  whereunto,  (reader,  let  this 
story  pass  into  thy  belief,  on  my  credit,  knowing  myself  suflSciently 
assured  thereof,)  a  projector  (such  necessary  evils  then  much  coun- 
tenanced) informed  his  majesty  of  a  way  whereby  speedily  to 
advance  ranch   treasure.     And  how,  forsooth,  was  it  ?     Even  that  a 

•  From  thfl  Fvpnch  rtiacfe  dr  chiens. 


19  JAMES  I.  BOOK    X.       CENT.    XVIf.  289 

new  valuation  should  be  made  of  all  spiritual  preferments,  (wliicli 
now  in  the  king's  books  passed  at  under-rates)  to  bring  them  up  to 
or  near  the  full  value  thereof.  This  would  promote  both  the  casual 
fines  (as  I  may  term  them)  of  first-fruits,  and  the  annual  rent  of 
tenths,  to  the  great  advantage  of  the  crown.  The  king  sent  to  the 
lord  treasurer,  demanding  his  judgment  thereof. 

The  treasurer  returned  his  majesty  an  answer  to  this  effect,  so 
near  as  I  can  remember,  from  the  mouth  of  a  noble  person  then  pre- 
sent :  "  Sir,  you  have  ever  been  beheld  as  a  great  lover  and  advancer 
of  learned  men,  and  you  know  clergymen's  education  is  chargeable 
to  them  or  their  friends.  Long  it  is  before  they  get  any  preferment ; 
which  at  last,  generally,  is  but  small  in  proportion  to  their  pains  and 
expenses.  Let  it  not  be  said,  that  you  gained  by  grinding  them. 
Other  ways,  less  obnoxious  to  just  censure,  will  be  found  out  to  furnish 
your  occasions."  The  king  commended  Cranfield,  as  doing  it  only 
for  trial ;  adding  moreover,  "  I  should  have  accounted  thee  a  very 
knave,  if  encouraging  me  herein.""  And  so  the  project  was  blasted 
for  the  present ;  as  it  was,  when  it  budded  again,  propounded  by 
some  unworthy  instrument  in  the  reign  of  king  Charles. 

I  know,  some  will  suspect  the  treasurer  more  likely  to  start  than 
crush  so  gainful  a  design,  as  who  by  all  ways  and  means  sought  to 
increase  the  royal  revenue.  I  know  also,  that  some  accuse  him,  as 
if  making  his  master's  wings  to  moult,  thereby  the  better  to  feather 
his  own  nest.  Indeed,  he  raised  a  fair  estate ;  and  surely,  he  will 
never  be  a  good  steward  for  his  master,  who  is  a  bad  one  for  him- 
self. Yet  on  due  and  true  inquiry  it  will  appear,  that  though  a 
high  power  did  afterwards  prosecute  him,  yet  his  innocence  in  the 
main  preserved  him  to  transmit  a  good  estate  to  his  posterity.  So 
that  much  of  truth  must  be  allowed  in  his  motto,  Perdidit  fides^* 
"  he  was  lost  at  court  for  his  fidelity""  to  king  James,  in  sparing  his 
treasure,  and  not  answering  the  expensiveness  of  a  great  favourite. 

21 ,  22.   The  Lord  Bacon  outed  for  Bribery.     An  Essay  at  his 

Character. 
A  parliament  was  called,  January  20th,  wherein  Francis  Bacon, 
lord  chancellor,  was  outed  his  office  for  bribery;  the  frequent 
receiving  thereof  by  him,  or  his,  was  plainly  proved.  Yet,  for  all  his 
taking,  just  and  unjust,  he  was  exceedingly  poor  and  much  indebted. 
Wherefore,  when  motion  was  made,  in  the  House  of  Commons,  of 
fining  him  some  thousands  of  pounds,  a  noble  member, *(-  standing  up, 
"  desired  that  for  two  reasons  his  fine  might  be  mitigated  into  forty 
shillings :  First.  Because  that  would  be  paid  ;  whereas  a  greater 
sum  would  only  make  a  noise,   and  never  be  paid.     Secondly.  The 

*  Freqiieut  in  bis  house  at  Copthall.  f  Sir  Fr.  S. 

Vol.  III.  u 


290  CHURCH    HISTORY    OF    BRITAIN.  A.D.  1621. 

shame  would  be  the  greater,  when  such  his  prodigality  that  he,  who 
had  been  so  large  a  taker  in  his  office,  was  reduced  to  such  penury 
that  forty  shillings  should  be  conceived  a  sufficient  fine  for  his 
estate."  But  it  was  fine  enough  for  him  to  lose  his  office,  remitted 
to  a  mean  and  private  condition. 

None  can  character  him  to  the  life,  save  himself.  He  was  in 
parts  more  than  a  man  ;  who  in  any  liberal  profession  might  be 
whatsoever  he  would  himself:  a  great  honourer  of  ancient  authors, 
yet  a  great  deviser  and  practiser  of  new  ways  in  learning :  privy 
counsellor,  as  to  king  James,  so  to  nature  itself,  diving  into  many  of 
her  abstruse  mysteries.  New  conclusions  he  would  dig  out  with 
mattocks  of  gold  and  silver;  not  caring  what  his  experience  cost 
him,  expending  on  the  trials  of  nature  all  and  more  than  he  got  by 
the  trials  at  the  bar;  posterity  being  the  better  for  his — though  he 
the  worse  for  his  own — dear  experiments.  He  and  his  servants  had 
all  in  common  ;  the  men  never  wanting  what  their  master  had ;  and 
thus  what  came  flowing  in  unto  him  was  sent  flying  away  from  him, 
who,  in  giving  of  rewards,  knew  no  bounds  but  the  bottom  of  his 
own  purse.  Wherefore,  when  king  James  heard  that  he  had  given 
ten  pounds  to  an  under-keeper,  by  whom  he  had  sent  him  a  buck, 
the  king  said  merrily,  "  I  and  he  shall  both  die  beggars  ;  '"*  which 
was  condemnable  prodigality  in  a  subject.  He  lived  many  years 
after;  and  in  his  books  will  ever  survive:  in  the  reading  whereof, 
modest  men  commend  him  in  what  they  do — condemn  themselves 
in  what  they  do  not — understand,  as  believing  the  fault  in  their  own 
eyes,  and  not  in  the  object. 

23 — 2(1  Bishop  Williams  made  Lord  Keeper.  Some  causelessly 
offended.  His  eminent  Abilities.  Well  manages  the  Place. 
All  stood  expecting  who  should  be  Bacon"*s  successor  in  the  chan- 
cery. Sure,  he  must  be  some  man  of  great  and  high  abilities, 
(otherwise  it  would  seem  a  valley  next  a  mountain,)  to  maintain  a 
convenient  and  comely  level  in  that  eminent  place  of  judicature. 
Now  whilst,  in  common  discourse,  some  made  this  judge,  others  that 
Serjeant,  lord  chancellor,  king  James  made  Dr.  Williams,  July 
10th,  lately  and  still  *  dean  of  Westminster,  soon  after  bishop  of 
Lincoln.     Though  the  king  was  the  principal,  the  duke  of  Buck- 

*  In  bis  E.varnrn  Ilistoriciitn,  UeyUn  says,  "At  that  time  Dr.  Williams,  then  arch- 
bishop of  York,  was  not  dean  of  Westminster  ;  that  place  being  bestowed  by  his  majesty 
on  Dr.  Steward,  clerk  of  the  closet,  anno  16]  5,  being  full  six  years  before  the  time  cm- 
author  speaks  of."  Fuller  replies  :  "  The  great  distance  of  Exeter  (where  I  lived)  from 
Oxford  may  partly  excuse  my  ignorance  therein,  who  always  beheld  archbishop  Williams 
as  the  last  dean  of  Westminster  ;  as,  indeed,  he  was  the  last  that  ever  was  installed 
therein;  and  Dr.  Steward  never  lived  mimite  in,  or  gained  farthing  from,  his  deanery." 
—Edit. 


19  JAMES   T.  BOOK    X.       CENT.    XVII.  291 

ingliam  was  more  than  the  instrumental,  advancer  of  him  to  the 
title  of  lord  keeper,  in  effect  the  same  in  place  and  power  with  the 
lord  chancellor. 

The  king's  choice  produced  not  so  much  dislike  as  general  won- 
der. Yet  some  cavilled  at  Dr.  Williams's  age,  as  if  it  were 
preposterous  for  one  to  be  able  for  that  office  before  ancient ;  and  as 
if  one  old  enough  for  a  bishop  were  too  young  for  a  chancellor. 
Others  questioned  his  abilities  for  the  place.  "  Could  any  expect  to 
reap  law  where  it  was  never  sown  ?  Who  can  apply  the  remedy 
whilst  he  is  ignorant  in  the  malady  ?  Being  never  bred  to  know  the 
true  grounds  and  reasons  of  the  common  law,  how  could  he  mitigate 
the  rigour  thereof  in  difficult  cases  ?  He  would  be  prone  to  mistake 
the  severity  of  the  common  law  for  cruelty  ;  and  then  unequal 
equity,  and  unconscionable  conscience,  must  be  expected  from  him. 
Besides,  the  place  was  proper,  not  for  the  plain  but  guarded  gown  ; 
and  the  common  lawyers  prescribed  for  six  descents,  (a  strong  title 
indeed,)  wherein  only  men  of  their  robe  were  advanced  thereunto.* 

Yet  some  of  these  altered  their  judgments,  when  considering  his 
education,  who  for  many  years  had  been  house-chaplain,  yea,  and 
more  than  chaplain,  intimate  friend-servant  to  the  old  lord  Egerton, 
who  understood  the  chancellor-craft  as  well  as  any  who  ever  sat  in 
that  place  ;  and  who,  whilst  living,  imparted  many  mysteries  of  that 
court ;  when  dying,  bequeathed  many  choice  books  and  directions 
unto  him.  His  parts  were  eminent,  who  could  make  any  thing  he 
read  or  heard  his  own,  and  could  improve  any  thing  which  was  his 
own  to  the  utmost.  Besides,  for  a  clergyman  to  be  lord  chancellor 
was  no  usurpation,  but  a  recovery ;  seeing  ecclesiastics  anciently 
were  preferred  to  that  place  ;  and  Sir  Nicholas  Bacon,  father  to  the 
last  chancellor,  received  the  Broad  Seal  from  a  churchman;  namely, 
Nicholas  Heath,  archbishop  of  York. 

Considering  all  disadvantages,  he  managed  the  office  to  admi- 
ration. I  know  it  is  reported  by  his  adversaries  to  his  discredit,  that 
never  lord  keeper  made  so  many  orders,  which  afterwards  were 
reversed  ;  which  whether  true  or  no,  I  know  not.  Sure  it  is,  that 
unpartial  men  of  the  best  and  clearest  judgments  highly  commended 
him  ;  and  judge  Yelverton  himself  hearing  him  in  a  case  of  concern- 
ment, ingenuously  professed,  "  This  is  a  most  admirable  man." 
Here  he  sat  in  the  office  so  long,  till,  disdaining  to  be  a  dependent 
(as  a  penthouse)  on  the  duke's  favour,  and  desiring  to  stand  an 
absolute  structure  on  his  own  foundation,  at  court,  he  fell  ;  as,  God 
willing,  shall  in  due  time  be  related. 

*  Yet  Sir  Cliristopher  Hatton  was  never  Ijred  a  lawyer. 


292  CHURCH    HISTORY    OF    BRITAIN.  A.  D.  1621. 

27.  A  still-horn  Convocation. 

Should  we  now  look  into  the  Convocation,  we  should  find  them 
on  Wednesdays  and  Fridays  devoutly  at  the  litany,  otherwise 
having  little  employment,  as  empowered  by  no  commission  to  alter 
any  thing.  So  that  sitting  amongst  the  tombs  in  Westminster 
cliurch,  they  were,  as  once  one  of  their  Prolocutors  said,  Viva 
cadavera  inter  mortuos^  as  having  no  motion  or  activity  allowed 
unto  them. 

28,  29.   Young   Meric   Casauhon   vindicates  his  Father  from 
Railers.      The  good  Effect  of  his  Endeavours. 

About  this  time,  Meric  Casaubon  set  forth  a  book  in  defence  of 
his  deceased  father,  against  whom  many  had  spit  their  venom. 
First.  Heribert  Roswed,  a  Jesuit ;  and  after  him  Andrew  Sciop- 
pius,  a  renowned  i*ailer  ;  one  that  is  always  incensed  against  learning 
and  honesty,  wheresoever  he  finds  them  severally,  but  implacable 
against  such  a  man  in  whom  both  meet  together.  It  seems  it  is  his 
policy  thus  to  seek  to  perpetuate  his  memory,  by  railing  against 
eminent  persons ;  hoping,  that  he  shall  jointly  survive  with  their 
worth  ;  whereas  their  light  shall  burn  bright,  when  his  snuff  shall 
be  trodden  under  foot.  Then  Julius  Csesar  Bullinger,  and  Andrew 
Eudsemono-Joannes,  a  vizard-name,  composed  to  fright  fools,  and 
make  wise  men  laugh  at  it.  Yea,  though  he  had  formerly  met  with 
a  quarternion  of  learned  confuters, — bishop  Abbot,  Dr.  Prideaux, 
Dr.  Collins,  Mr.  Burrhill, — young  Casaubon,  then  Student  in 
Christ-Church,  thought  it  his  duty  farther  to  assert  his  father'*s 
memory,  and  to  give  a  brief  account  of  his  life  and  conversation. 

This  is  the  benefit  of  learned  men's  marriage  ;  God  oftentimes  so 
blessing  it,  that  they  need  not  go  out  of  themselves  for  a  champion 
to  defend  them,  but  have  one  springing  from  their  own  bowels. 
And  his  son,  though,  by  reason  of  his  age,  low  in  himself,  is  tall 
when  standing  on  the  advantage-ground  of  his  father''s  grave,  whose 
memory  he  is  to  maintain.  Yea,  God  seems  so  well-pleased  with 
his  piety,  that  his  endeavours  took  such  effect  that  no  railing  libels 
to  that  purpose  came  forth  afterwards,  which  formerly  had  been  so 
frequent : — whether  because  these  curs,  weary  of  their  own  barking, 
did  even  sneak  away  in  silence ;  or  because  they  had  no  more  mind 
to  challenge,  seeing  a  defendant  provided  to  undertake  them. 

30.   William  Laud.,  Bishop  of  St.  David\s. 
Upon  the  removal  of  Richard  Milbourne  to   Carlisle,  William 
Laud,  President  of  St.  John''s  College  in  Oxford,  was  made  bishop 
of  St.  David's.    Of  whom,  because  every  one  speaks  so  much,  I  will 


19  JAMES   I.  BOOK    X.       CENT.     XVJI.  2d'} 

say  tlie  less.*  The  rather,  because  at  this  time,  and  during  the 
extent  of  our  History,  this  bishop  lived  in  a  private  way,  bare  no 
great  stream,  as  being  before  that  the  tide  of  greatness  flowed  in 
upon  him.  Yea,  as  yet  he  took  more  notice  of  the  world,  than  the 
■world  did  of  him.  Indeed,  as  the  matter,  whereof  china-dishes  are 
made,  must  lie  some  ages  in  the  earth  before  it  is  ripened  to  per- 
fection ;  so  great  persons  are  not  fit  for  an  historian's  use  to  write 
freely  of  them,  till  some  years  after  their  decease,  when  their  memo- 
ries can  neither  be  marred  with  envy,  nor  mended  with  flattery. 
However,  his  good  deeds  to  St.  John's  College  in  Oxford  must  not 
be  forgotten  ;  yea,  that  whole  university  (if  afraid  in  English  to 
speak  in  praise  of  his  bounty)  will  adventure  with  safety  to  commend 
him  in  the  Arabic  tongue,  whereof  he  founded  them  a  professor. 

SI — 3d.  John  King,  Bishop  of  London,  dies.  His  Eminencies. 
A  loud  Lie.  William  Cotton,  Bishop  of  Kooeter,  dies, 
whom  Valentine  Carew  succeeds.  Robert  Toivnson,  Bishop 
of  Salishuri/,  dies,  ivhom  John  Davenant  succeeds. 

This  year  was  fatal  to  many  eminent  clergymen,  beside  others  of 
inferior  note.  We  begin  with  John  King,  bishop  of  London,  for- 
merly dean  of  Christ  Church,  who  died  on  Good-Friday  of  the 
stone  :  of  ancient  extraction,  m  cujus  genere  ml  indole  nihil  reperio 
mediocre,  nihil  quod non  prwcellens ;  descended,  saith  "the  Survey 
of  London," -|-  from  the  Saxon  kings  in  Devonshire  by  his  father 
Philip  King,  some  time  page  to  king  Henry  VIIL  nephew  and 
heir  to  Robert  King,  last  abbot  of  Osney,  and  first  bishop  of 
Oxford,  who  left  him  a  great  personal  estate,  which  it  seems  was 
quickly  consumed  ;  so  that  this  prelate  used  to  say,  he  believed 
there  was  a  fate  in  abbey-money  no  less  than  abbey-land,  which 
seldom  proved  fortunate  or  of  continuance  to  the  owners. 

He  was  chaplain  to  queen  Elizabeth  ;  and,  as  he  was  appointed 
by  her  Council  to  preach  the  first  sermon  at  court  when  her  body 
lay  inhearsed  in  the  chapel  of  Whitehall,  so  was  he  designed  for  the 
first  sermon  to  her  successor  king  James,  at  Charter  house,  when  he 
entered  London,  then  sworn  his  first  chaplain  ;  who  commonly 
called  him  "the  king  of  preachers.''  And  Sir  Edward  Coke 
would  say  of  him,  "  He  was  the  best  speaker  in  the  Star-chamber 
in  his  time."  Soon  after  he  was  made  dean  of  Christ  Church, 
Oxon  ;  and  chosen  one  of  the  four  preachers  in  the  Conference  at 
Hampton -Court ;  then  advanced  to  the  bishopric  of  London  ; 
where  he  let  the  world  see,  his  high  place  of  government  did  not 
cause  him   to  forget  his   office    in    the   pulpit ;     showing,    by   his 

•  When  I  wrote  \\A>>,  I  intended  to   close  my  History  at  king  James's  death ;  since, 
by  importunity  urged  to  contimie  it  farther.  t  Page  775. 


294  CHURCH    HISTORY    OF    BRITAIN.  A.l).  1621. 

example,  that  a  bishop  might  govern  and  preach  too.  In  which 
service  he  Avas  so  frequent,  that,  unless  hindered  by  want  of  health, 
he  omitted  no  Sunday  whereon  he  did  not  visit  some  pulpit  in 
London,  or  near  it. 

Tlie  papists  raised  an  aspersion,  as  false  as  foul,  upon  him,  that 
at  his  death  he  M'as  reconciled  to  the  church  of  Rome ;  sufficiently 
confuted  by  those  eye-  and  ear-witnesses,  present  at  his  pious 
dejxarture.  These  slanders  are  no  news  to  such  as  have  read  how 
Luther  is  traduced,  by  popish  pens,  to  have  died  blaspheming  ; 
Carolostadius  to  have  been  carried  quick  by  a  devil ;  and  Beza  to 
have  apostated  before  his  death.  In  all  which  truth  hath  triumphed 
over  their  malicious  forgeries.  Something  bishop  King  endeavoured 
in  the  repairing  of  St.  Paul's.  But,  alas  !  a  private  man's  estate 
may  be  invisibly  buried  under  the  rubbish  of  the  least  chapel 
therein.  By  order  in  his  will,  he  provided,  that  nothing  should  be 
written  on  his  plain  grave-stone,  save  only  Mesurgam;  and  still  he 
is  alive,  both  in  his  memory  and  happy  posterity.  George  Moun- 
taine,  bishop  of  Lincoln,*  succeeded  him  in  his  see  ;  who,  when  his 
great  house-keeping,  and  magnificent  entertaining  of  king  James, 
shall  be  forgotten,  will  longer  survive  for  his  bountiful  benefaction 
to  Queen's  College,  in  Cambridge,  whereof  he  was  Fellow  and 
Proctor. 

Secondly.  William  Cotton,  bishop  of  Exeter,  born  in  Cheshire, 
formerly  archdeacon  of  Lewes :  one  of  a  stout  spirit,  and  a  great 
maintainer  of  conformity  against  the  opposers  thereof  in  his  diocess. 
Valentine  Carew,  dean  of  St.  Paul's,  and  master  of  Christ  College, 
in  Cambridge,  of  a  court-like  carriage  and  stout  spirit,  succeeded 
him  in  Exeter,  which  place  can  give  the  best  account  of  his  beha- 
viour therein. 

Thirdly.  Robert  Townson,  born  in  Cambridge,  Fellow  of  Queen's 
College,  dean  of  Westminster  ;  of  a  comely  carriage,  courteous 
nature,  an  excellent  preacher.  He  left  his  wife  and  many  children 
neither  plentifully  provided  for,  nor  destitute  of  maintenance ; 
which  rather  hastened  than  caused  the  advancement  of  John 
Davenant,  his  brother-in-law,  to  succeed  him  in  the  bishopric  of 
Salisbury, 

36—38,   The  Death  of  Dr.  Andrew  Willet,  of  Dr.  Richard 
Parry^  and  of  Mr.  Francis  Mason. 

Therein  also  expired  Andrew  Willet,  doctor  of  divinity,  god-son 
to  Andrew  Pearne,  dean  of  Ely,  where  he  was  born  ;  brought  up 
in  Christ  College,  in  Cambridge ;  who  ended  liis  pious  life,  being 
nuich  bruised  with  a  fall  from  his  horse  :     a  man  of  no  little  judg- 

*  Boru  at  Thame  in  Oxfordsbire. 


19  JAMES  I.  BOOK  X.   CENT.  XVIK  205 

ment,  and  greater  industry,  not  unhappy  in  controversies,  but  more 
happy  in  Comments,  and  one  that  had  a  large  soul  in  a  narrow 
estate.  For,  his  charge  being  great,  (may  his  children  remember 
and  practise  their  father's  precepts  !)  and  means  small,  as  more  pro- 
portioned to  his  desires  than  deserts,  he  was  bountiful  above  his 
ability,  and  doubled  what  he  gave  by  cheerful  giving  it.  He  was 
buried  in  his  parish  at  Barley,  in  Hertfordshire.  Happy  village  ! 
which  lost  such  a  light,  and  yet  was  not  left  in  darkness,  only 
exchanging  blessings,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Brownrigg  succeeding  him. 

Nor  must  we  forget  Richard  Parry,  doctor  of  divinity,  bishop  of 
St.  Asaph,  who  this  year  exchanged  this  life  for  a  better.  He  was 
first  bred  in  Christ  Church,  in  Oxford,  where  he  made  plentiful 
proceeding  in  learning  and  religion,  and  thence  was  advanced  to  the 
deanery  of  Bangor;  on  whom  bishop  Godwin  bestows  this  (call 
it  compliment  or)  character  :  Cui  eruditione^  cwterisque  episcopa- 
lihus  virtutibus  iitinam  egomet  tarn  illi  essem  wqiialis^  quam  ille 
mihi  wtate,  studiorumque  academicorum  tempore^  locoque.^ 

We  conclude  this  year  with  the  death  of  Mr.  Francis  Mason,  to 
whose  worthy  book,  De  Ministerio  Anglicano^  we  have  been  so 
much  beholding.     Nor  will  it  be  amiss  to  insert  his  epitaph  : — 

Prima  Deo  cui  curafuit  sacrare  labor es^ 

Cui  studium  sacris  invigilare  libris  ; 
Ecce  sub  hoc  tandem  requievit  marm.ore  Mason, 

Expectans  Dominum  speque  Jideque  swim,. 

He  was  born  in  the  bishopric  of  Durham,  brought  up  in  the  univer- 
sity of  Oxford,  bachelor  of  divinity,  Fellow  of  Merton  College, 
chaplain  to  king  James,  rector  of  Orford,  in  Suffolk,  where  he  lies 
buried,  and  where  he  built  the  parsonage-house.  He  had  three 
children  by  his  loving  wife  Elizabeth,  who  erected  a  fair  monument 
to  his  memory. 


SECTION  VI. 

TO  SAMUEL  MICO,  OF  LONDON,  ALDERMAN. 

You  have  not  spent,  but  laid  out,  much  time  in  Italy, 
to  the  great  improvement  of  your  judgment  and  estate. 
How  cunning  chapmen  those  countrymen  are  in  buy- 
ing and  selling,  is  not  to  you  unknown ;  but  this  Section 

•  Godwin  in  Episcnpis  Asuphcnsibus. 


296  CHURCH    HISTORY    OF    BRITAIN.  A.D.  1622. 

presents  you  with  an  Italian  cardinal,  a  most  crafty 
broker  in  matters  of  religion,  till  at  last  he  deceived 
himself.  Peruse  it,  I  pray  ;  and  if  the  reading  thereof 
can  add  nothing  to  your  knowledge,  the  writing  of  it 
may  serve  as  my  acknowledgnient  of  your  favours 
received, 

1 — 19.  The  Causes  of  Spalatd's  Coming -over.  His  hoimtifnl 
Entertainment.  He  is  richly  preferred  by  King  James. 
His  great  Avarice.  Another  Instance  of  his  ungrateful 
Covetousness.  His  learned  Writings  against  Romish 
Error.  The  Jeerer  jeered,  ^palato's  Hypocrisy  dis- 
covered. He  is  incensed  ivith  a  Repulse.  Reasons  pleaded 
for  his  Return.  Spalato'^s  second  Letter  to  King  James ; 
desires  in  vain  still  to  stay  ;  departeth  to  Rome  ;  returns 
to  his  railing  Vomit ;  lives  at  Rome  not  loved,  and  dies 
unlamented.  Cardinal  ClesePs  neglected  Friendship  de- 
structive to  Spalato.  Spalato''s  Body  burned  after  his 
Death.  The  Word  "  Puritan,''''  how  first  abused  by  Spalato. 
His  impartial  Character.     A.  D.  1622. 

Lately  we  made  mention  of  the  coming-over  of  Marcus 
Antonius  de  Dominis,  the  archbishop  of  Spalato,  into  England,* 
and  now  shall  prosecute  that  subject  at  large.  For,  this  year  began 
happily,  because  with  the  end  of  that  arrant  apostata  in  this  land, 
and  his  fair  riddance  out  of  the  limits  thereof.  He  had  fourteen 
years  been  archbishop  of  Spalato  in  Dalmatia,  under  tlie  State  of 
Venice;  and  some  five  years  since,  to  wit,  a.d.  1616,  came  over 
into  England^  Conscience  in  show,  and  covetousness  in  deed, 
caused  his  coming  hither.  He  pretended  to  have  discovered  innu- 
merable novelties  and  pernicious  errors  in  t]\e  court  of  Rome,-[- 
injuriously  engrossing  the  right  and  honour  of  the  universal  church. 
He  complained,  many  points  were  obtruded  on  men's  consciences  as 
articles  of  faith,  which  Christ  in  the  Scripture  never  instituted.  He 
accounted  tlie  Romish  church,  "mystical  Babylon  and  Sodom  ;"! 
and  the  pope,  "  Nimrod,  a  tyrant,  schismatic,  heretic,  yea,  even 
antichrist  himself.""§  But  that  which  sharpeneth  his  pen  against 
the  pope  was  a  particular  grudge  against  pope  Paul,  who  had 
ordered  him  to  pay  a  yearly  pension  of  five  hundred  crowns,  out  of 
his  bishopric,  to  one  Andreutius,   a  suffragan  bishop  ;  which   this 

•  J'^ide  supra,  in  this  volume,  hook  ix.  sect.  iv.  parag.  42,  page  265.  f  In  his 

book  called  Cunailiuni  Profcctionis,  pages  15 — 17.  t  Ibkl.  page  34.  §  Ibid, 

page  76. 


20  JAMES  I.  BOOK    X.       CENT.    XVII.  297 

archbishop  refused  to  do,  complaining,  it  was  unjust,  and  imposed 
without  his  knowledge  and  consent.  The  matter  is  brought  to  the 
Rota^  or  Court  of  Rome,  where  the  wheel  went  on  the  wrong  side 
for  our  Spalato ;  who,  angry  that  he  was  cast  in  his  cause,  posts 
out  of  Italy,  through  Germany,  into  the  Low  Countries.  Here  he 
stayed  a  while,  and  tampered  for  preferment,  till,  finding  the  roof 
of  their  church  too  low  for  his  lofty  thoughts,  and  their  presbyterian 
government  uncomplying  with  his  archi-episcopal  spirit,  he  left  the 
Netherlands,  and  came  over  into  England. 

It  is  almost  incredible,  what  flocking  of  people  there  was  to 
behold  this  old  archbishop,  now  a  new  convert.  Prelates  and  peers 
presented  him  with  gifts  of  high  valuation.  Indeed,  it  is  a  humour 
of  our  English,  strangely  to  admire  strangers,  believing  invisible 
perfections  in  them,  above  those  of  our  land  :  a  quality  commend- 
able in  our  countrymen,  whilst  inclining  them  to  hospitality,  but 
sometimes  betraying  their  credulity  to  be  thereby  dangerously 
deluded.  He  was  feasted  wheresoever  he  came  ;  and  the  univer- 
sities, when  he  visited  them,  addressed  themselves  to  him  in  their 
solemn  reception,  as  if  he  himself  alone  had  been  an  university. 

But,  above  all,   king  James,  whose  hands  were  seldom   shut  to 
any,  and  always  open  to  men  of  merit,  was  most  munificent  unto 
him;  highly  rejoicing,   that  Rome  had  lost — and  England  got — 
such  a  jewel.     "  How  many  of  English  youth  were  tolled  out  of  our 
universities  into  Italy,  and  there  taught  treason  and  heresy  together ! 
This  aged   prelate,    of  eminent  parts,   coming  thence  of   his  own 
accord,    would  make   us  plentiful    reparation  for  the   departure  of 
many  novices.""     The  king  consigned    him    to   the  archbishop   of 
Canterbury  for  his  present  entertainment,  till  he  might  be  accom- 
modated to  subsist  of  himself;  and,   as   an  earnest  of  his  bounty, 
sent  him  to  Lambeth  a  fair  basin  and  bowl  of  silver  ;  which  Spalato 
received  with  this  compliment :  Misit  mihi  rex  Magnw  Britannice 
poluhrum  argenteum^  ad  abstergendas  sordes  Bommice  ecclesiw ;  et 
poculam  argenteum^  ad  imhihendam  Evangelii  puritatem  :  "  The 
king  of  Great  Britain  hath  sent  me  a  silver  basin,  to  wash  from  me 
the  filth  of  the  Roman  church  ;   and  a  silver  cup,  to  mind  me  to 
drink  the  purity  of  the  Gospel."     Preferment  is  quickly  found  out, 
and  conferred  upon  him  :    as,    the   deanery  of  Windsor,    (though 
founded,  not  in  a  cathedral,  but  collegiate  church,)  one  of  the  gen- 
teelest  and  entirest  dignities  of  the  land  ;  the  Mastership  of   the 
Hospital  of  the  Savoy,  with  a   good  parsonage   at  West-Ilsley  in 
Berkshire,  being  a  Peculiar  belonging   to  the  episcopal  jurisdiction 
of  the  dean  of  Windsor.     And,  finding  one  precedent  in  Lis  prede- 
cessor, he  collated  this  parsonage  on  himself,  and  there  made  shift 
for  so   much   English  as  sufficed  him  to  read  the  ninc-and-thirty 


CHURCH    HISTORY    OF    BRITAIN.  A.D.  1622. 

Articles,  (as  an  auditor  there  present  hath  informed  me,*)  which 
formerly  he  had  subscribed.  Thus  had  he  two  houses  furnished 
above  plenty,  even  unto  magnificence,  and  might  alternately  exchange 
society  for  privacy,  at  pleasure. 

He  improved  the  profit  of  his  places  to  the  utmost,  and  had  a 
design  to  question  all  his  predecessors'*  leases  at  the  Savoy  ;  and 
began  to  be  very  vexatious  to  his  tenants.  Some  of  them  repaired 
to  Dr.  King,  bishop  of  London  ;  who,  at  their  request,  took  Spalato 
to  task,  and  as  gravely  as  sharply  reproved  him  ;  that,  being  a 
foreigner,  he  would  fall  out  with  natives,  endeavouring  to  put 
others  here  out  of  their  peaceable  possessions,  who  himself  had  fled 
hither  for  his  own  refuge  ;  especially,  having  professed  in  print,  that 
he  "had  deposed  all  affection  to — and  gust  of — earthly  things  ;"-f" 
and  that  "  he  himself,  being  almost  naked,  did  follow  a  naked 
Christ."  I  Hereupon,  at  the  reverend  bishop's  admonition,  he  let 
fall  his  former  design.  But,  it  was  not  the  counsel  of  this  king, 
but  of  a  greater  king,  which  deterred  him  from  his  project ;  namely, 
king  James  himself,  to  whom  Spalato  complained,  that  the  lands  of 
the  Savoy  were  let  out  for  little  rents,  to  the  great  loss  of  his  place 
and  poor  therein  ;  not  that  he  cared  for  the  poor,  but  bare  the  bag, 
and  what  was  put  into  it ;  acquainting  his  majesty  with  his  intent  to 
rectify  those  abuses,  and  call  those  leases  into  question.  To  whom 
the  king  in  some  choler,  Extraneus^  extraneus  es  I  Relinque  res 
sicut  eas  iiixenisti^  "  You  are  a  stranger,  you  are  a  stranger  I  Leave 
things  as  you  found  them."  And  yet  the  same  man  would  very 
passionately  persuade  others  to  bounty  to  the  poor,  though  he  would 
give  nothing  himself:  witness  his  earnest  moving  the  Chapter  of 
Windsor  in  this  kind  ;  to  whom  one  of  the  prebendaries  answered, 
Qui  suadet^  siui  det^  "  Let  him  that  persuades  others  give  something 
of  his  own.'' 

I  am  also  credibly  informed,  from  an  excellent  hand,  of  the  truth 
of  this  story  : — Spalato  had  found  a  small  flaw  in  a  lease  of  value, 
which  a  gentlewoman  of  quality  held  of  the  dean  and  chapter  of 
Windsor.  To  her  house  he  comes  with  all  his  men  ;  where  she 
magnificently  entertains  him,  as  overjoyed  that  her  chief  landlord 
came  so  courteously  to  visit  her.  Spalato  next  morning,  after  his 
plentiful  supper,  having  settled  himself  in  the  parlour,  suddenly 
cries  out,  Ahscedite  omnes^  ahscedite  ;  "  Be  ye  all  gone,  be  ye  gone  ;" 
intending  to  take  possession  for  himself.  The  gentlewoman,  per- 
ceiving him  at  this  posture,  with  herself  and  servants  well  favouredly 
thrust  him  out  of  her  house,  coming  oflT  with  sufficient  disgrace. 
Afterwards  consulting  the  learned  in  our  laws  about  the  lease,  they 

•  Mr.  Caesar  Calendrine,  minister  of  tUe  Dutch  chiu-ch.  t  in  Prafat.  lib.  1.  Dc 

RcpuO.  Ecd,  num   0.  X    Sur  j'l'i.  page  19J. 


20  JAMES  T.  BOOK    X.       CENT.    XVII.  290 

told  him,  that  though  possibly  he  might  get  the  better  of  her  in^the 
common  law,  yet  the  chancery  would  relieve  her,  who  so  dearly  had 
bought,  so  truly .  had  paid  for,  and  so  peaceably  had  possessed  her 
estate  therein.  "  Fie  for  shame  !  "  saith  Spalato  ;  "  are  your  English 
Jaws  so  contrived,  that  what  is  done  by  one  court  may  be  undone  by 
another  ?  "  This  may  suffice  to  evidence  his  avarice.  Nor  must  it 
be  forgotten,  though  he  pretended  at  his  coming -over,  that  for 
conscience  he  freely  left  his  archbishopric  of  Spalato,  that  in  very 
deed  he  resigned  the  same  to  his  nephew,  conditionally  to  pay  him 
an  annual  pension  out  of  it.  8ed  magnus  nebulo  nil  solvit.  "  But 
the  great  knave  pays  me  nothing  ;  *"  as  he  himself  complained  to  my 
reverend  friend  the  archbishop  of  Armagh. 

He  falls  now  to  perfect  his  books.  For,  his  works  were  not  now 
composed,  but  corrected  ;  not  compiled,  but  completed ;  as  being, 
though  of  English  birth,  of  Italian  conception.  For,  formerly  the 
collections  were  made  by  him  at  Spalato,  but  he  durst  not  make 
them  public  for  fear  of  the  Inquisition.  His  works  (being  three  fair 
folios,  De  Bepuhlicd  Ecclesiasticd)  give  ample  testimony  of  his 
sufficiency.  Indeed,  he  had  a  controversial  head,  with  a  strong  and 
clear  style  ;  nor  doth  a  hair  hang  at  the  nib  of  his  pen  to  blur  his 
writings  with  obscurity  :  but,  first  understanding  himself,  he  could 
make  others  understand  him.  His  writings  are  of  great  use  for  the 
protestant  cause.  "  Many,'"*  saith  the  prophet,  "  shall  run  to  and  fro, 
and  knowledge  shall  be  increased,"  Dan.  xii.  4.  And  surely  the 
transcursion  of  Italians  hither  added  much  to  the  discovery  of  the 
papal  abominations.  Yet,  allowing  Spalato  diligent  in  writing,  his 
expression  was  a  notorious  hyperbole,  when  saying,  "  In  reading, 
meditation,  and  writing  I  am  almost  pined  away ;  "  otherwise,  his  fat 
cheeks  did  confute  his  false  tongue  in  that  expression.* 

Amongst  other  of  his  ill  qualities,  he  delighted  in  jeering,  and 
would  spare  none  who  came  in  his  way.  One  of  his  sarcasms  he 
unhappily  bestowed  on  count  Gondemar,  the  Spanish  ambassador, 
telling  him,  that  three  turns  at  Tyburn  was  the  only  way  to  cure  his 
fistula.  The  don,  highly  offended  hereat,  pained  for  the  present 
more  with  this  flout  than  his  fistula,  meditates  revenge,  and  repairs 
to  king  James.  He  told  his  majesty,  that  his  charity,  an  error 
common  in  good  princes,  abused  his  judgment,  in  conceiving  Spalato 
a  true  convert,  who  still  in  heart  remained  a  Roman  catholic  ;  (indeed, 
his  majesty  had  a  rare  felicity  in  discovering  the  falsity  of  witches, 
and  forgery  of  such  who  pretended  themselves  possessed  ;)  but,  under 
favour,  was  deluded  with  this  man's  false  spirit ;  and,  by  his  majesty ""s 
leave,  he   would  detect   unto  him   this  his  hypocrisy.     The  king 

*  Inlcctione,  iiicdUalionc,ct  scripliunc pent  marccsvo Rts?r.  Archiki'is.  Si'al.  Feb 

U,  nd  Artie.  3,  1622. 


300  CHUllCH    HISTORY    OF    BRITAIN.  A.D.  1622. 

cheerfully  embraced  his  motion,  and  left  liim  to  the  liberty  of  his 
own  undertakings. 

The  ambassador  writeth  to  his  catholic  majesty ;  he  to  his 
Holiness,  Gregory  XV.  that  Spalato  might  be  pardoned,  and  preferred 
in  the  church  of  Rome  ;  which  was  easily  obtained.  Letters  are 
sent  from  Rome  to  count  Gondemar,  written  by  the  cardinal  Millin, 
to  impart  them  to  Spalato,  informing  him,  that  the  pope  had  forgiven 
and  forgotten  all  which  he  had  done  or  written  against  the  catholic 
religion  ;  and,  upon  his  return,  would  prefer  him  to  the  bishopric  of 
Salerno  in  Naples,  worth  twelve  thousand  crowns  by  the  year.  A 
cardinal's  hat  also  should  be  bestowed  upon  him.  And,  if  Spalato, 
with  his  hand  subscribed  to  this  letter,  would  renounce  and  disclaim 
what  formerly  he  had  printed,  an  apostolical  brief,  with  pardon, 
should  solemnly  be  sent  him  to  Brussels.  Spalato  embraceth  the 
motion,  likes  the  pardon  well,  the  preferment  better,  accepts  both, 
recants  his  opinions  largely,  subscribes  solemnly,  and  thanks  his 
Holiness  affectionately  for  his  favour.  Gondemar  carries  his  sub- 
scription to  king  James ;  who  is  glad  to  behold  the  hypocrite 
unmasked,  appearing  in  his  own  colours  ;  yet  the  discovery  was 
concealed,  and  lay  dormant  some  days  in  the  desk,  which  was  in  due 
time  to  be  awakened. 

Now,  it  happened  a  false  rumour  was  spread,  that  Toby  Matthew, 
archbishop  of  York,  who  died  yearly  in  report,  was  certainly  deceased. 
Presently  posts  Spalato  to  Theobald  s ;  becomes  an  importunate 
petitioner  to  the  king  for  the  vacant  archbishopric,  and  is  as  flatly 
denied  ;  the  king  conceiving  he  had  given  enough  already  to  him  if 
grateful,  too  much  if  ungrateful ;  besides,  the  king  would  never  bestow 
an  episcopal  charge  in  England  on  a  foreigner,  no,  not  on  his  own 
countrymen  ;  some  Scottish-men  being  preferred  to  deaneries,  none 
to  bishoprics.  Spalato,  offended  at  this  repulse,  (for  he  had  rather 
had  York  than  Salerno,  as  equal  in  wealth,  higher  in  dignity,  nearer 
in  place,)  requests  his  majesty,  by  his  letter,  to  grant  his  good  leave 
to  depart  the  kingdom,  and  to  return  into  Italy;  pope  Paul,  his 
fierce  foe,  being  now  dead,  and  Gregory  XV.  his  fast  friend,  now  seated 
in  the  chair.     The  copy  of  whose  letter  we  have  here  inserted : — 

"  TO  THE  HIGH  AND  MIGHTY  PRINCE  JAMES,  BY  THE  GRACE 
OF  GOD,  KING  OF  GREAT  BRITAIN,  &C.  DEFENDER  OF 
THE    FAITH,    &C. 

''  M.  Anthony  de  Dominis,  archbishop  of  Spalato,  wisheth 
all  happiness. 

''  Those  two  popes  which  were  most  displeased  at  my  leaving 
of  Italy,  and  coming  into  England,  Paulus  Quintus,  and  he  which 
now  liveth,  Gregory  the  fifteenth,  have  both  laboured  to  call  me  back 


20  JAMES  I.  nboK    X.       CENT.    XVII.  301 

from  hence,  and  used  divers  messages  for  that  purpose  ;  to  which, 
notwithstanding,  I  gave  no  heed.  But  now  of  late,  wlien  this  same 
pope,  being  certified  of  my  zeal  in  advancing  and  furthering  the  union 
of  all  Christian  churches,  did  hereupon  take  new  care  and  endeavour 
to  invite  me  again  unto  him,  and  signified  withal,  that  he  did  seek 
nothing  therein  but  God's  glory,  and  to  use  my  poor  help  also  to 
work  the  inward  peace  and  tranquillity  of  this  your  majesty''s 
kingdom  ;  mine  own  conscience  told  me,  that  it  behoved  me  to  give 
ready  ear  unto  his  Holiness.  Beside  all  this,  the  diseases  and  incon- 
veniences of  old  age  growing  upon  me,  and  the  sharpness  of  the  cold 
air  of  this  country,  and  the  great  want  (I  feel  here  amongst  strangers) 
of  some  friends  and  kinsfolks,  which  might  take  more  diligent  and 
exact  care  of  me,  make  my  longer  stay  in  this  climate  very  offensive 
to  my  body.  Having  therefore  made  an  end  of  my  Works,  and 
enjoyed  your  majesty's  goodness,  in  bestowing  on  me  all  things 
needful  and  fit  for  me,  and  in  heaping  so  many  and  so  royal  benefits 
upon  me,  I  can  do  no  less  than  promise  perpetual  memory  and 
thankfulness,  and  tender  to  you  my  continuance  in  your  majesty's 
service  wheresoever  I  go,  and  will  become  in  all  places  a  reporter  and 
extoller  of  your  majesty's  praises.  Now,  if  my  business  proceed, 
and  be  brought  to  a  good  end,  I  well  hope  that  I  shall  obtain  your 
majesty's  good  leave  to  depart,  without  the  least  diminution  of  your 
majesty's  wonted  favour  towards  me.  I  hear  of  your  majesty's  late 
great  danger,  and  congratulate  with  your  majesty  for  your  singular 
deliverance  from  it  by  God's  great  goodness,  who  hath  preserved  you 
safe  from  it,  as  one  most  dear  unto  him,  for  the  great  good  of  his 
church,  I  hope.  Farewell,  the  glory  and  ornament  of  princes. 
"  Your  majesty's  ever  most  devoted  servant, 

"  ANT.  DE  DOMINIS, 
"  Archbishop  of  Spalato. 
*'  From  THE  Savoy,  January  16^/^,  1621." 

To  this  letter  no  present  answer  was  returned  ;  but  five  days 
after,  January  21st,  the  bishops  of  London  and  Durham,  with  the 
dean  of  Westminster,  by  his  majesty's  direction,  repaired  to  this 
archbishop,  propounding  unto  him  sixteen  queries,  all  arising  out  of 
his  former  letter ;  and  requiring  him  to  give  the  explanation  of  five 
most  material  under  his  hand,  for  his  majesty's  greater  satisfaction  ; 
which  he  did  accordingly,  yet  not  so  clearly  but  that  it  occasioned  a 
second  meeting,  January  31st ;  wherein  more  interrogatories  were 
by  command  propounded  unto  him  ;  which,  with  his  answers  there- 
unto, because  publicly  printed,  are  purposely  omitted  :  and  notwith- 
standing all  obstructions,  Spalato  still  continued  his  importunity  to 
depart. 


302  CHURCH    HISTORY    OF    BRITAIN.  A.  D.  1622. 

He  pretended  many  reasons  for  liis  return  :  First.  Longing  after 
his  own  country.  Who  so  z>o?2-hearted  as  not  to  be  drav.n  home, 
with  the  loadstone  of  his  native  land  ?  Secondly.  To  see  his  friends, 
kindred,  nephews,  but  especially  his  beloved  niece.  A  story  hangs 
thereon  ;  and  it  is  strange,  what  was  but  whispered  in  Italy  was 
heard  over  so  plain  into  England.  In  the  Hebrew  tongue  nephews 
and  nieces  are  called  "  sons  and  daughters  ;"  but  the  Italian  clergy, 
on  the  contrary,  often  term  their  sons  and  daughters,  "nephews  and 
nieces."  Thirdly.  The  late-pretended  discovery  of  many  errors  in 
our  English  church,  (how  quick-sighted  did  the  promised  bishopric 
make  him  !)  whereof  formerly  he  took  no  notice,  and  all  w^iich  are 
learnedly  answered  in  the  posthume  book  of  Dr.  Crakenthorpe,  care- 
fully set  forth  by  Dr.  Barkham,  after  the  author''s  death  ;  and  may 
all  orphan-works  have  the  happiness  of  so  faithful  a  guardian  ! 
Lastly,  and  chiefly  :  As  he  confesseth  himself,  allectus pretio  octu- 
plicis  stipendii^  "  allured  with  the  reward  of  a  salary  eight  times  as 
great"  as  his  revenues  in*  England.  In  which  computation,  as  he 
ungratefully  depresseth  the  value  of  what  he  had  in  hand ;  so  he 
undiscreetly  advanced  the  worth  of  what  in  hope  he  promised  him- 
self: not  to  speak  of  the  difference  of  Italian  ducats  when  told  oiit^ 
and  when  told  offoii  so  great  a  distance. 

In  pursuance  of  which  his  desire,  he  wrote  a  second' letter  to  king 
James  :  the  tenor  whereof  we  thousi-ht  fit  here  to  insert  for  the 
better  clearing  of  the  matter  : — 

"Most  excellent  Prince,  and  most  gracious  Lord, 

"As  I  signified  lately  unto  your  majesty  in  my  former  letter,  I 
neither  ought  nor  could  neglect  the  pope's  fair  and  gracious  invita- 
tion of  me  ;  especially  when  I  saw  that  he  dealt  with  me  concern- 
ing the  service  of  Christ  and  his  church  ;  and,  being  now  at  length 
better  certified  that  all  things  are  in  a  readiness  for  me,  I  am  tied 
to  my  former  promises.  Yet  I  make  it  my  humble  request,  that  I 
may  take  my  journey  with  your  majesty's  good-will.  And  for  that 
purpose,  I  do  now  most  humbly  and  earnestly  crave  your  leave  by 
these  letters,  which  I  would  much  more  willingly  have  begged  by 
word  of  mouth  in  your  presence,  that  I  might  have  parted  with  your 
majesty  with  all  due  thanks  and  submission,  but  that  my  access  to 
your  majesty  might  have  confirmed  the  vain  and  foolish  rumours  of 
the  people.*  I  beseech  your  majesty,  therefore,  to  vouchsafe  to 
give  me  some  letters,  whereby  my  departure  may  be  made  both  safe 
and  creditable.  As  for  the  ecclesiastical  titles  and  revenues  which 
I  hold  by  your  majesty's  gift,  I  shall  resign  them  by  public  inden- 

*  Namely,  that  the  king  had  omployod  Spahito  to  tho  popo,  to  make  a  reconciliation 
betwixt  us  aiid  Rome. 


20  JAMES  I.  BOOK    X.       CENT.    XVIT.  803 

tures.     So,  from  the  bottom  of  my  heart,  I  do  commit  myself  to 
your  royal  favour,  and  vow  myself  your  servant  for  ever. 
"  Your  majesty's,  &c. 

"  M.  ANTHONY  DE  DOMINIS, 
"Archbishop  ofSpalato. 
"  London  :  From  the  Savo2/,  Feb.  3rJ." 

This  letter  produced  new  interrogatories,  and  several  fruitful  con- 
troversies, one  always  begetting  another ;  but  the  last  was  a  sharp  one 
at  Lambeth,  March  .30th,  which  cut  off  all  future  discourse.  For,  a 
commision  was  issued  out  to  the  archbishop  of  Canterbury,  the  bishops 
of  Lincoln,  (lord  keeper  of  the  Great  Seal  of  England,)  London, 
Durham,  Winchester,  and  several  other  Privy  Counsellors  ;  before 
whom  Spalato  personally  appeared  :  when  the  archbishop  of  Can- 
terbury, in  the  name  of  the  rest,  by  his  majesty's  special  command, 
in  a  long  Latin  speech,  recapitulated  the  many  misdemeanours  of 
Spalato,  principally  insisting  on  his  changing  of  religion,  as  appeared 
by  his  purpose  of  returning  to  Rome ;  and  that,  contrary  to  the 
laws  of  the  realm,  he  had  held  correspondency  by  letters  with  the 
pope,  without  the  privity  of  the  king's  majesty.  To  which  charge 
when  Spalato  had  made  rather  a  shuffling  excuse  than  a  just  defence, 
the  archbishop,  in  his  majesty's  name,  commanded  him  to  depart 
the  kingdom,  at  his  own  peril,  within  twenty  days,  and  never  to 
return  again.  To  this  he  promised  obedience  ;  protesting  he  would 
ever  justify  the  church  of  England  for  orthodox  in  fundamentals, 
even  in  the  presence  of  the  pope  or  whomsoever,  though  with  the 
loss  of  his  life. 

However,  "  loath  to  depart"  was  his  last  tune  ;  and  no  wonder, 
if  well  considering  whence  and  whither  he  went.  He  left  a  land 
where  he  lacked  nothing,  but  a  thankful  heart  to  God,  and  a  con- 
tented soul  in  himself.  He  went  to  a  place  of  promise,  suspicious 
whether  ever  it  should  be  performed.  He  feared  (not  without  cause) 
he  might  lose  his  gray  head  to  fetch  a  red  hat.  And  an  ominous 
instance  was  lately  set  before  his  eyes  :  one  Fulgentius,  a  Minorite, 
had  inveighed  at  Venice  against  the  pope,  and  was  by  his  nuncio 
trained  to  Rome,  on  promise  of  safe-conduct :  where  being  favoured 
and  feasted  at  first,  soon  after  in  the  field  of  Flora  he  was  burned  to 
ashes.  This  made  Spalato  effectually,  but  secretly,  to  deal  with  his 
friends  in  the  English  Court,  that  his  majesty  would  permit  him  to 
stay;  but  in  vain;  and,  therefore,  within  the  time  appointed,  he 
went  over  in  the  same  ship  with  count  Schwartzenburgh,  the 
emperor's  ambassador,  returning  hence  into  Flanders. 

"  And,  now  Spalato  is  shipped,  a  good  wind  and  fair  weather  go 
after  him  !     His  sails  shall  not  be  stuffed  with  a  blast  of  my  curses. 


^04  CHURCH    HISTORY    OF    BRITAIN.  A.  D.  1622. 

conceiving  that  liis  fault  was  sufficient  punishment.  But  others  * 
have  compared  liim  to  "  the  house  swept,  and  garnished,"  to  which 
the  devil  returned  "  with  seven  spirits  more  wicked  than  himself,''' 
Matt.  xii.  44 ;  which  they  thus  reckon  up  :  Avarice,  Ambition, 
and  Hypocrisy,  whilst  he  stayed  here ;  Apostasy  and  Perjury,  when 
going  hence  ;  Ingratitude  and  Calumny,  when  returned  to  Rome. 
Yea,  they  find  as  many  punishments  lighting  on  him  :  God  angry 
with  him,  the  devil  tormenting  him,  his  conscience  corroding  him, 
the  world  cursing  him,  the  true  church  disdaining  him,  protestant 
pens  confuting  him,  and  the  pope,  at  last,  in  revenge  executing 
him.  And,  now  the  master  hath  had  the  just  shame  for  his  apos- 
tasy, let  the  man  receive  the  due  praise  of  his  perseverance  ; — one 
Gio  Pietro  Paravicino,  a  Grison,  who  waited  on  Spalato  in  his 
chamber  ;  whom  neither  frights  nor  flatteries  could  remove,  but  he 
died  in  Holland  a  firm  professor  of  the  protestant  religion  ! 

Being  come  to  Brussels,  he  recants  his  religion,  and  rails  bitterly 
on  the  English  church ;  calling  his  coming  hither  ''  an  unhappy, 
irrational,  pestiferous,  devilish  voyage,-)-  to  which  he  was  moved 
with  sickness  of  soul,  impatience,  and  a  kind  of  phrenzy  of  anger.""  J 
Here  he  stayed  six  months  for  the  pope"'s  brief;  which  was  long 
.a-coming,  and  at  last  was  utterly  denied  him.  Insomuch  that  Spalato 
was  fain  to  run  the  hazard,  and  desperately  adventure  to  Rome ; 
having  nothing  in  scriptis  for  his  security,  but  barely  presuming  on 
promises,  and  the  friendship  of  Gregory  XV.  now  pope,  formerly 
his  colleague  and  chamber-fellow. 

I  find  not  his  promised  bishopric  conferred  upon  him  ;  who  as 
well  might  have  been  made  primate  and  metropolitan  of  Terra 
Incognita.  Yea,  returning  to  Sodom,  (though  not  turned  into  "  a 
pillar  of  salt,"")  he  became  unsavoury  salt,  cared  for  of  no  side. 
Such  a  crooked  stick,  which  had  bowed  all  ways,  was  adjudged  unfit 
to  make  a  beam  or  rafter,  either  in  popish  or  protestant  church. 
And  now,  what  would  not  make  timber  to  build,  must  make  fuel  to 
burn  ;  to  which  end  he  came  at  last.  But  for  some  years  he  lived 
at  Rome,  on  a  pension  which  pope  Gregory  assigned  him  out  of  his 
own  revenues  ;  until  there  arose  a  new  pope,  who  never  knew 
Spalato  with  the  least  knowledge  of  approbation  ;  namely,  Urban 
VIII.  brought  in  by  the  anti-faction  of  the  French.  He,  finding 
his  revenue  charged  with  a  pension  paid  to  his  adversary,  (thrift  is  a 
flower  even  in  the  triple  crown  !)  prohibits  the  future  issuing  out  of 
the  same.  His  pension  being  stopped,  Spalato's  mouth  is  open,  and 
passionately  discourseth  reputed  heresy  in  several  companies. 

There  was  residing  at  Rome  one  cardinal  Clesel,  a  High  German; 

•  Dr.  Barkh.am  in  Ms  Dedicatoiy  Epistle  to  king  James.  t  In  lii^  book  called 

Consilium  Reditus,  page  9.  t  Ilnd.  page  5. 


20  JAMES  I.  BOOK    X.       CENT.    XVII.  '^^^'5 

betwixt  whom  and  Spalato  formerly  great  familiarity,  whilst  Clesel 
was  the  pope's  legate  de  Latere  with  the  emperor  at  Vienna,  where 
Spalato  negotiated  business  for  the  State  of  Venice.  This  cardinal 
expected  Spalato's  applications  unto  him,  after  he  was  returned  to 
Rome  ;  which  he  refused,  being  (belike)  too  high  in  the  instep,  or 
rather  too  stiff  in  the  knees,  to  bow  to  beg  a  kindness.  Clesel, 
perceiving  his  amity  made  contemptible,  resolved  to  make  his  enmity 
considerable ;  yet,  dissembling  friendship  for  the  better  opportunity 
of  revenge,  he  invites  Spalato  to  supper  ;  and,  a  train  of  discourse 
being  laid  at  a  liberal  meal,  Spalato  is  as  free  in  talking  as  m 
eating ;  and  lets  fall  this  expression,  that,  though  divers  had  endea- 
voured it,  no  catholic  had  as  yet  answered  his  books,  De  Repuhlicd 
Ecclesiasticd;  but  adding  moreover,  that  he  himself  was  able  to 
answer  them.  Presently  his  person  is  clapped  into  prison,  his  study 
seized  on,  wherein  many  papers  were  found  speaking  heresy  enough; 
his  adversaries  being  admitted  sole  interpreters  thereof. 

As  for  his  death,  some  months  after,  some  say  he  w^as  stifled, 
others  strangled,  others  stabbed,  others  starved,  others  poisoned, 
others  smothered  to  death.  But  my  intelligence  from  his  own 
kindred  at  Venice  informs  me,  that  he  died  a  natural  death  ;  adding 
moreover,  non  sme  prwTenienie  gratia,  "  not  without  God's  pre- 
venting grace ;"  for,  had  his  life  been  longer,  his  death  had  been 
more  miserable.  "Yea,"  they  say,  "the  pope  sent  four  of  his 
sworn  physicians,  to  recognise  his  corpse  ;  who  on  their  oath  deposed, 
that  no  impression  of  violence  was  visible  thereon."  However,  after 
his  death,  his  excommunicated  corpse  were  put  to  public  shame,  and 
solemnly  proceeded  against  in  the  Inquisition  for  relapsing  into 
heresy  since  his  return  to  Rome.  His  kindred  were  summoned  to 
appear  for  him,  if  they  pleased ;  but  durst  not  plead  for  a  dead 
man,  for  fear  of  infection  of  the  like  punishment  on  themselves. 
Several  articles  of  heresy  are  charged  upon  him  ;  and  he,  found 
convict  thereof,  is  condemned  to  have  his  body  burned  by  the  public 
executioner  in  the  field  of  Flora ;  which  was  performed  accordingly. 
Such  honour  have  all  apostates  ! 

We  must  not  forget,  that  Spalato  (I  am  confident  I  am  not  mis- 
taken therein)  was  the  first,  who,  professing  himself  a  protestant, 
used  the  word  "  Puritan,"  to  signify  the  defenders  of  matters  doc- 
trinal in  the  English  church.  Formerly  the  word  was  only  taken  to 
denote  such  as  dissented  from  the  hierarchy  in  discipline  and  church- 
government  ;  which  now  was  extended  to  brand  such  as  were  Anti- 
Arminians  in  their  judgments.  As  Spalato  first  abused  the  word  in 
this  sense,  so  we  could  wish  he  had  carried  it  away  with  him  in  his 
return  to  Rome.  Whereas,  now  leaving  the  word  behind  him  in 
this   extensive  signification  thereof,   it  hath  since  by  others  been 

Vol.  III.  X 


306         CHURCH  HISTORY  OF  BRITAIN.  A.D.  1622. 

"  improved  to  asperse  the  most  orthodox  in  doctrine,  and  religious  in 
conversation. 

He  was  of  a  comely  personage,  tall  stature,  gray  beard,  grave 
countenance,  fair  language,  fluent  expression,  somewhat  abdominous 
and  corpulent  in  his  body  ;  of  so  imperious  and  domineering  spirit, 
that,  as  if  the  tenant  were  the  landlord,  though  a  stranger,  he  offered 
to  control  the  archbishop  of  Canterbury  in  his  own  house :  an 
excellent  preacher,  (every  first  Sunday  in  the  morith  to  the  Italian 
nation  at  Mercers'  cjiapel,)  as  his  sermon  called  Scopleos^  or  "the 
rocks,"  doth  plentifully  witness ;  wherein  he  demonstrates,  that  all 
the  errors  of  the  Roman  church  proceed  from  their  pride  and  covet- 
ousness.  And  (under  the  rose  be  it  spoken)  if  the  great  ship  of 
Rome  split  itself  on  these  Rocks,  Spalato's  own  pinnace  made  ship- 
wreck of  the  faith  on  the  same,  1  Tim.  i.  19,  which  were  his  bosom 
sins.  In  a  word  :  he  had  too  much  wit  and  learning  to  be  a  cordial 
papist,  and  too  little  honesty  and  religion  to  be  a  sincere  protestant. 

20.   Three  other  Italian  Jugglers. 

About  the  same  time  three  other  Italians  made  their  escape  into 
England.  One,  Antonio,  (as  I  take  it,  a  Capuchin,)  who  here 
married  a  wife,  and  was  beneficed  in  Essex.  The  other  tvro,  Bene- 
dictines ;  living,  the  one  Avith  the  archbishop  of  Canterbury ;  the 
other,  with  the  archbishop  of  York.  All  these  three  were  neither 
good  dough  nor  good  bread,  but,  like  Ephraim,  "  a  cake  not 
turned,"  Hosea  vii.  8,  though  they  pretended  to  true  conversion. 
The  first  of  these,  being  kin  to  Spinola,  the  Low-Country  general, 
was  by  him  (on  what  terms  I  know  not)  trained  over  and  reconciled 
to  Rome.  The  other  two  (only  racking,  no  thorough-paced  pro- 
testants)  watched  their  opportunity  to  run  away.  Yet  let  not  this 
breed  in  us  a  jealousy  of  all  Italian  converts  ;  seeing  Vergerius, 
Peter  Martyr,  Emmanuel  Tremcllius,  &c.  may  reconcile  us  to  a 
good  opinion  of  them,  and  to  believe,  that  God  hath  "a  few  names 
even  in  Sardis,"  Rev.  iii.  4,  where  the  throne  of  the  beast  is  erected. 
And,  indeed,  Italian  converts,  like  Origen,  "  where  they  do  well, 
none  better  ;  where  ill,  none  worse." 

21 — 24.  The  Spanish  Match^  the  Discourse-general.  Gondemar 
procures  the  Enlargement  of  all  Jesuits.  A  malicious 
Comment  on  a  merciful  Text.  Bitter  Complime7its  hetwioct 
Gondemar  and  the  Earl  of  Oxford. 

All  men's  mouths  were  now  filled  with  discourse  of  prince 
Charles's  match  with  Donna  Maria,  the  Infanta  of  Spain.  The 
protestants  grieved  thereat,  fearing  that  this  nian-i age  would  be  the 


20  JAMES  I.  BOOK    X.       CENT.    XVII.  o07 

funerals  of  their  religion  :*  and  their  jealousies  so  descanted  thereon, 
that  they  suspected,  if  taking  effect,  more  water  of  Tiber,  than 
Thames,  would  run  under  London-bridge.  The  church-catholics 
grew  insolent  thereat ;  and  such  who  formerly  had  a  pope  in  their 
belly,  showed  him  now  in  their  tongues  and  faces,  avouching  their 
religion,  which  they  concealed  before.  Yet  at  last  this  match  (so 
probable)  brake  off,  heaven  forbidding  the  bans,  even  at  the  third 
and  last  asking  thereof. 

Count  Gondemar  was  the  active  instrument  to  advance  this  match; 
who  so  carried  himself  in  the  twilight  of  jest-earnest,  that  with  his 
jests  he  pleased  his  majesty  of  England,  and  with  his  earnest  he 
pleasured  his  master  of  Spain.  Having  found  out  the  length  of 
king  James's  foot,  he  fitted  him  with  so  easy  a  shoe,  which  pained 
him  not, — no,  not  when  he  was  troubled  with  the  gout ;  this  cunning 
don  being  able  to  please  him  in  his  greatest  passion.  And  although 
the  match  was  never  effected,  yet  Gondemar,  whilst  negotiating 
the  same,  in  favour  to  the  catholic  cause,  procured  of  his  majesty 
the  enlargement  of  all  priests  and  Jesuits  through  the  English 
dominions. 

The  actions  of  princes  are  subject  to  be  censured,  even  of  such 
people  who  reap  the  greatest  benefit  thereby  ;  as  here  it  came  to 
pass.  These  Jesuits,  when  at  liberty,  did  not  gratefully  ascribe 
their  freedom  to  his  majesty's  mercy,  biit  only  to  his  willingness  to 
rid  and  clear  his  gaols,  over-pestered  with  prisoners ;  as  if  his 
majesty,  if  so  minded,  could  not  have  made  the  gallows  the  besom 
to  sweep  the  gaol,  and  as  easily  have  sent  these  prisoners  from 
Newgate  up  westward  by  land,  as  over  southward  by  sea.  What 
moved  king  James  to  this  lenity  at  this  time,  I  neither  do  know, 
nor  will  inquire.     Surely,  such  as  sit  at  the  stern  and  hold  the  helm 

*  In  his  Examen,  Heylin  very  improperly  intimates,  that  the  only  persons  who  enter- 
tained such  fears  were  th.e  Puritans  ;  and  immediately  subjoias  :  "  To  these  nothing  was 
more  terrible  than  the  match  with  Spain  ;  fearing,  and  perhaps  justly  fearing,  that  the 
king's  alliance  with  that  crown  might  arm  him  both,  with  power  and  coimsel  to  suppress 
those  practices  which  have  since  proved  the  faueral  of  the  chiu-ch  of  England."  To  this 
remark  Fuller's  reply,  fearlessly  wi-itten  more  than  a  year  prior  to  the  Restoration,  is  a 
very  cbaracteristic  and  touching  passage,  highly  creditable  to  the  integrity  of  his  heart 
and  his  sincerity  as  a  churchman :  "  By  the  church  of  England,  the  Anhiiadverter 
meaneth,  as  I  believe,  the  hierarchy',  the  funeral  whereof  for  the  present  we  do  behold. 
However,  I  hope  there  is  still  a  church  in  England  alive,  or  else  we  were  all  in  a  sad, 
yea,  in  an  unsalvable,  condition  :  the  state  of  which  church  of  England  1  compare  to 
Eutychus,  Acts  xx.  9.  I  suspect  it  hath  formerly  slept  too  soimdly  in  ease  and  security. 
Sure  I  am,  it  is  since,  with  him,  '  fallen  do\yn  from  the  thu'd  loft ; '  fi'om  honour  into  con- 
tempt, from  unity  into  faction,  from  verity  into  dangerous  eiTors.  Yet  I  hope,  that  lior 
life  is  still  left  in  her ;  I  mean,  so  much  soundness  left,  that  persons  bom,  Uviiig,  and 
dying  therein  are  capable  of  salvation.  Let  such  who  think  the  chiu-ch  of  England  sick 
pray  for  her  wonderful  recovery,  and  such  as  think  her  dead  pray  for  her  miraculous 
resurrection." — Edit. 

x2 


«^08  CHURCH    HISTORY    OF    BRITAIN.  A.D.  1622, 

can  render  a  reason  why  they  steer  to  this  or  that  point  of  the  com- 
pass, though  they  give  not  to  every  mariner  (much  less  passenger  in 
the  ship)  an  account  thereof.  I,  being  only  by  my  place  oTryjpsrrjj, 
"  a  rower,"  or  minister  in  the  vessel,  content  myself  in  silence  with 
the  will  of  the  master  thereof.  But  let  us  exemplify  the  lord 
keeper's  letter  to  this  purpose  : — 

"  TO    THE    JUDGES. 

"After  my  hearty  commendations  to  you  :  His  majesty,  having 
resolved,  (out  of  deep  reasons  of  state,  and  in  expectation  of  the  like 
correspondence  from  foreign  princes,  to  the  profession  of  our  religion,) 
to  grant  some  grace  and  connivancy  to  the  imprisoned  papists  of  this 
kingdom,  hath  commanded  me  to  pass  some  Writs  under  the  Broad 
Seal  to  this  purpose  ;  requiring  the  Judges  of  every  circuit  to 
enlarge  the  said  j)risoners  according  to  the  tenour  and  effect  of  the 
same.  I  am  to  give  you  to  understand  (from  his  majesty)  how  his 
majesty's  royal  pleasure  is,  that,  upon  receipt  of  these  Writs,  you 
shall  make  no  niceness  or  difficulty  to  extend  that  his  princely 
favour  to  all  such  papists  as  you  shall  find  prisoners  in  the  gaols  of 
your  circuits,  for  any  church-recusancy  whatsoever,  or  refusing  the 
oath  of  supremacy,  or  dispersing  popish  books,  or  hearing,  saying  of 
mass,  or  any  other  point  of  recusancy,  which  doth  touch  or  concern 
religion  only,  and  not  matters  of  state.     And  so  I  bid  you  farewell. 

''  Your  loving  friend, 

"JOHN  LINCOLN. 

"  Westminster  College,  Aiigust  2,  1622.'^ 

Now,  although  one  will  easily  believe  many  priests  and  Jesuits 
were  set  at  liberty,  yet  surely  that  gentleman  *  is  no  true  account- 
ant, if  affirming  no  fewer  than  four  thousand  to  be  set  free  at  this 
time  ;  especially  considering,  that  one,-|-  who  undertakes  to  give  in 
a  perfect  list  of  all  the  Jesuits  in  England,  and  is  since  conceived 
rather  to  asperse  some  protestants  than  conceal  any  papists,  cannot 
hiount  their  number  higher  than  two  hundred  twenty-and-five.  To 
which,  if  such  whom  he  detects  for  popish  physicians,  with  all 
those  whom  he  accuses  for  popish  books,  be  cast  in,  they  will  not 
make  up  the  tithe  of  four  thousand. 

However,  most  distasteful  was  Gondemar'*s  greatness  to  the 
English  ancient  nobility  ;  who  manifested  the  same,  as  occasion  was 
offered,  as  by  this  one  instance  may  appear  : — Henry  Vere,  earl  of 
Oxford,  chanced  to  meet  with  count  Gondemar  at  a  great  entertain- 
ment. The  don  accosted  him  with  high  compliments,  vowing,  that, 
timongst  all  the  nobility  of  England,  there  was  none  he  had  tendered 

•  Mr.  Prynne  in  loc  ]  John  Gee  in  his  **  Foot  wA  of  the  Snare." 


20  JAMES  I.  BOOK    X.       CENT.    XVII.  309 

his  service  with  more  sincerity  than  to  his  lordship  ;  though  hitherto 
such  his  unhappiness,  that  his  affections  were  not  accepted  according 
to  his  integrity  who  tendered  them.  "  It  seems,''  replied  the  earl  of 
Oxford,  "  that  your  lordship  had  good  leisure,  when  stooping  in 
your  thoughts  to  one  so  inconsiderable  as  myself,  whose  whole  life 
hath  afforded  but  two  things  memorable  therein."  "  It  is  your 
lordship's  modesty,"  returned  Gondemar,  "  to  undervalue  yourself, 
whilst  we,  the  spectators  of  your  honour's  deserts,  make  a  true 
and  unpartial  estimate  thereof.  Hundreds  of  memorables  have  met 
in  your  lordship's  life.  But,  good  my  lord,  what  are  those  two 
signal  things  more  conspicuous  than  all  the  rest  ? "  '•  They  are 
these  two,"  said  the  earl ;  I  was  born  in  the  eighty-eight,  and 
christened  on  the  fifth  of  November." 

25 — 27.    The  Death  of  Mr.  Henry  Copinger.     A  free  Patron 
and  faithful  Incumbent  well  met.     His  long  and  good  Life. 

Henry  Copinger,  formerly  fellow  of  St.  John's  College,  in  Cam- 
bridge, prebendary  of  York,  once  chaplain  to  Ambrose  earl  of 
Warwick,  (whose  funeral  sermon  he  preached,)  made  master  of 
Magdalen  College,  in  Cambridge,  by  her  majesty's  mandate,  though 
afterwards  resigning  his  right  at  the  queen's  (shall  I  call  it  ?)  request, 
to  prevent  trouble,  ended  his  religious  life.  He  was  the  sixth  son 
of  Henry  Copinger,  of  Buxhall  in  Suffolk,  esquire,  by  Agnes, 
daughter  of  Sir  Thomas  Jermyn.  His  father  on  his  death-bed 
asking  him  what  course  of  life  he  would  embrace  ;  he  answered,  he 
intended  to  be  a  divine.  "  I  like  it  well,"  said  the  old  gentleman, 
"  otherwise  what  shall  I  say  to  Martin  Luther,  when  I  shall  see  him 
in  heaven,  and  he  knows  that  God  gave  me  eleven  sons,  and  I  made 
not  one  of  them  a  minister.^"  An  expression  proportionable 
enough  to  Luther's  judgment,  who  maintained,  some  hours  before 
his  death,  that  the  saints  in  heaven  shall  knowingly  converse  one 
with  another.* 

Lavenham  living  fell  void,  which  both  deserved  a  good  minister, 
being  a  rich  parsonage,  and  needed  one,  it  being  more  than  sus- 
picious that  Dr.  Reynolds,  late  incumbent,  who  ran  away  to  Rome, 
had  left  some  superstitious  leaven  behind  him.  The  earl  of  Oxford, 
being  patron,  presents  Mr.  Copinger  to  it,  but  adding  withal,  that 
he  would  pay  no  tithes  of  his  park,  being  almost  half  the  land  of 
the  parish.  Copinger  desired  to  resign  it  again  to  his  lordship,  rather 
than  by  such  sinful  gratitude  to  betray  the  rights  of  the  church. 
"  Well !  if  you  be  of  that  mind,  then  take  the  tithes,"  saith  the 
earl,  "I  scorn  that  my  estate  should  swell  with  church-goods." 
However,  it  afterwards  cost  Mr.  Copinger  sixteen  hundred  pounds,  in 

*  Pamaleon  De  iUustribus  Gcnnnnicc,  in  Vita  Luilicrl,  page  82. 


310  CHURCH  HISTORY  OF  BRITAIN.  A.  D.  1623. 

keeping  his  questioned — and  recovering  liis  detained — rights,  in  suit 
with  the  agent  for  the, next  minor,  earl  of  Oxford,  and  others  ;  all 
which  he  left,  to  his  church's  quiet  possession,  being  zealous  in 
God's  cause,  but  remiss  in  his  own. 

He  lived  forty-and-five  years  the  painful  parson  at  Lavenham  ;  in 
which  market-town  there  are  about  nine  hundred  communicants, 
amongst  whom,  all  this  time,  no  difference  did  arise  which  he  did  not 
compound.  He  had  a  bountiful  hand,  and  plentiful  purse,  (his 
paternal  inheritance,  by  death  of  elder  brothers,  and  other  transac- 
tions, descending  upon  him,)  bequeathing  twenty  pounds  in  money, 
and  ten  pounds  jt?^r  annum^  to  the  poor  of  the  parish;  in  tlie  chancel 
Avhereof  he  lieth  buried  under  a  fair  monument,  dying  on  St. 
Thomas's  day,  in  the  threescore-and-twelfth  year  of  his  age. 

28.  A  Co7iference  with  Jesuits. 

Papists  now  appearing  very  daring,  a  conference,  or  dispute,  (if 
you  please,)  was  entertained  bet^tixt  Dr.  White  and  Dr.  Featley, 
protestants,  father  Fisher  and  father  Sweet,  Jesuits,  December  21st, 
on  this  occasion  :  Edward  Buggs,  esq.,  living  in  London,  aged 
seventy,  and  a  professed  protestant,  was  in  his  sickness  seduced  to 
the  Romish  religion  ;  but,  recovering,  this  dispute  was  held  at  his 
request,  in  the  house  of  Sir  Humphrey  Linde,  a  learned  and  religious 
gentleman ;  about  the  visibility  of  the  church,  and  the  tenets  now 
maintained  by  the  protestants  to  have  been  before  Luther.  The 
printed  book  hereof  may  satisfy  the  reader  ;  as  this  conference  did  so 
satisfy  Mr.  Buggs,  that,  renouncing  his  former  wavering,  he  was 
confirmed  in  the  protestant  truth. 

29 — 34.  The  fatal  Vespers  at  Blackfriars.  Death  without 
giving  any  Warning,  I  will  sing  of  Merely  and  Justice. 
A  fair  and  true  Verdict.  Beware  wild  Wishes.  A  Caveat 
at  Rome.     A.D.  1623. 

Now  happened  the  sad  vespers,  or  doleful  evening-song,  at  Black- 
friars,  in  London,  October  26th.  Father  Drury,  a  Jesuit  of  excel- 
lent morals  and  ingratiating  converse,  (w^anting  nothing,  saving  the 
embracing  of  the  truth,  to  make  him  valuable  in  himself  and  accept- 
able to  others,)  preached  in  a  great  upper  room  in  Blackfriars,  next 
to  the  house  of  the  French  ambassador,  where  some  three  hundred 
persons  were  assembled.  His  text,  "  O  thou  ungracious  servant  I  I 
forgave  thee  all  the  debt,  because  thou  desiredst  me ;  shouldest  not 
thou  also  have  had  compassion  on  thy  fellow-servant  .'*"  &c. 
Matthew  xviii.  32.  \i\  application  whereof,  he  fell  upon  a  bitter 
invective  against  the  protestants. 

His  sermon  began  to  incline   to   the   middle,   the  day  to  the  end 


21  JAMES  1.  BOOK.    X.       CENT.    XVM.  311 

thereof;  when  on  the  sudden  the  floor  fell  down  whereon  they  were 
assembled.  It  gave  no  charitable  warning  groan  beforehand,  but 
cracked,  brake,  and  fell,  all  in  an  instant.  Many  were  killed,  more 
bruised,  all  frighted.  Sad  sight  to  behold  the  flesh  and  blood  of 
diflTerent  persons  mingled  together,  and  the  brains  of  one  on  the 
head  of  another !  One  lacked  a  leg ;  another,  an  arm  ;  a  third, 
whole  and  entire,  wanted  nothing  but  breath,  stifled  in  the  ruins. 
Some  protestants,  coming  merely  to  see,  were  made  to  suffer,  and 
bear  the  heavy  burden  of  their  own  curiosity.  About  ninety-five 
persons  were  slain  outright ;  amongst  whom  Mr.  Drury  and  Mr. 
Rodiat,  priests,  with  the  lady  Webbe,  were  of  the  greatest  quality. 
Nor  must  we  forget,  how,  when  one  comforted  a  maid-child  about 
ten  years  of  age,  exhorting  her  to  patience  for  her  mother  and  sister; 
the  child  replied,  that,  however  it  fared  with  them,  this  would  be  a 
great  scandal  to  their  religion ;  a  speech  commendable  in  any, 
admirable  in  one  of  her  age. 

Yet  marvellous  was  God's  mercy  in  the  preservation  of  some 
there  present.  One  corner  of  the  first  floor  rather  hung  still  than 
stood,  (without  any  beams,)  by  the  relative  strength  from  the  side 
walls  ;  and  about  twenty  persons  upon  it.  These  beheld  that  tragedy 
wherein  instantly  they  expected  to  act,  and,  which  was  the  worst, 
their  fall  would  not  only  kill  them,  but  by  their  weight  they  should 
be  the  unwilling  slayers  of  others,  which  as  yet  laboured  for  life 
beneath  them.  It  was  put  into  their  minds  with  their  knives  (fright 
adding  force  unto  them)  to  cut  their  passage  out  of  a  loam  wall  into 
the  next  chamber,  whereby  their  lives  were  preserved.  Of  those 
that  fell,  one  was  kept  alive,  (though  embraced  by  death  on  either 
side,)  a  chair  falling  hollow  upon  her.  Thus  any  arms  are  of  proof, 
if  Divine  Providence  be  but  pleased  to  put  them  on. 

Next  day  was  empanneled  a  coroner's  inquest  of  substantial 
citizens  to  inquire  into  the  cause  and  manner  of  their  death.  These 
found  it  done  neither  by  miracle  nor  malice,  no  plot  or  indirect 
practice  appearing,  (as  some  no  less  falsely  than  maliciously  gave  it 
out,)  the  roof  standing,  side-wall  sound,  foundation  firm,  only  the 
floor  broken,  by  God's  wisdom  permitting  it,  and  their  own  folly 
occasioning  it.  Nor  could  the  carpenter  be  justly  accused  for  slight 
and  unfaithful  building,  making  it  substantial  enough  for  any  pri- 
vate purpose  ;  and  none  could  foresee  that  they  would  bring  a  church 
into  a  chamber.  Twenty  of  the  poorer  sort  were  buried  hard  by  in 
one  grave,  and  the  rest  bestowed  by  their  friends  in  several  places 
of  sepulture. 

The  sad  death  of  these  persons,  the  object  of  pity  to  all  good 
and  wise  men,  was  the  subject  of  envy  to  some,  so  sillily  supersti- 
tious as  to  repine  at  it, — that  they  had  not  a  share  in  this  slaughter. 


312  CHURCH    HISTORY    OF    BRITAIN.  A.D.  1623. 

On  this  account,  because  the  priest  or  clerk  after  every  mass  in 
the  city  of  London  solemnly  invited  the  people  present  with  a 
loud  voice  to  say  three  Pater  nosters  and  three  Aw  Marias 
for  the  souls  of  such  as  died  in  Blackfriars,  particularly,  one 
Parker,*  who  narrowly  escaped  the  danger  there,  professed,  that 
nothing  gTieved  him  more  but  that  he  had  not  been  one  of  those 
that  died  by  the  aforesaid  mischance.  But  see  what  happened  : 
This  man,  going  over  to  Douay  to  take  priestly  orders  the  week 
following,  was  drowned  in  his  passage.  Thus  wild  wishes  for  death 
prove  sometimes  such  guests  as  come  home  to  the  inviters  before 
they  be  welcome  unto  them. 

This  accident  fell  on  Sunday,  October  26th,  which,  according  to 
the  New  Style  observed  beyond  sea,  (having  the  speed  of  ours  by 
ten  days,)  fell  upon  their  fifth  of  November ;  a  day  notoriously 
known  in  the  popish  Calendar.  Whereupon,  Mr.  Edward  Ben- 
lowes,  a  religious  and  learned  gentleman,  no  small  promoter  of  my 
former  and  present  labours,  thus  expressed  himself: — 

Quinta  Novembris  eat,  Graias  orsura  Calendas  ; 

Sit  quocunque  stylo,  quinta  Novembris  eat. 
Ilia  dies  Letho  Britonum  dev&verat  aulam  } 

Letho  devotam  sospitai  ilia  dies. 
Ista  dies  duxit  sacra  ad  viiseranda  Tnisellos  / 

Adductos  sacris  sustulit  ista  dies. 
Lapsa  repents  dornus  vos  ird  atroce  peremity 

Quels  fuit  ird  atrox  lapsa  repenti  domtcs. 
Drurie,  cum  cei^ebro  conspergis  pulpita  vano, 

Dum  spargis  cerebri  phasmata  vana  tuiy 
Trabe  peremptus  obis,  qui  lignea  vivus  adoras, 

Lignea  vivus  ades,  trabe  peremptus  obis  ^ 
Ligna  lapisque  nianus  infcedera  dantia  mactanf 

HoSy  quibus  in  sacra  sunt  foedera  ligna,  lapis. 
Quels  crux  cocca  Deus  (tenebrosa  magistra)  colentes 

In  tenebras  ccecos  cceca  magistra  rapit. 
Ah  !  erit  exeinplum  cui  non  hoc  triste  timori, 

Tristis  hie  exemplum  triste  timoris  erit. 
HcBC  (Romista  cave)  domus  und  ut  corruit  hord, 

Und  sic  hard  Roma,  caveto,  met. 

1  have  nothing  else  to  add  of  this  sad  disaster,  save  that  the  news 
thereof  next  Monday  morning,  October  27th,  was  fresh  in  every 
man''s  mouth  in  his  majesty's  chapel  in  Whitehall ;  at  what  time 
the  thirteenth  chapter  of  St.  Luke's  Gospel  was  read  for  the  lesson 
appointed  for  the  day  by  the  Rubric  of  the  church  of  England ; 
wherein,  near  the  beginning  ;  "  or  those  eighteen  upon  whom  the 
tower  of  Siloam  fell  and  slew  them,  think  ye  that  they  were  sinners 
above  all  men  that  dwelt  in  Jerusalem?  I  tell  you,  Nay:  but 
except  ye  repent,  ye  shall  likewise  perish.'' 

•  John  Gee  in  his  book  called  *'  the  Foot  out  of  the  Snare.' 


21  JAMES  I.  BOOK    X.       CENT.    XVII.  313 


SECTION  VII. 

TO  THOMAS  SHUGBOROUGH,  OF  BURDINGBURY,  IN 
WARWICKSHIRE,  ESQUIRE. 

Themistocles  was  wont  to  say,  that  it  was  the  best 
music  for  a  man  to  hear  his  own  commendation.* 
Should  I  play  a  lesson  thereof  unto  your  ears,  (insist- 
ing on  your  bounty  to  public  books,)  sure  I  am,  the 
tune  would  be  more  cheerful  to  me,  than  grateful  to 
you, — better  pleased  in  deserving  than  hearing  your 
own  encomium.  I  therefore  will  turn  my  praising  of 
you  into  praying  for  you,  as  more  proportionable  to 
my  public  profession,  and  acceptable  to  your  modest 
disposition. 

1.  The  Archbishop's  Letter  against  a  Toleration. 
Many  papists,  not  truly  humbled  with  this  late  sad  accident, 
so  demeaned  themselves,  that,  indeed,  most  offensive  was  their 
insolence  to  all  true  Englishmen ;  the  rather,  because  it  was  gene- 
rally reported,  that  his  majesty  intended  a  toleration  of  religion  : 
which  made  the  archbishop  of  Canterbury,  though  under  a  cloud  for 
his  disaster,  to  adventure  humbly  to  present  the  king  with  his 
apprehensions ;  losing,  with  some,  the  reputation  of  a  politic  states- 
man, but  preserving,  with  others,  the  character  of  an  honest  down- 
right protestant.  Which  letter,  though  sent  and  delivered  with  all 
privacy,  came  by  some  (whether  his  friends  or  foes,  uncertain)  to  be 
generally  known,  and  afterwards  publicly  printed,  as  followeth : — 

"  May  it  please  your  Majesty, 

"  I  HAVE  been  too  long  silent,  and  am  afraid,  by  my  silence, 
I  have  neglected  the  duty  of  the  place  it  hath  pleased  God  to  call 
me  unto,  and  your  majesty  to  place  me  in.  And  now  I  humbly 
crave  leave  I  may  discharge  my  conscience  towards  God,  and  my 
duty  to  your  majesty  ;  and  therefore  I  beseech  your  majesty  give 
me  leave  freely  to  deliver  myself,  and  then  let  your  majesty  do  with 
me  what  you  please. 

"  Your   majesty  hath   propounded  a  toleration  of  religion.     I 

beseech  you,  sir,  take  into  your  consideration  what  the  act  is,  next 

what  the  consequence  may  be.     By  your  act   you  labour  to  set  up 

that  most  damnable  and  heretical  doctrine  of  the  church  of  Rome, 

•  Plutarch  in  his  "  Life." 


314  CHURCH    HISTORY    OF    BRITAIN.  A.D.  1623. 

the  whore  of  Babylon.  How  hateful  will  it  be  to  God,  and  grievous 
unto  your  good  subjects,  the  true  professors  of  the  Gospel,  that 
your  majesty,  who  hath  often  disputed  and  learnedly  written  against 
those  wicked  heresies,  should  now  show  yourself  a  patron  of  those 
doctrines  which  your  pen  hatli  told  the  world,  and  your  conscience 
tells  yourself,  are  superstitious,  idolatrous,  and  detestable ! 

"  Add  hereunto  what  you  have  done  in  sending  the  prince  into 
Spain,  without  the  consent  of  your  Council,  the  privity  and  approba- 
tion of  your  people.  And  though,  sir,  you  have  a  large  interest  in 
the  prince,  as  the  son  of  your  flesh,  yet  hath  the  people  a  greater,  as 
the  son  of  the  kingdom  ;  upon  whom,  next  after  your  majesty,  their 
eyes  are  fixed,  and  welfare  depends.  And  so  tenderly  is  his  going 
apprehended,  as,  believe  it,  sir,  however  his  return  may  be  safe,  yet 
the  drawers  of  him  to  that  action,  so  dangerous  to  himself,  so 
desperate  to  the  kingdom,  will  not  pass  away  unquestioned  and 
unpunished. 

"  Besides,  this  toleration  which  you  endeavour  to  set  up  by  pro- 
clamation, cannot  be  done  without  a  parliament,  unless  your  majesty 
will  let  your  subjects  see  that  you  will  take  unto  yourself  a  liberty 
to  throw  down  the  laws  of  the  land  at  your  pleasure.  What  dread- 
ful consequence  these  things  may  draw  after  them,  I  beseech  your 
majesty  to  consider ;  aud,  above  all^  lest  by  this  toleration,  and  dis- 
continuance of  the  true  profession  of  the  Gospel,  whereby  God  hath 
blessed  us,  and  under  which  this  kingdom  hath  for  many  years 
flourished,  your  majesty  do  not  draw  upon  the  kingdom  in  general, 
and  yourself  in  particular,  God's  heavy  wrath  and  indignation. 

"  Thus  in  discharge  of  my  duty  towards  God,  to  your  majesty, 
and  the  place  of  my  calling,  I  have  taken  humble  boldness  to 
deliver  my  conscience.    And  now,  sir,  do  with  me  what  you  please." 

2.   Toleration^  the  general  Table-Talk,  argued.     The  Pulpit  is 
loud  against  the  Toleration. 

What  effect  this  letter  took,  is  unknown  ;  sure  it  is,  all  men's 
mouths  were  filled  with  a  discourse  of  a  toleration,  for  or  against  it. 
Some,  no  professed  papists,  but  who  lived  at  the  sign  of  the  pro- 
testant,  engage  in  their  arguments  very  earnestly  in  the  defence 
thereof ;  whilst  others  were  as  zealous  to  prove  a  toleration  intoler- 
able by  reasons  drawn  both  from  piety  and  policy.  We  will  only 
instance  in  few  out  of  many  as  they  were  bandied  on  both  sides,  and 
chiefly  such  as  concern  religion. 

PRO.  CON. 

Argument  I.— The  papists  Answer. — Papists  were  not 
of  late  were  grown   very  peace-     more  peaceable,  but  more  politic, 


21   JAMES   I. 


BOOK    X.       CENT.    XVII, 


S15 


able,  justly  recovermg  tlie  repu- 
tation of  loyal  subjects.  In  the 
reign  of  queen  Elizabeth,  scarce 
escaped  a  year  without  a  treason 
from  them ;  now  they  vied  obe- 
dience with  protestants  them- 
selves. Pity  it  was  but  they 
should  be  encouraged,  and  their 
loyalty  fixed  for  ever,  by  granting 
them  a  toleration. 

II. — We  see  the  same  liberty 
allowed  the  Hugonots  in  France, 
to  whom  the  king  permits  their 
churches,  ministers,  service,  ser- 
mons, sacraments,  according  to 
the  direction  of  their  own  con- 


science. 


III. — The  king  of  Spain  would 
be  highly  affected  with  this  favour 
allowed  to  the  English  catholics  ; 
and  this  would  fasten  him  in  firm 
friendship  to  the  English  Crown, 
to  which  his  amity  for  the  pre- 
sent was  not  only  useful  but  ne- 
cessary. 

IV. — Truth  will  ever  triumph 
over  falseliood,  and  verity  gain 
the  victory  of  error  ;  thus  protest- 
antism, notwithstanding  the  tole- 
ration, would  get  ground  on  po- 
pery by  the  demonstration  of  the 
Spirit  in  the  Scriptures. 


V. — The  apish  and  mimical 
popish  pageant,  with  the  toys 
and  trifles  in  their  service,  would 


than  formerly,  for  private  ends. 
Though  their  practice  more  plau- 
sible, their  positions  and  prin- 
ciples were  as  pernicious  as  ever 
before  ;  namely,  that  "  princes 
excommunicated  may  be  de- 
posed :  No  faith  to  be  kept  with 
heretics  :    That  the  pope,"  &c. 


The  case  is  different.  This 
liberty  was  not  so  much  given  to, 
as  gotten  by,  the  Hugonots  ;  so 
numerous  and  puissant,  it  was 
conceived  dangerous  to  deny  them 
such  privileges.  Thanks  be  to 
God!  notsuch  as  yet  the  condition 
of  catholics  in  England,  whose 
party  was  not  so  powerful,  but 
certain  by  such  a  toleration  to  be 
improved. 

The  necessity  of  his  friendship 
at  this  time  was  only  fancied  by 
such  as  desired  it.  Besides,  the 
King  of  heaven  must  not  be  of- 
fended, that  ihe  king  of  Spain 
may  be  pleased. 


Though  truth  itself  be  strong- 
er than  falsehood,  yet  generally 
the  promoters  of  falsehood  are 
more  active  and  sedulous  than 
the  advancers  of  truth.  Besides, 
it  is  just  with  God,  upon  the 
granting  of  such  an  unlawful 
toleration,  to  weaken  the  convert- 
ing power  of  truth,  and  strengthen 
the  perverting  power  of  false- 
hood, giving  the  English  over  to 
be  deluded  thereby. 

The  world  hath  ever  consisted 
of  more,  fools  than  wise  people  ; 
such  who  carry  their  judgment 


316 


CHURCH    HISTORY    OF    BRITAIN. 


A.D. 


1623. 


render  their  religion  ridiculous. 
No  danger  that  any  wise  man 
should  ever  be  seduced  thereby. 


VI.  —  Protestant  ministers 
would  be  more  painful  in  preach- 
ing, and  careful  in  residing  on 
their  cures,  to  keep  them  from 
infection. 


VII.— The  thing,  in  effect, 
was  already  allowed  to  papists  ; 
who,  now,  though  privately,  safe- 
ly celebrated  mass  in  many 
places  ;  which  favourable  conni- 
vance fell  but  little  short  of  a 
toleration. 


more  in  their  eyes  than  in  their 
brains.  Popery^  being  made 
luscious  to  people''s  senses,  too 
probably  would  court  many  to 
the  embracing  thereof. 

It  is  no  policy  to  let  in  the 
wolf,  merely  on  design  to  make 
the  shepherds  more  watchful. 
Rather,  on  the  contrary,  protest- 
ant  ministers  would  be  utterly 
disheartened  in  the  performance 
of  their  place  when  the  parish- 
ioners were  countenanced  to  de- 
sert them  without  any  punish- 
ment. 

If  the  papists  already  have 
what  they  would  have,  let  them 
be  contented  therewith.  Why 
desire  they  any  more  ?  But, 
indeed,  there  is  a  grand  differ- 
ence betwixt  a  state's  winking  at 
their  wickedness  for  a  time,  and 
a  formal  and  final  tolerating 
thereof.  During  the  former, 
catholics  sin  on  their  own  ac- 
count, and  at  their  own  peril ; 
the  laws,  though  not  executed, 
standing  in  full  force  against 
them.  But  a  public  toleration  of 
their  superstition  adopts  the  same 
to  become  the  act  of  the  Eng- 
lish nation. 


Here  it  would  be  tedious  to  recite  the  texts  of  Scripture,  (some 
more,  some  less,  proper  to  the  purpose,)  alleged  by  several  persons 
against  the  toleration.  Some  typical:  "Thou  shalt  not  plough 
with  an  ox  and  an  ass,"  Deut.  xxii.  10.  Some  historical :  God's 
children  must  not  speak  two  tongues,  Ashdod  and  Hebrew,  Neh. 
xiii.  24.  Some  doctrinal :  "  We  must  not  do  evil  that  good  may 
come  thereof,"  Rom.  iii.  8.  The  best  was,  the  toleration  bare  date 
with  the  Spanish  match  ;  with  which  it  was  propounded  and  agi- 
tated, advanced,  expected,  desired  by  some ;  opposed,  suspected, 
detested  by  others  ;  and,  at  last,  both  together  finally  frustrated 
and  defeated. 


21  JAMES  I.  BOOK    X.       CENT.    XVII.  SIJ 

3,  4.    His  Majesty's  Care  to  regulate  Preaching.      His 
Directions. 

Now  was  his  majesty  informed,  that  it  was  high  time  to  apply- 
some  cure  to  the  pulpits,  as  sick  of  a  sermon-surfeit,  and  other  exor- 
bitances. Some  meddled  with  state-matters  ;  and  generally,  by  an 
improper  transposition,  the  people's  duty  was  preached  to  the  king 
at  court ;  the  king's,  to  the  people  in  the  country.  Many  shallow 
preachers  handled  the  profound  points  of  predestination ;  wherein, 
pretending  to  guide  their  flocks,  they  lost  themselves.  Sermons 
were  turned  into  satires  against  papists  or  nonconformists. 

To  repress  the  present  and  prevent  future  mischiefs  in  this  kind, 
his  majesty  issued  out  his  Directions  to  be  written  fair  in  every 
register's  office,  whence  any  preacher  (if  so  pleased)  might,  with  his 
own  hand,  take  out  copies  gratis,  paying  nothing  for  expedition.* 
Herein  the  king  revived  the  primitive  and  profitable  order  of  cate- 
chising in  the  afternoon,  (better  observed  in  all  other  Reformed 
churches  than  of  late  in  England,)  according  to  the  tenor  ensuing: — 

"  Most  reverend  father  in  God,  right  trusty  and  entirely  beloved 
counsellor,  we  greet  you  well. — Forasmuch  as  the  abuses  and 
extravagancies  of  preachers  in  the  pulpit  have  been  in  all  times 
repressed  in  this  realm,  by  some  act  of  Council  or  state,  with  the 
advice  and  resolution  of  grave  and  learned  prelates  ;  insomuch,  that 
the  very  licensing  of  preachers  had  beginning  by  an  order  of  Star- 
chamber,  the  eighth  day  of  July,  in  the  nineteenth  year  of  the 
reign  of  king  Henry  VIII.  our  noble  predecessor  :  and  whereas  at 
this  present,  divers  young  students,  by  reading  of  late  writers,  and 
ungrounded  divines,  do  broach  many  times  unprofitable,  unsound, 
seditious,  and  dangerous  doctrines,  to  the  scandal  of  the  church  and 
disquiet  of  the  state  and  present  government :  we,  upon  humble 
representations  unto  us  of  these  inconveniencies  by  yourself,  and 
sundry  other  grave  and  reverend  prelates  of  this  church,  as  also  of 
our  princely  care  and  zeal  for  the  extirpation  of  schism  and  dissen- 
sion growing  from  these  seeds,  and  for  the  settling  of  a  religious 
and  peaceable  government  both  in  church  and  commonwealth  ;  do, 
by  these  our  special  letters,  straitly  charge  and  command  you  to 
use  all  possible  care  and  diligence,  that  these  limitations  and  cau- 
tions herewith  sent  unto  you  concerning  preachers  be  duly  and 
strictly  from  henceforth  put  in  practice  and  observed  by  the  several 
bishops  within  your  jurisdiction.  And  to  this  end  our  pleasure  is, 
that  you  send  them  forthwith  copies  of  these  Directions  to  be  by 
them  speedily  sent  and  communicated  unto  every  parson,  vicar, 
curate,  lecturer,  and  minister,  in  every  cathedral  or  parish-church 

•  Cabala,  part  ii.  page  191. 


318  CHURCH    HISTOKY    OF    JiRITAIN.  A.D.  1623. 

witliin  their  several  diocesses,  and  that  you  earnestly  require  them 
to  employ  their  utmost  endeavours  in  the  performance  of  this  so 
important  a  business  ;  letting  them  know  that  we  have  a  special  eye 
unto  their  proceedings,  and  expect  a  strict  account  thereof,  both  of 
you  and  every  one  of  them  :  and  these  our  letters  shall  be  your 
sufficient  warrant  and  discharge  in  that  behalf. 

"  Given  under  our  signet,  at  oar  castle  of  Windsor,  the  fourth  of 
August,  in  the  twentieth  year  of  our  reign/' 

"     DIIIECTIONS      CONCERNING      PREACHEHS      SENT      WITH      THE 

LETTER. 

"  1.  That  no  preacher  under  the  degree  and  calling  of  a  bishop, 
or  dean  of  a  cathedral  or  collegiate  church,  (and  they  upon  the  king's 
days  and  set  festivals,)  do  take  occasion  (by  the  expounding  of  any 
text  of  Scripture  whatsoever)  to  fall  into  any  set  discourse  or  common- 
place, otherwise  than  by  the  opening  the  coherence  and  division  of 
the  text,  which  shall  not  be  comprehended  and  warranted  in  essence, 
substance,  effect,  or  natural  inference,  within  some  one  of  the  Articles 
of  Religion,  set  forth,  1562,  or  in  some  of  the  Homilies  set  forth  by 
authority  of  the  church  of  England,  not  only  for  the  help  of  the 
non-preaching— but  withal  for  a  pattern  and  boundary  (as  it  were) 
for  the  preaching — ministers.  And  for  their  further  instructions  for 
the  performance  hereof,  that  they  forthwith  read  over  and  peruse 
diligently  the  said  Book  of  Articles,  and  the  two  Books  of  Homilies. 

"  2.  That  no  parson,  vicar,  curate,  or  lecturer,  shall  preach  any 
sermons  or  collation  hereafter  upon  Sundays  and  holidays  in  the 
afternoon,  in  any  cathedral  or  parish-church  throughout  the  kingdom, 
but  upon  some  part  of  the  Catechism,  or  some  text  taken  out  of  the 
Creed,  Ten  Commandments,  or  the  Lord's  Prayer,  (funeral  sermons 
only  excepted,)  and  that  those  preachers  be  most  encouraged  and 
approved  of  who  spend  the  afternoon's  exercise  in  the  examination  of 
children  in  their  Catechism,  which  is  the  most  ancient  and  laudable 
custom  of  teaching  in  the  church  of  England, 

'^  3.  That  no  preacher,  of  what  title  soever  under  the  degree  of  a 
bishop  or  dean  at  the  least,  do  from  henceforth  presume  to  preach  in 
any  popular  auditory  deep  points  of  Predestination,  Election,  Repro- 
bation, or  of  the  Universality,  Efficacy,  Resistibility  or  Irresistibility 
of  God's  Grace,  but  leave  those  tliemes  rather  to  be  handled  by  the 
learned  men,  and  that  moderately  and  modestly  by  way  of  use  and 
application,  rather  than  by  way  of  positive  doctrines;  being  fitter  for 
the  schools  than  for  simple  auditories. 

"  4.  That  no  preacher,  of  what  title  or  denomination  soever,  from 
henceforth  shall  presume,  in  any  auditory  within  this  kingdom,  to 
declare,  limit,  or  bound  out,  by  way  of  positive  doctrine,   in   any 


21  JAMES  I.  BOOK    X.       CENT.    XVII.  319 

lecture  or  sermon,  the  power,  prerogative,  and  jurisdiction,  authority, 
or  duty,  of  sovereign  princes,  or  otherwise  meddle  with  matters  of 
state  and  the  differences  between  princes  and  the  people,  than  as  they 
are  instructed  and  precedented  in  the  Homilies  q/*  Obedience^  and 
the  rest  of  the  Homilies,  and  Articles  of  Religion,  set  forth,  as  before 
is  mentioned,  by  public  authority  ;  but  rather  confine  themselves 
wholly  to  those  two  heads,  '  Of  faith  and  good  life,'  which  are  all  the 
subjects  of  the  ancient  sermons  and  Homilies. 

"  5.  That  no  preacher,  of  what  title  or  denomination  soever,  shall 
presume  causelessly,  or  without  invitation  from  the  text,  to  fall  into 
bitter  invectives  and  undecent  railing  speeches  against  the  persons  of 
either  papists  or  puritans ;  but  modestly  and  gravely,  when  they  are 
occasioned  thereunto  by  the  text  of  Scripture,  free  both  the  doctrine 
and  the  discipline  of  the  church  of  England  from  the  aspersions  of 
either  adversaries,  especially  where  the  auditory  is  suspected  to  be 
tainted  with  the  one  or  the  other  infection. 

"  6.  Lastly.  That  the  archbishops  and  bishops  of  the  kingdom 
(whom  his  majesty  hath  good  cause  to  blame  for  their  former 
remissness)  be  more  wary  and  choice  in  their  licensing  of  preachers, 
and  revoke  all  grants  made  to  any  chancellor,  official,  or  commissary, 
to  pass  licences  in  this  kind ;  and  that  all  the  lecturers  throughout 
the  kingdom  of  England  (a  new  body  severed  from  the  ancient  clergy, 
as  being  neither  parsons,  vicars,  nor  curates)  be  licensed  hence- 
forward in  the  Court  of  Faculties,  but  only  from  a  recommendation 
of  the  party  from  the  bishop  of  the  diocess  under  his  hand  and  seal, 
with  a  ^at  from  the  lord  archbishop  of  Canterbury,  a  confirmation 
under  the  Great  Seal  of  England  ;  and  that  such  as  do  transgi-ess 
any  one  of  these  Directions,  be  suspended  by  the  bishop  of  the 
diocess,  or,  in  his  default,  by  the  archbishop  of  the  province,  ab 
officio  et  beneficio^  for  a  year  and  a  day,  until  his  majesty,  by  the 
advice  of  the  next  Convocation,  shall  prescribe  some  farther  punish- 
ment."" 

5.  Various  Censuses  on  the  King^s  Letter's. 
No  sooner  were  these  the  king's  Declarations  dispersed  into  every 
diocess,  but  various  were  men's  opinions  thereof.  Some  counted  it 
a  cruel  act,  which  cut  off  half  the  preaching  in  England  (all 
afternoon-sermons)  at  one  blow.  Others  thought  the  king  did  but 
uti  jure  siio,  doing  not  only  Avhat  in  justice  he  might,  but  what  in 
prudence  he  ought  in  this  juncture  of  time.  But  hear  what  I  have 
heard  and  read  in  this  case  : — 

OBJECTIONS.  ANSWERS. 

I.  Christ  grants  ministers  Ministers,  if  commanded 
their  commission,  "  Go  teach  all     "  not  at  all  to  speak,  or  teach  in 


.320 


CHURCH    HISTORY    OF    BRITAIN. 


A.D.  1623. 


nations."  St.  Paul  corroborates 
the  same,  "  Preach  the  word,  be 
instant  in  season,  out  of  season."" 
Man  therefore  ought  not  to 
forbid  what  God  enjoins. 

II.  This  is  the  way  to  starve 
souls  by  confining  them  to  one 
meal  a-day,  or,  at  the  best,  by 
giving  them  only  a  mess  of  milk 
for  their  supper,  and  so  to  bed. 

III.  Such  as  are  licensed  to 
make  sermons  may  be  intrusted 
to  choose  their  own  texts,  and 
not  in  the  afternoons  to  be  re- 
strained to  the  Lord's  Prayer, 
Creed,  and  Ten  Commandments. 

IV.  In  prohibiting  the  preach- 
ing of  predestination,  man  makes 
THAT  "  the  forbidden  fruit," 
which  God  appointed  for  "  the 
tree  of  life  ;  "  so  cordial  the  com- 
forts contained  therein  to  a  dis- 
tressed conscience. 


V.  Bishops  and  deans  (for- 
sooth) and  none  under  the  dignity, 
may  preach  of  predestination. 
What  is  this  but  to  "  have  the 
word  of  God  in  respect  of  per- 
sons ?  "  as  if  all  discretion  were 
confined  to  cathedral-men,  and 
they  best  able  to  preach  who  use 
it  the  least ! 


the  name  of  Jesus,"  are,  with  the 
apostles,  "  to  obey  God  rather 
than  man."  But  vast  the  differ- 
ence betwixt  a  total  prohibition, 
and  (as  in  this  case)  a  prudential 
regulation  of  preaching. 

Milk  (catechetical  doctrine)  is 
best  for  babes,  which  generally 
make  up  more  than  a  moiety 
of  every  congregation. 

Such  restraint  hath  liberty 
enough,  seeing  all  things  are 
clearly  contained  in,  or  justly 
reducible  to,  these  three, — which 
are  to  be  desired^  believed,  and 


VI.  Papists  and  puritans  in 
the  king's  letters  are  put  into  the 
same  balance  ;  and  papists  in  the 
drime  scale  ;  first  named,  as  pre- 
ferred in  the  king's  care,  chiefly  to 


Indeed,  predestination,  solidly 
and  soberly  handled,  is  an  anti- 
dote against  despair.  But,  as 
many  ignorant  preachers  ordered 
it,  the  cordial  was  turned  into  a 
poison  ;  and  therefore  such  mys- 
teries might  well  be  forborne  by 
mean  ministers  in  popular  con- 
gregations. 

It  must  be  presumed,  that 
such  of  necessity  must  be  of  age 
and  experience,  and  may  in 
civility  be  believed  of  more  than 
ordinary  learning,  before  they 
attained  such  perferment.  Be- 
sides, cathedral-auditories,  being 
of  a  middle  nature  for  under- 
standing, (as  beneath  the  univer- 
sity, so  above  common  city  and 
country-congregations,)  are  fitter 
for  such  high  points  to  be  preach- 
ed therein. 

The  king's  letter  looks  on  both 
under  the  notion  of  guilty  persons. 
Had  puritans  been  placed  first, 
such  as  now  take  exception  at 
their    post-posing     would    have 


21   JAMES  r.  BOOK    X.       CENT.    XVII.  321 

secure  them  from   invectives   in     collected,  that  the  king  esteemed 
sermons.  them  the  greatest  offenders. 

VII.  Lecturers  are  made  such  Lecturers  are  no  creatures  of 
riddles  in  the  king's  letters,  redu-  the  church  of  England  by  their 
cible  to  no  ministerial  function  original ;  like  those  mixed  kinds, 
in  England ;  whereas,  indeed,  little  better  than  monsters  in 
the  flower  of  piety,  and  power  of  nature,  to  which  God,  as  here 
godliness,flourished  most  in  those  the  state,  never  said,  "  Multiply 
places  where-  such  preachers  are  and  increase  :  "  and  therefore  the 
most  countenanced.  king  had  just  cause  to  behold 

them  with  jealous  eyes,  who 
generally  supplanted  the  incum- 
bents of  livings  in  the  affections 
of  their  parishioners,  and  gave 
the  greatest  growth  to  noncon- 
formity. 

These  Instructions  from  his  majesty  were  not  pressed  with  equal 
rigour  in  all  places ;  seeing  some  over-active  officials,  more  busy 
than  their  bishops,  tied  up  preachers  in  the  afternoon  to  the  very 
letter  of  the  Catechism,  questioning  them  if  exceeding  the  questions 
and  answers  therein,  as  allowing  them  no  liberty  to  dilate  and 
enlarge  themselves  thereupon. 

6 — 11.  A  needless  Subject  waved.  A  Crown  not  joyed  in. 
King  James  accused  by  some;  defended  by  others.  Both 
the  Palatinates  lost.  Land  of  Promise^  now  Land  of  Per- 
formance. 

Expect  not  of  me  a  particular  account  of  the  politic  intricacies 
touching  the  Spanish  match,  or  no-match  rather.  First.  Because 
Spanish,  and  so  alien  from  my  subject.  Secondly.  Because  the 
passages  thereof  are  so  largely  and  publicly  in  print.  Thirdly. 
Because,  in  fine,  it  proved  nothing,  though  kept  on  foot  so  long, 
till  king  James,  by  endeavouring  to  gain  a  daughter-in-law,  had,  in 
effect,  lost  his  own  daughter, — her  husband  and  children  being 
reduced  to  great  extremities. 

Truly,  king  James  never  affected  his  son-in-law's  acceptance  of 
the  Bohemian  crown,  nor  promised  himself  any  good  success  thence, 
though  great  the  hope  of  the  German  protestants  therein.  Indeed, 
some  of  them  were  too  credulous  of  a  blind  prophecy  commonly 
current  amongst  them;  post  ter  mginti^  cessabit  gloria  quinti : 
expecting  the  ending  of  the  Austrian  family,  sixty  years  being  now- 
expired  since  the  death  of  Charles  V.  But  discreet  persons  slighted 
such  vanities,  and  the  Qninti  had  like  to  have  proved  the  extirpation 

Vol.  III.  r 


'S22  CHURCH    HISTORY    OF    BRITAIN.  A.D.  1623, 

of  Frederic  "  fifth"  of  that  name,  Palatine  of  the  Rhine,  had  not 
God  ahnost  miraculously  lately  countermanded  it. 

Yea,  king  James  privately  foretold  to  some  principal  persons, 
that  this  matter  would  prove  the  ruin  of  his  daughter.  There  want 
not  some  who  say,  that  he  went  about  to  verify  his  own  prediction, 
by  not  sending  seasonable  succours  for  their  assistance  ;  who,  had  he 
turned  his  embassies  into  arniies,  might  probably  have  prevented 
much  protestant  misery. 

Others  excuse  king  James,  partly  from  the  just  hopes  he 
had  to  accommodate  all  interests  in  a  peaceable  way ;  partly  from 
the  difficulty  of  conveying  effectual  forces  into  so  far-distant  a 
country. 

Mean  time  both  the  Palatinates  were  lost,  the  Upper  seized  on  by 
the  emperor,  the  Nether  (but  higher  in  value)  by  the  king  of  Spain, 
the  city  of  Heidelberg  taken  and  plundered,  and  the  inestimable 
library  of  books  therein  carried  over  the  Alps  on  mules'  backs  to 
Rome.  Each  mule  laden  with  that  learned  burden  had  a  silver 
plate  on  his  forehead,  wherein  was  engraven,  Fero  bihliothecam 
Frincipis  Palatini.  Now  those  books  are  placed  in  the  pope's 
Vatican,  entitling  protestants  to  visit  the  place  ;  who  one  day 
may  have  as  good  success^  as  now  they  have  just  rights  to  recover 
them. 

As  for  the  Palatinate,  satirical  tongues  commonly  called  it  "  the 
land  of  promise,'"  so  frequently  and  so  solemnly  was  the  restitution 
thereof  promised  to  king  James,  fed  only  with  delays,  which 
amounted  to  mannerly  denials.  Since,  it  hath  pleased  God  to  turn 
this  "land  of  promise"  into  a  "land  of  performance;"*  the 
present  Palatine  being  peaceably  possessed  thereof. 

12, 13.  Prince  Charles  goes  to  Spain.     His  Return. 

Prince  Charles,  with  the  duke  of  Buckingham,  lately  went 
privately  through  France,  (where  he  saw  the  lady  whom  after- 
wards he  married,)  into  Spain.  It  is  questionable,  whether  then 
more  blamed  king  James  for  sending  him,  or  afterwards  blessed  God 
for  his  safe  return.  Sumptuous  his  entertainment  in  the  Spanish 
court,  where  it  was  not  the  king's  fault,  but  kingdom's  defect,  that 
any  thing  was  wanting.  He  quickly  discovered,  (the  coarseness  of 
fine-pretending  wares  at  distance  are  easily  confuted  near  hand,)  that 
the  Spanish  state  had  no  mind  or  meaning  of  a  match,  as  who 
demanded  sucli  unreasonable  liberty  in  education  of  the  royal  off- 
spring, (in  case  any  were  born  betwixt  them,)  and  other  privileges 
for  English  papists,  that  the  king  neither  could  nor  would  in  honour 

*  The  Nether  Palatinate. 


21  JAMES  I.  BOOK    X.       CENT.    XVII.  323 

or  conscience  consent  thereunto.*  However,  prince  Charles  (whose 
person  was  in  their  power)  took  his  fair  farewell  with  courteous  com- 
pliance. 

Though  he  entered  Spain  like  a  private  person,  he  departed  it 
like  himself,  and  the  son  of  his  father ;  a  stately  fleet  attending  him 
home,  September  12th.  Foul  weather  forced  them  to  put  in  at  the 
Isle  at  Scilly,  (the  parings  of  England,  south-west  of  Cornwall,) 
where  in  two  days  they  fed  on  more  and  better  flesh  than  they  found 
in  Spain  for  many  months.  Soon  after,  (October  5th,f )  he  arrived  at 
Portsmouth  ;  and  the  next  day  came  to  London,  to  the  great 
rejoicing  of  all  sorts  of  people,  signified  by  their  bonfires,  ringing 
of  bells,  with  other  external  expressions  of  joy. 

14.  The  Palatinate  beheld  desperate. 
King  James  now  despaired  of  any  restitution,  especially  since  the 
duke  of  Bavaria  was  invested  in  the  Upper  Palatinate  ;  and  so  his 
son-in-law's  land  cantoned  betwixt  a  duke,  a  king,  and  an  emperor ; 
whose  joint  consent  being  requisite  to  the  restoring  thereof,  one 
would  be  sure  to  dissent  from  the  seeming-conseiiting  of  other  two. 
Whereupon,  king  James  not  only  called  the  great  council  of  his 
kingdom  together,  but  also  broke  off  all  treaty  with  Spain. 

15 — 17.  A  happy  Parliament,     The  Convocation.     Dr.  Donne^ 

Prolocutor. 

Indeed,  the  malcontents  in  England  used  to  say,  that  the  king 
took  physic  and  called  parliaments,  both  alike  ;  using  both  for  mere 
need,  and  not  caring  for  either  how  little  time  they  lasted.  But 
now  there  happened  as  sweet  a  compliance  betwixt  the  king  and  his 
subjects  as  ever  happened  in  man's  memory  ;  the  king  not  asking 
more  than  what  was  granted;  both  Houses,  in  the  name  of  the  whole 
kingdom,  promising  their  assistance  with  their  lives  and  fortunes 
for  the  recovery  of  the  Palatinate.  A  smart  petition  was  presented 
against  the  papists,  and  order  promised  for  the  education  of  their 
children  in  true  religion. 

As  for  the  Convocation  contemporary  with  this  Parliament,  large 
subsidies  were  granted  by  the  clergy  ;  otherwise  no  great  matter  of 
moment  passed  therein.  I  am  informed,  Dr.  Joseph  Hall  preached 
the  Latin  sermon,  and  Dr.  Donne  was  the  Prolocutor. 

•  The  whole  of  tlie  correspondence  between  the  court  of  England  and  the  coiirts  of 
Rome  and  Spain,  relating  to  this  affair,  not  having  been  published  at  the  period  when 
Fuller  wTOte,  he  had  not  those  data  for  forming  a  correct  judgment  about  it  which  we 
possess.  Every  impartial  man  who  has  perused  those  and  other  cognate  documents,  will 
never  extol  either  the  "  honour  or  conscience  "  of  king  James,  but  will  draw  a  very  unfa- 
vourable estimate  of  his  protestantism. — Edit.  t  The  reader  is  requested  to  pardon 
our  short  setting  back  of  time. 

y2 


324         CHURCH  HISTOKY  OF  BRFTAlK.  A.D.  1624. 

This  is  that  Dr.  Donne,  born  in  London,  (but  extracted  from 
Wales,)  by  his  mother's  side,  great  great  grandchild  to  Sir  Thomas 
More,  whom  he  much  resembled  in  his  endowments ;  a  great 
traveller  ;  first,  secretary  to  the  lord  Egerton,  and  after,  by  the 
persuasion  of  king  James  and  encouragement  of  bishop  Morton, 
entered  into  Orders,  made  doctor  of  divinity,  (of  Trinity  College 
in  Cambridge,)  and  dean  of  St.  Paul's  ;  whose  Life  is  no  less  truly 
than  elegantly  written  by  my  worthily-respected  friend,  Mr.  Izaak 
Walton  ;  whence  the  reader  may  store  himself  with  further  infor- 
mation. 

18 — 20.  A  Book  falsely  fathered  on  Isaac  Casauhon.  The 
Falsehood  detected ,  yet  still  continued.     A.D.  1624. 

A  book  was  translated  out  of  the  French  copy,  by  Abraham 
Darcye,  entitled,  "  The  Original  of  Idolatry  ; "  pretended  made  by 
Dr.  Isaac  Casaubon,  dead  ten  years  before,  dedicated  to  prince 
Charles,  but  presented  to  king  James,  and  all  the  lords  of  the 
council ;  a  book  printed  in  French  before  the  said  Isaac  Casaubon 
was  born,  whose  name  was  fraudulently  inserted  in  the  title-page  of 
the  foregoing  copy. 

Meric  Casaubon,  his  son,  then  Student  of  Christ's  Church,  by 
letter  informed  king  James  of  the  wrong  done  to  his  father,  by 
making  him  the  author  of  such  a  book,  contrary  to  his  genius  and 
constant  profession ;  being  full  of  impertinent  allegations  out  of 
obscure  and  late  authors,  whom  his  father  never  thought  worthy  the 
reading,  much  less  the  using  their  authority.  His  majesty  was  much 
incensed  hereat ;  and  Dr.  Mountaine,  bishop  of  London,  had  much 
ado  to  make  his  chaplain's  peace  for  licensing  thereof ;  the  printer 
and  translator  being  for  some  time  kept  in  prison. 

Yet,  after  all  this,  and  after  Meric  Casaubon  had  written  a  Latin 
vindication  to  give  satisfaction  to  all,  the  same  translation  is  since 
printed  in  Amsterdam,  with  a  justificatory  preface  of  the  former 
edition.  So  impudent  are  some,  falsely  to  father  books  on  worthy 
authors,  to  make  them  more  vendible  for  their  own  profit,  though  it 
discredit  the  memory  of  others  ! 

21.  None  of  the  worst  Counsel. 
The  business  of  the  Palatinate  being  now  debated  by  mar- 
tial ists,  the  king's  council  of  war,  dissuading  from  regaining  it  in 
kind,  advised  him  rather  to  recover  it  in  value  where  he  could,  with 
the  best  conveniency,  out  of  the  Spanish  dominions.  For,  the 
Palatinate  was  not  worth  the  re-winning  ;  which,  grant  recovered  by 
the  English,  could  not  recover  itself  for  many  years,  such  the  havoc 
and  waste  made  therein.     Secondly.  It  was  hard  to  be  gotten,  such 


22  JAMES  I.  BOOK    X.       CEXT.    XVII.  S2o 

the  distance  thereof;  and  harder  to  be  kept,  so  ill-neighboured  it 
was  on  all  sides.  So  that  the  king,  if  so  pleased,  might,  with  as 
much  honour  and  more  ease,  carve  out  his  own  reparations  nearer 
home. 

22—33.     King  James  falleth  sick.     A  Conjlnence  of  four  Mis- 

chiefs.   A  Plaster  applied  to  his  Wrists,  and  Julap,  without 

the  Advice  of  his  Physicians.     Catechised  on  his  Death-bed 

in   his   Faith  and  Charity.      His  Death,  of  a  peaceable 

Nature.     Made  Nobility  less  respected  by  the  Commonness 

thereof.     His  Eloquence  and  piercing  Wit.     King  James'' s 

Return  to  Gondemar.     Judicious,  bountiful,  und  merciful. 

During  these  agitations  king  James  fell  sick  at  Theobald's  of  "  a 

tertian    ague,""*    commonly     called,    in    spring ;    for  a  king,  rather 

physical  than  dangerous.     But   soon   after  his  ague  was  heightened 

into  a  fever  ;  four  mischiefs  meeting  therein  : — 

First.  The  malignity  of  the  malady  in  itself,  hard  to  be  cured. 
Secondly.  An  aged  person  of  sixty  years  current.  Thirdly.  A  ple- 
thoric body,  full  of  ill  humours.  Fourthly.  The  king's  averseness 
to  physic  and  impatience  under  it.  Yet  the  last  w^as  quickly 
removed,  above  expectation ;  the  king,  contrary  to  his  custom,  being 
very  orderable  in  all  his  sickness.  Such  sudden  alterations,  some 
apprehend  a  certain  prognostic  of  death  ;  as  if  when  men's  minds 
acquire  new  qualities,  they  begin  to  habit  and  clothe  themselves  for 
a  new  world. 

The  countess  of  Buckingham  contracted  much  suspicion  to  herself 
and  her  son,  for  applying  a  plaster  to  the  king's  wrists,  without  the 
consent  of  his  physicians.  And  yet  it  plainly  appeared,  that  Dr. 
John  Remington,  of  Dunmow  in  Essex,  made  the  same  plaster ;  one 
honest,  able,  and  successful  in  his  practice,  who  had  cured  many 
patients  by  the  same  ;  a  piece  whereof  applied  to  the  king,  one  ate 
down  into  his  belly,  without  the  least  hurt  or  disturbance  of  nature. 
However,  after  the  applying  thereof,  the  king  grew  worse. 

The  physicians  refused  to  administer  physic  unto  him  till  the 
plasters  were  taken  off;  which  being  done  accordingly,  his  fifth, 
sixth,  and  seventh  fits  were  easier,  as  Dr.  Chambers  said.  On  the 
Monday  after,  the  plasters  were  laid  on  again  without  the  advice  of 
the  physicians ;  and  his  majesty  grew  worse  and  worse  ;  so  that 
Mr.  Hayes,  the  king's  surgeon,  was  called  out  of  his  bed  to  take  off 
the  plasters.  Mr.  Baker,  the  duke's  servant,  made  the  king  a  julap, 
which  the  duke  brought  to  the  king  with  his  own  hand,  of  which 
the  king  drank  twice,  but  refused  the  third  time.  After  his  death 
a  bill  was  brought  to  the  physicians  to  sign,  that  the  ingredients  of 
the  julap  and  plasters  were  safe.     But  most  refused  it,  because  they 


326  CHURCH    HISTORY    OF    RRITAIN.  A,D.  1624. 

knew  not  whether  the  ingredients  mentioned  in  the  bill  were  the 
same  in  the  julap  and  jDlasters.  This  is  the  naked  truth  delivered 
by  oath  from  the  physicians  to  a  select  Committee  two  years  after, 
when  the  Parliament  voted  the  duke's  act  "  a  transcendent  presump- 
tion ;*"  though  most  thought  it  done  without  any  ill  intention. 

March  24th,  four  days  before  his  death,  he  desired  to  receive  the 
sacrament ;  and  being  demanded  whether  he  was  prepared  in  point 
of  faith  and  charity  for  so  great  mysteries,  he  said  he  was,  and  gave 
humble  thanks  to  God  for  the  same.  Being  desired  to  declare  his 
faith,  and  what  he  thought  of  those  books  he  had  written  in  that 
kind  ;  he  repeated  the  Articles  of  the  Creed  one  by  one,  and  said, 
he  believed  them  all  as  they  were  received  and  expounded  by  that 
part  of  the  catholic  church  which  was  established  here  in  England  ; 
and  said,  with  a  kind  of  sprightfulness  and  vivacity,  that  whatever 
he  had  written  of  this  faith  in  his  life,  he  was  now  ready  to  seal  witli 
his  death.  Being  questioned  in  point  of  charity,  he  answered  pro- 
sently,  that  he  forgave  all  men  that  offended  him,  and  desired  to  be 
forgiven  by  all  Christians,  whom  he  in  any  wise  had  offended. 

Then,  after  absolution  read  and  pronounced,  he  received  the 
sacrament ;  and,  some  hours  after,  he  professed  to  the  standers-by, 
that  they  could  not  imagine  what  ease  and  comfort  he  found  in 
himself  since  the  receiving  hereof;  and  so  quietly  resigned  his 
soul  to  God,  March  27th,  having  reigned  twenty-two  years  and  three 
days. 

He  was  of  a  peaceable  disposition.  Indeed,  when  he  first  entered 
England  at  Berwick,  he  himself  gave  fire  to,  and  shot  off,  a  piece  of 
ordnance,*  and  that  with  good  judgment.  This  was  the  only  mili- 
tary act  personally  performed  by  him.  So  that  he  may  have  seemed 
in  that  cannon  to  have  discharged  war  out  of  England. 

Coming  to  York,  he  was  somewhat  amazed  with  the  equipage  of 
the  northern  lords  repairing  unto  him,  (especially  with  the  earl  of 
Cumberland's,)  admiring  there  should  be  in  England  so  many  kings  ; 
for,  less  he  could  not  conjecture  them, — such  the  multitude  and 
gallantry  of  their  attendance.  But,  following  the  counsel  of  his 
English  secretary  there  present,  he  soon  found  a  way  to  abate  the 
formidable  greatness  of  the  English  nobility,  by  conferring  honour 
upon  many  persons :,  whereby  nobility  was  spread  so  broad,  that 
it  became  very  thin,  which  much  lessened  the  ancient  esteem 
thereof. 

He  was  very  eloquent  in  speech,  whose  Latin  had  no  fault,  but 
that  it  was  too  good  for  a  king,  whom  carelessness  (not  curiosity) 
becomes  in   that  kind.     His  Scotch  tone  he  rather  affected   than 

•  Siow's  "  Chronicle,"  page  819. 


22  JAMES  I.  BOOK    X.       CENT.    XVII.  327 

declined  ;  and  though  his  speaking  spoiled  his  speech  in  some  Eng- 
lish ears,  yet  the  masculine  worth  of  his  set  orations  commanded 
reverence,  if  not  admiration,  in  all  judicious  hearers.  But,  in  com- 
mon speaking,  (as  in  his  hunting  he  stood  not  on  the  cleanest  but 
nearest  way,)  he  would  never  go  about  to  make  any  expressions. 

His  wit  was  passing  sharp  and  piercing,  equally  pleased  in  making 
and  taking  a  smart  jest,  his  majesty  so  much  stooping  to  his  mirth 
that  he  never  refused  that  coin  which  he  paid  to  other  folk.  This 
made  him  please  himself  so  much  in  the  company  of  count  Gon- 
demar ;  and  some  will  say,  the  king  was  contented  (for  reasons  best 
known  to  himself)  to  be  deceived  by  him,  and  humoured  into  a 
peace  to  his  own  disadvantage. 

Once  king  James  in  an  afternoon  was  praising  the  plentiful  pro- 
vision of  England,  especially  for  flesh  and  fowl ;  adding,  the  like 
not  to  be  had  in  all  Spain  what  one  county  here  did  afford.  "  Yea, 
but  my  master,"  quoth  Gondemar,  there  present,  "  hath  the  gold 
and  silver  in  the  East  and  West  Indies."  "  And  I,  by  my  saul," 
saith  the  king,  "  have  much  ado  to  keep  my  men  from  taking  it 
away  from  him."  To  which  the  don's  Spanish  gravity  returned 
silence. 

His  judgment  was  most  solid  in  matters  of  divinity,  not  fathering 
books  of  others,  as  some  of  his  predecessors ;  but  his  Works  are 
allowed  his  own  by  his  very  adversaries.  Most  bountiful  to  all, 
especially  to  scholars  ;  no  king  of  England  ever  doing  (though  his 
successor  suffered)  more,  to  preserve  the  revenues  of  the  English 
hierarchy.  Most  merciful  to  offenders  ;  no  one  person  of  honour 
(without  parallel  since  the  Conquest)  being  put  to  death  in  his 
reign.  In  a  word  :  he  left  his  own  coffers  empty,  but  his  subjects' 
chests  full,  the  land  being  never  more  wealthy ;  it  being  easier  then 
to  get — than  since  to  save — ^an  estate. 


THE 

CHURCH  HISTORY  OF  BRITAIN. 

\         ■  .'      ■ 

BOOK  XI. 

CONTAINING  THE  RKIGN  0*"  KING  CHARLES, 


TO    THE    HONOURABLE 

EDWARD  MOUNTAGUE,  ESQUIRE, 

SON  AND  HEIR  TO 

THE  RIGHT  HONOURABLE 

EDWARD  LORD  MOUNTAGUE  OF  BOUGHTON. 


It  is  a  strange  casualty  which  an  historian  *  report- 
eth  of  five  earls  of  Pembroke  successively,  (of  the 
family  of  Hastings,)  that  the  father  of  them  never  saw 
his  son, — as  born  either  in  his  absence  or  after  his 
death. 

I  know  not  whether  more  remarkable,  the  fatality  of 
that — or  the  felicity  of  your — family ;  where,  in  a  lineal 
descent,  five  have  followed  one  another,  the  father  not 
only  surviving  to  see  his  son  of  age,  but  also  (yourself 
excepted,  who  in  due  time  may  be)  happy  in  their 
marriage,  hopeful  in  their  issue. 

These  five  have  all  been  of  the  same  Christian  name. 
Yet  is  there  no  fear  of  confusion,  to  the  prejudice  of 
your  pedigree,  which  heralds  commonly  in  the  like 
cases  complain  of;  seeing  each  of  them  being,  as  emi- 
nent in  their  kind,  so  different  in  their  eminency,  are 
sufficiently  distinguished  by  their  own  character  to 
posterity. 

Of  these,  the  first  a  judge ;  for  his  gravity  and  learn- 
ing famous  in  his  generation. 

The  second,  a  worthy  patriot,  and  bountiful  house- 
keeper ;  blessed  in  a  numerous  issue  ;  his  four  younger 
sons  affording  a  bishop  to  the  church,  a  judge  and  peer 

*  Camden's  Britannia  in  Pembrokeshu-c. 


332  DEDICATION, 

to  the  state,  a  commander  to  the  camp,  and  an  officer 
to  the  court. 

The  third  was  the  first  baron  of  the  house ;  of  whose 
worth  I  will  say  nothing,  because  I  can  never  say 
enough. 

The  fourth,  your  honourable  father;  who,  because 
he  doth  still  (and  may  he  long)  survive,  I  cannot  do 
the  right  which  I  would  to  his  merit,  without  doing 
wrong  (w^hich  I  dare  not)  to  his  modesty. 

You  are  the  fifth  in  a  direct  line ;  and  let  me 
acquaint  you  with  what  the  world  expecteth  (not  to 
say  requireth)  of  you — to  dignify  yourself  with  "some 
select  and  peculiar  desert;  so  to  be  differenced  from 
your  ancestors,  that  your  memory  may  not  be  mistaken 
in  the  homonymy  of  your  Christian  names ;  which  to 
me  seemeth  as  improbable,  as  that  a  burning  beacon 
(at  a  reasonable  distance)  should  not  be  beheld  ;  such 
the  brightness  of  your  parts,  and  advantage  of  your 
education. 

You  was  bred  in  that  school  which  hath  no  superior 
in  England ;  and  successively  in  those  two  universities, 
which  have  no  equal  in  Europe.  Such  the  stock  of 
your  native  perfection,  before  grafted  with  the  foreign 
accomplishments  of  your  travels  :  so  that  men  con- 
fidently promise  themselves  to  read  the  best,  last,  and 
largest  edition  of  Mercator's  Atlas  in  your  experience 
and  discourse. 

That  good   God   who  went  with   you  out  of  your 

native  country,  and  since  watched  over  you  in  foreign 

parts,  return  with   you  in   safety  in  due  time,  to  his 

glory,  and  your  own  good ;  which  is  the  daily  desire  of 

Your  Honour's  most  devoted  servant, 

THOMAS  FULLER. 


THE 


CHURCH    HISTORY  OF   BRITAIN 

BOOK  XI. 


SECTION  I. 

THE  SEVENTEENTH  CENTURY. 

1,  2.  News  of  the   King's  Death  brought  to   Whitehall.      His 
solemn  Funerals.   1  Charles  I.  A.D.  1625. 

The  sad  news  of  king  James's  death  was  soon  brought  to  White- 
hall, Sunday,  March  27th,  at  that  very  instant  when  Dr.  Laud, 
bishop  of  St.  David's,  was  preaching  therein.  This  caused  him  to 
break  off  his  sermon  in  the  midst  thereof,*  out  of  civil  compliance 
with  the  sadness  of  the  congregation ;  and  the  same  day  was  king 
Charles  proclaimed  at  Whitehall. 

On  the  seventh  of  May  following,  king  James's  funerals  were 
performed  very  solemnly,  in  the  collegiate  church  at  Westminster  ; 
his  lively  statue  being  presented  on  a  magnificent  hearse.  King 
Charles  was  present  thereat.  For,  though  modern  state  used  of  late 
to  lock  up  the  chief  mourner  in  his  chamber,  where  his  grief  must 
be  presumed  too  great  for  public  appearance  ;  yet  the  king  caused 
this  ceremony  of  sorrow  so  to  yield  to  the  substance  thereof,  and 
pomp  herein  to  stoop  to  piety,  that  in  his  person  he  sorrowfully 
attended  the  funerals  of  his  father. 

3,  4.  Dr.  Williams^s  Tewt,  Sermon,  and  Parallel  betwixt  King 

Solojnon   and   King   James.      Eocceptio7is    taken    at    his 

Sermon. 

Dr.  Williams,  lord  keeper  and  bishop  of  Lincoln,  preached  the 

sermon,  taking  for  his  text  2  Chron.  ix.  29,  30,  and  part  of  the  31st 

verse,  containing  the  happy  reign,  quiet  death,  and  stately  burial  of 

kino-  Solomon.     The  effect  of  his  sermon  was  to  advance  a  parallel 

•  See  his  own  Diary  on  tliat  day. 


3S4 


CHURCH    HISTORY    OF    BRITAIN. 


A.D. 


1625. 


betwixt  two  peaceable  princes, — king  Solomon  and  king  James  :  a 
parallel  which  willingly  went,  (not  to  say,  ran  of  its  own  accord,) 
and,  when  it  chanced  to  stay,  was  fairly  led  on  by  the  art  and  inge- 
nuity of  the  bishop,  not  enforcing  but  improving  the  conformity 
betwixt  these  two  kings  in  ten  particulars  ;  all  expressed  in  the 
text,  as  we  read  in  the  vulgar  Latin  somewhat  different  from  the 
new  translation. 


KING    SOLOMON 

1.  His  eloquence ;  "  the  rest 
of  the  words  of  Solomon." 

2.  His  actions  ;  "and  all  that 
he  did." 

3.  A  well  within  to  supply  the 
same;  *'and  his  wisdom .'"* 

4.  The  preservation  thereof  to 
eternity  :  "  Are  they  not  written 
in  the  book  of"  the  acts  of  Solo- 
mon, made  by  "  Nathan  the  pro- 
phet, Ahijah  the  Shilonite,  and 
Iddo  the  Seer  ?  " 

5.  He  "reigned in  Jerusalem ; '' 
a  gi-eat  city,  by  him  enlarged  and 
repaired. 

6.  "Overall  Israel,"  the  whole 
empire. 

7.  A  great  space  of  time,  full 
"  forty  years." 


8.  Then  he  "  slept :  "  import- 
ing no  sudden  and  violent  dying, 
but  a  premeditate  and  affected 
kind  of  sleeping. 

9.  "  With  his  fathers,"  David 
especially,  his  soul  being  dis- 
posed of  in  happiness. 

10.  «*  And  was  buried  in  the 
city  of  David." 


KING    JAMES 

Had  profluentem^  et  qum  prin- 
cipem  deceret^  eloquentiam.'^ 

Was  eminent  in  his  actions  of 
religion,  justice,  war,  and  peace. 

So  wise  *'  that  there  was  no- 
thing that  any  would  learn,  which 
he  was  not  able  to  teach." f 

As  Trajan  was  nicknamed 
herhaparietaria^  "a  wall-flower," 
because  his  name  was  engraven  on 
every  wall ;  so  king  James  shall 
be  called  hej'ha  chartacea,  "  the 
paper-flower,"  and  his  glory  be 
read  in  all  writers. if 

He  reigned  in  the  capital  city 
of  London,  by  him  much  aug- 
mented ; 

Over  Great  Britain,  by  him 
happily  united,  and  other  do- 
minions ; 

In  all  fifty-eight,  (though  over 
all  Britain  but  two-and-twenty 
years,)  reigning  as  better,  so  also 
longer,  than  king  Solomon. § 

Left  the  world  most  resolved, 
most  prepared,  embracing  his 
grave  for  his  bed. 

Reigning  gloriously  with  God 
in  heaven. 

Whilst  his  body  was  interred 
with  all  possible  solemnity  in 
king  Henry  VII.'s  chapel. 


•  Tacitus  of  Augustus, 


t  Page  59, 


X  Page  61 


Page  (JG. 


1  CHARLES  I.  BOOK    XI.       CENT.    XVTT.  335 

Be  it  here  remembered,  that,  in  this  parallel,  the  bishop  premised 
to  set  forth  Solomon,  not  in  his  full  proportion,  faults  and  all,  but 
half-faced,  (imagine  luscd,  as  Apelles  painted  Antigonus  to  conceal 
the  want  of  his  eye,)  adding,  that  Solomon's  vices  could  be  no 
blemish  to  king  James,  who  resembled  him  only  in  his  choicest  vir- 
tues. He  concluded  all  with  that  verse,  "  Though  his  father  die, 
yet  he  is  as  though  he  were  not  dead,  for  he  hath  left  one  behind 
him  that  is  like  himself,  "  Ecclesiasticus  xxx.  4  ;  in  application  to 
his  present  majesty. 

Some  auditors,  who  came  thither  rather  to  observe  than  edify, 
cavil  than  observe,  found  or  made  faults  in  the  sermon ;  censuring 
him  for  touching  too  often  and  staying  too  long  on  a  harsh  string, 
three  times  straining  the  same,  making  eloquence  too  essential  and 
so  absolutely  necessary  in  a  king,  "  that  the  want  thereof  made 
Moses  in  a  manner  refuse  all  government,  though  offered  by  Godf'* 
*'  that  no  man  ever  got  great  power  without  eloquence  ;-|-  Nero 
being  the  first  of  the  Caesars  qui  alienee  facundice  egui%  '  who 
usurped  another  man's  language  to  speak  for  him.' "  Expressions 
which  might  be  forborne  in  the  presence  of  his  son  and  successor, 
whose  impediment  in  speech  was  known  to  be  great,  and  mistaken 
to  be  greater.  Some  conceived  him  too  long  in  praising  the  past — 
too  short  in  promising  for  the  present — king,  though  saying  much  of 
him  in  a  little  ;  and  of  the  bishop's  adversaries,  whereof  then  no 
want  at  court,  some  took  distaste,  others  made  advantage  thereof. 
Thus  is  it  easier  and  better  for  us  to  please  one  God,  than  many 
men,  with  our  sermons.  However,  the  sermon  was  publicly  set  forth 
by  the  printer  (but  not  the  express  command)  of  his  majesty  ; 
which  gave  but  the  steadier  mark  to  his  enemies,  noting  the  mar- 
ginal notes  thereof,  and  making  all  his  sermon  the  text  of  their 
captious  interpretations. 

5,  6.  Discontents  begin  in  the  Court.      Dr.  Preston  a  great 

Favourite, 

Now  began  animosities  to  discover  themselves  in  the  court, 
whose  sad  influences  operated  many  years  after ;  many  being  dis- 
contented, that,  on  this  change,  they  received  not  proportionable 
advancement  to  their  expectations.  It  is  the  prerogative  of  the 
King  of  heaven  alone,  that  he  maketh  all  his  son's  heirs,  all  his 
subjects  favourites,  the  gain  of  one  being  no  loss  to  the  other. 
Whereas  the  happiest  kings  on  earth  are  unhappy  herein, — that, 
unable  to  gratify  all  their  servants,  (having  many  suitors  for  the 
same  place,)  by  conferring  a  favour  on  one,  they  disoblige  all  other 
competitors,  conceiving  themselves,  as  they  make  the  estimate  of 

•  Page  16.  t  Page  5. 


y.3G  cHirncH  history  of  Britain.  a.d.  1625. 

their  own  deserts,  as  much  (if  not  more)  meriting  the  same  prefer- 
ment. 

As  for  Dr.  Preston,  he  still  continued,  and  increased  in  the  favour 
of  the  king,  and  duke ;  it  being  much  observed,  that,  on  the  day  of 
king  James's  death,  he  rode  with  prince  and  duke,  in  a  coach 
shut  down,  from  Theobald's  to  London,  applying  comfort  now  to 
one,  now  to  the  other,  on  so  sad  an  occasion.*  His  party  would  per- 
suade us,  that  he  might  have  chosen  his  own  mitre,  much  commend- 
ing the  moderation  of  his  mortified  mind,  denying  all  preferment 
which  courted  his  acceptance ;  verifying  the  anagram  which  a 
friend  -f  of  his  made  on  his  name,  Johannes  Prestontus,  En  stas 
plus  ill  honore.  Indeed,  he  was  conceived  to  hold  the  helm  of  his 
own  party,  able  to  steer  it  to  what  point  he  pleased  ;  which  made 
the  duke  as  yet  much  to  desire  his  favour. 

7,  8.  Mr.  MountagiCs  Character.     He  setteth  forth  his  Appello 

Ccesarem. 

A  book  came  forth,  called  '^Appello  Gcesaremi^''  made  by  Mr. 
Mountagu.  He  formerly  had  been  Fellow  of  King's  College  in 
Cambridge,  at  the  present  a  parson  of  Essex  and  Fellow  of  Eaton  : 
one  much  skilled  in  the  Fathers  and  ecclesiastical  antiquity,  and  in 
the  Latin  and  Greek  tongues.  Our  great  antiquary  %  confesseth  as 
much,  Grwce^  simul  et  Latine  doctus^  ihow^  pens  were  brandished 
betwixt  them  :  and  virtues  allowed  by  one's  adversary  may  pass  for 
undeniable  truths.  These  his  great  parts  were  attended  with  tartness 
of  writing,  very  sharp  the  nib  of  his  pen,  and  much  gall  in  his  ink, 
against  such  as  opposed  him.  However,  such  the  equability  of  the 
sharpness  of  his  style  he  was  unpartial  therein  ;  be  he  ancient  or 
modern  writer,  papist  or  protestant,  that  stood  in  his  way,  they 
should  all  equally  taste  thereof. 

Pass  we  from  the  author  to  his  book,  whereof  this  was  the  occa- 
sion :  He  had  lately  written  satirically  enough  against  the  papists  in 
confutation  of  "  the  Gagger  of  Protestants."  Now,  two  divines  of 
Norwich  diocess,  Mr.  Yates  and  Mr.  Ward,  informed  against  him 
for  dangerous  errors  of  Arminianism  and  popery,  deserting  our  cause, 
instead  of  defending  it.  Mr.  Mountagu,  in  his  own  vindication, 
writes  a  second  book  licensed  by  Francis  White,  dean  of  Carlisle ; 
finished  and  partly  printed  in  the  reign  of  James,  to  whom  the 
author  intended  the  dedication.  But,  on  king  James's  death,  it 
seems  it  descended  by  succession  on  king  Charles,  his  son  ;  to  whom 
Mr.  Mountagu  applied  the  words  which  Occam  once  used  to  Lewis  of 
Bavaria,  emperor  of  Germany,  Domine  imperator^  defende  me  gladio^ 

*  See  his  Life,  page  503.  t  Mr.  Ayres  of  Lincoln's;  Inn.  X  Mr.  Selden 

in  his  book,  De  Diis  Syris,  page  3G2. 


1   CHARLES  I.  "  ROOK    XI.       CENT.    XVII.  337 

et  ego  t&  defendam  ccdamo^  "  Jjord  emperor,  defend  me  with 
thy  sword,  and  I  will  defend  thee  with  my  pen."  Many  bitter 
passages  in  this  his  book  gave  great  exception  ;  whereof  largely 
hereafter. 

9.  Queen  Mary's  first  Arrival  at  Dover. 

On  Sunday,  being  the  twelfth  of  June,  about  seven  of  the  clock 
at  night,  queen  Mary  landed  at  Dover :  at  what  time  a  piece  of 
ordnance,  being  discharged  from  the  castle,  flew  in  fitters  ;  yet  did 
nobody  any  harm.  More  were  fearful  at  the  presage,  than  thankful 
for  the  providence.  Next  day,  the  king,  coming  from  Canterbury, 
met  her  at  Dover ;  whence  with  all  solemnity  she  was  conducted  to 
Somerset-house  in  London,  where  a  chapel  was  new-prepared  for  her 
devotion,  with  a  convent  adjoining  of  Capuchin  Friars,  according  to 
the  articles  of  her  marriage.* 

10,  11.   The  King  rescueth  Mr  Mountagu  from  the  House  of 
Commons.     The  Parliament  removed  to  Oxford^  and  brake 
uji  in  Discontent. 
A  parliament  began  at  London,  wherein  the  first  statute  agreed 
upon  was  for  the  more  strict  observation  of  the  Lord's  day  ;  which 
day,  as  it  first  honoured  the  king,  (his  reign  beginning  thereon,)  so 
the  king  first  honoured  it  by  passing  an  Act  for  the  greater  solemnity 
thereof.  The  House  of  Commons  fell  very  heavy  on  Mr.  Mountagu, 
Thursday,  July  7th,  for  many  bitter  passages  in  his  book  ;  who, 
in  all  probability,  had  now  been  severely  censured  but  that  the  king 
himself  was  pleased  to  interpose  in  his  behalf,  Saturday,  9th  ;   signi- 
fying to  the  House,  that  those  things  which  were  then  spoken  and 

•  Heylin  animadverts  thus  on  the  whole  of  this  passage,  and  Fuller  frankly  acknow- 
ledges his  mistake,  a  "  printed  author"  hanng  "  misguided  "  him.  '*  1 .  Although  there 
was  a  chapel  prepared,  yet  was  it  not  prepared  for  the  queen,  nor  at  Somerset-house. 
The  chapel  which  was  then  prepared  was  not  prepared  for  her,  hut  for  the  lady  Infanta, 
built  in  the  king's  house  of  St.  James,  at  siich  time  as  the  treatj^  with  Spain  stood  upon 
good  terms,  and  then  intended  for  the  devotions  of  the  princess  of  Wales,  not  for  the 
queen  of  England.  2.  The  articles  of  the  marriage  make  no  mention  of  the  Capuchin 
Friars,  nor  any  convent  to  be  built  for  them.  The  priests  who  came  over  with  the  queen 
were,  by  agreement,  to  be  all  of  the  Oratorian  Order,  as  less  suspected  by  the  English, 
whom  they  had  never  provoked,  as  had  the  Jesuits,  and  most  other  of  the  monastic 
orders,  by  their  mischievous  practices.  Biit  these  Oratorians  being  sent  back  with  the 
rest  of  the  French,  anno  1626,  and  not  willing  to  expose  themselves  to  the  hazard  of  a 
second  expulsion,  the  Capuchins,  under  Father  Joseph,  made  good  the  place.  The 
breach  with  France,  the  action  at  the  Isle  of  Rhee,  and  the  loss  of  Rochelle,  did  all  occur 
before  the  Capuchins  were  thought  of  or  admitted  hither.  And,  3.  Some  years  after  the 
making  of  the  peace  between  the  two  crowns,  (which  was  in  the  latter  end  of  1628,  and 
not  before,)  the  queen  oljtained  that  these  Friars  might  have  leave  to  come  over  to  her, 
some  lodgings  being  fitted  for  them  in  Somerset-house,  and  a  new  chapel  then  and  there 
built  for  her  devotion." — Edit. 

Vol.  III.  z 


SSS  CHURCH    HISTORY    OF    BRITAIN,  A.D.  1620. 

determined  concerning  Monntagu,  without  his  privity,  did  not  please 
him ;  who  by  his  court-friends  being  employed  in  the  king's  service, 
his  majesty  signified  to  the  Parliament  that  he  thought  his  chaplains 
(whereof  Mr.  Mountagu  was  one)  might  have  as  much  protection 
as  the  servant  of  an  ordinary  burgess.  Nevertheless,  his  bond  of 
two  thousand  pounds,  wherewith  he  was  tailed,  continued  uncan- 
celled, and  was  called  on  the  next  Parliament. 

The  plague  increasing  in  London,  the  Parliament  was  removed 
to  Oxford.  But,  alas  !  no  avoiding  God's  hand.  The  infection 
followed,  or  rather  met  the  Houses  there,  whereof  worthy  Dr. 
Chaloner  died,  much  lamented.  Yet  were  the  members  of  Parlia- 
ment not  so  careful  to  save  their  own  persons  from  the  plague,  as  to 
secure  the  land  from  a  worse  and  more  spreading  contagion, — the 
daily  growth  of  popery.  In  prevention  whereof  they  presented  a 
petition  to  his  majesty,  containing  sixteen  particulars,  all  which  were 
most  graciously  answered  by  his  majesty,  to  their  full  satisfaction. 
Thus  this  meeting  began  hopefully  and  cheerfully,  proceeded  turbu- 
lently  and  suspiciously,  brake  off  suddenly  and  sorrowfully  ;  the 
reason  whereof  is  to  be  fetched  from  our  civil  historians. 

12,  13.  Dr.  Ja7nes's  Motion  in  the  Convocation.     The  Insolence 
of  Papists  seasonably  restrained. 

The  Convocation  kept  here  is  scarce  worth  the  mentioning  ;  see- 
ing little  the  appearance  thereat,  nothing  the  performance  therein. 
Dean  Bowles,  the  Prolocutor,  absented  himself,  for  fear  of  infec- 
tion ;  Dr.  Thomas  Goad  officiating  in  his  place  ;  and  their  meeting 
was  kept  in  the  chapel  of  Merton  College.  Here  Dr.  James,  that 
great  book-man,  made  a  motion, — "  That  all  manuscript-fathers  in 
the  libraries  of  the  universities,  and  elsewhere  in  England,  might  be 
perused  ;  and  that  such  places  in  them  as  had  been  corrupted  in 
popish  editions ""  (much  superstition  being  generated  from  such  cor- 
ruptions) "  might  faithfully  be  printed  according  to  those  ancient 
copies."  Indeed,  though  England,  at  the  dissolving  of  abbeys, 
lost  more  manuscripts  than  any  country  of  Christendom  (of  her 
dimensions)  ever  had ;  yet  still  enough  were  left  her,  if  well 
improved,  to  evidence  the  truth  herein  to  all  posterity.  This 
design  might  have  been  much  beneficial  to  the  protestant  cause,  if 
prosecuted  with  as  great  endeavour  as  it  was  propounded  with  good 
intention  ;  but,  alas  !  this  motion  was  ended,  when  it  was  ended, — 
expiring  in  the  place  with  the  words  of  the  mover  thereof. 

The  king,  according  to  his  late  answer  in  the  Parliament  at 
Oxford,  issued  out  a  commission,  Nov.  11th,  to  the  Judges  to  see  the 
law  against  recusants  put  in  execution.  This  was  read  in  all  the  courts 
of  Judicature  at  Reading,  (where  Michaelmas  Term  was  kept,)  and 


BOOK    XI.       CENT.    XVII.  '*io9 

a  letter  directed  to  the  arclibisliop  of  Canterbury  to  take  special  care 
for  the  discovery  of  Jesuits,  Seminary  Priests,  &c.  within  his  pro- 
vince :  a  necessary  severity,  seeing  papists,  presuming  on  protection 
by  reason  of  the  late  match,  were  grown  very  insolent.  And  a 
popish  lord,  when  the  king  was  at  chapel,  was  heard  to  prate  on 
purpose  louder  in  a  gallery  adjoining  than  the  chaplain  prayed  ; 
whereat  the  king  was  so  moved  that  he  sent  him  this  message  : 
"  Either  come  and  do  as  we  do,  or  I  will  make  you  prate 
further  off." 

14j   15.    Several  Writers  against  Mr.  Mount agu.     Mr,  Moun- 
tagu  left  to  defend  himself     A.D.  1626. 

In  this  and  the  next  year,  many  books,  from  persons  of  several 
abilities  and  professions,  were  written  against  Mr.  Mountagu  ;  by, 

1.  Dr.  Sutcliffe,  dean  of  Exeter  :  one  who  was  miles  emeritus^ 
age  giving  him  a  supersedeas  ;  save  that  his  zeal  would  employ 
itself;  and  some  conceived  that  his  choler  became  his  old  age. 

2.  JMr.  Henry  Burton,  who  then  began  to  be  well  (as  afterwards 
too  well)  known  to  the  world. 

3.  Mr.  Francis  Rowse,  a  layman  by  profession. 

4.  Mr.  Yates,  a  minister  of  Norfolk,  fomerly  a  Fellow  of 
Emmanuel  in  Cambridge  :  he  entitles  his  book,  Ibis  ad  Ccesarem. 

5.  Dr.  Carleton,  bishop  of  Chichester. 

6.  Anthony  Wootton,  divinity-professor  in  Gresham-college. 

In  this  army  of  writers  the  strength  is  conceived  to  consist  in  the 
rear ;  and  that  the  last  wrote  the  solidest  confutations.  Of  the  six, 
dean  Sutcliffe  is  said  to  have  chidden  heartily,  Mr.  Rowse  meant 
honestly,  Mr.  Burton  wrote  plainly,  bishop  Carleton  very  piously, 
Mr.  Yates  learnedly,  and  Mr.  Wootton  most  solidly. 

I  remember  not  at  this  time  any  of  Mr.  Mountagu's  party 
engaged  in  print  in  his  behalf;  whether,  because  they  conceived 
this  their  champion  sufficient  -of  himself  to  encounter  all  opposers  ; 
or,  because  they  apprehended  it  unsafe  (though  of  the  same  judg- 
ment) to  justify  a  book  which  was  grown  so  generally  offensive.  Inso- 
much as  his  majesty  himself,  sensible  of  his  subjects'  great  distaste 
thereat,  (sounded  by  the  duke  of  Buckingham  to  that  purpose,) 
was  resolved  to  leave  Mr.  Mountagu  to  stand  or  fall,  according  to  the 
justice  of  his  cause.  The  duke  imparted  as  much  to  Dr.  Laud, 
bishop  of  St.  David's,  January  29th,  who  conceived  it  of  such 
ominous  concernment,  that  he  entered  the  same  in  his  Diary ; 
namely,  "  I  seem  to  see  a  cloud  arising,  and  threatening  the  church 
of  England.     God  for  his  mercy  dissipate  it." 


z2 


•34(»  CHURCH    HISTORY    OF    BRITAIN.  •      A.D.   1626*. 

16.  A  Maim  on  the  Emblem  of  Peace. 

The  day  of  tlie  king's  coronation  drawing  near,  liis  majesty  sent 
to  survey  and  peruse  the  regalia^  or  royal  ornaments,  which  then  were 
to  be  used.  It  happened  that  the  left  wing  of  the  dove  on  the 
sceptre  was  quite  broken  off,  by  what  casualty  God  himself  knows. 
The  king  sent  for  Mr.  Acton,  then  his  goldsmith,  commanding 
him  that  the  very  same  should  be  set  on  again.  The  goldsmith 
replied,  that  it  was  impossible  to  be  done  so  fairly,  but  that  some 
mark  would  remain  thereof.  To  whom  the  king  in  some  passion 
returned,  "  If  you  will  not  do  it,  another  shall."*  Hereupon  Mr. 
Acton  carried  it  home,  and  got  another  dove  of  gold  to  be  artifi- 
cially set  on  ;  whereat,  when  brought  back,  his  majesty  was  well 
contented,  as  making  no  discovery  thereof. 

1^.  A  Dilemma  well  waved. 

The  bishop  of  Lincoln,  lord  keeper,  was  now  daily  descendant  in  the 
king's  favour ;  who  so  highly  distasted  him,  that  he  would  not  have 
him,  as  dean  of  Westminster, -|-  to  perform  any  part  of  his  coronation  ; 
yet  so  (was  it  a  favour  or  a  trial  ?)  that  it  was  left  to  his  free  choice,  to 
prefer  any  prebendary  of  the  church  to  officiate  in  his  place.  The 
bishop  met  with  a  dilemma  herein  :  To  recommend  Dr.  Laud,  bishop 
of  St.  David's,  and  prebendary  of  Westminster,  for  that  performance, 
was  to  grace  one  of  his  greatest  enemies  :  To  pass  him  by,  and  prefer  a 
private  prebendary  for  that  purpose  before  a  bishop,  would  seem 
unhandsome,  and  be  interpreted  a  neglect  of  his  own  Order.  To 
avoid  all  exceptions,  he  presented  a  list  of  all  the  prebendaries  of 
that  church  ;  referring  the  election  to  his  majesty  himself,  who  made 
choice  of  Dr.  Laud,  bishop  of  St.  David's,  for  that  attendance. 

18.   The  Coronation  Sermon. 
Dr.  Senhouse,  bishop  of   Carlisle   (chaplain    to  the  king  when 
prince)  preached  at  the  coronation,  February  2nd ;  his  text  :   "  And 

*  His  son,  succeeding  his  fatlier  in  that  place,  and  then  present,  attested  to  me  the 
ti-uth  hereof.  t  This  is  another  error  which  Fuller  declares  he  will  rectify  in  a  new 

edition.  Heylin,  in  his  Examen,  points  it  out  thus  :  "  1.  The  hishop  of  Lincohi  was  not 
Lord  Keeper  at  the  time  of  the  coronation.  2.  If  he  had  heen  so,  and  that  the  king  was 
so  distasted  with  him,  as  not  to  suffer  him  to  assist  at  his  coronation,  how  came  he  to  he 
present  at  it  in  the  capacity  of  Lord  Keeper  ?  For,  that  he  did  so,  is  aflBii-med  by  our 
author,  saying,  '  The  king  took  a  scroll  of  parchment  out  of  his  bosom,  and  gave  it  to  the 
Lord  Keeper  "Williams,  who  read  it  to  the  Commons  four  several  times,— East,  West, 
North,  and  South.'  3.  The  Lord  Keeper  who  read  that  scroll,  was  not  the  Lord  Keeper 
Williams,  but  the  Lord  Keeper  Coventry ;  the  seal  being  taken  from  the  bishop  of  Lin- 
coln, and  committed  to  the  custody  of  Sir  Thomas  Coventry,  the  October  before.  And, 
therefore,  4.  Our  author  is  much  out  in  placing  both  the  coronation  and  the  following 
parliament  before  the  change  of  the  Lord  Keeper;  and  in  sending  Sir  John  Suckling  to 
fetch  that  seal,  at  the  end  of  a  parliament  in  the  spring,  which  he  had  brought  away  with 
him  bcTure  Micha(?lmag  term." — Edit. 


2  CHARLES   I.  BOOK    XI.       CENT.    XV]I.  341 

I;^will  give'unto'tliee  a  crown  of  life,"  Rev.  ii.  10.  In  some  sort  it 
may  be  said,  that  lie  preached  his  own  funeral,  dying  shortly  after ; 
and  even  then  the  black  jaundice  had  so  possessed  him,  (a  disease 
which  hangs  the  face  with  mourning  as  against  its  burial,)  that  all 
despaired  of  his  recovery.  Now,  seeing  this  coronation  cometh 
within  (if  not  the  pales  and  park)  the  purlieus  of  Ecclesiastical 
History,  we  will  present  so  much  thereof  as  w^as  acted  in  the  church 
of  Westminster.  Let  heralds  marshal  the  solemnity  of  their 
advance  from  Westminster-hall  to  this  church,  where  our  pen  takes 
the  first  possession  of  this  subject. 

19 — 30.  The  solemn  Advance  to  the  Church.  The  Manner  of 
the  King's  Coronation.  The  Fashion  of  the  Scaffold.  The 
King  presented  and  accepted  hy  the  People ;  sworn  and 
anointed;  solemnly  crowned^  and  girt  ivith  several 
Swords.  Homage  done  hy  the  Nobility  to  his  Majesty, 
with  their  solemn  Oath.  A  Pardon-general  granted. 
The  Communion  concludes  the  Solemnity.  The  Return  to 
Whitehall. 

But  first  we  will  premise  the  equipage,  according  to  which  they 
advanced  from  Westminster-hall,  to  the  Abbey-church,  in  order  as 
followeth : — 

1.  The  Aldermen  of  London,   two  by  two,  ushered  by  a  herald. 

2.  Eighty  Knights  of  the  Bath  in  their  robes,  each  having  an 
Esquire  to  support  and  Page  to  attend  him. 

3.  The  king's  Serjeants  at  Law,  Solicitor,  Attorney,  Masters  of 
Request,  and  Judges. 

4.  Privy-Counsellors  that  were  Knights,  and  chief  Officers  of 
the  king's  Household. 

5.  Barons  of  the  kingdom,  all  bare-headed,  in  their  Parliament 
robes,  with  swords  by  their  sides. 

6.  The  Bishops  with  scarlet-gowns,  and  lawn-sleeves,  bare- 
headed. 

7.  The  Viscounts,  and  Earls  (not  in  their  Parliament-  but)  in 
their  coronation-robes,  with  coronetted  caps  on  their  heads. 

8.  The  Officers  of  State  for  the  day ;  whereof  these  are  the 
principal : — Sir  Richard  Winn  ;  Sir  George  Goring ;  the  Lord 
Privy  Seal  ;  the  Archbishop  of  Canterbury ;  the  Earl  of  Dorset, 
carrying  the  first  sword  naked ;  the  Earl  of  Essex,  carrying  the 
second  sword  naked ;  the  Earl  of  Kent,  carrying  the  third  sword 
naked ;  the  Earl  of  Montgomery,  carrying  the  spurs  ;  the  Earl  of 
Sussex,  carrying  the  globe  and  cross  upon  it ;  the  Bishop  of  London, 
carrying  the  golden  cup  for  the  communion  ;  the  Bishop  of  AVin- 
chester,  carrying  the  golden  plate  for  the  communion  ;  the  Earl  of 


542  CHURCH  HISTORY  OF  BRITAIN.  A.  D.  1626. 

Rutland,  carrying  the  sceptre;  the  Marquess  Hamilton,  carrying 
the  sword  of  state  naked ;  the  Earl  of  Pembroke,  carrying  the 
crown. 

The  Lord  Mayor,  in  a  crimson  velvet  gown,  carried  a  short 
sceptre  before  the  king,  amongst  the  Serjeants.  But  I  am  not 
satisfied  in  the  criticalness  of  his  place. 

The  Earl  of  Arundel,  as  Earl-Marshal  of  England,  and  the  Duke 
of  Buckingham,  as  Lord  High  Constable  of  England  for  that  day, 
went  before  his  majesty  in  this  great  solemnity. 

The  king  entered  at  the  west  gate  of  the  church,  under  a  rich  canopy, 
carried  by  the  Barons  of  the  Cinque  Ports,  his  own  person  being  sup- 
ported by  Dr.  Neile,  Bishop  of  Durham,  on  the  one  hand,  and  Dr. 
Lake,  Bishop  of  Bath  and  Wells,  on  the  other.  His  train,  being  six 
yards  long  of  purple  velvet,  was  held  up  by  the  Lord  Compton  (as 
belonging  to  the  Robes)  and  the  Lord  Viscount  Doncaster.  Here 
he  was  met  by  the  Prebends  of  Westminster  (Bishop  Laud  supply- 
ing the  Dean's  place)  in  their  rich  copes,  who  delivered  into  his 
majesty's  hand  the  staff  of  king  Edward  the  Confessor,  with  which 
lie  walked  up  to  the  scaffold. 

This  was  made  of  wood  at  the  upper  end  of  the  chui'ch,  from  the 
choir  to  the  altar.  His  majesty  mounted  it,  none  under  the  degree 
of  a  Baron  standing  thereon,  save  only  the  Prebends  of  West- 
minster, who  attended  on  the  altar.  Three  chairs  were  appointed 
for  him  in  several  places ;  one  of  repose,  the  second  the  ancient 
chair  of  coronation,  and  the  third  (placed  on  a  high  square  of  five 
stairs'  ascent)  being  the  chair  of  state. 

All  being  settled  and  reposed,  the  Lord  Archbishop  did  present 
his  majesty  to  the  Lords  and  Commons,  east,  west,  north,  south, 
asking  their  minds  four  several  times,  if  they  did  consent  to  the 
coronation  of  king  Charles  their  lawful  sovereign.  The  king  mean 
time  presented  himself  bareheaded.  The  consent  being  given  four 
times  with  great  acclamation,  the  king  took  his  chair  of  repose. 

After  the  sermon  (whereof  before)  the  Lord  Archbishop,  invested 
in  a  rich  cope,  tendered  to  the  king  (kneeling  down  on  cushions  at 
the  communion-table)  a  large  oath.  Then  were  his  majesty's  robes 
taken  off  him,  and  were  offered  on  the  altar.  He  stood  for  a  while 
stripped  to  his  doublet  and  hose,  which  were  of  white  satin,  with 
ribbons  on  the  arms  and  shoulders,  to  open  them  ;  and  he  appeared 
a  proper  person  to  all  that  beheld  him.  Then  was  he  led  by  the 
Lord  Archbishop  and  the  Bishop  of  St.  David's,  and  placed  in  the 
chair  of  coronation,  (a  close  canopy  being  spread  over  him,)  the 
Lord  Archbishop  anointing  his  head,  shoulders,  arms,  and  hands 
with  a  costly  ointment,  the  choir  singing  an  anthem  of  these  words  : 
'*  Zadok  the  priesit  anointed  king  Solomon." 


2  CHARLES  I.  BOOK    XI.       CENT.    XVII.  S4S 

Hence  the  king  was  led  up  in  his  doublet  and  hose,  with  a  white 
coif  on  his  head,  to  the  communion-table;  where  Bishop  Laud, 
deputy  for  the  Dean  of  Westminster,  brought  forth  the  ancient 
habiliments  of  king  Edward  the  Confessor,  and  put  them  upon  him. 
Then  was  his  majesty  brought  back  to  the  chair  of  coronation,  and 
received  the  crown  of  king  Edward,  presented  by  Bishop  Laud,  and 
put  on  his  head  by  the  Archbishop  of  Canterbury  ;  the  choir  singing 
an  anthem  :  "  Thou  shalt  put  a  crown  of  pure  gold  upon  his  head." 
Whereupon  the  Earls  and  Viscounts  put  on  their  crimson  velvet 
caps  with  coronets  about  them,  the  Barons  and  Bishops  always 
standing  bareheaded.  Then  every  Bishop  came  severally  to  his 
majesty  to  bring  his  benediction  upon  him  ;  and  he,  in  king 
Edward's  robes,  with  the  crown  upon  his  head,  rose  from  his  chair, 
and  did  bow  severally  to  every  Bishop  apart. 

Then  was  king  Edward's  sword  girt  about  him ;  which  he  took 
oiF  again,  and  offered  up  at  the  communion-table,  with  two  swords 
more, — surely,  not  in  relation  to  Scotland  and  L-eland,  but  to  some 
ancient  principalities  his  predecessors  enjoyed  in  France.  Then  the 
Duke. of  Buckingham,  as  Master  of  the  Horse,  put  on  his  spurs  ; 
and  thus  completely  crowned,  his  majesty  offered  first  gold  then 
silver  at  the  altar,  and  afterwards  bread  and  wine,  which  were  to  be 
used  at  the  holy  communion. 

Then  was  his  majesty  conducted  by  the  nobility  to  the  throne 
upon  that  square  basis  of  five  ascents,  the  choir  singing  Te  Deum. 
Here  his  majesty  took  an  oath  of  homage  from  the  Duke  of  Buck- 
ingham, as  Lord  High  Constable  for  that  day  ;  and  the  Duke  did 
swear  all  the  nobility  besides  to  be  homagers  to  his  majesty  at  his 
majesty's  knees. 

Then  as  many  Earls  and  Barons  as  could  conveniently  stand 
about  the  throne,  did  lay  their  hands  on  the  crown  on  his  majesty's 
head,  protesting  to  spend  their  bloods  to  maintain  it  to  him  and  his 
lawful  heirs.  The  Bishops  severally  kneeled  down,  but  took  no 
oath  as  the  Barons  did,  the  king  kissing  every  one  of  them. 

Then  the  king  took  a  scroll  of  parchment  out  of  his  bosom,  and 
gave  it  to  the  Lord  Keeper  Williams,*  who  read  it  to  the  Commons 
four  several  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  Seal. 

From  the  throne,  his  majesty  was  conducted  to  the  communion- 
table, where  the  Lord  Archbishop,  kneeling  on  the  north  side,  read 
prayers  in  the  choir,  and  sung  the  Nicene  Creed.  The  Bishop  of 
Landaff  and  Norwich  read  the  Epistle  and  Gospel ;  with  whom  the 
Bishops  of   Durham  and  St.   David's  in  rich  copes  kneeled  with 

*  The  Ivord  Keeper  Coventry.  .  See  the  note  in  page  340.— Edit. 


S4:4  CHURCH    HISTORY    OF    BRITAIN.  A.D.  1626. 

his  majesty  and  received  the  communion  ;  the  bread  from  the  Arch- 
bishop, the  wine  from  the  Bishop  of  St.  David's ;  his  majesty 
receiving  last  of  all,  whilst  Gloria  in  excelsis  was  sung  by  the  choir, 
and  some  prayers  read  by  the  Archbishop  concluded  the  solemnity. 
The  king,  after  he  had  disrobed  himself  in  king  Edward's  chapel, 
came  forth  in  a  short  robe  of  red  velvet  girt  unto  him,  lined  with 
ermine,  and  a  crown  of  his  own  on  his  head,  set  with  very  precious 
stones  ;  and  thus  the  train,  going  to  the  barges  on  the  water-side, 
returned  to  Whitehall  in  the  same  order  wherein  they  came,  about 
three  o'clock  in  the  afternoon. 

31 — 34.  Our  Prolixity  herein  excused.  A  foul-mouthed  Railer, 
Why  the  King  rode  not  through  the  City.  A  memorable 
Alteration  in  a  Pageant. 

I  have  insisted  the  longer  on  this  subject,  moved  thereunto  by  this 
consideration, — that  if  it  be  the  last  solemnity  performed  on  an 
English  king  in  this  kind,  posterity  will  conceive  my  pains  well- 
bestowed,  because  on  the  last.  But  if  hereafter  Divine  Providence 
shall  assign  England  another  king,  though  the  transactions  herein  be 
not  wholly  precedential,  something  of  state  may  be  chosen  out 
grateful  for  imitation. 

And  here  if  a  blister  was  not,  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  essentials  of  his  coro- 
nation were  performed  with  as  much  ceremony  as  ever  before,  and 
all  robes  of  state  used  according  to  ancient  prescription.  But  if  he 
indulged  his  own  fancy  for  the  colour  of  his  clothes,  a  white  suit, 
&c.  persons  meaner  than  princes  have,  in  greater  matters,  assumed 
as  much  liberty  to  themselves. 

Indeed,  one  solemnity  (no  part  of — 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  Westmin- 
ster, king  Charles  went  thither  by  water,  out  of  double  providence, 

to  save  health  and  wealth  thereby.     For  though  the  infectious  air 

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  scarlet  for  his  train :  a  sum  which,  if 
then  demanded  of  his  exchequer,  would  scarce  receive  a  satisfac- 
tory answer  thereunto  ;  and,  surely,  some  who  since  condemn  him 
for  want  of  state,  in  omitting  this  royal  pageant,  would  have  con- 
demned him  more  for  prodigality,  had  he  made  use  thereof. 

As  for  any  other  alterations  in  prayers  or  ceremonies,  though 
heavily  charged  on  bishop   Laud,   [they]  .are  since  conceived,  by 


1  CHAHLES  I.  BOOK    XI.       CENT.    XVII.  345 

unpartial  people,  done  by  a  committee ;  wherein,  tliough  the  bishop 
accused  as  most  active,  others  did  equally  consent.  Indeed,  a  pas- 
sage not  in  fashion  since  the  reign  of  king  Henry  VI.  was  used  in 
a  prayer  at  this  time  :  Ohtineat  gratiam  huic  populo  sicut  Aaron 
in  tabernacido^  Elizeus  in  flumo^  Zacliarias  in  templo ;  sit 
Petrus  in  clave^  Paulus  in  dogmate :  "  Let  him  obtain  favour  for 
this  people,  like  Aaron  in  the  tabernacle,  Elisha  in  the  waters, 
Zacharias  in  the  temple  ;  give  him  Peter's  key  of  discipline,  PauFs 
doctrine."  This  I  may  call  a  protestant  passage,  though  anciently 
used  in  popish  times,  as  fixing  more  spiritual  power  in  the  king  than 
the  pope  will  willingly  allow,  jealous  that  any  should  finger  Peter's 
keys  save  himself. 

35,  36.  A   Conference  at   York  House.     A  second  on  the  same 

Subject. 

A  few  days  after,  February  6th,  a  parliament  began,  Avherein  Mr. 
Mountagu  was  much  troubled  about  his  book,  but  made  a  shift,  by 
his  powerful  friends,  to  save  himself.  During  the  sitting  whereof, 
at  the  instance  and  procurement  of  Robert  Rich,  earl  of  Warwick, 
a  Conference  was  kept  in  York-house,  February  11th,  before  the 
duke  of  Buckingham  and  other  lords,  betwixt  Dr.  Buckeridge, 
bishop  of  Rochester,  and  Dr.  White,  dean  of  Carlisle,  on  the  one 
side ;  and  Dr.  Morton,  bishop  of  Coventry,  and  Dr.  Preston,  on 
the  other,  about  Arminian  points,  and  chiefly  the  possibility  of  one 
elected  to  fall  from  grace.  The  passages  of  which  Conference  are 
variously  reported.  .  For  it  is  not  in  tongue-combats,  as  in  other 
battles,  where  the  victory  cannot  be  disguised,  as  discovering  itself 
in  keeping  the  field,  number  of  the  slain,  captives  and  colours  taken. 
Whilst  here,  no  such  visible  effects  appearing,  the  persons  present 
were  left  to  their  liberty  to  judge  of  the  conquest  as  each  one  stood 
affected.  However,  William  earl  of  Pembroke  was  heard  to  say, 
that  none  returned  Arminians  thence,  save  such  who  repaired  thither 
with  the  same  opinions. 

Soon  after,  February  17th,  a  second  Conference  was  entertained, 
in  the  same  place,  on  the  same  points,  before  the  same  persons  ; 
betwixt  Dr.  White,  dean  of  Carlisle,  and  Mr.  Mountagu,  on  the 
one  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  them- 
selves together  in  a  joint  opposition  against  him.  The  passages 
also  of  this  Conference  are  as  differently  related  as  the  former. 
Some  making  it  a  clear  conquest  on  one,*  some  on  the  other  side, 

*  Thus  the  writer  of  Dr.  Prestoa's  Life  concludes  the  conrpest  on  his-  side. 


346  CHURCH    HISTORY    OF    RRITAIN.  A.D.  1626. 

and  a  third  sort  a  drawn  battle  betwixt  both.  Thus  the  success  of 
these  meetings  answered  neither  the  commendable  intentions  nor 
hopeful  expectations  of  such  who  procured  them.  Now,  whilst 
others  dare  say  universally  of  such  Conferences,  what  David  saith  of 
mankind,  that  of  them  "  there  is  none  that  doeth  good,  no,  not 
one,"  Psalm  xiv.  3  ;  we  dare  only  intimate,  that  (what  statesmen 
observe  of  interviews  betwixt  princes,  so)  these  Conferences  betwixt 
divines  rather  increase  the  differences  than  abate  them. 

37 — ^.  The  Bishop  of  Lincoln  loseth  his  Keeper's  Place.  The 
Duke  incensed  against  him.  The  Bishop'^s  Wariness  in 
resigning  the  Seal ;  hut  keeps  his  Bishopric. 

The  bishop  of  Lincoln  fell  now,  through  the  duke''s — into  the 
king's — displeasure  ;  and  such  who  will  read  the  late  letters  in  the 
*' Cabala "  may  conjecture  the  cause  thereof;  but  the  certainty  we 
leave  to  be  reported  by  the  historians  of  the  state, — belonging  in 
his  episcopal  capacity  to  my  pen,  but  as  Lord-Keeper  properly  to 
theirs. 

The  bishop,  finding  his  own  tottering  condition,  addressed  himself 
to  all  who  had  intimacy  with  the  duke  to  re-ingratiate  himself. 
But  such  after-games  at  court  seldom  succeed.  All  would  not  do  : 
for  as  amicus  omnium  optimus  was  part  of  the  duke''s  epitaph 
on  his  tomb  in  Westminster  chapel,  so  no  fiercer  foe  when  dis- 
pleased, and  nothing  under  the  bishop's  removal  from  his  office 
would  give  him  satisfaction.     ' 

Sir  John  Suckling  was  sent  unto  him  from  the  king,  to  demand 
the  Broad  Seal  of  him ;  which  the  cautious  bishop  refused  ta  sur- 
render into  his  hands,  to  prevent  such  uses  as  might  be  made 
thereof  (by  him  or  others)  in  the  interval  betwixt  this  resigning  it, 
and  the  king's  conferring  it  on  another.  But  he  charily  locked  it 
up  in  a  box,  and  sent  the  box  by  the  knight,  and  key  thereof 
inclosed  in  a  letter  to  his  majesty. 

However,  his  bruise  was  the  less,  because  he  fell  but  from  the 
first  loft,  and  saved  himself  on  the  sepond  floor.  Outed  his  Lord- 
Keepership,  but  keeping  his  bishopric  of  Lincoln  and  deanery  of 
Westminster,  though  forced  to  part  with  the  king's  purse,  he  held 
his  own,  and  that  well-replenished.  And  now  he  is  retired  to 
Bugden-Great ;  where,  whether  greater  his  anger  at  his  enemies  for 
what  he  had  lost,  or  gratitude  to  God  for  what  he  had  left,  though 
others  may  conjecture,  his  own  conscience  only  could  decide.  Here 
wc  leave  him  at  his  hospitable  table,  where  sometimes  he  talked  so 
loud,  that  his  discourse  at  the  second-hand  was  heard  to  London, 
by  those  who  bare  no  good-will  unto  him. 


2  CHAltLES   I.  BOOK    XI.       CENT.    XVII.  347 

41,  42.  A  new  College  of  an  old  Hall  in  Oxford^  called 
Pembroke  College. 
An  old  Hall,  turned  into  a  new  College,  was  this  year  finished 
at  Oxford.  This  formerly  was  called  Broadgates  Hall,  and  had 
many  students  therein  ;  amongst  whom  Edmund  Bonner,  afterwards 
bishop  of  London,  (scholar  enough  and  tyrant  too  much,)  had  his 
education.  But  this  place  was  not  endowed  with  any  revenues  till 
about  this  time ;  for  Thomas  Tisdale,  of  Glimpton  in  the  county  of 
Oxford,  esquire,  bequeathed  five  thousand  pounds,  wherewith  lands 
were  purchased  to  the  value  of  two  hundred  and  fifty  pounds  per 
annum^  for  the  maintenance  of  seven  Fellows  and  six  scholars. 
Afterwards,  Richard  Wightwick,  bachelor  of  divinity,  rector  of 
East  Ilsley,  in  Berkshire,  gave  lands  to  the  yearly  value  of  one 
hundred  pounds,  for  the  maintenance  of  three  Fellows  and  four 
Scholars  ;  whereupon,  petition  being  made  to  king  James,  this  new 
College  was  erected,  and  a  charter  of  mortmain  of  seven  hundred 
pounds  jo^r  annum  was  granted  thereunto. 

It  was  called  Pembroke  College,  partly  in  respect  to  William 
earl  of  Pembroke,  then  chancellor  of  the  university,  partly  in  expec- 
tation to  receive  some  favour  from  him.  And,  probably,  had  not 
that  noble  lord  died  suddenly  soon  after,  this  college  might  have 
received  more  than  a  bare  name  from  him.  The  best  is,  where  a 
child  hath  rich  parents  it  needeth  the  less  any  gifts  from  the 
godfather. 

Masters. — 1.  Dr.  Thomas  Clayton ;    2.  Dr.  Henry  Langley. 

Benefactors. — King  Charles,  who  gave  the  patronage  of  St. 
Aldate's,  the  church  adjoining. 

So  that  this  College  consisteth  of  a  Master,  ten  Fellows,  and  ten 
Scholars,  with  other  Students  and  Officers  to  the  number  of  one 
hundred  sixty-nine. 

43 — 45.  J)r,  Preston  declines  in  the  Duk^s  Favour.  The 
Death  of  godly  Bishop  Lake. 

The  doctor  and  the  duke  were  both  of  them  unwilling  to  an  open 
breach,  loved  for  to  temporize  and  wait  upon  events.*  Surely 
temporize  here  is  taken  in  the  apostle's  sense,  according  to  some 
copies,  "  serving  the  times,"  Rom.  xii.  11. f  And  henceforwards  the 
duke  resolved  to  shake  off  the  doctor,  who  would  not  stick  close 
unto  him,  betaking  himself  to  the  opposite  interest.  Nor  was  the 
other  surprised  herein,  as  expecting  the  alteration  long  before. 

By  the  late  Conferences  at  York-house  it  appeared,  that,  by  the 
duke's  cold  carriage  towards  him,  (and  smiling  on  his  opponents,) 

•  Dr.  Preston's  Life,  page  505.  t  T'j'  Katpy  8ou\euoi/T€S. — Ambrosius.' 


348  CHURCH    HISTORY    OF    BRITAIN.  A.D.  1627. 

Dr.  Preston  was  now  entering  into  the  autumn  of  the  duke's  favour. 
Indeed,  they  were  well  met,  each  observing,  neither  trusting  [the] 
other,  as  I  read  in  the  doctor's  Life,  written  by  his  judicious  pupil. 

This  year  concluded  the  life  of  Arthur  Lake,  Warden  of  New- 
College  in  Oxford,  Master  of  St.  Cross's,  dean  of  Worcester,  and 
at  last  promoted  bishop  of  Bath  and  Wells,  not  so  much  by  the 
power  of  his  brother  Sir  Thomas  (secretary  to  king  James)  as  his 
own  desert;  as  one  whose  piety  may  be  justly  exemplary  to  all  of 
his  Order.  He  seldom  (if  at  all)  is  said  to  have  dreamed  ;  justly 
imputed,  not  to  the  dulness  of  his  fancy,  in  which  faculty  he  had  no 
defect,  but  to  the  staidness  of  his  judgment,  wherein  he  did  much 
excel ;  as  by  his  learned  sermons  doth  appear. 

46 — 50.   The  Death  and  Character  of  Bishop  Andrews.     Un- 
justly accused  for  Covetousness  and  Superstition.     Cause- 
lessly charged  with  Affectation  in  his  Sermons.     Nicholas 
Fuller,  his  Chaplain,  that  profitable  Critic. 
About  the  same  time  Lancelot  Andrews  ended  his  religious  life, 
born    at   Allhallows  Barking    in    London ;    Scholar,    Fellow,   and 
Master  of  Pembroke  Hall  in   Cambridge  ;    then   dean   of  West- 
minster, bishop  of  Chichester,  Ely,  and  at  last  of  Winchester.     The 
world  wanted  learning  to  know  how  learned  this  man  was,  so  skilled 
in  all  (especially  oriental)  languages  that  some  conceive  he  might, 
if  then  living,  almost  have  served  as  an   interpreter-general  at  the 
confusion  of  tongues.     Nor  are  the  Fathers  more  faithfully  cited 
in  his  books,  than  lively  copied  out  in  his  countenance  and  carriage ; 
his  gravity  in  a  manner  awing  king  James,  who  refrained  from  that 
mirth  and  liberty  in  the  presence  of  this  prelate,  which  otherwise  he 
assumed  to  himself.     He  lieth  buried  in  the   chapel  of  St.  Mary 
Overy's,  having    on    his    monument    a    large,    elegant,    and    true 
epitaph.* 

Since  his  death  some  have  unjustly  snarled  at  his  memory,  accus- 
ing him  for  covetousness,  who  was  neither  rapax.,  to  get  by  unjust 
courses,  as  a  professed  enemy  to  usury,  simony,  and  bribery  ;  nor 
tenax^  to  hold  money  when  just  occasion  called  for  it ;  for  in  his 
life-time  he  repaired  all  places  he  lived  in,  and  at  his  death  left  the 
main  of  his  estate  to  pious  uses.  Indeed,  he  was  wont  to  say,  that 
good  husbandry  was  good  divinity  ;  the  truth  whereof  no  wise  man 
will  deny. 

Another  falls  foully  upon  him  for  the  ornaments  of  his  chapel,  as 
popish  and  superstitious,  in  the  superabundant  ceremonies  thereof. -[- 
To  which  I  can  say  little  ;  but  this  I  dare  affirm,  that  wheresoever 

•  Stow's  "  Survey  of  London."  \  William  Prynnk  in  his  "  Canterbury's 

Doom,"  page  121,  ct  scq. 


3  CHARLES  I.  BOOK    XI.       CENT.    XVII.  349 

he  was  a  parson,  a  dean,  or  a  bishop,  he  never  troubled  parish, 
college,  or  diocess  with  pressing  other  ceremonies  upon  them  than 
such  which  he  found  used  there  before  his  coming  thither.  And  it 
had  not  been  amiss,  if  such  who  would  be  accounted  his  friends  and 
admirers  had  followed  him  in  the  footsteps  of  his  moderation  ;  con- 
tent with  the  enjoying,  without  the  enjoining,  their  private  practices 
and  opinions  on  others. 

As  for  such  who  causelessly  have  charged  his  sermons  as  "  affected, 
and  surcharged  with  verbal  allusions  ;""'*  when  they  themselves  have 
set  forth  the  like,  it  will  then  be  time  enough  to  make  this  bishop's 
first  defence  against  their  calumniations.  Nor  is  it  a  wonder  that 
the  master'^s  pen  was  so  in  his  writings,  whose  very  servant  (a  layman) 
was  so  successful  in  the  same ;  I  mean,  Mr.  Henry  Isaacson,  (lately 
gone  to  God,)  the  industrious  author  of  the  useful  "  Chronology."'"' 

It  is  a  pity  to  part  this  patron  from  his  chaplain,  Nicholas  Fuller ; 
born,  as  I  take  it,  in  Hampshire  ;  bred  in  Oxford,  where  he  was 
tutor  to  Sir  Henry  Walhop,  who  afterwards  preferred  him  to  the 
small  parsonage  of  Allington,  in  Wiltshire ;  and  Robert  Abbot, 
bishop  of  Salisbury,  made  him  canon  of  that  church.  Afterwards  a 
living  of  great  value  was  sent  by  bishop  Andrews,  (the  patron 
thereof, f)  on  the  welcome  errand  to  find  out  Mr.  Fuller  to  accept 
the  same  ;  who  was  hardly  contented  to  be  surprised  with  a  pre- 
sentation thereunto ;  such  his  love  to  his  former  small  living  and 
retired  life.  He  was  the  prince  of  all  our  English  critics  :  and 
whereas  men  of  that  tribe  are  generally  morose,  so  that  they  cannot 
dissent  from  another  without  disdaining,  nor  oppose  without  inveigh- 
ing against  him,  it  is  hard  to  say  whether  more  candour,  learning,  or 
judgment,  was  blended  in  his  "  Miscellanies.''  By  discovering 
how  much  Hebrew  there  is  in  the  New-Testament  Greek,  he 
cleareth  many  real  difficulties  from  his  verbal  observations. 

51,52.    Severe   Proceedings   against   Archbishop   Abbot:    sus- 
pended from  his  Jurisdiction.     Two  good  Effects  of  a  bad 
Cause.     A.D.^62^. 
A  commission  was  granted  unto  five  bishops,  (whereof  bishop  Laud 
of  the  quorum,)  to  suspend  archbishop  Abbot  from  exercising  his 
authority  any  longer,  because  uncanonical  for  casual  homicide ;  the 
proceeding  against  him  being  generally  condemned  as  over-rigid  and 
severe. 

1.  The  act  was  committed  seven  years  since,  in  the  reign  of  king 
James. 

2.  On  a  commission  then  appointed  for  that  purpose,   he  was 

*  Mr.  Bay  ley   in  his  Ladensium  ^utocatacriton.  t  See  bishop  Andrews's 

funeral  sermon. 


350  CHURCH  HISTORY  OF  BRITAIN.  A.D.  1627. 

cleared  from  all  irregularity,  by   bishop  Andrews  in  divinity,  Sir 
Edward  Coke  in  common — and  Sir  Henry  Martin  in  canon — law. 

3.  It  would  be  of  dangerous  consequence  to  condemn  him  by  the 
canons  of  foreign  Councils,  which  never  were  allowed  any  legis- 
lative power  in  this  land. 

4.  The  archbishop  had  manifested  much  remorse  and  self-afflic- 
tion, for  this  (rather  sad  than  sinful)  act. 

5.  God  may  be  presumed  to  have  forgotten  so  much  as  there 
was  of  fault  in  the  fact ;  and  why  then  should  man  remember  it  ? 

6.  Ever  since  he  had  executed  his  jurisdiction  without  any  inter- 
ruption. 

7.  The  archbishop  had  both  feet  in  the  grave,  and  all  his  whole 
body  likely  soon  after  to  follow  them. 

8.  Such  heightening  of  casual  homicide  did  savour  of  intentional 
malice. 

The  truth  is,  the  archbishop's  own  stiffness  an  averseness  to  com- 
ply with  the  court-designs  advantaged  his  adversaries  against  him, 
and  made  him  the  more  obnoxious  to  the  king's  displeasure.  But 
the  blame  did  most  light  on  bishop  Laud  ;  men  accounting  this  a 
kind  oi  films  ante  diem,  ^c.  as  if  not  content  to  succeed,  he  endea- 
voured to  supplant  him  ;  who  might  w^ell  have  suffered  his  decayed 
old  age  to  have  died  in  honour :  what  needs  the  felling  of  the  tree 
a-falling  ? 

However,  a  double  good  accrued  hereby  to  the  archbishop.  First. 
He  became  the  more  beloved  of  men.  (The  country  hath  con- 
stantly a  blessing  for  those  for  whom  the  court  hath  a  curse.)  And, 
Secondly,  he  may  charitably  be  presumed  to  love  God  the  more, 
whose  service  he  did  the  better  attend,  being  freed  from  the 
drudgery  of  the  world  ;  as  that  soul  which  hath  the  least  of  Martha 
hath  the  most  of  Mary  therein. 

53 — ^^,  The  Character  of  Archbishop  Abbot;  accounted  no 
great  Friend  to  the  Clergy ;  accused  for  the  Fautor  of  Mal- 
contents. 

And  although  this  archbishop  survived  some  years  after,  yet  it 
will  be  seasonable  here  for  us  to  take  a  fair  farewell  of  his  memory, 
seeing  henceforward  he  was  buried  to  the  world.  He  was  bred  in 
Oxford,  Master  of  University  College  ;  an  excellent  preacher,  as 
appears  by  his  Lectures  on  Jonah  ;  chaplain  to  the  carl  of  Dunbar, 
(with  whom  he  was  once  solemnly  sent  by  king  James  into  Scotland 
to  preach  there,)  and  afterwards  by  his  means  promoted  to  the  arch- 
bishopric of  Canterbury,  haply  according  to  his  own — but  sure  I 
am  above — if  not  against — the  expectations  of  others  ;  a  grave  man 
in  his  conversation,  and  unblamable  in  his  life. 


3  CHARLES  I.  BOOK    XI.       CENT.    XVII.  351 

Indeed,  it  is  charged  on  him  that  ?io?i  amavit  geniem  nostram^ 
*'  he  loved  not  our  nation  ;'*^  forsaking  the  birds  of  his  own  feather 
to  fly  with  others,  and  generally  favouring  the  laity  above  the  clergy, 
in  all  cases  brought  before  him.  But  this  he  endeavoured  to  excuse 
to  a  private  friend,  by  protesting  he  was  himself  so  severe  to  the 
clergy  on  purpose  to  rescue  them  from  the  severity  of  others,  and 
to  prevent  the  punishment  of  them  from  lay  judges,  to  their  greater 
shame. 

I  also  read  in  a  nameless  author,*  that  towards  his  death  he  was 
not  only  discontented  himself,  but  his  house  was  the  rendezvous  of 
all  malcontents  in  church  and  state  ;  making  midnight  of  noon- 
day, by  constant  keeping  of  candles  light  in  his  chamber  and  study; 
as  also  such  visitants  as  repaired  unto  him,  called  themselves  Nico- 
demites,  because  of  their  secret  addresses.  But  a  credible  person,  and 
one  of  his  nearest  relations,-f-  knew  nothing  thereof;  which,  with 
me,  much  shaketh  the  probability  of  the  report.  And  thus  we 
leave  the  archbishop,  and  the  rest  of  his  praises,  to  be  reported  by 
the  poor  people  of  Guildford,  in  Surrey,  where  he  founded  and 
endowed  a  fair  almshouse  in  the  town  of  his  nativity. 

5Q — 59.  A  Toleration,  blasted  in  Ireland^  hopes  to  spring  in 
England;  hut  is  rejected.     Sir  John  Saville''s  Motion. 

The  king''s  treasury  now  began  to  grow  low,  and  his  expenses  to 
mount  high.  No  wonder  then  if  the  statesmen  were  much  troubled 
to  make  up  the  distance  betwixt  his  exchequer  and  his  occasions. 
Amongst  other  designs,  the  papists  in  Ireland,  taking  advantage  of 
the  king's  wants,  proiFered  to  pay  constantly  five  thousand  men,  if 
they  might  but  enjoy  a  toleration.  But  that  motion  was  crushed 
by  the  bishops  opposing  it,  and  chiefly  by  bishop  Downham's 
sermon  in  Dublin,  on  this  text,  "  That  we,  being  delivered  from 
the  hands  of  our  enemies,  might  serve  him  without  fear,"  Luke 
i.74. 

Many  a  man,  sunk  in  his  estate  in  England,  hath  happily  recovered 
it  by  removing  into  Ireland  :  whereas,  by  a  contrary  motion,  this 
project,  bankrupt  in  Ireland,  presumed  to  make  itself  up  in  England  ; 
where  the  papists  promised  to  maintain  a  proportion  of  ships,  on  the 
aforesaid  condition,  of  free  exercise  of  their  religion.  Some  were 
desirous  the  king  should  accept  their  tender,  who  might  lawfully 
take  what  they  were  so  forward  to  give,  seeing  no  injury  is  done  to 
them  who  are  willing. 

It  was  urged  on  the  other  side,  that  where  such  willingness  to  be 
injured  proceeds  from  the  principles   of  an  erroneous  conscience, 

*  In  answer  to  the  pamphlet  entitled,  "  The  Court  and  Cliaracter  of  King  James," 
page  132.  f  Dr.  Barnard,  his  household  chaplain. 


3.52  CHURCH    HISTORY    OF    BRITAIN.  A.D.  1628. 

there  their  simplicity  ought  to  be  informed,  not  abused.  Grant 
papists  so  weak  as  to  buy,  protestants  should  be  more  honest  than 
to  sell,  such  base  wares  unto  them.  Such  ships  must  needs  spring 
many  leaks,  rigged,  victualled,  and  manned  with  ill-gotten  money, 
gained  by  the  sale  of  souls.  And  here  all  the  objections  were 
revived,  which  in  the  reign  of  king  James  were  improved  against 
such  a  toleration. 

Here  Sir  John  Saville  interposed,  that  if  the  king  were  pleased 
but  to  call  on  the  recusants  to  pay  thirds,  legally  due  to  the  crown,  it 
would  prove  a  way  more  effectually  and  less  offensive  to  raise  a  mass 
of  money ;  it  being  but  just,  who  were  so  rich  and  free  to  purchase 
new  privileges  should  first  pay  their  old  penalties.  This  motion 
was  listened  unto  ;  and  Sir  John,  with  some  others,  appointed  for  that 
purpose  in  the  counties  beyond  Trent, — scarce  a  third  of  England 
in  ground,  but  almost  the  half  thereof  for  the  growth  of  recusants 
therein.  But  whether  the  returns  seasonably  furnished  the  king's 
occasions,  is  to  me  unknown. 

60 — 65.  A  Parliament  called,  which  proves  full  of  Troubles. 
Mr.  PyrrCs  Speech  against  Dr.  Manwaring.  The  severe 
Censure  on  the  Doctor.  His  humble  Submission.  The 
Acts  of  this  Parliament.  Nothing  done  in  the  Convocation. 
A.  D.  1628. 

It  is  suspicious,  that  all  such  projects  to  quench  the  thirst  of  the 
king's  necessities  proved  no  better  than  sucking-bottles, — soon 
emptied,  and  but  cold  the  liquor  they  afforded.  Nothing  so  natural 
as  the  milk  of  the  breast ;  I  mean,  subsidies  granted  by  Parliament, 
which  the  king  at  this  time  assembled.  But,  alas  !  to  follow  the 
metaphor,  both  the  breasts,  the  two  Houses,  were  so  sore  with  several 
grievances,  that  all  money  came  from  them  with  much  pain  and 
difficulty  ;  the  rather,  because  they  complained  of  doctrines  destruc- 
tive to  their  propriety,  lately  preached  at  court. 

For,  June  9th,  towards  the  end  of  this  session  of  parliament  Dr. 
Manwaring  was  severely  censured  for  two  sermons  he  had  preached 
and  printed  about  the  power  of  the  king's  prerogative.  Such  is  the 
precipice  of  this  matter,  (wherein  each  casual  slip  of  my  pen  may 
prove  a  deadly  fall,)  that  I  had  rather  the  reader  should  take  all  from 
Mr.  Pym's  mouth,*  than  from  my  hand,  who  thus  uttered  himself: — 

"  Master  Speaker,  I  am  to  deliver  from  the  Sub-Committee,  a 
charge  against  Mr.  Manwaring^  a  preacher  and  doctor  of  divinity, 
but  a  man  so  criminous  that  he  hath  turned  his  titles  into  accusations  ; 
for  the  better  they  are,  the  worse  is  he  that  hath  dishonoured 
them.     Here  is  a  great  charge  that  lies  upon  him ;  it  is  great  in 

*  Transcribed  out  of  his  Tnr.nusci'ipt  speech. 


4  CHARLES  I.  BOOK    XI.       CENT.  XVII.  353 

itself,  and  great  because  it  hath  many  great  charges  in  it  :  serpens^ 
qui  serpentem  devorat.  Jit  draco  ;  his  charge,  having  digested  many 
charges  into  it,  is  become  a  monster  of  charges.  The  main  and  great 
one  is  this ; — a  plot  and  policy  to  alter  and  subvert  the  frame  and 
fabric  of  this  state  and  commonwealth.  This  is  the  great  one  ;  and 
it  hath  others  in  it,  that  gains  it  more  greatness.  For,  to  this  end» 
he  labours  to  infuse  into  the  conscience  of  his  majesty,  the  persuasion 
of  a  power  not  bounding  itself  with  laws,  which  king  James  of  famous 
memory  calls,  in  his  speech  in  parliament,  ]  619,  '  tyranny  ;  yea, 
tyranny  accompanied  with  perjury." 

"  Secondly.  He  endeavours  to  persuade  the  consciences  of  the 
subjects,  that  they  are  bound  to  obey  illegal  commands  ;  yea,  he 
damns  them  for  not  obeying  them. 

"  Thirdly.  He  robs  the  subjects  of  the  property  of  their  goods. 

"  Fourthly.  He  brands  them  that  will  not  lose  this  property, 
with  most  scandalous  and  odious  titles,  to  make  them  hateful  both 
to  prince  and  people,  so  to  set  a  division  between  the  head  and 
members,  and  between  the  members  themselves. 

"  Fifthly.  To  the  same  end,  (not  much  unlike  to  Faux  and  his 
fellows,)  he  seeks  to  blow  up  Parliaments  and  parliamentary  power. 

"  These  five,  being  duly  viewed,  will  appear  to  be  so  many  charges  ; 
and  withal  they  make  up  the  main  and  great  charge, — a  mischievous 
plot  to  alter  and  subvert  the  frame  and  government  of  this  state  and 
commonwealth.  And  now,  that  you  may  be  sure  that  Mr.  Man- 
waring,  though  he  leave  us  no  propriety  in  our  goods,  yet  he  hath 
an  absolute  propriety  in  his  charge,  audite  ipsam  belluam^  hear  Mr. 
Manwaring  by  his  own  words  making  up  his  own  charge.'"' 

Here  he  produced  the  book,  particularly  insisting  on  pages  19,  29, 
and  30,  in  the  first  sermon ;  pages  35,  46,  and  48  in  the  second 
sermon.  All  which  passages  he  heightened  with  much  eloquence  and 
acrimony ;  thus  concluding  his  speech  :  "  I  have  showed  you  an  evil 
tree  that  bringeth  forth  evil  fruit ;  and  now  it  rests  with  you  to 
determine,  whether  the  following  sentence  shall  follow, — '  Cut  it 
down,  and  cast  it  into  the  fire.'' " 

June  13th,  four  days  after,  the  Parliament  proceeded  to  his  censure, 
consisting  of  eight  particulars ;  it  being  ordered  by  the  House  of 
Lords  against  him,  as  followeth  : — 

1.  To  be  imprisoned  during  the  pleasure  of  the  House. 

2.  To  be  fined  a  thousand  pounds. 

3.  To  make  his  submission  at  the  bar  in  this  House,  and  in  the 
House  of  Commons,  at  the  bar  there,  in  verbis  conceptis^  by  a  Com- 
mittee of  this  House. 

4.  To  be  suspended  from  his  ministerial  function  three  years  ;  and 
in  the  mean  time  a  sufficient  preaching  man  to  be  provided  out  of 

Vol.  III.  A  A 


854  CHURCH    HISTORY    OF    BRITAIN.  A.D.1G28. 

the  profits  of  his  living,  and  this  to  be  left  to  be  performed  by  the 
ecclesiastical  court. 

5.  To  be  disabled  for  ever  hereafter  from  preaching  at  court. 

6.  To  be  for  ever  disabled  of  having  any  ecclesiastical  dignity  in 
the  church  of  England. 

7-  To  be  uncapable  of  any  secular  office  or  preferment. 

8.  That  his  books  are  worthy  to  be  burned,  and  his  majesty  to  be 
moved  that  it  may  be  so  in  London,  and  both  the  universities. 

But  much  of  this  censure  was  remitted,  in  consideration  of  the 
performance  of  his  humble  submission  at  both  the  bars  in  parliament : 
■where  he  appeared  on  June  23rd  following;  and  on  his  knees, 
before  both  Houses,  submitted  himself,  as  followeth,  with  outward 
expression  of  sorrow  : — 

"  I  do  here,  in  all  sorrow  of  heart  and  true  repentance,  acknow- 
ledge those  many  errors  and  indiscretions  which  I  have  committed  in 
preaching  and  publishing  the  two  sermons  of  mine,  which  I  called 
'Religion  and  Allegiance,'  and  my  great  fault  in  falling  upon  this 
theme  again,  and  handling  the  same  rashly,  scandalously,  and  unad- 
visedly in  my  own  parish-church  in  St.  Giles-in-the- Fields,  the  fourth 
of  May  last  past.  I  humbly  acknowledge  these  three  sermons  to 
have  been  full  of  dangerous  passages  and  inferences,  and  scandalous 
aspersions,  in  most  part  of  the  same.  And  I  do  humbly  acknowledge 
the  just  proceedings  of  this  honourable  House  against  me,  and  the 
just  sentence  and  judgment  passed  upon  me  for  my  great  offence. 
And  I  do  from  the  bottom  of  my  heart  crave  pardon  of  God,  the 
king,  and  this  honourable  House,  and  the  commonweal  in  general, 
and  those  worthy  persons  adjudged  to  be  reflected  upon  by  me  in 
particular,  for  those  great  offences  and  errors.*" 

How  this  doctor,  Roger  Manwaring,  (notwithstanding  the  foresaid 
censure,)  was  afterwards  preferred,  first  to  the  deanery  of  Worcester, 
next  to  the  bishopric  of  St.  David's,  God  willing,  in  due  place 
thereof. 

On  Thursday,  the  26th  of  this  month,  ended  the  session  of  Par- 
liament ;  wherein  little  relating  to  religion  was  concluded,  save  only 
that  divers  abuses  on  the  Lord's  day  were  restrained.  All  carriers, 
carters,  waggoners,  wainmen,  drovers  of  cattle,  forbidden  to  travel 
thereon,  on  the  forfeit  of  twenty  shillings  for  every  offence.  Like- 
wise, butchers  to  lose  six  shillings  and  eight-pence  for  killing  or 
selling  any  victuals  on  that  day.  A  law  was  also  made,  that  whoso- 
ever goeth  himself,  or  sendeth  others,  beyond  the  seas,  to  be  trained 
up  in  popery,  kc.  shall  be  disabled  to  sue,  &c.  and  shall  lose  all  his 
goods,  and  shall  forfeit  all  his  lands,  &c.  for  life.  Five  entire  sub- 
sidies were  granted  to  the  king  by  the  spirituality  ;  and  the  said 
grant  confirmed  by  the  Act  of  this  Parliament ;  which  now  ^vas  first 


4  CHARLES  I.  BOOK    XI.       CENT.    XVII.  355 

prorogued  to    October  20th   following,    and  then,   on  some  inter- 
vening obstructions,  put  off  to  January  20th,  when  it  began  again. 

As  for  the  Convocation,  concurrent  in  time  with  this  parliament, 
nothing  considerable  was  acted  therein.  Dr.  Thomas  WinnifFe, 
dean  of  Gloucester,  preached  the  Latin  sermon  ;  his  text,  Attendite 
ad  'COS  ipsos,  et  totum  gregem,  S^c.  Acts  xx.  28  ;  Dr.  Curie  was 
chosen  Prolocutor  :  and  a  low  voice  would  serve  the  turn  where 
nothing  was  to  be  spoken. 

i^Q.   The  Death  of  Dr.  Preston. 

On  July  20th  following,  Dr.  Preston  died  in  his  native  county  of 
Northamptonshire,  near  the  place  of  his  birth,  of  a  consumption, 
and  was  buried  at  Fauseley,  Mr.  Dod  preaching  his  funeral  ser- 
mon :  an  excellent  preacher ;  of  whom  Mr.  Noy  was  wont  to  say, 
that  "  he  preached  as  if  he  knew  God''s  will :  "  a  subtle  disputant 
and  great  politician  ;  so  that  his  foes  must  confess,  that  (if  not 
having  too  little  of  the  dove)  he  had  enough  of  the  serpent.  Some 
will  not  stick  to  say  he  had  large  parts  of  sufficient  receipt  to 
manage  the  Broad  Seal  itself,  which,  if  the  condition  had  pleased 
him,  was  proffered  unto  him  !  For  he  might  have  been  the  duke's 
right  hand, — though  at  last  less  than  his  little  finger  unto  him;  who, 
despairing  that  this  patriarch  of  the  presbyterian  party  would  bring 
off  his  side  unto  him,  used  him  no  longer  who  would  not  or  could 
not  be  useful  unto  him.  Most  of  this  doctor's  posthume  books 
have  been  happy  in  their  education  ;  I  mean,  in  being  well  brought 
forth  into  the  world, — though  all  of  them  have  not  lighted  on  so 
good  guardians.  But  his  Life  is  so  largely  and  learnedly  written  by 
one  of  his  own  pupils,*  that  nothing  can  be  added  unto  it. 

67 — 7^-  ^^^  Death  of  Bishop  Carleton.  Mr.  Mountagu's 
Confirmation  opposed;  hut  the  Opposition  ineffectual. 
Caution  seasonably  used. 

About  this  time  George  Carleton,  that  grave  and  godly  bishop 
of  Chichester,  ended  his  pious  life.  He  was  born  at  Norham  in 
Northumberland,"!-  where  his  father  was  the  keeper  of  that  important 
castle  in  the  Marches ;  an  employment  speaking  him  wise  and 
A^aliant,  in  those  dangerous  and  warlike  days.  He  was  bred  and 
brought  up  under  Mr.  Bernard  Gilpin,  that  apostolical  man,  whose 
Life  he  wrote  in  gratitude  to  his  memory;  and  retained  his  youthful 
and  poetical  studies  fresh  in  his  old  age.  He  was  selected  by  king 
James  one  of  the  five  divines  sent  over  to  the  Synod  of  Dort.  He 
wrote  many  small  tracts,  (one  against  Sir  John  Heydon,  about 
judicial  astrology,)    which,    conjoined,   would  amount  to  a   great 

•  Mr.  Thomas  Balle  of  Northampton.         1  Camden's  Britannia  in  Northumberland. 

2a2 


S56  CHURCH    HISTORY    OF    BRITAIN.  A.  D.  1C28. 

volume.  Mr.  Richard  Mountagu,  one  of  a  different  judgment,  suc- 
ceeded in  his  see,  August  22nd,  who  at  first  met  with  some  small 
opposition  on  the  following  occasion  : — 

There  is  a  solemnity  performed  before  the  consecration  of  every 
bishop,  in  this  manner  :  The  royal  assent  being  passed  on  his  elec- 
tion, the  archbishop"'s  vicar-general  proceeds  to  his  confirmation, 
commonly  kept  in  Bow  church.  A  process  is  issued  forth  to  call  all 
persons  to  appear,  to  show  cause  why  the  elect  there  present  should 
not  be  confirmed.  For,  seeing  a  bishop  is  in  a  manner  married  to 
his  see,  (save  that  hereafter  he  taketh  his  surname  from  his  wife, 
and  not  she  from  him,)  this  ceremony  is  a  kind  of  asking  the  bans, 
to  see  if  any  can  allege  any  lawful  cause  to  forbid  them.  Now, 
at  the  confirmation  of  Mr.  Mountagu,  when  liberty  was  given  to  any 
objectors  against  him,  one  Mr.  Humphreys,  since  a  parliament- 
colonel,  lately  deceased,  and  William  Jones,  a  stationer  of  London, 
who  alone  is  mentioned  in  the  record,  excepted  against  Mr. 
Mountagu,  as  unfitting  for  the  episcopal  office,  chiefly  on  this 
account, — because  lately  censured  by  Parliament  for  his  book,  and 
rendered  uncapable  of  all  preferment  in  the  church. 

But  exception  was  taken  at  Jones"'s  exceptions,  which  the  record 
calls  prwtensos  articulos^  as  defective  in  some  legal  formalities.  I 
have  been  informed,  it  was  alleged  against  him  for  bringing  in  his 
objections  mxd  Toce^  and  not  by  a  proctor;  (that  court  adjudging  all 
private  persons  eifectually  dumb,  who  speak  not  by  one  admitted  to 
plead  therein ;)  Jones  returned,  that  he  could  not  get  any  proctor, 
though  pressing  them  importunately,  and  proffering  them  their  fee, 
to  present  his  exceptions,  and  therefore  was  necessitated  ore  tenus 
there  to  allege  them  against  Mr.  Mountagu.  The  register  men- 
tioneth  no  particular  defects  in  his  exceptions  :  *  but  Dr.  Rives, 
substitute  at  that  time  for  the  vicar-general,  declined  to  take  any 
notice  of  them,  and  concludeth  Jones  amongst  the  contumacious, 
quod  nullo  modo  legitime  comparuit^  nee  aliquid  in  hac  parte  juxta 
juris  exigentiam  diceret,  exciperet,  'cel  opponeret.  Yet  this  good 
Jones  did  bishop  Mountagu,  that  he  caused  his  addresses  to  the 
king  to  procure  a  pardon  ;  which  was  granted  unto  him,  in  form 
like  those  given  at  the  coronation,  save  that  some  particulars  were 
inserted  therein,  "  for  the  pardoning  of  all  eiTors  heretofore  com- 
mitted, either  in  speaking,  writing,  or  printing,  whereby  he  might 
hereafter  be  questioned.'"  The  like  at  the  same  time  was  granted  to 
Dr.  Manwaring,  on  whom  the  rich  parsonage  of  Stanford  Rivers  in 
Essex  was  conferred,  as  void  by  bishop  Mountagu's  preferment. 

An   intention    there  was    for   the  bishop,   and   all   the   company 
employed  at  his  confirmation,  to  dine  at  a  tavern  ;  but  Dr.  Thomas 

*  Rcgisiruvi  Cantuar,  fol.  140,  in  anno  1628. 


4    CHARLES  T.  BOOK    XI.       CENT.    XVII.  357 

Rives  utterly  refused  it,  rendering  this  reason, — that  he  had  heard, 
tliat  the  dining  at  a  tavern  gave  all  the  colour  to  that  far-spreading 
and  long-lasting  lie,  of  Matthew  Parker's  being  consecrated  at  the 
Nag's  Head  in  Cheapside;  and,  for  aught  he  knew,  captious  people 
would  be  ready  to  raise  the  like  report  on  the  same  occasion.  It 
being  therefore  Christian  caution,  not  only  to  quench  the  fire  of  sin, 
but  also,  if  possible,  to  put  out  the  smoke  of  scandal,  they  removed 
their  dining  to  another  place. 

71 — ^3.  The  Parliament  dissolved.  Proclamation  against  the 
Bishop  of  Chalcedon.     Hejlieth  into  France. 

On  January  20tli  the  Parliament  was  re-assembled  ;  which  died 
issueless,  as  I  may  say,  the  March  following,  leaving  no  Acts 
(abortions  are  no  chiMren)  completed  behind  it.  Let  the  reader 
who  desireth  farther  instructions  of  the  passages  herein,  consult  the 
historians  of  the  state.  Indeed,  if  the  way  were  good,  and  weather 
fair,  a  traveller,  to  please  his  curiosity  in  seeing  the  country,  might 
adventure  to  ride  a  little  out  of  the  road  ;  but  he  is  none  of  the 
wisest,  who,  in  a  tempest  and  miry  Avay,  will  lose  time  and  leave  his 
own  journey.  If  pleasant  and  generally  acceptable  were  the  transac- 
tions in  this  Parliament,  it  might  have  tempted  me  to  touch  a  little 
thereon,  out  of  the  track  of  my  church-story ;  but,  finding  nothing 
but  stirs  and  storms  therein,  I  will  only  go  on  fair  and  softly  in  my 
beaten  path  of  ecclesiastical  affairs.  Bishop  Laud  had  no  great 
cause  to  be  a  mourner  at  the  funerals  of  this  parliament,  having 
entered  it  in  his  Diary,  that  it  endeavoured  his  destruction. 

At  this  time  Richard  Smith,  (distinct  from  Henry  Smith,  alias 
Lloyd,  a  Jesuit,  whom  some  confound  as  the  same  person,)  being  in 
title  bishop  of  Chalcedon  in  Greece,  in  truth  a  dangerous  English 
priest,  acted  and  exercised  episcopal  jurisdiction  over  the  catholics 
here,  by  commission  from  the  pope,  appearing  in  his  pontijicalibus 
in  Lancashire,  with  his  mitre  and  crosier,  to  the  wonder  of  poor  peo- 
ple, and  confen'ing  Orders  and  the  like.  This  was  much  offensive 
to  the  Regulars,  as  intrenching  on  their  privileges  ;  who  counter- 
mined him  as  much  as  they  might.  His  majesty,  having  notice  of 
this  Romish  agent,  March  24th,  renewed  his  proclamation  (one  of  a 
former  date  taking  no  effect)  for  his  apprehension,  promising  an 
hundred  pounds  to  be  presently  paid  to  him  that  did  it,  beside  all 
the  profits  which  accrued  to  the  Crown,  as  legally  due  from  the 
person  who  entertained  him. 

However,  such  as  hid  and  harboured  him  were  neither  frighted 
with  the  penalty,  nor  flattered  with  the  profit,  to  discover  him. 
But  Smith,  conceiving  his  longer  stay  here  to  be  dangerous,  conveyed 
himself  over  into  France,  where  he  became  a  confidant  of  cardinal 


S58  CHURCH    HISTORY    OF    BRITAIN.  A.D.  1628. 

Richelieu's.  The  conveniency  and  validity  of  his  episcopal  power 
was  made  the  subject  of  several  books  which  were  written  thereon. 

In  favour  of  him. — 1.  N.  de  Maistre,  a  Sorbonne  priest,  in 
his  book  entitled,  De  Persecutione  Episcoporum^  et  De  illustrissimo 
Antistite  Chalcedonensi.  2.  The  Faculty  of  Paris,  which  censured 
all  such  as  opposed  him. 

In  opposition  to  him. — 1.  Daniel,  a  Jesuit.  2.  Horucan. 
3.  Lumley.     4.  Nicholas  Smith. 

This  Chalcedon  Smith  wrote  a  book  called  "  the  Prudential 
Balance,"  much  commended  by  men  of  his  own  persuasion  ;  and,  for 
aught  I  know,  is  still  alive. 

74 — 7^-   ^^^  Death   and  Character  of  Toby   Matthew.     His 
Gratitude  unto  God.     He  died  yearly. 

Within  the  compass  of  this  year  died  the  reverend  Toby  Matthew, 
archbishop  of  York.  He  was  born  in  the  Somersetshire-side  of 
Bristol,  and  in  his  childhood  had  a  marvellous  preservation,  when 
•with  a  fall  he  brake  his  foot,  ancle,  and  small  of  his  leg,  which  were 
so  soon  recovered  to  eye,  use,  sight,  service,  that  not  the  least  mark 
remained  thereof.*  Coming  to  Oxford,  he  fixed  at  last  in  Christ- 
Church,  and  became  dean  thereof.  He  was  one  of  a  proper  person, 
(such  people,  cwteris  paribus.,  and  sometimes  cwteris  imparibus^ 
■were  preferred  by  the  queen,)  and  an  excellent  preacher  ;  Campian 
himself  confessing,  that  he  did  dominari  in  concionibus.  He  was 
of  a  cheerful  spirit,  yet  without  any  trespass  on  episcopal  gravity  ; 
there  lying  a  real  distinction  between  facetiousness  and  nugacity. 
None  could  condemn  him  for  his  pleasant  wit,  though  often  he 
would  condemn  himself,  as  so  habitecl  therein,  he  could  as  well  not 
be,  as  not  be  merry,  and  not  take  up  an  innocent  jest  as  it  lay  in  the 
•way  of  his  discourse. 

One  passage  must  not  be  forgotten.  After  he  had  arrived  at  his 
greatness,  he  made  one  journey  into  the  west,  to  visit  his  two  mothers, 
— ^her  that  bare  him  at  Bristol,  and  her  that  bred  him  in  learning, 
the  university  of  Oxford.  Coming  near  to  the  latter,  attended  with  a 
train  suitable  to  his  present  condition,  he  was  met  almost  with  an 
equal  number,  who  came  out  of  Oxford  to  give  him  entertainment. 
Thus  augmented  with  another  troop,  and  remembering  he  had  passed 
over  a  small  water  a  poor  scholar,  when  first  coming  to  the  univer- 
sity, he  kneeled  down  and  took  up  the  expression  of  Jacob  :  "  With 
my  staflfcame  I  over  this  Jordan,  and  now  I  am  become  two  bands." 
I  am  credibly  informed,  that,  mutatis  mutandis,  the  same  was  per- 
formed by  his  predecessor,  archbishop  Hutton,  at  Sophisters  Hills 

•  Sir  John   Harrington  in  his  Continuation  of  Bishop  Godwin's  ''  Catalogue  of 
Bishops." 


4  CHARLES  T.  BOOK    XI.       CENT.    XVII.  o59 

nigh   Cambridge ;   and  am  so  far  from  distrusting  either,  that   I 
believe  both. 

He  died  yearly  in  report ;  and  I  doubt  not  but  that,  in  the 
apostle's  sense,  he  died  daily  in  his  mortifying  meditations.  He 
went  over  the  graves  of  many  who  looked  for  his  archbishopric.  I 
■will  not  say,  they  catched  a  cold  in  waiting  barefoot  for  a  living  man's 
shoes.  His  wife,  the  daughter  of  bishop  Barlow,  (a  confessor  in 
queen  Mary's  days,)  was  a  prudent  and  a  provident  matron.  Of 
this  extraction  came  Sir  Toby  Matthew,  having  all  his  father's  name, 
many  of  his  natural  parts,  few  of  his  moral  virtues,  fewer  of  his 
spiritual  graces,  as  being  an  inveterate  enemy  to  the  protestant 
religion.  George  Mountaine  succeeded  him,  scarce  warm  in  his 
church  before  cold  in  his  coffin,  as  not  continuing  many  months 
therein. 

77.   The  Death  of  Bishop  Felton, 

I  humbly  crave  the  reader's  pardon  for  omitting  due  time  of  the 
death  of  reverend  Dr.  Nicholas  Felton,  bishop  of  Ely,  as  buried 
before,  though  dying  some  days  after,  bishop  Andrews  ;  and,  indeed, 
great  was  t]\e  conformity  betwixt  them  :  Both  being  sons  of  seafaring 
men,*  who,  by  God's  blessing  on  their  industry,  attained  comfortable 
estates  ;  both  Scholars,  Fellows,  and  Masters  of  Pembroke  Hall ; 
both  great  scholars,  painful  preachers  in  London  for  many  years, 
with  no  less  profit  to  others  than  credit  to  themselves  ;  both  succes- 
sively bishops  of  Ely.  This  bishop  Felton  had  a  sound  head  and  a 
sanctified  heart,  beloved  of  God,  and  all  good  men,  very  hospitable 
to  all,  and  charitable  to  the  poor.  He  died,  October  5th,  1626,  and 
lieth  buried  under  the  communion-table  in  St.  Antholin's  in  London  ; 
whereof  he  had  been  minister  for  twenty-eight  years  :-|-  one  (whilst  a 
private  man)  happy  in  his  curates,  (whereof  two.  Dr.  Bowles  and 
Dr.  Westfield,  afterwards  became  bishops,)  and  (when  a  bishop)  no 
less  happy  in  his  learned  and  religious  chaplains. 


SECTION  IL 

TO  JOHN  GARY,  OF  STANSTED  IN  HERTFORDSHIRE, 

ESQUIRE. 

Rare  is  your  happiness  in  leaving  the  court,  before 
it  left  you  ;  not  in  deserting  your  attendance  on  your 

•  Bishop  Andrews  in  London,  and  Felton  in  Yarmouth.  j  Attested  nnto  me  by 

.John  Norgate,  his  son-in-law. 


360  CHURCH    HISTORY    OF    BRITAIN.  AD.  1629. 

master,  of  whom  none  more  constantly  observant ;  but 
in  quitting  such  vanities  which  the  court  then  in  power 
did  tender,  and  you,  then  in  prime,  might  have 
accepted  :  whilst  you  seasonably  retrenched  yourself, 
and  reduced  your  soul  to  a  holy  seriousness,  declining 
such  expensive  recreations,  (on  principles  of  piety  as 
well  as  providence,)  wherewith  your  youth  was  so 
much  affected. 

And  now,  sir,  seeing  you  are  so  judicious  in  racing, 
give  me  leave  to  prosecute  the  apostle's  metaphor,  in 
applying  my  best  wishes  to  you  and  to  your  worthy  lady, 
which  hath  repaired  the  losses  caused  by  loyalty,  so 
that  you  have  found  in  a  virtuous  mate  what  you  have 
lost  for  a  gracious  master. 

Heaven  is  your  mark,  Christ  your  way  thither,  the 
Word  the  way  to  Christ,  God's  Spirit  the  guide  to 
both.  When  in  this  race  impatience  shall  make  you 
to  tire,  or  ignorance  to  stray,  or  idleness  or  weakness 
to  stumble,  or  wilfulness  to  fall ;  may  repentance  raise 
you,  faith  quicken  you,  patience  strengthen  you,  till 
perseverance  bring  you  both  to  the  mark. 

1.  The  Birth  and  Death  of  Prince  Charles.  A.  D,  1629- 
Queen  Mary,  surprised  widi  some  fright,  (as  is  generally 
believed,)  antedated  the  time  of  her  travail  by  some  weeks,  and 
on  Wednesday,  May  loth,  was  delivered  of  a  son.  But  a  greater 
acceleration  was  endeavoured  in  his  baptism,  than  what  happened  at 
his  birth,  such  the  forwardness  of  the  popish  priests  to  snatch  him  from 
the  hands  of  those  as  dressed  him,  had  not  the  care  of  king  Charles 
prevented  them,  assigning  Dr.  Web  (then  waiting  his  month)  to 
christen  him.  He  died  about  an  hour  after  ;  the  king  very  patiently 
bearing  the  loss,  as  receiving  the  first-fruits  of  some  of  his  sub- 
jects' estates,  and  as  willingly  paying  those  of  his  own  body  to  the 
King  of  heaven. 

2.  Oxford  Muses. 
The  university  of  Oxford  (Cambridge  being  then  heavily  infected 
with  the  plague)  at  once  in  their  verses  congratulated  the  safe  birtli, 
and  condoled  the  short  life,  of  this  prince  ;  and  a  tetrastich,  made 
by  one  of  Christ  Church,  (thus  in  making  his  address  to  the  queen,) 
1  must  not  omit : — 


5  CHARLES  I.  BOOK    XI.       CENT.    XVII.  361 

Qitod  Lucina  tuos  semel  est  frustrata  labores, 

Nee  fort  unantes  prabuit  ilia  manus, 
Ignoscas,  regina  :  uno  inolimine  ventris, 

Non  potuit  princeps  ad  tria  regna  dari. 

This  prince  the  next  day  after  was  buried  by  bishop  Laud  in  the 
chapel  at  Westminster. 

3.  Dr.  Leighton^s  railing  Book. 

During  the  sitting  of  the  last  Parliament,  one  Leighton,  a 
Scottish  man,  presented  a  book  unto  them,  May  14th:  had  he  been 
an  Englishman,  we  durst  call  him  a  furious,  and  now  will  term  him  a 
fiery  (whence  kindled  let  others  guess)  writer.  His  book  consisted 
of  a  continued  railing,  from  the  beginning  to  the  end ;  exciting  the 
Parliament  and  people  to  kill  all  the  bishops,  and  to  smite  them 
under  the  fifth  rib.  He  bitterly  inveighed  against  the  queen,  call- 
ing her  "  a  daughter  of  Heth,  a  Canaanite  and  idolatress,""  and 
"  Zion's  Plea'"  was  the  specious  title  of  his  pamphlet ;  for  which 
he  was  sentenced  in  the  Star-chamber  to  be  whipped  and  stigmatized, 
to  have  his  ears  cropped  and  nose  slit.  But  betwixt  the  pro- 
nouncing and  inflicting  thi^  censure,  he  makes  his  escape  into 
Bedfordshire. 

4.  Recovered  (after  his  Escape)  and  severely  punished. 

The  Warden  of  the  Fleet  was  in  a  bushel  of  troubles  about  his 
escape,  though  alleging  that  some  helped  him  over  the  wall,  and  that 
he  himself  knew  nothing  thereof  till  the  noon  after.  But  no  plea 
seemed  available  for  one  in  his  place  but  either  the  keeping  or 
recovering  of  his  prisoner ;  unfortunate  in  the  former,  he  was  happy 
in  the  latter,  and  brought  him  back  into  his  custody ;  so  that  the 
aforesaid  censure  was  inflicted  on  him.  It  is  remarkable,  that 
amongst  the  many  accusations  charged  on  archbishop  Laud  at  his 
trial,  the  severity  on  Leighton  is  not  at  all  mentioned,  chiefly 
because  (though  he  might  be  suspected  active  therein)  his  faults 
were  of  so  high  a  nature  none  then  or  since  dare  appear  in  his 
defence.  The  papists  boast  that  they  have  beyond  the  seas,  with 
them,  his  son,  of  another  persuasion. 

5,  6.  Feoffees  to  buy-in  Impropriations  begin  and  proceed  hope- 
fully. 
Some  three  years  since,  certain  feoflfees  were  (though  not  incor- 
porated by  the  king's  letters  patent,  or  any  Act  of  Parliament) 
legally  settled  in  trust  to  purchase-in  impropriations  with  their  own 
and  other  well-disposed  persons"  money  ;  and  with  their  profit  to  set 


362  CHURCH  HISTORY  OF  BRITAIN.  A.D.  1629. 

up  and  maintain  a  constant  preaching  ministry  in  places  of  greatest 
need,  where  the  word  was  most  wanting.  These  consisted  of  a 
number  neither  too  few  as  the  work  should  burden  them,  nor  so 
many  as  might  be  a  burden  to  the  work  ;  twelve  in  all,  diversely 
qualified  : — 

1.  William  Gouge,  D.D.  2.  Richard  Sibbs,  D.D.  3.  C. 
Offspring.  4.  J.  Davenport.  5,  6.  Ralph  Eyre  and  S.  Brown,  of 
Lincoln's  Inn.  7.  C.  Sherland,  of  Gray's  Inn,  Middle  Temple. 
8.  John  White,  of  Gray's  Inn,  Middle  Temple.  9.  John  Geering, 
10.  Richard  Davis,  11.  George  Harwood,  12.  Francis  Bridges, 
Citizens. 

Here  were  four  divines  to  persuade  men's  consciences,  four  lawyers 
to  draw  all  conveyances,  and  four  citizens  who  commanded  rich 
coffers  ;  wanting  nothing,  save  (what  since  doth  all  things)  some 
swordsmen  to  defend  all  the  rest.  Beside  these  the  cape-merchants, 
as  I  may  term  them,  there  were  other  inferior  factors,  Mr.  Foxley, 
&c.  who  were  employed  by  appointment,  or  of  ofBciousness  employed 
themselves  in  this  design. 

It  is  incredible  what  large  sums  were  advanced  in  a  short  time 
towards  so  laudable  an  employment.  There  are,  indeed,  in  England 
of  parish-churches,  nine  thousand  two  hundred  eighty-four,  endowed 
■with  glebe  and  tithes.  But  of  these,  when  these  feoffees  entered  on 
their  work  three  thousand  eight  hundred  forty-five  were  either 
appropriated  to  bishops,  cathedrals,  and  colleges,  or  impropriated  (as 
lay  fees)  to  private  persons,  as  formerly  belonging  to  abbeys.  The 
redeeming  and  restoring  of  the  latter  was  these  feoffees'  design  ;  and 
it  was  verily  believed,  if  not  obstructed  in  their  endeavours,  within 
fifty  years  rather  purchases  than  money  would  have  been  wanting 
unto  them,  buying  them  generally  (as  candle-rents)  at  or  under 
twelve  years'  valuation.  My  pen,  passing  by  them  at  the  present, 
may  safely  salute  them  with  a  "  God  speed,"  as  neither  seeing  nor 
suspecting  any  danger  in  the  design. 

7-  The  Bishop  of  ChalcedorCs  Episcopixing  in  England. 
Richard  Smith,  titulary  bishop  of  Chalcedon  taking  his  honour 
from  Greece,  his  profit  from  England,  (where  he  bishoped  it  over 
all  the  Romish  catholics,)  was  now  very  busy  in  his  employment. 
-  But  when,  where,  and  how  oft  he  acted  here,  is  past  our  discovery, 
it  being  never  known  when  men  of  his  profession  come  hither  till 
they  be  caught  here.  Now,  if  any  demand  why  the  pope  did  not 
entitle  him  to  some  English  rather  than  this  Grecian  bishopric,  (the 
grant  of  both  being  but  of  the  same  price  of  his  Holiness's  breath, 
and  the  confirmation  equally  cheap  in  wax  and  parchment,)  especially 
seeing  that  in  Ireland  he  had  made  anti-bishops  to  all  sees';  it  is 


5  CHARLES  I.  BOOK    XT.       CENT.    XVII.  863 

easy  for  one  (though  none  of  his  conclave)  to  conjecture.  For  in 
Ireland  he  had  in  every  diocess  and  parish  a  counter-part  of  people 
for  number  and  quality  ;  Avhich  he  had  not  in  England  ;  and  there- 
fore, to  entitle  bishops  here,  had  but  rendered  it  the  more  ridiculous 
in  the  granter,  and  dangerous  in  the  accepter  thereof. 

8—11.  Opposed  hy  Nicholas  Smith,  alleging  a  Bishop  over 
English  Catholics,  useless  in  Persecution,  and  burdensome ; 
and  this  Bishop  no  Ordinary. 

Nicholas  Smith,  a  Regular,  (and  perchance  a  Jesuit,)  much 
stomached  the  advancement  and  activity  of  Richard  Smith,  bishop 
of  Chalcedon,  and  wrote  bitterly  against  him  ;  the  hammer  of  one 
Smith  clashing  against  another.  He  fell  foul  also  on  Dr.  Kellison, 
president  of  the  College  of  Douay,  who  lately  set  forth  "  a  Treatise 
of  the  Dignity  and  Necessity  of  Bishops  and  Secular  Clergy  ;  " 
generally  opposing  his  doctrine,  and  particularly  in  relation  to  the 
English  bishops,  instancing  in  the  following  exceptions  : — 

First.  A  bishop  over  the  English  was  useless,  and  might  well 
be  spared  in  times  of  persecution  ;  there  being  but  two  peculiar  per- 
formances of  a  bishop  ;  namely,  Ordination  and  Confirmation.  For 
the  former  ;  it  might  be  supplied  by  foreign  bishops  ;  the  priests  of  our 
English  nation  being  generally  bred  beyond  the  seas.  As  for 
confirmation  of  the  children  of  English  catholics,  he  much  decried 
the  necessity  thereof,  though  not  so  far  as  to  un-seven  the  sacraments 
of  the  church  of  Rome  ;  affirming  it  out  of  St.  Thomas  of  Aquin,* 
and  other  divines,  that,  by  commission  from  the  pope,  a  priest,  though 
no  bishop,  might  confirm.  To  this  Dr.  Kellison's  scholar,  or  himself 
under  the  vizard,  replied,  that,  in  the  definition  of  St.  Cyprian,  "  a 
church  was  a  people  united  to  its  bishop,''  and  therefore  an  absolute 
necessity  of  that  function. 

Secondly.  He  was  burdensome  to  the  church,  considering  the 
present  pressures  of  poor  English  catholics,  needing  now  no  unneces- 
sary expenses  for  the  maintenance  of  the  bishop  and  his  agents.  To 
this  it  was  answered,  that  Mr.  Nicholas  Smith,  and  his  brethren, 
Regulars,  daily  put  the  catholics  to  far  greater  charges,  as  appeareth 
by  the  stately  houses,  purchases,  &c.-f-  Indeed,  generally,  the  little 
finger  of  a  Jesuit  was  conceived,  in  his  entertainment,  heavier  than 
the  loins  of  a  Secular.  Mean  time,  in  what  care  were  our  English 
lay  catholics,  with  Issachar,  couching  down  between  two  burdens. 
Gen.  xlix.  14,  bearing  the  weight  of  both  Regulars  and  Seculars  ? 
But  who  need  pity  them  who  will  not  pity  themselves  ? 

*    Tertia  Pars,  Q.  Ixxix.   art.  21,  ad.   1.  t  "Reply  to  Mr.  N.  Smith," 

page  294. 


364  CHURCH    HISTORY    OF    BRITAIN.  A.D.  16?iO. 

Thirdly.  He  took  exceptions  at  the  person  of  this  bishop  of 
Chalcedon,  as  not  lawfully  called  in  canonical  criticism.  First. 
Because  not  estated  in  his  episcopal  inspection  over  England,  during 
his  life,  as  a  bishop  ought  to  be,  but  only  constituted  ad  beneplaci- 
turn  papw^  "  at  the  pleasure  of  the  pope,"  which  restriction  destroyeth 
his  being  a  lawful  ordinary.  Secondly.  He  carpeth  at  him  as  made 
by  delegation  and  commissson,  and  therefore  a  delegate,  not  an 
ordinary.  To  which  the  other  replied,  that  even  legates  have  that 
clause  in  their  commission,  limited  to  the  pope"'s  pleasure,  and  yet 
no  catholic  will  question  them  to  be  lawful  ordinaries.  As  to  the 
second  exception,  the  same  (saith  he)  doth  not  destroy  his  ordinary- 
ship,  but  only  showeth  he  was  made  an  ordinary,  in  an  extraordinary 
manner :  which  distinction  how  far  it  will  hold  good  in  the  canon 
law,  let  those  inquire  who  are  concerned  therein. 

12.  Regulars'  Pride  and  Proposition  condemned. 
Notwithstanding  Dr.  Kellison's  confutation,  the  insolency  of  the 
Regulars  daily  increased  in  England,  so  that  they  themselves  may 
seem  the  most  Seculars ;  so  fixed  were  they  to  the  wealth  and  vanity 
of  this  world.  The  Irish  Regulars  exceeded  the  English  in  pride, 
maintaining,  amongst  other  printed  propositions,  that  the  Superiors 
of  Regulars  are  more  worthy  than  bishops  themselves  ;  because  the 
honour  of  the  pastor  is  to  be  measured  from  the  condition  of  the 
flock ;  quemadmodum  opilio  dignior  est  suhulco^  "  as  a  shepherd  is 
of  more  esteem  than  a  hogherd."  In  application  of  the  first  to 
themselves,  the  last  to  the  Seculars,  it  is  hard  to  say  whether  their 
pride  was  more  in  their  own  praise,  or  charity  less  in  condemning  of 
others.  It  was  therefore  high  time  for  the  doctors  of  the  Sorbonne 
in  Paris,  who  for  many  ages  have  maintained  in  their  coll  ege  the 
hereditary  reputation  of  learning,  to  take  these  Regulars  to  task. 
January  15th,  sixty  of  the  Sorbonne  doctors  censured  the  aforesaid 
proposition  ;  and,  January  30th,  the  archbishop  of  Paris  condemned 
the  book  of  Nicholas  Smith,  as  also  another  tending  to  the  same 
subject,  made  by  one  Daniel,  a  Jesuit. 

13.  Query^  Whether  now  reconciled  ? 
On  what  terms  the  Regulars  and  Seculars  stand  in  England 
at  this  day,  I  neither  know  nor  list  to  inquire.  Probably  they 
have  learned  wit  from  our  woes  ;  and  our  late  sad  differences 
have  occasioned  their  reconcilement.  Only  I  learn  this  distinc- 
tion from  them  :  "  The  catholics  as  catholics  agree  always  in  matters 
of  faith ;  but  the  best  catholics  as  men  may  vary  in  their  opinions.""* 

•  "  Reply  to  Mr.  N.  Smith,"  preface,  page  20. 


6  CHARLES  I.  BOOK    XI.       CENT.    XVII.  365 

I  hope  they  will  allow  to  us,  what  liberty  they  assume  to  them- 
selves. 

14,  15.  Bishop  Davenanfs  Sermon  at   Court ;  for  which   he 
is  convented  before  the  Council.     A.  D,  1630. 

Dr.  John  Davenant,  bishop  of  Salisbury,  preached  his  course  on  a 
Sunday  in  Lent  at  Whitehall  before  the  king  and  court,  finishing  a 
text  on  Rom.  vi.  23;  the  former  part  whereof  he  had  handled  the 
year  before.  In  prosecution  whereof,  it  seems,  he  was  conceived  to 
fall  on  some  forbidden  points  ;  insomuch  that  his  majesty  (whether 
at  first  by  his  ov/n  inclination,  or  others'*  instigation,  is  uncertain) 
manifested  much  displeasure  thereat.  Sennon  ending,  his  adver- 
saries at  court  hoped  hereby  to  make  him  fall  totally  and  finally^ 
from  the  king's  favour,  though  missing  their  mark  therein  ;  as,  in 
fine,  it  did  appear. 

Two  days  after  he  was  called  before  the  Privy  Council ;  where  he 
presented  himself  on  his  knees  ;  and  so  had  still  continued  for  any 
favour  he  found  from  any  of  his  own  function  there  present.  But 
the  temporal  lords  bad  him  arise  and  stand  to  his  own  defence,  being 
as  yet  only  accused,  not  convicted.  Dr.  Harsnet,  archbishop  of 
York,  managed  all  the  business  against  him,  (bishop  Laud,  walking 
by  all  the  while  in  silence,  spake  not  one  word,)  making  a  long 
oration,  uttered  with  much  vehemency  to  this  effect : — 

First.  He  magnified  king  James's  bounty  unto  him,  who,  from  a 
private  master  of  a  college  in  Cambridge,  without  any  other  imme- 
diate preferment,  advanced  him  by  an  unusual  rise  to  the  great  and 
rich  bishopric  of  Salisbury. 

Secondly.  He  extolled  the  piety  and  prudence  of  king  Charles  in 
setting  forth  lately  an  useful  Declaration,  wherein  he  had  com- 
manded that  many  intricate  questions,  tending  more  to  distraction 
than  edification  of  people,  should  utterly  be  forborne  in  preaching, 
and  which  had  already  produced  much  peace  in  the  church. 

Thirdly.  He  aggravated  the  heinousness  of  the  bishop's  offence, 
•who  so  ill  requited  his  majesty's  favour  unto  him  as  to  offer,  in  his 
own  presence,  in  so  great  an  auditory,  to  break  his  Declaration, 
inviting  others  by  his  example  to  do  the  like. 

Fourthly.  That  "  high  contempt"  was  the  lowest  term  could  be 
given  to  such  an  offence,  seeing  ignorance  could  in  no  probability 
be  pretended  in  a  person  of  his  reputed  learning  and  eminent 
profession. 

What  the  other  answered  hereunto  will  best  appear  by  his  own 
letter  written  to  his  worthy  friend  Dr.  Ward,  giving  him  an  exact 
account  of  all  proceedings  herein  in  manner  as  followeth  : — 


366  CHURCH    HISTORY    OF    BRITAIN.  A.  D.  1630. 

16.  Bishop  Davenaiifs  Relation  of  the  tvhole  Matter  in  his 
Letter  to  Dr.  Ward. 
"  As  for  my  court-business,  tliougli  it  grieved  me  that  the  estab- 
lished doctrine  of  our  church  should  be  distasted,  yet  it  grieved  me 
the  less,  because  the  truth  of  what  T  delivered  was  acknowledged, 
even  by  those  which  thought  fit  to  have  me  questioned  for  the 
delivery  of  it.  Presently  after  my  sermon  was  ended,  it  was  signified 
unto  me  by  my  lord  of  York,  and  my  lord  of  Winchester,  and  my 
lord  Chamberlain,  that  his  majesty  was  much  displeased  that  I  had 
stirred  this  question  which  he  had  forbidden  to  be  meddled  withal, 
one  way  or  other.  My  answer  was,  that  I  had  delivered  nothing 
but  the  received  doctrine  of  our  church  established  in  the  seven- 
teenth Article,  and  tliat  I  was  ready  to  justify  the  truth  of  what  I 
had  then  taught.  Their  answer  was,  the  doctrine  was  not  gainsaid  ; 
but  his  Highness  had  given  commands,  these  question  should  not 
be  debated  ;  and  therefore  he  took  it  more  offensively  that  any 
should  be  so  bold  as  in  his  own  hearing  to  break  his  royal  commands. 
And  here  my  lord  of  York  aggravated  the  offence,  from  many  other 
circumstances.  My  reply  was  only  this,  that  I  never  understood 
that  his  majesty  had  forbid  a  handling  of  any  doctrine  comprised  in 
the  Articles  of  our  church,  but  only  raising  of  new  questions,  or 
adding  of  new  sense  thereunto,  which  I  had  not  done,  nor  ever 
should  do.  This  was  all  that  passed  betwixt  us  on  Sunday  night 
after  my  sermon.  The  matter  thus  rested  ;  and  I  heard  no  more 
of  it,  till,  coming  unto  the  Tuesday  sermon,  one  of  the  clerks  of 
the  council  told  me,  that  I  was  to  attend  at  the  Council-table  the 
next  day  at  two  of  the  clock.  I  told  him  I  would  wait  upon  their 
lordships  at  the  hour  appointed.  When  I  came  thither,  my  lord  of 
York  made  a  speech  well  nigh  half  an  hour  long,  aggravating  the 
boldness  of  mine  offence,  and  showing  many  inconveniences  that  it 
was  likely  to  draw  after  it.  And  he  much  insisted  upon  this,  what 
good  effect  his  majesty's  Declaration  had  wrought,  how  these  con- 
troversies had  ever  since  been  buried  in  silence,  no  man  meddling 
with  them  one  w-ay  or  other.  When  his  Grace  had  finished  his 
speech,  I  desired  the  lords,  that,  since  I  was  called  thither  as  an 
offender,  I  might  not  be  put  to  answer  a  long  speech  upon  the 
sudden,  but  that  my  lord's  Grace  would  be  pleased  to  charge  me 
point  by  point,  and  so  to  receive  my  answer ;  for  I  did  not  yet 
understand  wherein  I  had  broken  any  commandment  of  his  majesty's, 
which  my  lord  in  his  whole  discourse  took  for  granted.  Having 
made  this  motion,  I  gave  no  further  answer,  and  all  the  lords  were 
silent  for  a  while.  At  length  my  lord's  Grace  said,  I  knew  well 
enough  the  point  which  was  urged  against  me  ;  namely,  the  breach 
of  the  king's  Declaration.     Then  I  stood  upon  this  defence,    that 


G  CHARLES  I.  BOOK    XT.       CENT.    XVII.  36? 

tlie  doctrine  of  predestination  which  I  taught  was  not  forbidden  by 
the  Declaration.  First.  Because  in  the  Declaration  all  the  Articles 
are  established  ;  amongst  which,  the  Article  of  predestination  is 
one.  Secondly.  Because  all  ministers  are  urged  to  subscribe  unto 
the  truth  of  the  Article,  and  all  subjects  to  continue  in  the  pro- 
fession of  that  as  well  as  of  the  rest.  Upon  these  and  such  like 
grounds  I  gathered,  it  could  not  be  esteemed  amongst  forbidden, 
curious,  or  needless  doctrines;  and  here  I  desired  that  out  of  any 
clause  in  the  Declaration  it  might  be  showed  me,  that,  keeping 
myself  within  the  bounds  of  the  Article,  1  had  transgressed  his 
majesty's  command.  But  the  Declaration  was  not  produced,  nor 
any  particular  words  in  it ;  only  this  was  urged  that  the  king's  will 
was,  that,  for  the  peace  of  the  church,  these  high  questions  should  be 
forborne.  My  answer  then  was,  that  I  was  sorry  I  understood  not  his 
majesty's  intention  ;  which  if  I  had  done  before,  I  should  have 
made  choice  of  some  other  matter  to  entreat  of,  which  might  have 
given  none  offence ;  and  that,  for  the  time  to  come,  I  should  con- 
form myself  as  readily  as  any  other  to  his  majesty's  command. 
The  earl  of  Arundel  seemed  to  approve  of  this  my  answer ;  and 
withal  advised  me  to  proceed  no  further  in  my  defence.  This  is  in 
substance  all  which  was  done  or  said  in  this  matter,  and  so  I  was 
dismissed.  The  lords  said  nothing  either  in  approbation  of  what  I 
had  alleged,  to  show  that  I  had  not  w^ittingly  broken  the  king's 
known  command,  or  in  confirmation  of  the  contrary,  urged  against 
me  by  my  lord's  Grace.  At  my  departure  I  entreated  their  lord- 
ships to  let  his  majesty  understand,  that  I  had  not  boldly  or  wilfully 
and  wittingly,  against  his  Declaration,  meddled  with  the  fore-named 
point;  and  that  now  understanding  fully  his  majesty's  mind  and 
intention,  I  should  humbly  yield  obedience  thereunto.  This  busi- 
ness thus  ended,  I  went  the  next  day  to  my  lord  Chamberlain, 
and  intreated  him  to  do  me  the  favour,  that  I  might  be  brought 
to  kiss  the  king's  hand  before  I  went  out  of  town  ;  which  his  lord- 
ship most  readily  promised  and  performed.  When  I  came  in,  his 
majesty  declared  his  resolution,  that  he  would  not  have  this  high 
point  meddled  withal  or  debated,  either  the  one  way  or  the  other, 
because  it  was  too  high  for  the  people's  understanding;  and  other 
points,  which  concern  reformation  and  newness  of  life,  were  more 
needful  and  profitable.  I  promised  obedience  herein  ;  and  so,  kiss- 
ing his  majesty's  hand,  departed.  I  thought  fit  to  acquaint  you  wdth 
the  whole  carriage  of  this  business,  because  I  am  afraid  many  false 
reports  will  be  made  of  it,  and  contrary  one  to  another,  as  men 
stand  contrarily  affected.  I  showed  no  letter  or  instructions,  neither 
have  any  but  these  general  instructions,  which  king  James  gave  us 
at  our  going  to  Dort,  w^hich  make  little  or  nothing  to  this  business. 


S6S  CHURCH    HISTORY    OF    BRITAIN.  A.D.  1631. 

l-sought  amongst  my  papers,  but  could  not  find  them  on  the  sudden, 
and  I  suppose  you  have  them  already.  As  for  my  sermon,  the  brief 
heads  were  these  :  '  Eternal  life  is  the  gift  of  God,  through  Jesus 
Christ  our  Lord,'  Rom.  vi.  23.  As  in  the  former  part,  I  had  spoken 
of  the  threefold  misery  of  the  wicked  ;  so  here  I  expounded  the 
threefold  happiness  of  the  godly  to  be  considered : — 1.  Happy  in 
the  Lord  whom  they  serve  :  God  or  Christ  Jesus.  2.  Happy  in  the 
reward  of  their  service  :  Eternal  life.  3.  Happy  in  the  manner 
of  their  reward  :    y^(xpKT[/.ot^  or  gratuitum  donum  in  Christo. 

"  The  two  former  points  were  not  excepted  against.  In  the  third 
and  last  I  considered  eternal  life  in  three  divers  instances  :  (1.)  In 
the  eternal  destination  thereunto  which  we  call  '  election."*  (2.)  In 
our  conversion,  regeneration,  or  justification,  which  I  termed  '  the 
embryo  of  eternal  life,"*  John  iv.  14 ;  and,  last  of  all,  in  our  coro- 
nation, when  full  possession  of  eternal  life  is  given  us.  In  all  these 
I  showed  it  to  be  ^(^apicr/jta,  or  '  the  free  gift  of  God,""  through  Christ, 
and  not  procured  or  premerited  by  any  special  acts  depending  upon 
the  free-will  of  men.  The  last  point,  wherein  I  opposed  the  popish 
doctrine  of  merit,  was  not  disliked.  The  second,  wherein  I  showed 
the  effectual  vocation  or  regeneration  (whereby  we  have  eternal  life 
inchoated  and  begun  in  us)  is  a  free  gift,  was  not  expressly  taxed. 
Only  the  first  was  it  which  bred  the  offence  ;  not  in  regard  of  the 
doctrine  itself,  but  because,  as  my  lord''s  Grace  said,  the  king  had 
prohibited  the  debating  thereof.  And  thus,  having  let  you  under- 
stand the  carriage  of  this  business,  I  commit  you  to  the  protection 
of  the  Almighty.'' 

17.  The  Death  of  Bishop  Dove. 
This  year  Thomas  Dove,  bishop  of  Peterborough,  ended  his  life. 
He  was  bred  in  Pembroke  Hall,  in  Cambridge,  chosen  Tanquam 
therein,  which  it  seems  is  a  Fellow  in  all  things  save  the  name 
thereof;  afterwards  chaplain  to  queen  Elizabeth,  who  made  him 
dean  of  Norwich,  being  much  affected  with  his  preaching,  as  wontr 
to  say,  that  "  the  Holy  Ghost  was  again  come  down  in  the  Dove."  * 
He  was  a  constant  housekeeper  and  reliever  of  the  poor  ;  so  that 
such  who  in  his  life-time  condemned  him  for  covetousness,  have 
since  justly  praised  his  liospitality.  Now,  though  doves  are  gene- 
rally said  to  want  gall,  yet  the  nonconformists  in  his  diocess  will 
complain  of  his  severity  in  asserting  ecclesiastical  discipline,  when 
he  silenced  five  of  them  in  one  morning, — on  the  same  token  that 
king  James  is  said  to  say,  it  might  have  served  for  five  years.  He 
was  an  aged  man,  being  the  only  queen  Elizabeth's  bishop  of  that 

•  Godwin  in  the  Bishops  of  Peterborough  ;  and  Sir  John  Harrington  in  Lis  Con- 
tinuation. 


7  CHARLES  T.  BOOK    XT.       CENT.    XVII.  369 

province,  which  died  in  the  reign  of  king  Charles,  living  in  a  poor 
bishopric,  and  leaving  a  plentiful  estate ;  to  show  that  it  is  not  the 
moisture  of  the  place,  but  the  long  lying  of  the  stone,  which 
gatliereth  the  great  moss  therein.  In  a  word :  had  he  been  more 
careful  in  conferring  of  Orders  (too  commonly  bestowed  by  him) 
few  of  his  Order  had  exceeded  him  for  the  unblamableness  of  his 
behaviour. 

18 — 21.  Troubles  begin  in  Oxford.  An  Appeal  from  the  Vice- 
Chancellor  to  the  Proctors^  severely  punished.)  and  ill- 
resented.     A.D.  1631. 

Now  began  great  discontents  to  gTOW  up  in  the  university  of  Oxford 
on  this  occasion  :  Many  conceived  that  innovations  (defended  by 
others  for  renovations,  and  now  only  reduced,  as  used  in  the  primi- 
tive times)  were  multiplied  in  Divine  service.  Offended  whereat, 
they  in  their  sermons  brake  out  into  (what  was  interpreted)  bitter 
invectives.  Yea,  their  very  texts  gave  some  offence,  one  preaching 
on  Numbers  xiv.  4 :  "  Let  us  make  us  a  captain,  and  let  us  return 
into  E.o^ypt."  Another,  on  1  Kings  xiii.  2  :  "  And  he  cried  against 
the  altar  in  the  word  of  the  Lord,  and  said,  O  altar,  altar!'"*  &c.  In 
prosecution  whereof  they  had  not  only  tart  reflection  on  some 
eminent  persons  in  the  church,  but  also  were  apprehended  to  violate 
the  king's  Declaration  for  the  sopiting  of  all  Arminian  controversies. 

Dr.  Smith,  warden  of  Wadham,  convented  the  principal  persons, 
(namely,  Mr.  Thorn  of  Balliol  College,  and  Mr.  Ford  of  Magdalen 
Hall,)  as  offenders  against  the  king's  Instructions,  and  ordered  them 
to  bring  in  the  copies  of  their  sermons.  They,  suspecting  partiality 
in  the  vice-chancellor,  appealed  from  him  to  the  proctors,  two  men 
of  eminent  integrity  and  ability,  Mr.  Atherton  Bruch,  and  Mr. 
John  Doughty,  who  received  their  appeal,  presuming  the  same  jus- 
tifiable by  the  statutes  of  the  university.  But,  it  seems,  the  proctors 
were  better  scholars  than  lawyers  ;  except  any  will  say  both  law  and 
learning  must  submit,  when  power  is  pleased  to  interpose. 

Archbishop  Laud  did  not  like  these  retrograde  appeals  ;  but,  sen- 
sible that  his  own  strength  moved  rather  ascendendo  than  descendendo.^ 
procured  the  cause  to  be  heard  before  the  king  at  Woodstock,  where 
it  was  so  ordered,  that,  1.  The  preachers  complained  of  were 
expelled  the  university.  2.  The  proctors  were  deprived  of  their 
places  for  accepting  their  appeal.  3.  Dr.  Prideaux  and  Dr.  Wilkin- 
son were  shrewdly  checked  for  engaging  in  their  behalf.  The  former 
of  these  two  doctors,  ingenuously  confessing  to  the  king.  Nemo  mor- 
talium  omnibus  horis  sapit.,  wrought  more  on  his  majesty's  affections, 
than  if  he  had  harangued  it  with  a  long  oration  in  his  own  defence. 

The  expulsion  of  these  preachers  expelled  not  but  increased  the 

Vol.  III.  .    B  B 


370  CHURCH    HISTORY    OF    BRITAIN.  A.  D.  1632. 

differences  in  Oxford,  which  burned  the  more  for  blazing  the  less ; 
many  complaining  that  the  sword  of  justice  did  not  cut  indifferently 
on  both  sides,  but  that  it  was  more  penal  for  some  to  touch — than 
others  to  break — the  king's  Declaration. 

22 — 24.   The  Death   of  Mr.    Hildersham ;    often   silenced  and 
restored.     His  long  and  assiduous  Preaching. 

This  year  ended  the  days  of  Mr.  Arthur  Hildersham,  born  at 
Stechworth  in  the  county,  bred  in  Christ  College  in  the  university,  of 
Cambridge  ;  whose  education  was  an  experimental  comment  on  the 
Avords  of  David,  "  When  my  father  and  mother  forsake  me,  then 
the  Lord  taketh  me  up."  Psalm  xxvii.  10. 

My  father — Thomas  Hildersham,  a  gentleman  of  an  ancient 
family. 

And  mother — Anne  Pole,  daughter  to  Sir  Geoffrey,  niece  to 
cardinal  Pole,  grandchild  to  Sir  Richard  Pole  and  Margaret  coun- 
tess of  Salisbury,  who  was  daughter  to  George  duke  of  Clarence. 

Forsake  me — Quite  casting  him  off,  because  he  would  not  be 
bred  a  papist,  and  go  to  Rome. 

Then — An  emphatical  monosyllable,  "just  in  that  nick  of  time." 

The  Lord  taketh  me  up — Not  immediately,  (miracles  being 
ceased,)  but  in  and  by  the  hands  of  Henry  earl  of  Huntingdon,  (his 
honourable  kinsman,)  providing  plentiful  maintenance  for  him. 

However,  after  he  was  entered  in  the  ministry,  he  met  with  many 
molestations,  as  hereby  doth  appear. 

Silenced,  1.  By  the  High  Commission,  1590,  in  June.  2.  By 
bishop  Chaderton,  1605,  April  24.  3.  By  bishop  Neile,  1611,  in 
November.     4.  By  the  court  at  Leicester,  16o0,  March  4. 

Restored,  1.  By  the  High  Commission,  1591,  in  January.  2.  By 
bishop  Barlow,  1608,  in  January.  3.  By  Dr.  Ridley,*  1625, 
June  20.     4.  By  the  same  court,  1631,  August  2. 

And  now  methinks  I  hear  the  Spirit  speaking  unto  him,  as  once 
to  the  prophet  Ezekiel,  xxiv.  27  :  "  Thou  shalt  speak,  and  be  no 
more  dumb,"  singing  now  with  the  celestial  choir  of  saints  and 
angels.  Indeed,  though  himself  a  nonconformist,  he  loved  all 
honest  men,  were  they  of  a  different  judgment,  minded  like  Luther 
herein,  who  gave  for  his  motto,  In  quo  aliquid  Christi  video,  ilium 
diligo. 

He  was  minister  of  Ashby-de-la-Zouch  forty  and  three  years. 
This  putteth  me  in  mind  of  Theodosius  and  of  Valentinian,  two 
worthy  Christian  emperors;  their  constitutions  making  those  Readers 
of  the  civil  law  "  Counts  of  the  first  Order,"  cum  ad  mginti  annos 
ohser'catione  jugi,  ac  sedulo  docendi  labore  pervenerint^-f   "when 

•  Vicar-general  to  archbishop  Abbot.  t  C.  Theod.  lib.  ri.  tit.  21. 


o  CHARLES   I.  BOOK    XT.       CENT.    XVII.  371 

with  daily  observation  and  diligent  labour  of  teaching,  they  shall 
aiTive  at  twenty  years.''  Surely,  the  readers  of  God's  law  which 
double  that  time  shall  not  lose  their  reward. 

25.  The  Death  of  Bolton. 
The  same  year  died  Robert  Bolton,  born  in  Lancashire,  bred  in 
Brasen-nose  College,  in  Oxford,  beneficed  at  Broughton  in  North- 
amptonshire; an  authoritative  preacher,  who  majestically  became  the 
pulpit,  and  whose  life  is  exactly  written  at  large,*  to  which  I  refer 
such  as  desire  farther  satisfaction.  And  here  may  the  reader  be 
pleased  to  take  notice,  that  henceforward  we  shall  on  just  grounds 
forbear  the  description  of  such  divines  as  yearly  deceased.  To  say 
nothing  of  them  save  the  dates  of  their  deaths,  will  add  little  to  the 
reader's  information  ;  to  say  much  in  praise  or  dispraise  of  them, 
(wherein  their  relations  are  so  nearly  concerned,)  may  add  too  much 
to  the  writer's  danger.  Except  therefore  they  be  persons  so  emi- 
nent for  their  learning,  or  active  for  their  lives,  as  their  omission 
may  make  a  maim  in  our  History,  we  shall  pass  them  over  in  silence 
hereafter. 

26 — 30.  Impropriation- Feoffees  questioned.  Their  first  Acciisa- 
tion^  and  Answer  thereunto.  A  second  Charge  against 
them.     They  are  overthrown.     A.D.  1632. 

Archbishop  Laud  began  to  look  with  a  jealous  eye  on  the  feoffees 
for  impropriations,  as  who  in  process  of  time  would  prove  a  thorn 
in  the  sides  of  episcopacy,  and  by  their  purchases  become  the  prime 
patrons,  for  number  and  greatness  of  benefices.  This  would 
multiply  their  dependents,  and  give  a  secret  growth  to  noncon- 
formity. Whereupon  by  the  archbishop's  procurement  a  bill  was 
exhibited  in  the  Exchequer  Chamber,  by  Mr.  Noy  the  Attorney 
General,  against  the  feoffees  aforesaid ;  and  that  great  lawyer 
endeavoured  to  overthrow  (as  one  termed  it)  their  apocrypha  incor- 
poration. 

It  was  charged  against  them,  First,  that  they  diverted  the  charity 
wherewith  they  were  intrusted,  to  other  uses,-|-  when  erecting  a 
lecture  every  morning  at  St,  Antholin^s  in  London.  What  was  this 
but  lighting  candles  to  the  sun,  London  being  already  the  land  of 
Goshen,  and  none  of  those  dark  and  far-distant  corners  where  souls 
were  ready  to  famish  for  lack  of  the  food  of  the  word  ?  What 
was  this  but  a  bold  breach  of  their  trust,  even  in  the  eye  of  the 
kingdom  ? 

They  answered,   that  London,   being  the  chief  staple  of  charity,, 

•  By  my  good  friend,  Mr.  Bagshaw.  t  Being  by  their  feoffment  to  erect  them 

where  preaching  was  wanting. 

2  B  2 


372  CHURCH    HISTORY    OF    BRITAIN.  A.D.  1633, 

and  the  place  where  the  principal  contributors  to  so  pious  a  -work 
did  reside,  it  was  but  fit  that  it  should  share  in  the  benefit  of  their 
bounty  ;  that  they  were  not  so  confined  to  the  uses  in  their  feoff- 
ment, but  that  in  their  choice  they  might  reflect  as  well  on  the 
eminency  as  necessity  of  the  place ;  that  they  expended  much  of 
their  own  (as  well  as  other  men''s)  money,  and  good  reason  they 
should  do  therewith  as  they  pleased. 

It  was  pressed  against  them,  that  they  generally  preferred  non- 
conformists to  the  lectures  of  their  erection.  To  this  it  was  answered, 
that  none  were  placed  therein  but  such  whose  sufficiency  and  con- 
formity were  first  examined  and  approved,  by  the  ordinary,  to  be  to 
such  a  degree  as  the  law  required.  Yea,  it  is  said  that  Mr.  White, 
one  of  the  feoflTees,  privately  proifered  bishop  Laud  at  his  house  in 
Fulham,  that  if  he  disliked  either  the  persons  who  managed — or 
order  which  they  took  in — this  work,  they  would  willingly  submit 
the  alteration  to  his  lordship's  discretion. 

In  conclusion,  the  Court  condemned  their  proceedings,  as  dan- 
gerous to  the  church  and  state,  pronouncing  the  gifts,  feoffments, 
and  contrivances  made  to  the  uses  aforesaid  to  be  illegal  ;  and  so 
dissolved  the  same,  confiscating  their  money  unto  the  king's  use. 
Their  criminal  part  was  referred  to,  but  never  prosecuted  in,  the 
Star-chamber  ;  because  the  design  was  generally  approved,  and  both 
discreet  and  devout  men  were  (as  desirous  of  the  regulation,  so) 
doleful  at  the  ruin  of  so  pious  a  project. 

31.   The  Death  of  Archbishop  Harsnet. 

Samuel  Harsnet  about  this  time  ended  his  life  ;  born  in  Colchester, 
bred  Scholar,  Fellow,  Master  of  Pembroke  Hall  in  Cambridge, 
afterwards  bishop  of  Chichester  and  Norwich,  archbishop  of  York, 
and  Privy  Counsellor.  He  was  a  zealous  asserter  of  ceremonies, 
using  to  complain  of  (the  first  I  believe  who  used  the  expression) 
conformable  Puritans,  who  practised  it  out  of  policy,  yet  dissented 
from  it  in  their  judgments.  He  lieth  buried  in  Chigwell  church 
in  Essex,  (where  he  built  a  school,)  with  this  epitaph,  Indignus 
ppiscopus  Cicestrensis,  indignior  Norvicensis^  S^-  indignissimns 
archi-episcopus  Eboracensis. 

32.  BradborrCs  erroneous  Opinion. 
Now  the  Sabbatarian  controversy  began  to  be  revived,  which  brake 
forth  into  a  long  and  hot  contention.  Theophilus  Bradborn,  a 
minister  of  Suffolk,  sounded  the  first  trumpet  to  this  fight,  who, 
some  five  years  since,  (namely,  anno  1628,)  set  forth  a  book,  dedi- 
cated to  his  majesty,  entitled,  "  A  Defence  of  the  most  ancient  and 
gacred  Ordinance  of  God,  the  Sabbath  Day-,  "  maintaining  therein, 


y  CHARLES  I.  BOOK    XI.       CENT.    XVII.  373 

1.  The  fourth  commandment  simply  and  entirely  moral.  2.  Chris- 
tians, as  well  as  Jews,  obliged  to  the  everlasting  observation  of  that 
day.  3.  That  the  Lord's  day  is  an  ordinary  working-day,  it  being 
will- worship  and  superstition  to  make  it  a  sabbath  by  virtue  of  the 
fourth  commandment.  But  whilst  Mr.  Bradborn  was  marching 
furiously,  and  crying  Victoria  to  himself,  he  fell  into  the  ambush  of 
the  High  Commission,  whosewell-tempered  severity  herein  so  prevailed 
upon  him,  that,  submitting  himself  to  a  private  conference,  and  per- 
ceiving the  unsoundness  of  his  own  principles,  he  became  a  convert, 
conforming  himself  quietly  to  the  church  of  England. 

33.  Sabbatarian  Controversies  revived.  A.  D.  1633. 
Francis  White,  bishop  (formerly  of  Norwich,  then)  of  Ely,  was 
employed  by  his  majesty,  to  confute  Mr.  Bradborn's  erroneous 
opinion.  In  the  writing  whereof,  some  expressions  fell  from  his 
pen,  whereat  many  strict  people  (but  far  enough  from  Bradborn's 
conceit)  took  great  distaste.  Hereupon  books  begat  books,  and 
controversies  on  this  subject  were  multiplied,  reducible  to  five  prin- 
cipal heads  : — 

1.  What  is  the  fittest  name  to  signify  the  day  set  apart  for  God's 
public  service  ? 

2.  When  that  day  is  to  begin  and  end  ? 

3.  Upon  what  authority  the  keeping  thereof  is  bottomed  ? 

4.  Whether  or  no  the  day  is  alterable  ? 

5.  Whether  any  recreations,  and  what  kinds  of  them,  be  lawful 
on  that  day  ? 

And  they  are  distinguishable  into  three  several  opinions  : — 
Sabbatarians. — 1.  Are  charged  to  affect  the  word  "sabbath'' 
as  a  shibboleth  in  their  writing,  preaching,  and  discoursing,  to  dis- 
tinguish the  true  Israelites  from  lisping  Ephraimites,  as  a  badge  of 
more  pretended  purity.  As  for  Sunday,  some  would  not  have  it 
mentioned  in  Christian  mouths,  as  resenting  of  Saxon  idolatry,  so 
called  from  and  dedicated  to  the  sun,  which  they  adored. 

2.  Some  make  the  sabbath  to  begin  on  Saturday  night,  ("  The 
evening  and  the  morning  were  the  first  day,")  and  others  on  the 
next  day  in  the  morning;  both  agreeing  on  the  extent  thereof  for 
four-and -twenty  hours. 

3.  They  found  it  partly  on  the  law  and  light  of  nature,  deriving 
some  countenances  for  the  septenary  number  out  of  heathen  authors  ; 
and  partly  on  the  fourth  commandment,  which  they  avouch  equally 
moral  with  the  rest. 

4.  The  church,  no,  not  ex  plenitudine  suw  potestatis,  mayor  can 
alter  the  same. 

5.  No  exercises  at  all  (walking  excepted,  with  which  strictness 


374  CHURCH    HISTORY    OF    BRITAIN.  A.  D.   1633. 

itself  cannot  be  offended)  are  lawfid  on  this  day.  Insomuch  as 
some  of  them  have  been  accused  of  turning  the  day  of  rest  into  the 
day  of  torture  and  self-maceration. 

Moderate  men. — 1.  Sabbath  (especially  if  "  Christian  **"  be  pre- 
mised) may  inoffensively  be  used,  as  importing  in  the  original  only 
"  a  rest.'"*  And  it  is  strange  that  some  who  have  a  dearness,  yea 
fondness,  for  some  words  of  Jewish  extraction  ("  altar,"  ''  temple,*" 
&c.)  should  have  such  an  antipathy  against  the  sabbath,  Sunday 
may  not  only  safely  be  used,  without  danger  of  Paganism,  but  with 
increase  of  piety,  if,  retaining  the  name,  we  alter  the  notion,  and 
there witli  the  notion  thereof,  because  on  that  day  "  the  Sun  of  Righ- 
teousness did  arise  with  healing  in  his  wings,""  Mai.  iv.  2.  But  the 
most  proper  name  is  '  the  Lord's  day;'  as  ancient,  used  in  the  apostles* 
time,  Rev.  i.  10  ;  and  most  expressive,  being  both  a  historian  and 
preacher.  For,  the  Lord's  day,  looking  backward,  mindeth  us  what 
the  Lord  did  for  us  thereon,  rising  from  the  dead :  and,  looking- 
for  ward,  it  monisheth  us  what  we  ought  to  do  for  him  on  the  same, 
^spending  it  to  his  glory,  in  the  proper  duties  thereof. 

2.  The  question  is  not  of  so  great  concernment.  For,  in  all  cir- 
cular motions,  it  matters  not  so  much  where  one  beginneth,  so  be  it 
he  continueth  the  same,  until  he  return  unto  that  point  again. 
Either  of  the  aforesaid  computations  of  the  day  may  be  embraced, 
Dlesque  quiesque  redihit  in  orbem. 

3.  In  the  Lord's  day  three  things  are  considerable  :  (1.)  A  day, 
founded  on  the  light  of  nature  ;  pure-impure  Pagans  destining  whole 
days  to  their  idolatrous  service.  (2.)  One  day  in  seven,  grounded 
on  the  moral  equity  of  the  fpurth  commandment  ;  which  is  like  the 
feet  and  toes  of  Nebuchadnezzar's  image,  part  of  potter's  clay,  and 
part  of  iron,  Dan.  ii.  41.  The  clay  part,  and  ceremonial  moiety  of 
that  commandment,  (namely,  that  seventh  day  or  Jewish  sabbath,)  is 
mouldered  away,  and  buried  in  Christ's  grave.  The  iron  part 
thereof,  namely,  a  mixture  of  morality  therein,  "  one  day  in  seven," 
is  perpetual  and  everlasting.  (3.)  This  seventh  day  (being  indeed 
the  eighth  from  the  creation,  but  one  of  the  seven  in  the  week)  is 
built  on  Divine  right  in  a  larger  sense,  having  an  analogy  in  the 
Old  and  insinuations  in  the  New  Testament,  with  the  continued 
practice  of  the  church. 

4.  Would  be  right  glad  of  the  general  agreement  of  the  Christian 
church  ;  but,  withal,  right  sorry  that  the  same  should  be  abused  for 
the  alteration  of  the  Lord's  day.  But,  as  there  is  but  little  hope 
of  the  former;  so  is  there  no  fear  of  the  latter,  it  being  utterly 
imexpedient  to  attempt  the  altering  thereof. 

5.  The  sabbath  (in  some  sort)  was  Lord  (yea,  tyrant)  over  the 
Jews ;  and  they,  by  their  superstition,  contented  vassals  under  it. 


9  charlp:s  i.  book  xi.     cent.  xvii.  375 

Christ  was  "  Lord  of  the  sabbath,''  Matt.  xii.  8,  and  struck  out  the 
teeth  thereof.  Indeed,  such  recreations  as  are  unlawful  on  any  day 
are  most  unlawful  on  that  day  ;  yea,  recreations  doubtful  on  other 
days  are  to  be  forborne  on  that  day,  on  the  suspicion  of  unlawful- 
ness. So  are  all  those  which,  by  their  over-violence,  put  people 
past  a  praying  capacity.  Add  also,  those  which,  though  acted  after 
evening-service,  must  needs  be  pre-acted  by  the  fancy  (such  the 
volatility  thereof)  all  the  day  before,  distracting  the  mind,  though 
the  body  be  at  church.  These  recreations  forbidden,  other  inno- 
cent ones  may  be  permitted. 

AxTi-sABBATARiANS. — 1.  The  word  "  sabbath,"  as  now  used, 
containeth  therein  a  secret  magazine  of  Judaism  ;  as  if  the  afFecters 
thereof,  by  spiritual  necromancy,  endeavoured  the  reviving  of  dead 
and  rotten  Mosaical  ceremonies. 

2.  They  confine  the  observation  of  the  day,  only  to  the  few  hours 
of  public  service. 

3.  These  unhinge  the  day  off  from  any  Divine  right,  and  hang  it 
merely  on  ecclesiastical  authority  first  introducing  it,  as  custom  and 
consent  of  the  church  had  since  established  it. 

4.  The  universal  consent  of  the  Christian  church  may  alter 
it.  Yea,  one  saith,*  that  the  church  of  Geneva  went  about 
to  translate  it  to  Thursday  ;  but,  it  seems,  it  was  carried  in  the 
negative. 

5.  Mixed  dancings,  masks,  interludes,  revels,  &c.  are  by  them 
permitted  in  the  intervals  betwixt,  but  generally  after  evening- 
service  ended. 

A  worthy  doctor, f  who  in  his  sermons  at  the  Temple,  no  less 
piously  than  learnedly,  handled  the  point  of  the  Lord's  day,  worthily 
pressed,  that  gentlefolk  were  obliged  to  a  stricter  observation  of  the 
Lord's  day,  than  labouring  people.  "  The  whole  have  no  need  of 
the  physician,  but  those  who  are  sick."  Such  as  are  not  annihilated 
with  labour,  have  no  title  to  be  recreated  with  liberty.  Let  ser- 
vants, whose  hands  are  ever  working,  whilst  their  eyes  are  waking ; 
let  such,  who  all  the  foregoing  week  had  their  cheeks  moistened 
wdth  sweat,  and  hands  hardened  with  labour ;  let  such  have  some 
recreation  on  the  Lord's  day  indulged  unto  them  ;  whilst  persons  of 
quality,  who  may  be  said  to  keep  sabbath  all  the  week  long  ;  I 
mean,  who  rest  from  hard  labour,  are  concerned  in  conscience  to 
observe  the  Lord's  day  with  the  greater  abstinence  from  recreations. 

•  PocKLKNGTON  ill  hid  "  Suiidiiy  no  Sabbath,"  page  8.  t  I>r.  Paul  3Iickle- 

waite. 


^7^  CHURCH    HISTORY    OF    BRITAIN.  A.D.  1G34. 

34 — 36.  Troubles  begin  in  Somersetshire.  Judge  Richardson  s 
Order  against  Lord''s-Day  Revels  ;  ivhich  he  would  not 
revoke. 

Pass  we  now  from  the  pen  to  the  practical  part  of  the  Sabbatarian 
difference.  Somersetshire  was  the  stage,  whereon  the  first  and 
fiercest  scene  thereof  was  acted.  Here  wakes  (much  different,  I 
dare  say,  from  the  watching  prescribed  by  our  Saviour)  were  kept  on 
the  Lord^s  day,  with  church-ales,  bid-ales,  and  clerks'- ales.  If  the 
reader  know  not  the  critical  meaning  and  difference  of  these  words, 
I  list  not  to  be  the  interpreter ;  and  his  ignorance  herein  neither  is 
any  disgrace  nor  can  be  any  damage  unto  him.  The  gentry  of  that 
county,  perceiving  such  revels  the  cause  of  many  and  occasion  of 
more  misdemeanours,  (many  acts  of  wantonness  bearing  their  dates 
from  such  meetings,)  importuned  Sir  Thomas  Richardson,  Lord 
Chief  Justice,  and  baron  Denham,  then  Judges,  riding  the  western 
circuit  in  the  Lent- vacation,  to  make  a  severe  order  for  the  sup- 
pressing of  all  ales  and  revels  on  the  Lord's  day. 

In  compliance  with  their  desire,  the  aforesaid  Judges  made  an 
order  on  the  nineteenth  day  of  March,  founded  on  former  prece- 
dents signed  by  Judge  Popham,  Lord  Chief  Justice  in  the  Jatter 
end  of  queen  Elizabeth's  reign  ;  therein  suppressing  such  revels,  in 
regard  of  the  infinite  number  of  inconveniences  daily  arising  by 
means  thereof,  enjoining  the  constables  to  deliver  a  copy  thereof  to 
the  minister  of  every  parish  ;  who,  on  the  first  Sunday  in  February, 
and  likewise  the  tv-'o  first  Sundays  before  Easter,  was  to  publish  the 
same  every  year. 

The  archbishop  of  Canterbury  beheld  this  as  an  usurpation  on 
ecclesiastical  jurisdiction,  and  complained  of  the  Judges  to  his 
majesty  ;  procuring  a  commission  to  bishop  Pierce  and  other  divines, 
to  inquire  into  the  manner  of  publishing  this  order,  and  the  Chief 
Justice's  carriage  in  this  business.  Nothwithstanding  all  which,  the 
next  assize,  Judge  Richardson  gave  another  strict  charge  against 
these  revels,  required  an  account  of  the  publication  and  execution 
of  the  aforesaid  order,  punishing  some  persons  for  the  breach  thereof. 
After  whose  return  to  London  the  archbishop  sent  for  him,  and 
commanded  him  to  revoke  his  former  Order,  as  he  would  answer  the 
contrary  at  his  peril,  telling  him  it  was  his  majesty's  pleasure  he 
should  reverse  it.  The  Judge  alleged  it  done  at  the  request  of  the 
Justices  of  the  Peace  in  the  county,  with  the  general  consent  of  the 
whole  bench,  on  the  view  of  ancient  precedents  in  tliat  kind.  How- 
ever, the  next  assize,  A.D.  1634,  he  revoked  his  Order  with  this 
limitation,*  "as  much  as  in  him  lay."  At  what  time  also  the  Justices 
of  the  Peace  in  Somersetshire,  who  in  birth,  brains,  spirit,  and 
estate  were  inferior  to  no  county  in  England,  drew  up  a  humble 


10  CHARLES   I.  BOOK    XT.       CENT.    XVII.  377 

petition  to  his  majesty  for  the  suppressing  of  the  aforesaid  unlawful 
assemblies,  concurring  with  the  Lord  Chief  Justice  therein,  sending 
it  up  by  the  hand  of  the  custos  rotulorum^  to  deliver  it  to  the  earl 
of  Pembroke,  lord  lieutenant  of  their  county,  to  present  it  to  his 
majesty. 

37 — 44.   The  King's  Declaration.      The   Archbishop   eoccuseth 
himself.       No    Injuiiction   to   the   Ministers  ;     yet  some 
silenced  for    Refusal  to  read  the  Boole.     Moderation  of 
some  Bishops  therein.      Licentiousness   increaseth.     Con- 
ceived^ by  some.,  a  concurring  Cause  of  our  Civil  Wars.     A 
sad  Alteration.     A.  D.  1634. 
Just  in  this  juncture  of  time  a  Declaration  for  sports,   set  forth 
the  fifteenth  of  king  James,   was  revived  and  enlarged.     For,  his 
majesty,  being  troubled  with  petitions  on  both  sides,  thought  good 
to  follow  his  father's  royal  example  upon  the  like  occasion    in   Lan- 
cashire ;    and  we  refer  the  reader  to  what  we  have   written   before,* 
for  arguments  pro  and  con  about  the  lawfulness  of  public  reading 
thereof. 

It  was  charged,  at  his  trial,  on  the  archbishop  of  Canterbury,  that 
he  had  caused  the  reviving  and  enlarging  of  this  Declaration  ;  strong 
presumptions  being  urged  for  the  proof  thereof.  He  denied  it,  yet 
professing  his  judgment  for  recreations  on  that  day,  alleging  the 
practice  of  the  church  of  Geneva  allowing  -shooting  in  long  bows, 
&c.  thereon  ;  adding  also,  that,  though  indulging  liberty  to  others, 
in  his  own  person  he  strictly  observed  that  day  :  a  self-praise,  or 
rather  self-purging,  because  spoken  on  his  life,  which  seemed  uttered 
without  pride  and  with  truth,  and  was  not  clearly  confuted.  Indeed, 
they  are  the  best  carvers  of  liberty  on  that  day,  who  cut  most  for 
others,  and  leave  least  for  themselves. 

However,  there  was  no  express  in  this  Declaration,  that  the 
minister  of  the  parish  should  be  pressed  to  the  publishing.  Many 
counted  it  no  minister's  work,  and  more  proper  for  the  place  of  the 
constable  or  tithing-man  to  perform  it.  Must  they,  who  were  (if 
not  worst  able)  most  unfitting,  hold  the  candle  to  lighten  and  let  in 
licentiousness  ?  But,  because  the  Judges  had  enjoined  the  ministers 
to  read  their  order  in  the  church,  the  king's  Declaration  was  enforced 
by  the  bishops  to  be  published  by  them  in  the  same  place. 

As  for  such  whose  consciences  reluctated  to  publish  the  Declara- 
tion, various  were  their  evasions.  Some  left  it  to  their  curates  to 
read.  Nor  was  this  the  plucking-out  of  a  thorn  from  their  own,  to 
put  it  in  another  man's  conscience,  seeing  their  curates  were  per- 
suaded of  the  lawfulness  thereof.     Others  read  it  indeed  themselves, 

*  See  the  I5th  of  king  James,  in  this  volume,  sect.  iv.  pages  270—273,  parag.  58— 63. 


o78  GHUIICH    HISTOUY    Ol     BRITAIN.  A.D.  1634. 

but  presently  after  read  the  fourth  commandment.  And  was  this 
fair  play,  setting  God  and  their  king  (as  they  conceived)  at  odds, 
that  so  they  themselves  might  escape  in  the  fray  ?  Others  point- 
blank  refused  the  reading  thereof;  for  which  some  of  them  were 
suspended  ab  officio  et  henejicio,  some  deprived,  and  more  molested 
in  the  High  Commission  ;  it  being  questionable,  whether  their  suf- 
ferings procured  more  pity  to  them,  or  more  hatred  to  the  causers 
thereof. 

All  bishops  urged  not  the  reading  of  the  book  with  rigour  alike, 
nor  punished  the  refusal  with  equal  severity.  I  hear  the  loudest,  long- 
•est,  and  thickest  complaints  come  from  the  diocess  of  Norwich,  and  of 
Bath  and  Wells.  I  knew  a  bishop  in  the  west,  (to  whom  I  stood 
related  in  kindred  and  service,)  who,  being  pressed  by  some  to 
return  the  names  of  such  as  refused  to  read  the  book,  to  the  arch- 
bishop of  Canterbury,  utterly  denied :  and  his  words  to  me  were 
these :  "  I  will  never  turn  an  accuser  of  my  brethren ;  there  be 
enough  in  the  world  to  take  that  office."  As  for  the  archbishop  of 
Canterbury,  much  was  his  moderation  in  his  own  diocess,  silencing 
but  three  (in  whom  also  a  concurrence  of  other  nonconformities) 
through  the  whole  extent  thereof.  But  O  the  necessity  of  the 
general  day  of  judgment !  wherein  all  men"'s  actions  shall  be 
expounded  according  to  their  intentions,  which  here  are  interpretable 
according  to  other  men's  inclinations.  The  archbishop's  adversaries 
imputed  this,  not  to  hii? charity,  but  policy  ;  fox-like  preying  farthest 
from  his  own  den,  and  instigating  other  bishops  to  do  more  than  he 
w^ould  appear-in  himself.  As  for  his  own  visitation-articles,  some 
complained  they  were  but  narrow  as  they  were  made,  and  broad  as 
they  were  measured  ;  his  under-officers  improving  and  enforcing  the 
same,  by  their  inquiries,  beyond  the  letter  thereof. 

Many  complain  that  man's  badness  took  occasion  to  be  worse, 
under  the  protection  of  these  sports  permitted  unto  them.  For, 
although  liberty  on  the  Lord's  day  may  be  so  limited  in  the  notions 
of  learned  men,  as  to  make  it  lawful,  it  is  difficult  (if  not  impossible) 
so  to  confine  it  in  the  actions  of  lewd  people,  but  that  their  liberty 
will  degenerate  into  licentiousness. 

Many  moderate  men  are  of  opinion,  that  this  abuse  of  the  Lord's 
day  was  a  principal  procurer  of  God's  anger,  since  poured  out  on  this 
land,  in  a  long  and  bloody  civil  war.  Such  observe,  that  our  fights 
of  chief  concernment  were  often  fought  on  the  Lord's  day,  as  point- 
ing at  the  punishing  of  the  profanation  thereof.  Indeed,  amongst 
so  many  battles  which  in  ten  years'  time  have  rent  the  bowels  of 
England,  some  on  necessity  would  fall  on  that  day,  (seeing  we  have 
bc-rubricked  each  day  in  the  week,  almost  in  the  year,  with  English 
blood,)  and  therefore  to  pick  a  solemn  providence  out  of  a  common 


10  CHARLES  1.  BOOK    XI.       CENT.    XVII.  879 

casualty,  savours  more  of  curiosity  than  conscience.  Yet,  seeing 
Edgeliill -fight  (which  first  brake  the  peace,  and  made  an  irrecon- 
cilable breach  betwixt  the  two  parties)  was  fought  on  that  day,  and 
some  battles  since  of  greatest  consequence,  there  may  be  more  in  the 
observation  than  what  many  are  willing  to  acknowledge.  But,  what- 
soever it  is  which  hence  may  be  collected,  sure  I  am,  those  are  the 
best  Christians  who  least  censure  others,  and  most  reform  them- 
selves. 

But  here  it  is  much  to  be  lamented,  that  such  who,  at  the  time  of 
the  Sabbatarian  controversy,  were  the  strictest  observers  of  the 
Lord's  day,  are  now  reeled  by  their  violence  into  another  extreme, 
— to  be  the  greatest  neglecters,  yea,  contemners  thereof.  These 
transcendents  accounting  themselves  mounted  above  the  predicament 
of  common  piety,  aver  they  need  not  keep  any,  because  they  keep 
all  days  Lord's-days,  in  their  elevated  holiness.  But,  alas  !  Chris- 
tian duties,  said  to  be  ever  done,  will  prove  never  done,  if  not 
sometimes  solemnly  done.  These  are  the  most  dangerous  levellers, 
equalling  all  times,  places,  and  persons,  making  a  general  confusion 
to  be  Gospel-perfection.  Whereas,  to  speak  plainly,  we  in  England 
are,  rehiis  sic  stantibus^  concerned  now  more  strictly  to  observe  the 
Lord's  day  than  ever  before.  Holy  days  are  not,  and  holy  eves 
are  not,  and  Wednesday  and  Friday  Litanies  are  not,  and  Lord's- 
day  eves  are  not ;  and  now  some  out  of  error,  and  others  out  of 
profaneness,  go  about  to  take  away  the  Lord's  day  also.  All 
these  things  make  against  God's  solemn  and  public  service.  O  let 
not  his  public  worship,  now  contracted  to  fewer  channels,  have  also 
a  shallower  stream  !  But  enough  of  this  subject :  wherein  if  I 
have  exceeded  the  bounds  of  a  historian,  by  being  too  large  therein, 
such  will  pardon  me  who  know  (if  pleasing  to  remember)  that 
divinity  is  my  proper  profession. 

45,  46.  Irish  Impropriatioiis  restored.     The  thirty-nine  Articles 
received  in  Ireland. 

At  this  time  miserable  the  maintenance  of  the  Irish  clergy,  where 
scandalous  means  made  scandalous  ministers.  And  yet  a  popish 
priest  would  grow  fat  in  that  parish  where  a  protestant  would  be 
famished,  as  have  not  their  livelihood  on  the  oblations  of  those  of 
Uieir  own  religion.  But  now  such  impropriations  as  were  in  the 
crown,  by  the  king,  were  restored  to  the  church,  to  a  great  diminu- 
tion of  the  royal  revenue ;  though  his  majesty  never  was  sensible 
of  any  loss  to  himself,  if  thereby  gain  might  redound  to  God,  in 
his  ministers.  Bishop  Laud  was  a  worthy  instrument  in  moving 
the  king  to  so  pious  a  work  :  and  yet  this  his  procuring  the  restoring 
of  Irish — did  not  satisfy  such  discontented  at  his  obstructing  the 


^80  CHURCH    HISTORY    OF    J3RITAIX.  A.D.  1635. 

buying-in  of  English — impropriations :  thus  those  conceived  to 
have  done  hurt  at  home  will  hardly  make  reparations  with  other 
good  deeds  at  distance. 

A  Convocation  (concurrent  with  a  Parliament)  w^as  called  and 
kept  at  Dublin  in  Ireland,  wherein  the  thirty-nine  Articles  of  the 
church  of  England  were  received  in  Ireland  for  all  to  subscribe 
unto.  It  was  adjudged  fit,  seeing  that  kingdom  complies  with 
Ensfland  in  the  civil  government,  it  should  also  conform  thereto  in 
matters  of  religion.  Mean  time  the  Irish  Articles,  concluded  for- 
merly in  a  synod,  1616,  (wherein  Arminianism  was  condemned  in 
terminis  terminantibus^  and  the  observation  of  the  Lord*'s  day 
resolved  y«^r^  Divino,)  were  utterly  excluded. 

47.  Bishop  Laud  refuseth  a  CardinaVs  Cap. 
A  cardinal's  cap,  once  and  again  offered  by  the  pope  to  bishop 
Laud,  was  as  often  refused  by  him.  The  fashion  thereof  could  not 
fit  his  head,  who  had  studied  and  Avritten  so  much  against  the 
Romish  religion.  He  who  formerly  had  foiled  the  Fisher  himself 
in  a  public  disputation,  would  not  now  be  taken  with  so  silly  a  bait, 
but  acquainted  the  king  therewith  ;  thnuit  Romam  tel  dona  feren- 
tem^  refusing  to  receive  any  thing  from  Rome  till  she  was  better 
reformed. 

48,  49.  Bishop  Juxon  made  Lord  Treasurer.    His  commendable 
Carriage.     A.D.  1635. 

March  6th,  Dr.  William  Juxon,  bishop  of  London,  was  by 
bishop  Laud's  procurement  made  lord  treasurer  of  England,  entering 
on  that  office  with  many  and  great  disadvantages.  First.  Because 
no  clergyman  had  executed  the  same,  since  William  Grey,  bishop 
of  Ely,  almost  two  hundred  years  ago,  in  the  reign  of  king  Edward 
IV.  Secondly.  Because  the  treasury  was  very  poor  ;  and  if,  in 
private  houses  bare  walls  make  giddy  housewives,  in  princes' 
palaces  empty  coiFers  make  unsteady  statesmen.  Thirdly.  Because 
a  very  potent  (I  cannot  say  "  competitor,"*"*  the  bishop  himself  being 
never  a  petitor  for  the  place,  but)  "  desirer"  of  this  office  was  frus- 
trated in  his  almost-assured  expectation  of  the  same  to  himself. 

However,  so  discreet  his  carriage  in  that  place,  it  procured  a 
general  love  unto  him ;  and  politic  malice,  despairing  to  bite, 
resolved  not  to  bark  at  him.  He  had  a  perfect  command  of  his 
passion,  (a  happiness  not  granted  to  all  clergymen  in  that  age, 
though  Privy  Counsellors,)  slow,  not  of  speech  as  a  defect,  but  to 
speak,  out  of  discretion ;  because,  when  speaking,  he  plentifully 
paid  the  principal  and  interest  of  his  auditors"*  expectation.  No 
hands,  having  so  much  money  passing  through   them,  had    their 


11  CHARLES  r.  BOOK    XI.       CENT.    XVII.  381 

fingers  less  soiled  therewith.  It  is  probable,  his  frugality  would 
have  cured  the  consumption  of  the  king's  exchequer,  had  not  the 
unexpected  Scotch  commotion  put  it  into  a  desperate  relapse.  In 
this  particular  he  was  happy  above  others  of  his  Order,  that  whereas 
they  may  be  said  in  some  sort  to  have  left  their  bishoprics,  (flying 
into  the  king's  quarters  for  safety,)  he  staid  at  home  till  his  bishopric 
left  him,  roused  from  his  swan's  nest  at  Fulham  for  a  bird  of  another 
feather  to  build  therein. 

50.  Archbishop  Laud  presses  Conformitij. 
Dr.  Laud,  formerly  archbishop  in  power,  now  so  in  place,  after 
the  decease  of  bishop  Abbot,  this  year  kept  his  metropolitical  visita- 
tion, and  henceforward  conformity  was  more  vigorously  pressed  than 
before  :  insomuch  that  a  minister  was  censured  in  the  High  Com- 
mission for  this  expression  in  a  sermon,  that  "  it  was  suspicious  that 
now  the  night  did  approach,  because  the  shadows  were  so  much 
longer  than  the  body,  and  ceremonies  more  in  force  than  the  power 
of  godliness."  And  now  many  differences  about  Divine  worship 
began  to  arise,  whereof  many  books  were  written  pro  and  con ;  so 
common  in  all  hands,  that  my  pains  may  be  well  spared  in  render- 
ing a  particular  account  of  what  is  so  universally  known.  So  that  a 
word  or  two  will  suffice. 

51 — 55.  Our  Churches  succeed  not  to  the  Temple,  hut  Syna- 
gogues.    Adoration  towards  the  Altar,  disliked  by  many. 

One  controversy  was  about  the  holiness  of  our  churches ;  some 
maintaining  that  they  succeed  to  the  same  degree  of  sanctity  with 
the  tabernacle  of  Moses,  and  temple  of  Solomon  ;  which  others 
flatly  denied.  First.  Because  the  tabernacle  and  temple  were,  and 
might  be,  but  one  at  a  time  ;  whilst  our  churches,  without  fault,  may 
be  multiplied  without  any  set  number.  Secondl}.  They  both  for 
their  fashion,  fabric,  and  utensils,  were  jure  Dlmno,  their  architects 
being  inspired  ;  whilst  our  churches  are  the  product  of  human 
fancy.  Thirdly.  God  gloriously  appeared  both  in  the  tabernacle 
and  temple  ;  only  graciously  present  in  our  churches.  Fourthly. 
The  temple  was  a  type  of  Christ's  body  ;  which  ours  are  not. 
More  true  it  is,  our  churches  are  heirs  to  the  holiness  of  the  Jewish 
synagogues,  which  were  many,  and  to  which  a  reverence  was  due  as 
publicly  destined  to  Divine  service. 

Not  less  the  difference  about  the  manner  of  adoration  to  be  used 
in  God's  house  ;  which  some  w^ould  have  done  towards  the  commu- 
nion-table, as  the  most  remarkable  place  of  God's  presence.  Those 
used  a  distinction  between  bowing  ad  altare,  "  towards  the  altar," 
as  directing  their  adoration  that  way,  and  ad  altare,  "  to  the  altar," 


82  CHURCH    HISTORY    OF    BRITAIN.  A.D.  1637. 

^s  termmatlng  their  worship  tlierein  ;  the  latter  they  detested  as 
idolatrous,  the  former  they  defended  as  lawful  and  necessary.  Such 
a  slovenly  unmannerliness  had  lately  possessed  many  people  in  their 
approaches  to  God's  house  that  it  was  high  time  to  reform, 
Mai.  i.  7. 

But  such  as  disliked  the  gesture,  could  not  or  would  not  under- 
stand the  distinction,  as  in  the  suburbs  of  superstition.  These, 
allowing  some  corporal  adoration  lawful,  yea,  necessary,  seeing  no 
reason  [why]  the  moiety  of  man,  yea,  the  total  sum  of  him  which  is 
visible,  his  body,  should  be  exempted  from  God's  service,  except  sucli 
a  writ  of  ease  could  be  produced  and  proved  from  Scripture.  But 
they  were  displeased  with  this  adoration,  because  such  as  enjoin  it 
maintain  one  kind  of  reverence  due  to  the  very  place,  another  to 
the  elements  of  the  sacraments,  if  on  the  table,  a  third  to  God  him- 
self: these  several  degrees  of  reverence  ought  to  be  railed  about  as 
well  as  the  communion-table  and  clearly  distinguished,  lest  that  be 
given  to  the  creature  which  belongs  to  the  Creator,  and  such  as 
shun  profanation  run  into  idolatry. 

A  controversy  was  also  started  about  the  posture  of  the  Lord's 
board,  communion-table,  or  altar;  the  last  name  beginning  now  in 
many  men's  mouths  to  out  the  two  former.  Some  would  have  it 
constantly  fixed  with  the  sides  east  and  west,  ends  north  and  south,  on 
a  graduated  advance  next  the  east  wall  of  the  chancel ;  citing  a  canon 
and  the  practice  in  the  king's  chapel  for  the  same.  Others  pressed 
the  queen's  injunctions,  that  (allowing  it  at  other  times  to  stand, 
but  not  altar-wise,  in  the  chancel)  it  ought  to  be  set  in  the  body  of 
the  church  when  the  sacrament  is  celebrated  thereon. 

Such  the  heat  about  this  altar  till  both  sides  had  almost  sacrificed 
up  their  mutual  charity  thereon  ;  and  this  controversy  was  prosecuted 
with  much  needless  animosity.  This  mindeth  me  of  a  passage  in- 
Cambridge,  v>^hen  king  James  was  there  present,  to  whom  a  great 
person  complained  of  the  inverted  situation  of  a  college-chapel, 
(north  and  south,)  out  of  design  to  put  the  House  to  the  cost  of 
new-building  the  same  :  To  whom  the  king  answered  :  "  It  matters 
not  how  the  chapel  stands,  so  their  hearts  who  go  thither  be  set 
aright  in  God's  service."  Indeed,  if  moderate  men  had  had  the 
managing  of  these  matters,  the  accommodation  had  been  easy  with  a 
little  condescension  on  both  sides.  But  as  a  small  accidental  heat 
or  cold  (such  as  a  healthful  body  would  not  be  sensible  of)  is 
enough  to  put  him  into  a  fit  who  was  formerly  in  latitudine  fehris^ 
so  men's  minds,  distempered  in  this  age  with  what  I  may  call  "  a 
mutinous  tendency,"  were  exasperated  with  such  small  occasions 
which  otherwise  might  have  been  passed  over  and  no  notice  taken 
thereof. 


13  CHARLES  I.  BOOK    XI.       t^ENT.    XVII.  383 

56 — 61.  Mr.  William  Prynne,  accused  for  libelling  against  the 
Bishops.  Dr.  BasticicWs  Accusation.  Mr.  Burtons  Char- 
acter ;  the  Cause  of  his  Discontent.  Their  Fault-general. 
A.  D.  1637. 

For  now,  Wednesday,  June  14th,  came  the  censure  of  Mr. 
Prynne,  Dr.  Bastwick,  and  Mr.  Burton  ;  and  we  must  go  a  little 
backwards,  to  take  notice  of  the  nature  of  their  offences.  Mr. 
William  Prynne,  born  about  Bath  in  Somersetshire,  bred  some 
time  in  Oxford,  afterwards  utter  barrister  of  LincolnVInn,  began 
with  the  writing  of  some  useful  and  orthodox  books.*  I  have  heard 
some  of  his  detractors  account  him  as  only  the  hand  of  a  better  head, 
setting  forth  at  first  the  endeavours  of  others.  Afterwards  he 
delighted  more  to  be  numerous  with  many — than  ponderous  with 
select — quotations  ;  which  maketh  his  books  to  swell  with  the  loss 
oft-times  of  the  reader,  sometimes  of  the  printer  ;  and  his  pen, 
generally  querulous,  hath  more  of  the  plaintiff  than  of  the  defendant 
therein. 

Some  three  years  since  he  set  forth  a  book  called  "  Histriomastix., 
or  the  Whip  of  Stage-players.""  Whip  so  held  and  used  by  his  hand 
that  some  conceived  the  lashes  thereof  flew  into  the  face  of  the  queen 
herself,  as  much  delighted  in  masks  ;  for  which  he  was  severely 
censured  to  lose  liis  ears  on  the  pillory,  and  for  a  long  time  (after 
two  removals  to  the  Fleet)  imprisoned  in  the  Tower  ;  where  he  wrote 
and  whence  he  dispersed  new  pamphlets,  which  were  interpreted  to 
be  libels  against  the  established  discipline  of  the  church  of  England, 
for  which  he  was  indicted  in  the  Star-chamber. 

Dr.  John  Bastwick,  by  vulgar  en'or  generally  mistaken  to  be  a 
Scotchman,  was  born  at  Writtle  in  Essex,  bred  a  short  time  in 
Emmanuel  College,  then  travelled  nine  years  beyond  the  seas,  made 
doctor  of  physic  at  Padua.  Returning  home,  he  practised  it  at 
Colchester,  and  set  forth  a  book  in  Latin,  (wherem  his  pen  com- 
manded a  pure  and  fluent  style,)  entitled  Flagellum  Pontijicis  et 
Episcoporum  Latialium.  But  it  seems  he  confined  not  his  character 
so  to  the  Latian  bishops  beyond  the  Alps,  but  that  our  English 
prelates  counted  themselves  touched  therein.  Hereupon  he  was 
accused  in  the  High  Commission,  committed  to  the  Gatehouse  ; 
where  he  wrote  a  second  book,  taxing  the  injustice  of  the  proceedings 
of  the  High  Commission,  for  which  he  was  indicted  in  the  Star- 
chamber. 

Mr.  Henry  Burton,  minister,  rather  took  a  snap  than  made  a 
meal  in  any  university,  was  first  schoolmaster  to  the  sons  of  the  lord 
Carey,  afterwards  earl  of  Monmouth,  whose  lady  was  governess  to 

•  «  The  Perpetuity  of  the  Regenerate  Man's  Estate." 


384  CHURCH    HISTORY    OF    BRITAIN.  A.D.  1687- 

king  Charles  when  prince.  And  this  opportunity,  say  some,  more 
than  his  own  deserts,  preferred  him  to  the  service  of  prince  Charles, 
"being  designed  (as  I  have  heard)  to  wait  on  him  in  Spain  ;  but 
afterwards,  when  part  of  his  goods  were  shipped  for  the  voyage, 
excluded  the  attendance  : — whether  because  his  parts  and  learning 
were  conceived  not  such  as  to  credit  our  English  church  in  foreign 
countries,  or  because  his  principles  were  accounted  uncomplying 
with  that  employment. 

The  crudity  of  this  affront  lay  long  on  his  mind  ;  hot  stomachs 
(contrary  to  corporal  concoction)  being  in  this  kind  the  slowest  of 
digestion.  After  the  venting  of  many  mediate  discontents,  on  the 
last  fifth  of  November  he  took  for  his  text.  Proverbs  xxiv.  21  :  "  My 
son,  fear  thou  the  Lord  and  the  king  :  and  meddle  not  with  them  that 
are  given  to  change.''"'  This  sermon  was  afterwards  printed,  charging 
the  prelates  for  introducing  of  several  innovations  into  Divine 
worship ;  for  which,  as  a  libel,  he  w^as  indicted  in  the  Star-chamber. 

But  the  fault-general,  which  at  this  day  was  charged  on  these 
three  prisoners  at  the  bar  in  the  Star-chamber,  was  this  :  That  they 
had  not  put  in  their  effectual  answer  into  that  Court  wherein  they 
were  accused,  though  sufficient  notice  and  competent  time  was 
allowed  them  for  the  performance  thereof.  The  lord  keeper  Coven- 
try minded  them,  that,  for  such  neglect,  they  had  a  precedent, 
wherein  the  Court  after  six  days  had  taken  a  cause  pro  confesso  ; 
whereas  the  favour  of  six  weeks  was  allowed  unto  them,  and  now 
leave  given  them  to  render  reason,  why  the  Court  should  not  proceed 
to  present  censure. 

62 — 65.  Mr.  Prynnes  Plea  rejected^  aiid  Ms   Ansiver  refused. 
So  is  Dr.  BastivicWs.    Mr.  Burtoii's  cast  out  for  imperfect. 

Hereat  Mr.  Prynne  first  moved,  that  they  would  be  pleased  to 
accept  a  cross  bill  (which  he  there  tendered)  against  the  prelates. 
This  the  lord  keeper  refused  to  accept  of  at  the  present,  as  not  being 
the  business  of  the  day.  Then  he  moved  that  the  prelates  might  be 
dismissed  the  Court ;  it  being  agreeable  neither  to  nature,  reason, 
nor  justice,  that  those  who  were  their  adversaries  should  be  their 
judges.  This  also  was  rejected  by  the  lord  keeper,  because,  by  the 
same  proportion,  had  he  libelled  against  the  temporal  lords,  judges, 
and  privy  counsellors  in  the  place,  by  this  plea  none  should  pass 
censure  upon  them,  because  all  were  made  parties. 

Mr.  Prynne  proceeded  to  show  he  had  done  his  endeavour  to 
prepare  his  answer,  being  hindered,  First,  by  his  close  imprisonment, 
denied  pen,  ink,  and  paper  ;  and  by  the  imprisonment  also  of  his 
servant,  who  was  to  solicit  his  business  ;  that  the  Counsel  assigned 
him  came  very  late  ;  and,  though  twice  paid  for  their  pains,  deferred 


IS  CHARLES  I.  BOOK    XI.       CENT.    XVII.  '385 

the  drawing-up  of  his  answer,  and  durst  not  set  their  hands  unto  it. 
Mr.  Hole,  one  of  his  Counsel  being  present,  confessed  that  he 
found  his  answer  would  be  very  long,  and  of  such  a  nature  as  he 
durst  not  subscribe  it,  fearing  to  give  their  lordships  distaste. 

Dr.  Bastwick,  being  spoken  to,  to  speak  for  himself,  why  he 
brought  not  in  his  answer  before,  laid  the  blame  on  the  cowardice  of 
his  counsel  that  durst  not  sign  it  for  fear  of  the  prelates.  He  there 
tendered  his  answer  on  oath  with  his  own  hand,  which  would  not  be 
accepted.  He  spake  much  of  his  own  abilities,  that  he  had  been  a 
soldier  able  to  lead  an  army  of  men  into  the  field,  and  now  was  a 
physician  able  to  cure  kings,  princes,  and  emperors  ;  and  therefore 
how  unworthy  it  was  to  curtallize  his  ears,  generally  given  out,  by  the 
bishops'*  servants,  as  a  punishment  intended  unto  him.  He  minded 
them  of  the  mutability  of  all  earthly  things,  and  chiefly  of  the  changes 
in  the  Court ;  where  he,*  lately  the  chief  judge  therein,  was  the  next 
day  to  have  his  own  cause  censured ;  wishing  them  seriously  to 
consider,  that  some  who  now  sat  there  on  the  Bench  might  stand 
prisoners  at  the  Bar  another  day,  and  need  the  favour  which  now 
they  denied. 

Mr.  Burton,  being  asked  what  he  could  allege,  why  the  Court 
should  not  take  his  fault  pj'O  confesso,  pleaded  that  he  had  put  in  his 
answer,  drawn  up  with  great  pains  and  cost,  signed  by  his  counsel, 
and  received  into  the  Court.  The  lord  keeper  rejoined  that  the 
judges  had  cast  his  answer  out  as  imperfect;  judge  Finch  affirming 
that  they  did  him  a  good  turn  in  making  it  imperfect,  being  other- 
wise  as  libellous  as  his  book,  and  deserving  a  censure  alone. 

66 — 68.     The  severe   Censure ;    esteemed    too  low,  by  some ; 
too  high,  by  most. 

Here  the  prisoners,  desiring  to  speak,  were  commanded  silence ; 
and,  the  premisses  notwithstanding,  the  Court  proceeded  to  censure; 
namely,  that  they  should  lose  their  ears  in  the  palace- yard  at  West- 
minster, fining  them  also  five  thousand  pounds  a  man  to  his  majesty, 
perpetual  imprisonment  in  three  remote  places.  The  lord  Finch 
added  to  Mr.  Prynne's  censure,  that  he  should  be  branded  in  each 
cheek  with  S.  L.  for  Slanderous  Libeller ;  to  which  the  whole  court 
agreed.  The  archbishop  of  Canterbury  made  a  long  speech,  since 
printed,  to  excuse  himself  from  the  introducing  of  any  innovations 
in  the  church,  concluding  it,  that  he  left  the  prisoners  to  God's 
mercy  and  the  king's  justice. 

It  w^ill  be  lawful  and  safe  to  report  the  discourse  of  several  per- 
sons hereon.  This  censure  fell  out  scarce  adequate  to  any  judg- 
ment, as  conceiving  it  either  too  low,  or  too  high,  for  their  offence. 

•  The  hisbop  of  Lincoln. 

Vol.  III.  (  c 


886  CHURCH    HISTORY    OF    BRITAIN.  A.D.  1637. 

High  conformists  counted  it  too  low,  and  that  it  had  been  better  if 
the  pillory  had  been  cheanged  into  a  gallows.  They  esteemed  it 
improvident,  (but  by  their  leaves  more  of  Machiavel  than  of  Christ 
in  such  counsel,)  to  kindle  revenge,  and  not  to  quench  life,  in  such 
turbulent  spirits.  The  only  way  with  them  had  been  to  rid  them 
out  of  the  way. 

Most  moderate  men  thought  the  censure  too  sharp,  too  base,  and 
ignominious,  for  gentlemen  of  their  ingenuous  vocation.  Besides, 
though  it  be  easy  in  the  notion,  it  is  hard  in  the  action,  to  fix  shame 
on  the  professors — and  sever  it  from  the  professions — of  Divinity, 
Law,  and  Physic.  As  for  the  former,  though  Burton  was  first 
degraded,*  June  27th,  yet  such  who  maintain  an  indelible  character 
of  priesthood  hold,  that  degradation  cannot  delete  what  ordination 
hath  impressed  ;  and,  grant  the  censure  pronounced  ad  terror em^  it 
might  have  become  the  bishops  to  mediate  for  a  mitigation  thereof. 
Let  canvass  be  rough  and  rugged,  lawn  ought  to  be  soft  and  smooth; 
meekness,  mildness,  and  mercy  being  more  proper  for  men  of  the 
episcopal  function. 

69 — 75.  Mr.  Burtoris    Words  on  the  Pillory.      Several  Cen- 
sures on  his  Behaviour.     Mr.  BastwicHs  Speech.     Many 
Men,  many  Minds.     Mr.  Prynnes  Speech.    His  Behaviour 
at  the  Censure,     Their  Removal. 
Two  days  after,  June  oOth,  three  pillories  were  set  up  in  the 
palace-yard,  or  one  double  one,  and  a  single  one  at  some  distance 
for  Mr.  Prynne  as  the  chief  offender.     Mr.  Burton  first  suffered, 
making  a  long  speech  in  the  pillory,  not  entire  and  continued,  but 
interrupted  with  occasional  expressions.    But  the  main  intent  thereof 
was  to  parallel  his  suflPerings  with  our  Saviour'^s.     For  at  the  first 
sight  of  the  pillory,   "  Methinks,""  said  he,    "  T  see  Mount  Calvary 
whereon  the  three  crosses  were  erected.     If  Christ  was  numbered 
amongst  thieves,  shall  a  Christian  think  much  for  his  sake  to  be 
numbered  amongst  rogues  ?  "     And  whereas  one  told  an  halberter 
standing  by,  who  had  an  old  rusty  halbert,   (the  iron  whereof  was 
tacked  to  the  staff  with  an  old  crooked  nail,)  "  What  an  old  rusty 
weapon  is  this  ! "''     Mr.  Burton,  overhearing  them,  answered  :    "It 
seems  to  be  one  of  those  halberts  which  accompanied  Judas  when 
Christ  was  betrayed  and  apprehended." 

His  ears  were  cut  off  very  close  ;  so  that,  the  temporal  or  head 
artery  being  cut,  the  blood  in  abundance  streamed  down  upon  the 
scaffold  ;  all  which  he  manfully  endured,  without  manifesting  the 
least  shrinking  thereat.  Indeed,  of  su^h  who  measured  his  mind  by 
his  words,  some  conceived  his  carriage  far  above — others  (though 

•  By  Sir  John  Lamb  in  tlie  High  Commission  in  St.  Paul's, 


13  CHARLES  I.  BOOK  XI.   CENT.  XVI  I.  .*387 

using  the  same  scale)  suspected  the  same  to  be  somewhat  beside — 
himself.  But  let  such  who  desire  more  of  his  character  consult  with 
his  printed  life,  written  with  his  own  hand,  though  it  be  hard  for  the 
most  excellent  artist  truly  to  draw  his  own  picture. 

Dr.  Bastwick  succeeded  him,  making  a  speech  to  this  effect : — 
"  Here  are  many  spectators  of  us  who  stand  here  as  delinquents  ; 
yet  am  I  not  conscious  to  myself  of  the  least  trespass,  wherein  I  have 
deserved  this  outward  shame.  Indeed,  I  wrote  a  book  against  anti- 
christ the  pope ;  and  the  pope  of  Canterbury  said  it  was  written 
against  him.  But  were  the  pre'ss  open  unto  us,  we  would  scatter  his 
kingdom,  and  fight  courageously  against  Gog  and  Magog.  There 
be  many  here  that  have  set  many  days  apart  on  our  behalf,  (let  the 
prelates  take  notice  thereof,)  and  have  sent  up  strong  prayers  to  God 
for  us ;  the  strength  and  fruit  whereof  we  have  felt  all  along  in  this 
cause.  In  a  word,  so  far  am  I  from  fear  or  care  that  had  I  as  much 
blood  as  vv'ould  swell  the  Thames,"  (then  visible  unto  him,  his  face 
respecting  the  south,)  "  I  would  lose  every  drop  thereof  in  this 
cause." 

His  friends  much  admired  and  highly  commended  the  erection  of 
his  mind,  triumphing  over  pain  and  shame,  making  the  one  easy,  the 
other  honourable  ;  and  imputed  the  same  to  an  immediate  spiritual 
support.  Others  conceived  that  anger  in  him  acted  the  part  of 
patience,  as  to  the  stout  undergoing  of  his  sufferings  ;  and  that,  in 
a  Christian,  there  lieth  a  real  distinction  betwixt  spirit  and  stomach, 
valour  and  stubbornness. 

Mr.  Prynne  concluded  the  sad  sight  of  that  day,  and  spake  to 
this  purpose  : — "  The  cause  of  my  standing  here  is  for  not  bringing 
in  my  answer.  God  knoweth,  my  conscience  beareth  witness,  and 
my  counsel  can  tell,  for  I  paid  them  twice,  though  to  no  purpose. 
But  their  cowardice  stands  upon  record.  And  that  is  the  reason  why 
they  did  proceed,  and  take  the  cause  pro  con/esso  against  me.  But 
rather  than  I  would  have  my  cause  a  leading  cause  to  the  depriving 
of  the  subjects'  liberties,  which  I  seek  to  maintain,  I  choose  to  suffer 
my  body  to  become  an  example  of  this  punishment."''' 

The  censure  was  with  all  rigour  executed  on  him,  and  he  who  felt 
the  most,  fretted  the  least ;  commended  for  more  kindly  patience 
than  either  of  his  predecessors  in  that  place.  So  various  were  men's 
fancies  in  reading  the  same  letters,  imprinted  in  his  face,  that  some 
made  them  to  spell  the  guiltiness  of  the  sufferer,  but  others  the 
cruelty  of  the  imposer.  Of  the  latter  sort  many  for  the  cause,  more 
for  the  man,  most  for  humanity's  sake,  bestowed  pity  upon  him.  And 
now  all  three  were  remanded  to  their  former  prisons ;  and  Mr. 
Prynne,  as  he  returned  by  water  to  the  Tower,  made  this  distich 
upon  his  own  stigmatizing  : — 

2c2 


388  CHURCH    HISTORY    OF    BRITAIN.  A.D.  1637. 

S.    L. 

Stigmata  maxillis  referens,  insignia  Latidis, 
E.rultans  remeo,  victima  grata  Deo. 

Not  long  after  they  were  removed  :  Mr.  Prynne  to  Carnarvon  Cas^ 
tie  in  Wales  :  Dr.  Bastwick  and  Mr.  Burton,  the  one  to  Lancaster 
Castle,  the  other  to  Lannceston  in  Cornwall. 

But,  it  seems,  these  places  were  conceived  to  have,  either  too  little 
of  privacy,  or  too  much  of  pleasure.  The  two  latter,  therefore, 
were  removed  again ;  one  to  the  Isle  of  Scilly,  the  other  to  the  Isle 
of  Guernsey,  and  Mr.  Prynne  to  Momit-Orgueil  Castle  in  Jersey. 
This,  in  vulgar  apprehensions,  added  breadth  to  the  former  depth  of . 
their  sufferings,  scattering  the  same  over  all  the  English  dominions, 
making  the  islands  thereof  as  well  as  the  continent  partake  of  their 
patience.  And  here  we  leave  them  all  in  their  prisons,  and  par- 
ticularly Mr.  Prynne  improving  the  rocks  and  the  seas  (good  spirit 
tual  husbandry  !)  with  pious  meditations.  But  we  shall  hear  more 
of  them  hereafter  at  the  beginning  of  the  parliament. 

7^ — 85.  A  Preparative  to  the  Censure  of  the  Bishop  of  Lincoln. 
The  Bishop's  Discourse  at  the  Table  with  Sir  John  Lamb, 
[ivho'\  informed  against  him  in  the  Star-Chamber.  Deserteth 
his  Intents  of  compounding  with  the  King.     Puts  i7i   an 
especial     Ansicer.      Kilvert   entertained   his    Prosecutor, 
Pregion,  a  principal  Witness  of  the  Bishop^  much  molested. 
Subornation  of  Perjury  charged  on  the  Bishop.     In  vain 
endeavoureth  a    Composition  with  the    King  ;  frustrated 
therein  by  his  great  Adversary. 
Next  came  the  bishop  of  Lincoln  to  be  censured   in   the  Star- 
chamber  ;  and  something  must  be  premised  preparative  thereunto. 
After  the  Great  Seal,  some  ten  years  since,  was  taken  from  him,  he 
retired  himself  to  Bugden  in  Huntingdonshire,  where  he  may  be 
said  to  have  lived  in  a  public  privacy.     So  many  his  visitants,  hos- 
pitable his  house -keeping  ;  it  being  hard  to  say,  whether  his  table 
were  more  free  and  full  in  diet   or  discourse.     Indeed,   he  had  a 
plentiful   estate    to    maintain  it,   beside  his  purchased    land,    the 
revenues  of  his  bishopric  and  deanery  of  Westminster,  out  of  which 
long  since  he  had  been  shaken,  if  not  fastened  therein  by  the  letters 
patents  of  king  James.     His  adversaries  beheld  him  with  envious 
eyes  ;  and  one  great  prelate  plainly  said,  in  the  presence  of  the  king, 
that  the  bishop   of  Lincoln  lived   in  as  much  pomp  and  plenty  as 
any  cardinal  in   Rome,    for  diet,   music,    and    attendance.     They 
resolved  therefore  to  humble    his  height,   the  concurrence  of  many 
matters  ministering  occasion  thereunto. 

Sir  John  Lamb,  Dean  of  the  Arches,  formerly  a  favourite  of 


13  CHARLES  1.  BOOK.    XI.       CENT.    XVII.  ^^^ 

Lincoln,  (fetched  oiF  from  being  prosecuted  in  parliament,  and 
knighted  by  his  means,)  with  Dr.  Sibthorp,  Allen,  and  Burden, 
(two  proctors,  as  I  take  them,)  were  entertained  at  the  bishop's  table 
at  Bugden,  where  their  talk  was  (the  discourse-general  of  those 
days)  against  Puritans.  The  bishop  advised  them  to  take  off  their 
heavy  hand  from  them,  informing  them  that  his  majesty  intended  to 
use  them  hereafter  wdth  more  mildness,  as  a  considerable  party, 
having  great  influence  on  the  Parliament,  without  whose  concur- 
rence the  king  could  not  comfortably  supply  his  necessities  :  addmg 
moreover,  that  his  majesty  had  communicated  this  unto  him  by  his 
own  mouth,  with  his  resolutions  hereafter  of  more  gentleness  to 
men  of  that  opinion. 

Some  years  after,  upon  the  denial  of  an  officiafs  place  in  Leices- 
tershire, {which,  notwithstanding,  he  carried  in  despight  of  the 
bishop,)  Sir  John  Lamb  fell  foul  with  his  old  friend,  and  in  revenge 
complained  of  him  for  revealing  the  king's  secrets  concredited  to  his 
privacy.  Hereupon  Attorney  Noy  was  employed  to  put  the  same 
into  an  information  in  the  Star-chamber ;  unto  which  bishop 
Williams  by  good  advice  of  counsel  did  plead  and  demur,  as  con- 
taining no  matter  fit  for  the  cognizance  of  that  Court,  as  concerning 
words  spoken  of  matters  done  in  Parliament,  and  secrets  pretended 
to  be  revealed  by  him,  a  Privy  Counsellor  and  Peer  of  Parliament, 
and  therefore  not  to  be  heard  but  in  that  high  court.  This  demurrer, 
being  heard  and  argued  by  counsel  pro  and  con  in  open  court  for 
two  or  three  hours,  (the  lord  keeper,  and  other  lords  there  present, 
finding  no  cause  nor  colour  to  over-rule  it,)  was  referred  to  judge 
Richardson  (who  lately  having  singe-ed  his  coat  from  blasts  at  the 
court)  by  him  to  be  smothered,  who  in  a  private  chamber  pre- 
sently after  dinner  over-ruled  the  same  in  a  quarter  of  an  hour. 

The  demurrer  thus  rendered  useless  in  the  bishop's  defence,  he 
used  what  means  he  could  by  the  lord  Weston  (a  proper  person, 
because  treasurer,  to  meddle  in  money-matters)  to  compound  with 
his  majesty.  But  his  majesty  resolved  to  have  the  bishop's  answer, 
and  confession  of  his  fault,  before  he  would  compound  with  him. 
Whereupon  the  bishop,  quitting  all  thoughts  of  composition, 
resolved  to  weather  out  the  tempest  of  his  majesty's  displeasure  at 
open  sea  ;  either  out  of  confidence  of  the  strength  of  his  tackling, 
his  own  innocence,  or  skill  of  his  pilots,  who  were  to  steer  his  suit, 
having  the  learnedest  counsel  of  the  land,  by  whose  advice  he  put  in 
a  strong  plea ;  which,  likewise  being  argued  and  debated  in  open 
court,  came  at  last  to  the  same  untimely  end  with  the  demurrer,  as 
referred  to  judge  Richardson,  and  smothered  by  him  in  a  chamber. 

This  plea  thus  over-ruled,  the  bishop  put  in  an  especial  answer  to 
the  information,  declaring  hoAv  all  was  grounded  by  n  conspiracy 


390  CHURCH    HISTORY    OF    BRITAIN.  A.D.  1637. 

and  combination  of  the  persons  named  in  the  Bill ;  to  wit,  Lamb, 
Sibthorp,  Allen,  and  Burden,  out  of  an  intent  to  advance  them- 
selves, and  hatred  they  bare  to  him,  for  not  permitting  them  to  poll 
and  pill  the  king's  subjects  in  Leicestershire,  in  their  ecclesiastical 
courts,  by  haling  them  into  their  nets  ex  officio  mero  without  any 
previous  complaint,  under  an  imaginary  colour  of  Puritanism.  To 
this  especial  answer,  Attorney  Noy  rejoined  in  issue,  admitting  the 
bishop  to  prove  his  especial  matters,  who  proceeded  to  the  examina- 
tion of  his  witnesses  therein. 

Now  began  Attorney  Noy  to  grow  weary  of  the  matter,  and 
became  slow  and  remiss  in  the  prosecution  thereof; — whether  out  of 
respect  to  the  bishop,  whom  he  honoured,  (though  tart  in  terms 
against  him,  to  please  a  greater  prelate,)  or  out  of  consciousness  that 
more  weight  was  hung  thereon,  than  the  slender  wires  of- the  canse 
would  bear.  Hereupon  Richard  Kilvert  was  entertained  to  follow 
the  suit,  (though  not  entering  himself,  as  he  ought,  prosecutor  upon 
record,)  at  the  best  being  a  necessary  evil,  to  do  what  an  honest 
man  would  be  ashamed  of.  Indeed,  like  an  English  mastiff,  he  would 
fiercely  fly  upon  any  person  or  project,  if  set  on  with  promise  of 
profit :  and  having  formerly  made  his  breakfast  on  Sir  John  Bennet, 
he  intended  to  dine  and  sup  on  the  bishop.  And  though  his  strength 
consisted  much  in  a  cunning  head,  yet  far  more  in  an  able  back,  as 
seconded  in  this  suit  and  abetted  from  the  Court  in  his  undertakings. 
This  Kilvert  so  wrought  himself  into  Warren,  an  examiner  of  the 
Star-chamber,  that,  some  say,  contrary  to  his  oath  he  revealed  unto 
him  that  the  testimony  of  one  John  Pregion,  register  of  Lincoln  and 
Leicester,  was  most  material  in  the  bishop's  defence. 

Then  was  it  Kilvert's  design  touncreditthe  testimony  of  Pregion, 
by  charging  him  with  several  accusations,  particularly  getting  a  bas- 
tard, (though  being  no  matters  upon  record,)  to  take  away  the 
validity  of  his  witness.  The  bishop,  apprehending  himself  necessi- 
tated to  weigh  up  Pregion's  repute,  engaged  himself  more  zealously 
therein  than  was  conceived  consistent  with  the  gravity  of  so  great  a 
prelate  for  so  inconsiderable  a  person  ;  especially  to  such  who  knew 
not,  that  Dr.  Morrison  and  this  Pregion  were  the  only  persons  of 
note  present  at  the  bishop's  table  when  the  discourse  passed  betwixt 
him  and  Sir  John  Lamb.  The  bastard  laid  to  his  charge  is  bandied 
at  Lincoln  sessions,  backward  and  forward  betwixt  Pregion  and 
another.  The  first  court  fathers  it  upon  him,  the  next  freed  him 
from  it,  and  a  third  returned  it  upon  him  again.  This  last  order  of 
sessions  was  again  dissolved  as  illegal,  by  the  Judges  of  the  King's 
Bench,  and  Pregion  cleared  from  the  child  charged  on  him  ;  Sir 
.lohn  Munson,  a  Justice  of  that  county,  appearing  very  active  against 
him,  and  the  bishop  no  less  earnest  in  his  behalf. 


13  CHARLES  I.  BOOK    XI.       CENT.    XVII.  891 

Here  happened  the  occasion  of  that  which  was  afterwards  so 
highly  charged,  and  heavily  censured,  on  the  bishop  Williams; 
namely,  tampering  to  suborn  witnesses.  Henceforward  Kilvert  let 
fall  his  first  information,  which  from  this  day  sunk  in  silence  ;  and 
employed  all  his  power  on  the  proof  of  subornation.  That  bandog 
let  go  his  first  hold,  too  hard  for  his  teeth  to  enter,  and  fastened  his 
fangs  on  a  softer  place,  so  to  pinch  the  bishop  to  purpose ;  yea,  so 
expensive  was  the  suit  that  the  bishop  (well  skilled  in  the  charge  of 
charitable  works)  might  with  the  same  cost  have  built  and  endowed  a 
small  college. 

Some  days  before  the  hearing,  a  noble  lord  of  his  majesty'^s 
council,  the  bishop's  great  friend,  interposed  himself  to  compound 
the  matter ;  prevailing  so  far  that,  on  his  payment  of  two  thousand 
pounds,  the  suit  should  be  superseded  in  the  Star-chamber,  and  he 
freed  from  further  molestation.  But  at  this  lord's  return  the  price 
was  risen  in  the  market ;  and,  beside  the  aforesaid  sum,  it  was 
demanded  of  him,  that,  to  procure  his  peace,  he  must  part  with  his 
deanery  of  Westminster,  parsonage  of  Walgrave,  and  prebend  of 
Lincoln  which  he  kept  in  commendam.  To  this  the  bishop 
answered,  that  he  would  in  no  case  forego  those  few  remainders  of 
the  favour  which  his  ^  dead  m.aster,  king  James,  had  conferred  upon 
him. 

Not  long  after  another  bargain  was  driven,  by  the  well-intended 
endeavours  of  the  same  lord ;  that,  seeing  his  majesty  at  that  time 
had  much  occasion  of  moneys,  if  he  would  but  double  the  former 
sum,  and  lay  down  four  thousand  pounds,  he  should  be  freed  from 
further  trouble,  and  might  go  home  with  all  his  parcels  about  him^ 
The  bishop  returned,  that  he  took  no  delight  to  fence  at  law  with 
his  sovereign  ;  and,  thankfully  embracing  the  motion,  prepared  him- 
self for  the  payment ;  when  a  great  adversary,  stepping  in,  so 
violented  his  majesty  to  a  trial,  that  all  was  not  only  frustrated, 
but  this  afterwards  urged  against  the  bishop,  to  prove  him  conscious 
of  a  crime,  from  his  forwardness  to  entertain  a  composition. 

86 — 88.  His  heavy  Censure^  to  which  the  Archbishop  of  Can- 
terbury did  concur.   Three  of  his  Servants  fined  with  him. 

The  day  of  censure  being  come,  Tuesday,  July  11th,  Sir  John  Finch, 
lord  chief  justice,  fined  the  bishop  ten  thousand  pounds  for  tamper- 
ing to  suborn  witnesses,  secretary  Windebank  concurred  with  [him,] 
(that  little  bell  being  the  loudest  and  shrillest  in  the  whole  peal,)  as 
Avho  alone  motioned  to  degrade  him  ;  which  was  lustily  pronounced  by 
a  knight  and  layman,  having  no  precedent  for  the  same  in  former  ages. 
The  other  lords  brought  the  fine  down  to  eight  thousand  pounds, 
and  a  thousand  marks  to  Sir  John  Munson,   with  suspension  ah 


392  CHURCH    HISTORY    OF    BRITAIN.  A.D.  1637 

officio  et  beneficio,  and  imprisoning  him  during  the  king's  pleasure. 
The  earl  of  Arundel  added,  that  the  cause  in  itself  was  extraor- 
dinary, not  so  much  prosecuted  by  the  Attorney,  as  immediately  by 
the  king  himself  recommended  to  their  justice.  Manchester,  lord 
privy  seal,  said  that  this  was  the  first  precedent,  wherein  a  master 
had  undone  himself  to  save  his  servant. 

The  archbishop  of  Canterbury  did  consent  thereunto,  aggravating 
the  fault  of  subornation  of  perjury  with  a  pathetical  speech  of 
almost  an  hour  long,  showing  how  the  world  was  above  three  thou- 
sand years  old  before  ripe  enough  to  commit  so  great  a  wickedness, 
and  Jezebel  the  first  in  Scripture  branded  with  that  infamy,  whose 
false  witnesses  the  Holy  Spirit  refused  to  name,  otherwise  than 
under  the  character  of  "  men  of  Belial."  Wherefore,  although, 
as  he  said,  he  himself  had  been  five  times  down  on  his  knees  to  his 
majesty,  in  the  bishop's  behalf;  yet,  considering  the  guilt  so  great, 
he  could  not  but  agree  with  the  heaviest  censure.  And,  although 
some  lords,  the  bishop's  friends,  as  treasurer  Weston,  earl  of  Dorset, 
&c.  concurred  in  the  fine,  with  hope  the  king  should  have  the  sole 
honour  of  the  mitigation  thereof,  yet  his  majesty's  necessities,  meet- 
ing with  the  person  adjudged  guilty,  and  well  known  for  solvable; 
no  wonder  if  the  utmost  penny  of  the  fine  was  exacted. 

At  the  same  time  were  fined  with  the  bishop,  George  Walker  his 
secretary,  Cadwallader  Powell  his  steward,  at  three  hundred  pounds 
a-piece,  and  Thomas  Lund,  the  bishop's  servant,  at  a  thousand 
marks;  all  as  defendants  in  the  same  cause;  yet  none  of  them  was 
imprisoned,  save  Lund  for  a  few  weeks,  and  their  fine  never  called 
upon  unto  this  day  ;  which,  the  bishop  said,  was  commuted  into*such 
offices,  as  hereafter  they  were  to  do  in  the  favour  of  Kilvert. 

89 — 93.  The  Complaints  against  the  unjust  Proceedings  against 
him,  put  i?i  by  the  Bishop  into  the  Parliament.  Is 
examined  again  in  the  Tower ;  ivhether  some  Books  were 
orthodox  ?  Who  had  Power  to  licerise  them  f  His  cautious 
Ansiver. 

To  make  this  our  History  entire,  the  matter  shall  rather  rule  the 
time  than  the  time  the  matter,  in  this  particular  suit.  Be  it  there- 
fore known  to  the  reader,  that  some  four  years  after ;  namely,  in 
1640,  when  this  bishop  was  fetched  out  of  the  Tower,  and  restored 
a  Peer  in  Parliament,  he  therein  presented  several  grievances  con- 
cerning the  indirect  prosecution  of  this  cause  against  him,  whereof 
these  the  principal : — 

First.  That  his  adversaries  utterly  waved  and  declined  the  matter 
of  their  first  information,  about  revealing  the  king's  secrets  ;  as 
liujH'lci^s   of  success  therein,  and  sprung  a  new  mine  to  blow  up  liis 


15  CHARLES  1.  BOOK    XI.       CENT.    XVII.  393 

credit,  about  perjury  in  the  examination  of  witnesses.  Whereas  he 
conceived  it  just,  that  all  accidentals  and  occasional  should  sink 
with  the  substance  of  the  accusation,  otherwise  suits  would  be  end- 
less, if  the  branches  thereof  should  still  survive  when  the  root  doth 
expire. 

Secondly.  That  he  was  deprived  of  the  benefit  of  bringing-in 
any  exceptions  against  the  testimonies  of  Sir  John  Lamb  and  Dr. 
Sibthorp,  to  prove  their  combination  against  him,  because  they 
deposing  pro  domino  rege^  none  must  impeach  the  credit  of  the 
king's  witnesses  ;  who  must  be  reputed  holy  and  sacred  in  what  they 
aver,  insomuch  that,  after  briefs  were  drawn  by  Counsel  on  both 
sides,  the  Court  was  moved  to  expunge  those  witnesses  which  made 
most  agpinst  the  king  and  for  the  defendant. 

Thirdly.  That  Kilvert  used  all  ways  to  menace  and  intimidate 
the  bishop's  witnesses,  frighting  them  as  much  as  he  could  out  of 
their  own  consciences,  with  dangers  presented  unto  them.  To  this 
purpose,  he  obtained  from  secretary  Windebank,  that  a  messenger 
of  the  Star-chamber,  one  Pechye  by  name,  was  directed  to  attend 
him  all  along  the  speeding  of  the  commission  in  the  country,  with 
his  coat  of  arms  upon  him,  with  power  to  apprehend  and  close 
imprison  any  person  whom  Kilvert  should  appoint,  pretending  from 
the  secretary  warrants  for  matters  of  state  and  deep  consequence  so 
to  do  ;  by  virtue  whereof,  in  the  face  of  the  commission,  he  seized 
on  and  committed  George  Walker  and  Thomas  Lund,  two  material 
witnesses  for  the  bishop,  and  by  the  terror  thereof  chased  away 
many  more,  whose  depositions  were  necessary  to  the  clearing  of  the 
bishop's  integrity.  Yet  when  the  aforesaid  two  prisoners,  in  the 
custody  of  the  messenger,  were  produced  before  secretary  Winde- 
bank, he  told  them,  he  had  no  matters  of  state  against  them,  but 
turned  them  over  to  Kilvert,  wishing  them  to  give  him  satisfaction ; 
and  were  not  permitted  to  have  their  liberty,  until,  after  long  close 
imprisonment,  they  were  forced  to  confess,  under  their  own  hands, 
crimes  against  themselves  and  the  bishop ;  which  afterwards  they 
denied  and  revoked  upon  their  oaths. 

Lastly,  and  chiefly.  That  the  Judges  privately  over-ruled  his 
pleas ;  so  that  what  shame  and  the  honour  of  the  Court,  with  the 
inspection  of  so  many  eyes,  would  not  permit  to  be  done  publicly 
in  the  sunshine  of  justice,  was  posted  over  by  a  Judge  privately  in 
a  corner.* 

These  and  many  more  Kilvertisms,  as  he  calls  them,  did  the 
bishop  complain  of  in  parliament,  who  so  far  tendered  his  innocency 
therein,  that  they  ordered  all  the  records  of  that  suit  in  the  Star- 
chamber  to  be  obliterated.     Yea,  we  may  justly  conceive,  that  these 

•  These  complaints  I  extracted  out  of  the  bishop's  original. 


394  CHURCH    HISTORY    OF    BllITAIN.  A.D.  1637. 

grievances  of  the  bishop  did  much  hasten,  if  not  chiefly  cause,  the 
suppression  of  that  court. 

Monday,  July  24th,  thirteen  days  after,  he  was  suspended  by  the 
High  Commission,  and  imprisoned  in  the  Tower  for  almost  four 
years ;  during  whose  durance  therein,  two  bishops  and  three  doctors 
were  sent  thither  unto  him,  to  take  his  answer  to  a  book  of  articles, 
of  twenty-four  sheets  of  paper  written  on  both  sides.  They  prof- 
fered him  the  Bible  to  take  the  oath  thereon,  which  he  utterly 
refused,  claiming  the  privilege  of  a  peer,  adding  moreover  that, 
being  a  bishop,  it  was  against  law  and  precedent  in  antiquity,  that 
young  priests,  his  Grace's  (and  some  who  had  been  his  own)  chap- 
lains, and  lay  doctors,  should  sit  as  judges  of  a  bishop's  doctrine, 
with  power  to  deprive  him  of  his  bishopric,  if  disliking  the  same. 
This  was  over-ruled,  and  he,  as  one  of  the  king's  subjects,  required 
to  make  his  answer. 

First.  The  article  that  all  books  licensed  by  his  Grace's  chaplains 
(as  Chune's  and  Sales's  book  with  Dr.  Manwaring's  sermons)  are 
presumed  by  all  true  subjects  to  be  orthodox,  and  agreeable  to  sound 
religion.  This  the  bishop  utterly  denied,  and  wondered  at  their 
impudence,  to  propound  such  an  article  unto  him. 

Secondly.  They  alleged,  that  no  bishop  but  his  Grace,  the  lord 
of  London,  and  their  chaplains,  had  power  to  allow  books.  This 
the  other  denied,  saying  that  all  bishops,  who  were  as  learned  as  they, 
had  as  much  power  as  they,  citing  for  the  same  the  Council  of 
Lateran  under  Leo  X.  Beformatio  Cleri^  under  Cardinal  Pole ; 
queen  Elizabeth's  Injunctions ;  and  the  Decree  of  the  Star-chamber 
relating  to  all  these.  He  also  stoutly  averred  the  privilege  to  belong 
only  to  the  bishops,  and  not  to  their  servants.  Howbeit  his  Grace 
had  shuffled-in  his  chaplains  to  the  last  printed  Star-chamber  decree. 
More  frivolous  were  the  ensuing  articles  whereon  he  was  examined  : — 
That  he  called  a  book  entitled  "A  Coal  from  the  Altar,"  a  pamphlet ; 
that  he  said,  that  "  all  flesh  in  England  had  corrupted  their  ways ;  " 
that  he  said  scoffingly  he  had  "  heard  of  a  mother-church,  but  not 
of  a  mother-chapel  ; "  meaning  the  king's,  to  which  all  churches  in 
ceremonies  were  to  conform ;  that  he  wickedly  jested  upon  St. 
Martin's  hood  ;  that  he  said,  that  "  the  people  are  not  to  be  lashed 
by  every  man's  whip ;  "  that  he  said,  (citing  a  national  Council 
for  it,)  that  "  the  people  are  God's  and  the  king's,  and  not  the 
priests'  people  ;  "  that  he  doth  not  allow  priests  to  jeer  and  make 
invectives  against  the  people. 

To  all  which  the  bishop  made  so  wary  an  answer,  that  no  advan- 
tage could  be  gained  thereby ;  yea,  though,  some  days  after,  they 
returned  to  re-examine  him,  upon  the  same  articles,  to  try,  as  he 
thought,  the  steadiness  of  his  memory,   or  else  to  plunge  him  into 


13  CHARLES  I.  BOOK    XI.       CENT.    XVII.  395 

some  crime  of  perjury,  if  in  any  material  point  he  dissented  from 
his  former  depositions.  But  the  bishop,  like  a  good  boy,  said  his 
lesson  over  again  and  again  ;  so  that  no-  advantage  could  be  tahen 
against  him,  and  thereupon  they  gave  him  leave  to  play,  proceeding 
no  further  in  this  cause.  Only  they  painted  him  out  in  an  ugly 
shape  to  the  king,  as  disaifected  to  the  present  government ;  and, 
God  willing,  we  shall  hear  more  of  their  proceedings  against  him 
hereafter. 

94 — 97-  Transition  to  a  sad  Subject.  The  Project  of  a  public 
Prayer-hook  began  in  the  Reign  of  Kbig  James.  Why  a 
Difference  betwixt  the  Scotch  and  English  Liturgy.  Canoni- 
cal Scripture  only  used  in  the  Scotch  Liturgy.  The  Word 
"  Priest "  therein  declined.  Scotch  Saints  inserted  into  the 
Calendar. 

But  now  we  are  summoned  to  a  sadder  subject ;  from  the  suffer- 
ings of  a  private  person,  to  the  miseries  and  almost  mutual  ruin  of 
two  kingdoms,  England  and  Scotland.  I  confess,  my  hands  have 
always  been  unwilling  to  write  of  that  cold  country,  for  fear  my 
fingers  should  be  frost-bitten  therewith  ;  but  necessity  to  make  our 
story  entire,  puts  me  upon  the  employment.  Miseries,  caused  from 
the  sending  of  the  Book  of  Service  or  new  Liturgy  thither,  which 
may  sadly  be  termed  a  Rubric  indeed,  dyed  with  the  blood  of  so 
many  of  both  nations,  slain  on  that  occasion. 

It  seems  the  design  began  in  the  reign  of  king  James  ;  who 
desired  and  endeavoured  an  uniformity  of  public  prayers  through  the 
kingdom  of  Scotland.  In  order  whereunto,  an  Act  was  passed  in 
the  General  Assembly  at  Aberdeen,  1616,*  to  authorize  some  bishops 
present  to  compile  and  frame  a  public  form  of  Common-Prayer  ; 
and  let  us  observe  the  motions  thereof  1.  It  was  committed  to  the 
bishops  aforesaid,  and  principally  to  the  archbishop  of  St.  Andrew's,-!* 
and  William  Cooper,  bishop  of  Galloway,  to  draw  up  the  order 
thereof.  2.  It  was  transmitted  into  England  to  king  James,  who 
punctually  perused  every  particular  passage  therein.  3.  It  was 
remitted  with  the  king's  observations,  additions,  expunctions,  muta- 
tions, accommodations,  to  Scotland  again.  But  here  the  design  sunk 
with  the  sudden  death  of  king  James,  and  lay  not  only  dormant 
but  dead  ;  till,  some  years  after,  it  was  awakened  or  rather  revived 
again. 

In  the  reign  of  king  Charles,  the  project  being  resumed,  (but 
whether  the  same  book  or  no,  God  knoweth,)  it  was  concluded  not 
to  send  into  Scotland  the  same  Liturgy  of  England  totidem  Terbis, 

•  *'  Tlie  King's  large  Declaration  concerning  the  Tumults  in  Scotland,',  page  16. 
t  See  the  Life  of  Archbishop  Spottiswood. 


396  CHURCH    HISTORY    OF    BRITAIN.  A.D.  1637. 

lest  this  should  be  misconstrued  a  badge  of  dependence  of  that 
church  on  ours.  It  was  resolved  also,  that  the  two  Liturgies  should 
not  differ  in  substance,  lest  the  Roman  party  should  upbraid  us  with 
weighty  and  material  differences.*  A  similitude  therefore  not  identity 
being  resolved  of,  it  was  drawn  up  with  some,  as  they  termed  them, 
insensible  alterations,  but  such  as  were  quickly  found  and  felt  by 
the  Scotch  to  their  great  distaste.  These  alterations  are  of  two 
natures.  First.  Ingratiating ;  which  may  be  presumed  made  to 
gain  the  affection  of  that  nation.  Secondly.  Distasting ;  which,  if 
not  in  the  intent,  in  the  event  proved  the  great  grievance  and  general 
cause  that  the  book  was  hated  and  rejected.  We  will  insist  on 
three  of  the  first  sort : — 

First.  Whereas  there  was  an  ancient  complaint,  that  so  much  of 
the  Apocrypha  was  read  in  churches,  namely,  about  sixty  chapters 
for  the  first  lesson,  from  the  28th  of  September  till  the  24th  of 
November  ;  canonical  Scripture  is  alone  appointed  to  be  read  in  the 
Scotch  Liturgy,  one  day  alone  excepted,  namely,  All-Saints'  Day, 
when  Wisdom  iii.  and  Ecclesiasticus  xiv.  are  ordered  for  Morning 
and  Evening  Prayer  ;  on  the  same  token,  there  wanted  not  such 
who  said  that  those  two  chapters  were  left  there  to  keep  possession, 
that  all  the  rest  might  in  due  time  be  re-introduced. 

Secondly.  The  word  "  priest,"  often  used  in  the  English  Liturgy, 
gave  offence  to  many  ;  insomuch  that  one  writeth  :■[*  "  To  call  us 
priests  as  touching  our  office,  is  either  to  call  back  again  the  old 
priesthood  of  the  law,  which  is  to  deny  Christ  to  be  come,  or  else 
to  keep  a  memory  of  the  popish  priesthood  of  abomination  still 
amongst  us.  Besides,  we  never  read  in  the  New  Testament,  that 
the  word  priest  (as  touching  office)  is  used  in  the  good  part.'"* 
Whereupon,  to  prevent  exception,  it  was  mollified  into  "presbyter"" 
in  the  Scotch  Rubric. 

The  names  of  sundry  saints,  omitted  in  the  English,  are  inserted 
into  the  Scotch  Calendar,  (but  only  in  black  letters,)  on  their  several 
days  according  to  the  form  following  : — 

January  lltk,  David,  king;  IStk,  Mungo,  bishop,  in  Latin 
Kentigerims.  February  18^A,  Coleman.  March  ll^A,  Constantino, 
the  third  king ;  Vitli,  Patrick  ;  l^tli,  Cuthbert.  April  \st,  Gil- 
bert, bishop  ;  20^/^,  Serfe,  bishop.  June  %th^  Columba.  July  Qthy 
Palladias.  September  IWi^  Ninian,  bishop ;  25th,  Adaman, 
bishop.  November  16tk,  Margaret,  queen ;  27t/i,  Ode,  virgin. 
December  4:tk,  Droftane. 

Some  of  these  were  kings,  all  of  them  natives,  of  that  country, 
(Scotch  and  Irish  in  former  ages  being  effectually  the  same,)  and, 

•  King's  "  Declaration,"  page  IS.  t  Cartwright  in  his  "Admonition,"  cap.  iii. 

(]i\ision  1. 


IS  CHARLES  I.  BOOK    XI.       CENT.    XVII.  397 

which  in  probability  might  render  them  to  the  favour  of  their  coun- 
trymen, some  of  them  (as  Coleman,  &c.)  zealous  opposites  to  the 
church  of  Rome  in  the  celebration  of  Easter. 

But  these  Scotch  saints  were  so  far  from  making  the  English 
Liturgy  acceptable,  that  the  English  Liturgy  rather  made  the  saints 
odious  unto  them.  Such  the  distasting  alterations  in  the  book, 
reducible  to,  1.  Additions.  2.  Omissions.  3.  Variations.  And,  4. 
Transpositions. 

98,  99.  Alterations  of  Addition  in  the  Scotch   Liturgy.     The 
most  material  Omission. 

To  instance  in  the  most  material  of  the  first  kind. 

(1.)  In  the  baptism,  these  words  are  inserted,  "  Sanctify  this 
fountain  of  water,  thou  which  art  the  Sanctifier  of  all  things.''* 
Which  words  are  enjoined  to  be  spoken  by  the  minister,  so  often  as 
the  water  in  the  fount  is  changed,  which  must  be  at  least  twice 
a-month. 

(2.)  In  the  prayer  aftej  the  Doxology,  and  before  the  Com- 
munion, this  passage  (expunged  by  the  English  Reformers  out  of 
our  Liturgy)  is  out  of  the  Ordinary  of  Sarum  inserted  in  the  Scotch 
Prayer-Book  :  "  And  of  thy  almighty  goodness  vouchsafe  so  to  bless 
and  sanctify,  with  thy  Word  and  Holy  Spirit,  these  thy  gifts  and  crea- 
tures of  bread  and  wine,  that  they  may  be  unto  us  the  body  and 
blood  of  thy  most  dearly  beloved  Son  :"-|-  From  which  words,  saith 
the  Scotch  author,|  all  papists  use  to  draw  the  truth  of  the  transub- 
stantiation. 

(3.)  He  that  celebrateth  is  enjoined  to  cover  that  which  remain- 
eth  of  the  consecrated  elements,  with  a  fair  linen  cloth  or  "  Cor- 
poral ;''§  a  word  unknown  to  vulgar  ears  of  either  nations,  in  other 
sense  than  to  signify  "  an  under-officer  in  a  foot-company,"  and 
complained  of  to  be  purposely  placed  here,  to  wrap  up  therein  all 
Romish  superstition  of  Christ's  carnal  corporal  presence  in  the 
sacrament. 

(4.)  In  the  prayer  for  the  state  of  Christ  s  church  militant,  these 
words  are  added  :  "  And  we  also  bless  thy  holy  name  for  all  those  thy 
servants  who,  having  finished  their  course  in  faith,  do  now  rest  from 
their  labours.  And  we  yield  unto  thee  most  high  praise  and  hearty 
thanks  for  the  wonderful  grace  and  virtue  declared  in  all  thy  saints, 
who  have  been  the  choice  vessels  of  thy  grace,  and  the  lights  of  the 
world  in  their  several  generations  ;  most  humbly  beseeching  thee, 
that  we  may  have  grace  to  follow  the  example  of  their  steadfastness 
in  thy  faith,  and  obedience  to  thy  holy  commandments,  that,  at  the 

*  Fol.  106,  page  2.  f  Fol.  102,  page  1.  %  Baillie  in  his  "  Canterbiman's 

Self-conviction."  §  Fol.  103,  page  2. 


398  ,  CHUllCH    HISTORY    OF    BRITAIN.  A.  D.  1637* 

day  of  the  general  resurrection,  we,  and  all  they  which  are  of  the 
mystical  body  of  thy  Son,  may  be  set  on  his  right  hand,  and  hear 
that  his  most  joyful  voice,  Come,  ye  blessed,"  &c.* 

2.  Amongst  the  omissions  none  more  complained  of  than  the 
deleting  these  words,  in  the  delivery  of  the  bread  at  the  sacrament : 
"  Take  and  eat  this  in  remembrance  that  Christ  died  for  thee,  and 
feed  on  him  in  thine  heart  by  faith  with  thanksgiving."-|-  A  passage 
destructive  to  transubstantiation,  as  diverting  communicants  from 
carnal  munducation,  and  directing  their  souls  to  a  spiritual  repast  on 
their  Saviour.  All  which  in  the  Scotch  Liturgy  is  cut  off  with  an 
"  Amen '"'  from  the  receiver. 

3,  4.  The  variations  and  transpositions  are  of  less  moment ;  as 
where  the  money  gathered  at  the  offertory,  distributable  by  the 
English  Liturgy  to  the  poor  alone,  hath  a  moiety  thereof  assigned 
he  minister,  therewith  to  buy  him  books  of  holy  divinity  ;  and  some 
prayers  are  transposed  from  their  place,  and  ordered  elsewhere, 
whereat  some  do  take  no  small  exception.  Other  smaller  differences 
(if  worth  the  while)  will  quickly  appear  to  the  curious  perusers 
of  both  Liturgies. 

100.   The  discontented  Condition  of  the  Scotch  Nation  when  the 
Liturgy  was  first  brought  unto  them. 

Pass  we  now  from  the  constitution  of  the  book,  to  the  condition 
of  the  Scotch  nation,  in  this  unhappy  juncture  of  time  when  it  was 
imposed  upon  them.  For  it  found  them  in  a  discontented  posture, 
(and  high  royalists  will  maintain,  that  murmuring  and  mutinying 
against  princes  differ  only  in  degree,  not  in  kind,)  occasioned  on 
several  accounts. 

1.  Some  years  since,  the  king  had  passed  an  act  of  revocation  of 
crown-lands,  (aliened  in  the  minority  of  his  ancestors,)  whereby 
much  land  of  the  nobility  became  obnoxious  to  forfeiture.]:  And 
though  all  was  forgiven  again  by  the  king's  clemency,  and  nothing 
acted  hereby  to  the  prejudice  of  any  ;  yet  it  vexed  some  to  hold 
that  as  remitted  by  the  king's  bounty,  wherein  they  conceived 
themselves  to  be  before  unquestionably  estated. 

2.  Whereas  many  formerly  in  Scotland  were  rather  subjects  than 
tenants,  rather  vassals  than  subjects  ;  such  the  landlords'*  princely 
(not  to  say  tyrannical)  power  over  them,  the  king  had  lately  freed 
many  from  such  dangerous  dependence  ;  especially  in  point  of  pay- 
ment of  tithes  to  "the  lords  of  the  erection,'"*  equivalent  to  our 
English  lay-impropriators,  (but  allowing  the  landlords  a  valuable 
consideration,  according  to  the  purchases  of  that  country,§)  whereby 

•  Fol.  98,  page  1.  t  Fol.  103,  page  2.  J  "The  King's  Declaration  at 

large,"  page  G.  §  Idevi,  page  9. 


13  CHARLES  I.  BOOK    XT.       CENT.    XVII.  399 

the  king  got  the  smiles  of  those  who  were  most  in  number,  but  the 
frowns  of  such  who  were  greatest  in  power. 

3.  Many  were  offended,  that,  at  the  king's  coronation,  some  six 
years  ago,  and  a  parliament  following  thereon,  an  Act  of  ratification 
was  passed  concerning  the  church's  liberties  and  privileges,  which, 
some  complained  of,  was  done  without  plurality  of  suffrages. 

4.  Some  persons  of  honour,  desiring  higher  titles,  were  offended, 
that  they  were  denied  unto  them,  Avhilst  his  majesty  conferred  them 
on  others.* 

There  want  not  those  also,  who  confidently  suggested  it  to  pos- 
terity, that  pensions  constantly  paid  out  of  the  English  exchequer 
in  the  reign  of  king  James,  to  some  principal  pastors  in  the  Scottish 
church,  were  since  detained.  So  also  the  bounty  of  boons  was  now 
restrained  in  the  reign  of  king  Charles,  which  could  not  fall  so  freely, 
as  in  the  days  of  his  father,  the  cloud  being  almost  drained :  adding, 
moreover,  that  the  want  of  watering  of  Scotland  with  such  showers 
made  them  to  chap  into  such  clefts  and  chinks  of  parties  and  factions, 
disaffected  to  the  king's  proceedings. 

101— 103.  The  Book  hears  the  Blame  of  all.  The  Scotch 
Church  standeth  on  the  Terms  of  its  own  Independency. 
Archbishop  Laud  accused  as  principal  Composer  of  the 
Book. 

To  increase  these  distempers,  some  complain  (how  justly,  their 
own  countrymen  best  know)  of  the  pride  and  pragmaticalness  of  the 
Scotch  bishops,  who,  being  but  probationers  on  their  good  behaviour, 
(as  but  re-introduced  by  king  James,)  offended  the  ancient  nobility, 
with  their  meddling  in  state-matters.  And  I  find  two  principally 
accused  on  this  account :  Dr.  Forbes,  bishop  of  the  new  bishopric 
of  Edinburgh,  and  Dr.  Wedderburne,  bishop  of  Dumblain.  Thus 
was  the  Scotch  nation  full  of  discontents,  when  this  book,  being 
brought  unto  them,  bare  the  blame  of  their  breaking-forth  into  more 
dangerous  designs  ;  as,  when  the  cup  is  brim  full  before,  the  last 
(though  least)  superadded  drop  is  charged  alone  to  be  the  cause  of 
all  the  running-over. 

Besides,  the  church  of  Scotland  claimed  not  only  to  be  indepen- 
dent and  free  as  any  church  in  Christendom,  (a  sister,  not  daughter, 
of  England,)  but  also  had  so  high  an  opinion  of  its  own  purity, 
that  it  participated  more  of  Moses's  platform  in  the  mount,  than 
other  protestant  churches,  being  a  reformed  reformation  ;  so  that 
the  practice  thereof  might  be  directory  to  others,  and  she  sit  to  give 
not  take — write  not  receive — copies  from  any  neighbouring  church, 

*  '<  Tlie  King's  Declaration,"  page  11. 


400  CHURCH    HlSTOllY    OF    liRITAIN.  A.D.  16S7. 

desiring  that  all  others  were  like  unto  them,  save  only  in  their 
afflictions. 

So  much  for  the  complained-of  burden  of  the  book,  as  also  for  the 
sore  back  of  that  nation,  galled  with  the  aforesaid  grievances,  when 
this  Liturgy  was  sent  unto  them.  And  now  we  must  not  forget  the 
hatred  they  bare  to  the  hand  which  they  accused  for  laying  it  upon 
them.  Generally  they  excused  the  king  in  their  writings  ;  as  inno- 
cent therein  ;  but  charged  archbishop  Laud  as  the  principal  (and 
Dr.  Cosin  for  the  instrumental*)  compiler  thereof;  which  may 
appear  by  what  we  read,  in  a  writer  of  that  nation,-|-  afterwards 
employed  into  England,  about  the  advancing  of  the  covenant 
betwixt  both  nations,  and  other  church-affairs  : — 

"  This  unhappy  book  was  his  Grace^s  invention  ;  if  he  should 
deny  it,  his  own  deeds  would  convince  him.  The  manifold  letters 
which  in  this  pestiferous  affair  have  passed  betwixt  him  and  our 
prelates  are  yet  extant.  If  we  might  be  heard,  we  would  spread  out 
sundry  of  them,  before  the  Convocation-house  of  England,  making 
it  clear  as  the  light,  that  in  all  this  design  his  hand  had  ever  been 
the  prime  stickler  ;  so  that  upon  his  back  mainly  (nill  he,  will  he) 
would  be  laid  the  charge  of  all  the  fruits,  good  or  evil,  which  from 
that  tree  are  like  to  fall  on  the  king's  countries." 

Surely,  if  any  such  evidence  was  extant,  we  shall  hear  of  it  here- 
after at  his  arraignment,  produced  and  urged  by  the  Scotch  com- 
missioners. 

104 — 107.  The  Tumult  at  Edinburgh  at  the  first  reading  the 
Book.  More  coiisiderahle  Persons  engaged  in  the  Cause. 
The  Occasion  of  the  Scotch  Covenant.  The  Author  s 
Excuse,  why  not  proceeding  in  this  Subject. 

But  leaving  the  roots  to  lie  under  the  earth,  let  us  look  on  the 
branches  spreading  themselves  above  ground  ;  and  passing  from 
the  secret  author  of  this  book,  behold  the  evident  effects  thereof. 
No  sooner  had  the  dean  of  Edinburgh  begun  to  read  the  book  in 
the  church  of  St.  Giles,  Sunday,  July  23rd,  in  the  presence  of  the 
Privy  Council,  both  the  archbishops,  divers  bishops,  and  magistrates 
of  the  city,  but  presently  such  a  tumult  was  raised  that,  through 
clapping  of  hands,  cursing,  and  crying,  one  could  neither  hear  nor 
be  heard.  The  bishop  of  Edinburgh  endeavoured  in  vain  to  appease 
the  tumult ;  whom  a  stool,  aimed  to  be  thrown  at  him,  had  killed, 
if  not  diverted  by  one  present; J  so  that  the  same  book  had  occa- 
sioned his  death,  and  prescribed  the  form  of  his  burial;  and  this 

•  Baillie,  utprius,  page  102.  -f  fdein,  pages  95,  96.  J  "The  King's 

Declaration,"  page  23. 


13  CHARLES  I.  BOOK    XI.       CENT.    XVII.  401 

hubbub  was  hardly  suppressed   by  the  lord  provost  and  bailiffs  of 
Edinburgh. 

This  first  tumult  was  caused  by  such,  whom  I  find  called  "  the 
scum  of  the  city,"  considerable  for  nothing  but  their  number.  But, 
few  days  after,  the  cream  of  the  nation  (some  of  the  highest  and  best 
quality  therein)  engaged  in  the  same  cause,  crying  out,  "  God 
defend  all  those  who  will  defend  God's  cause  !  and  God  confound 
the  service-book  and  all  the  maintainers  of  it !  '"** 

The  lords  of  the  Council  interposed  their  power  ;  and,  to  appease 
all  parties,  issued  out  a  proclamation,  October  17th,  to  remove  the 
session  (much  like  to  our  term  in  London)  to  Linlithgow.  This 
abated  their  anger,  as  fire  is  quenched  with  oil ;  seeing  the  best  part 
of  the  Edinburghers'  livelihood  depends  on  the  session  kept  in  their 
city.  Yea,  so  highly  were  the  people  enraged  against  bishops,  as  the 
procurers  of  all  these  troubles,  that  the  bishop  of  Galloway  passing 
peaceably  along  the  street  towards  the  Council-house,  was  waylaid 
in  his  coming  thithcr,f  if  by  Divine  Providence,  and  by  Francis 
Stewart,  son  to  the  late  earl  of  Bothwell,  he  had  not  with  much  ado 
been  got  within  the  doors  of  the  Council-house.  Indeed,  there  is 
no  fence  but  flight,  nor  counsel  but  concealment,  to  secure  any 
single  party  against  an  offended  multitude. 

These  troublesome  beginnings  afterwards  did  occasion  "  the 
solemn  League  and  Covenant,"  whereby  the  greatest  part  of  the 
nation  united  themselves  to  defend  their  privileges,  and  which  laid 
the  foundation  of  a  long  and  woful  war  in  both  kingdoms.  And 
here  I  crave  the  reader's  pardon  to  break  off;  and  leave  the  prosecu- 
tion of  this  sad  subject  to  pens  more  able  to  undertake  it.  For, 
First.  I  know  none  will  pity  me,  if  I  needlessly  prick  my  fingers 
with  meddling  wdth  a  thistle,  which  belongs  not  unto  me.  Secondly. 
I  despair  of  perfect  notice  of  particulars,  at  so  great  a  distance  of 
place,  and  greater  of  parties  concerned  therein.  Thirdly.  If  exact 
intelligence  were  obtained,  as  ages  long  ago  are  written  with  more 
safety  than  truth,  so  the  story  hereof  might  be  written  with  more 
truth  than  safety.  Lastly.  Being  a  civil  business,  it  is  aliened 
from  my  subject,  and  may  justly  be  declined.  If  any  object  that  it 
is  reducible  to  ecclesiastical  story,  because  one,  as  they  said,  termed 
this  helium  episcopale^  "  the  war  for  bishops  ; "  I  conceive  it  presump- 
tion for  so  mean  a  minister  as  myself  (and  indeed  for  any  under  that 
great  order)  to  undertake  the  writing  thereof. 

*  "  The  King's  large  Declaration,"  page  37.  t  Ibid,  page  35. 


Vol.  III.  ^  i> 


402  CHURCH    HISTORY    OF    BRITAIN.  A.D.  1638. 


SECTION  III. 

TO  HENRY  PUCKERINGNEWTON,  SON  AND  HEIR  TO 
SIR  HENRY  PUCKERINGNEWTON,  BARONET. 

No  gentleman  in  this  nation  is  more  advantaged  to 
be  a  scholar  born  than  yourself.  You  may  be  free  of 
the  city  of  the  Muses  by  the  copy  of  your  grandfathers  : 
(by  your  father's  side,)  Sir  Adam  Newton,  tutor  to 
prince  Henry  :  (by  your  mother's  side,)  Mr.  Murray, 
tutor  to  king  Charles. 

If  you  be  not  more  than  an  ordinary  scholar,  it  will 
not  be  less  than  an  extraordinary  disgrace.  Good  is 
not  good,  where  better  is  expected.  But  I  am  con- 
fident, if  your  pains  be  added  to  your  parts,  your 
prayers  to  your  pains,  God's  blessing  will  be  added  to 
your  prayers  to  crown  all  with  success. 

1 — 5.  Bishop  Williams's  second  Censure.  A.D.  1637- 
Now  bishop  Williams  was  sentenced  the  second  time  in  the 
Star-chamber  on  this  occasion  :  Mr.  Lambert  Osbaldeston,  school- 
master of  Westminster,  wrote  a  letter  unto  him,  wherein  this  pas- 
sage :  "  The  little  vermin,  the  urchin  and  hocus-pocus,  is  this 
stormy  Christmas  at  true  and  real  variance  with  the  Leviathan." 
Now  the  bishop  was  accused  for  divulging  scandalous  libels  on 
Privy  Counsellors,  and  that  the  archbishop  of  Canterbury  was  meant 
by  the  former  names,  the  lord  treasurer  Weston  by  "  the  Levia- 
than," because  he  should  have  presented  the  libellous  letter  at  the 
receipt  thereof,  to  some  Justice  of  Peace,  and  not  dispersed  the 
same. 

The  bishop  pleaded,  that  he  remembered  not  the  receiving  of  any 
such  letter,  that  he  conceived  no  law  directs  the  subject  to  bring  to 
a  Justice  of  Peace,  enigmas  or  riddles,  but  plain,  literal,  and  gram- 
matical libels  against  a  known  and  clearly- deciphered  person.  Mr. 
Osbaldeston  denied  the  words  so  meant  by  him,  and  deposed  that 
he  intended  one  Dr.  Spicer,  a  civilian,  by  ".hocus-pocus,*'  and  the 
lord  Richardson  (alive  when  the  letter  was  written,  but  then  dead) 
for  "  the  Leviathan." 

Here  a  paper  was  produced  by  Mr.  Walker,  the  bishop's  secre- 
tary, and  found  in  a  bandbox  at  Bugden,  wherein  the  bishop  had 
thus  written  unto  him  : — 


14  CHARLES   I.  LOt)K    XI.       CENT.    XVII.  403 

"  Here  is  a  strange  thing :  Mr.  Osbaldeston  importunes  me  to 
contribute,  to  my  lord  treasurer's  use,  some  charges  upon  the  little 
great  man,  and  assures  me  they  are  mortally  out.  I  have  utterly 
refused  to  meddle  in  this  business  ;  and  I  pray  you  learn  from  Mr. 
S.  and  Mr.  H.  if  any  such  falling  out  be,  or  whether  somebody 
hath  not  gulled  the  schoolmaster  in  these  three  last  letters,  and  keep 
it  to  yourself  what  I  write  unto  you.  If  my  lord  treasurer  would 
be  served  by  me,  he  must  use  a  more  near,  solid,  and  trusty  messen- 
ger, and  free  me  from  the  bonds  of  the  Star-chamber ;  else  let  them 
fight  it  out  for  me."" 

Now  Mr.  Walker,  being  pressed  by  a  friend,  why  he  would  dis- 
cover this  letter  to  his  master's  prejudice,  averred,  lie  brought  it 
forth  ^as  a  main  witness  of  his  innocency,  and  as  able  to  clear  him 
of  all  in  the  information.  However,  it  was  strongly  misunderstood; 
for,  by  comparing  both  letters  together,  the  court  collected  the 
bishop  guilty. 

Sir  John  Finch  fined  him  a  just  ten  thousand  pounds,  rotundi 
numeri  causa,  whom  secretary  Windebank  did  follow.  The  rest 
brought  it  down  to  eight  thousand  pounds  only.  One  lord  thought 
fitting  to  impose  no  fine  upon  him,  rendering  this  reason.  Qui  jacet 
in  terra  non  habet  uncle  cadet. 

The  bishop  already  being  sequestered  from  all  his  temporal  lands, 
spiritual  preferment,  and  his  person  imprisoned,  Mr.  Osbaldeston 
was  sentenced  five  thousand  pounds,  loss  of  his  good  living  at 
Wheathamstead,  and  to  have  his  ears  tacked  to  the  pillory  in  the 
presence  of  his  scholars,  whom  his  industry  had  improved  to  as  great 
eminency  of  learning  as  any  of  his  predecessors  ;  insomuch  that  he 
had  at  the  present  above  fourscore  doctors  in  the  two  universities, 
and  three  learned  faculties,  all  gratefully  acknowledging  their  educa- 
tion under  him.  But  this  last  personal  penalty  he  escaped  by  going 
beyond  Canterbury,  conceived  seasonably  gone  beyond  the  seas, 
whilst  he  secretly  concealed  himself  in  London. 

6 — 8.   The  third  Accusation  against  him.     ^.Z>.  1638. 

All  this  put  not  a  period  to  the  bishop's  troubles  ;  his  unseques- 
tered  spirit  so  supported  him,  that  some  of  his  adversaries  frowned 
because  he  could  smile  under  so  great  vexations.  A  design  is  set 
a-foot,  either  to  make  him  voluntarily  surrender  his  bishopric, 
deanery,  and  dignities,  (permitted,  perchance,  a  poor  bishopric  in 
Ireland,)  or  else  to  press  his  degradation  :  in  order  whereunto  a 
new  information  with  ten  articles  is  drawn  up  against  him,  though, 
for  the  main,  but  the  consequence  and  deductions  of  the  fault  for 
tampering  with  witnesses,  for  which  in  the  thirteenth  of  king  Charles 
he  hatl  been  so  severely  censured. 

2  D  2 


404  CHURCH    HlSTOPvV    OF    BRITAIN.  A.D.  1640. 

To  this  the  bishop  put  in  a  plea  and  demurrer,  that  Deus  non 
judicat  his  in  idijysum^  "  God  punisheth  not  the  same  fault  twice  ;*" 
that  this  is  the  way  to  make  causes  immense  and  punishments  infi- 
nite ;  that  whereas  there  was  two  things  that  philosophers  denied, — 
infiniteness  and  vacuity,  Kilvert  had  found  them  both  in  this  prose- 
cution,— infiniteness  in  the  bishop's  cause,  and  vacuity  in  his  purse  ; 
that  the  profane  wits  of  this  age  should  begin  to  doubt  of  the  neces- 
sity of  believing  a  hell  hereafter,  w^hen  such  eternal  punishments  are 
found  here  in  such  kind  of  prosecution.  He  added  also,  that  he 
could  prove  it  that  it  was  a  conspiracy  of  Kilvert"*s  with  other 
persons,  if  he  might  have  freedom  to  bring  his  witnesses  against 
them  ;  which,  because  it  cast  scandal  on  those  who  were/»7'0  domino 
rege^  was  now  denied  him. 

Then  put  he  in  a  rejoinder  and  an  appeal  unto  the  next  Parlia- 
ment, whensoever  it  should  be  assembled,  pleading  his  privilege  of 
Peerage,  as  his  freehold,  and  that  he  could  not  be  degraded  of  his 
Orders  and  dignities.  This  was  filed  in  the  Star-chamber  under  the 
clerk's  book,  and  copies  thereof  signed  with  the  usual  officers. 
Now,  although  this  was  but  a  poor  help,  no  light  of  a  Parliament 
dawning  at  that  time ;  yet  it  so  far  quashed  the  proceedings  that  it 
never  came  to  farther  hearing,  and  the  matter  superseded  from  any 
final  censure. 

9, 10.  Scoti  Broils  begin.   The  Reader  referred  to  other  Authors. 
A.D.  1639,  1640. 

And  now  began  Scotland  to  be  an  actor,  and  England,  as  yet,  a 
sad  spectator  thereof,  as  suspecting  ere  long  to  feel  what  she  beheld. 
There  is  a  high  hill  in  Cumberland  called  Skiddaw,  and  another 
answering  thereto,  Scrussell  by  name,  in  Annandale  in  Scotland  ; 
and  the  people  dwelling  by  have  an  old  rhyme  : — 

''  If  Skiddaw  hath  a  cap, 

Scrussell  wots  Ml  well  of  that."  * 

Meaning,  that  such  the  vicinity  (and,  as  I  may  say,  sym}  athy) 
betwixt  these  two  hills,  that  if  one  be  sick  with  a  mist  of  clouds, 
the  other  soon  after  is  sad  on  the  like  occasion.  Thus  none,  seeing 
it  now  foul  weather  in  Scotland,  could  expect  it  fair  sunshine  in 
England,  but  that  she  must  share  in  the  same  miseries  :  as  soon 
after  it  came  to  pass. 

Let  those  who  desire  perfect  information  hereof,  satisfy  them- 
selves, from  such  as  have  [written],  or  may  hereafter  write,  the 
History  of  the  state.  In  whom  they  shall  find  how  king  Charles 
took  his  journey  northward,   (March  27th,)   against  the    Scottish 

*  Camden's  Britannia  in  Ciimberland,  page  7G7. 


16    CHARLES   I.  BOOK    XI.       CENT.    XVIT.  405 

Covenanters  ;  how  some  weeks  after,  on  certain  conditions,  a  peace 
was  concluded  betwixt  them  ;  how  his  majesty  returned  to  London, 
June  17th ;  and  liow  this  palliated  cure  soon  after  brake  out  again, 
more  dangerous  than  ever  before. 

11 — 18.  A  Parliament  and  Co)ivocatUm  called.  Dr.  Turners 
Text  and  Sermon.  The  Effect  of  the  Archbishop's  Latin 
Speech.  The  just  Suspicions  of  ivise  Men.  The  Parlia- 
ment suddenly  dissolved ;  yet  the  Convocation  still  con- 
tinues. A  Party  dissents,  and  protests  against  the  Con- 
tinuance thereof  OutoftJie  Burial  of  an  old  Convocation^ 
the  Birth  of  a  new  Synod. 

Tn  these  distracted  times  a  Parliament  was  called,  Monday, 
April  13th,  with  the  -wishes  of  all,  and  hopes  of  most  that  were 
honest ;  yet  not  without  the  fears  of  some,  who  were  wise,  what  would 
be  the  success  thereof.  With  this  Parliament  began  a  Convocation  ; 
all  the  mediate  transactions  (for  aught  I  can  find  out)  are  embez- 
zled ;  and  therein  it  was  ordered,  that  none  present  should  take  any 
private  notes  in  the  House  ;  whereby  the  particular  passages  thereof 
are  left  at  great  uncertainty.  However,  so  far  as  I  can  remember,  I 
will  faithfully  relate  ;  being  comforted  with  this  consideration,  that 
generally  he  is  accounted  an  unpartial  arbitrator  who  displeaseth 
both  sides. 

On  the  first  day  thereof,  Tuesday,  14th,  Dr.  Turner,  chaplain  to 
the  archbishop  of  Canterbury,  made  a  Latin  sermon  in  the  choir  of 
St.  Paul's.  His  text :  "  Behold,  I  send  you  forth  as  sheep  in  the 
midst  of  wolves,"  Matt.  x.  16.  In  the  close  of  his  sermon  he  com- 
plained, that  all  bishops  held  not  the  reins  of  church-discipline  with 
an  even  hand,  but  that  some  of  them  were  too  easy  and  remiss  in  the 
ordering  thereof ;  whereby,  while  they  sought  to  gain  to  themselves 
the  popular  praise  of  meekness  and  mildness,  they  occasionally  cast 
on  other  bishops,  more  severe  than  themselves,  the  unjust  imputation 
of  rigour  and  tyranny  ;  and  therefore  he  advised  them  all  with  equal 
strictness  to  urge  an  universal  conformity.  Sermon  ended,  we  chose 
Dr.  Stewart,  dean  of  Chichester,  Prolocutor. 

Next  day  of  sitting,  Friday,  17th,  we  met  at  Westminster,  in 
the  chapel  of  king  Henry  VII.  both  the  Houses  of  Convocation 
being  joined  together;  when  the  archbishop  of  Canterbury  enter- 
tained them  with  a  Latin  speech,  well  nigh  three  quarters  of  an 
hour  gravely  uttered,  his  eyes  oft-times  being  but  one  remove  from 
weeping.  It  consisted  most  of  generals,  bemoaning  the  distempers 
of  the  church  ;  but  [he]  concluded  it  with  a  special  passage, 
acquainting  us  how  highly  we  were  indebted  to  his  majesty's  favour 
so  far  intrusting  the  integrity  and  ability  of  that  Convocation,  a^  to 


400         CHURCH  HISTORY  OF  BRITAIN.         A.D.  1640. 

empower  them  with  his  commission,  the  like  Avhereof  was  not  granted 
for  many  years  before,  to  alter  old — or  make  new — canons  for  the 
better  government  of  the  church. 

Some  wise  men  in  the  Convocation  began  now  to  be  jealous  of 
the  event  of  new  canons ;  yea,  became  fearful  of  their  own  selves, 
for  having  too  great  power,  lest  it  should  tempt  them  to  be  over- 
tampering  in  innovations.  They  thought  it  better,  that  this  Convo- 
cation, with  its  predecessors,  should  be  censured  for  laziness,  and 
the  solemn  doing  of  just  nothing,  rather  than  to  run  the  hazard  by 
over-activity  to  do  any  thing  unjust.  For,  as  waters  long  dammed 
up  oft-times  flounce,  and  fly  out  too  violently,  when  their  sluices  are 
pulled  up,  and  they  let  loose  on  a  sudden  ;  so  the  judicious  feared, 
lest  the  Convocation,  whose  power  of  meddling  with  church-matters 
had  been  bridled  up  for  many  years  before,  should  now,  enabled 
with  such  power,  over-act  their  parts,  especially  in  such  dangerous 
and  discontented  times.  Yea,  they  suspected,  lest  those  who 
formerly  had  out-run  the  canons  with  their  additional  conformity 
(ceremonizing  more  then  w^as  enjoined)  now  would  make  the  canons 
come  up  to  them,  making  it  necessary  for  others  what  voluntarily 
they  had  pre-practised  themselves. 

Matters  began  to  be  in  agitation,  when  on  a  sudden,  (May  5th,) 
the  Parliament  (wherein  many  things  were  started,  nothing  hunted 
down,  or  brought  to  perfection)  was  dissolved.  Whilst  the  imme- 
diate cause  hereof  is  commonly  cast  on  the  king  and  court,  demand- 
ing so  many  subsidies  at  once,  England  being  as  yet  unacquainted 
with  such  prodigious  payments  ;  the  more  conscientious  look  higher 
and  remoter,  on  the  crying  sins  of  our  kingdom.  And  from  this 
very  time  did  God  begin  to  gather  the  twigs  of  that  rod  (a  civil 
war)  wherewith  soon  after  he  intended  to  whip  a  wanton  nation. 

Next  day  the  Convocation  came  together,  as  most  supposed, 
merely  meeting  to  part,  and  finally  to  dissolve  themselves  :  when, 
contrary  to  general  expectation,  it  was  motioned  to  improve  the 
present  opportunity,  in  perfecting  the  new  canons  which  they  had 
begun.  And  soon  after  a  new  commission  was  brought  from  his 
majesty,  by  virtue  whereof  v/e  were  warranted  still  to  sit,  not  in  the 
capacity  of  a  Convocation,  but  of  a  Synod,  to  prepare  our  canons 
for  the  royal  assent  thereunto.  But  Dr.  Brownrigg,  Dr.  Hackct, 
Dr.  Holdsworth,  Mr.  Warmestry,  with  others,  to  the  number  of 
thirty-six,  (the  whole  House  consisting  of  about  six-score,)  earnestly 
protested  against  the  continuance  of  the  Convocation. 

These  importunately  pressed,  that  it  might  sink  with  the  parlia- 
ment ;  it  being  ominous  and  without  precedent,  that  the  one  should 
survive  when  the  other  was  expired.  To  satisfy  these,  an  instrument 
was  brought  into  Synod,  signed  with  the  hands  of  the  Lord  Privy 


10  CHARLES  I.  BOOK    XI.       CENT.    XVII.  407 

Seal,  the  two  Chief  Justices,  and  other  Judges,  justifying  our  so 
sitting  in  the  nature  of  a  Synod  to  be  legal  according  to  the  laws  of 
the  realm.  It  ill  becometli  clergymen  to  pretend  to  more  skill  in 
the  laws,  than  so  learned  sages  in  that'  profession,  and  therefore 
impartial  judgments  may  take  oiF  from  the  fault  of  the  followers, 
and  lay  it  on  the  leaders,  that  this  Synod  sate  when  the  Parliament 
was  dissolved.  This  made  the  aforesaid  thirty-six  dissenters,  though 
solemnly  making  their  oral  protests  to  the  contrary,  yet  not  to  dis- 
sever themselves,  or  enter  any  act  in  scriptis  against  the  legality  of 
this  assembly;  the  rather,  because  they  hoped  to  moderate  proceed- 
ings with  their  presence.  Surely,  some  of  their  own  coat,  which 
since  have  censured  these  dissenters  for  cowardly  compliance,  and 
doing  no  more  in  this  cause,  would  have  done  less  themselves,  if  in 
their  condition. 

Thus  was  an  old  Convocation  converted  into  a  new  Synod  ;  and 
now  their  disjointed  meeting  being  set  together  again,  they  betook 
themselves  to  consult  about  new  canons.  Now,  because  great  bodies 
move  slowly,  and  are  fitter  to  be  the  consenters  to  than  the  con- 
trivers of  business,  it  was  thought  fit  to  contract  the  Synod  into  a 
select  Committee  of  some  six-and-twenty,  beside  the  Prolocutor, 
who  were  to  ripen  matters,  as  to  the  propounding  and  drawing-up 
the  forms  to  what  should  pass,  yet  so,  that  nothing  should 
be  accounted  the  act  of  the  House,  till  thrice  (as  I  take  it)  publicly 
voted  therein. 

19 — 23.  Why  the  Canons  of  this  Synod  are  not  hy  us  exem- 
plified. The  Form  of  the  Oath^  ^c.  A  Motion  for  a  new 
Edition  of  the  Welsh  Bible-  Gloiicester''s  Singularity., 
threatened  ivith  Suspension.     His  Suspension  suspended. 

Expect  not  here  of  me  an  exemplification  of  such  canons  as  were 
concluded  of  in  this  Convocation  ;  partly,  because  being  printed 
they  are  public  to  every  eye ;  but  ciiiefly,  because  they  were  never 
put  in  practice,  or  generally  received.  The  men  in  Persia  did  never 
look  on  their  little  ones  till  they  were  seven  years  old,  bred  till  that 
time  with  their  mothers  and  nurses  ;  nor  did  they  account  them  in 
their  genealogies  amongst  their  children,  but  amongst  the  more  long- 
lived  abortives,  if  dying  before  seven  years  of  age.  I  conceive  such 
canons  come  not  under  our  cognizance,  which  last  not  (at  least)  an 
apprenticeship  of  years  in  use  and  practice  ;  and  therefore  we 
decline  the  setting  down  the  Acts  of  this  Synod.  It  is  enough  for 
us  to  present  the  number  and  titles  of  the  several  canons. 

1.  Concerning  the  regal  power.  2.  For  the  better  keeping  of 
the  day  of  his  majesty's  most  happy  inauguration.  3.  For  sup- 
pressing of  the  growth  of  popery.  4.  Against  Socinianism.  5.  Against 


408  CHURCH    HISTORY    OF    BRITAIN.  A.D.  1G40. 

Sectaries.  6.  An  oatli  enjoined  for  the  preventing  of  all  innova- 
tions in  doctrine  and  government.  7-  A  declaration  concerning 
some  rites  and  ceremonies.  8.  Of  preaching  for  conformity.  9. 
One  book  of  articles  of  inquiry  to  be  used  at  all  parochial  visitations. 
10.  Concerning  the  conversation  of  the  clergy.  11.  Chancellors'* 
patents.  12.  Chancellors  alone  not  to  censure  any  of  the  clergy  in 
sundry  cases.  13.  Excommunication  and  absolution  not  to  be  pro- 
nounced but  by  a  priest.  14.  Concerning  the  commutations,  and 
the  disposing  of  them.  15.  Touching  concurrent  jurisdictions. 
16.  Concerning  licences  to  marry.     17-  Against  vexatious  citations. 

As  for  the  oath  concluded  on  in  this  Synod,  because  since  the 
subject  of  so  much  discourse,  it  is  here  set  forth  at  large,  according 
to  the  true  tenour  thereof,  as  followeth  : — 

"  I,  A.  B.  do  swear,  that  I  do  approve  the  doctrine  and  discipline 
or  government  established  in  the  church  of  England,  as  containing 
all  things  necessary  to  salvation  ;  and  that  I  will  not  endeavour  by 
myself  or  any  other,  directly  or  indirectly,  to  bring  in  any  popish 
doctrine  contrary  to  that  which  is  so  established ;  nor  will  I  ever 
give  my  consent  to  alter  the  government  of  this  church,  by  arch- 
bishops, bishops,  deans,  and  archdeacons,  &c.  as  it  stands  now 
established,  and  as  by  right  it  ought  to  stand,  nor  yet  ever  to  subject 
it  to  the  usurpation  and  superstitions  of  the  see  of  Rome.  And 
all  these  things  I  do  plainly  and  sincerely  acknowledge  and  swear, 
according  to  the  plain  and  common  sense  and  understanding  of  the 
same  words,  without  any  equivocation  or  mental  evasion,  or  secret 
reservation  whatsoever.  And  this  I  do  heartily,  willingly,  and  truly, 
upon  the  faith  of  a  Christian.     So  help  me  God,  in  Jesus  Christ." 

Towards  the  close  of  the  Convocation,  Dr.  Griffith,  a  clerk  for 
some  Welsh  diocess,  (whose  moderate  carriage  all  the  while  was  very 
commendable,)  made  a  motion  that  there  might  be  a  new  edition  of 
the  Welsh  church-Bible  ;  some  sixty  years  since  translated  into 
Welsh,  by  the  worthy  endeavours  of  bishop  Morgan,  but  not  with- 
out many  mistakes  and  omissions  of  the  printer.  He  insisted  on 
two  most  remarkable :  a  whole  verse  left  out.  Exodus  xii.  concern- 
ing the  angePs  passing  over  the  houses  besprinkled  with  blood, 
which  mangleth  the  sense  of  the  whole  chapter.  Another,  Habakkuk 
2.5,  where  that  passage,  "  He  is  a  proud  man,''  is  wholly  omitted. 
The  matter  was  committed  to  the  care  of  the  Welsh  bishops,  who, 
I  fear,  surprised  with  the  troublesome  times,  effected  nothing 
therein. 

The  day  before  the  ending  of  the  Synod,  Godfrey  Goodman, 
bishop  of  Gloucester,  privately  repaired  to  the  archbishop  of  Can- 
terbury, acquainting  him,  that  he  could  not  in  his  conscience  sub- 
scribe the  new  canonte.     It  appeared  afterwards  that  he  scrupled  some 


16  CHARLES  I.  BOOK    XI.       CENT.    XVII.  409 

passages  about  the  corporal  presence  ;  but,  whether  upon  popish 
or  Lutheran  principles,  he  best  knoweth  himself.  The  archbishop 
advised  him  to  avoid  obstinacy  and  singularity  therein.  However, 
the  next  day,  when  we  all  subscribed  the  canons  (suffering  ourselves, 
according  to  the  order  of  such  meetings,  to  be  all  concluded  by  the 
majority  of  votes,  though  some  of  us  in  the  committee  privately 
dissenting  in  the  passing  of  many  particulars,)  he  alone  utterly 
refused  his  subscription  thereunto.  Whereupon  the  archbishop, 
being  present  with  us  in  king  Henry  the  seventh's  chapel,  was  highly 
offended  at  him.  "  My  lord  of  Gloucester,"  said  he,  "  I  admonish 
you  to  subscribe :"  and  presently  after,  "  My  lord  of  Gloucester,  I 
admonish  you  the  second  time  to  subscribe :"  and  immediately 
after,  "  I  admonish  you  a  third  time  to  subscribe :"  To  all  which 
the  bishop  pleaded  conscience,  and  returned  a  denial. 

Then  were  the  judgments  of  the  bishops  severally  asked,  whether 
they  should  proceed  to  the  present  suspension  of  Gloucester,  for 
his  contempt  herein.  Davenant,  bishop  of  Salisbury,  being 
demanded  his  opinion,  conceived  it  fit  some  lawyers  should  first  be 
consulted  with,  how  far  forth  the  power  of  a  Synod  in  such  cases 
did  extend.  He  added,  moreover,  that  the  threefold  admonition  of 
a  bishop  ought  solemnly  to  be  done  with  some  considerable  intervals 
betwixt  them,  in  which  the  party  might  have  time  of  convenient 
deliberation.  However,  some  days  after  he  was  committed  (by  the 
king''s  command,  as  I  take  it)  to  the  Gate-house,  where  he  got  by 
his  restraint  what  he  could  never  have  gained  by  his  liberty  ;  namely, 
of  one  reputed  popish,  to  become  for  a  short  time  popular,  as  the 
only  confessor  suffering  for  not  subscribing  the  canons.  Soon  after 
the  same  canons  were  subscribed  at  York,  where  the  Convocation  is 
but  the  hand  of  the  dial,  moving,  and  pointing  as  directed  by  the 
clock  of  the  province  of  Canterbury.  And  on  the  last  of  June 
following,  the  said  canons  were  publicly  printed,  with  the  royal 
assent  affixed  thereunto. 

24 — 28.  First  Exception  against  the  Canons.  Second  Excep- 
tion. Third  and  greatest  Exception.  Endeavoured  to  he 
excused.     The  Over-activity  of  some  Bishops. 

No  sooner  came  these  canons  abroad  into  public  view,  but  various 
were  men's  censures  upon  them.  Some  were  offended,  because 
bowing  toward  the  communion-table  (now  called  "  altar""  by  many) 
was  not  only  left  indifferent,  but  also  caution  taken  that  the  observers 
or  the  omitters  thereof  should  not  mutually  censure  each  other  ;  yet 
many  complained,  that  this  ceremony,  though  left  indifferent  as 
hereafter  to  salvation,  was  made  necessary  as  here  to  preferment. 
Yea,  this  knec-maik  of  bowing  or  not  bowing  would  be   made  the 


410  CHLTRCH    HISTORY    OF    BRITAIN.  A.D.  1640. 

distinguishing  character,  that  hereafter  all  such  should  be  condemned 
as  halting  in  conformity,  who  were  not  thorough-paced  in  these  addi- 
tional ceremonies. 

Many  took  exception  at  the  hollowness  of  the  oath  in  the  middle 
thereof,  having  its  bowels  puffed  up  with  a  windy  et  cetera^  a 
cheveril  word,  which  might  be  stretched  as  men  would  measure  it. 
Others  pleaded  for  it,  as  only  inserted  to  save  the  enumeration  of 
many  mean  officers  in  the  church,  whose  mention  was  beneath  the 
dignity  of  an  oath,  and  would  but  clog  the  same.  Yea,  since,  some 
have  endeavoured  to  excuse  the  same  .by  the  interpretative  et  cetera^ 
incorporated  into  the  body  of  "  the  Covenant,''  whereby  people  are 
bound  to  defend  the  privileges  of  Parliament ;  though  what  they 
be,  is  unknown  to  most  that  take  the  same. 

But  most  took  exception  against  that  clause  in  the  oath  :  "  We 
will  never  give  any  consent  to  alter  this  church-government ;  *"  as  if 
the  same  were  intended  to  abridge  the  liberty  of  king  and  state  in 
future  Parliaments  and  Convocations,  if  hereafter  they  saw  cause  to 
change  any  thing  therein.  And  this  obligation  seemed  the  more 
unreasonable,  because  some  of  those  Orders  specified  in  the  oath  (as 
archbishops,  deans,  archdeacons)  stand  only  established  y^^?'^  humano 
she  ecclesiastico ;  and  no  wise  man  ever  denied,  but  that  by  the 
same  power  and  authority  they  are  alterable  on  just  occasion. 

Yet  there  wanted  not  others,  who  with  a  favourable  sense  endea- 
voured to  qualify  this  suspicious  clause,  whereby  the  taker  of  this 
oath  was  tied  up  from  consenting  to  any  alteration.  These  argued, 
that  if  the  authority,  civil  or  ecclesiastical,  did  not  herein  impose  an 
oath,  binding  those  that  took  it  hereafter  to  disobey  themselves,  and 
reject  such  orders  which  the  foresaid  civil  or  ecclesiastical  power 
might  afterwards  lawfully  enact  or  establish  ;  for,  seeing  in  all  oaths 
this  is  an  undoubted  maxim,  qudcunque  forma  'cerhorum  juratur^ 
Deus  sic  juramentum  accipit^  sicut  ille  cui  juratur  intelUgit ;  none 
can  probably  suppose,  that  the  governors  in  this  oath  intended  any 
clause  thereof  to  be  an  abridgment  of  their  own  lawful  power,  or  to 
debar  their  inferiors  from  consenting  and  submitting  to  such  altera- 
tions, as  by  themselves  should  lawfully  be  made.  Wherefore,  these 
words,  "  We  will  never  give  any  consent  to  alter,"  are  intended  here 
to  be  meant  only  of  a  voluntary  and  pragmatical  alteration  ;  when 
men  conspire,  consent,  labour,  and  endeavour  to  change  the  present 
government  of  the  church,  in  such  particulars  as  they  do  dislike, 
without  the  consent  of  their  superiors. 

But  the  exception  of  exceptions  against  these  canons  is,  because 
they  were  generally  condemned  as  illegally  passed,  to  the  prejudice 
of  the  fundamental  liberty  of  the  subject ;  whereof  we  shall  hear 
enough  in  the  next  Parliament.     Mean  tiin,e,  some  bishops  were 


16  CHARLES  I.  BOOK    XI.       CENT.    XVIT.  411 

very  forward  in  pressing  tliis  oath,  even  before  the  time  thereof. 
For,  whereas  a  liberty  was  allowed  to  all  to  deliberate  thereon,  until 
the  Feast  of  Michael  the  Archangel,  some  presently  pressed  the 
.  ministers  of  their  diocesses  for  the  taking  thereof,  and,  to  my  know- 
ledge, enjoined  them  to  take  this  oath  kneeling :  a  ceremony,  to  my 
best  remembrance,  never  exacted  or  observed  in  taking  the  oath  of 
supremacy  or  allegiance ;  which  some  accounted  an  essay  of  their 
activity,  if  Providence  had  not  prevented  them. 

29.   The  Importation  of  false- printed  Bibles. 

Many  impressions  of  English  Bibles,  printed  at  Amsterdam,  and 
more  at  Edinburgh  in  Scotland,  were  daily  brought  over  hither,  and 
sold  here.  Little  their  volumes,  and  low  their  prices,  as  being  of 
bad  paper,  worse  print,  little  margin,  yet  greater  than  the  care  of  the 
corrector, — many  most  abominable  errata  being  passed  therein. 
*rake  one  instance  for  all : — Jeremiah  iv.  17>  speaking  of  the  whole 
commonwealth  of  Judah,  instead  of,  "Because  she  hath  been 
REBELLIOUS  agaiust  me,  saith  the  Lord  ;  "  it  is  printed,  (Edin- 
burgh, 1637,)  "  because  she  hath  been  religious  against  me,  saith 
the  Lord."' 

Many  complaints  were  made,  especially  by  the  Company  of  Sta- 
tioners, against  these  false- printed  Bibles,  as  giving  great  advantage 
to  the  papists ;  but  nothing  was  therein  effected.  For,  in  this 
juncture  of  time  came  in  the  Scottish  army,  and  invaded  the  north- 
ern parts  of  England.  What  secret  solicitations  invited  them  hither, 
is  not  my  work  to  inquire.  Many  beheld  them  as  the  only  physi- 
cians of  the  distempered  state  ;  and  believed,  that  they  gave  not 
their  patient  a  visit  on  pure  charity,  but  having  either  received  or 
being  well  promised  their  fee  before. 

30 — 33.  Parliament  and  Convocation  begin.  The  Insolence  of 
Anabaptists.  The  three  Exiles  brought  Home  in  Tri- 
umph.    Dr.  Pocklington  and  Dr.  Bray  censured. 

Soon  after  began  the  long-lasting  Parliament,  so  known  to  all 
posterity  for  the  remarkable  transactions  therein.  The  king  went  to 
the  House  privately  by  water,  many  commending  his  thrift  in  sparing- 
expenses,  when  two  armies  in  the  bowels  of  the  land  expected  their 
pay  from  his  purse.  Others,  distinguishing  betwixt  needless  pomp 
and  necessary  state,  suspected  this  might  be  misinterpreted  as  if  the 
Scotch  had  frighted  him  out  of  that  ceremony  of  majesty;  and  some 
feared  such  an  omission  presaged  that  Parliament  \vould  end  with 
sadness  to  him,  which  began  without  any  solemnity.  Abreast 
therewith  began  a  Convocation,  though  unable  long  to  keep  pace 
together ;   the  latter  soon  tiring,  as  never  inspirited  by  commission 


412  CHUllCH    HISTORY    OF    UllITAlN.  A.  D.  1640. 

from  tlie  king  to  meddle  with  any  matters  of  religion.  Mr. 
Warmestry,  a  clerk  for  Worcester,  made  a  motion  therein,  that  they 
should  endeavour,  according  to  the  Levitical  law,  to  cover  the  pit 
which  they  had  opened,  and  to  prevent  their  adversaries'  intention, 
by  condemning  such  offensive  canons  as  were  made  in  the  last  Con- 
vocation. But  it  found  no  acceptance,  they  being  loath  to  confess 
themselves  guilty  before  they  were  accused. 

This  day,  January  18th,  happened  the  first-fruits  of  anabaptistical 
insolence,  when  eighty  of  that  sect,  meeting  at  a  house  in  St. 
Saviour's  in  South wark,  preached  that  the  statute  in  the  ^5th  of 
Elizabeth,  for  the  administration  of  the  Common-Prayer  was  no 
good  law,  because  made  by  bishops  ;  that  the  king  cannot  make  a 
good  law,  because  not  perfectly  regenerate  ;  that  he  was  only  to  be 
obeyed  in  civil  matters.  Being  brought  before  the  lords,  they  con- 
fessed the  articles,  but  no  penalty  was  inflicted  upon  them. 

About  this  time,  Mr.  Prynne,  Dr.  Bastwick,  and  Mr.  Burton 
were  brought  out  of  durance  and  exile,  with  great  triumph,  into 
London  ;  it  not  sufficing  their  friends  to  welcome  them  peaceably, 
but  victoriously,  with  bays  and  rosemary  in  their  hands  and  hats. 
AVise  men  conceived  that  their  private  returning  to  the  town  had 
signified  as  much  gratitude  to  God,  and  less  affront  to  authority. 
But  some  wildness  of  the  looks  must  be  pardoned  in  such  who  came 
suddenly  into  the  light  out  of  long  darkness. 

As  bishop  Williams  and  Mr.  Osbaldeston  were  the  two  first  clergy- 
men who  found  the  favour  of  this  Parliament,  (being  remitted  their 
fines,  and  restored  to  their  livings  and  liberty,)  so  Dr.  Pocklington 
and  Dr.  Bray  were  the  two  first  that  felt  their  displeasures  ;  the 
former  for  preaching  and  printing — the  latter  for  licensing — two 
books,  one  called,  "  Sunday  no  Sabbath,"  the  other  "The  Christian 
Altar."  Bishop  Williams  moved,  that  Dr.  Bray  might  recant  seven 
errors  in  the  first,  four-and-twenty  in  the  second  treatise.  Soon  after 
both  the  doctors  deceased ; — for  grief,  say  some,  that  they  had 
written  what  they  should  not ; — for  shame,  say  others,  that  they  had 
recanted  what  they  would  not; — though  a  third  sort  more  charitably 
take  notice  neither  of  the  one  nor  the  other,  but  merely  impute  it  to 
the  approach  of  the  time  of  their  dissolution. 

34 — 38.  Superstitions  charged  on  Dr.  Cosin.  Cruel  Usage  of  Mr. 
Smart ;  relieved  by  Parliament,  Dr.  Cosin's  dice  Praise. 
Dr.  Cosin  soon  after  ^vas  highly  accused  for  superstition  and 
unjust  proceedings  against  one  Mr.  Smart  on  this  occasion  :  The 
doctor  is  charged  to  have  set  up  in  the  church  of  Durham  a  marble 
altar  with  chcrubims,  which  cost  two  thousand  pounds,  Avith  all  the 
appurtenances  thereof;  namely,  a  cope  with'^the  Trinity,   and  God 


IG  CHARLES   I.  BOOK    XI.       CENT.    XVH.  413 

the  Father  in  the  figure  of  an  old  man,  another  with  a  crucifix  and 
the  image  of  Christ,  with  a  red  beard  and  blue  cap.  Besides,  he 
was  accused  for  lighting  two  hundred  wax-candles  about  the  altar  on 
Candlemas-day  ;  for  forbidding  any  psalms  to  be  sung  before  or 
after  sermon,  though  making  an  anthem  to  be  sung  of  the  three  kings 
of  Cologne,  by  the  names  of  Gaspar,  Belthazar,  and  Melchior ; 
and  for  procuring  a  consecrated  knife  only  to  cut  the  bread  at 
the  communion. 

Mr.  Smart,  a  prebendary  of  the  church,  one  of  a  grave  aspect  and 
reverend  presence,  sharply  inveighed  in  a  sermon  against  these  inno- 
vations, taking  for  his  text :  "  I  hate  all  those  that  hold  superstitious 
vanities;  but  thy  law  do  I  love."' 

Hereupon  he  was  kept  prisoner  four  months  by  the  High  Com- 
mission of  York,  before  any  articles  were  exhibited  against  him  ; 
and  five  months  before  any  proctor  was  allowed  him.  Hence  was  he 
carried  to  the  High  Commission  at  Lambeth  ;  and,  after  long  trouble, 
remanded  to  York,  fined  five  hundred  pounds,  committed  to  prison, 
ordered  to  recant,  and,  for  that  neglect  thereof,  fined  again,  excom- 
municated, degraded,  and  deprived,  his  damage  (as  brought  in) 
amounting  to  many  thousand  pounds. 

But  now  Mr.  Rouse,  of  the  House  of  Commons,  bringing  up  the 
charge  to  the  Lords  against  Dr.  Cosin,  termed  Mr.  Smart,  "  the 
proto-martyr  of  England  in  these  latter  days  of  persecution,"'  and 
large  reparations  were  allowed  unto  him,  though  he  lived  not  long 
after  to  enjoy  them. 

Now,  though  none  can  excuse  and  defend  Dr.  Cosin''s  carriage 
herein,  yet  this  must  be  reported  to  his  due  commendation  :  Some 
years  after,  getting  over  into  France,  he  neither  joined  with  the 
church  of  French  protestants  at  Charenton  nigh  Paris,  nor  kept  any 
communion  with  the  papists  therein  ;  but  confined  himself  to  the 
church  of  old  English  protestants  therein  ;  where,  by  his  pious 
living  and  constant  praying  and  preaching,  he  reduced  some  recusants 
to — and  confirmed  more  doubters  in — the  protestant  religion.  Many 
his  encounters  with  Jesuits  and  priests,  defeating  the  suspicions 
of  his  foes,  and  exceeding  the  expectation  of  his  friends,  in  the 
success  of  such  disputes.* 

*  Dr.  Cosin  afterwards  complained,  througli  Lis  friend  Davenport,  that  in  this  account 
of  his  accusation  before  the  Commons,  his  conduct  was  greatly  misrepresented  j  and  no 
notice  taken  of  his  complete  purgation,  during  the  same  session,  in  the  Flouse  of  Lord.s. 
At  the  end  of  his  Appeal,  a.d.  1G59,  Fuller  addresses  a  letter  to  Dr.  Cosin,  in  which  he 
says,  "  What  I  wrote  concerning  your  accusation  in  the  House  of  Commons,  I  tran- 
scribed out  of  the  manuscript  Journals  of  that  House.  As  for  your  purgation  in  the 
House  of  Lords,  I  knew  not  thereof ;  wliich  maketh  my  omission  the  more  excusable. 
In  my  next  edition,  I  will  do  you  all  possible  right  (with  improvement)  that  my  pen  can 
perform,"  &c.     See  "  Appeal  of  injured  Innocence,"  part  iii.  page  G4,  folio. — Edit. 


414  CHURCH    HISTORY    OF    BRITAIN.  A.D.  1640. 

* 

39—43.  Goodman,  a  Priest,  bandied  betwixt  Life  and  Death ; 
yet  he  escapeth  with  Life  at  last. 

January  23rd,  the  Commons  desired  the  Lords  to  join  with  them 
to  find  out  who  moved  the  king  to  reprieve  John  Goodman,  a 
seminary  priest,  who  (as  they  said)  had  been  twice  condemned,  and 
now  the  second  time  reprieved,  whilst  the  parliament  sat. 

January  25th,  the  king  sent  a  message  by  the  lord  privy-seal, 
that  Goodman  was  not  (as  the  Commons  were  informed)  condemned 
and  banished,  but  only  sentenced  for  being  a  priest ;  and,  therefore, 
that  in  reprieving  him  he  showed  but  the  like  mercy  which  queen 
Elizabeth  and  king  James  had  showed  in  the  like  cases. 

January  27th,  the  Lords  joined  with  the  Commons  in  their  desire 
concerning  Goodman, — that  the  statutes  might  speedily  be  executed 
upon  him,  as  necessary  in  this  juncture  of  time,  wherein  papists 
swarmed  in  all  parts,  presuming  on  indemnity.  With  what  credit 
or  comfort  could  they  sit  to  enact  new  laws,  whilst  they  beheld  for- 
mer statutes  daily  broken  before  their  eyes  ? 

February  3rd,  the  king  acquainted  the  Houses,  that,  though 
queen  Elizabeth  and  king  James  never  condemned  priest  merely  for 
religion  ;  yet,  rather  than  he  would  discontent  his  subjects,  he  left 
him  to  the  judgment  of  both  Houses,  to  be  disposed  of  at  their 
pleasure. 

Goodman  petitioned  the  king,  that,  like  Jonah  the  prophet,  he 
might  be  cast  into  the  sea,  to  still  the  tempest  betwixt  the  king  and 
his  people,  conceiving  his  blood  well-spent  to  cement  them  together. 
But,  in  fine,  February  4th,  he  escaped  with  his  life,  not  so  much  by 
any  favour  indulged  him,  as  principally  because  the  accusations 
could  not  be  so  fully  proved  against  him. 

44.  The  first  Mention  of  the  Protestation. 
About  this  time  was  the  first  motion  of  a  new  protestation,  to  be 
taken  all  over  England,  the  copy  whereof  is  omitted  as  obvious  every 
where  ;  which,  some  months  after,  was  generally  performed,  as  con- 
taining nothing  but  what  was  lawful  and  commendable  therein.  Yet 
some  refiised  it,  as  suspecting  the  adding  of  new — would  subtract 
obedience  from  former — oaths,  (men  being  prone  to  love  that  best 
which  left  the  last  relish  in  their  souls,)  and,  in  fine,  such  new 
obligations  of  conscience,  like  suckers,  would  draw  from  the  stock 
of  the  old  oaths  of  supremacy  and  allegiance. 


16  CHAilLES  I.  BOOK    XI.       CENT.    XVII.  415 

45 — 50.  A  Committee  of  the  Lords  to  settle  Religion.  A  Sub- 
Committee  for  the  same  Purpose.  They  consult  on  Inno- 
vations in  Doctrine  and  in  Discipline,  and  concerning  the 
Common  Prayer^  and  Regulation  of  Government. 

March  began  very  blusteringly,  on  the  first  day  whereof  archbishop 
Laud  was,  in  Mr.  Maxfield's  coach,  carried  to  the  Tower  ;  and  not 
long  after  the  Lords  appointed  a  Committee  of  their  own  members 
for  settling  of  peace  in  the  church.  What  hopeful  opinion  the 
aforesaid  archbishop  had  of  their  proceedings,  will  appear  by  the 
following  note  which  he  entered  into  his  diary  :* — 

"  Monday,  March  21st.  A  Committee  for  Religion  settled  in  the 
Upper  House  of  Parliament :  ten  earls,  ten  bishops,  ten  barons. 
So  the  lay  votes  will  be  double  to  the  clergy.  This  committee  will 
meddle  with  doctrine  as  well  as  ceremonies,  and  will  call  some 
divines  to  them  to  consider  of  the  business,  as  appears  by  a  letter 
hereto  annexed,  sent  by  the  lord  bishop  of  Lincoln  to  some  divines, 
to  attend  this  service ;  upon  the  whole  matter,  I  believe  this  com- 
mittee will  prove  the  national  synod  of  England,  to  the  great  dis- 
honour of  the  church.  And  what  else  may  follow  upon  it,  God 
knows."" 

At  the  same  time  the  Lords  appointed  a  Sub-committee  to  prepare 
matters  fit  for  their  cognizance,  (the  bishop  of  Lincoln  having  the 
chair  in  both,)  authorized  to  call  together  divers  bishops  and  divines, 
to  consult  together  for  correction  of  what  was  amiss,  and  to  settle 
peace  ;  namely,  the  archbishop  of  Armagh  ;  the  bishop  of  Durham  ; 
the  bishop  of  Exeter  ;  Dr.  Samuel  Ward  ;  Dr.  John  Prideaux ; 
Dr.  William  Twisse  ;  Dr.  Robert  Sanderson  ;  Dr.  Daniel  Featley ; 
Dr.  Ralph  Brownrigg ;  Dr.  Richard  Holdsworth ;  Dr.  John 
Hacket ;  Dr.  Cornelius  Burgess ;  Mr.  John  White  ;  Mr.  Stephen 
Marshall ;  Mr.  Edmund  Calamy  ;  Mr.  Thomas  HilLf  Jerusalem- 
chamber,  in  the  dean  of  Westminster's  house,  was  the  place  of  their 
meeting,  (where  they  had  solemn  debates  six  several  days,)  always 
entertained  at  his  table  with  such  bountiful  cheer  as  well  became  a 
bishop.  But  this  we  behold  as  the  last  course  of  all  public  episco- 
pal treatments ;  whose  guests  may  now  even  put  up  their  knives, 
seeing  soon  after  the  voider  was  called  for,  which  took  away  all 
bishops'  lands,  and  most  of  English  hospitality. 

First.  They  took  the  innovations  of  doctrine  into  consideration  ; 
and  here  some  complained,  that  all  the  tenets  of  the  Council  of 
Trent  had,  by  one* or  another,  been  preached  and  printed,  abating 
only  such  points  of  state-popery  against  the  king's  supremacy, 
made   treason  by  the  statute  : — Good  works   co-causes  with  faith, 

• 

*  Page  2-4.  1  More  were  named  j  but  tliese  chiefly  were  present. 


410         CHURCH  HISTORY  OF  BRITAIN.         A.D.  1640. 

by  justification  ;  private  confession  by  particular  enunneration  of  sins 
needful,  necessitate  medii,  to  salvation  ;  that  tlie  oblation  (or  as  others, 
the  consumption)  of  the  elements,  in  the  Lord's  supper  holdeth  the 
nature  of  a  true  sacrifice ;  prayers  for  the  dead  ;  lawfulness  of 
monastical  vows ;  the  gross  substance  of  Arminianism,  and  some 
dangerous  points  of  Socinianism. 

Secondly.  They  inquired  into  preter-canonical  conformity,  and 
innovations  in  discipline  : — Advancing  candlesticks  in  parochial 
churches  in  the  day-time,  on  the  altar  so  called ;  making  canopies 
over,  with  traverses  of  curtains,  (in  imitation  of  the  vail  before  the 
holy  of  holies,)  on  each  side  and  before  it  ;  having  a  credentia^  or 
side-table,  (as  a  chapel-of-ease  to  the  mother-altar,)  for  divers  uses 
in  the  Lord's  supper  ;  forbidding  a  direct  prayer  before  sermon  ; 
and  ministers  to  expound  the  Catechism  at  large  to  their  parishioners  ; 
carrying  children  (when  baptized)  to  the  altar  so  called,  and  there 
offering  them  up  to  God  ;  pretending,  for  some  of  these  innovations, 
the  injunctions  and  advertisements  of  queen  Elizabeth,  which  are 
not  in  force,  and  appertaining  to  the  printed  Liturgy  secundo  et  tertio 
Edvardi  sexti,  which  is  reformed  by  Parliament. 

Thirdly.  They  consulted  about  the  Common-Prayer  Book  ; 
wdiether  some  legendary  and  some  much-doubted  saints,  with  some 
superstitious  memorials,  were  not  to  be  expunged  the  Calendar,* 
whether  it  was  not  fit  that  the  Lessons  should  be  only  out  of 
canonical  Scriptures,  the  Epistles,  Gospels,  Psabus,  and  Hymns,  to 
be  read  in  the  new  translation,  &c.  whether  times  prohibited  for 
marriage  are  not  totally  to  be  taken  away ;  whether  it  were  not  fit 
that  hereafter  none  should  have  a  licence,  or  have  their  bans  of 
matrimony  asked,  save  such  who  should  bring  a  certificate  from  their 
minister,  that  they  were  instructed  in  their  catechism  ;  whether  the 
Rubric  is  not  to  be  mended,  altered,  and  explained  in  many 
particulars. 

Lastly.  They  entered  on  the  regulating  of  ecclesiastical  govern- 
ment :  which  was  not  brought  in,  because  the  bishop  of  Lincoln  had 
undertaken  the  draught  thereof,  but  not  finished  it,  as  employed  at 
the  same  time  in  the  managing  of  many  matters  of  state  :  so  easy  it 
is  for  a  great  person  never  to  be  at  leisure  to  do  what  he  hath  no 
great  mind  should  be  done. 

51,  52.  Divers  Opinions  what  this  Conference  might  have  pro- 
duced ;    broketi  off.         , 
Some  are  of  opinion,  that  the  moderation  and  mutual  compliance 
of  these  divines  might  have  produced  much  good,  if  not  interrupted  ; 
conceiving  such  lopping  might  have  saved  the  felling  of  episcopacy. 

•  This  I  did  write  out  of  tlie  private  notes  of  one  of  the  Committee. 


16  CHARLES  I.  BOOK    XI.       CENT.    XVIT.  417 

Yea,  they  are  confident,  had  this  expedient  been  pursued  and 
perfected,  Troiaque  nunc  stared^  Priamique  arx  alta  maneres  ; 

"  Troy  still  had  stood  in  power, 
And  king  Priam's  lofty  tower 
Had  remained  at  this  honr }" 

it  might,  under  God,  have  been  a  means,  not  only  to  have  checked, 
but  choked  our  civil  war  in  the  infancy  thereof.  But  the  court- 
prelates  expected  no  good  from  the  result  of  this  meeting,  suspecting 
the  doctrinal  Puritans,  (as  they  nicknamed  them,)  joined  with  the 
disciplinary  Puritans,  would  betray  the  church  betwixt  them.  Some 
hot  spirits  would  not  have  one  ace  of  episcopal  power  or  profit  abated  ; 
and,  though  since  confuted  by  their  own  hunger,  preferred  no  bread 
before  half  a  loaf.  These  maintained,  that  any  giving  back  of 
ground  was,  in  eflPect,  the  granting  of  the  day  to  the  opposite  party ; 
so  covetous  they  be  to  multiply  their  cravings  on  the  others'  con- 
cessions. But  what  the  issue  of  this  Conference  concluded  would 
have  been,  is  only  known  to  Him  who  knew  what  the  men  of  Keilah 
would  do,  1  Sam.  xxiii.  12,  and  whose  prescience  extends  not  only 
to  things  future,  but  futurable,  having  the  certain  cognizance  of 
contingents,  which  might,  yet  never  actually  shall,  come  to  pass. 

This  consultation  continued  till  the  middle  of  May,  and  the 
■weaving  thereof  was  fairly  forward  on  the  loom,  when  Atropos  occat^ 
the  bringing  in  the  Bill  against  dean  and  chapters,  root  and  branch, 
cut  off  all  the  threads,  putting  such  a  distance  betwixt  the  foresaid 
divines  that  never  their  judgments,  and  scarce  their  persons,  met 
after  together. 

53.   The  Death  of  Bishop  Davenant, 

In  the  midst  of  these  troublesome  times,  John  Davenant,  bishop 
of  Salisbury,  ended  his  life,  April  21st.  His  father  was  a  wealthy 
and  religious  citizen  of  London,  but  born  at  Da venants -lands  in 
Sible  Heningham  in  Essex ;  where  his  ancestors  had  continued  in  a 
worshipful  degree  from  Sir  John  Davenant,  who  lived  in  the  time  of 
king  Henry  III.  He  bred  his  son  a  Fellow-Commoner  in  Queen*'s 
College  in  Cambridge ;  and  would  not  suffer  him  to  accept  a 
Fellowship,  though  offered,  as  conceiving  it  a  bending  of  these 
places  from  the  direct  intent  of  the  founders,  when  they  are  bestowed 
on  such  as  have  plenty;  though,  indeed,  such  preferments  are 
appointed  as  well  for  the  reward  of  those  that  are  worthy  as  the 
relief  of  those  that  want :  and  after  his  father's  death  he  was  chosen 
into  that  Society.  In  his  youthful  exercises,  he  gave  such  an 
earnest  of  his  future  maturity,  that  Dr.  Whitaker,  hearing  him 
dispute,   said,   that   he  would    in   time  prove  the   honour  of  the 

Vol.  hi.  e  e 


418  CHURCH  HISTORY  OF  BRITAIN.  A.D.  1G41. 

university  :  a  prediction  that  proved  not  untrue,  when  afterward  he 
was  chosen  Margaret  Professor  of  Divinity,  being  as  yet  but  a 
private  Fellow  of  the  College  ;  whereof,  some  years  after,  he  was 
made  Master,  and  at  last  bishop  of  Salisbury :  where,  with  what 
gravity  and  moderation  he  behaved  himself,  how  humble.,  hospitable, 
painful  in  preaching  and  writing,  may  better  be  reported  hereafter, 
when  his  memory  (green  as  yet)  shall  be  mellowed  by  time.  He 
sat  bishop  about  twenty  years,  and  died  of  a  consumption,  anno 
1641 ;  to  which,  sensibleness  of  the  sorrowful  times  (which  he  saw 
were  bad,  and  foresaw  would  be  worse)  did  contribute  not  a  little. 
I  cannot  omit,  how,  some  few  hours  before  his  death,  having  lain  for 
a  long  time  (though  not  speechless,  yet)  not  speaking,  nor  able  to 
speak,  (as  we  beholders  thought,  though  indeed  he  hid  that  little 
streno-th  we  thought  he  had  lost,  and  reserved  himself  for  purpose,) 
he  fell  into  a  most  emphatical  prayer  for  half  a  quarter  of  an  hour. 
Amono-st  many  heavenly  passages  therein,  he  thanked  God  for  this 
his  fatherly  correction,  because  in  all  his  life-time  he  never  had  one 
heavy  affliction,  which  made  him  often  much  suspect  with  himself 
whether  he  was  a  true  child  of  God  or  no,  until  this  his  last  sickness. 
Then  he  sweetly  fell  asleep  in  Christ,  and  so  we  softly  draw  the 
curtains  about  him. 

54 — ^Q^  Deans  and  Chapters  first  opposed  by  Parliament.  An 
unjust  Charge.  The  Cathedral-men  endeavour  to  preserve 
their  Foundations. 
The  whole  bodies  of  cathedral  churches,  being  of  too  great  a  bulk 
to  be  blown  up  by  their  adversaries  at  once,  they  began  with  the 
choirs,  accusing  the  members  thereof  for  useless  and  unprofitable. 
The  prelatical  court -clergy  were  not  so  active  and  diligent  in  defend- 
ino-  these  foundatians,  as  it  was  expected  from  their  interest  and 
relations  :  whether  because  they  were  disheartened  at  the  imprison- 
ment of  their  chief,  the  archbishop  of  Canterbury ;  or  because  some 
of  them,  being 'otherwise  obnoxious  to  the  Parliament,  were  loath 
therein  to  appear  ;  or  because  they  vainly  hoped,  that,  this  heat  once 
over,  all  things  would  continue  in  their  pristine  condition  ;  or  because 
they  were  loath  to  plead  in  that  suit,  wherein  they  despaired  to 
prevail,  as  foreseeing  those  places  destined  to  dissolution. 

Yet  some  of  the  same  side  causelessly  complained  of  the  back- 
wardness of  other  moderate  cathedral-men,  that  they  improved  not 
their  power  with  their  Parliament  friends  so  zealously  as  they  might 
in  this  cause,  as  beginning  too  late,  and  proceeding  too  lazily  therein, 
who  should  sooner  have  set  their  shoulders  and  backs  to  those 
tottering  choirs,  so  either  to  support  them,  or  to  be  buried  under 
the  ruins  thereof.     Whereas  they  did  whatsoever  good  men  could. 


10  CHARLES   I.  BOOK     XI.        CENT.    XVII.  410 

or  wise  men  would  do  in  their  condition,  leaving  no  stone  unturned 
v,'hich  might  advantage  them  herein. 

Indeed,  it  was  conceived  inconsistent  with  their  gravity,  to  set 
themselves  to  fight  against  the  sliadow  of  common  rumour,  (and  so 
to  feign  an  enemy  to  themselves,)  whilst  as  yet  no  certainty  of  the 
Parliament's  intentions  to  destroy  deans  and*  chapters.  What  had 
this  been  but  perchance  to  put  that  into  their  brains,  which  otherwise 
they  charitably  believed  would  not  enter  therein  ?  But  no  sooner 
were  they  certified  of  the  reality  of  their  design,  but  they  vigor- 
ously in  their  callings  endeavoured  the  prevention  thereof :  1.  By 
appointing  one  in  each  cathedral  church  to  solicit  their  friends  on 
this  behalf  2.  By  drawing  up  a  petition  (the  same  mutatis 
mutandis)  to  the  House  of  Lords  and  Commons,  which  (because 
never  formally  presented)  I  forbear  to  insert.  3.  By  retaining  and 
instructing  learned  counsel  to  move  for  them  in  the  House :  until 
they  were  informed  that  the  Orders  of  the  House  would  not  bear 
any  to  plead  for  them,  but  that  they  must  personally  appear  and 
mvd  Toce  plead  for  themselves. 

57 — 7^-    ^'*-   Hackefs  Speech  in  the  Defence   of  Deans  and 
Chapters.     The  Speech  iv ell-accepted. 

Lest  therefore  their  longer  silence  should  by  posterity  be  inter- 
preted either  sullenness,  that  they  would  not — or  guiltiness,  that 
they  durst  not — speak  for  themselves  ;  by  their  friends  they  obtained 
leave  to  be  admitted  into  the  House  of  Commons,  and  to  be  heard 
what  they  could  allege  in  their  own  behalf.  ]\Iay  12th,  they  made 
choice  of  Dr.  John  Hacket,  prebendary  of  PauFs,  and  archdeacon 
of  Bedford,  to  be  the  mouth  in  the  behalf  of  the  rest.  The  brief 
heads  of  whose  speech,  copied  (by  his  leave)  out  of  his  own 
papers,  are  here  inserted. 

First.  He  craved  the  favour  of  that  honourable  House,  to  whom 
he  was  to  speak  on  a  double  disadvantage  :  One,  caused  from  the 
shortness  of  time,  this  employment  being  imposed  on  him  but  in 
the  afternoon  of  the  day  before  :  The  other,  because  he  had  not 
heard  what  crimes  or  offences  were  charged  on  deans  and  chapters, 
that  so  he  might  purge  them  from  such  imputations;  reports  only 
flying  abroad,  that  they  were  accounted  of  some  of  no  use  and  con- 
venience ;  the  contrary  whereof  he  should  endeavour  to  prove, 
reducing  the  same  to  two  heads,  quoad  res  et  quoad personas.,  "  in 
regard  of  things  of  great  moment,  and  divers  persons  ""  concerned  in 
such  foundations. 

To  the  first :  It  is  fit  that,  to  supply  the  defects  of  prayer  com- 
mitted by  private  men,  the  public  duty  thereof  should  be  constantly 
performed  in  some  principal  place    in   imitation   of  the  primitive 

2£  2 


420  CHURCH    HISTORY    OF    BRITAIN.  A.D.  1041. 

practice  ;  and  this  is  daily  done  in  cathedral  cliurclies.  And  whereas 
some  complain  that  such  service  gives  offence  for  the  super-exqui- 
siteness  of  the  music  therein,  (so  that  vrhat  was  intended  for 
devotion  vanished  away  into  quavers  and  air.)  he,  with  the  rest 
of  his  brethren  there  present,  wished  the  amendment  thereof, 
that  it  might  be  reduced  to  the  form  which  Athanasius  com- 
mends, ut  legent'ihus  sint  qv.am  caniantihiis  similiores.  And  here 
he  spake  much  in  praise  of  the  church-music,  when  moderated,  to 
edification. 

Hence  he  passed  to  what  he  termeth  '•  the  other  wing  of  the 
cherubim,''  which  is  preaching,  first  planted,  since  the  Reformation, 
in  cathedral  churches,  as  appears  by  the  learned  sermons  which  Dr. 
Allev,  afterwards  bishop  of  Exeter,  preached  in  the  church  of  St. 
PauFs,  and  since  continued  therein.  Where,  by  the  way,  he  took 
occasion  to  refel  that  slander  which  some  cast  on  lecture-preachers 
as  an  upstart  corporation ;  alleging  that  the  local  statutes  of  most 
or  all  cathedral  churches  do  require  lectures  on  the  week-days. 
And,  in  the  name  of  his  brethren,  he  requested  that  honourable 
House  that  the  godly  and  profitable  performance  of  preaching  might 
be  the  more  exacted. 

In  the  Third  place.  He  insisted  on  the  advancement  of  learning, 
as  the  proper  use  and  convenience  of  cathedrals ;  each  of  them 
being  a  small  academy  for  the  champions  of  Christ's  cause  against 
the  adversary  by  their  learned  pens.  Here  he  proffered  to  prove, 
by  a  catalogue  of  their  names  and  works,  which  he  could  produce, 
that  most  excellent  labouK  in  this  kind  (excepting  some  few)  have 
proceeded  from  persons  preferred  in  cathedrals  or  the  universities. 
Now,  what  a  disheartening  would  it  be  to  young  students,  if  such 
promotions  were  taken  away :  witness  the  fewness  of  such  admitted 
this  last  year  into  the  universities,  and  the  deadness  of  the  sale  of 
good  books  in  St.  Paul's  Church-yard,  merely  upon  a  timorous 
imagination  abroad, — that  we  are  now  shutting  up  learning  in  a  case, 
and  laying  it  aside.  But  if  the  bare  threatening  make  such  a  stop 
in  literature,  what  will  the  blow  given  do  thereon  ? 

Fourthly.  He  alleged  that  the  ancient  and  genuine  use  of  deans 
and  chapters  was,  as  senatus  episcopi^  to  assist  the  bishop  in  his 
jurisdiction.  Now,  whereas  some  of  his  reverend  brethren  had  lately 
complained,  that  bishops  have  for  many  years  usurped  the  sole 
government  to  themselves  and  their  consistories,  ^he  continuing  of 
chapters,  rightly  u^ed,  would  reduce  it  from  one  man  to  a  plurality 
of  assistants. 

Lastly.  The  structures  themselves  should,  said  he,  speak  for  the 
structures.  Not  that  he  would  have  them,  with  Christ's  disciples, 
fondly  to  admire  the  fabrics,  but    to  put  them  in  remembrance, 


IG  CHAELES  I.  BOOK    XI.       CENT.    XVII."  421 

that  cathedral  churches  were  the  first  monuments  of  Christianity  in 
the  kingdom. 

From  thing?,  he  passed  to  persons  ;  and  began  with  the  multitude 
of  such  members  as  had  maintenance  from  cathedrals  ;  some  one  of 
them  allowing  livelihood  to  three  hundred,  and  the  total  amounting 
to  many  thousands  ;  all  which,  by  the  dissolutions  of  deans  and 
chapters,  must  be  exposed  to  poverty.  Next.  He  instanced  in  their 
tenants,  who,  holding  leases  from  deans  and  chapters,  are  sensible  of 
their  own  happiness,  (as  enjoying  six  parts  of  seven  in  pure  gain,) 
and  therefore  have  petitioned  the  House  to  continue  their  ancient 
landlords.  Thirdly.  Such  cities  wherein  cathedrals  stand,  if  mari- 
time, being  very  poor  in  trade,  are  enriched  by  the  hospitality 
of  the  clergy,  and  the  frequent  resort  of  strangers  unto  them. 

Then  proceeded  he  to  speak  of  the  branches  of  the  whole  king- 
dom, all  being  in  hope  to  reap  benefit  by  the  continuance  of  deans"' 
and  chapters'  lands  as  now  employed.  For  all  men,  said  he,  are 
not  bom  elder  brothers,  nor  all  elder  brothers  inheritors  of  land. 
Divers  of  low  degree,  but  generous  spirits,  would  be  glad  to  advance 
themselves,  and  achieve  an  estate  by  qualifying  themselves,  by  indus- 
try and  virtue,  to  attain  a  share  of  cathedral  endowments,  as  the  com- 
mon possession  of  the  realm,  enclosed  in  no  private  men's  estate. 

And  whereas  travellers  inform  them,  that  all  ranks  and  degrees  of 
people  in  England  (knights,  gentlemen,  yeomen)  live  more  freely 
and  fashionably  than  in  any  other  countries,  he  trusted  their  Honours 
would  account  it  reasonable  that  the  clergy  had,  in  some  sort,  a 
better  maintenance  than  in  neighbouring  Reformed  churches,  and 
not,  with  Jeroboam's  priests,  to  be  the  basest  of  all  the  people. 

Then  did  he  instance  in  some  famous  protestants  of  foreign  parts, 
who  had  found  great  relief  and  comfort  by  being  installed  preben- 
daries in  our  cathedral  and  collegiate  churches ;  as  Dr.  Sara  via,  pre- 
ferred by  queen  Elizabeth  ;  Dr.  Casaubon,  father  and  son,  by  king 
James  ;  Dr.  Primrose,  Mr.  Vossius,  in  the  reign  of  king  Charles  ; 
and  Dr.  Peter  Moulin,  alive  at.  this  day,  and  who  intended  to  leave 
Sedan,  if  the  warlike  preparations  there  proceeded,  and  come  over 
into  England,  where  he  should  have  but  sad  welcome  if  all  his  live- 
lihood were  taken  away  from  him. 

Nor  could  an  act  be  done  more  to  gratify  the  church  of  Rome, 
than  to  destroy  deans  and  chapters,  seeing  Sanders  *  himself  seemeth 
to  complain,  that  queen  Elizabeth  had  left  provosts,  deans,  canons, 
and  prebendaries,  in  cathedral  and  collegiate  churches,  because  he 
foresaw  such  foundations  would  conduce  to  the  stability  of  religion  ; 
so  that,  by  his  words,  a  fatter  sacrifice  could  not  be  offered  up  to 
such  as  himself  than  the  extirpation  of  them. 

•  De  Schimnatc  Anjlica\o.  page  163. 


422  CHURCH    HlSTOllV    OF    BRITAIN.  A.  p.  IGJrl. 

He  went  forwards  to  show  the  benefit  the  khig  and  commonwealth 
reaped  by  such  lands,  as  paying  greater  sums  to  the  exchequer  for 
first-fruits,  tenths,  and  subsidies,  according  to  the  proportion,  than 
any  other  estates  and  corporations  in  the  kingdom  ;  and  are  ready, 
said  he,  if  called  upon,  cheerfully  to  contribute  in  an  extraordinary 
manner  to  the  charge  of  the  kingdom. 

Now,  as  he  was  by  their  Honours'*  favour  admitted  to  plead , 
under  that  roof,  where  their  noble  progenitors  had  given  to  the 
clergy  so  many  charters,  privileges,  and  immunities,  so  he  implored 
to  find  the  ancient  and  honourable  justice  of  the  House  unto  his 
brethren,  who  were  not  charged,  much  less  convicted,  of  any  scan- 
dalous faults,  justly  for  the  same  to  forfeit  their  estates. 

At  last  he  led  them  to  the  highest  degree  of  all  considerations ; 
namely,  the  honour  of  God,  to  whose  worship  and  service  such 
fabrics  and  lands  were  dedicated,  and  barred  all  alienation  with 
(which  he  said  is  tremenda  'cgx)  curses  and  imprecations.  He 
minded  them  of  the  censers  of  Korah  and  his  complices,  pro- 
nounced "  hallowed,"  Numbers  xvi.  38,  because  pretended  to  do 
God  service  therewith.  And  lest  any  should  wave  this  as  a  Levitical 
nicety,  it  was  proverbial  divinity,  as  a  received  rule  in  every  man's 
mouth,  "  It  is  a  snare  to  a  man  that  devoureth  that  which  is  holy," 
Proverbs  xx.  25.  He  added  the  smart  question  of  St.  Paul,  "  Thou 
that  abhorrest  idols,  dost  thou  commit  sacrilege  ?  "  and  concluded, 
that,  on  the  ruins  of  the  rewards  of  learning,  no  structure  can  be 
raised  but  ignorance ;  and  upon  the  chaos  of  ignorance,  nothing 
can  be  built  but  profaneness  and  confusion. 

This  his  speech  was  uttered  with  such  becoming  gravity  that  it 
was  generally  well  resented,  and  wrought  much  on  the  House  for 
the  present ;  so  that  had  the  aliening  of  such  lands  been  then  put  to 
the  vote,  some  (who  conceiving  themselves  knowing  of  the  sense 
of  the  House)  concluded  it  would  have  been  carried  on  the  negative 
by  more  than  six-score  suffrages. 

73,  7^'  Dr,   Burgess's  Speech  against    Deans  and  Chapters. 
His  Ability  in  casuistical  Divinity. 

In  the  afternoon  Dr.  Cornelius  Burgess,  as  speaker  for  his  party, 
made  a  vehement  invective  against  deans  and  chapters,  and  the 
unprofitableness  of  such  corporations.  He  heavily  aggravated  the 
debauchedness  of  singing-men,  not  only  useless,  but  hurtful  by  their 
vicious  conversations.  Yet  he  concluded  with  the  utter  unlawful- 
ness to  convert  such  endowments  to  any  private  person's  profit.  So 
that  the  same  doctrine  was  delivered  by  both  the  doctors,  only  they 
differed  in  their  applications  ;  the  former  being  for  the  continuing 
Buch  lands  to  their  ancient — the  latter  for  diverting  them  to  oiher — 


16   CHARLES   I.  BOOK    XT.,       CKNT.    XVII.  423 

but  neither  for  alienating  them  from  public  and  pious — -employ- 
ments. 

If,  since,  Dr.  Burgess  hath  been  a  large  purchaser  of  such  lands 
to  himself;  if,  since,  St.  Andrew,*  the  first-converted — and  St.  Paul, 
the  last-converted — apostle  have  met  in  his  purse;  I  doubt  not  but 
that  he  can  give  sufficient  reason  for  the  same,  both  to  himself  and 
any  other  that  shall  question  him  therein ;  the  rather,  because 
lately  he  read  his  learned  lectures  in  St.  Paul's,  on  "  the  Criticisms 
of  Conscience,"  no  less  carefully  than  curiously  weighing  satisfaction 
io  scruples ;  and  if  there  be  any  fault,  so  able  a  confessor  knows 
how  to  get  his  absolution. -[- 

75,  7^-  ^  Medley-Bill  against  Bishops^  partly  granted^  partly 
denied.     At  last  wholly  cast  out, 

A  Bill  brought  up  from  the  Commons  to  the  Lords  against 
bishops  and  clergymen  ;  which,  having  several  branches,  was  seve- 
rally voted. 

1 .  That  they  should  have  no  votes  in  Parliament.  2.  That  they 
should  not  be  in  the  Commission  of  the  Peace,  nor  Judges  in  temporal 
Courts.     3.  Nor  sit  in  the  Star-chamber,  nor  be  Privy  Counsellors. 

The  two  last  branches  of  this  bill  passed  by  general  consent  ;  not 
above  two  dissenting.  But  the  first  branch  was  voted  in  the  nega- 
tive;  wherein  all  the  bishops  gave  their  own  voices  for  themselves; 
yet  had  their  suffrages  been  secluded,  and  the  question  only  put  to 
the  lay  lords,  it  had  been  carried  for  the  bishops  by  sixteen  decisive. 
~  After  some  days'*  debate,  the  Lords  who  were  against  the  bishops 
protested,  that  the  former  manner  of  voting  the  Bill  by  branches 
was  unparliamentary  and  illegal.  Wherefore  they  moved  the  Plouse 
that  they  should  be  so  joined  together  as  either  to  take  the  Bill  in 
wholly,  or  cast  it  all  out.  Whereupon  the  whole  Bill  was  utterly  cast 
out  by  many  voices ;  had  not  the  bishops,  as  again  they  did,  given 
their  suffrages  in  the  same. 

77)  7^-  ^^^'  Maynard''s  Speech  against  the  Canons.  Several 
Judgments  of  the  Clergy'' s  Offence. 

Mr.  Maynard  made  a  speech  in  the  committee  of -Lords,  against 
the  canons  made  by  the  bishops  in  the  last  Convocation  ;  therein 
with  much  learning  endeavouring  to  prove, 

1.  That,  in  the  Saxons'   times,    (as   Malmsbury,   Hoveden,  Sir 

•  [The  lands  belonging  to  the  bishoprics  of]  ^Vells  and  London.  t  Burgess  was 

much  irritated  at  these  remarks;  and  in  his  treatise  called,  "A  Case  concerning  the 
Buying  of  Bishops'  Lands,  with  the  Lawfuhicss  thereof,"  &c.  employed  abusive  language 
against  Fuller.  The  reader  will  find  an  account  of  it  at  the  conclusion  of  that  very 
scarce  book,  Fuller's  *'  Appeal  of  injured  Innocence.-"— Edit. 


424  CHURCH    HISTORY    OF    BRITAIN.  A.D.  1641. 

Henry  Spelman,  &c.  do  witness)  laws  and  constitutions  ecclesiastical 
had  the  confirmation  of  Peers  and  sometimes  of  the  people,  to  which 
great  Councils  our  Parliaments  do  succeed. 

2.  That  it  appears,  out  of  the  aforesaid  authors  and  others,  that 
there  was  some  checking  about  the  disuse  of  the  general  making  of 
such  church-laws. 

3.  That  for  kings  to  make  canons  without  consent  of  Parliament 
cannot  stand,  because  built  on  a  bad  foundation  ;  namely,  on  the 
pope's  making  canons  by  his  sole  power ;  so  that,  the  ground-w^ork 
not  being  good,  the  superstructure  sinketh  therewith. 

4.  He  examined  the  statute  25th  of  Henry  VIII.  avouching 
that  that  clause,  "The  clergy  shall  not  make  canons  without  the  king's 
leave,"  implieth  not,  that  by  his  leave  alone  they  may  make  them. 

Lastly.  He  endeavoured  to  prove  that  these  canons  w^ere  against 
the  king's  prerogative,  the  rights,  liberties,  and  properties  of  the 
subject,  insisting  herein  on  several  particulars : — 

(1.)  The  first  canon  puts  a  penalty  on  such  as  disobey  them. 

(2.)  One  of  them  determineth  the  king's  power  and  the  subjects' 
right. 

(3.)  It  showeth  that  the  ordinance  of  kings  is  by  the  law  of 
nature,  and  then  they  should  be  in  all  places  and  all  alike. 

(4.)  One  of  the  canons  saith,  that  the  king  may  not  be  resisted. 

(5.)  Another  makes  a  holy-day,  whereas  that  the  Parliament 
saith,  there  shall  be  such  and  no  more. 

This  his  speech  lost  neither  life  nor  lustre,  being  reported  to  the 
Lords  by  the  bishop  of  Lincoln,  a  back-friend  to  the  canons,  because 
made  during  his  absence  and  durance  in  the  Tower. 

One  in  the  House  of  Commons  heightened  the  offence  of  the 
clergy  herein  into  treason,  which  their  more  moderate  adversaries 
abated  into  a  premunire.  Many  much  insisted  on  the  clerks  of  the 
Convocation  for  presuming  (being  but  private  men  after  the  dissolu- 
tion of  the  Parliament)  to  grant  subsidies,  and  so,  without  law,  to 
give  away  the  estates  of  their  fellow-subjects. 

79-  ^  Bill  read  against  the  High  Commission. 
A  Bill  was  read,  June  17th,  to  repeal  that  statute  of  1st  Elizabeth 
whereby  the  High-Commission  Court  is  erected.  This  Bill  after- 
wards forbade  any  archbishop,  bishop,  &c.  deriving  power  from  the 
king,  to  assess  or  inflict  any  pain,  penalty,  amercement,  imprison- 
ment, or  corporal  punishment  for  any  ecclesiastical  offence  or  trans- 
gression ;  forbidding  them  likewise  to  administer  the  oath  eo)  officio, 
or  give  oath  to  churchwardens,  sidesmen,  or  any  others,  whereby  their 
own  or  others'  oflfences  should  be  discovered. 


16  CHARLES  I.  BOOK    XI.       CENT.    XVII.  425 

SECTION  IV. 

DIGNISSIMO  DOMINO  THOM^  FISHER,  BARONETTO. 

Cum  insignia  tua  Gentilitia  intueor,  non  sum  adeo 
heraldicae  artis  ignarus,  quin  probe  sciana,  quid  sibi 
velit  manus  ilia,  scutello  inserta. 

Te  scilicet  Baronettum  designat,  cum  omnes  in  ilium 
ordinem  cooptati,  ex  institutione  sua,  ad  Ultoniam 
(Hibernise  provinciam)  forti  dextra  defendendam  tene- 
antur.* 

At  sensum  (praeter  hunc  vulgarem)  alium  latiorerriy 
et  (quoad  meipsum)  Icetiorem,  Manui  illi  expansae, 
quae  in  tuo  clypeo  spectabilis,  subesse  video.  Index 
est  summse  tuae  munificentiae,  quo  nomine  me  tibi 
divinctissimum  profiteor. 

1 — 3.  The  High-Commission  Court  put  dozen.  The  Bill  for 
Regulation  of  Bishops.  A  crying  Sin  of  the  English 
Clergy.     A.D.  1641. 

OxMiTTiNG  matters  of  lesser  consequence,  know  that  the  Bill 
against  the  High  Commission  was  the  third  time  read  in  the  House 
of  Lords,  June  24th,  and  passed  :  it,  some  days  after,  was  confirmed 
by  his  majesty.  Thus  the  edge  of  the  spiritual  sword,  as  to  disci- 
pline, was  taken  away.  For,  although  I  read  of  a  proviso  made  in 
the  House  of  Lords,  that  the  general  words  in  this  Bill  should 
extend  only  to  the  High-Commission  Court,  and  not  reach  other 
ecclesiastical  jurisdiction  ;  yet  that  proviso  being  but  written,  and 
the  statute  printed,  all  coercive  power  of  church  consistories  was 
taken  away.  Mr.  Pym  triumphed  at  this  success,  crying  out, 
Digitus  Dei^  ''  It  is  the  finger  of  God,"  that  the  bishops  should  so 
supinely  suffer  themselves  to  be  surprised  in  their  power.  Some 
disaffected  to  episcopacy  observed  a  justice,  that,  seeing  many  simple 
souls  were,  in  the  High-Commission  Court,  by  captious  interroga- 
tories circumvented  into  a  self-accusation,  an  unsuspected  clause  in 
this  statute  should  abolish  all  their  lawful  authority. 

July  2nd,  the  bishop  of  Lincoln  brought  up  a  Bill  to  regulate 
bishops  and  their  jurisdiction,  consisting  of  several  particulars  : — 

*  Seldenl'S  in  T'Uulis  Honoris. 


426  CHURCH    HISTOIIY    OF    BRITAIN.  A.D.  1641. 

1.  That  every  bishop,  being  in  his  diocess,  not  sick,  should 
preach  once  every  Lord's  day,  or  pay  five  pounds  to  the  poor  to  be 
levied  by  the  next  Justice  of  Peace,  and  distress  made  by  the 
constable. 

2.  That  no  bishop  shall  be  Justice  of  Peace,  save  the  dean  of 
Westminster  in  Westminster  and  St.  Martin's. 

S.  That  every  bishop  should  have  twelve  assistants,  beside  the 
dean  and  chapter ;  four  chosen  by  the  King,  four  by  the  Lords,  and 
four  by  the  Commons,  for  jurisdiction  and  ordination. 

4.  That  in  all  vacancies  they  should  present  to  the  king  three  of 
the  ablest  divines  in  the  diocess,  out  of  which  his  majesty  might 
choose  one  to  be  bishop. 

5.  Deans  and  prebends  to  be  resident  at  the  cathedrals  but  sixty 
days. 

6.  That  sermons  be  preached  therein  twice  every  Lord's  day, 
once  every  holy-day,  and  a  lecture  on  Wednesday,  with  a  salary  of 
one  hundred  marks. 

7.  AH  archbishops,  bishops,  collegiate  churches,  &c.  to  give  a 
fourth  part  of  their  fines  and  improved  rents,  to  buy  out  impro- 
priations. 

8.  All  double-beneficed  men  to  pay  a  moiety  of  their  benefice  to 
their  curates. 

9.  No  appeal  to  the  Court  of  Arches  or  Audience. 

10.  Canons  and  ecclesiastical  capitulations  to  be  drawn  up  and 
fitted  to  the  laws  of  the  land  by  sixteen  learned  men,  chosen  six  by 
the  King,  five  by  the  Lords,  and  five  by  the  Commons. 

This  bill  was  but  6nce  read  in  the  House,  and  no  great  matter 
made  thereof:  the  anti-episcopal  party  conceived  it  needless  to 
shave  their  beards,  ichose  heads  they  intended  to  cut  off,  designing 
an  utter  extirpation  of  bishops. 

By  the  way,  the  mention  of  a  moiety  to  the  curates  minds  me  of 
a  crying  sin  of  the  English  clergy,  conceived,  by  the  most  consci- 
entious amongst  them,  a  great  incentive  of  Divine  anger  against 
them  ;  namely,  the  miserable  and  scandalous  stipends  aflforded  to 
their  curates  ;  which  made  laymen  follow  their  pattern  in  vicarages 
unendowed,  seeing  such  who  knew  most  what  belong  to  the  work 
allowed  the  least  wages  to  the  ministry.  Hence  is  it  that  God 
since  hath  changed  his  hand,  making  many  who  were  poor  curates 
rich  rectors,  and  many  wealthy  incumbents  to  become  poor  curates. 
It  will  not  be  amiss  to  wish  thankfulness  without  pride  to  the  one, 
and  patience  without  dejection  to  the  other. 


16  CHARLES  I.  BOOK    XI.       CENT.    XVII.  427 

4 — 7-  ^  Bill  against  Bishop  Wren.  The  Bishops,  impeached 
for  making  of  Cano7is,  have  Time  and  Counsel  allowed 
them.     The  Impeachment  of  the  Bishops  waved,  and  why. 

July  20th,  a  Bill  was  sent  up  by  the  Commons  against  Matthew 
Wren,  bishop  of  Ely,  containing  twenty-five  articles,  charging  him 
for  being  popishly  affected,  a  suppressor  of  preaching,  and  introducer 
of  arbitrary  power,  to  the  hazard  of  the  estates  and  lives  of  many. 
They  desired  he  might  be  sequestered  from  the  king's  person  and 
service. 

To  return  to  the  bishops  :  The  Commons,  perceiving  that  they 
were  so  tenacious  of  their  votes  in  Parliament,  resolved  vigorously 
to  prosecute  the  impeachment  against  them  for  making  of  canons, 
expecting  the  bishops  should  willingly  quit  their  votes  as  barons  to 
be  acquitted  of  their  premunire,  Avhereby  they  forfeited  all  their  per- 
sonal estates  ;  yet  the  sound  of  so  great  a  charge  did  not  so  affright 
them  but  that  they  persisted  legally  to  defend  their  innocence. 

August  16th,  the  bishops  that  were  impeached  for  making  canons 
craved  time  till  Michaelmas  term  to  make  their  answer.  This  was 
vehemently  opposed  by  some  lords,  and  two  questions  were  put : — 
1.  Whether  the  bishops  should  sit  still  in  the  House,  though  with- 
out voting,  (to  which  themselves  consented,)  whilst  the  circumstance 
of  time  for  their  answer  was  in  debate  ?  2.  What  time  they  should 
have  for  their  answer  ?  The  first  of  these  was  carried  for  them  by 
one  present  voice,  and  four  proxies  ;  and  for  the  second,  time  was 
allowed  them  till  the  tenth  of  November.  And  although  the 
adverse  lords  pleaded,  that,  in  offences  criminal,  for  matters  of  fact, 
no  counsel  should  be  allowed  them,  but  to  answer  Yea  or  No  :  yet 
on  the  lord  keeper's  affirming  it  ordinary  and  just  to  allow  counsel 
in  such  cases,  it  was  permitted  unto  them. 

Bishop  Warner,  of  Rochester,  is  chosen,  by  joint  consent,  to 
solicit  the  cause,  sparing  neither  care  nor  cost  therein.  Of  the 
counsel  he  retained,  two  only  appeared  ;  serjeant  Jermyn,  who 
declined  to  plead  for  them,  except  the  bishops  would  first  procure 
him  a  warrant  from  the  House  of  Commons,  (which  they  refused  to 
do,)  and  Mr.  Chiiite,  who,  being  demanded  of  the  lords  whether  he 
would  plead  for  the  bishops,  "  Yea,"  said  he,  "  so  long  as  I  have  a 
tongue  to  plead  with  !  "  Soon  after,  he  drew  up  a  demurrer  in  their 
behalf, — that  their  offence  in  making  canons  could  not  amount  to  a 
premunire.  This  being  shown  to  the  bishop  of  Lincoln,  he  pro- 
tested that  he  never  saw  a  stronger  demurrer  all  the  days  of  his  life ; 
and  the  notice  hereof  to  the  Lords  was  probably  the  cause  that  they 
waved  any  further  prosecution  of  the  charge,  which  henceforward 
sunk  in  silence. 


428  CHURCH    HISTORY    OF    BRITAIN.  A.  D.  1641. 

8 — 11.  The  Bishops,  accused  for  mean  Birth,  vindicated  their 
Parentage.  The  Degrees  whereby  the  Bishops  declined  in 
Parliament.     Bishops  refuse  willingly  to  resign  their  Votes. 

Pass  we  now  from  the  outworks  of  episcopacy,  I  mean  the  deans 
and  chapters,  thus  fiercely  stormed,  (but  as  yet  not  taken,)  to  the 
bishops  themselves,  who  began  to  shake,  seeing  their  interest  and 
respects  in  the  House  of  Lords  did  daily  decay  and  decline.  Yea, 
about  this  time  came  forth  the  lord  Brooke's  book  against  bishops, 
accusing  them  in  respect  of  their  parentage  to  be  de  fwce  populi, 
"  of  the  dregs  of  the  people ; ''  and,  in  respect  of  their  studies,  no 
way  fit  for  government,  or  to  be  barons  in  parliament. 

Whereupon  the  bishops,  taking  this  accusation  to  heart,  meet 
together ;  and,  in  their  own  necessary  defence,  thought  fit  to  vin- 
dicate their  extractions,  some  publicly,  some  in  private  discourse. 

Dr.  Williams  began,  then  archbishop  of  York,  (Canterbury  being 
in  the  Tower,)  was  accused  in  the  Star-chamber  for  purchasing  the 
two  ancientest  houses  and  inheritances  in  North  Wales,  (which  are 
Penrhyne  and  Quowilocke,)  in  regard  he  was  descended  from  them. 
So  that  he  might  as  truly  accuse  all  the  ancient  nobility  of  Britain, 
as  tax  him  for  meanly  descended. 

Dr.  Juxon,  bishop  of  London,  did  or  might  plead  that  his 
parents  lived  in  good  fashion  ;  and  gave  him  large  allowance,  first  in 
the  university,  then  in  Gray's  Inn,  where  he  lived  as  fashionably  as 
other  gentlemen  ;  so  that  the  lord  Brooke  might  question  the 
parentage  of  any  inns-of-court  gentlemen,  as  well  as  his. 

Bishop  Morton,  of  Durham,  averred  that  his  father  had  been  lord 
mayor  of  York,  and  borne  all  the  offices  of  that  city  with  credit  and 
honour;  so  that  the  lord  Brooke  might  as  justly  quarrel  the  descent 
of  any  citizen's  sons  in  England. 

Bishop  Curie,  of  Winchester :  his  father  was  for  many  years 
auditor  in  the  Court  of  Wards,  to  queen  Elizabeth  and  king  James; 
and  the  aforesaid  lord  may  as  well  condemn  all  the  sons  of  officers 
to  be  meanly  born  as  accuse  him. 

Bishop  Cook,  of  Hereford  :  his  father's  family  had  continued  in 
Derbyshire,  in  the  same  house  and  in  the  same  means,  four  hundred 
years  at  least,  often  sheriffs  of  that  county,  and  matched  to  all  the 
best  houses  therein.  So  that  the  lord  Brooke  might  as  well  have 
charged  all  the  ancient  gentry  of  that  shire  for  mean  parentage  as 
accuse  him. 

Bishop  Owen,  of  St.  Asaph, — that  there  was  not  a  gentleman  in 
the  two  counties  of  Carnarvon  and  Anglesey,  of  three  hundred 
pounds  a  year,  but  was  his  kinsman  or  ally-man  in  the  fourth 
degree  ;  which,  he  thinks,  will  sufficiently  justify  his  parentage. 


16  CHARLES  I.  BOOK    XI.       CENT.    XVII.  429 

Bishop  Goodman,  of  Gloucester, — that  though  his  veVy  name 
seemed  to  point  out  his  descent  from  yeomanry,  yet,  though  the 
youngest  son  of  the  youngest  brother,  he  had  more  left  unto  him 
than  the  lord  Brooke's  father  had  to  maintain  him  and  all  his 
family ;  that  his  grandfather  by  his  father's  side  purchased  the 
whole  estate  of  Sir  Thomas  Exmew,  lord  mayor,  London,  1517; 
and  that,  by  his  mother's  side,  he  was  descended  of  the  best  parent- 
age of  the  city  of  London. 

The  rest  of  the  bishops  might  sufficiently  vindicate  their  parentage, 
as  most  the  sons  of  ministers  or  lay  gentlemen,  whose  extractions 
ran  not  so  low  as  to  any  such  feculency  charged  upon  them. 

But  more  symptoms  of  their  dying  power  in  parliament  daily  dis- 
covered themselves ;  some  whereof  we  will  recount,  that  posterity 
may  perceive  by  what  degrees  they  did  lessen  in  the  House,  before 
they  lost  their  votes  therein. 

First.  Whereas  it  was  customary,  that,  in  all  commissions,  such  a 
number  of  bishops  should  be  joined  with  the  temporal  lords,  of  late 
their  due  proportions  were  not  observed. 

Secondly.  The  clerk  of  the  Parliament,  applying  himself  to  the 
prevalent  party,  in  the  reading  of  Bills  turned  his  back  to  the 
bishops,  who  could  not  (and,  it  seems,  he  intended  they  should  not) 
distinctly  hear  any  thing,  as  if  their  consent  or  dissent  were  little 
concerned  therein. 

Thirdly.  When  a  bill  passed  for  exchange  of  lands,  betwixt  the 
bishop  of  London  and  Sir  Nicholas  Crispe,  the  temporal  lords  were 
offended  that  the  bishop  was  styled  "  right  honourable,''  therein, 
which  at  last,  was  expunged  and  he  entitled,  "  one  of  his  majesty's 
most  honourable  Privy  Council ;"  the  honour  being  fixed  upon  his 
state-employment,  not  episcopal  function. 

Fourthly.  On  a  solemn  fast  in  their  going  to  church,  the  tem-r 
poral  lords  first  took  precedency  of  the  bishops,  (who  quietly 
submitted  themselves  to  come  behind,)  on  the  same  token,  that  one 
of  the  lay  lords*  said,  "Is  this  a  day  of  humiliation ^  wherein  we 
show  so  much  pride,  in  taking  place  of  those  to  whom  our  ancestors 
ever  allowed  it  ?  " 

But  the  main  matter  was,  that  the  bishops  were  denied  all  med- 
dling even  in  the  commission  of  preparatory  examinations  concerning 
the  earl  of  Strafford,  as  causa  sanguinis^  and  they  as  men  of  mercy 
not  to  deal  in  the  condemnation  of  any  person.  The  bishops 
pleaded,  though  it  was  not  proper  for  them  to  condemn  the  guilty, 
yet  they  might  acquit  the  innocent,  and  such  an  one  as  yet  that  earl 
was  charitably  presumed  to  be  until  legally  convicted  to  be  other- 
wise.    They  alleged  also,  in  their  own  behalf,  that  a  commission  was 

*  The  yoiing  lord  Spencer,  afterwards  earl  of  Sunderland, 


4-30  CHURCH    HISTQilY    OF    BRITAIN.  A.D.  1641. 

granted,  in  tlie  reign  of  queen  Elizabeth,  to  certain  Privy-Coun- 
sellors for  the  examination  of  the  queen  of  Scots,  even  to  her  con- 
demnation if  just  cause  appeared,*  and  John  Whitgift,  archbishop 
of  Canterbury,  first  named  therein.  AH  would  not  prevail ;  the 
bishops  being  forbidden  any  interposing'  in  that  matter. 

It  must  not  be  forgotten,  how  about  this  time  the  lord  Kimbolton 
made  a  motion  to  persuade  the  bishops  willingly  to  depart  with  their 
votes  in  Parliament ;  adding,  that  if  the  same  v^ould  surrender  their 
suffrages,  the  temporal  lords  who  remained  in  the  House  were 
obliged  in  honour  to  be  more  tender  of  and  careful  for  the  bishops'* 
preservation  in  their  jurisdictions  and  revenues.  An  instrument  was 
employed,  by  the  earl  of  Essex,  (or  else  he  employed  himself,  con- 
ceiving the  service  acceptable,)  who  dealt  privately  with  several 
bishops  to  secure  themselves  by  prevention,  to  surrender  that  which 
would  be  taken  away  from  them.  But  the  bishops  persisted  in  the 
negative,  refusing  by  any  voluntary  act  to  be  accessary  to  their  own 
injury,  resolving  to  keep  possession  of  their  votes,  till  a  prevalent 
power  outed  them  thereof. 

12 — 14.  Multitudes  of  Petitions  against  Bishops.  A  Land-tide 
of  Apprentices  flow  to  Westminster.  The  Manner  of  the 
Tumult  at  Westminster  Abbey  and  Whitehall  belongs  to 
the  Pens  of  St  ate- Historians. 

Now  no  day  passed  wherem  some  petition  was  not  presented  to 
the  Lords  or  Commons,  from  several  persons,  against  the  bishops  as 
grand  grievancers,  causing  the  general  decay  of  trade,  obstructing 
the  proceedings  in  Parliament,  and  what  not  ?  insomuch  that  the  very 
porters,  as  they  said,  were  able  no  longer  to  undergo  the  burden  of 
episcopal  tyranny,  and  petitioned  against  it.  But  hitherto  these 
were  but  blunt  petitions,  the  last  was  a  sharp  one,  (with  point  and 
edge,)  brought  up  for  the  same  purpose  by  the  armed  apprentices. 

Now,  seeing  men's  judgments  are  at  such  a  distance  about  the 
nature  of  this  their  practice  ; — some  terming  it  "  a  tumult,  mutiny, 
riot;"  others  calling  it  "  courage,  zeal,  and  industry;''  some  admi- 
ring them  as  acted  with  a  public  spirit,  above  their  age  and  educa- 
tion ;  others  condemning  them  much,  their  countenancers  more, 
their  secret  abettors  and  contrivers  most  of  all : — I  say,  when  men 
are  thus  divided  in  point  of  judgment,  it  will  be  safest  for  us  to 
confine  ourselves  merely  to  matter  of  fact ;  wherein  also  we  meet 
with  much  diversity  of  relation  ;  though,  surely,  what  a  parlia- 
mentary chronicler*!*  writes  thereof  must  be  believed  : — 

"  Now,  see  how  it  pleased  the  Lord  it  should  come  to  pass. 

•  Camden's  "  Elizabeth"  in  anno  1586.  f  John  Vicars  in  his  "  God  in  the 

Mount;  or,  Parliamentaiy  Chronicle/'  lib.  i.  rage  58. 


l(j  CHARLES   I.  BOOK    XT.       CENT.    XVII.  481 

Dec.  2Gth.  Some  of  the  apprentices  and  citizens  were  again  affronted 
about  Westminster  Abbey,  and  a  great  noise  and  hubbub  fell  out 
thereabouts.  Others,  some  of  them,  watched  (as  it  seems  by  the 
sequel)  the  bishops  coming  to  the  Parliament,  who,  considering  the 
disquiet  and  great  noise  by  land  all  about  Westminster,  durst  not 
come  to  Parliament  that  way,  for  fear  of  the  apprentices,  and  there- 
fore intended  to  have  come  to  Parliament  by  water  in  barges.  But 
the  apprentices  watched  them  that  way  also  ;  and  as  they  thought 
to  come  to  land,  they  were  so  pelted  with  stones,  and  frighted  at  the 
sight  of  such  a  company  of  them,  that  they  durst  not  land,  but 
were  rowed  back,  and  went  away  to  their  places." 

Thus  the  bishops  were  fain  to  shelter  themselves  from  the  shower 
of  stones  ready  to  fall  upon  them,  and  with  great  difficulty  made 
their  escape  ;  who  otherwise,  on  St.  Stephen's  day,  [Dec.  26th,] 
had  gone  St.  Stephen*'s  way  to  their  graves. 

As  for  the  hubbub  at  Westminster  Abbey  lately  meiitioned,  eye- 
witnesses have  thus  informed  me  of  the  manner  thereof.  Of  those 
apprentices  who  coming  up  to  the  Parliament  cried,  "  No  bishops  ! 
No  bishops  !"  some,  rudely  rushing  into  the  Abbey  church,  were 
reproved  by  a  verger  for  their  irreverent  behaviour  therein.  After- 
wards quitting  tlie  church,  the  doors  thereof,  by  command  from  the 
dean,  were  shut  up,  to  secure  the  organs  and  monuments  therein 
against  the  return  of  the  apprentices.  For  though  others  could  not 
foretell  the  intentions  of  such  a  tumult,  who  could  not  certainly  tell 
their  own,  yet  the  suspicion  was  probable,  by  what  was  uttered 
amongst  them.  The  multitude  presently  assault  the  church, 
(under  pretence  that  some  of  their  party  were  detained  therein,) 
and  force  a  pane  out  of  the  north  door,  but  are  beaten  back  by  the 
officers  and  scholars  of  the  college.  Here  an  unhappy  tile  was  cast 
by  an  unknown  hand,  from  the  leads  or  battlements  of  the  church, 
which  so  bruised  Sir  Richard  Wiseman,  conductor  of  the  appren- 
tices, that  he  died  thereof,  and  so  ended  that  day's  distemper. 

1 5,  16.   Why  no  more  than  twelve  of  the  Bishops  present  at  the 
Protest.     The  Form  thereof. 

To  return  to  the  bishops  :  The  next  day  twelve  of  them  repaired 
to  Jerusalem-chamber,  in  the  dean's  lodgings  ;  and  if  any  demand, 
"  Where  were  the  rest  of  them,  to  make  up  twenty-six  V  take  this 
account  of  their  absence  : — 

13.  Dr.  Laud,  archbishop  of  Canterbury,  was  in  the  Tower. 

14.  Dr.  Juxon,  bishop  of  London,  was  keeping  his  hospitality, 
(it  being  Christmas,)  at  Fulham. 

15.  So  was  Dr.  Curie  at  Winchester-house,  and  it  was  con- 
ceived unsafe,  though  but  cross  the  Thames,  to  send  unto  hinu 


432  CHURCH    HISTORY    OOF    BRITAIN.  A.D.  1641. 

16.  So  also  was  Dr.  Warner,  of  Rochester,  returned  to  entertain 
Lis  neigliboiirs  in  the  country. 

17,  18.  Dr.  Briclgman,  of  Cliester,  and  Dr.  Roberts,  of  Bangor, 
were  not  as  yet  come  out  of  the  country. 

19.  Dr.  Manwaring,  bishop  of  St.  David's,  sat  not  in  the  House, 
as  disabled  long  since  by  his  censure  in  Parliament. 

20.  Dr.  Duppa,  bishop  of  Salisbury,  was  attending  his  charge, 
prince  Charles. 

21.  Dr.  John  Prideaux  was  not  yet  consecrated  bishop  of  Wor- 
cester. 

22.  Dr.  WinnifFe  was  not  yet  consecrated  bishop  of  Lincoln. 

23.  Dr.  Ralph  Brownrigg  was  not  yet  consecrated  bishop  of 
Exeter. 

24.  Dr.  Henry  King  was  not  yet  consecrated  bishop  of  Chi- 
chester. 

25.  Dr.  John  Westfield  was  not  yet  consecrated  bishop  of 
Bristol. 

26.  Carlisle  was  void  by  the  late  death  of  Dr.  Potter,  only  con- 
ferred by  the  king  on  archbishop  Usher  to  hold  it  in  commendam. 

Thus  have  we  made  up  their  numbers  ;  and  must  not  forget,  that 
a  secret  item  was  given  to  some  of  the  bishops,  by  some  of  their 
well-wishers,  to  absent  themselves  in  this  licentious  time  of  Christ- 
mas, though  they  had  not  the  happiness  to  make  use  of  the  advice. 

The  other  twelve  bishops  being  not  yet  fully  recovered  from  their 
former  fear,  grief,  and  anger,  (which  are  confessed  by  all  to  be  but 
bad  counsellors  in  cases  of  importance,)  drew  up  in  haste  and  dis- 
turbance, December  27th,  such  a  Protestation,  that  posterity  already 
hath  had  more  years  to  discuss  and  examine,  than  they  had  hours, 
(I  had  almost  said  "  minutes,"")  to  contrive  and  compose,  and  (most 
of  them  implicitly  relying  on  the  conceived  infallibility  of  the  arch- 
bishop of  York  in  point  of  common  law)  all  subscribed,  as  fol- 
loweth  : — 

"to   the    K1Ng''s    most    excellent   majesty,  and  the   LORDS 
AND  PEERS  NOW  ASSEMBLED  IN  PARLIAMENT. 

"  Whereas  the  petitioners  are  called  up  by  several  and 
respective  writs,  and  under  great  penalties,  to  attend  the  Parliament, 
and  have  a  clear  and  indubitable  right  to  vote  in  Bills,  and  other 
matters  whatsoever  debatable  in  Parliament,  by  the  ancient  customs, 
laws,  and  statutes  of  this  realm,  and  ought  to  be  protected  by  your 
majesty  quietly  to  attend,  and  prosecute  that  great  service:  they 
humby  remonstrate  and  protest  before  God,  your  majesty,  and  the 
noble  lords  and  peers  now  assembled  in  Parliament,  that  as  they 
have  an  undubitate  right  to  sit  and  vote  in  the  House  of  the  Lords  ; 


16  CHARLES  I.  BOOK    XI.       CENT.    XVII.  4^33 

SO  are  they,  if  they  may  be  protected  from  force  and  violence,  most 
ready  and  willing  to  perform  their  duties  accordingly.  And  that 
they  do  abominate  all  actions  or  opinions  tending  to  popery,  and 
the  maintenance  thereof,  as  also  all  propension  and  inclination  to 
any  malignant  party,  or  any  other  side  or  party  whatsoever,  to  the 
which  their  own  reasons  and  conscience  shall  not  move  them  to 
adhere.  But  whereas  they  have  been  at  several  times  violently 
menaced,  affronted,  and  assaulted  by  multitudes  of  people  in  their 
coming  to  perform  their  services  in  that  honourable  House,  and 
lately  chased  away,  and  put  in  danger  of  their  lives,  and  can  find  no 
redress  or  protection  upon  sundry  complaints  made  to  both  Houses 
in  these  particulars  ;  they  humbly  protest  before  your  majesty,  and 
the  noble  House  of  Peers,  that,  saving  unto  themselves  all  their 
rights  and  interest  of  sitting  and  voting  in  that  House  at  other 
times,  they  dare  not  sit  or  vote  in  the  House  of  Peers,  until  your 
majesty  shall  further  secure  them  from  all  affronts,  indignities,  and 
dangers  in  the  premisses.  Lastly:  Whereas  their  fears  are  not  built 
upon  phantasies  and  conceits,  but  upon  such  grounds  and  objects  as 
may  well  terrify  men  of  resolution  and  much  constancy ;  they  do  in 
all  humility  and  duty  protest  before  your  majesty,  and  Peers  of  that 
most  honourable  House  of  Parliament,  against  all  laws,  orders, 
votes,  resolutions,  and  determinations,  as  in  themselves  null  and  of 
none  effect,  which,  in  their  absence,  since  the  27th  of  this  instant 
month  of  December,  1641,  have  already  passed,  as  likewise  against 
all  such  as  shall  hereafter  pass,  in  that  most  honourable  House, 
during  the  time  of  this  their  forced  and  violent  absence  from  the 
said  most  honourable  House ;  not  denying  but  if  their  absenting 
of  themselves  were  wilful  and  voluntary,  that  most  honourable 
House  might  proceed  in  all  their  premisses,  their  absence  or  this 
protestation  notwithstanding.  And  humbly  beseeching  your  most 
excellent  majesty  to  command  the  clerk  of  that  House  of  Peers  to 
enter  this  their  petition  and  protestation  among  his  records  : 

"  They  will  ever  pray  God  to  bless,  &c. 

"JOHN  EBORAC.  GEO.  HEREF. 

JHO.  DURESME.  ROBT.  OXON. 

RO.  CO.  LICH.  MA.  ELY. 

JOS.  NORW.  GODFREY  GLOUC. 

JO.  ASAPH.  JO.  PETERBURG. 

GULL  BA.  AND  WELLS.  MORICE  LANDASF." 

This  instrument  they  delivered  to  archbishop  Williams,  who, 
according  to  their  desire,  his  own  counsel  and  promise,  at  the  next 
opportunity,  presented  it  to  his  majesty. 

Vol.  III.  F  F 


434         CHURCH  HISTORY  OF  BRITAIN.  A.  D.  1641. 

17,  18.   The  Bishop,^  impeached  of  High-  Treason^  and  committed 

to  the  Tower. 

His  majesty  would  not  meddle  therewitli  in  this  dangerous 
juncture  of  time,  (his  great  Council  then  sitting,)  but  wholly 
remitted  the  matter  to  the  Parliament.  The  next  morning,  a  Privy 
Counsellor  brought  this  Protestation  into  the  House  ;  at  the  reading 
whereof  the  anti-episcopal  party  much  triumphed,  that  the  bishops  had 
gratified  them  with  such  an  advantage  against  themselves,  which 
their  adversaries  might  wish  but  durst  not  hope  for  heretofore.  A 
conference  is  desired  with  the  Commons  in  the  painted  chamber ; 
and  therein  concluded,  that  the  bishops  should  be  impeached  of 
high  treason,  for  endeavouring  to  subvert  the  fundamental  laws  of 
the  land,  and  the  very  being  of  parliaments. 

Hereupon,  the  next  day,  the  twelve  subscribers  were  voted  to  be 
committed  to  the  Tower,  save  that  bishop  Morton  of  Durham,  and 
Hall  of  Norwich,  found  some  favour,  partly  in  respect  of  their  old  age, 
and  partly  in  regard  of  the  great  good  they  had  done  with  their  pens  and 
preaching  to  the  church  of  God.*  So  that  they  alone  were  sent  to  the 
custody  of  the  black  rod.  The  rest,  being  brought  into  the  Tower, 
had  that  honour  granted  them  in  the  prison  which  was  denied  them 
in  the  Parliament,  to  be  esteemed  equal  with — yea,  above — temporal 
lords,  as  appeared  by  the  fees  demanded  of  them  ;  though,  in  fine, 
Sir  John  Biron,  lieutenant  of  the  Tower,  proved  very  courteous  in 
removing  the  rigour  thereof.  The  archbishop  of  Canterbury,  by  a 
civil  message,  excused  himself  for  not  conversing  with  them,  because 
he  was  committed  on  a  different  account  from  them,  and  probably 
they  might  mutually  fare  the  worse  for  any  intercourse.  And  here 
we  leave  them  prisoners  for  eighteen  weeks  together,  and  proceed. 

19.  Viscount  NewarHs  two  Speeches  in  the  Behalf  of  Bishops. 
Now  was  the  Bill  against  the  bishops  sitting  in  Parliament 
brought  up  into  the  House  of  Lords,  and  the  matter  agitated  with 
much  eagerness  on  both  sides.  Amongst  those  who  sided  with  them, 
none  appeared  in  print  more  zealous  than  the  lord  viscount  Newark, 
(afterward  earl  of  Kingston,  &c.)  whose  two  speeches  in  parliament, 
although  spoken  some  months  before,-|-  yet,  for  the  entireness  of  the 
History,  may  now  seasonably  be  inserted. 

HIS    FIRST    SPEECH. 

"  I  SHALL  take  the  boldness  to  speak  a  word  or  two  upon  this 
subject,  first  as  it  is  in  itself,  then  as  it  is  in  the  consequence.     For 

•  Heylin  says,  that  it  was  "  Dr.  "Wright,  bishop  of  Lichfield  and  Coventry,  and  not 
Dv.  Hail,  bishop  of  Norwich,  who  found  that  favour  at  their  hands."  Fuller  adds,  "The 
next  edition  shall  be  reformed  herein." — Edit.  t  The  first.  May  21st 5  the  second, 

May  24th,  antio  1G41. 


16  CHARLES  r.  BOOK    XT.       CENT.    XVII.  435 

the  former :  I  think  he  is  a  great  stranger  in  antiquity  that  is  not 
well  acquainted  with  that  of  their  sitting  here.  They  have  done 
thus  and  in  this  manner  almost  since  thfe  Conquest,  and  by  the  same 
power  and  the  same  right  the  other  peers  did  and  your  lordships 
now  do.  And  to  be  put  from  this  their  due,  so  much  their  due,  by 
so  many  hundred  years  strengthened  and  confirmed,  and  that  without 
any  offence,  nay,  pretence  of  any,  seems  to  me  to  be  very  severe. 
If  it  be  jus^  I  dare  boldly  say  it  is  summum.  That '  this  hinders 
their  ecclesiastical  vocation,'  (an  argument  I  hear  much  of,)  hath  in 
my  apprehension  more  of  shadow  than  substance  in  it :  If  this  be  a 
reason,  sure  I  am,  it  might  have  been  one  six  hundred  years  ago. 

"  A  bishop,  my  lords,  is  not  so  circumscribed  within  the  circum- 
ference of  his  diocess  that  his  sometimes-absence  can  be  termed,  no, 
not  in  the  most  strict  sense,  '  a  neglect  or  hinderance  of  his  duty ;'' 
no  more  than  that  of  a  lieutenant  from  his  county.  They  both 
have  their  subordinate  ministers,  upon  which  their  influences  fall, 
though  the  distance  be  remote. 

"  Besides,  my  lords,  the  lesser  must  yield  to  the  greater  good  ;  to 
make  wholesome  and  good  laws  for  the  happy  and  well  regulating  of 
church  and  commonv/ealth,  is  certainly  more  advantageous  to  both, 
than  the  want  of  the  personal  execution  of  their  office,  and  that  but 
once  in  three  years,  (and  then,  peradventure,  but  a  month  or  two,) 
can  be  prejudicial  to  either.  I  will  go  no  further  to  prove  this, 
which  so  long  experience  hath  done  so  fully,  so  demonstratively. 

"  And  now,  my  lords,  by  your  lordships'  good  leave,  I  shall  speak 
to  the  consequence,  as  it  reflects  both  on  your  lordships,  and  my 
lords  the  bishops.  Dangers  and  inconveniences  are  ever  best  pre- 
vented e  longlnquo.  This  precedent  comes  near  to  your  lordships. 
The  Bill,  indeed,  hath  a  direct  aspect  only  upon  them,  but  an 
oblique  one  upon  your  lordships  ;  and  such  a  one  that,  mutato 
nomine^  de  vohis.  Pretences  are  never  wanting  ;  nay,  sometimes 
the  greatest  evils  appear  in  the  most  fair  and  specious  outsides. 
Witness  the  ship-money,  the  most  abominable,  the  most  illegal 
thing  that  ever  was ;  and  yet  this  was  painted  over  with  colour  of 
the  law.  What  bench  is  secure,  if  to  allege  be  to  convince  ?  And 
which  of  your  lordships  can  say,  that  he  shall  continue  a  member  of 
this  House,  when  at  one  blow  six-and-twenty  are  cut  off?  It  then 
behoves  the  neighbour  to  look  about  him,  cum  proximus  ardet 
Ucalegon. 

"And  for  the  bishops,  my  lords,  in  what  condition  will  you 
leave  them  ?  The  House  of  Commons  represents  the  meanest 
person  ;  so  did  the  master  his  slave.  But  they  have  none  to  do  so 
much  for  them  ^  and  what  justice  can  tie  them  to  the  observation  of 
those  laws  to  whose  constitution  they  give  no  consent  ?     The  wisdom 

2f2 


4S6         CHURCH  HISTORY  OF  BRITAIN.  A.D  1641. 

of  former  times  gave  proxies  unto  this  House  merely  upon  this 
ground, — that  every  one  might  have  a  hand  in  the  making  of  that 
which  he  had  an  obligation  to  obey.  This  House  could  not  repre- 
sent ;  therefore,  proxies  in  room  of  persons  were  most  jnstly  allowed. 

"  And  now,  my  lords,  before  I  conclude,  I  beseech  your  lordships 
to  cast  your  eyes  upon  the  church,  which  I  know  is  most  dear  and 
tender  to  your  lordships.  You  will  see  her  suffer  in  her  most  prin- 
cipal members,  and  deprived  of  that  honour  which  here  and  through- 
out all  the  Christian  world  ever  since  Christianity  she  constantly 
hath  enjoyed.  For  what  nation  or  kingdom  is  there  in  whose  great 
and  public  assemblies,  and  that  from  her  beginning,  she  had  not 
some  of  hers,  if  I  may  not  say  as  essential,  I  am  sure  I  may  say  '  as 
integral "*  parts  thereof?  And,  truly,  my  lords,  Christianity  cannot 
alone  boast  of  this,  or  challenge  it  only  as  hers  :  even  Heathenism 
claims  an  equal  share.  I  never  read  of  any  of  them,  civil  or  barbarous, 
that  gave  not  due  honour  to  their  religion  :  so  that  it  seems'  to  me 
to  have  no  other  original,  to  flow  from  no  other  spring,  than  nature 
itself. 

"  But  I  have  done,  and  will  trouble  your  lordships  no  longer. 
How  it  may  stand  with  the  honour  and  justice  of  this  House  to 
pass  this  Bill,  I  most  humbly  submit  unto  your  lordships,  the  most 
proper  and  only  judges  of  them  both.'" 

HIS    SECOND    SPEECH. 

"  I  SHALL  not  speak  to  the  preamble  of  the  Bill,  that  bishops  and 
clergymen  ought  not  to  intermeddle  in  temporal  affairs.  For, 
truly,  my  lords,  I  cannot  bring  it  under  any  respect  to  be  spoken 
of.  Ought  is  a  word  of  relation,  and  must  either  refer  to  human  or 
divine  law.  To  prove  the  lawfulness  of  their  intermeddling  by  the 
former,  would  be  to  no  more  purpose  than  to  labour  to  convince 
that  by  reason  which  is  evident  to  sense  :  it  is  by  all  acknowledged. 
The  unlawfulness  by  the  latter,  the  Bill  by  no  means  admits  of; 
for,  it  excepts  universities  and  such  persons  as  shall  have  honour 
descend  upon  them.  And  your  lordships  know,  that  circumstance 
and  chance  alter  not  the  nature  and  essence  of  a  thing,  nor  can 
except  any  particular  from  an  universal  proposition  by  God  himself 
delivered.  I  will,  therefore,  take  these  two  as  granted :  First. 
That  they  ought  by  our  law  to  intermeddle  in  temporal  affairs. 
Secondly.  That  from  doing  so  they  are  not  inhibited  by  the  law  of 
God  ;  it  leaves  it  at  least  as  a  thing  indifferent.  And  now,  my 
lords,  to  apply  myself  to  the  business  of  the  day  :  I  shall  consider  the 
conveniency,  and  that  in  the  several  habitudes  thereof,  but  very  briefly. 
First.  In  that  which  it  hath  to  them  merely  as  men,  qua  tales:  Then, 
As  parts  of  the  commonweal :   Thirdly:   From  the  best  manner  of 


10   CH-AHLES  I.  BOOK    XI.       CENT.    XVII.  437 

conslitiiting  laws  :  And,  Lastly,  from  tlie  practice  of  all  times,  botli 
Christian  and  Heathen. 

"  1.  Homo  sum,  nihil  humanum  a  me  alienimi  puto,  was  indeed 
the  saying  of  the  comedian  ;  but  it  might  well  have  become  the 
mouth  of  the  greatest  philosopher.  We  allow  to  sense  all  the  works 
and  operations  of  sense  ;  and  shall  we  restrain  reason  ?  Must  only 
man  behindered  from  his  proper  actions  ?  They  are  most  fit  to  do 
reasonable  things  that  are  most  reasonable.  For,  science  commonly 
is  accompanied  with  conscience ;  so  is  not  ignorance  :  they  seldom 
or  never  meet.  And  why  should  we  take  that  capacity  from  them 
which  God  and  nature  have  so  liberally  bestowed  ? 

"  2.  My  lords,  the  politic  body  of  the  commonwealth  is  analogical 
to  the  body  natural.  Every  member  in  that  contributes  something 
to  the  preservation  of  the  whole :  the  superfluity  or  defect  which 
hinders  the  performance  of  that  duty,  your  lordships  know  what 
the  philosopher  calls  ajxapr/av  tyi<;  <p6(Tsoo;,  '  nature''s  sin.'  And, 
truly,  my  lords,  to  be  part  of  the  other  body,  and  do  nothing  bene- 
ficial thereunto,  cannot  fall  under  a  milder  term.  The  common- 
wealth subsists  by  laws  and  their  execution  :  and  they  that  have 
neither  head  in  the  making — nor  hand  in  the  executing — of  them, 
confer  not  any  thing  to  the  being  or  well-being  thereof.  And  can 
such  be  called  *  members ""  unless  most  unprofitable  ones  ?  only 
fruges  consumere  nati. 

"  3.  Methinks  it  springs  from  nature  itself,  or  the  very  depths  of 
justice,  that  none  should  be  tried  by  other  laws  than  himself  makes. 
For,  what  more  natural  and  just  than  to  be  bound  only  by  his 
own  consent?  To  be  ruled  by  another's  will  is  merely  tyrannical. 
Nature  there  suffers  violence,  and  man  degenerates  into  beast.  The 
most  flourishing  estates  were  ever  governed  by  laws  of  an  universal 
constitution.  Witness  this  our  kingdom  :  witness  senatus populusque 
Romanus^  the  most  glorit)us  commonwealth  that  ever  was ;  and 
those  many  others  in  Greece  and  elsewhere  of  eternal  memory. 

"  4.  Some  things,  my  lords,  are  so  evident  in  themselves  that 
they  are  difficult  in  their  proofs.  Amongst  them  I  reckon  this  con- 
veniency  I  have  spoken  of:  I  will  therefore  use  but  a  word  or  two 
more  in  this  way.  The  long  experience  that  all  Christendom  hath 
had  hereof  for  these  thirteen  hundred  years,  is  certainly  argumentum 
ad  hominem.  Nay,  my  lords,  I  will  go  further  :  (for  the  same 
reason  runs  through  all  religions  :)  never  was  there  any  nation  that 
employed  not  their  religious  men  in  the  greatest  aflTairs.  But,  to  come 
to  the  business  that  now  lies  before  your  lordships :  Bishops  have  voted 
here  ever  since  Parliaments  began  ;  and,  long  before,  were  employed 
in  the  public.  The  good  they  have  done,  your  lordships  all  well 
know,  and  at  this  day  enjoy.     For  this,  I  hope,  ye  Avill  not  put  them 


438  CHURCH    HISTOEY    OF    BRITAIN.  A.D.  1641. 

out,  nor  for  the  evil  they  may  do ;  which  yet  your  lordships  do  not 
know,  and  I  am  confident  never  shall  suffer.  A  position  ought  not 
to  be  destroyed  by  a  supposition  ;  et  a  posse  ad  esse  non  valet  con- 
sequentia.  My  lords,  I  have  done  with  proving  of  this  positively:  I 
shall  now,  by  your  good  favours,  do  it  negatively,  in  answering  some 
inconveniences  that  may  seem  to  arise."' 

Objection  I. — "  For  the  text,  '  No  man  that  wars  entangles 
himself  with  the  affairs  of  this  life,"*  which  is  the  full  sense  of  the 
word  both  in  Greek  and  Latin  ;  it  makes  not  at  all  against  them, 
except  to  intermeddle  and  entangle  be  terms  equivalent.  Besides, 
my  lords,  though  this  was  directed  to  a  churchman,  yet  it  is  of  a 
general  nature  and  reaches  to  all,  clergy  and  laity  ;  as  the  most 
learned  and  best  expositors  unanimously  do  agree.  To  end  this, 
argumentum  symboUcum  non  est  argumentativum?'' 

Objection  II. — "  It  may  be  said,  '  that  it  is  inconsistent  with  a 
spiritual  vocation.'  Truly,  my  lords,  grace  and  nature  are  in  some 
respects  incompatible ;  but,  in  some  others,  most  harmoniously 
agree.  It  perfects  nature,  and  raises  it  to  a  height  above  the  com- 
mon altitude,  and  makes  it  most  fit  for  those  great  works  of  God 
himself, — to  make  laws,  to  do  justice.  There  is,  then,  no  incon- 
sistency between  themselves ;  it  must  arise  out  of  Scripture :  I  am 
confident  it  doth  not  formally  out  of  any  place  there,  nor  did  I  ever 
meet  with  any  learned  writer  of  these  or  other  times  that  so 
expounded  any  text." 

Objection  III. — "  But,  '  though  in  strict  terms  this  be  not 
inconsistent,  yet  it  may  peradventure  hinder  the  duty  of  their  other 
calling.'  My  lords,  there  is  not  any  that  sits  here  more  for  preach- 
ing than  I  am.  I  know  it  is  the  ordinary  means  to  salvation  ;  yet 
I  likewise  know,  there  is  not  that  full  necessity  of  it  as  was  in  the  pri- 
mitive times.  God  defend,  that  sixteen  hundred  years' acquaintance 
should  make  the  Gospel  of  Christ  no  better  known  unto  us  !  Neither, 
my  lords,  doth  their  office  merely  and  wholly  consist  in  preach- 
ing ;  but,  partly  in  that ;  partly  in  praying  and  administering 
the  blessed  sacraments ;  in  a  godly  and  exemplary  life,  in  wholesome 
admonitions,  in  exhortations  to  virtue,  dehortations  from  vice ;  and 
partly  in  easing  the  burthened  conscience.  These,  my  lords,  com- 
plete the  office  of  a  churchman.  Nor  are  they  altogether  tied  to 
time  or  place ;  though,  I  confess,  they  are  most  properly  exercised 
within  their  own  verge,  except  upon  good  occasion  ;  nor  then  the 
omission  of  some  can  be  termed  the  breach  of  them  all.  I  must 
add  one  more,  an  essential  one, — the  very  form  of  episcopacy  that 
distinguisheth  it  from  the  inferior  ministry,  the  orderly  and  good 
government  of  the  church.  And  how  many  of  these,  (I  am  sure  not 
the  last,)  my  lords,  is  interrupted  by  their  sitting  here,  once  in  three 


16  CHARLES  I.  BOOK    Xf.       CENT.    XVII.  439 

years,  and  then  peradventure  but  a  very  short  time  ?  And  can  there 
be  a  greater  occasion  than  the  common  good  of  the  church  and  state  ? 
I  will  tell  your  lordships  what  the  great  and  good  emperor  Constan- 
tino did,  in  his  expedition  against  the  Persians  :  He  had  his  bishops 
with  him,  whom  he  consulted  about  his  military  affairs,  as  Eusebius 
has  it  in  his  Life,  lib.  iv.  c.  56.''^ 

Objection  IV. — " '  Reward  and  punishment  are  the  great 
negotiators  in  all  worldly  businesses  ;  these  may  be  said  to  make 
the  bishops  swim  against  the  stream  of  their  consciences.'  And  may 
not  the  same  be  said  of  the  laity  ?  Have  these  no  operations,  but 
only  upon  them  ?  Has  the  king  neither  frown,  honour,  nor  offices, 
but  only  for  bishops  ?  Is  there  nothing  that  answers  their  transla- 
tions ?  Indeed,  my  lords,  I  must  needs  say,  that  in  charity  it  is  a 
supposition  not  to  be  supposed,  no,  nor  in  reason,  that  they  will  go 
against  the  light  of  their  understanding.  The  holiness  of  their 
calling,  their  knowledge,  their  freedom  from  passions  and  affections 
to  which  youth  is  very  obnoxious,  their  vicinity  to  the  gates  of 
death,  which,  though  not  shut  to  any,  yet  always  stand  wide  open 
to  old  age :   These,  my  lords,  will  surely  make  them  steer  aright." 

Objection  V. — "  '  But  of  matter  of  fact  there  is  no  disputa- 
tion :  some  of  them  have  done  111.'  Ct'imine  ah  uno  disce  omnes, 
is  a  poetical  not  a  logical  argument.  Some  of  the  judges  have  done 
so,  some  of  the  magistrates  and  officers;  and  sKall  there  be  therefore 
neither  judge,  magistrate,  nor  officer  more  ?  A  personal  crime  goes 
not  beyond  the  person  that  commits  it ;  nor  can  another''s  fault  be 
mine  offence.  If  they  have  contracted  any  filth  or  corruption 
through  their  own  or  the  vice  of  the  times,  cleanse  and  purge  them 
thoroughly.  But  still  remember  the  great  difference  between 
reformation  and  extirpation.  And  be  pleased  to  think  of  your 
Triennial  Bill  which  will  save  you  this  labour  for  the  time  to  come ; 
fear  of  punishment  will  keep  them  in  order,  if  they  should  not 
themselves  through  the  love  of  virtue.  I  have  now,  my  lords, 
according  to  my  poor  ability,  both  showed  the  conveniences,  and 
answered  those  inconveniences  that  seem  to  make  against  them.  I 
should  now  propose  those  that  make  for  them  :  As  their  falling  into 
a  condition  worse  than  slaves,  not  represented  by  any ;  and  then  the 
dangers  and  inconveniences  that  may  happen  to  your  lordships.  But 
I  have  done  this  heretofore,  and  will  not  offer  your  lordships,  cram- 
ben  his  coctamr 

These  speeches  (though  they  converted  none  of  the  opposite) 
confirmed  those  of  the  episcopal  party,  making  the  Lords  very- 
zealous  in  the  bishops'  behalf. 


440  CHURCH    HISTORY    OF    BRITAIM.  A.D.  1642. 

20.   Temporal  Lords,  Favourers  of  Bishops, 

There  were  in  the  House  many  other  defenders  of  episcopacy :  as 
AVilliam  lord  marquess  of  Hertford ;  the  earl  of  Southampton;  the 
earl  of  Bristol,  and  the  lord  Digby,  his  son  ;  and  the  never-to-be- 
forgotten  H  enry,  earl  of  Bath,  a  learned  lord,  and  lover  of  learning, 
oftentimes  on  occasion  speaking  for  bishops,  once  publicly  professing 
it  one  of  the  greatest  honours  which  ever  happily  happened  to  his 
family,  that  one  thereof  (Thomas  Bourchier  by  name)  was  once  dig- 
nified with  the  archbishopric  of  Canterbury.  Many  other  lords, 
though  not  haranguing  it  in  long  orations,  by  their  effectual  votes 
for  bishops  manifested  their  unfeigned  affections  unto  them. 

21 — 31.  The  Death  of  Bishop  Mountagu.  Eminent  and  popular 
Persons  made  Bishops.  All  would  not  do.  A  disadvantageous 
Juncture  of  Time  for  Bishops.  Bishop  Warner,  the  best 
Champion  for  Bishops.  The  principal  Plea  against  Bishops'" 
Baronies.  Earl  of  BristoPs  Plea  for  Bishops ;  refuted  by 
others.  The  King  unwilling  to  consent ;  but  is  importuned 
thereunto.    Keep  in  thy  Calling.  A.D.  1642. 

About  this  time,  there  were  many  vacant  cathedrals,  which  the 
king  lately  had  or  now  did  furnish  with  new  bishops  :  Dr.  Joseph 
Hall  being  removed  from  Exeter  to  Norwich,  void  by  the  death  of 
Richard  Mountagu,  born  in  Westminster,  bred  in  Eaton  school. 
Fellow  in  King's  College  ;  a  great  Grecian,  and  church  antiquary, 
well  read  in  the  Fathers.  But  (all  in  his  diocess  not  being  so  well  ■ 
skilled  in  antiquity  as  himself)  some  charged  him  with  superstitious 
urging  of  ceremonies ;  and,  being  accused  in  parliament,  he  appeared 
not,  (being  very  weak,)  but  went  a  more  compendious  way  to  answer 
all  in  the  high  court  of  heaven.* 

As  for  new-elected  bishops,  his  majesty  was  most  careful  to  choose 
them  out  of  the  most  sound  for  judgment,  and  blameless  for  con- 
versation. 

1.  Dr.  John  Prideaux,  almost  grown  to  the  King's  Professor's 
Chair  in  Oxford,  he  had  sat  so  long  and  close  therein ;  procuring, 
by  his  painful  and  learned  Lectures,  deserved  repute  at  home 
and  amongst  foreign  protestants.  He  was  made  bishop  of 
Worcester. 

2.  Dr.  Thomas  Winniffe,  dean  of  St.  Paul's  ;  a  grave,  learned, 
and  moderate  divine  ;    made  bishop  of  Lincoln. 

S.  Dr.  Ralph  Brownrigg  ;    of  most  quick  and  solid  parts,  equally 
eminent  for  disputing  and  preaching  ;    made  bishop  of  Exeter. 
4.  Dr.  Henry  King;  acceptable  on  the  account  of  his  own  merit, 

*  He  tiied  on  tlie  12iii  of  April. 


17  CHARLES  I.  BOOK    XI.       CENT.    XVII.  441 

and  on  the  score  of  a  pious  and  popular  father  ;  made  bishop  of 
Chichester. 

5.  Dr.  John  Westfield  ;  for  many  years  the  painful  and  pro- 
fitable preacher,  of  great  St.  Bartholomew's,  London  ;  made  bishop 
of  Bristol.     He  died  not  long  after. 

Surely,  si  urhs  defensa^  fiiisset  his  dextris,  if  Divine  Providence 
had  appointed  that  episcopacy  (at  this  time)  should  have  been  kept 
up  and  maintained,  more  probable  persons  for  that  purpose  could 
not  have  been  picked  out  of  England.  So  that  envy  and  detraction 
might  even  feed  on  their  own  flesh,  their  teeth  finding  nothing  in 
the  aforesaid  elects  to  fasten  upon. 

But  episcopacy  was  so  far  from  faring  the  better  for  them,  that 
they  fared  the  worse  for  it ;  insomuch  that  many,  who  much  loved 
them  in  their  gowns,  did  not  at  all  like  them  in  their  rochets. 

The  bill  w^as  again  brought  in  against  bishops'  votes  in  Parliament, 
and  that  in  a  disadvantageous  juncture  of  time,  the  bishops  then 
being  under  a  threefold  qualification  : — 

1.  Imprisoned  in  the  Tower.  Of  these  eleven,  beside  archbishop 
Laud  ;   whose  absence  much  weakened  the  party. 

2.  Lately  consecrated,  and  later  inducted  into  the  House  of 
Lords ;  as  the  bishops  of  Worcester,  Lincoln,  Exeter,  Chichester, 
Bristol :  Such  their  modesty  and  manners,  they  conceived  it  fitting 
to  practise  their  hearing,  before  speaking  in  the  House.  So  that,  in 
some  sort,  they  may  be  said  to  have  lost  their  voices  before  they 
found  them  in  the  Parliament. 

3.  The  remainder  of  ancient  bishops, — London,  Salisbury,  Ban- 
gor, &c. — who  seldom  were  seen,  (detained  with  other  occasions,) 
and  more  seldom  heard  in  the  Parliament. 

So  that  the  adversaries  of  episcopacy  could  not  have  obtained  a 
fitter  opportunity,  (the  spirits  of  time  at  large  being  distilled  there- 
into,) than  in  this  very  instant,  to  accomplish  their  desires. 

Only  Dr.  John  Warner,  bishop  of  Rochester,  was  he,  in  whom 
dying  episcopacy  gave  the  last  groan  in  the  House  of  Lords;  one  of 
good  speech  and  a  cheerful  spirit,  and  (which  made  both)  a  good 
purse,  and  (which  made  all  three)  a  good  cause,  as  he  conceived  in 
his  conscience  ;  which  made  him  very  pertinently  and  valiantly 
defend  the  antiquity  and  justice  of  bishops'  votes  in  Parliament. 
This  is  he  of  whose  bounty  many  distressed  souls  since  have  tasted  ; 
whose  reward  no  doubt  is  laid  up  for  him  in  another  world. 

The  main  argument  which  was  most  insisted  on,  against  their 
temporal  baronies,  were  the  words  of  the  apostle,  "  No  man  which 
warreth,  entangleth  himself  with  the  afl^airs  of  this  life,"  2  Tim. 
ii.  4.  Their  friends  pleaded,  1.  That  the  words  equally  concerned 
all  militant  Christians ;  bishops   being   not  particularized  therein. 


442  CHURCH    HISTORY    OF    BRITAIN.  A.D.  1643. 

2.  That  it  was  uncharitable  to  conclude  their  fingers  more  clasping  of 
the  world,  or  the  world  more  glutinous  to  stick  to  their  fingers,  that 
they  alone,  of  all  persons,  could  not  touch  the  world,  but  must  be 
entangled  therewith.  But  it  was  answered,  that  then,  a  fortiori^ 
clergymen  were  concerned  in  the  text  aforesaid  not  to  meddle  with 
worldly  matters,  whose  governing  of  a  whole  diocess  was  so  great  an 
employment,  that  their  attendance  in  parliament  must  needs  be 
detrimental  to  so  careful  a  vocation. 

The  earl  of  Bristol  engaged  himself  a  valiant  champion  in  the 
bishops'  behalf.  He  affirmed,  that  it  was  according  to  the  Orders 
of  the  House,  that  no  Bill,  being  once  cast  out,  should  be  brought 
in  again  at  the  same  sessions.  Seeing  therefore  the  Bill  against 
bishops'  votes  had  formerly  been  clearly  carried  by  many  decisive 
votes  for  the  bishops,  it  was  not  oxA^^ prwter-  but  (70?^^r«-parliamentary, 
it  should  be  brought  again  this  sessions. 

But  seeing  this  Parliament  was  extraordinary  in  the  manner  and 
continuance  thereof,  (one  session  being  likely  to  last  for  many  years,) 
it  was  not  conceived  fit  they  should  be  tied  to  the  observance  of  such 
punctual  niceties  ;  and  the  resumption  of  the  Bill  was  not  only  over- 
ruled by  votes,  but  also  it  was  clearly  carried  in  the  negative,  "  that 
bishops  never  more  should  vote  as  peers  in  parliament." 

Nothing  now  wanted,  save  the  royal  assent,  to  pass  the  said  votes 
into  a  law.  The  king  appeared  very  unwilling  therein ;  partly, 
because  he  conceived  it  an  injury  to  give  away  the  bishops'* 
undoubted  right ;  partly  because  he  suspected,  that  the  haters  of  the 
function — and  lovers  of  the  lands — of  bishops  would  grow  on  his 
grants,  and  improve  themselves  on  his  concessions,  so  that  such 
yielding  unto  them  would  not  satisfy  their  hunger,  but  quicken  their 
appetites  to  demand  the  more  hereafter. 

The  importunity  of  others  pressed  upon  him,  that  to  prune  oflT 
their  baronies  was  the  way  to  preserve  their  bishoprics  ;  that  his 
majesty,  lately  obnoxious  to  the  Parliament  for  demanding  the  five 
members,  would  now  make  plenary  satisfaction,  and  give  such 
assurance  of  his  affections  for  the  future,  that  all  things  would 
answer  his  desired  expectation.  This  was  set  home  unto  him,  by 
some  (not  the  farthest)  relations,  insomuch  that  at  last,  February 
14th,  he  signed  the  bill,  as  he  was  in  St.  Augustine's  in  Canterbury, 
passing  with  the  queen  towards  Dover,  then  undertaking  her  voyage 
into  the  Low  Countries. 

Many  expected,  and  more  desired,  that  the  king's  condescension 
herein  should  put  a  period  unto  all  differences.  But  their  expecta- 
tions were  frustrate  ;  and,  not  long  after,  the  king,  apprehending 
himself  in  danger  by  tumults,  deserted  Whitehall,  went  into  the 
north,    erected  his  standard   at   Nottingham.   Edgc-liill  field    was 


19  CHARLES  I.  BOOK    XI.       CENT.    XVII.  443 

fought,  and  much  English  blood  on  both  sides  shed  in  several 
battles.  But  I  seasonably  remember,  that  the  church  is  my  castle ; 
namely,  that  the  writing  thereof  is  my  house  and  home,  wherein  I 
may  stand  on  my  own  defence  against  all  who  assault  me.  It  was 
good  counsel  king  Joasli  gave  to  king  Amaziah,  "  Tarry  at  home," 
2  Kings  xiv.  10.  The  practice  whereof  shall,  I  hope,  secure  me 
from  many  mischiefs. 

32,  33.    The  word  "- malignanV^  first   comedy  and  the    word 

"  Plunderr 

About  this  time  the  word  "  malignant,"  was  first  born  (as  to  the 
common  use)  in  England  ;  the  deduction  thereof  being  disputable, 
whether  from  mains  ignis,  "  bad  fire  ;"  or,  malum  lignum^  "  bad 
fuel  f*  *  but  this  is  sure,  betwixt  both,  the  name  made  a  combustion 
all  over  England.  It  was  fixed  as  a  note  of  disgrace  on  those  of  the 
king's  party  ;  and,  because  one  had  as  good  be  dumb  as  not  speak 
with  the  vulgar,  possibly  in  that  sense  it  may  occur  in  our  ensuing 
History.  However,  the  royalists  plead  for  themselves,  that  *'  malig- 
nity," a  Scripture-word,  Rom.  i.  29,  properly  denoteth  "activity  in 
doing  evil,"  whereas  they  being  ever  since  on  the  suffering  side,  in 
their  persons,  credits,  and  estates,  conceive  the  name  improperly  applied 
unto  them.  Which  plea  the  parliamentary  party  smile  at,  instead 
of  answering ;  taking  notice  of  the  affections  of  the  royalists,  how 
malignant  they  would  have  appeared,  if  success  had  befriended  them. 

Contemporary  with  "  malignant,"  was  the  word,  "  plunder ;" 
which  some  make  of  Latin  original,  from  planum  dare,  "  to  level," 
or  "  plane  all  to  nothing."  Others  make  it  of  Dutch  extraction,  as 
if  it  were  "  to  plume  or  pluck  the  feathers  of  a  bird  to  the  bare 
skin."  Sure  I  am,  we  first  heard  thereof  in  the  Swedish  wars  ;  and 
if  the  name  and  thing  be  sent  back  from  whence  it  came,  few  English 
eyes  would  weep  thereat. 

34 — 36.  The  Bishops  in  the  Tower  released.  J  Query  worth 
inquiring.  Divines  consulted  with  in  Parliament.  A.D. 
1643. 

By  this  time  ten  of  the  eleven  bishops,  formerly  subscribing  their 
Protestation  to  the  Parliament,  were,  after  some  months'  durance, 

*  Heylin  ia  exceedingly  severe  in  his  reprehension  of  this  definition  of  malignant ;  and 
Fuller  replies,  in  his  Appeal:  "  I  confess  the  name  round-head  at  the  same  time  trun- 
dled ahout  in  the  mouths  of  many  men  ;  hut  I  conceived  it  heneath  a  liistorian  to  make 
use  thereof,  hecause  his  majesty,  in  aU  his  proclamations,  declarations,  and  other  acts  of 
state,  never  made  mention  thereof  j  whilst  mulignunt  was  often  used  in  Acts  of  ParUa- 
ment.  But  if  my  bare  mention,  not  using,  of  malignant  be  so  distasteful,  I  will  cut 
down  all  the  ill  ivood  therein  to  the  last  sprig,  quench  all  the  ill  fire  therein  to  the  last 
spark  J  I  mean,  God  willing,  totally  delete  that  paragraph  in  the  next  edition." — Edit. 


444  CHURCH    HISTORY    OF    BRITAIN.  A]).  1643. 

upon  good  bail  given,  released  ;  two  of  them  finding  great  favour  in 
their  fees  from  the  lieutenant  of  tlie  Tower,  in  respect  of  their  great 
charge  and  small  estate.  These  now  at  liberty  severally  disposed 
themselves  ;  some  went  home  to  their  own  diocess,  as  the  bishops  of 
Norwich,  Oxford,  &c.  Some  continued  in  London,  as  the  bishop 
of  Durham,  not  so  rich  in  age,  as  in  all  ^commendable  episcopal 
qualities.  Some  withdrew  themselves  into  the  king's  quarters,  as 
archbishop  Williams,  &c.  Only  bishop  Wren  was  still  detained  in 
the  Tower,  where  his  long  imprisonment  (being  never  brought  in  to 
a  public  answer)  hath  converted  many  of  his  adversaries  into  a 
more  charitable  opinion  of  him.* 

The  bishops'  votes  in  parliament  being  dead  and  departed, 
(neither  to  be  helped  with  flattery,  nor  hurt  with  malice)  one  word 
of  inquiry  in  what  notion  they  formerly  voted  in  parliament : — 

Whether  as  a  distinct  third  Whether  as  so  many  single 
estate  of  the  clergy  ?  or^  barons  in  their   temporal  capa- 

city P 

This  was  formerly  received  for  This  is  maintained  by  those 
a  truth,  countenanced  with  some     who  account  the  King,  the  Lords, 

*  In  his  Examen  Historicum,  Dr.  Heylin  proceeds  to  rectify  and  explain  this 
paragraph  in  the  following  manner :  "  He  telleth  us,  that  '  ten  of  the  eleven  which 
had  suhscribed  were  released ; '  whereas  there  were  twelve  which  had  subscribed, 
as  appears,  page  433,  whereof  ten  were  sent  unto  the  Tower,  and  the  other  two 
committed  to  the  custody  of  the  Black  Rod,  page  434.  And  if  ten  only  were 
released,  the  olher  two  must  be  kept  in  custody  for  a  longer  time  ;  whereas  we 
find  the  bishop  of  Norwich  at  home  in  his  diocess,  and  the  bishop  of  ^Durham  at 
liberty  in  London,- — they  being  the  two  whom  he  makes  so  far  favoured  by  the 
Parliament  as  they  scaped  the  Tower.  Bishop  Wren  was  released  upon  bail  when 
the  others  were  j  returned  into  his  diocess  as  the  others  did  ;  and  there  continued 
for  a  time  5  when,  of  a  sudden,  he  was  snatched  from  his  house  at  Downham,  in 
the  Isle  of  Ely,  carried  to  the  Tower,  and  there  imprisoned ;  never  being  brought  unto  a 
hearing,  nor  any  cause  showed  for  his  imprisonment  to  this  very  day.  Archbishop 
"Williams,  after  his  restoring  imto  hberty,  went  not  into  the  king's  quarters,  as  our  author 
saith,  but  unto  one  of  his  own  houses  in  Yorkshire,  where  he  continued  till  the  year  1643, 
and  then  came  to  Oxford :  not  that  he  found  the  north  too  cold  for  him,  or  the  war  too 
hot  ;  but  to  solicit  for  renewing  of  his  coviniendam  in  the  deanery  of  Westminster,  the 
time  for  which  he  was  to  hold  it  drawing  towards  an  end."  In  his  Appeal,  Fuller  admits 
the  general  justness  of  He}-lin's  corrections,  except  in  those  respecting  archbishop 
Williams,  concerning  whom  he  observes  :  "  Nothing  false  or  faulty.  The  archbishop  of 
York  stayed  some  weeks  after  his  enlargement  at  Westminster ;  thence  he  went  pri- 
vately to  the  house  of  Sir  Thomas  Hedley  in  Himtingdonshh-e ;  and  thence  to  his  palace 
at  Cawood  nigh  York,  where  he  gave  the  king  a  magnificent  entertainment.  King 
James  settled  the  deanery  of  Westminster,  under  the  Great  Seal,  on  Dr.  Williams,  so 
long  as  he  should  continue  bishop  of  Lincoln.  Hinc  illcB  lachrymcE ;  hence  the  great 
heaving  and  huffing  at  him,  because  he  would  not  resign  it,  which  was  so  signal  a  monu- 
ment of  his  master's  favour  unto  him.  Being  archbishop  of  York,  king  Charles  confirmed 
his  deanery  unto  him  for  three  years,  in  lieu  of  the  profits  of  his  archbishopric,  which  the 
king  had  taken,  sede  vacante.  So  that  it  is  probable  enoiigh,  the  renewing  that  term 
might  be  a  joint  motive  of  his  going  to  Oxford/' — Edit. 


19  CHARLES  T.  BOOK    XT.       CENT.    XVII.  445 

passages   in    the    old    Statutes,  and  Commons,  the  three  estates ; 

reckoning    the    Lords    Spiritual,  amongst  which  Lords  the  bishops 

and    Lords    Temporal,    and   the  (though     spiritual   persons)    ap- 

Commons,      to     be    the     three  peared     as    so     many    temporal 

estates  ;   the  King,  as  paramount  barons  ;    wliose    absence    is    no 

of  all,  not  comprehended  therein,  whit    prejudicial    to     the   Acts 

passed  in  Parliament. 

Some  of  the  aged  bishops  had  their  tongues  so  used  to  the  lan- 
guage of  a  third  estate,  that  more  than  once  they  ran  on  that  reputed 
rock  in  their  speeches ;  for  which  they  were  publicly  shent,*  and 
enjoined  an  acknowledgment  of  their  mistake. 

The  Convocation  now  not  sitting,  and  many  matters  of  religion 
being  brought  under  the  cognizance  of  the  Parliament,  their  wis- 
doms adjudged  it  not  only  convenient  but  necessary,  that  some 
prime  clergymen  might  be  consulted  with.  In  order  whereunto, 
they  resolved  to  select  some  out  of  all  counties,  whom  they  con- 
ceived best-qualified  for  their  design  herein  ,  and  the  first  of  July 
was  the  day  appointed  for  their  meeting. 


SECTION  V. 

TO  MR.  GILES  VANDEPIT,  MR.  CLEGAT,  AND  MR.  PETER 
MATTHEWES,  OF  LONDON,  MERCHANTS. 

A  THREEFOLD  Cable  is  not  easily  broken  ;  and  a  tri- 
plicate of  friends  may  be  presumed  effectual  to  protect 
my  endeavours  :  of  whom,  two  are  of  Dutch,  the  third 
(in  the  midst)  of  English  extraction,  not  falling  there 
by  casual  confusion,  but  placed  by  designed  conjunc- 
tion. Methinks  it  is  a  good  sight,  to  behold  the  Dutch 
embracing  the  English ;  and  this  Dedication  may  pass 

*  Heylin  askrf,  By  whom  were  they  publicly  shent,  or  reproaclied  ?  Fuller  replies  : 
"  The  earl  of  Essex  and  the  lord  Say  were  two  of  the  lords  who  checked  them.  And  of 
two  of  those  bishops,  Dr.  HaU,  late  bishop  of  Norwich,  is  gone  to  God,  and  the  other  is 
still  alive."  Heylin  then  proceeds  very  learnedly  and  satisfactorily  to  prove,  that  the  lords 
spiritual  had,  from  the  early  periods  of  our  national  history,  been  always  acccuated  one 
of  the  three  estates  of  the  realm,  and  concludes  with  this  remark  :  "  Those  aged  bishops 
had  been  but  little  studied  in  their  own  concernments,  and  betrayed  their  rights,  if  any  of 
them  did  acknowledge  any  such  mistake  in  challenging  to  themselves  the  names  and 
privileges  of //;<?  third  estate." — Edit. 


446         CHURCH  HISTORY  OF  BRITAIN.         A.D.  1643. 

for  the  emblem  of  the  late  agreement ;  which  God  long 
continue,  if  for  the  mutual  good  of  both  nations  ! 

1.   The  first  Meeting  of  the  Assembly.     A.D.  1643. 

When  on  this  day,  Saturday,  July  1st,  the  Assembly  of  Divines, 
to  consult  about  matters  of  religion,  met  at  Westminster  in  the 
chapel  of  king  Henry  VII.  then  the  constitution  of  this  assembly, 
as  first  elected  and  designed,  was  to  consist  of  about  one  hundred 
and  twenty  persons  chosen  by  the  Parliament  (without  respect  of 
diocesses)  in  relation  to  shires,  two  or  more  of  a  county.  They 
thought  it  not  safe  to  intrust  the  clergy  with  their  own  choice,  of 
whose  general  corruption  they  constantly  complained  ;  and  therefore 
adjudged  it  unfit  that  the  distempered  patients  should  be,  or  choose, 
their  own  physicians. 

2.  The  four  English  Quarters  of  the  Assembly. 

These  elects  were  of  four  several  natures,  as  the  quarters  of  the 
same  body,  easily  distinguishable  by  these  conditions  or  opinions  : — 

First.  Men  of  episcopal  persuasion ;  as  the  right  reverend  James 
Usher,  archbishop  of  Armagh  ;  Dr.  Brownrigg,  bishop  of  Exeter  ; 
Dr.  Westfield,  bishop  of  Bristol ;  Dr.  Daniel  Featley  ;  Dr.  Richard 
Holdsworth,  &c. 

Secondly.  Such  who  in  their  judgments  favoured  the  presbyterian 
discipline,  or  in  process  of  time  were  brought  over  to  embrace  it ; 
amongst  whom,  (to  mention  those  "  who  seemed  to  be  pillars,"  as 
on  whose  abilities  the  weight  of  the  work  most  lie,)  we  take  special 
notice  of  Dr.  Hoyle,  divinity-professor  in  Ireland  :  Cambridge. — 
Dr.  Thomas  Gouge,  of  Blackfriars  ;  Dr.  Smith,  of  Barkway ;  Mr. 
Oliver  Bowles  ;  Mr.  Thomas  Gataker ;  Mr.  Henry  Scudder  ;  Mr. 
Anthony  Tuckeney  ;  Mr.  Stephen  Marshall ;  Mr.  John  Arrowsmith  ; 
Mr.  Herbert  Palmer  ;  Mr.  Thomas  Thorough  good  ;  Mr.  Thomas 
Hill ;  Mr.  Nathanael  Hodges  ;  Mr.  Gibbons  ;  Mr.  Timothy  Young ; 
Mr.  Richard  Vines  ;  Mr.  Thomas  Coleman ;  Mr.  Matthew  New- 
comen  ;  Mr.  Jeremiah  Whitaker  ;  &c.  Oxford. — Dr.  William 
Twisse ;  Dr.  Cornelius  Burgess ;  Dr.  Stanton ;  Mr.  White  of 
Dorchester  ;  Mr.  Harris  of  Hanwell  ;  Mr.  Edward  Reynolds ;  Mr. 
Charles  Herle  ;  Mr.  Corbet  of  Merton  College  ;  Mr.  Conant ;  Mr. 
Francis  Cheynell ;  Mr.  Obadiah  Sedgwick  ;  Mr.  Cartar,  sen.  Mr. 
Cartar,  jun.  Mr.  Joseph  Caryl ;  Mr.  Strickland,  &c.  I  hope  an 
et  ccetera  (so  distasteful  elsewhere)  may  be  permitted  in  the  close  of 
our  catalogue,  and  am  confident  that  the  rest  here  omitted  as 
unknown  unto  me  will  take  no  exception.  The  like  assurance  I 
have,  that  none  will  cavil  if  not  reckoned  up  in  their  just  seniority. 


19  CHARLES  I.  BOOK    XI«       CENT.    XVII.  447 

both  because  they  know  I  was  none  of  the  register  that  entered  their 
admission  in  the  universities,  and  because  it  may  savour  something 
of  a  prelatical  spirit  to  be  offended  about  precedency.* 

Thirdly.  Some  zealous  ministers,  who,  formerly  disliking  con- 
formity, to  avoid  the  censures  of  episcopal  consistories,  removed 
themselves  beyond  the  seas,  chiefly  to  Holland,  where  some  had 
plentifid — all  comfortable — subsistence  ;  whence  they  returned  home 
at  the  beginning  of  this  Parliament.  These  afterwards  proved 
Dissenting  Brethren  to  some  transactions  in  the  Assembly,  as  Thomas 
Goodwin,  Sidrach  Simpson,  Philip  Nye,  &c. 

Fourthly.  Some  members  of  the  House  of  Lords  and  Commons 
were  mingled  amongst  them,  and  voted  jointly  in  their  consulta- 
tions ;  as  the  earl  of  Pembroke,  the  lord  Say ;  the  most  learned 
antiquary,  Mr,  John  Selden ;  Mr.  Francis  Rouse  ;  Mr.  Bulstrode 
Whitelocke,  &c. 

Thus  was  this  Assembly  (as  first  chosen  and  intended)  a  quint- 
essence of  four  parties.  Some  conceive,  so  motley  a  meeting 
promised  no  good  results,  whilst  others  grounded  their  hopes  on 
what  was  the  motive  of  the  former  to  despair, — the  miscellaneous 
nature  of  the  Assembly.  For  what  speedier  way  to  make  peace  in 
a  distracted  church,  than  to  take  in  all  interests  to  consult  together  ? 
It  had  been  little  better  than  a  spiritual  monopoly,  only  to  employ 
those  of  one  party  ;  whilst,  if  all  men's  arguments,  objections,  com- 
plaints, desires,  be  indifferently  admitted,  an  expedient  may  be  the 
sooner  found  out  for  their  just  and  general  satisfaction. 

3 — 5.  The  Scots  Commissioners  joined  in  the  Assembly.  Dr. 
Twisse,  the  Prolocutor'' s^  Sermon.  The  Royalists''  Reasons 
of  their  Non-appearance. 

So  much  for  the  English  party  of  this  Assembly.  For  know, 
that  commissioners  from  Scotland  were  joined  with  them  ;  some  of 
the  nobility,  as  the  earl  of  Lothian,   the  lord  Lauderdale,  the  lord 

•  Heylin,  oflFended  with  this  clause,  justly  ohserves  :  "  Certainly,  if  it  savoui*  of  a  pre- 
latical  spirit  to  contend  about  precedencies,  that  spirit,  by  some  Pythagorean  metem- 
psychosis, hath  passed  into  the  bodies  of  the  jiresbyterians ,  whose  pride  had  swelled  them 
in  conceit  above  kings  and  princes,  and  ^us  cometh  home  to  our  author,"  &c.  Fuller's 
rejoinder  is  very  remarkable,  especially  when  we  consider  the  juncture  of  time  in  which 
it  was  written,  1659:  *'  If  it  cometh  home  to  me,  I  will  endeavour,  God  willing,  to 
thrust  it  far  from  me,  by  avoiding  the  odious  sin  of  pride.  And  I  hope  the  presbyterians 
will  herein  make  a  real  and  practical  refutation  of  this  note,  in  evidencing  more  himaility 
hereafter ;  seasonably  remembering,  they  are  grafted  on  the  stock  of  bishops,  and  are 
concerned  *  not  to  be  high-minded,  but  fear,  lest  if  God  spared  not '  episcopacy,  (for  what 
sins,  I  am  not  to  inquire,)  peaceably  possessed,  above  a  thousand  years,  of  power  in  the 
church  of  England,  '  take  heed  that  he  spare  not '  presbytery  also  ;  which  is  but  a  proba- 
tioner on  its  good  behaviour,  especially  if  by  their  insolence  they  offend  God  and  disoblige 
ournation,  the  generality  whereof  is  not  over-fond  of  their  government." — Edit. 


448  CHURCH    HISTORY    OF    BRITAIN.  A.  D.  1643. 

Warristone;  others  of  the  clergy,  as  Mr.  Alexander  Henderson, 
Mr.  Gillespie,  &c.  So  that  as  Livy  calleth  the  general  meeting  of 
^tolia  pan-^tolium^  this  Assembly  endeavoured  to  put  on  the 
face  of  pan-Britannicum^  that  the  walls  of  the  palace  wherein  they 
met  might  in  some  sort  be  like  the  waves  of  the  sea,  within  the 
compass  whereof  they  lived,  as  surrounding  one  island  and  two 
nations. 

Dr.  Twisse  preached  the  first  sermon  at  the  meeting  of  the 
Assembly ;  (though  the  Schools,  not  the  pulpit,  was  his  proper 
element,  witness  his  controversial  writings;)  and  in  his  sermon  he 
exhorted  them  faithfully  to  discharge  their  high  calling  to  the  glory 
of  God  and  the  honour  of  his  church.  He  much  bemoaned  that 
one  thing  was  wanting,  namely,  the  royal  assent,  to  give  comfort  and 
encouragement  to  them.  Yet  he  hoped,  that,  by  the  efficacy  of 
their  fervent  prayers,  it  might  in  due  time  be  obtained,  and  that  a 
happy  union  might  be  procured  betwixt  him  and  the  Parliament. 
Sermon  ended,  the  ordinance  was  read,  by  which  was  declared  the 
cause,  ground,  and  intent  of  their  convention  ;  namely,  to  consult 
"with  the  Parliament  for  the  settling  of  religion  and  church-govern- 
ment. Then  the  list  of  their  names  was  called  over  who  were 
appointed  to  be  present  there,  and  a  mark  (but  no  penalty)  set  on 
such  who  appeared  not  at  the  time  prefixed. 

The  appearance  of  the  persons  elected  answered  not  expectation  ; 
seeing,  of  an  hundred  and  twenty,  but  sixty-nine  were  present ;  and 
those  in  coats  and  cloaks  of  several  forms  and  fashions  ;  so  that  Dr. 
Westfield  and  some  few  others  seemed  the  only  nonconformists 
amongst  them  for  their  conformity,  whose  gowns  and  canonical 
habits  differed  from  all  the  rest.  For,  of  the  first  sort  of  royalists, 
episcopal  in  their  judgments,  very  few  appeared  ;  and  scarce  any 
continued  any  time  in  the  House,  (save  Dr.  Daniel  Featley,  of 
whom  hereafter,)  alleging  privately  several  reasons  for  tlieir  absence 
or  departure  : — 

1.  They  had  no  call  from  the  king,  having  read  how  anciently 
the  breath  of  Christian  emperors  gave  the  first  being  to  councils. 
Yea,  some,  on  my  knowledge,  had  from  his  majesty  a  flat  command 
to  the  contrary. 

2.  They  were  not  chosen  by  the  clergy,  and  so  could  not  appear 
as  representatives,  but  in  their  personal  capacities. 

y.  This  meeting  seemed  set  up  to  pluck  down  the  Convocation, 
(now  neither  sitting,  nor  legally  dissolved,)  Avhich  solemnly  was 
summoned  for  ecclesiastical  affairs. 

4.  If  appearing  there,  they  should  be  beheld  by  the  rest  (what 
Joseph  charged  on  his  brethren)  as  spies  come  thither  to  see  the 
nakedness  of  the  Assembly. 


W  CHARLES   I.  BOOK    XI.       CENT.    XVII.  449 

o.  Being  few,  tliey  should  easily  be  out-voted  by  the  opposite 
party,  and  so  only  worn  as  countenances  to  credit  their  proceedings. 

However,  I  have  heard  many  of  both  parties  desire,  that  those 
defenders  of  the  hierarchy  had  afforded  their  presence  ;  as  hoping 
that  their  learning  and  abilities,  their  temper  and  moderation,  might 
have  conduced  much  to  mitigate  some  violence  and  extremity  in 
their  proceedings.  But  God,  in  his  all -ordering  providence,  saw  it 
unfitting  ;  and  whether  or  no  any  good  had  been  effected  by  them, 
if  present,  (seeing  as  yet  no  law  to  order  men''s  conjectures,)  is  left 
to  the  liberty  of  every  man's  opinion. 

6 — 13.  The  Assembly  constituted.  The  superadded  Divines. 
The  A^semblifs  first  Petition  for  a  Fast.  Tlie  Covfena^it 
entereth  England.  Tlie  Covenant  first  taken  ;  commanded 
to  be  printed ;  taken  by  Gentlemen  ;  enjoined  [ow]  all  in 
London. 

Soon  after,  the  Assembly  was  completely  constituted  with  all  the 
essentials  thereunto  :  Dr.  Twisse,  Prolocutor ;  Mr.  Roborough  and 
Adoniram  Byfield,  their  Scribes  and  Notaries.  And  now  their 
good  success  (next  to  the  parliament's)  was  publicly  prayed  for  by 
the  preachers  in  the  city,  and  books  dedicated  unto  them,  under  the 
title  of  the  most  Sacred  Assembly  ;*  which  because  they  did  not 
disavow,  by  others  they  were  interpreted  to  approve.  Four  shillings 
a-day  salary  was  allowed  them ;  much  too  little,  as  some  thought, 
for  men  of  their  merit ;  others  grumbling  at  it  as  too  much  for 
what  by  them  was  performed.  And  now,  what  place  more  proper 
for  the  building  of  Sion,  (as  they  propounded  it,)  than  the  chamber 
of  Jerusalem  (the  fairest  in  the  dean's  lodgings,  where  king  Henry 
IV.  died,  and)  where  these  divines  did  daily  meet  together  ? 

Be  it  here  remembered',  that  some  (beside  those  episcopally- 
aflPected)  chosen  to  be  at  this  Assembly,  notwithstanding,  absented 
themselves,  pretending  age,  indisposition,  &c.  as  it  is  easier  for  able 
unwillingness  to  find  out  excuses,  and  make  them  probable.  Fit  it 
was,  therefore,  so  many  vacuities  should  be  filled  up,  to  mount  the 
meeting  to  a  competent  number ;  and  assemblies,  as  well  as  armies, 
when  sfrown  thin,  must  be  recruited.  Hence  it  was  that  at  several 
times  the  Lords  and  Commons  added  more  members  unto  them,  by 
the  name  of  "  the  super-added  divines."  Some  of  these,  though 
equal  to  the  former  in  power,  were  conceived  to  fall  short  in  parts  ; 
as  chosen  rather  by  the  affections  of  others,  than  for  their  own 
abilities, — the  original  members  of  the  Assembly  not  over-pleased 
thereat,  such  addition  making  the  former  rather  more,  than  more 
considerable. 

*  Mr.  SAr.TMARsn's  book  against  Thomas  Fuller. 

Vol.  III.  ('  c. 


450  CHURCH    HISTORY    OF    BRITAIN.  A.D.  1643. 

One  of  the  first  public  acts  which  I  find  by  them  perfornaed,  was 
the  humble  presenting  of  a  petition  to  both  Houses,  for  the  appoint- 
ing of  a  solemn  fast  to  be  generally  observed.  And  no  wonder  if 
their  request  met  with  fair  acceptance  and  full  performance,  seeing 
the  Assembly's  petition  was  the  Parliament's  intention ;  and  this 
solemn  suit  of  the  divines  did  not  create  new — but  quicken  the  old 
— resolutions  in  both  Houses.  Presently  a  fast  is  appointed,  and 
accordingly  kept  on  the  following  Friday,  July  21st,  Mr.  Bowles 
and  Mr.  Newcomen  (whose  sermons  are  since  printed)  preaching  on 
the  same  ;  and  all  the  rest  of  the  particulars  promised  to  be  taken 
into  speedy  consideration. 

It  was  now  projected  to  find  out  some  band  or  tie,  for  the 
straiter  union  of  the  English  and  Scottish  amongst  themselves,  and 
both  to  the  Parliament.  In  order  whereunto  the  Covenant  was 
now  presented.  This  Covenant  was  of  Scottish  extraction,  born 
beyond  Tweed,  but  now  brought  to  be  bred  on  the  south  side 
thereof. 

Monday,  September  25th,  the  House  of  Commons  in  Parliament, 
and  the  Assembly  of  Divines,  solemnly  took  the  Covenant  at  St. 
Margaret's  in  Westminster. 

Wednesday,  September  27th,  it  was  ordered  by  the  Commons 
in  Parliament  that  this  Covenant  be  forthwith  printed  and  published. 

Friday,  September  29th,  divers  lords,  knights,  gentlemen, 
colonels,  officers,  soldiers,  and  others,  then  residing  in  the  city  of 
London,  met  at  St.  Margaret's  in  Westminster,  and  there  took  the 
said  Covenant ;  Mr.  Coleman  preaching  a  sermon  before  them  con- 
cerning the  piety  and  legality  thereof. 

It  was  commanded  by  the  authority  of  both  Houses,  that  the 
said  Covenant  on  the  sabbath-day  ensuing,  October  1st,  should 
be  taken  in  all  churches  and  cliapels  of  London  within  the  lines 
of  communication,  and  throughout  the  kingdom  in  convenient  time 
appointed  thereunto,  according  to  the  tenour  following  : — 

"  A  SOLEMN  LEAGUE  AND  COVENANT  FOR  REFORMATION  AND 
DEFENCE  OF  RELIGION,  THE  HONOUR  AND  HAPPINESS  OF 
THE  KING,  AND  THE  PEACE  AND  SAFETY  OF  THE  THREE 
KINGDOMS   OF   ENGLAND,   SCOTLAND,   AND   IRELAND. 

"  We,  noblemen,  barons,  knights,  gentlemen,  citizens,  burgesses, 
ministers  of  the  Gospel,  and  Commons,  of  all  sorts  in  the  kingdom 
of  England,  Scotland,  and  Ireland,  by  the  providence  of  God  living 
under  one  king,  and  being  of  one  Reformed  religion,  having  before 
our  eyes  the  glory  of  God,  and  the  advancement  of  the  kingdom  of 
our  Lord  and  Saviour  Jesus  Christ,  the  honour  and  happiness  of  the 
king's  majesty  and  his  posterity,  and  the  true  public  liberty,  safety. 


10  CHARLES  I.  BOOK    XI.       CENT.    XVII.  451 

and  peace  of  the  kingdom,  wherein  every  one^s  private  condition  is 
included  ;  and  calling  to  mind  the  treacherous  and  bloody  plots, 
conspiracies,  attempts,  and  practices  of  the  enemies  of  God  against 
the  true  religion  and  the  professors  thereof  in  all  places,  espe- 
cially in  these  three  kingdoms  ever  since  the  Reformation  of  religion  ; 
and  how  much  their  rage,  power,  and  presumption  are  of  late,  and  at 
this  time,  increased  and  exercised,  whereof  the  deplorable  estate  of  the 
church  and  kingdom  of  Ireland,  the  distressed  estate  of  the  church 
and  kingdom  of  England,  the  dangerous  estate  of  the  church  and 
kingdom  of  Scotland,  are  present  and  public  testimonies.  We 
have  now  at  last,  (after  other  means  of  supplications,  remonstrances, 
protestations,  and  sufferings,)  for  the  preservation  of  ourselves  and 
our  religion  from  utter  ruin  and  destruction,  according  to  the  com- 
mendable practices  of  these  kingdoms  in  former  times,  and  the 
example  of  God's  people  in  other  nations,  after  mature  deliberation, 
resolved  and  determined  to  enter  into  a  mutual  solemn  league  and 
covenant,  wherein  we  all  subscribe,  and  each  one  of  us  for  himself, 
with  our  hands  lifted  up  to  the  most  high  God  do  swear : — 

"  That  we  shall  sincerely,  really,  and  constantly,  through  the 
grace  of  God,  endeavour,  in  our  several  places  and  callings,  the  pre- 
servation of  the  Reformed  religion  in  the  church  of  Scotland  in 
doctrine,  worship,  discipline,  and  government,  against  our  common 
enemies;  the  Reformation  of  religion  in  the  kingdoms  of  England 
and  Ireland,  in  doctrine,  worship,  discipline,  and  government,  accord- 
ing to  the  word  of  God,  and  the  example  of  the  best  Reformed  churches ; 
and  shall  endeavour  to  bring  the  churches  of  God  in  the  three  king- 
doms to  the  nearest  conjunction  and  uniformity  in  religion,  confession 
of  faith,  form  of  church-government,  directory  for  worship  and  cate- 
chising ;  that  we  and  our  posterity  after  us  may  as  brethren  live  in 
faith  and  love,  and  the  Lord  may  delight  to  dwell  in  the  midst  of  us. 

"  That  we  shall  in  like  manner,  without  respect  of  persons,  endea- 
vour the  extirpation  of  popery,  prelacy,  (that  is,  church-govern- 
ment by  archbishops,  bishops,  their  chancellors,  and  commissaries, 
deans,  deans  and  chapters,  archdeacons,  and  all  other  ecclesiastical 
officers,  depending  on  that  hierarchy,)  superstition,  heresy,  schism, 
profaneness,  and  whatsoever  shall  be  found  to  be  contrary  to  sound 
doctrine  and  the  power  of  godliness  ;  lest  we  partake  in  other  men's 
sins,  and  thereby  be  in  danger  to  receive  of  their  plagues,  and  that 
the  Lord  may  be  one,  and  his  name  one  in  the  three  kingdoms. 

*'  We  shall,  with  the  same  sincerity,  reality,  and  constancy  in  our 
several  vocations,  endeavour  with  our  estates  and  lives  mutually  to 
preserve  the  rights  and  privileges  of  the  Parliaments,  and  the  due 
liberties  of  the  kingdoms,  and  to  preserve  and  defend  the  king's 
majesty,   his  person  and  authority,  in  the  preservation  and  defence 

2  G  2 


452  CHURCH    HISTORY    OF    BRITAIN.  A.D.  1643. 

of  the  true  religion  and  liberties  of  tlie  kingdoms,  that  the  world 
may  bear  witness  with  our  consciences  of  our  loyalty,  and  that  we 
have  no  thoughts  or  intentions  to  diminish  his  majesty's  just  power 
and  greatness. 

"  We  shall  also  with  all  faithfulness  endeavour  the  discovery  of 
all  such  as  have  been  or  shall  be  incendiaries,  malignants,  or  evil 
instruments,  by  hindering  the  Reformation  of  religion,  dividing  the 
king  from  his  people,  or  one  of  the  kingdoms  from  another,  or 
making  any  faction  or  parties  amongst  the  people  contrary  to  this 
League  and  Covenant,  that  they  may  be  brought  to  public  trial,  and 
receive  condign  punishment,  as  the  degree  of  their  offences  shall 
require  or  deserve,  or  the  supreme  judicatories  of  both  kingdoms 
respectively,  or  others  having  power  from  them  for  that  effect,  shall 
judge  convenient. 

"  And  whereas  the  happiness  of  a  blessed  peace  between  these 
kingdoms,  denied  in  former  times  to  our  progenitors,  is  by  the  good 
providence  of  God  granted  unto  us,  and  hath  been  lately  concluded 
and  settled  by  both  Parliaments,  we  shall  each  one  of  us,  according 
to  our  place  and  interest,  endeavour  that  they  remain  conjoined  in  a 
firm  peace  and  union  to  all  posterity  ;  and  that  justice  may  be  done 
upon  the  wilful  opposers  thereof  in  manner  expressed  in  the  prece- 
dent article. 

"  We  shall  also,  according  to  our  places  and  callings,  in  this  com- 
mon cause  of  religion,  liberty,  and  peace  of  the  kingdoms,  assist 
and  defend  all  those  that  enter  into  this  League  and  Covenant,  in 
the  maintaining  and  pursuing  thereof,  and  shall  not  suffer  ourselves 
directly  or  indirectly,  by  whatsoever  combination,  persuasion,  or 
terror,  to  be  divided  and  withdrawn  from  this  blessed  conjunction 
and  union,  whether  to  make  defection  to  the  contrary  part,  or  to 
give  ourselves  to  a  detestable  indifferency  or  neutrality  in  this  cause, 
which  so  much  concerneth  the  glory  of  God,  the  good  of  the  king- 
doms, and  honour  of  the  king  ;  but  shall  all  the  days  of  our  lives 
zealously  and  constantly  endeavour  to  continue  therein  against  all 
opposition,  and  promote  the  same  according  to  our  power  against  all 
lets  and  impediments  whatsoever  ;  and  what  we  are  not  able  of 
ourselves  to  suppress  or  overcome,  we  shall  reveal  and  make  known, 
that  it  may  be  timely  prevented  or  removed.  All  which  we  shall 
do  as  in  the  sight  of  God. 

"  And  because  these  kingdoms  are  guilty  of  many  sins  and  pro- 
vocations against  God,  and  his  Son  Jesus  Christ,  as  is  too  manifest 
by  our  present  distresses  and  dangers,  tlie  fruits  thereof;  we  profess 
and  declare,  before  God  and  the  world,  our  unfeigned  desire  to  be 
humbled  for  our  own  sins,  and  for  the  sins  of  these  kingdoms,  espe- 
cially that  we  have  not  as  we  ought  valued   the  inestimable  benefit 


19  CHARLES   I.  BOOK    XI.       CKNT.    XVII.  453 

of  the  Gospel,  that  we  have  not  laboured  for  the  purity  and  power 
thereof,  and  that  we  have  not  endeavoured  to  receive  Christ  in  our 
hearts,  nor  to  walk  worthy  of  him  in  our  lives  ;  wliich  are  the 
causes  of  other  sins  and  transgressions  so  much  abounding  amongst 
us,  and  our  true  and  unfeigned  purpose,  desire,  and  endeavour  for 
ourselves,  and  all  others  under  our  charge,  both  in  public  and  in 
private,  in  all  duties  we  owe  to  God  and  man,  to  amend  our  lives, 
and  each  one  to  go  before  another  in  the  example  of  a  real  reforma- 
tion, that  the  Lord  may  turn  away  his  wrath  and  heavy  indignation, 
and  establish  these  churches  and  kingdoms  in  truth  and  peace. 
And  this  covenant  we  make  in  the  presence  of  Almighty  God,  the 
Searcher  of  all  hearts,  with  a  true  intention  to  perform  the  same,  as 
we  shall  answer  at  the  great  day,  when  the  secrets  of  all  hearts  shall 
be  disclosed  ;  most  humbly  beseeching  the  Lord  to  strengthen  us  by 
his  Holy  Spirit  to  this  end,  and  to  bless  our  desires  and  proceedings 
with  such  success  as  may  be  deliverance  and  safety  to  his  people,  and 
encouragement  to  other  Christian  churches  groaning  under  or  in 
danger  of  the  yoke  of  anti-christian  tyranny,  to  join  in  the  same  or 
like  association  and  covenant,  to  the  glory  of  God,  the  enlarge- 
ment of  the  kingdom  of  Jesus  Christ,  and  the  peace  and  tranquillity 
of  Christian  kingdoms  and  commonwealths." 

We  listen  not  to  their  fancy  who  have  reckoned  the  v/ords  in  the 
Covenant  six  hundred  sixty-six,  Rev.  xiii.  19,  preface  and  conclusion 
(as  only  circumstantial  appendants)  not  accounted ;  and  esteem  him 
who  trieth  it  as  well  at  leisure  (alias  as  idle)  as  he  that  first  made 
the  observation.  Much  less  applaud  we  their  parallel  who  (the 
number  in  branches  agreeing)  compare  it  to  the  superstitious  and 
cruel  Six  Articles  enacted  by  king  Henry  VIIL  But  let  us  con- 
sider the  solid  and  serious  exceptions  alleged  against  it,  not  so  light 
and  slight  as  to  be  puffed  away  with  the  breath  of  the  jDresent  age, 
but  w^hose  weight  is  likely  to  sink  them  down  to  the  consideration 
of  posterity. 

14,  15.  Kocceptions-general  to  the    Whole :    made   ivithout   the 
King's  Cofisent :  full  of  doubtful  Words. 

First.  Seeing  this  Covenant,  (though  not  as  first  penned,)  as 
prosecuted,  had  heavy  penalties  inflicted  on  the  refusers  thereof,  such 
pressing  is  inconsistent  with  the  nature  of  any  contract ;  wherein 
consent,  not  constraint,  is  presumed.  In  a  Covenant  men  should  go 
of  their  own  good-will,  or  be  led  by  persuasions  ;  not  drawn  by 
frights  and  fears,  much  less  driven  by  forfeits  and  punishments. 

Secondly.  Subjects  are  so  far  from  having  the  express  or  tacit 
consent  of  the  king  for  the  taking  thereof,  that  by  public  proclama- 
tion he  hath  forbidden  the  same.     Now,  seeing  parents  had  power 


454  CHURCH    HISTORY    OF    BRITAIN.  A.  D.  1G43. 

bj  the  law  of  God  to  rescind  such  vows  which  their  children  made 
without  their  privity,  Numbers  xxx.  6  ;  by  the  equity  of  the  same 
law,  this  Covenant  is  void,  if  contrary  to  the  flat  command  of  him 
who  is  parens  patriw. 

Many  words  occur  in  this  Covenant,  some  obscure,  others  of 
doubtful  meaning ;  namely,  "  common  enemies,"  "  best-reformed 
churches,"  "  malignants,"  "  highest  judicatories  of  both  kingdoms," 
&c.  Until,  therefore,  the  obscure  be  cleared,  the  doubtful  stated  and 
fixed,  the  same  cannot  (as  it  ought)  be  taken  in  judgment. 

1 6,  17.  Eooceptions  to  the  Preface^  pretended  ancient^  yet  unpre- 
cedented. 

Therein  it  is  suggested,  that  "  supplications,  remonstrances,  pro- 
testations" to  the  king,  were  formerly  used  ;  which,  proving  ineffec- 
tual, occasioned  the  trying  of  this  Covenant,  as  the  last  hopeful 
means  "  to  preserve  religion  from  ruin,"  &c.  Now,  seeing  many 
joined  neither  with  their  hands  nor  hearts  in  presenting  these 
writings,  such  persons  scrupled  this  Covenant,  which  they  cannot 
take  in  truth,  because  founded  on  the  failing  of  the  aforesaid  means, 
to  the  using  whereof  they  concurred  not  in  the  least  degree. 

It  is  pretended  in  the  Preface,  that  this  Covenant  is  "  according 
to  the  commendable  practice  of  these  kingdoms  in  former  times." 
Whereas,  indeed,  it  is  new  in  itself,  following  no  former  precedents ; 
a  grand  divine  of  the  parliament-party  publicly  professing,  that  "  we 
read  not  either  in  divine  or  human  histories  the  like  oath  extant  in 
any  age,  as  to  the  matter,  persons,  and  other  circumstances  thereof."* 

18 — 21.  Exceptions  to  the  First  Article.  Cannot  he  taken 
knowingly  :  7ior  without  a  double  Scandal :  Injury  to  them^ 
selves  :  Perjury  to  their  Souls. 

They  are  unsatisfied  to  swear,  to  maintain  "  the  preservation  of 
the  Reformed  religion  of  Scotland,  in  doctrine,  worship,  discipline, 
and  government,"  as  being  ignorant  (such  their  distance  thence,  and 
small  intelligence  there)  of  the  particulars  thereof.  They  are  loath 
therefore  to  make  a  blind  promise,  for  fear  of  a  lame  performance. 

As  for  "  the  reforming  of  religion"  (which  necessarily  implies  a 
changing  thereof)  of  England  and  Ireland,  "  in  doctrine,  worship, 
discipline,  and  government ;  "  they  cannot  consent  thereunto  without 
iTianifest  scandal  both  to  papists  and  separatists.  For,  besides  that 
they  shall  desert  that  just  cause  which  many  pious  martyrs,  bishops, 
and  divines  of  our  church  have  defended  both  with  their  ink  and 
blood,  writings  and  suiferings,  hereby  they  shall  advantage  the  cavils 
of  papists  against  our  religion,  taxing  it  of  uncertainty,  not  knowing 

*  rnJLir  Nv£  ''  Covenant  with  Narrat.'  page  12. 


19  CHARLES   I.  BOOK    XT.       CENT.    XVII.  455 

where  to  fix  our  feet,  as  always  altering  the  same.  Yea,  they  shall 
not  only  supply  papists  with  pleas  for  their  recusancy,  sectaries  for 
their  separation,  acknowledging  something  in  our  church-doctrine 
and  service  not  well  affreeinfj  with  God's  word  ;  but  also  shall 
implicitly  confess  papists  unjustly  punished  by  the  penal  statutes 
for  not  conforming  with  us  to  the  same  public  service,  wherein  some 
things  are  by  ourselves,  as  well  as  them,  misliked.  and  disallowed. 

Nor  can  they  take  this  Covenant  without  injury  and  perjury  to 
themselves.  Injury,  by  ensnaring  their  consciences,  credits,  and 
estates,  if  endeavouring  to  reform  religion,  under  the  notion  of  faulty 
and  vicious  ;  to  which  formerly  they  had  subscribed,  enjoined  thereto 
by  the  law  of  the  land,  not  yet  abrogated,  never  as  yet  checked  by 
the  regrets  of  their  own  consciences,  nor  confuted  by  the  reasons  of 
others  for  the  doing  thereof.* 

Perjury,  as  contrary  to  the  protestation  and  solemn  vow  they 
had  lately  taken,  (May  5th,  1641,)  and  oath  of  supremacy,  swearing 
therein  to  defend  all  the  king's  rights  and  privileges  ;  whereof  his 
spiritual  jurisdiction  in  reforming  church-matters,  is  a  principal. 
Now,  although  a  latter  oath  may  be  corroborative  of  the  former,  or 
constructive  of  a  new  obligation  consistent  therewith,  yet  can  it  not 
be  inductive  of  a  tie,  contrary  to  an  oath  lawfully  taken  before. 

22.  Evceptions  to  the  Second  Article.  Ill,  but  forced,  Equipage 
of  Prelacy.  Four  Reasons  against  Extirpation  of  Prelacy. 
It  grieveth  them  therein  to  see  prelacy  so  unequally  yoked; 
popery  being  put  before  it ;  superstition,  heresy,  schism,  and  pro- 
faneness  following  after.  Such  the  pleasure  of  those  that  placed 
them,  though  nothing  akin  in  themselves.  But  a  captive,  by  the 
power  of  others,  may  be  fettered  to  those  whom  he  hates  and 
abhors. 

Consent  they  cannot  to  the  extirpation  of  prelacy, 

1.  Neither  in  respect  of  the  thing  itself;  being  persuaded  that 
neither  Papal  monarchy,  nor  Presbyterian  democracy,  nor  Inde- 
pendent anarchy  are  so  conformable  to  the  Scriptures  as  Episcopal 
aristocracy,  being  (if  not  of  Divine  in  a  strict  sense)  of  apostolical 
institution,  confirmed  with  church-practice  (the  best  comment  on 
Scripture  when  obscure)  for  fifteen  hundred  years,  and  bottomed 
on  the  same  foundation  with  infants'  baptism,  national  churches, 
observing  the  Lord's  day,  and  the  like. 

2.  In  respect  of  themselves ;  of  whom,  (1.)  All,  when  taking 
degrees  in  the  university — (2.)  Most,  as  many  as  are  entered  into 
Holy  Orders — (3.)  Not  a  few,  when  lately  petitioning  the  parlia- 
ment for  the  continuing  of  episcopacy— (4.)  Some,  being  members 

•  IStli  Elizabeth,  cap.  12,. 


456  CHURCH    HISTORY    OF    BRITAIN.  A.D.  1643. 

of  cathedral  and  collegiate  churches — have  subscribed  with  their 
hands,  and  with  their  corporal  oaths  avowed  the  justification  and 
defence  of  that  government. 

3.  In  respect  of  the  church  of  England ;  fearing  many  mischiefs 
from  this  alteration,  (felt  sooner  than  seen  in  all  great  and  sudden 
changes,)  especially  because  the  ecclesiastical  government  is  so  inter- 
woven in  many  statutes  of  the  land.  And,  if  schisms  so  increase  on 
the  suspension,  what  is  to  be  expected  on  the  extirpation,  of  epis- 
copacy ? 

4.  In  respect  of  his  majesty ;  as  contrary  to  their  oath  of  supre- 
macy, wherein  they  were  bound  to  maintain,  (1.)  His  privileges; 
amongst  which  a  principal  is,  that  he  is  "  supreme  moderator  over 
all  causes  and  persons  spiritual,"  wherein  no  change  is  to  be 
attempted  without  his  consent.  (2.)  His  dignity  ;  the  collations 
of  bishoprics  and  deaneries,  with  their  profits  in  their  vacancies, 
belonging  unto  him,  and  the  first-fruits  and  tenths  of  ecclesiastical 
dignities,  a  considerable  part  of  the  royal  revenue. 

Here  we  omit  their  plea  whose  chief  means  consisting  of  cathe- 
dral preferment,  [they]  allege  the  like  not  done  from  the  beginning 
of  the  world,  that  men  (though  deserving  deprivation  for  their 
oiFences)  should  be  forced  to  swear  "  sincerely,  seriously,  and  from 
their  souls,"  to  endeavour  the  rooting-out  of  that  whence  their  best 
livelihood  doth  depend. 

23,  24.  Eooceptions  against  the  Third  Article. 

It  grieveth  them  herein  to  be  sworn  to  "  the  preservation  of  the 
privileges  of  parliament  and  liberties  of  the  kingdom,"  at  large  and 
without  any  restriction  ;  being  bound,  in  the  following  words,  to 
defend  "  the  king"*s  person  and  authority,"  as  limited  "  in  the  pre- 
servation and  defence  of  true  religion  and  the  liberties  of  the 
realm  ;"  enlarging  the  former,  that  the  latter  m.ay  be  the  more  con- 
fined. 

They  are  jealous  what  should  be  the  cause  of  the  inversion  of  the 
method,  seeing  in  the  "  Solemn  Vow  and  Protestation,"  the  defence 
of  the  king's  person  and  authority  is  put  first,  which  in  this  Covenant 
is  postposed  to  the  privileges  of  parliament.  However,  seeing  "  the 
Protestation"  was  first  taken,  "the  Covenant,"  as  the  younger, 
cannot  disinherit  the  elder  of  the  possession  which  it  hath  quietly 
taken  in  men's  consciences. 

25 — 27.  Eooceptions  to  the  Fourth^  Fifth  and  Sixth  Articles. 
They  are  unsatisfied  whether  the  same  imposeth  not  a  necessity 
for  children   to   prosecute   their  parents  even  to  death,  under  the 
notion  of  "malignants,"  against  all  rules  of  religion  and  humanity. 


19  CHARLES  I.  BOOK    XI.       CENT.    XVII.  457 

For,  even  in  case  of  idolatry,  cliildren  under  the  old  law  were  not 
bound  publicly  to  accuse  their  parents,  so  as  to  bring  them  to  be 
stoned  For  the  same,  Deut.  xiii.  6  ;  though  such  unnatural  cruelty 
be  foretold  by  our  Saviour  to  fall  out  under  the  Gospel,  of  those 
that  shall  "  rise  up  against  their  parents,  and  cause  them  to  be  put 
to  death,"  Matt.  x.  21, 

They  understand  not  what  is  meant  therein  by  "  the  happiness 
of  a  blessed  peace  betwixt  these  kingdoms,"  whereof  Ireland  must 
needs  be  one  ;  whilst  the  same  is  rent  with  a  woful  war,  and  the 
other  two  lands  distracted  with  home-bred  discords :  whereof  no 
settlement  can  be  hoped  until  first  all  interests  be  equally  stated, 
and  the  king''s  authority,  privileges  of  parliament,  and  liberties  of 
subjects  justly  bounded,  and  carefully  preserved. 

They  are  unsatisfied  therein  as  wliolly  hypothetical,  supposing 
what  as  yet  is  not  cleared  by  solid  arguments  ;  namely,  that  this  is 
''  the  common  cause  of  religion,  liberty,  and  peace  of  the  realms," 
&c.  And  if  the  same  be  granted,  it  appeareth  not  to  their  con- 
science, that  the  means  used  to  promote  this  cause  are  so  lawful  and 
free  from  just  objections  which  may  be  raised  from  the  laws  of  God 
and  man, 

28,  29.  Exceptions  to  the  Conclusion. 

They  quake  at  the  mention,  that  the  taking  of  this  Covenant 
should  "  encourage  other  churches,  groaning  under  the  yoke  of  anti- 
christian  tyranny,"  to  join  in  the  same  ;  fearing  the  dangerous 
consequences  this  may  produce  to  foreign  protestants,  and  enrage 
popish  princes  (in  whose  dominions  they  live)  to  cruelty  against 
them,  as  disaffected  to  their  government.  Besides,  when  Divine 
Providence  layeth  such  burdens  on  his  servants,  even  the  yoke  of  anti- 
christ is  then  the  yoke  of  Christ, — not  to  be  throAvn  off  with  force, 
but  to  be  borne  with  the  confession  of  the  truth,  prayers,  patience, 
and  Christian  courage. 

So  much  concerning  the  Covenant,  which,  some  three  months 
after,  began  to  be  rigorously  and  generally  urged.  Nor  have  I 
aught  else  to  observe  thereof,  save  to  add  in  mine  own  defence,  that 
I  never  saw  the  same,  except  at  distance  as  hung  up  in  churches, 
nor  ever  had  any  occasion  to  read,  or  hear  it  read,  till  this  day,  July 
1st,  1654,  in  writing  my  History ;  whatever  hath  been  reported  and 
printed  to  the  contrary,  of  my  taking  thereof  in  London,  who  went 
away  from  the  Savoy  to  the  king's  quarters,  long  before  any  men- 
tion thereof  in  England. 

30.   The  Author's  Plea  in  his  own  just  Defence. 
True  it  is,  there  was  an  oath,  which  never  exceeded  the  line  of 
communication,  meeting  with  so  much  opposition  that  it  expired  in 


458  CHURCH    HISTORY    OF    BRITAIN.  A.D.  1643. 

the  infancy  thereof,  about  the  time  when  the  plot  was  discovered 
for  which  Mr.  Tomkins  and  Mr.  Chaloner  suffered.  This  was  ten- 
dered to  me,  and  taken  by  me  in  the  vestry  of  the  Savoy-church, 
but  first  protesting  some  limitations  thereof  to  myself.  This,  not 
satisfying,  was  complained  of,  by  some  persons  present,  to  the  Par- 
liament ;  where  it  was  ordered,  that  the  next  Lord's  day  I  should 
take  the  same  oath  in  terminis  terminantibus^  in  the  face  of  the 
church  ;  which  not  agreeing  with  my  conscience,  I  withdrew  myself 
into  the  king's  parts,  which  (I  hope)  I  may  no  less  safely  than  I  do 
freely  confess,  because  punished  for  the  same  with  the  loss  of  my 
livelihood,  and  since  (I  suppose)  pardoned  in  the  Act  of  Oblivion. 

31 — 34.  The  Parliament'' s  Purge  to  the  Clergy.  The  expelled 
Clergy's  Plea.  The  Finst  Century^  why  without  a  Second. 
Vacant  Livings^  how  supplied. 

Now  began  the  great  and  general  purgation  of  the  clergy  in  the 
Parliament's  quarters,  many  being  outed  for  their  misdemeanours  by 
the  committee  appointed  for  that  purpose.  Some  of  their  offences 
were  so  foul,  it  is  a  shame  to  report  them,  crying  to  justice  for  punish- 
ment.*    Indeed,  Constantine,    the  Christian  emperor,  was  wont  to 

*  Heylin  severely  repreliends  Fuller  for  tlie  wtole  of  this  account  of  the  ejected  epis- 
copal clergy.  The  following  are  some  of  his  remarks  :  '^  Our  author  might  have  done 
well  to  have  satisfied  himself  in  all  partictilars,  before  he  raised  so  foul  a  scandal  on  his 
Christian  brethren :  which  modesty  he  might  have  learned  from  the  most  excellent  master 
in  the  schools  of  piety  and  morality  which  this  age  hath  given  us,  even  the  king  himself ; 
•who,  as  our  author  teUeth  us,  page  460,  would  not  give  way,  that  any  such  book 
should  be  written  of  the  vicious  lives  of  some  parliament-ministers,  when  such  an  under- 
taking was  presented  to  him.  But,  Qui  alteruia  incusat  jyrobri^  seipsum  intueri  oportet, 
is  a  good  i-ule  in  the  schools  of  prudence  ;  and  therefore  it  concerns  oiu*  author  to  be  sure 
of  this, — that  all  things  be  well  at  home,  both  in  his  own  person  and  in  his  family,  before 
he  throw  so  much  foul  dirt  in  the  face  of  his  brethren."  In  his  Appeal  of  injured  Inno- 
cence, FuUer  replies,  with  a  pim  upon  his  own  name  :  "  If  God's  restraining  grace  hath 
bridled  me  irom  scandalous  obnoxiousness,  may  he  alone  have  the  honour  thereof.  As 
far  other  stains  and  spots  in  my  soul,  I  hope,  (be  it  spoken  without  the  least  verbal 
reflection,)  that  He  who  is  the  Fuller's  soap,  Mai-  iii.  2,  will  scour  them  forth  with  his 
merit,  that  I  may  appear  clean,  by  God's  mercy.  Some  of  my  brethren,  or  fathers 
.  rather,  I  reverence  and  admire  for  their  eminences.  Others  I  commend,  and  will  endea- 
vour to  imitate.  Others,  guilty  of  human  infirmities, — I  desire  to  conceal  their  faults, 
and,  that  not  taking  effect,  to  excuse  their  persons.  Such  as  are  past  pleading  for  faU 
imder  my  pity,  and  have  my  prayers  that  God  would  amend  them.  But,  willingly,  much 
less  causelessly,  I  will  rrot  accuse  any  ;  and  my  pen  and  tongue  have  been,  and  shall  be, 
tender  of  their  reputations.  Proceed  I  now  to  what  I  have  written  concerning  the  seques- 
tered clergy  of  England  ;  wherein  I  will  freely  (God  willing)  unbosom  my  mind  ;  and  *if 
I  perish,  I  perish.'  I  appeal  to  the  Searcher  of  hearts,  if  I  did  not  desire  to  do  them  all 
just  favour,  as  I  hope  to  find  favour  from  Him  when  I  most  need  it.  But  as  mariners, 
when  they  have  both  wind  and  tide  against  them,  cannot  make  the  desired  port  in  a 
straight  line,  and  therefore  are  fain  to  fetch  a  compass  ;  semnably,  I,  desiring  to  gratify 
my  brethren  and  not  destroy  myself,  was  fain  to  go  aboiit,  that  in  any  measure  I  might 
with  safety  do  it :  and  there  was  no  compassing  of  it  without  compacing  it,  no  reaching 
the  end  without  going  oixt  of  the  way.     First,  therefore,  I  did  acknowledge,  what  indeed 


19  CHARLES   I.  BOOK    XI.       CENT.    XVJI.  459 

say,  <'  If  I  see  a  clergyman  offending,  I  will  cover  him  with  my 
cloak."  But,  surely,  he  meant  such  offences  as  are  frailties  and 
infirmities,  no  scandalous  enormities.  Such  unsavoury  salt  is  good 
fornothing,  no,  not  for  the  dunghill,  Luke  xiv.  35  ;  because  as  the 
savour  is  lost  which  makes  it  useful,  so  the  fretting  is  left  which 
makes  it  useless,  whereby  it  is  so  far  from  being  good  compost  to  fatten 
ground,  that  it  doth  rather  embarren  it.  Let  Baal  therefore  plead 
for  itself,  nothing  can  be  said  in  their  excuse,  if  (what  was  the 
main  matter)  their  crimes  were  sufficiently  proved. 

But  as  to  the  point,  hear  what  the  royalists  at  Oxford  say  for 
their  friends,  whilst  they  conceive  themselves  to  take  just  exceptions 
at  the  proceedings  against  these  ministers : — 

1.  Some  of  their  faults  were  so  foul,  that  the  foulness  of  them* 
is  all  that  can  be  pleaded  for  them.  For,  being  capital,  the  persons 
deserved  to  be  outed  of  life^  not  of  limng ;  which  leaves  a  suspicion 
of  imperfect  proof. 

2.  The  witnesses  against  them  were  seldom  deposed  on  oath,  but 
their  bare  complaints  believed. 

3.  Many  of  the  complainers  were  factious  people,  (those  most 
accusing  their  sermons  who  least  heard  them,)  and  who  since  have 
deserted  the  church,  as  hating  the  profession  of  the  ministry. 

.  4.  Many  were  charged  with  delivering  false  doctrine,  whose 
positions  were  sound,  at  the  least  disputable  :  such  those  accused  for 
preaching  that  "  baptism  washeth  away  original  sin ;"  which  the 
most  learned  and  honest  in  the  Assembly  in  some  sense  will  not 
denv  ;  namelv,  that  in  the  children  of  God  it  cleanseth  the  con- 
demning,  and  final  peaceable  commanding  power  of  original  sin, 
though  the  stain  and  blemish  thereof  doth  still  remain. 

5.  Some  were  merely  outed  for  their  affections  to  the  king's 
cause ;  and  what  was  malignity  at  London  was  loyalty  at  Oxford. 

Yea,  many  moderate  men  of  the  opposite  party  much  bemoaned 
such  severity,  that  some  clergymen,  blameless  for  life  and  orthodox 
for  doctrine,  were  only  ejected  on  the  account   of  their  faithfulness 

coiild  not  be  concealed,  and  what  in  ti-uth  mnst  be  confessed,  viz.  tbat  some  of  the  ejected 
clergy  were  guilty  of  foul  offences  ;  to  whom,  and  to  whom  alone,  the  name  of  Baal  and 
"  unsavoury  salt"  did  relate.  Nor  was  it  a  wonder,  if,  amongst  ten  thousand  and  more, 
some  were  guilty  of  scandalous  enormities.  This  being  laid  down,  and  yielded  to  the 
violence  of  the  times,  I  WTought  myself  by  degrees  (as  much  as  I  durst)  to  insert  what 
followeth,  in  \indication  of  many  others,  rigorously  cast  out  for  following,  in  their  affec- 
tions, their  preceding  judgments  and  consciences,  and  no  scandal  could  justly  be  charged 
upon  them,  pleading  for  them  as  eusueth."  FuUer  here  quotes  five  paragraphs,  which 
occur  in  this  very  page  (459)  of  his  Church  History  ;  and  very  properly  adds  :  <<  This, 
being  written  by  me  some  ten  [years  since,]  (in  the  paroxysm  of  the  business,) 
and  printed  some  four  y^ars  since,  was  as  much  as  then  I  durst  say  for  my  brethren, 
without  running  myself  into  apparent  danger."— Edit.  •  Whites  "  Centmy," 

page  1. 


460  CHURCH    HISTORY    OF    J3R1TAIN.  A.D.  1643. 

to  the  king's  cause.  And  as  much  corruption  was  let  out  by  this 
ejection,  (many  scandalous  ministers  deservedly  punished,)  so  at 
the  same  time  the  veins  of  the  English  church  were  also  emptied  of 
much  good  blood,  (some  inoffensive  pastors,)  which  hath  made  her 
body  hydropical  ever  since,  ill  humours  succeeding  in  the  room,  by 
reason  of  too  large  and  sudden  evacuation.  But  others  of  a  more 
violent  temper  excused  all,  the  present  necessity  of  the  cause 
requiring  it.  All  pulpits  in  the  Parliament-quarters  must  be  made 
like  the  whole  earth  before  the  building  of  Babel,  "  of  one  language 
and  of  one  speech,'"*  or  else  all  may  be  destroyed  by  the  mixture  of 
other  doctrines.  And  better  a  mischief  to  few,  than  an  inconveni- 
ence to  all.  Safer  that  some  (suppose  unjustly)  suffer,  than  that 
the  success  of  the  whole  cause  should  be  endangered. 

Then  came  forth  a  book  called  "  the  First  Century,""  (November 
19th,)  containing  the  names  of  a  hundred  divines  sequestered  for  their 
faults,  with  a  promise  of  a  second ;  which  to  my  knowledge  never 
came  forth  :  whether  because  the  author  of  the  former  was  sensible 
that  the  subject  was  generally  odious,  or  because  the  death  of  Mr. 
White,  licenser  thereof,  prevented  any  addition,  or  whether  because 
dissuaded  from  the  design,  suspecting  a  retaliation  from  Oxford. 
Sure,  I  have  been  informed,  that,  when  some  solicited  his  majesty 
for  leave  to  set  forth  a  book  of  the  vicious  lives  of  some  Parliament- 
ministers,  his  majesty  blasted  the  design  ;  partly  because  recrimina- 
tion is  no  purgation,  partly  lest  the  public  enemy  of  the  protestant 
religion  should  make  an  advantage  thereof. 

To  supply  the  vacant  places,  many  young  students  (whose  Orders 
got  the  speed  of  their  Degrees)  left  the  universities.  Other  minis- 
ters turned  Dualists  and  Pluralists  ;  it  being  now  charity^  (what  was 
formerly  cotetousness^  to  hold  two  or  three  benefices.  These  could 
plead  for  themselves  the  practice  of  Mr.  Sanders,  the  martyr,*  who 
held  two  livings  at  good  distance,  because  he  could  not  resign  one 
but  into  the  hands  of  a  papist, — as  these  men  would  not  surrender 
them  to  "  malignants.''  Many  vicarages  of  great  cure,  but  small 
value,  were  without  ministers,  (whilst  rich  matches  have  many  suitors, 
they  may  die  virgins  that  have  no  portions  to  prefer  them,)  which 
was  often  complained  of,  seldom  redressed,  it  passing  for  a  current 
maxim,  it  was  safer  for  people  to  fast  than  to  feed  on  the  poison  of 
"  malignant'"*  pastors. 

*  Fox's  "  Acts  and  Monuments,"  page  1494,  in  anno  1555. 


19  CHARLES  T.  BOOK    XI.       CENT.    XVII.  461 

35 — 41.  Dissenting  Brethren    first    appear  in   the   Assembly. 
The  Cause  of  their  first  departing  the  Land.     Are  kindly 
entertained  iji  Holland.     How   qualified  to  find  out   the 
Truth.    Their  two  chief  Ground-Works.     Co-ordination  of 
Churches.     The  Manner  of  their  Church -Service.  [They] 
are  always  for  new  Lights. 
Let  us  now  look  a  little  into  the  Assembly  of  Divines,  where  wc 
shall  not  find  them  (as  we  might  justly  expect)  "  all  of  one  tongue 
and  of  one  language,'"*  there  being  some  not  concurring  with  the 
major  part,  and  therefore   styled   "  Dissenting  Brethren."     I  Imow 
the  Scotch   writers  call   them   "  of  the  Separation  ;"  but,  because 
mollifying  terms  are  the  best   poultices  to  be  applied   to  the  first 
swellings  of  church-diiferenccs,   we   decline   these  words  of  distaste. 
They  are  also  commonly   called   Independents,   though  they  them- 
selves (if  summoned  by  that  name)  will  return  no  Vous  avez  there- 
unto, as  to  a  word  odious  and  offensive  in   the  common  sound   and 
notation  thereof.  For  Independency  taken  for  "absolute  subsistence," 
1.   Without  relation  to  God,  is  profane  and  blasphemous;  2.  AVith- 
out  relation  to  king  or  state,  is  seditious  and  treacherous ;  3.  With- 
out relation  to  other  churches,  is  proud  and  ambitious  ;  4.  Without 
relation    to    particular    Christians,    is    churlish    and    uncharitable. 
These    "Dissenting  Brethren,"  or  "  Congregationalists,"   were  but 
five  in  the  Assembly,   though  many  more  of  their  judgments  dis- 
persed in  the    land;  namely,    1.  Thomas   Goodwin,   bred  first  in 
Christ's  College,  then  Fellow  of  Catherine  Hall  in  Cambridge :  2. 
Philip  Nye,  who  had  his  education  in  Oxford  :  3.   William  Bridge, 
Fellow   of  Emmanuel   College  in  Cambridge,  all  three  still  alive : 
4.  Sidrach  Simpson,  of  Queen's  College  in  Cambridge  :  5.  Jeremiah 
Burroughs,  of  Emmanuel  College  in  Cambridge,  both  deceased. 

It  is  our  unhappiness,  that,  in  writing  their  story,  we  have  little 
save  what  we  have  collected  out  of  the  writings  of  pens  professedly 
engaged  against  them  ;  and,  therefore,  the  less  credit  is  to  be  given 
thereunto.  However,  in  this  "Narration"  there  is  nothing  of  my 
own  ;  so  that,  if  any  falsehoods  therein,  they  must  be  charged 
on  their  account  whom  the  reader  shall  behold  cited  in  the  margin. 
Otherwise  I  confess  my  personal  respects  to  some  of  the  afore- 
named Dissenters  for  favours  received  from  them. 

Some  ten  years  since,  "the  sinful  corruptions"  (to  use  their  own 
language*)  "  of  the  worship  and  government  in  this  church,  taking 
hold  on  their  consciences,"  unable  any  longer  to  comport  therewith, 
they  deserted  their  native  country.  This  we  believe  the  true  cause 
of  their  departure  ;  not  what  some  suggest,-|-  that  one  for  debt,  and 

•  "  Apologetical  Narration,"  page  2.  t  Mr.  Edwards  in  liis  "  Answer  to  the 

Apologetical  NaiTation." 


4G2  CHURCH    HISTORY    OF    BRITAIN.  A.  D.  1643. 

another  for  danger,  (to  answer  some  ill-interpreted  words  concerning 
the  Scots,)  were  forced  to  forsake  the  land.  And  although  I  will 
not  say  they  "  left  not  a  hoof  of  their  estates  behind  them  here, 
they  will  confess  they  conveyed  over  the  most  considerable  part 
thereof.  Many  wealthy  merchants  and  their  families  went  over 
with  them ;  so  that  of  all  exiles,  (for  so  they  style  themselves,) 
these  may  seem  most  like  voluntary  travellers  for  good  company  ; 
though,  of  all  travellers,  most  like  to  exiles. 

Their  reception  beyond  the  seas  in  Holland  was  fair  and  civil ; 
where  the  States  (who,  though  they  tolerate — own  not — all  religions) 
were  interpreted  to  acknowledge  them  and  their  churches  by  many 
signs  of  their  favour.  1.  By  granting  them  their  own  churches  to 
assemble  in  for  Divine  worship  ;  where  their  own  countrymen  met 
also  the  same  day,  but  at  different  hours,  for  the  same  purpose. 
2.  By  permitting  the  ringing  of  a  bell  to  call  people  to  their  public 
meeting  ;  *  which  loudly  sounded  the  States'  consent  unto  them,  as 
not  allowed  to  such  clandestine  sects  which  shelter  themselves  rather 
under  the  permission  than  protection  thereof.  3.  By  assigning  a 
full  and  liberal  maintenance  annually  for  their  ministers,  as  also 
wine  for  their  communions.  Xor  can  there  be  a  better  evidence  of 
giving  the  right  hand  of  fellowship,  than  to  give  the  full  hand  of 
liberality.  A  moiety  of  this  people  fixed  at  Rotterdam,  where  they 
landed  ;  the  other  travelled  up  higher,  for  better  air,  to  Wianen  ; 
and  thence,  soon  after,  removed  to  Arnheim,  a  sweet  and  pleasant 
citv ;  no  part  of  Holland  (largely  taken-(-)  affording  more  of 
England  therein,  resembled,  in  their  letters  to  their  friends,  to 
Hertford,  or  Bury  in  Suffolk." 

Then,  fall  they  to  consult  of  church-discipline,  professing  them- 
selves a  mere  ahrasa  tabula.,  with  virgin  judgments,  longing  only  to 
be  married  to  the  truth.  Yea,  they  "  looked  upon  the  Avord  of 
Christ''  (reader,  it  is  their  own  expression;)  "as  unpartially  and 
unprejudicedly,  as  men  made  of  flesh  and  blood  are  like  to  do  in 
any  juncture  of  time  that  may  fall  out ;  the  place  they  went  to,  the 
condition  they  were  in,  and  company  they  went  with,  affording  no 
temptation  to  bias  them  any  way." 

And  first  they  lay  down  two  grand  ground-works,  on  which  their 
following  fabric  was  to  be  erected  :  1.  Only  to  take  what  was  held 
forth  in  God's  word  ;  leaving  nothing  to  church -practice  or  human 
prudence,  as  but  the  iron  legs  and  clay  toes  of  that  statue  whose 
head  and  whole  body  ought  to  be  of  pure  Scripture-gold.  2.  Not 
to  make  their  present  judgment  binding  unto  them  for  the  future. 
Their  adversaries   cavil  hereat,    as  a  reserve  able  to  rout   all   the 

•  "  Apologetical  Narration,"  page  7.  t  Otherwise  Arnheim  is  in  Guelderland. 

\  "  Apologetical  Narration,"  page  3. 


ID  CHARLES  I.  BOOK    XI.       CENT.    XVII.  463 

armies  of  arguments  which  are  brought  against  them ;  that,  because 
"  one  day  teacheth  another,''  they  will  not  be  tied  on  Tuesday  morn- 
ing to  maintain  their  tenets  on  Monday  night,  if  a  new  discovery 
intervene. 

In  pursuance  of  these  principles,  they  pitched  on  a  middle  way, 
(as  generally  the  posture  of  truth,)  betwixt  presbytery,  as  too 
rigorous,  imperious,  and  conclusive,  and  Brownism,  as  too  vague, 
loose,  and  uncertain.  Their  main  platform  was,  that  churches 
should  not  be  subordinate,  parochial  to  provincial,  provincial  to 
national,  (as  daughter  to  mother,  mother  to  grandmother,)  but 
co-ordinate,  without  superiority,  except  seniority  of  sisters,  contain- 
ing no  powerful  influence  therein.  Thus  the  church,  formerly  like 
a  chain,  with  links  of  dependency  on  one  another,  should  hereafter 
become  like  a  heap  of  rings,  each  entire  in  itself,  but  (as  they 
thought)  far  purer  than  was  ever  seen  before. 

The  manner  of  their  church-service,  according  to  their  own  rela- 
tion,* was  performed  in  form  following  :  1.  Public  and  solemn 
prayers  for  kings  and  all  in  authority.  2.  Reading  the  Scriptures 
of  the  Old  and  New  Testament,  with  exposition  thereof  on  occa- 
sion. S.  Administration  of  the  two  sacraments,  baptism  to  infants, 
and  the  Lord's  supper.  4.  Singing  of  psalms,  and  collection  for 
the  poor,  every  Lord's  day.  5.  For  public  officers  they  had  pastors, 
teachers,  and  ruling  elders,  (not  lay  but  ecclesiastic  persons,)  and 
deacons.  As  for  church-censures,  they  resolved  only  on  admonition 
and  excommunication ;  the  latter  whereof  was  never  handselled  in 
their  church, *!*  as  no  reason  that  the  rod  (though  made)  should  be 
used  where  the  children  are  all  quiet  and  dutiful.  "  Synods  they 
account  useful,  and  in  some  cases  necessary  ;  yet  so  that  their  power 
is  but  official,  not  authoritative,  whereby  they  may  declare  the 
truth,  not  enjoin  obedience  thereunto."  Or,  take  it  in  the  language 
of  one  of  their  grandees  :  ;|:  actus  regiminis  a  synodis  dehent  porrigi 
non  peragi ;  the  latter  belonging  to  the  liberty  of  several  congrega- 
tions. Their  adversaries  object,  that  none  can  give-in  an  exact 
account  of  all  their  opinions,  daily  capable  of  alteration  and  increase. 
AVliilst  such  countries,  whose  unmovable  mountains  and  stable 
valleys  keep  a  fixed  position,  may  be  easily  surveyed  ;  no  geo- 
grapher can  accurately  describe  some  part  of  Arabia,  where  the 
flitting  sands,  driven  with  the  winds,  have  their  frequent  removals  ; 
so  that  the  traveller  findeth  a  hole  at  his  return,  where  he  left  a  hill 
at  his  departure.  Such  the  uncertainty  of  these  Congregationalists 
in  their  judgments.  Only  they  plead  for  themselves,  it  is  not  "  the 
wind   of  every  doctrine,"  Eph.  iv.  15  ;  but  the  sun  of  the  truth,§ 

*  '•'  Apologetical  Narration,"  page  8.  t  Hid.  page  9.  I  Responsio  Jo. 

Norton,  page  114.  §  Mr.  Cotton's  preface  to  Mr.  Norton's  book. 


464  CHuRCH    HISTORY    OF    BRITAIN.  A.D.  1643. 

which,  with  its  new  liglits,   makes    them  renounce  their  old,  and 
embrace  new,  resolutions. 

42 — 47.  A  Schism  in  Rotterdam  Church.     A  second  Schism  in 
the  same  Church.    The  Practice  of  Arnheijn  Church.     The 
Jive  Exiles  return  Home ;  gather  Churches  in  England. 
The  Presbyterians  offended. 

Soon  after  a  heavy  schism  happened  in  the  church  of  Rotterdam^ 
betwixt  Mr.  Bridge  and  Mr.  Simpson,  the  two  pastors  thereof; 
"insomuch  that  the  latter  rent  himself,""  saith  one,*  "from  Mr. 
Bridge's  church,  to  the  great  offence  thereof;"  though  more  pro- 
bable, as  another  reporteth,-!*  "  Mr.  Simpson  [was]  dismissed  with 
the  consent  of  the  church."''  However,  many  bitter  letters  passed 
betwixt  them,  and  more  sent  over  to  their  friends  in  England,  full 
of  invectives,  blackness  of  the  tongue  always  accompanying  the 
paroxysms  of  such  distempers.  Their  Presbyterian  adversaries 
make  great  use  hereof  to  their  disgrace. |  If  such  infant-churches, 
whilst  their  hands  could  scarce  hold  any  thing,  fell  a-scratching, 
and  their  feet  spurning  and  kicking  one  another,  before  they  could 
well  go  alone,  how  stubborn  and  vexatious  would  they  be  when 
arrived  at  riper  years  ! 

This  schism  was  seconded  with  another  in  the  same  church;  wherein 
they  deposed  one  of  their  ministers,  (Mr.  Ward,  I  conceive,  his 
name,)  which  was  beheld  as  a  bold  and  daring  deed, — especially 
because  herein  they  consulted  not  their  sister-church  at  Arnheim, 
which  publicly  was  professed  mutually  to  be  done  in  cases  of  concern- 
ment. Here  the  Presbyterians  triumph  in  their  conceived  discovery 
of  the  nakedness  and  weakness  of  the  Congregational  way  ;  which,  for 
want  of  ecclesiastical  subordination,  is  too  short  to  reach  out  a  redress 
to  such  grievances.  For,  seeing  jtx^r  in  par  em  non  habet  potestatem., 
"  equals  have  no  power  over  their  equals,""  the  aggrieved  party  could 
not  right  himself  by  any  appeal  unto  a  superior.  But  such  consider 
not  the  end,  as  well  as  the  beginning,  of  this  difference  ;  wherein  the 
church  ofArnheim  interposing,  not  as  a  judge  to  punish  offenders, 
but  as  a  brother  to  check  the  failings  of  a  brother,§  matters  were  so 
ordered  that  Mr.  Ward  was  restored  to  his  place,  ^hen  both  he  and 
the  church  had  mutually  confessed  their  sinful  carriage  in  the  matter. 
But  enough,  if  not  too  much,  hereof;  seeing  every  thing  put  in  a 
pamphlet  is  not  fit  to  be  recorded  in  a  chronicle. 

More  concord  crowned  the  congregation  at  Arnheim,  where  Mr. 
Goodwin  and  Mr.  Nye  ^vere  pastors  ;  wherein,  beside  those  church- 
ordjnances    formerly  mentioned,    actually  admitted   and    exercised, 

•  Mr.  Edwards,  ut prius,  page  35.  t  Mr.  John  Goodwin  in  answer  to  Mr. 

Edwards,  page  238.  t  Page  245.  §  "  Apologetical  Narration,"  page  21. 


19  CHARLES   I.  BOOK    XI.       CENT.    XVIT.  465 

some  others  'stood  candidates  and  fair  probationers  on  their  good 
behaviour ;  namely,  if  under  trial  they  were  found  convenient.  Such 
were,  1.  The  holy  kiss,  1  Cor.  xvi.  20.  2.  Prophesyings,  1  Cor.  xiv. 
when  private  Christians,  at  fit  times,  made  public  use  of  their  parts 
and  gifts  in  the  congregation,  _  8.  Hymns,  Eph.  v.  19,  and  Col.  iii. 
16 ;  and  which,  if  no  better  divinity  than  music,  might  much  be 
scrupled  at.  4.  Widows,  as  essential  she-ministers  in  the  church, 
1  Tim.  V.  9 ;  wdiich  if  it  be  so,  our  late  civil  wars  in  England  have 
afforded  us  plenty  for  the  place.  5.  Anointing  of  dying  people, 
as  a  standing  apostolical  ordinance,  James  v.  14. 

Other  things  were  in  agitation,  Avhen  now  the  news  arriveth  that 
the  Parliament  sitting  at  Westminster  had  broken  the  yoke  of  cere- 
monies, and  proclaimed  a  year  of  jubilee  to  all  tender  consciences. 
Home  then  they[hasted  with  all  convenient  speed.  For,  only  Eng- 
land is  England  indeed,  though  some  parts  of  Holland  may  be  like 
unto  it.  Over  they  came  in  a  very  good  plight  and  equipage,  which 
the  Presbyterians  (and  those  I  assure  you  are  quick-sighted  when 
pleased  to  pry)  took  notice  of.  "  Not  a  hair  of  their  head  singe-ed, 
nor  any  smell  of  the  fire"  of  persecution  "upon  their  clothes.'"* 
However,  they  w^ere  not  to  be  blamed,  if  setting  their  best  foot  for- 
ward in  their  return,  and  appearing  in  the  handsomest  and  cheerfullest 
fashion  for  the  credit  of  tlieir  cause,  and  to  show  that  they  were  not 
dejected  with  their  sufferings. 

Presently  they  fall  upon  gathering  of  congregations,  but  chiefly  in 
or  about  the  city  of  London.  Trent  may  be  good,  and  Severn  better, 
but  O  !  the  Thames  is  the  best  for  the  plentiful  taking  offish  therein. 
They  did  pick  (I  will  not  say  steal)  hence  a  master,  thence  a  mis- 
tress of  a  family,  a  son  out  of  a  third,  a  servant  out  of  a  fourth  parish  ; 
all  which  met  together  in  their  Congregation.  Some  prevented 
calling  by  their  coming,  of  old  parishioners  to  become  7iew  church - 
members  ;  and  so  forward  were  they  of  themselves,  that  they  needed 
no  force  to  compel,  nor  art  to  persuade  them.  Thus,  a  new  inn 
never  wanteth  guests  at  the  first  setting  up,  especially  if  hanging  out 
a  fair  sign,  and  promising  more  cleanness  and  neatness  than  is  in  any 
of  their  neighbours. 

The  Presbyterians  found  themselves  much  aggrieved  hereat. 
They  accounted  this  practice  of  the  Dissenting  Brethren  but  eccle- 
siastical felony ;  for,  at  the  best,  that  they  were  but  spiritual  inter- 
lopers for  the  same.  They  justly  feared,  if  this  fashion  continued, 
the  falling  of  the  roof,  or  foundering  of  the  foundations  of  their 
own  parishes  ;  whence  so  many  corner-stones,  pillars,  rafters,  and 
beams  were  taken  by  the  others  to  build  their  Congregations.  They 
complained  that  these  new  pastors,  though  slighting  tithes  and  set 
maintenance,  yet  so  ordered  the  matter,  by  gathering  their  churches, 
Vol.  in,  h  h 


466  CHURCH    HISTORY    OF    BRITAIN.  A.D.  1644r 

that  these  "gleanings  of  Epliraim  became  better  than  tlie  vintage 
of  Abiezer." 

48 — 50.  Dissenting  Brethren  crave  a  Toleration ;  opposed  by 
others ;  but  favoured  by  the  Parliament. 

Not  long  after,  when  the  Assembly  of  Divines  was  called,  these 
five  Congiegationalists  were  chosen  members  thereof,  but  came  not 
up  with  a  full  consent  to  all  things  acted  therein  ;  as  accounting  that 
the  pressing  of  an  exact  concurrence  to  the  Presbyterian  government 
was  but  a  kind  of  conscience-prison,  whilst  accurate  conformity  to 
the  Scotch  church  was  the  very  dungeon  thereof.  A  regimine  eccle- 
siastico,  say  they,*  titi  nunc  in  Scotia  mget  longiiis  distamus,  quippe 
quod  (ut  nobis  videtur)  non  tantiim  a  JScripturis,  sed  ab  ecclesiarum 
Beformatarwn  suorumque  theologorum  sententiis  (qui  sub  episco- 
porum  tyrannide  diu  duriterque  passi  sunt)  plurimum  distat.  No 
wonder  therefore  if  they  desired  a  toleration  to  be  indulged  them, 
and  they  excused  for  being  concluded  by  the  votes  of  the  Assembly. 

But  the  Presbyterians  highly  opposed  their  toleration  ;  and  such 
who  desired  most  ease  and  liberty  for  their  sides  when  bound  with 
episcopacy,  now  girt  their  own  government  the  closest  about  the 
consciences  of  others.  They  tax  the  Dissenting  Brethren  for  sin- 
gularity ;  as  if  these  men,  like  "  the  five  senses  of  the  church,"  should 
discover  more  in  matter  of  discipline  than  all  the  Assembly  besides, 
— some  moving  their  ejection  out  of  the  same,  except  in  some  con- 
venient time  they  would  comply  therewith. 

Hopeless  to  speed  here,  the  Dissenters  seasonably  presented  "  an 
apologetical  Narrative  to  the  Parliament,"  styled  by  them  "  the 
most  sacred  refuge  or  asylum  for  mistaken  and  misjudged  innocence."")* 
Herein  they  petitioned  pathetically  for  some  favour,  whose  conscience 
could  not  join  with  the  Assembly  in  all  particulars  ;  concluding  with 
that  pitiful  close,  (enough  to  force  tears  from  any  tender  heart,)  that 
they  pursued  no  other  interest  or  design  but  a  subsistence  (be  it  the 
poorest  and  meanest)  in  their  own  land,  ^s  not  knowing  where  else, 
with  safety,  health,  and  livelihood,  to  set  their  feet  on  earth ;  j  and 
subscribed  their  names  : 

THOMAS  GOODWIN,     JEREMIAH  BURROUGHS, 

PHILIP  NYE,  WILLIAM  BRIDGE. 

SIDRACH  SIxMPSON, 

If,  since,  their  condition  be  altered  and  bettered,  that  they  (then 
wanting  where  to  set  their  feet)  since  lie  down  at  their  length  in  the 
fat  of  the  land ;  surely  they  have  returned  proportionable  gratitude 

•  In  their  epistle  to  the  reader,  prefixed  to  Mr.  Norton's  book,  f  "  Apologetical 

Narration/'  page  2.  J  Ibid,  page  31. 


20  CHARLES  r.  BOOK    XT.       C'KNT.    XVIT.  407 

to  God  for  tlie  same.  Sure  it  is  that  at  the  present  these  petitioners 
found  such  favour  with  some  potent  persons  in  Parliament,  that  they 
were  secured  from  farther  trouble  ;  and,  from  lying  at  a  posture  of 
defence,  are  now  grown  able  not  only  to  encounter  but  invade  all 
opposers,  yea,  to  open  and  shut  the  door  of  preferment  to  others  ; — 
so  unsearchable  are  the  dispensations  of  Divine  Providence  in  making 
sudden  and  unexpected  changes,  as  in  whole  nations,  so  in  private 
men's  estates,  "  according  to  the  counsel  of  his  will." 

51,  52.  New-England  Churches^  Congregationalists.    The  Rest 
referred  to  Mr.  Norton^s  Book. 

Such  as  desire  further  instruction  in  the  tenets  of  these  Congrega- 
tionalists, may  have  their  recourse  to  those  many  pamphlets  written 
pro  and  con  thereof.  The  worst  is,  some  of  them  speak  so  loud,  we 
can  scarce  understand  what  they  say, — so  hard  is  it  to  collect  their 
judgments,  such  the  violence  of  their  passions.  Only  I  will  add, 
that,  for  the  main,  the  churches  of  New  England  are  the  same  in 
discipline  wdth  these  Dissenting  Brethren. 

Only  I  will  add,  that,  of  all  the  authors  I  have  perused  concerning 
xk\Q  opinions  of  these  Dissenting  Brethren,  none  to  me  was  more 
informative  than  Mr.  John  Norton,  (one  of  no  less  learning  than 
modesty,)  minister  in  New-England,  in  his  answer  to  Apollonius, 
pastor  in  the  church  of  Middleburgh. 

53 — 60.  Mr.  Herle  succeedeth  Prolocutor  to  Dr.  Twisse.  Mr. 
Seldens  pic%%ling  Queries.  Erastians,  why  so  called,  and 
what  they  held.  The  Erastians  in  the  Assembly  ;  favour- 
ably listened  to.  The  Assembly  shrewdly  checked.  The 
Scotch  Discipline  in  vain  strivedfor.  Co-ercive  Power  kept 
in  the  Parliament.    A.D.  1644. 

Look  we  now  again  into  the  Assembly  of  Divines,  where  we  find 
Dr.  Cornelius  Burgess,  and  Mr.  Herbert  Palmer,  the  assessors 
therein;  and  I  am  informed  by  some,  more  skilful  in  such  niceties 
than  myself,  that  two  at  the  least  of  that  office  are  of  the  quorum 
essential  to  every  lawful  assembly.  But  I  miss  Dr.  William  Twisse 
their  Prolocutor,  lately  deceased.  He  was  bred  in  New  College  in 
Oxford  ;  good  with  the  trowel,  but  better  with  the  sword,  more 
happy  in  polemical  divinity  than  edifying  doctrine.  Therefore  he 
was  chosen  by  the  States  of  Holland  to  be  Professor  of  Divinity 
there  ;  which  he  thankfully  refused.*  Mr.  Charles  Herle,  Fellow 
of  Exeter  College  of  Oxford,  succeeded  him  in  his  place;  one  so 
much  Christian,  scholar,  and  gentleman,  that  he  can  unite  in  aiFec- 
tion  with  those  who  are  disjoined  in  judgment  from  him. 

•  See  bis  dedication  to  them  in  his  book  called  Findicicc  Gratia. 

2  II  2 


468  CHURCH    HISTORY    OF    BRITAIN.  A.  D.  1644. 

The  Assembly  met  with  many  difficulties  ;  some  complaining  of 
Mr.  Selden,  that,  advantaged  by  his  skill  in  antiquity,  common  law, 
and  the  oriental  tongues,  he  employed  them  rather  to  pose  than 
profit,  perplex  than  inform,  the  members  thereof,  in  the  fourteen 
queries  he  propounded :  whose  intent  therein  was  to  humble  the 
jure-dh'ino-ship  of  presbytery ;  which,  though  hinted  and  held 
forth,  is  not  so  made  out  in  Scripture,  but,  being  too  scant  on 
many  occasions,  it  must  be  pieced  with  prudential  additions.  This 
great  scholar,  not  ovei-lo\'ing  of  any  (and  least  of  these)  clergymen, 
delighted  himself  in  raising  of  scruples  for  the  vexing  of  others;  and 
some  stick  not  to  say,  that  those  who  will  not  feed  on  the  flesh  of 
God's  word  cast  most  bones  to  others,  to  break  their  teeth  therewith. 

More  trouble  was  caused  to  the  Assembly  by  the  opinions  of  the 
Erastians ;  and  it  is  worth  our  inquiry  into  the  first  author  thereof. 
They  were  so  called  from  Thomas  Erastus,  a  doctor  of  physic,  born 
at  Baden  in  Switzerland,  lived  professor  in  Heidelberg,  and  died  at 
Basle,  about  the  year  1583.  He  was  of  the  privy  council  to 
Frederick,  the  first  protestant  Prince  Palatine  of  that  name  ;  and 
this  Erastus,  like  our  Mr.  Perkins,  being  lame  of  his  right — wrote 
all  with  his  left — hand;  and,  amongst  the  rest,  one  against  Theodore- 
Beza,  De  Excommunicatione ;  to  this  effect, — that  the  power  and 
excommunication,  in  a  Christian  state,  principally  resides  in  secular 
power,  as  the  most  competent  judge  when  and  how  the  same  shall 
be  exercised.* 

Mr.  John  Coleman,  a  modest  and  learned  man,  beneficed  in 
Lincolnshire,  and  Mr.  John  Lightfoot,  well-skilled  in  rabbinical 
learning,  were  the  chief  members  of  the  Assembly,  who  (for  the 
main)  maintained  the  tenets  of  Erastus.  These  often  produced  the 
Hebrew  original  for  the  power  of  princes  in  ecclesiastical  matters. 
For  though  the  New  Testament  be  silent  of  the  temporal  magis- 
trates' (princes  then  being  pagans,)  intermeddling  in  church-matters, 
the  Old  is  very  vocal  therein,  where  the  authority  of  the  kings  of 
Judah,  as  "  nursing  fathers  to  the  church,''  is  very  considerable. 

No  wonder  if  the  Prince  Palatine  (constantly  present  at  their 
debates)  heard  the  Erastians  with  much  delight,  as  welcoming 
their  opinions  for  country-sake,  (his  natives,  as  first  born  in  Heidel- 
bergj)  though  otherwise  in  his  own  judgment  no  favourer  thereof. 
But  other  Parliament-men  listened  very  favourably  to  their  argu- 
ments ;  (interest  is  a  good  quickener  of  attention ;)  hearing  their 
own  power  enlarged  thereby,  and  making  use  of  their  Erastians  for 
a  check  to  such  who  pressed  conformity  to  the  Scotch  kirk  in  all 
particulars. 

Indeed,   once  the  Assembly  stretched  themselves  beyond  their 

•  Tkuamjs  in  Obit.  Fir.  illustr.  anno  1583. 


20  CH.MILES  I.  EOOK    XI.       CENT.    XVII.  469 

own  line,  in  meddling  with  what  was  not  committed,  by  the  Par- 
liament, to  their  cognizance  and  consultation  ;  for  which  they  were 
afterward  staked  down,  and  tied  up  with  a  shorter  tedder.  For 
though  the  wise  Parliament  made  use  of  the  presbyterian  zeal  and 
-activity  for  the  extirpation  of  bishops,  yet  tliey  discreetly  resolved 
to  hold  a  strict  hand  over  them  ;  as  not  coming  hy  their  oxen  power 
to  advise,  but  called  to  advise  with  the  Parliament.  Nor  were 
they  to  cut  out  their  own  work,  but  to  make  up  what  was  cut  to 
their  own  hands  ;  and  seeing  a  praemunire  is  a  rod  as  well  for  a 
presbyter  as  a  prelate,  (if  either  trespass  on  the  state  by  their  over- 
activity,) though  they  felt  not  this  rod,  it  was  showed  to  them,  and 
shaken  over  them,  and  they  shrewdly  and  justly  shent  for  their  over- 
meddling,  which  made  them  the  wiser  and  warier  for  the  time  to 
come. 

Indeed,  the  major  part  of  the  Assembly  endeavoured  the  settling 
of  the  Scotch  government  in  all  particulars  ;  that,  though  Tweed 
parted  their  countries,  nothing  might  divide  their  church-discipline ; 
and  this  was  laboured  by  the  Scotch  commissioners  with  all  industry 
and  probable  means  to  obtain  the  same;  but  it  could  not  be  effected, 
nor  was  it  ever  settled  by  Act  of  Parliament.  For  as,  in  heraldry, 
the  same  seeming  lions  in  colour  and  posture,  ramjyant  and  langued 
alike,  are  not  the  self-same,  if  the  one  be  armed  with  nails  and  teeth, 
the  other  deprived  of  both  ;  so  cannot  the  English  be  termed  the 
same  with  the  Scotch  presbytery, — the  former  being  in  a  manner 
absolute  in  itself,  the  latter  depended  on  the  State  in  the  execution 
of  the  power  thereof. 

Insomuch  that  the  Parliament  kept  the  co-ercive  power  in  their 
own  hands,  not  trusting  them  to  carry  the  keys  at  their  girdle,  so 
that  the  power  of  excommunication  was  not  intrusted  with  them,  but 
ultimately  resolved  into  a  Committee  of  eminent  persons  of  Par- 
liament, whereof  Thomas  earl  of  Arundel  (presumed  present  because 
absent  with  leav*  beyond  the  seas)  is  the  first  person  nominated. 

i)l — ^o.  Uochridg^s  fruitless  Treaty.     Mr.  Lores  Indiscretion. 

The  Conference  of  Divines.  Dr.  Lnney  might  not  he  heard. 

An  Argument  ad  Homines,  if  not  ad  Causas. 
A  treaty  was  kept  at  Uxbridge  betwixt  the  Commissioners  of  the 
King  and  Parliament ;  many  well-meaning  people  promising  them- 
selves good  success  thereby,  whilst  others  thought  this  treaty  was 
born  with  a  dying  countenance,  saying  there  wanted  a  third  to  inter- 
pose to  make  their  distances  up  by  powerful  persuasion,  no  hope  of 
good  in  either  without  condescension  in  both  parties.  One  may 
smile  at  their  inference  who  presumed,  that  the  King's  Com- 
missioners' coming  to  Uxbridge,  two  parts   of  three  to  meet  those 


470  CHURCH    HISTORY    OF    BRITAIN.  A.D.  1645. 

of  the  Parliament,  would  proportionably  comply  in  their  yieldings  ; 
a  weak  topical  conjecture,  confuted  by  the  formerly  going  of  the 
Parliament's  Commissioners  clean  through  to  Oxford,  and  yet  little 
condescension  to  their  propositions. 

Here  Mr.  Christopher  Love  (waiting  on  the  Parliament  Com- 
missioners in  a  general  relation)  gave  great  offence  to  the  royalists 
in  his  sermon  ;  showing  the  impossibility  of  an  agreement,  such  the 
dangerous  errors  and  malicious  practices  of  the  opposite  party. 
Many  condemned  his  want  of  charity,  more  of  discretion,  in  this 
juncture  of  time,  when  there  should  be  a  cessation  from  invectives 
for  the  time  being.  But  men's  censures  must  fall  the  more  lightly 
upon  his  memory,  because  since  he  hath  suffered,  and  so  satisfied 
here  for  his  faults  in  this  or  any  other  kind. 

With  the  Commissioners  on  both  sides,  certain  clergymen  were 
sent,  in  their  presence  to  debate  the  point  of  church-government. 

For  the  King. — Dr.  Stewart,  Dr.  Gilbert  Sheldon,  Dr.  Ben- 
jamin Laney,  Dr.  Henry  Hammond,  Dr.  Henry  Feme. 

For  the  Parliament. — Mr.  Stephen  Marshall,  Mr.  Richard 
Vines. 

These,  when  the  commissioners  were  at  leisure  from  civil  affairs, 
were  called  to  a  conference  before  them. 

Dr.  Laney  proffered  to  prove  the  great  benefits  which  had  accrued 
to  God's  church  in  all  ages  by  the  government  by  bishops  ;  but  the 
Scotch  commissioners  would  in  no  wise  hear  him  :  whereupon  the 
doctor  was  contentedly  silent.  Some  discourses  rather  than  disputes 
passed  betwixt  Dr.  Stewart  and  Mr.  Marshall,  leaving  no  great 
impressions  in  the  memories  of  those  that  were  present  thereat. 

Only  Mr.  Vines  was  much  applauded  by  his  own  party,  for 
proving  the  sufficiency  of  ordination  by  presbyters  ;  because  ministers 
made  by  presbyterian  government  in  France  and  the  Low  Countries 
were  owned  and  acknowledged  by  our  bishops  for  lawfully  ordained 
for  all  intents  and  purposes,  both  to  preach  and  sacramentize,  and 
no  re-ordination  required  of  them.  Thus  the  goodness  of  bishops, 
in  their  charity  to  others,  was  made  use  of  against  themselves,  and 
the  necessity  of  the  episcopal  function. 

66,  67.  Books  made  hy  the  Assemhlij,     The  Assembly  rather 
sinketh  than  endeth. 

To  return  to  the  Assembly  :  The  monuments  which  they  have 
left  to  posterity  of  their  meeting  are  chiefly  these  :  Articles  of 
Religion  drawn  up  by  them  ;  and  a  double  Catechism,  one  the  lesser, 
the  other  the  greater,  whereof  at  first  very  few  were  printed  for 
parliament-men,  meaner  folk  not  attaining  so  great  a  treasure ;  beside 
their  Directory  whereof  hereafter. 


21  CHARLES  I.  BOOK    XI.       CENT.    XVII.  471 

As  for  the  conclusion  of  this  Assembly,  it  dwindled  away  by 
degrees,  though  never  legally  dissolved  ;  many  of  them,  after  the 
taking  of  Oxford,  returning  to  their  own  cures  ;  and  others,  living  in 
London,  absented  themselves,  as  disliking  the  managing  of  matters. 
Such  as  remained,  (having  survived  their  great  respect,)  and  being 
too  few  to  maintain  the  dignity  of  an  Assembly,  contented  them- 
selves with  the  notion  of  a  Committee,  chiefly  employed  to  examine 
their  abilities  and  good  affections  who  were  presented  to  livings ;  till 
at  last,  as  in  philosophy,  accidentia  non  corrumpuntur  sed  desinunt^ 
they  vanish  with  the  parliament.  And  now  the  execution  of  the 
archbishop  of  Canterbury  comes  next  under  our  pen  ;  whose  trial, 
being  most  of  civil  concernment,  is  so  largely  done  in  a  book  of  that 
subject,  that  by  us  it  may  be  justly  omitted. 

68 — 7^-  ^^^  Archbishop  prepares  for  Death,  and  jjreacheth  his 
oivn  Funeral  Sermon.  Questioned  about  the  Assurance  of 
his  Salvation.,  and  diefh.     AD.  16^5. 

Next  followed  the  execution  of  the  archbishop  of  Canterbury, 
June  10th  ;  Sheriff  Chambers,  of  London,  bringing  over  night 
the  warrant  for  the  same,  and  acquainting  him  therewith.  Li  pre- 
paration to  so  sad  a  work,  he  betook  himself  to  his  own,  and 
desired  also  the  prayers  of  others,  and  particularly  of  Dr.  Holds- 
worth,  fellow-prisoner  in  that  place  for  a  year  and  half;  though  all 
that  time  there  had  not  been  the  least  converse  betv/ixt  them.  On 
the  morrow  he  was  brought  out  of  the  Tower  to  the  scaffold, 
•which  he  ascended  with  a  cheerful  countenance,  (as  rather  to  gain 
a  crown,  than  lose  a  head,)  imputed  by  his  friends  to  the  cleared- 
ness — by  his  foes  to  the  searedness — of  his  conscience.  The 
beholders  that  day  were  so  divided  betwixt  bemoaners  and  insulters, 
it  was  hard  to  decide  which  of  them  made  up  the  major  part  of  the 
company. 

He  made  a  sermon-speech,  taking  for  his  text  the  two  first  verses  of 
the  twelfth  chapter  of  the  epistle  to  the  Hebrew^s  :  "  Let  us  run  with 
patience  the  race  which  is  set  before  us ;  looking  unto  Jesus  the 
Author  and  Finisher  of  our  faith,  who,  for  the  joy  that  was  set  before 
him,  endured  the  cross,  despising  the  shame,  and  is  set  down  at  the 
right  hand  of  the  throne  of  God."  Craving  leave  to  make  use  of  his 
notes,  (for  the  infirmity  of  his  aged  memory,)  he  dilated  thereon 
about  half  an  hour  ;  which  discourse,  because  common,  (as  publicly 
printed,)  we  here  forbear  to  insert.  For  the  main,  he  protested  his 
own  innocence  and  integrity,  as  never  intending  any  subversion  of 
laws  and  liberty,  no  enemy  to  parliaments,  (though  a  misliker  of 
some  miscarriages,)  and  a  protestant  in  doctrine  and  discipline, 
according  to  the  established  laws  of  the  land.     Speech  ended,  he 


472  CHURCH  HISTORY  OF  BRITAIN.  A.D.  1G45. 

betook  himself  awhile  to  his  prayers,  and  afterwards  prepared  himself 
for  the  fatal  stroke. 

Sir  John  Clot  worthy,  a  member  of  the  House  of  Commons,  being 
present,  interrogated  him  concerning  his  assurance  of  salvation,  and 
whereon  the  same  was  grounded.  Some  censured  this  interruption 
for  uncivil  and  unseasonable,  as  intended  to  ruffle  his  soul  with 
passion,  just  as  he  was  fairly  folding  it  up,  to  deliver  it  into  the 
hands  of  his  Redeemer.  But  the  archbishop  calmly  returned,  that 
his  assurance  was  evidenced  unto  him  by  that  inward  comfort  which 
he  found  in  his  own  soul.  Then  lying  down  on  the  block,  and 
praying,  "  Lord,  receive  my  soul  !  "  the  executioner  dexterously  did 
his  office,  and  at  one  blow  severed  his  head  from  his  body.  Instantly 
his  face  (ruddy  in  the  last  moment)  turned  ichite  as  ashes  /confuting 
their  falsehoods  who  gave  it  out,  that  he  had  purposely  painted  it, 
to  fortify  his  cheeks  against  discovery  of  fear  in  the  paleness  of  his 
complexion.  His  corpse  were  privately  interred  in  the  church  of 
Allhallows  Barking  without  any  solemnity,  save  that  some  will  say 
he  had  (in  those  days)  a  fair  funeral,  who  had  the  Common-Prayer 
read  thereat. 

71 — 84.  His    Birth   in    Reading^  Breeding    in    Owford.     He 
chargeth    through  all  Church-Preferments,     Charged  tin- 
justly  to  be  a  Papist  ;  yet  endeavouring  a  Reconciliatiim 
betwixt  Rome  aiid  England ;  over-severe  in  his  Ce?isiires ; 
over-meddling  in  State-Matters ;  conscientious  in  keeping  a 
Diary ;   temperate  and  chaste ;   an  Enemy  to  Gallantry  in 
Clergymen'^s  Clothes ;  not  partial  to  his  Kindred  ;    ?io  Whit 
addicted  to  Covetousness.     The  grand  Causer  of  the  Repair^ 
ing  of  Churches,   principally  of  St.  PauVs ;  his  personal 
CJtaracter. 
He  was  born  cpino  1573,  of  honest  parents  at  Reading  in  Berkshire  ; 
a  place,  for  the  position  thereof,  almost  equally  distanced  from  Oxford, 
the  scene  of  his  breeding,  and  London,  the  principal  state  of  his 
preferment.     His  mother  was  sister  to  Sir  William  Webb,  (born 
also  at   Reading,)  Salter,  and,  anno  1591,  lord  mayor  of  London. 
Here  the  archbishop  afterwards  built  an  almshouse,  and  endowed  it 
with  two  hundred  pounds  per  annum^  as  appeareth  by  his  own  diary  ; 
which,  if  evidence  against  him  for  his  faults,  may  be  used  as  a  witness 
of  his  good  works.  Hence  was  he  sent  to  St.  John's  college  in  Oxford, 
where  he  attained  to  such  eminency  of  learning,  that  one  since  hath 
ranked  him  amongst  the  greatest  scholars  of  our  nation.*   .  He  after- 
wards married  Charles  Blount,  earl  of  Devonshire,  to  the  lady  Rich  ; 
Avhich  proved  (if  intended  an  advantage  under  his  feet,  to  make  him 

•  Du.  Heyhn  in  Lis  last  edition  of  Lis  "Microcosm." 


CENT. 

XVII. 

4 

73 

covering 
running 

to  his  face, 
in  his  full 

and  was 
speed  to 

21  CHAHLES  I.  BOOK    XI. 

higher  in  the  notice  of  the  world)  a 

often   cast  a  rub  in   his  way,  when 

preferment,  till,  after  some  difficulty,  his  greatness   at  the  last  made 

a  shift  to  stride  over  it. 

In  some  sort  he  may  be  said  to  have  served  in  all  offices  in  the 
church,  from  a  common  soldier,  to  a  kind  of  general  therein.  There 
was  neither  order,  office,  degree,  nor  dignity  in  college,  church,  or 
university,  but  he  passed  through  it. 

1.  Order  :  Deacon,  Priest,  Bishop,  Archbishop. 

2.  Office  :  Scholar,  Fellow,  President,  of  St.  John's  College ; 
Proctor  and  Cliancellor  of  Oxford. 

3.  Degree  :  Bachelor  and  Master  of  Arts,  Bachelor  and  Doctor 
of  Divinity. 

4.  Dignity  :  Vicar  of  Stanford,  Parson  of  Ibstock,  Prebendary 
of  Westminster,  Archdeacon  of  Huntingdon,  Dean  of  Gloucester, 
Bishop  of  St.  David's  in  Wales,  Bath  and  Wells,  and  London,  in 
England,  and,  finally,  archbishop  of  Canterbury. 

It  was  said  of  Dr.  George  Abbot,  his  predecessor,  that  he  sud- 
denly started  to  be  a  bishop,  without  ever  having  a  pastoral  charge ; 
whereas  this  man  was  a  great  traveller  in  all  climates  of  church-pre- 
ferment, sufficient  to  acquaint  him  with  an  experimental  knowledge 
of  the  conditions  of  all  such  persons  who  at  last  were  subjected  to  his 
authority. 

He  is  generally  charged  with  popish  inclinations;  and  the  story  is 
commonly  told  and  believed  of  a  lady,  (still  alive,)  who,  turning 
papist,  and  being  demanded  of  the  archbishop  the  cause  of  her 
changing  her  religion,  tartly  returned,  "  My  lord,  it  was  because  I  ever 
hated  a  crowd.''  And  being  desired  to  explain  her  meaning  herein, 
"  I  perceived,"  said  she,  "  that  your  lordship  and  many  others  are 
making  for  Rome  as  fast  as  ye  can,  and  therefore,  to  prevent  a  press, 
I  went  before  you."*  Be  the  tale  true  or  false,  take  "  Papist  "  for  a 

•  In  his  Exarnen  Historicum,  Heylin  is  extremely  indignant  against  Fuller  for  relating 
this  story  j  but  the  latter  confinns  his  account  by  the  following  fact :  *'  This  sarcasm  was 
put  lapon  him  by  a  lady  now  living  in  London,  and  a  countess ;  whose  husband's  father 
[Charles  Blount,  created  earl  of  Devon]  the  archbishop  married,  and  thereby  brought 
much  trouble  and  molestation  to  himself.  No  OEdipus  needeth  to  imriddle  the  person, 
easily  spelled  by  putting  the  premisses  together."  In  endeavouring  to  throw  discredit 
on  common  fame  and  report,  Heylin  proceeded  to  retaliate,  by  a  tale  concerning  a  person 
of  the  name  of  Fuller,  which,  on  accoimt  of  the  native  facetiousness  of  om-  f  uthor,  was 
by  many  of  his  contemporaries  erroneously  appUed  to  him,  though  the  grossness  of  the 
chief  allusion  in  it  obviously  accords  with  an  age  anterior  to  that  of  Charles  I.  "  I  have 
heard,"  says  Heylin,  "  a  tale  of  a  lady  too,  to  whose  table  one  Mr.  Fiiller  was  a  welcome 
though  a  frequent  guest ;  and  being  once  asked  by  her  ivhetherhc  would  please  to  eat  the 
wing  of  a  woodcock,  he  would  needs  put  her  to  the  question,  hoiv  her  ladyship  knew  it 
was  a  wood-cocK,  and  not  a  wood-iiE^.  And  this  he  pressed  with  such  a  troublesome 
importimity,  that  at  last  the  lady  answered,  with  some  show*  of  displeasiire,  that  the  wood- 
4;ock  was   Fuller-hca^lci,  F?<7/cr-breasted,   Fullcr-ihighed,   and,  in  a  word,  eveiy  way 


474  CHURCH    HISTOUY    OF    BRITAIN.  A.  D.  1645. 

Trent-Papist^  embracing  all  the  decisions  of  that  Council,  and  surely 
this  archbishop  would  have  been  made  fuel  for  the  fire  before  ever  of 
that  persuasion  :  witness  his  book  against  Fisher,  wherein  he  givetli 
no  less  account  of  his  sincerity  than  ability  to  defend  the  most  domi- 
native  points  wherein  we  and  the  papists  dissent. 

However,  most  apparent  it  is  by  several  passages  in  his  life,  that 
he  endeavoured  to  take  up  many  controversies  betwixt  us  and  the 
church  of  Rome,  so  to  compromise  the  difference,  and  to  bring  us 
to  a  vicinity,  if  not  contiguity  therewith  ; — an  impossible  design,  (if 
granted  lawfully,)  as  some,  every  way  his  equals,  did  adjudge.  For 
composition  is  impossible  with  such  who  will  not  agree  except  all 
they  sue  for,  and  all  the  charges  of  their  suit,  be  to  the  utmost  farthing 
awarded  unto  them.  Our  reconciliation  with  Rome  is  clogged  with 
the  same  impossibilities :  she  may  he  gone  to^  but  will  never  he  met 
icith  ;  such  her  pride  or  peevishness  as  not  to  stir  a  step  to  obviate 
any  of  a  different  religion.  Rome  will  never  so  far  un-pope  itself  as 
to  part  with  her  pretended  supremacy  and  infallibility,  which  cuts 
off  all  possibility  of  protestants^  treaty  with  her ;  if  possibly,  without 
prejudice  to  God's  glory  and  the  truth,  other  controversies  might  be 
composed  :  which  done,  England  would  have  been  an  island  as  well 
in  religion  as  situation,  cut  off  from  the  continent  of  foreign  pro- 
testant  churches,  in  a  singular  posture  by  itself,  hard  to*be  imagined, 
but  harder  to  be  effected. 

Amongst  his  human  frailties,  choler  and  passion  most  discovered 
itself.  In  the  Star-chamber,  (where,  if  the  crime  not  extraordinary, 
it  was  fine  enough  for  one  to  be  sued  in  so  chargeable  a  court,)  he 
was  observed  always  to  concur  with  the  severest  side,  and  to  infuse 
more  vinegar  than  oil  into  all  his  censures  ;  and  also  was  much  blamed 
for  his  severity  to  his  predecessor, — easing  him  against  his  will,  and 
before  his  time,  of  his  jurisdiction. 

But  he  is  most  accused  for  over-meddling  in  state-matters ;  more 
than  was  fitting,  say  many,  than  needful,  say  most,  for  one  of  his 
profession.  But  he  never  more  overshot  himself  then  when  he  did 
impose  the  Scotch  Liturgy,  and  was  aWorp^o-ap^isTrlo-KOTros  over  a  free 
and  foreign  church  and  nation.  At  home,  many  grumbled  at  him 
for  oft  making  the  shallowest  pretence  of  the  crown  deep  enough  (by 
his  powerful  digging  therein)  to  drown  the  undoubted  right  of  any 

Fuller.  Wlietlier  tliis  tale  be  true  or  false,  I  am  not  able  to  say ;  but  being  generally/ 
believed,  1  bave  set  it  down  also."  Part  of  Fuller's  reply  is  :  "  My  tale  was  true  and 
netv,  never  printed  before  ;  wbereas  his  is  old  (made,  it  seems,  on  one  of  my  name, 
printed  before  I  was  born)  and  false,  never  by  man  or  woman  retorted  on  me.  I  had 
rather  my  name  should  make  many  causelessly  merry,  than  any  justly  sad  ;  and  seeing  it 
lieth  equally  open  and  obnous  to  praise  and  dispraise,  I  shall  as  little  be  elated  when 
flattered — <  Fuller  of  wit  and  learning,'  as  dejected  when  flouted — *  Fuller  of  folly  and 
ignorance.'  "—Edit. 


21  CHARLES  I.  BOOK    XI.       CENT.    XVII.  475 

private  patron  to  a  cliurcli-living.  But  courtiers  most  complained 
that  he  persecuted  them,  not  in  their  proper  places,  but — what  in  an 
ordinary  way  he  should  have  taken  from  the  hands  of  inferior  officers 
— that  he,  with  a  long  and  strong  arm,  reached  to  himself  over  all 
their  heads.  Yet  others  plead  for  him,  that  he  abridged  their  bribes, 
not  fees,  and  it  vexed  them  that  he  struck  their  fingers  with  a  dead 
palsy,  so  that  they  could  not  (as  formerly)  have  z.  feeling  for  church- 
preferments. 

He  was  conscientious,  according  to  the  principles  of  his  devotion  : 
witness  his  care  in  keeping  a  constant  Diary  of  the  passages  in  his 
life.  Now,  he  can  hardly  be  an  ill  husband  who  casteth  up  his 
receipts  and  expenses  every  night ;  and  such  a  soul  is  or  would  be 
good,  which  enters  into  a  daily  scrutiny  of  his  own  actions.  But 
such  who  commend  him  in  making,  condemn  him  in  keeping,  such  a 
Diary  about  him  in  so  dangerous  days.  Especially  he  ought  to 
untongue  it  from  talking  to  his  prejudice,  and  should  have  garbled 
some  light,  trivial,  and  joculary  passages  out  of  the  same.  Whereas, 
sure,  the  omission  hereof  argued  not  his  carelessness,  but  confidence, 
that  such  his  privacies  should  meet  with  that  favour,  of  course,  which 
in  equity  is  due  to  writings  of  that  nature. 

He  WTtS  temperate  in  his  diet,  and  (which  may  be  presumed  the 
eflTect  thereof)  chaste  in  his  conversation.  Indeed,  in  his  Diary,  he 
confessed  himself  lapsed  into  some  special  sin  with  E.  B.  for  which 
he  kept  an  anniversary  humiliation.  Indeed  his  adversary  *  makes 
this  note  thereon,  "  perchance  he  was  unclean  with  E.  B."  which  is 
but  an  uncharitable  suspicion.  Now,  an  exact  Diary  is  a  window 
into  his  heart  who  maketh  it ;  and,  therefore,  pity  it  is  any  should 
look  therein,  but  either  the  friends  of  the  party,  or  such  ingenuous 
foes  as  will  not  (especially  in  things  doubtful)  make  conjectural  com- 
ments to  his  disgrace.  But,  be  E.  B.  male  or  female,  and  the  sin 
committed  of  what  kind  soever,  his  fault  whispers  not  so  much  to  his 
shame  as  his  solemn  repentance  sounds  to  his  commendation. 

He  was  very  plain  in  apparel,  and  sharply  checked  such  clergy- 
men whom  he  saw  go  in  rich  or  gaudy  clothes,  commonly  calling 
them  of  the  church-triumphant.  Thus,  as  Cardinal  Wolsey  is 
reported  the  first  prelate  who  made  silks  and  satins  fashionable 
amongst  clergymen,  so  this  archbishop  first  retrenched  the  usual 
■wearing  thereof.  Once,  at  a  Visitation  in  Essex,  one  in  Orders  (of 
good  estate  and  extraction)  appeared  before  him  very  gallant  in  habit; 
whom  Dr.  Laud,  then  bishop  of  London,  publicly  reproved,  showing 
to  him  the  plainness  of  his  own  apparel.  "  My  lord,"  said  the 
minister,  "  you  have  better  clothes  at  home,  and  I  have  worse  : " 
whereat  the  bishop  rested  very  well  contented. 

*  Mb.  PfiYNNEin  "  the  Brenate  of  his  Life/'  page  30, 


^'6  CHUFvCH    HISTOUY    OF    BRITAIN.  A.  D.  1645. 

He  was  not  partial  in  preferring  his  kindred,  except  some  merit 
met  in  them  with  his  alliance.  I  knew  a  near  kinsman  of  his  in  the 
university,  scholar  enough,  but  somewhat  wild  and  lazy,  on  whom  it 
was  late  before  he  reflected  with  favour,  and  that  not  before  his 
amendment.  And  generally  persons  promoted  by  him  were  men  of 
learning  and  abilities,  though  many  of  them  Arminians  in  their  judg- 
ments, and  I  believe  they  will  not  be  offended  with  my  reporting  it, 
seeing  most  of  them  will  endeavour  to  justify  and  avouch  their 
opinions  herein. 

Covetousness  he  perfectly  hated.  Being  a  single  man,  and  having 
no  project  to  raise  a  name  or  family,  he  was  the  belter  enabled  for 
public  performances,  having  both  a  price  in  his  hand,  and  a  heart 
also  to"  dispose  thereof  for  the  general  good.  St.  John's  in  Oxford, 
wherein  he  was  bred,  was  so  beautified,  enlarged,  and  enriched  by 
him,  that  strangers,  at  the  first  sight,  knew  it  not ;  yea,  it  scarce 
knoweth  itself,  so  altered  to  the  better  from  its  former  condition; 
insomuch  that  almost  it  deserveth  the  name  of  Canterbury  College, 
as  well  as  that  which  Simon  Islip  founded,  and  since  hath  lost  its 
name,  united  to  Christ-Church.  More  buildings  he  intended,  (had 
not  the  stroke  of  one  axe  hindered  the  working  of  many  hammers,) 
chiefly  on  churches,  whereof  the  following  passage  may  not  imperti- 
nently be  inserted. 

It  happened  that  a  Visitation  was  kept  at  St.  Peter's  in  Cornhill, 
for  the  clergy  of  London.  The  preacher,  discoursing  of  the  painful- 
ness  of  the  ministerial  function,  proved  it  from  the  Greek  deduction 
of  Aia.}cQvo§  or  "  Deacon,"  so  called  from  kovis  "  dust,"  because  he 
must  lahorare  in  arend^  in  puhere^  '*  work  in  the  dust,"  do  hard 
service  in  hot  weather.  Sermon  ended,  bishop  Laud  proceeded  to 
his  Charge  to  the  clergy,  and  observing  the  church  ill-repaired  with- 
out, and  slovenly  kept  within,  "  I  am  sorry,"  said  he,  "  to  meet  here 
with  so  true  an  etymology  of  Diaconus^  for  here  is  both  dust  and 
dirt  too,  for  a  deacon  (or  priest  either)  to  work  in.  Yea,  it  is  dust 
of  the  worst  kind,  caused  from  the  ruins  of  this  ancient  house  of 
God  ;  so  that  it  pitieth  his  servants  to  see  her  in  the  dust,"  Psalm 
cii.  14.  Hence  he  took  occasion  to  press  the  repairing  of  that 
and  other  decayed  places  of  Divine  worship  ;  so  that  from  this  day 
we  may  date  the  general  mending,  beautifying,  and  adorning  of  all 
English  churches,  some  to  decency,  some  to  magnificence,  and  some 
(if  all  complaints  were  true)  to  superstition. 

But  the  church  of  St.  PauFs,  the  only  cathedral  in  Christendom 
dedicated  to  that  apostle,  was  the  master-piece  of  his  performances. 
We  know  what  one  satirically  said  of  him,  that  "  he  plucked  down 
Puritans  and  property,  to  build  up  Paul's  and  prerogative."*     But 

*  Lord  F. 


21   CHARLES  I.  BOOK    XI.       CENT.    XVII.  477 

let  unpartial  judges  behold  how  lie  left — and  remember  how  he 
found — that  ruinous  fabric  ;  and  they  nlust  conclude,  that,  though 
intending  more,  he  effected  much  in  that  great  design.  He  commu- 
nicated his  project  to  some  private  persons,  of  taking  down  the  great 
tower  in  the  middle,  to  the  spurs,  and  rebuild  it  in  the  same  fashion, 
(but  some  yards  higher,)  as  before.  He  meant  to  hang  as  great  and 
tunable  a  ring  of  bells,  as  any  in  the  world,  whose  sound,  advantaged 
with  their  height  and  vicinity  of  the  Thames,  must  needs  be  loud  and 
melodious.  But,  now  he  "is  turned  to  his  dust,"  and  all  "  his 
thoughts  have  perislied  ;  "  yea,  that  church,  formerly  approached  with 
due  reverence,  is  now  entered  with  just  fear — of  falling  on  those 
under  it ;  and  is  so  far  from  having  its  old  decays  repaired,  that  it  is. 
daily  decayed  in  its  new  reparations. 

He  was  low  of  stature,  little  in  bulk,  cheerful  in  countenance, 
(wherein  gravity  and  quickness  were  well  compounded,)  of  a  sharp 
and  piercing  eye,  clear  judgment,  and,  abating  the  influence  of  age,, 
firm  memory.  He  Avore  his  hair  very  close  ;  and,  though  in  the 
beginning  of  his  greatness  many  measured  the  length  of  men's  strict- 
ness by  the  shortness  of  their  hair,  yet  some  will  say,  that  since,  out 
of  antipathy  to  conform  to  his  example,  his  opposites  have  therein 
indulged  more  liberty  to  themselves.  And  thus  we  take  our  leave 
of  him,  whose  estate  (neither  so  great  as  to  be  envied  at,  nor  so  small 
as  to  be  complained  of)  he  left  to  his  heir  and  sister's  son,  Mr.  John 
Robinson,  merchant  of  London, — though  fain  first  to  compound 
with  the  Parliament  before  he  could  peaceably  enjoy  the  same. 

85 — 92.   The  Birth  and  Breedmg  of  Mr.  Dod.     One  peaceable 
in  our  Israel.     Improveth  all  to  Piety.     Youth  will  away. 
God  seen  at  the  first  Hand  in  Nature^  hut  at  the  second  in 
Art.     An  innocent  Deceiver.     Eoccellent  Hebriciati.     Fare- 
well, old  Puritan. 
The  same  year  with  this  archbishop,  died  another  divine,  (though 
of  a  different  judgment,)  no  less  esteemed  amongst  men  of  his  own 
persuasion  ;   namely,  Mr.  John  Dod,  who,  in  the  midst  of  trouble- 
some times,  quietly  withdrew  himself  to  heaven.     He  was  born  at 
Shotledge  in  Cheshire,  the  youngest  of  seventeen  children  ;   bred  in 
Jesus  College  in  Cambridge.     At  a  disputation  at  one  Commence- 
ment he  was  so  facetiously  solid,  (wild  yet  sweet  fruits  which  the 
stock  brought  forth  before  grafted  with    grace,)  that    Oxford-men, 
there  present,  courted  him  home  with  them,  and  would  have  planted 
him  in  their  university,  save  that  he  declined  it. 

He  was  a  passive  nonconformist,  not  loving  any  one  the  worse  for 
difference  in  judgment  about  ceremonies,  but  all  the  better  for  their 
unity  of  affections  in  grace  and  goodness.     He  used  to  retrench 


478  CHURCH    HISTORY    OF    BRITAIN.  A.D.  1645. 

some  hot  spirits  when  inveighing  against  bishops,  telling  them  how 
God  under  that  government  had  given  a  marvellous  increase  to  the 
Gospel ;  and  that  godly  men  might  comfortably  comport  therewith, 
under  which  learning  and  religion  had  so  manifest  an  improvement. 
He  was  a  good  Decalogist,  and  is  conceived,  to  his  dying  day,  (how 
roughly  soever  used  by  the  opposite  party,)  to  stick  to  his  own 
judgment  of  what  he  had  written  on  the  fifth  commandment,  of 
ohedience  to  lawful  authority. 

Some  riotous  gentlemen,  casually  coming  to  the  table  of  Sir 
Anthony  Cope,  in  Han  well,  were  half-starved  in  the  midst  of  a  feast, 
because  refraining  from  swearing,  (meat  and  drink  to  them,)  in  the 
presence  of  Mr.  Dod  ;  of  these  one  after  dinner  ingenuously  professed, 
that  he  thought  it  had  been  impossible  for  himself  to  forbear  oaths  so 
long  a  time.  Hereat  Mr.  Dod  (the  flame  of  whose  zeal  turned  all 
accidents  into  fuel)  fell  into  a  pertinent  and  seasonable  discourse  (as 
better  at  occasional)  of  what  power  men  have  more  than  they 
know  of  themselves  to  refrain  from  sin,  and  how  active  God's 
restraining  grace  would  be  in  us  to  bridle  us  from  wickedness,  were 
we  not  wanting  to  ourselves. 

Being  stricken  in  years,  he  used  to  compare  himself  to  Samson 
when  his  hair  was  cut  oflT.  "  I  rise,''  saith  he,  "  in  a  morning  as 
Samson  did,  and  think,  I  will  go  out  as  at  other  times,  go,  watch, 
walk,  work,  study,  ride,  as  when  a  young  man.  But,  alas  !  he 
quickly  found  an  alteration  ;  and  so  do  I,  who  must  stoop  to  age, 
which  hath  clipped  my  hair  and  taken  my  strength  away,''  Judges 
xvi.  20. 

Being  at  Holdenby,  and  invited  by  an  honourable  person  to  see 
that  stately  house  built  by  Sir  Christopher  Hatton,  the  master-piece 
of  English  architecture  in  that  age,  he  desired  to  be  excused,  and 
to  sit  still  looking  on  a  flower  which  he  had  in  his  hand.  "  In  this 
flower,"  saith  he,  "  I  can  see  more  of  God  than  in  all  the  beautiful 
buildings  in  the  world."  And  at  this  day,  as  his  flower  is  long  since 
withered,  that  magnificent  pile,  that  fair  flower  of  art,  is  altogether 
blasted  and  destroyed. 

It  is  reported,  he  was  but  coarsely  used  of  the  Cavaliers ;  who, 
they  say,  plundered  him  of  his  linen  and  household-stuflP,*  though, 
as  some  tell  me,  if  so  disposed,  he  might  have  redeemed  all  for  a 
very  small  matter.  Hov^-ever,  the  good  man  still  remembered  his  old 
maxim, — "  Sanctified  afllictions  are  good  promotions  :  "  and  I  have 
been  credibly  informed,  that,  when  the  soldiers  brought  down  his 
sheets  out  of  the  chamber  into  the  room  where  Mr.  Dod  sat  by  the 
fire-side  ;  he,  in  their  absence  to  search  after  more,  took  one  pair  and 
clapped  them  under  his  cushion   whereon  he  sat,  much  pleasing 

•  In  a  list  written  by  Mr,  Clark, 


21  CHARLES  I.  BOOK    XI.       CENT.    XVII.  479 

himself  after  their  departure  that  he  had,  as  he  said,  plundered  the 
plunderers,  and  by  a  lawful  felony  saved  so  much  of  his  own  to 
himself. 

He  was  an  excellent  scholar,  and  was  as  causelessly  accused,  as 
another  John  of  his  name,  (Mr.  John  Fox  I  mean,)  for  lacking  of 
Latin.  He  was  also  an  exquisite  Hebrician  ;  and,  with  his  society 
and  directions,  in  one  vacation  taught  that  tongue  unto  Mr.  John 
Gregory,  that  rare  linguist,  and  chaplain  of  Christ's  Church,  who 
survived  him  but  one  year  ;*  and  now  they  both  together  praise  God 
in  that  language  which  glorified  saints  and  angels  use  in  heaven. 

He  was  buried  at  Fauseley  in  Northamptonshire,  with  whom  the 
Old  Puritan  may  seem  to  expire,  and  in  his  grave  to  be  interred  ; 
humble,  meek,  patient,  hospitable,  charitable  as  in  his  censures  of — 
so  in  his  alms  to — others.  Would  I  could  truly  say  but  half  so 
much  of  the  next  generation  ! 


SECTION  VI. 

TO  THE  RIGHT  WORSHIPFUL  ROGER  PRICE,  ESQUIRE, 
HIGH  SHERIFF  OF  BUCKINGHAMSHIRE. 

Seamen  observe,  that  the  water  is  the  more  troubled 
the  nearer  they  draw-on  to  the  land,  because  broken 
by  repercussion  from  the  shore.  I  am  sensible  of  the 
same  danger  the  nearer  I  approach  our  times,  and  the 
end  of  this  History. 

Yet  fear  not,  Sir,  that  the  least  wrong  may  redound 
to  you,  by  my  indiscretion  in  the  writing  hereof; 
desiring  you  only  to  patronize  what  is  acceptable 
therein,  and  what  shall  appear  otherwise  is  left  on  my 
account  to  answer  for  the  same. 

1 — 8.  The  Directory  drawn  up  by  the  Assembly.  To  which  the 
Dissenting  Brethren  at  last  assent.  A  discreet  and  cha- 
ritable Preface.  The  Directory  enforced  by  Ordinance  of 
Parliament.  A  good  Price,  if  well  paid.  A  second  Ordi- 
nance to  back  the  former.  The  King'^s  Proclamation  con- 
trary to  the  Parliamenf  s  Ordinance.  Arguments  pro  and 
con  to  the  Directory.  A.D.  1645. 
You  may  know,   that,  amongst  the  most  remarkables  effected  by 

the  Assembly  of  Divines,  the  compiling  of  "  the  Directory  was 

*  Dying  at  Kidlington,  March  13tli,  164G,  and  was  buried  in  Christ  Church,  Oxford. 


480.  CHURCH    HISTORY    OF    BRITAIN.  A,D.  1645. 

one  ;  which  although  composed  in  the  former  year,  yet,  because 
not  as  yet  meeting  with  universal  obedience,  it  will  be  seasonable 
enough  now  to  enter  on  the  consideration  thereof.  The  Parliament 
intending  to  abolish  the  Liturgy,  and  loath  to  leave  the  land  alto- 
gether at  a  loss,  or  deformity  in  public  service,  employed  the  Assem- 
bly in  drawing  up  a  model  of  Divine  worship.  Herein  no  direct 
form  of  prayer,  verbis  conceptis,  was  prescribed,  no  outward  or 
bodily  worship  enjoined,  nor  peoi3le  required  in  the  Responsals,  more 
than  in  Amen,  to  bear  a  part  in  the  service  ;  but  all  was  left  to  the 
discretion  of  the  minister,  not  enjoined  what — but  directed  to 
what  purpose — ^lie  ought  to  order  his  devotions,  in  public  prayer  and 
administering  sacraments. 

"  The  Dissenting  Brethren,"  commonly  called  "  Independents," 
were  hardly  persuaded  to  consent  to  a  Directory.'  Even  libera 
custodia,  though  it  be  the  best  of  restraints,  is  but  a  restraint ;  and 
they  suspected  such  a  Directory  would,  if  enforced,  be  an  infringing 
of  the  Christian  liberty.  However,  they  consented  at  last,  the 
rather  because  a  preface  was  prefixed  before  it,  which  did  much 
moderate  the  matter,  and  mitigate  the  rigorous  imposition  thereof. 

In  this  preface,  respectful  terms  are  (no  less  discreetly  than  cha- 
ritably) afforded  to  the  first  compilers  of  the  Liturgy,  allowing  them 
"  wise  and  pious,  in  redressing  many  things  which  were  vain,  erro- 
neous, superstitious,  and  idolatrous  ;"'  affirming  also  that  many  godly 
and  learned  men  of  that  age  "  rejoiced  much  in  the  Liturgy  at  that 
time  set  forth  ;  but  adding,  withal,  that  they  would  rejoice  more, 
had  it  been  their  happiness  to  behold  this  present  Reformation  ;  they 
themselves  were  persuaded,  that  these  first  Reformers  (were  they  now 
alive)  would  join  with  them  in  this  work  of  advancing  the  Directory. 

The  Assembly-work  of  the  Directory  thus  ended,  the  Lords  and 
Commons  began  therewith,  prefixing  an  Ordinance  thereunto, 
(made  much  up  of  forms  of  repeal,)  laying  down  the  motives 
inclining  them  to  think  the  abolishing  of  the  Common-Pmyer  and 
establishment  of  this  Directory  necessary  for  this  nation.  First. 
The  consideration  of  the  many  inconveniences  risen  by  that  book  in 
this  kingdom.  Secondly.  Their  Covenant-Resolution  to  reform  reli- 
gion according  to  God's  word  and  the  best  Reformed  churches. 
Thirdly.  Their  consulting  with  the  learned,  pious,  and  reverend 
divines  for  that  purpose. 

The  benefit  of  printing  the  Directory  was  bestowed  on  Mr.  Ro- 
borough  and  Mr.  Byfield,  Scribes  to  the  Assembly  ;  who  are  said  to 
have  sold  the  same  for  some  hundreds  of  pounds.  Surely,  the 
stationer  who  bought  it  did  not,  with  the  dishonest  chapman,  first 
decry  the  worth  thereof,  and  then  boast  of  his  pennyworth.  Proverbs 
XX.  14.     If  since  he  hath  proved  a  loser  thereby,   I  am  confident, 


21   CHARLES  I.  BOOK    XT.       CENT.    XVII.  481 

that  they  who  sold  it  him  carried  such  a  chancery  in  their  bosoms  as 
to  make  him  fair  satisfaction. 

Now,  because  it  was  hard  to  turn  people  out  of  their  old  track, 
and  put  them  from  a  beaten  path,  (such  was,  call  it  constancy  or 
obstinacy,  love  or  doting,  of  the  generality  of  the  nation,  on  the 
Common-Prayer,)  the  Pailiament  found  it  fit,  yea,  necessary,  to 
back  their  former  Ordinance  with  a  second,  dated  twenty-third 
of  August,  1645,  and  entitled  "  An  Ordinance  of  the  Lords  and 
Commons  for  the  more  effectual  putting  in  execution  the  Direc- 
tory," &c.  Wherein  Directions  were  not  only  given  for  the  dis- 
persing and  publishing  of  the  Directory,  in  all  parishes,  chapelries, 
and  donatives,  but  also  for  the  calling-in  and  suppressing  of  all 
Books  of  Common-Prayer,'  and  several  forfeitures  and  penalties  to 
be  fevied  and  imposed  upon  conviction  before  Justices  of  Assize,  or 
of  Oyer  and  Terminer,  &c. 

But,  in  opposition  hereunto,  the  king  at  Oxford  set  forth  a  pro- 
clamation, (bearing  date  the  thirteenth  of  November,  1645,)  enjoin- 
ing the  use  of"  Common-Prayer  according  to  the  law,  notwithstand- 
ing the  pretended  Ordinances  for  the  new  Directory."  Thus  as  the 
waves,  commanded  one  way  by  the  tide,  and  countermanded  another 
with  the  wind,  know  not  which  to  obey;  so  people  stood  amused 
betwixt  these  two  forms  of  service :  line  upon  '*  line,  precept  upon 
precept,"  Isaiah  xxviii.  10,  being  the  easiest  way  to  edify ;  whilst 
line  against  line,  precept  against  precept,  did  much  disturb  and 
distract. 

The  King  and  Parliament  being  thus  at  difference,  no  wonder  if  the 
pens  of  the  chaplains  followed  their  patrons,  and  engaged  viol  en  tlyjoro 
and  con  in  the  controversy.  I  presume  it  will  be  lawful  and  safe  for 
me  to  give-in  a  breviate  of  the  arguments  on  both  sides,  reserving 
my  private  opinion  to  myself,  as  not  worthy  the  reader's  taking 
notice  thereof;  for  as  it  hath  been  permitted  in  the  height  and 
heat  of  our  civil  war,  for  trumpeters  and  messengers  to  have  fair  and 
free  passage  on  both  sides,  pleading  the  privilege  of  the  public 
faith  ;  (provided  they  do  not  interest  themselves  like  parties,  and  as 
spies  forfeit  their  protection,  so  subjecting  themselves  justly  to 
the  severest  punishment;)  so  historians,  in  like  manner,  in  all 
ages  have  been  permitted  to  transmit  to  posterity  an  unpartial 
account  of  actions,  preserving  themselves  neuters  in  their  indifferent 
relations. 

AGAINST    THE    LITURGY.  FOR    THE     LITURGY. 

1.  Sad  experience  hath  made  Such  offence,  if  any,  was  taken, 
it  manifest  that  the  Liturgy  used  not  given  ;  and  they  must  be 
m  England,  notwithstanding  the     irreligious  mistakes  which  stand 

Vol  HI.  i  i 


482 


CHURCH    HISTORY    OF    BRITAIN. 


A.  D.  1645. 


religious  intentions  of  the  com- 
pilers thereof,  hath  proved  an  of- 
fence to  many  godly  people. 

2.  Offence  thereby  hath  also 
been  given  to  the  Reformed 
churches  abroad. 


3.  Mr.  Calvin  himself  disliked 
the  Liturgy,  in  his  letter  to  the 
Lord  Protector ;  charitably  call- 
ing many  things  therein  tolera- 
ineptias. 


4.  The  Liturgy  is  no  better 
than  confining  of  the  Spirit ;  ty- 
ing it  to  such  and  such  -words, 
which  is  to  be  left  alorie  to  its 
own  liberty  ;  "  use  praying  and 
have  praying  ;'^  the  extemporary 
gift  is  improved  by  the  practice 
thereof. 


5.  It  being  a  compliant  with 
the  papists,  in  a  great  part  of  their 
service,  doth  not  a  little  confirm 
them  in  their  superstition  and 
idolatry. 


6.  It  is  found  by  experience 
that  the  Liturgy  hath  been  a  great 
means  to  make  an  idle  and  an 
unedifying  ministry. 


in   opposition  to  such   religious 
intentions. 

No  foreign  church  ever  in  print 
expressed  any  such  oiFence ;  and 
if  some  particular  man  have  dis- 
liked it,  as  many  and  as  eminent 
have  manifested  their  approbation 
thereof. 

Mr.  Calvin  is  but  one  man. 
Besides,  he  spake  against  the  first 
draught  of  the  Liturgy,  anno 
primo  of  king  Edward  VI.  which 
afterwards  was  reviewed  in  that 
king's  reign,  and  again  in  the  first 
of  queen  Elizabeth. 

The  same  charge  lieth  against 
the  Directory,  appointing,  though 
not  the  words  to  be  prayed  with, 
the  matter  to  be  prayed  for. 
Poor  liberty  to  leave  the  Spirit 
only  to  supply  the  place  of  a  vo- 
cabulary, or  a  copia  mrhorum! 
And  seeing  sense  is  more  consi- 
derable than  language,  the  pre- 
scribing thereof  restraineth  the 
Spirit  as  much  as  appointing  the 
words  of  a  prayer. 

It  complieth  with  the  papists 
in  what  they  have  retained  of  an- 
tiquity, and  not  what  they  have 
superadded  of  idolatry;  and  there- 
fore more  probably  may  be  a 
means  of  converting  them  to  our 
religion,  when  they  perceive  us 
not  possessed  with  a  spirit  of  op- 
position unto  them,  in  such  things 
wherein  they  close  with  the  pri- 
mitive times. 

The  users  of  the  Liturgy  have 
also  laboured  in  preaching,  cate- 
chising, and  study  of  divine  learn- 
ing. Nor  doth  the  Directory 
secure  any  from  laziness,  seeing 


21   CHARLES  1. 


BOOK    XI.       CENT.    XVII. 


483 


7.  It  is  tedious  to  the  people, 
with    the    unnecessary    length ; 
up  an  hour,  at  least,  in 


taking 


the    large    and    distinct 


reading 


thereof. 

8.  Many  ceremonies,  not  only 
unprofitable  but  burdensome,  are 
therein  imposed  on  people's  con- 
sciences. 


9.  Divers  able  and  faithful 
ministers  have,  by  the  means  of 
the  Liturgy,  been  debarred  the 
exercise  of  their  ministry,  and  of 
spoiled  their  livelihood,  to  the  un- 
doing of  them  and  their  family. 


nothing  but  lungs  and  sides  may 
be  used  in  the  delivery  of  any 
extemporary  prayer. 

Some  observers  of  the  Direc- 
tory, to  procure  to  their  parts  and 
persons  the  repute  of  ability  and 
piety,  have  spent  as  much  time  in 
their  extemporary  devotions. 

This  is  disproved  by  such  who 
have  written  volumes  in  the  vin- 
dication thereof.  But,  grant  it 
true  ;  not  a  total  absolution,  but 
a  reformation  thereof,  may  hence 
be  inferred. 

The  Directory,  if  enforced  to 
subject  the  refusers  to  penalties, 
may  spoil  as  many,  and  as  well- 
deserving  of  their  ministry  and 
livelihood. 


Such  as  desire  to  read  deeper  in  this  controversy,  may  have  their 
recourse  to  the  manifold  tractates  written  on  this  subject. 

9 — 11.  A  Query  for  Conscience  Sake.     A  Word  in  due  Season. 
A  Farewell  to  the  Subject. 

But  leaving  these  disquiets,  the  Common-Prayer  daily  decreased, 
and  Directory  by  the  power  of  Parliament  was  advanced.  Here 
some  would  fain  be  satisfied,  whether  the  abolishing  of  the  main  body 
of  the  Common-Prayer  extendeth  to  the  prohibition  of  every  expres- 
sion therein,  (I  mean  not  such  which  are  the  numerical  words  of 
Scripture,  whereof  no  question,)  but  other  ancient  passages,  which, 
in  the  primitive  times,  were  laudably  (not  to  say  necessarily)  put  in 
practice. 

I  know  a  minister  who  was  accused  for  using  the  Gloria  Patri^ 
(conforming  his  practice  to  the  Directory  in  all  things  else,)  and 
threatened  to  be  brought  before  the  Committee.  He  pleaded  the 
words  of  Mr.  Cartwright  in  his  defence,  confessing  the  Gloria  Pair i 
founded  on  just  cause,  that  men  might  make  their  open  profession 
in  the  church  of  the  Divinity  of  the  Son  of  God,  against  the  detest- 
able opinion  of  Arius  and  his  disciples.  "  But  now,''  Scaith  he, 
"  that  it  hath  pleased  the  Lord  to  quench  that  fire,  there  is  no  such 
cause  why  those  things  should  be  used."  *     "  But  seeing,"  said  the 

•  His  Replj'  against  Whitgift,  page  107,  sect.  4. 

2i2 


484         CHUKCH  HISTORY  OF  BRITAIN.         A.D.  1645. 

minister,  "  it  hath  pleased  God  for  our  sins  to  condemn  us  to  live  in 
so  licentious  an  age,  wherein  the  Divinity  both  of  Christ  and  the 
Holy  Ghost  is  called  frequently  and  publicly  into  question,  the  same 
now,  by  Mr.  Cartwright's  judgment,  may  lawfully  be  used,  not  to 
say  can  well  be  omitted."  I  remember  not  that  he  heard  any  more 
of  the  matter. 

It  is  now  high  time  to  take  our  farewell  of  this  tedious  subject, 
and  leave  the  issue  thereof  to  the  observation  of  posterity.  The 
best  demonstration  to  prove  whether  Daniel  and  his  fellows  (the 
children  of  the  captivity)  should  thrive  better  by  plain  pnlse  (to 
which  formerly  they  had  been  used)  or  the  new  diet  of  diverse  and 
dainty  dishes,  was  even  to  put  it  to  the  trial  of  some  days'  experi- 
ment, Daniel  i.  13,  and  then  a  survey  taken  of  their  complexions, 
whether  they  be  impaired  or  not ;  so  when  the  Directory  hath  been 
practised  in  England  ninety  years,  (the  world  lasting  so  long,)  as  the 
Liturgy  hath  been,  then  posterity  will  be  the  competent  judge  whether 
the  face  of  religion  had  the  more  lively,  healthful,  and  cheerful  looks 
under  the  one,  or  under  the  other. 

12 — 16.  Archbishop  Williams  strangely  altered ;  horn  in  Wales, 
of  good  Parentage  ;  bred  in  St.  John's,  and  Proctor  of  Cam 
bridge.  The  Lord  Egerton's  Boon  to  this  his  Chaplain. 
The  Means  of  his  speedy  and  great  Preferment. 

The  next  news,  engrossing  the  talk  of  all  tongues,  was  about  Dr. 
Williams,  archbishop  of  York,  no  less  suddenly  than  strangely 
metamorphosed  from  a  zealous  royalist  into  an  active  parliamentarian. 
Being  to  relate  the  occasion  thereof,  we  will  enter  on  the  brief  his- 
tory of  his  life,  from  the  cradle  to  the  grave,  repeating  nothing  for- 
merly written,  but  only  adding  thereunto. 

None  can  question  the  gentility  of  his  extraction,  finding  him 
born  at  Aberconway,  in  Carnarvonshire  in  Wales  ;  of  a  family 
rather  ancient  than  rich.  His  grandfather  had  a  good  estate,  but 
aliened  (it  seems)  by  his  heirs,  so  that  this  doctor,  when  lord-keeper, 
was  fain  to  repurchase  it.  Surely,  it  was  of  a  considerable  value, 
because  he  complaineth  in  his  letter  to  the  duke,*  (who  encouraged 
him  to  the  purchase,)  that  he  was  forced  to  borrow  money,  and  stood 
indebted  for  the  same. 

He  was  bred  in  St.  John's  College  in  Cambridge,  to  hold  the 
scales  even  with  St.  John's  in  Oxford,  wherein  archbishop  Laud  had 
his  education.  Dr.  Gwinne  was  his  tutor;  his  chiefest,  if  not  his 
only,  eminency,  and  afterwards  the  occasion  of  his  preferment.  For 
as  this  tutor  made  his  pupil    fellow — this  pupil  made  the   tutor 

*  "  Cabala." 


21  CHARLES  I.  BOOK    XT.       CENT.    XVII.  485 

master — of  the  college.  Next  was  Mr.  Williams  made  proctor 
of  the  university,  excellently  performing  his  Acts  for  the  place  in  so 
stately  a  posture,  as  rather  out  of  duty,  thereby  to  honour  his 
mother-university,  than  desire  to  credit  himself,  as  taking  it  only  in 
his  passage  to  a  higher  employment. 

He  was  chaplain  (or  counsellor,  shall  I  say  ?)  to  Thomas  Egerton, 
lord  chancellor ;  who  imparted  many  mysteries  of  that  place  unto 
him.  Here  an  able  teacher  of  state  met  with  as  apt  a  scholar,  the  one 
not  more  free  in  pouring  forth,  than  the  other  capable  to  receive,  firm 
to  retain,  and  active  to  improve,  what  was  infused  unto  him.  So 
dear  was  this  doctor  to  his  patron,  that  this  lord,  dying,  on  his 
death-bed  desired  him  to  choose  what  most  acceptable  legacy  he 
should  bequeath  unto  him.  Dr.  Williams,  waving  and  slighting  all 
money,  requested  four  books,  being  the  collections  of  the  lord's 
industry,  learning,  and  experience,  concerning, — 1,  The  Prerogative 
Royal.  2.  Privileges  of  Parliaments.  3.  The  proceedings  in  Chancery. 
4.  The  power  of  the  Star-chamber.  These  were  no  sooner  asked 
than  granted  ;  and  the  doctor  afterwards  copied  out  these  four  books 
into  his  own  brains  :  books,  which  were  the  four  elements  of  our 
English  state,  and  he  made  an  absolute  master  of  all  the  materials, 
that  is,  of  all  the  passages  therein,  seeing  nothing  superfluous  was 
therein  recorded. 

By  the  duke  of  Buckingham,  (whom  he  had  married  to  the 
daughter  of  the  earl  of  Rutland,)  he  presented  these  books  to  king 
James.  Then  did  his  majesty  first  take  notice  of  his  extraordinary 
abilities,  soon  after  preferring  him,  by  the  duke's  mediation,  to  the 
deanery  of  Westminster,  bishop  of  Lincoln,  and  keeper's  place  of 
the  Great  Seal,  till  he  lost  the  last  in  the  first  of  king  Charles,  as 
hath  formerly  been  related. 

yj — 32.   The  original   Breach   betwixt   the   Duke   and  Lord- 
Keeper.      Not  contented  with  his   own   Wish.      Enlarged 
out  of  the   Tower.,   and  made  Archbishop  of  York.     His 
pleasant  Answer  to  the  King.     Retires  into  North  Wales, 
and  sinks  by  Degrees  into  Disfavour.    Incensed  luith  great 
Affronts.     Takes  a  Commission  from  the  Parliament.    Con- 
demned hy  all  Royalists.     Human  Inconstancy.     His  Acts 
of  Charity.      Purged  from  unjust   Aspersion.     A  perfect 
Anti-Papist.     Favourer  of    some   Nonconformists.       The 
Character  of  his  Person.    His  savoury  Speech.  His  Death 
on  our  Lady-day. 
I  dare  confidently  avouch,  what  I  knowingly  speak,  that  the  fol- 
lowing passage  was  the  motus  primo  primus  of  the  breach  betwixt 
him  and  the  duke.     There  was  one  Dr.  Theodore  Price,  a  Welsh- 


486  CHURCH    HISTORY    OF    BRITAIN.  A.D.  1645. 

man,  highly  beloved  both  by  bishop  Williams  and  bishop  Laud ;  so 
that  therein  the  rule  did  not  hold,  "  Those  that  agree  in  one  third 
agree  among  themselves ;"  these  two  prelates,  mutually  mortal 
enemies,  meeting  in  the  love  of  this  doctor.  Now  the  archbishopric 
of  Armagh  in  Ireland  falling  vacant,  bishop  Williams  moved  the 
duke  for  Dr.  Price,  his  countryman ;  to  whom  the  duke  answered, 
that  king  James  had  by  promise  fore-disposed  the  place  on  the 
bishop  of  Meath,  Dr.  James  Usher,  one  whose  deserts  were  suffi- 
ciently known.  Not  satisfied  herewith,  bishop  Williams  by  his  own 
interest  endeavoured  to  bring  Dr.  Price  into  the  place.  The  duke, 
understanding  that  he  who  formerly  professed  a  subordination  to,  at 
the  least  a  concurrence  with,  his  desires,  should  now  offer  to  contest 
with  him,  resolved,  that  seeing  the  lord  keeper  would  not  own  him- 
self to  stand  by  his  love,  the  world  should  see  he  should  fall  by  his 
anger  ;  and  this  ministered  the  first  occasion  to  his  ruin.  And  when 
once  the  alarum  was  sounded  of  the  duke's  displeasure,  no  courtier 
so  deaf  and  drowsy  but  did  take  the  same,  and  all  things  concurred 
to  his  disadvantage.  This  is  that  Dr.  Theodore  Price  who  after- 
wards died  a  professed  catholic,  reconciled  to  the  church  of  Rome. 

Yet  after  h's  resigning  the  Seal,  fair  preferment  was  left  unto 
him,  could  he  have  confined  his  large  heart  thereunto.  I  meet  with  a 
passage  in  a  letter  from  this  lord  keeper  to  the  duke,  wherein*  he 
professeth  calling  God  to  witness,  that  the  lord  keeper,  troubled  with 
many  miseries  wherewith  sudden  greatness  is  accompanied,  envied 
the  fortunes  of  one  Dr.  Williams,  late  dean  of  Westminster.  Be 
this  a  truth  or  a  compliment,  what  he  formerly  envied  now  he 
enjoyed,  returned  to  a  plentiful  privacy  ;  not  only  of  the  deanery 
of  Westminster,  but  bishopric  of  Lincoln,  which  he  held  with  the 
same.  But,  alas  !  w^hen  our  desires  are  forced  on  us  by  our  foes,  they 
do  not  delight  but  afflict.  The  same  step  is  not  the  same  step, 
when  we  take  it  ascendendo  in  hopes  to  higher  preferment,  and  when 
we  light  upon  it  descendendo^  or  are  remitted  unto  it  as  falling  from 
higher  advancement.  The  bishop  was  impatient  for  being  less  than 
he  had  been ;  and  there  wanted  not  those  secret  enemies  to  improve 
his  discontents  to  his  disgrace,  almost  destruction,  as  fining  in  the 
Star-chamber,  and  long  imprisoning  in  the  Tower. 

Now  (a.  d.  1640)  came  that  Parliament  so  much  wished-for,  that 
many  feared  it  would  never  begin,  and  afterwards  (O  the  mutability 
of  desires,  or  change  of  things  desired  !)  the  same  feared  it  would  never 
have  an  end.  Then  is  bishop  Williams  sent  for  out  of  the  Tower, 
brought  to  parliament,  advanced  to  the  archbishopric  of  York,  and 
is  the   cmtesignanus  of   the  episcopal  party,  to  defend  it  in   the 

•  Cabala,  or  l^crinia  Sacra,  part  i.  page  59. 


21  CHARLES  I.  BOOK    XI.       CENT.    XVII.  487 

House  of  Lords  (as   best-armed   with  his  power  and   experience) 
against  a  volley  of  affronts  and  oppositions. 

Once  when  his  majesty  saw  him  earnest  in  the  defence  of  epis- 
copacy, then  opposed  by  parliament,  "  My  lord,"  saitli  the  king,  "  I 
commend  you  that  you  are  no  whit  daunted  with  all  disasters,  but 
are  zealous  in  defending  your  Order."  "  Please  it  your  majesty,"' 
returned  the  archbishop,  "  I  am  a  true  Welshman  ;  and  they  are 
observed  never  to  run  away,  till  their  general  do  first  forsake  them. 
No  fear  of  my  flinching  whilst  your  Highness  doth  countenance 
our  cause."  But  soon  after  he  was  imprisoned  about  the  bishops'" 
protestation  to  the  parliament,  and  with  great  difficulty  obtained  his 
liberty ;  as  was  afore  observed. 

Retiring  himself  into  North  Wales,  (where  his  birth,  estate,  alli- 
ance, but  chiefly  hospitality  did  make  him  popular,)  he  had  a  great — 
but  endeavoured  a  greater — influence  on  those  parts.  It  gave  some 
distaste,  that  in  all  consultations  he  would  have  his  advice  pass  for 
an  oracle,  not  to  be  contested  with,  much  less  controlled  by  any. 
But  vast  the  difference  betwixt  his  Orders  in  Chancery,  armed  with 
power  to  enforce  obedience,  and  his  counsel  here,  which  many  mili- 
tary men  (as  in  their  own  element)  took  the  boldness  to  contradict ; 
buff  coats  often  rubbed  and  grated  against  this  prelate's  silk 
cassock,  which  (because  of  the  softer  matter)  was  the  sooner  fretted 
therewith.  Indeed,  he  endeavoured  as  much  as  might  be  to  pre- 
serve his  country  from  taxes,  (an  acceptable  and  ingratiating  design 
with  the  people,)  but  sometimes  inconsistent  with  the  king's  present 
and  pressing  necessities.  All  his  words  and  deeds  are  represented 
at  Oxford  (where  his  court-interest  did  daily  decline)  to  his  disad- 
vantage, and  some  jealousies  are  raised  of  his  cordialness  to  the 
royal  cause. 

At  last  some  great  affronts  were  put  upon  him,  (increased  with 
his  tender  resenting  of  them,)  being  himself,  os  I  have  been 
informed,  put  out  of  Commission,  and  another  placed  in,  his  room : 
a  disgrace  so  much  the  more  insupportable  to  his  high  spirit, 
because  he  conceived  himself  much  meriting  of  his  majesty,  by  his 
loyalty,  industry,  ability,  and  expense  in  his  cause,  who  hitherto 
had  spared  neither  care  nor  cost  in  advancing  the  same,  even  to  the 
impairing  of  his  own  estate. 

But  now  he  entercth  on  a  design,  which  had  I  line  and  plummet, 
Lwant  skill  to  manage  them  in  measuring  the  depth  thereof.  He  • 
sueth  to  the  parliament  for  favour,  and  obtained  it,  whose  general  in 
a  manner  he  becomes  in  laying  siege  to  the  town  and  castle  of 
Aberconway,  till  he  had  reduced  it  to  their  service,  and  much  of 
the  town  to  his  own  possession. 

And  now  meruit  sub  parliamento  in  Wallid  is  the  wonder  of  all 


488  CHURCH    HISTORY    OF    BRITAIN.  A.D.  1645. 

men.  I  confess  he  told  his  kinsman  who  related  it  to  me,  that  if 
he  might  have  the  convenience  to  speak  with  his  majesty  but  one 
half-hour,  (a  small  time  for  so  great  a  task,)  he  doubted  not  but  to 
give  him  full  satisfaction  for  his  behaviour.  Sure  it  is,  those  of  the 
royal  party,  and  his  own  Order,  which  could  not  mine  into  his 
invisible  motives,  but  surveyed  only  the  sad  surface  of  his  actions, 
condemn  the  same  as  irreconcilable  with  the  principles  he  professed. 
And  though  hereby  he  escaped  a  composition  for  his  estate  in 
Goldsmiths'  Hall,  yet  his  memory  is  still  to  compound  (and  at  what 
rate  I  know  not)  with  many  mouths,  before  a  good  word  can  be 
aflPorded  unto  it.  But  these,  perchance,  have  never  read  the  well- 
Latined  "Apology"  in  his  behalf.  And  although  some  will  say, 
that  they  that  need  an  apology  come  too  near  to  fault,  the  word  (as 
commonly  taken)  sounding  more  of  excuse  than  defence ;  yet, 
surely,  in  its  genuine  notation  it  speaks,  not  guilt,  but  always  great- 
ness of  enemies  and  opposers. 

Of  all  English  divines  since  the  Reformation,  he  might  make  the 
most  experimental  sermon  on  the  apostle's  words,  "  By  honour  and 
dishonour,  by  ill  report  and  good  report;"  though  the  method  not  so 
applicable  as  the  matter  unto  him,  who  did  not  close  and  conclude 
with  the  general  good  esteem,  losing  by  his  last  compliance  his  old 
friends  at  Oxford,  and,  in  lieu  of  them,  finding  few  new  ones  at 
London. 

Envy  itself  cannot  deny,  but  that,  whithersoever  lie  went,  he 
might  be  traced  by  the  footsteps  of  his  benefaction.  Much  he 
expended  on  the  repair  of  Westminster  Abbey  church ;  and  his 
answer  is  generally  known,  when  pressed  by  bishop  Laud  to  a  larger 
contribution  to  St.  PauFs,  that  he  would  not  rob  Peter  to  pay  Paul. 
The  library  of  "Westminster  was  the  effect  of  his  bounty;  and  so 
was  a  chapel  in  Lincoln  College  in  Oxford,  having  no  other  relation 
thereunto  than  as  the  namesake  of  his  bishopric :  *  so  small  an 
invitation  will  serve  to  call  a  coming  charity.  At  St.  John's  in 
Cambridge  he  founded  two  fellowships,  built  a  fair  library,  and  fur- 
nished it  with  books ;  intending  more,  had  his  bounty  then  met 
with  proportionable  entertainment.  But  benefactors  may  give  money, 
but  not  grateful  minds,  to  such  as  receive  it. 

He  was  very  chaste  in  his  conversation,  whatsoever  a  nameless 
author  hath  written  on  the  contrary :  A^om  his  confuter  hath  styled, 
aulicus  e  coquinarid^  or  "  the  courtier  out  of  the  kitchen,"  and  that 
deservedly  for  his  unworthy  writings,  out  of  what  dripping-pan 
soever  he  licked  this  his  sluttish  intelligence.  For  most  true  it  is, 
(as  I  am  certainly  informed  from  such  who  knew  the  privacies  and 
casualties   of  his    infancy,)   this  archbishop   was    but    one    degree 

•  I  believe  he  also  was  visitor  tliereof. 


21  CHARLES  I.  BOOK    XI.       CENT.    XVII.  489 

removed  from  a  misogynist,  yet,  to  palliate  his  infirmity  to  noble 
females,  he  was  most  complete  in  his  courtly  addresses. 

He  hated  popery  with  a  perfect  hatred  ;  and  though  oft  declaring 
freedom  and  favour  to  imprisoned  papists,  as  a  minister  of  state,  in 
obedience  to  his  office  ;  yet  he  never  procured  them  any  courtesies 
out  of  his  proper  inclinations.  Yea,  when  Dr. ,  the  new- 
bishop  of  Chalcedon,  at  the  end  of  king  James's  reign,  first  arrived 
in  England,  he  gave  the  duke  of  Buckingham  advice,*  (in  case 
other  circumstances  conveniently  concurred,)  that  the  Judges  should 
presently  proceed  against  him,  and  hang  him  out  of  the  way,  and 
the  king  cast  the  blame  on  archbishop  Abbot  or  himself,  prepared 
(it  seemeth)  to  undergo  his  royal  displeasure  therein. 

Not  out  of  sympathy  to  nonconformists,  but  antipathy  to  bishop 
Laud,  he  was  favourable  to  some  select  persons  of  that  opinion. 
Most  sure  it  is,  that  in  his  greatness  he  procured  for  Mr.  Cotton  of 
Boston  a  toleration,  under  the  Broad  Seal,  for  the  free  exercise  of 
his  ministry,  notwithstanding  his  dissenting  in  ceremonies,  so  long 
as  done  without  disturbance  to  the  church.  But  as  for  this  bishop 
himself,  he  was  so  great  an  honourer  of  the  English  Liturgy,  that, 
of  his  own  cost,  he  caused  the  same  to  be  translated  into  Spanish, 
and  fairly  printed,  to  confute  their  false  conceit  of  our  church,-|-  who 
would  not  believe  that  Ave  used  any  Book  of  Common-Prayer 
amongst  us. 

He  was  of  a  proper  person,  comely  countenance,  and  amiable  com- 
plexion, having  a  stately  garb  and  gait  by  nature,  which  (suppose 
him  prouder  than  he  should  be)  made  him  mistaken  prouder  than 
he  was.  His  head  was  a  well-filled  treasury,  and  his  tongue  the 
fair  key  to  unlock  it.  He  had  as  great  a  memory  as  could  be 
reconciled  with  so  good  a  judgment ;  so  quick  his  parts,  that  his 
extempore  performances  equalized  the  premeditations  of  others  of 
his  profession.  He  was  very  open,  and  too  free  in  discourse,  dis- 
daining to  lie  at  a  close  guard,  so  confident  of  the  length  and 
strength  of  his  weapon. 

Thus  take  we  our  farewell  of  his  memory,  concluding  it  with  one 
of  his  speeches,  (as  savoury,  I  believe,  as  ever  any  he  uttered,) 
wherein  he  expressed  himself  to  a  grave  minister  coming  to  him  for 
institution  in  a  living.  "  I  have,'"  saith  he,  "  passed  through  many 
places  of  honour  and  trust,  both  in  church  and  state,  more  than  any 
of  my  Order  in  England  this  seventy  years  before.  But  were  I 
but  assured  that  by  my  preaching  I  had  converted  but  one  soul 
unto  God,  I  should  take  therein  more  spiritual  joy  and  comfort, 
than  in  all  the  honours  and  offices  which  have  been  bestowed 
upon  me.'" 

*  Cabala,  part  i.  page  81 .  t  Ibid,  page  79. 


490  CHURCH    HISTORY    OF    BRITAIN.  A.D.  1647. 

He  died,  as  I  take  it,  anno  1649  ;  sure  I  am,  on  tlie2  5tli  of 
March,  leaving  a  leading  case,  (not  as  yet  decided  in  our  law,) 
whether  his  half-year's  rents  (due  after  sunrise)  should  go  with  his 
goods  and  chattels,  unto  his  executor,  or  fall  to  his  heir.  The  best 
was,  such  the  providence  of  the  parties  concerned  therein,  that, 
before  it  came  to  a  sui^t,  they  seasonably  compounded  it  amongst 
themselves. 

33.  A  List  of  Parliament-Ordinances  touching  Religion. 
A.D.  1646. 

Come  we  now  to  present  the  reader  with  a  list  of  the  principal 
Ordinances  of  the  Lords  and  Commons,  which  respected  church- 
matters.  I  say  "  principal  ;"  otherwise,  to  recite  all  which  wear 
the  countenance  of  an  ecclesiastical  tendency  (some  of  them  being 
mingled  with  civil  affairs)  would  be  over-voluminous.  Yea,  I  have 
heard,  that  a  great  antiquary*  should  say,  that  the  Orders  and  Ordi- 
nances of  this  Parliament,  in  bulk  and  number,  did  not  only  equal, 
but  exceed,  all  the  laws  and  statutes  made  since  the  Conquest.  It 
will  be  sufficient,  therefore,  to  recite  titles  of  those  most  material, 
going  a  little  backward  in  time,  to  make  our  History  the  more 
entire. 

"  Die  Martis^  August  19,  1645. — Directions  of  the  Lords  and 
Commons  (after  Advice  had  with  the  Assembly  of  Divines)  for  the 
election  and  choosing  of  Ruling  Elders,  in  all  the  Congregations 
and  in  the  Classical  Assemblies  for  the  City  of  London  and  West- 
minster, and  the  several  Counties  of  the  Kingdom.  For  the  speedy 
Settling  of  the  Presbyterial  Government." 

"  Die  Lunce.,  Oct.  20,  1645.-^An  Ordinance  of  the  Lords  and 
Commons,  together  with  Rules  and  Directions  concerning  Suspension 
from  the  Sacrament  of  the  Lord's  Supper,  in  cases  of  Ignorance  and 
Scandal.  Also  the  Names  of  such  Ministers  and  others  that  are 
appointed  Triers  and  Judges  of  the  Ability  of  Elders  in  the  twelve 
Classes  within  the  Province  of  London."" 

"  Die  Sahhathi^  March  14,  1645. — An  Ordinance  of  the  Lords 
and  Commons  for  keeping  of  scandalous  Persons  from  the  Sacrament 
of  the  Lord's  Supper,  the  enabling  of  the  Congregation  for  the 
Choice  of  Elders,  and  supplying  of  Defects  in  former  Ordinances 
and  Directions  of  Parliament  concerning  Church-Government." 

"  Die  Veneris^  June  5,  1646. — An  Ordinance  of  the  Lords  and 
Commons  for  the  present  Settling  (without  further  Delay)  of  the 
Presbyterial  Government  in  the  Church  of  England." 

"  Die  Veneris^  August  28,  1646. — An  Ordinance  of  the  Lords 
and   Commons  for  the  Ordination   of  Ministers  by  the   Classical 

•  Sir  Simons  D'Ewes. 


23  CHARLES  I.  BOOK    XI.       CENT.    XVII.  491 

Presbyters  within  their  respective  Bounds,  for  the  several  Congrega- 
tions in  the  Kingdom  of  England."'"' 

"  Die  Sahbathi^  Jan.  29,  1647. — An  Ordinance  of  the  Lords  and 
Commons  for  the  speedy  Dividing  and  Settling  of  the  several 
Counties  of  this  Kingdom  into  distinct  Classical  Presbyteries,  and 
Congregational  Elderships.'' 

34 — 1:3.  An  Order  for  the  Fifth  Part  for  Ministers'  Wives  and 
Children.      The  Copy  thereof     Several  Ways  endeavoured 
to  frustrate  this  Order.     First,  Second,    Third,  Fourth, 
Fifth,  Sixth,  and  Seventh  Evasion,     Remember  the  Poor. 
A.D.  1647. 
Great  now  was  the  clamorous  importunity  of  the  wives  and  children 
of  ministers  sequestered,  ready  to  starve  for  want  of  maintenance.     I 
had  almost  called  them  the  widows  and  orphans  of  those  ministers ; 
because,  though  their  fathers  were  living  to  them,  their  means  were 
not  living  to  their  fathers,  and  they  left  destitute  of  a  livelihood. 
Indeed,  there  was  an  Ordinance  of  Parliament  made,  1644,  empower- 
ing their   Commissioners    in    the    country    to    appoint  means   (not 
exceeding  a  fifth  part)  to  the  wives  and  children  of  all  sequestered 
persons  ;   but,  seeing  clergymen  were  not  therein  expressed  by  name, 
such  as  enjoyed  their  sequestrations  refused  to  contribute  any  thing 
unto  them.     Whereupon  the  House  of  Commons,  compassionately 
reflecting  on   the  distresses  of  the  foresaid  complainers,  made  an 
Order  in  more  particular  manner  for  the  clergy,  and  (seeing  it  is 
hard  to  come  by)  I  conceive  it  a  charitable  work,  here  to  insert  a 
copy  thereof: — 

"  Die  Jams,  Nov.  11,  1647. — That  the  wives  and  children  of  all 
such  persons  as  are  or  have  been  or  shall  be  sequestered,  by  Order 
of  either  House  of  Parliament,  shall  be  comprehended  within  the 
Ordinance  that  alloweth  a  fifth  part  for  Wives  and  Children,  and 
shall  have  their  fifth  part  allowed  unto  them  ;  and  the  Committee  of 
Lords  and  Commons  for  Sequestration,  and  the  Committee  of 
plundered  Ministers,  and  all  other  Committees,  are  required  to  take 
notice  hereof,  and  yield  obedience  hereunto  accordingly. 

^'  H.  ELSING, 
Clericus  Parliamenti  Domus  Communis.'''' 

But  covetousness  will  wriggle  itself  out  at  a  ^mall  hole.  Many 
were  the  evasions  whereby  such  clergymen,  possessed  of  their  livings, 
do  frustrate  and  defeat  the  effectual  payment  of  the  fifth  part  to  the 
aforesaid  wives  and  children.  Some  of  which  starting-holes  we  will 
here  present,  not  to  the  intent  that  any  should  unjustly  hide  themselves 
herein,  but  that  for  the  future  they  may  be  stopped  up,  as  obstruct- 
ing the  true  performance  of  the  Parliament's  intended  courtesy. 


492  CHURCH    HISTORY    OF    BRITAIN.  A.D.  1648. 

First.  They  plead,  that,  taxes  being  first  deducted,  tithes  are  so 
badly  paid,  they  cannot  live  and  maintain  themselves  if  they  must 
still  pay  a  fifth  part  out  of  the  remainder.  Such  consider  not,  if 
themselves  cannot  live  on  the  whole  grist,  how  shall  the  families  of 
such  sequestered  ministers  subsist  on  the  toll. 

Secondly.  If  the  foresaid  minister  hath  a  wife  without  children, 
or  children  without  a  wife,  or  but  one  child,  they  deny  payment,  as 
not  within  the  letter  (though  the  equity)  of  the  Order  ;  though  one 
child  is  as  unable  to  live  on  nothing,  as  if  they  were  many  more. 

Thirdly.  If  the  sequestered  minister  hath  any  temporal  means  of 
his  own,  or  since  his  sequestration  hath  acquired  any  place  Avherein 
he  officiateth,  (though  short  of  a  comfortable  subsistence,)  they  deny 
payment  of  a  fifth  part  unto  him. 

Fourthly.  They  affright  the  said  sequestered  minister,  threatening 
to  new  article  against  him  for  his  former  faults.  Whereas,  had  he 
not  been  reputed  a  malignant,  not  a  fifth  part,  but  all  the  five  parts 
were  due  unto  him. 

Fifthly.  Many  who  have  livings  in  great  towns,  (especially  vicar- 
ages,) disclaim  the  receiving  of  any  benefits  in  the  nature  of  tithes, 
and  accept  them  only  in  the  notion  of  benevolence.  Then  they 
plead  nothing  due  to  the  sequestered  minister,  out  of  the  free 
gratuities  which  only  are  bestowed  upon  them. 

Sixthly.  They  plead,  that  nothing  can  be  demanded  by  virtue  of 
the  said  Ordinances,  longer  than  the  sitting  of  the  said  Parliament 
which  made  it,  which  long  since  is  dissolved.  Now,  though  this  be 
but  a  dilatory  plea,  (themselves  enjoying  the  four  parts  by  virtue  of 
the  same  order,)  yet,  though  it  doth  not  finally  blast,  it  doth  much 
set  back  the  fifth  part,  and,  whilst  the  same  groweth,  the  ministers' 
wives  and  children  starve. 

Lastly.  Of  late,  since  the  setting-forth  of  the  proclamation  that 
"  all  who  disquiet  their  peaceable  possession  who  are  put  into  livings 
by  the  parliament's  order,  should  be  beheld  as  enemies  to  the  state  ;" 
such  sequestered  ministers  who  only  sue  the  refusers  to  pay  the  fifth 
part,  unblamable  in  all  things  else,  are  threatened  (though,  they 
humbly  conceived,  contrary  to  the  true  intent  of  the  proclamation) 
with  the  foresaid  penalty  if  they  desist  not  in  their  suit.  Many 
more  are  their  subterfuges,  beside  vexing  their  wives  with  the  tedious 
attendance  to  get  orders  on  orders  ;  so  that,  as  one  truly  and  sadly 
said,  "  The  fifths  are  even  paid  at  sixes  and  sevens." 

I  am  sorry  to  see  the  pitiful  and  pious  intentions  of  the  Parliament 
so  abused  and  deluded  by  the  indirect  dealings  of  others  ;  so  that 
they  cannot  attain  their  intended  ends  for  the  relief  of  so  many  poor 
people,  seeing,  no  doubt,  therein  they  desired  to  be  like  the  Best  of 
beings,  who  as  closely  applieth  his  lenitive  as  corrosive  plasters,  and 


24  CHARLES  I.  BOOK    XT.       CENT.    XVII.  493 

that  his  mercy  may  take  as  true  effect  as  his  justice.  Sure,  if  the 
present  authority  (when  at  leisure  from  higher  employment)  shall  be 
pleased  to  take  the  groans  of  these  poor  souls  into  its  consideration, 
the  voice  of  their  hungry  bowels  will  quickly  be  turned  to  a  more 
pleasant  tune, — from  barking  for  food,  to  the  blessing  of  those  who 
procured  it.  Nor  let  any  censure  this  a  digress  from  my  History  ; 
for,  though  my  estate  will  not  suffer  me  with  Job  to  be  eyes  to  the 
blind,  and  feet  to  the  Jame,  Job  xxix.  15,  I  will  endeavour  what  I 
can  to  be  a  tongue  for  the  dumb. 


SECTION  VL 

TO  THE  NOBLE  LADY  ELEANOR  ROE,  RELICT  TO  THE 
HONOURABLE  SIR  THOMAS  ROE. 

Madam, 

I  FIND  that  my  namesake,  Thomas  Fuller,  was  pilot 
in  the  ship  called  "  the  Desire,"  wherein  captain  Caven- 
dish surrounded  the  world.* 

Far  be  it  from  me  to  compare  these  my  weak  under- 
takings to  his  great  adventures.  Yet  I  may  term  this 
my  book  "  the  Desire,"  as  wherein  I  desire  to  please 
and  profit  all,  justly  to  displease  none.  Many  rocks  and 
storms  have  I  passed,  by  God's  blessing ;  and  now  am 
glad  of  so  firm  an  anchorage  as  a  Dedication  to  your 
Ladyship. 

I  believe,  madam,  none  of  your  sex  in  our  nation 
hath  travelled  farther  than  yourself.  Yet  this  Section 
of  our  History  may  afford  you  a  rarity  not  seen  before. 
I  know  you  have  viewed  the  tomb  of  St.  Polycarpus  ; 
but  here  the  hearse  is  presented  unto  you  of  one  whose 
death  cannot  be  paralleled  in  all  particulars. 

1.  Great  Alterations  by  the  Visiters  in  Oxford.     A.  D.  1648. 

Lately  certain  Delegates  from  the  university  of  Oxford  pleaded 
their  privileges  before  the  Committee  of  Parliament,  that  they  were 
only  visitable  by  the  king,  and  such  who  should  be  deputed  by  him. 
But  their   allegations   were  not  of    proof  against   the   paramount 

•  Hackluyt's  "  Voyages,"  part  iii.  page  825. 


494         CHURCH  HISTORY  OF  BRITAIN.         A.D.  1648. 

power  of  Parliament,  the  rather  because  a  passage  in  an  article  at 
the  rendition  of  Oxford  was  urged  against  them,  wherein  they  were 
subjected  to  such  a  visitation.  Whereupon  many  Masters  were 
ejected  their  places,  new  Heads  of  Houses  made,  and  soon  after 
new  Houses  to  those  heads,  which  produced  great  alteration. 

2.  Clergymen  meeting  in  the  Isle  of  Wight. 

Come  we  now  to  the  church-part  of  the  treaty  in  the  Isle  of 
Wight,  as  the  sole  ecclesiastical  matter  remaining.  Here  appeared, 
of  the  divines  chosen  by  the  king,  James  Usher,  archbishop  of 
Armagh  ;  Brian  Duppa,  bishop  of  Salisbury  ;  Dr.  Sanderson,  Dr. 
Sheldon,  Dr.  Henry  Feme.  As  for  Dr.  Brownrigg,  bishop  of 
Exeter,  when  on  the  way,  he  was  remanded  by  the  Parliament, 
because  under  restraint ;  and  it  was  reported  that  Dr.  Prideaux, 
bishop  of  Worcester,  wanted  (the  more  the  pity)  wherewith  to 
accommodate  himself  for  the  journey.  Mr.  Stephen  Marshall,  Mr. 
Joseph  Caryll,  Mr.  Richard  Vines,  and  Mr.  Lazarus  Seaman,  were 
present  there  by  appointment  from  the  Parliament. 

3.  All  Matters  managed  in  Writing. 

It  was  not  permitted  for  either  side  personally  to  speak,  but, 
partly  to  prevent  the  impertinencies  of  oral  debates,  partly  that  a 
more  steady  aim  might  be  taken  of  their  mutual  arguments,  all 
things  were  transacted  i?i  script  is.  His  majesty  consulted  with  his 
chaplains  when  he  pleased.  The  king's  writings  were  publicly  read 
before  all,  by  Mr.  Philip  Warwick ;  and  Mr.  Vines  read  the  papers 
of  his  fellow-divines,  the  substance  whereof  we  come  here  to  present. 

4.   The  Effect  of  His  Majesti/s  First  Paper. 
His  majesty  began  October  2nd ;  the  effect  of  whose  first  paper 
was  to  prove, — 

1 .  That  the  apostles,  in  their  own  persons,  by  authority  derived 
from  Christ,  John  xx.  21,  exercised  their  power  in  ordinations, 
giving  rules  and  censures. 

2.  That  Timothy  and  Titus,  Titus  i.  5,  by  authority  derived 
from  the  apostles,  did  or  might  actually  exercise  the  same  power,  in 
the  three  branches  specified. 

3.  That  the  angels  of  the  seven  churches,  Rev.  ii.  iii.  were  so  many 
personce  singulares  of  such  as  had  a  prelacy,  as  well  over  pastors  as 
people. 

From  the  premisses,  his  majesty  inferred,  that  our  bishops  suc- 
ceed to  the  function  of  the  persons  afore-named ;  the  rather, 
because  the  same  plainly  appeareth  out  of  the  history  of  the  primi- 
tive church,   the  writings   of  Ignatius,   and  other  ancient  authors. 


24  CHARLES  I.  BOOK    XT.       CENT.    XVIT.  495 

In  conclusion,  his  majesty  desired  to  be  satisfied  from  them  what 
were  the  substantials  of  church-government,  appointed  by  Christ 
and  his  apostles,  and  in  whose  hands  they  are  left,  and  whether  they 
bind  to  a  perpetual  observation  thereof,  or  may  upon  occasion  be 
altered  in  whole  or  in  part. 

5 — 8.  The  Parliament-Divines'  Answer  thereimto. 
The  next  day,  October  3rd,  the  parliament-divines  put  in  their 
answer  to  the  king's  paper,  wherein  they  confessed,  that  the  places 
of  Scripture  cited  by  him  proved,  in  those  persons  by  him  named, 
a  power  respectively  to  do  the  three  things  specified.  But  they 
utterly  denied  that  the  foresaid  persons  were  bishops  as  distinct  from 
presbyters,  or  exercised  the  government  in  that  sense. 

1.  To  the  instance  of  the  apostles  they  answered,  that  they  had 
an  extraordinary  calling,  and  so  nothing  thence  can  be  infened  to 
prove  modern  bishops. 

2.  That  Timothy  and  Titus  were  evangelists,  and  the  first  is 
expressly  so  termed,  2  Tim.  iv.  5  ;  nor  could  they  be  bishops,  who 
resided  not  in  one  diocess,  but  often  removed  from  place  to  place. 

3.  That  the  denomination  of  "  the  angels  of  the  churches,"" 
being  allegorical,  no  firm  argument  can  be  taken  thence,  nor  weight 
laid  thereon.  Besides,  those  Epistles  of  St.  John,  though  directed 
to  one,  were  intended  to  the  whole  body  of  the  church. 

They  denied  that  the  apostles  were  to  have  any  successor^  in 
their  office,  affirming  but  two  standing  officers  in  the  church  ;  pres- 
byters, deacons.  They  cited  Philippians  i.  1,  1  Tim.  iii.  8,  for 
the  proof  thereof;  where  there  is  no  mention  of  bishops  as  distinct 
from  presbyters,  but  of  the  two  Orders  only,  of  bishops  or  pres- 
byters, and  deacons. 

As  for  the  succeeding  ages  to  the  apostles,  seeing  Scripture 
reacheth  not  unto  them,  they  can  but  beget  a  human  faith,  which  is 
uncertain  and  fallible.  Besides,  such  the  darkness  of  those  times, 
in  respect  of  church  history,  that  little  certainty  can  be  thence 
extracted.  Yet  it  appeareth  in  Clement  himself,  that  he  useth  the 
same  word  for  "  bishop  "  and  "  presbyter ;  "  and  as  for  Ignatius's 
Epistles,  little  credit  is  to  be  given  unto  them. 

Lastly.  There  is  a  great  difference  between  primitive  episco- 
pacy and  the  present  hierarchy,  as  much  enlarged  in  their  power  and 
privileges  by  many  temporal  accessions,  whereof  no  shadow  or  pre- 
tence in  Scripture.  In  conclusion,  they  humbly  besought  his  ma- 
jesty to  look  rather  to  the  original  of  bishops,  in  holy  writ,  than  to 
their  succession  in  human  history. 

As  to  the  point  of  substantials  in  church-government,  appointed 
by  Christ,  (wherein  his  majesty  desired  satisfaction,)  the  return  was 


496  CHURCH    HISTORY    OF    BRITAIN.  A.D.  1648. 

short  and  general,  that  such  substantials  were  in  the  Scripture^,  not 
descending  to  any  particulars  :  whether  out  of  policy,  foreseeing  it 
would  minister  matter  of  more  debate,  or  obedience  to  the  Parliament, 
as  alien  from  the  work  they  were  designed  for,  who  were  only  to 
oppose  episcopacy,  as  qualified  in  the  Bill  presented  to  his  majesty. 

9 — 18.   The  King's  Rejoinder  to  the  Parliament  Divines. 

Three  days  after,  October  6Lh,  the  king  gave  in  his  answer,  to  this 
first  paper  of  the  divines  :  wherein  he  acknowledged  that  the  word 
episcopus,  denoting  "  an  overseer,""  in  the  general  sense,  agreeth  as 
well  to  presbyters,  as  ministers,  in  which  respect  they  are  sometimes 
in  Scripture  confounded,  both  meeting  in  the  joint  function  of  over- 
seeing God's  flock.  But,  soon  after,  common  usage  (the  best  master 
of  words)  appropriated  episcopus  to  "the  ecclesiastical  governor," 
leaving  presbyter  to  signify  "  the  ordinary  minister  or  priest,''  as  in 
the  ancient  Fathers  and  Councils  doth  plainly  appear. 

As  to  the  extraordinary  calling  of  the  apostles,  he  confessed  their 
unction  extraordinary,  consisting  in  their  miraculous  gifts,  which  soon 
after  ceased  when  churches  were  planted  ;  but  he  urged  their  mission 
to  govern  and  teach  to  be  ordinary,  necessary,  and  perpetual  in  the 
church, — the  bishops  succeeding  them  in  the  former,  the  presbyters 
in  the  latter  function. 

Their  evasion,  that  Timothy  and  Titus  were  evangelists,  and  not 
bishops,  is  clearly  refuted  by  Scultetus,  Gerard,  and  others,  yea,  (as 
his  majesty  is  informed,)  is  rejected  by  some  rigid  presbyters,  as 
Gillespie,  Rutherford,  &c.  Besides,  that  Timothy  and  Titus  were 
bishops  is  confirmed  by  the  consentient  testimony  of  antiquity, 
(St.  Jerome  himself  recording  them  made  by  St.  Paul's  ordination,) 
as  also  by  a  catalogue  of  twenty-seven  bishops  of  Ephesus,  lineally 
succeeding  from  Timothy,  as  is  avouched  by  Dr.  Reynolds  against 
Hart. 

If  the  angels  mentioned  in  the  Revelation  were  not  singular  persons 
who  had  a  prelacy  over  the  church,  whether  were  they  the  whole 
church,  or  so  many  individual  pastors  therein,  or  the  whole  college 
of  presbyters,  or  singular  presidents  of  those  colleges  ?  for  into 
so  many  opinions  these  few  are  divided  amongst  themselves,  who 
herein  divide  themselves  from  the  ancient  interpretation  of  the 
church-government. 

Concerning  ages  succeeding  the  apostles,  his  majesty  confesseth 
it  but  a  human  faith,  which  is  begotten  on  human  testimonies ;  yet 
so  that,  in  matter  of  fact,  it  may  be  infallible,  as  by  the  credit  of 
history  we  infalliby  know  that  Aristotle  was  a  Greek  philosopher. 

The  objected  obscurity  of  church-history  in  primitive  times  is  a 
strong  argument  for  episcopacy ;  which,  notwithstanding  the  dark- 


24  CHARLES  I.  r.OOK    XI.       CENT.    XVII.  497 

ness  of  those  times,  is  so  clearly  extant  by  their  unquestionable  cata- 
logues. 

It  is  plain  out  of  Clement,  elsewhere,  even  by  the  confession  of 
one,  not  suspected  to  favour  the  hierarchy,*  that  he  was  accounted 
a  bishop  as  distinct  from  presbyter.  As  for  Ignatius's  Epistles, 
though  some,  out  of  partial  disaffection  to  bishops,  have  endeavoured 
to  discredit  the  whole  volume  of  them,  without  regard  of  ingenuity 
or  truth  ;  yet  sundry  of  them,  attested  by  antiquity,  cannot  with  any 
forehead  be  denied  to  be  his,  giving  testimony  of  the  prelacy  of  a 
bishop  above  a  presbyter. 

As  for  the  difference  between  primitive  episcopacy  and  present 
hierarchy,  his  majesty  did  not  conceive  that  the  additions  granted 
by  the  favour  of  his  royal  progenitors  for  the  enlarging  of  the  power 
and  privileges  of  bishops,  did  make  the  government  substantially  to 
differ  from  what  it  was,  no  more  than  arms  and  ornaments  make  a 
body  really  different  from  itself,  when  it  was  naked  and  divested  of 
the  same. 

Whereas  they  besought  his  majesty  to  look  rather  to  the  original 
than  succession  of  bishops,  he  thought  it  needful  to  look  at  both ; 
the  latter  being  the  best  clue,  in  such  intrinsic  cases,  to  find  out  the 
former. 

Lastly.  He  professed  himself  unsatisfied  in  their  answer  concern- 
ing the  perpetual  and  unalterable  substantial  of  church-government, 
as  expecting  from  them  a  more  particular  resolution  therein  than  what 
he  had  received. 

19 — 32.  The  Return  of  the  Parliament-Divines  to  the  King. 

October  17th,  eleven  days  after,  the  parliament-divines  put  in 
iheir  answer  to  his  majesty's  last  paper.  Herein  they  affirmed,  they 
saw  not  by  what  warrant  this  writ  of  partition  of  the  apostles'  office 
was  taken  forth ;  that  the  governing  part  should  be  in  the  hands  of 
the  bishops,  the  teaching  and  sacramentizing  in  the  presbyters, 
Scripture  making  no  such  enclosure  or  partition- wall.  Besides,  the 
challenge  of  episcopacy  is  grown  to  more  than  it  pretended  to  in 
ancient  times  ;  some  Fathers  -f*  acknowledging  that  bishops  differed 
from  presbyters  only  in  matter  of  ordination. 

The  abettors,  say  they,  of  this  challenge,  that  they  might  resolve 
it  at  last  into  Scripture,  ascend  by  the  scale  of  succession,  going  up 
the  river  to  find  the  head,  which,  like  the  head  of  Nile,  cannot  be 
found.  Such  who  would  carry  it  higher  endeavour  to  imp  it  into  an 
apostolical  office,  and  at  last  call  it  a  Divine  institution,  not  by  force 
of  any  express  precept,  but  implicit  practice  of  the  apostles. 

•  Vedelius  E.ve.  viii.  in  Jgnatium,  cap.  3.  t  St.  Clirj'sostom,  St.  Jerome,  and, 

of  modems,  bishop  Bilson. 

Vol.  III.  K  K 


498  CHURCH    HISTORY    OF    BRITAIN.  A.  D.  1G48. 

They  also  returned,  that  his  majesty''s  definition  of  episcopal 
government  is  extracted  out  of  the  bishops  of  later  date  than  Scrip- 
ture-times. 

Concerning  the  ages  succeeding  the  apostles.  However  episcopal 
government  was  generally  cm-rent,  yet  the  superscription  thereof  was 
not  judged  Divine,  by  some  of  those  which  were  themselves  bishops, 
or  lived  under  that  government. 

As  they  firmly  believed,  (as  to  matter  of  fact,)  that  Chrysostom 
and  Augustine  were  bishops,  as  that  Aristotle  was  a  philosopher,  so 
they  would  rather  call  such  a  belief  (grounded  upon  human  testimo- 
nies uncontrolled)  "  certain"  than  "infallible." 

The  darkness  of  the  history  of  the  church  in  the  times  succeeding 
the  apostles  had  an  influence  on  the  catalogue-makers,  who  derived 
the  series  of  the  succession  of  bishops,  taken  much  from  tradition  and 
reports.  And  it  is  a  great  blemish  of  their  evidence,  that,  the  nearer 
they  come  to  the  apostles'*  times,  (wherein  this  should  be  most  clear 
to  establish  the  succession  firm  at  the  first,)  they  are  most  doubtful 
and  contradictory  one  to  the  other. 

They  granted  a  succession  of  men  to  feed  and  govern  those 
chui;ches,  which  by  ecclesiastical  writers,  in  compliance  with  the 
language  of  their  own  times,  were  called  "bishops,"  but  not  distinct 
from  presbyters.  So  that  if  such  a  succession  from  the  primitive 
times  seriatim  were  proved,  they  would  either  be  found  more  than 
bishops,  as  apostles  and  extraordinary  persons  ;  or  less,  as  merely  first 
presbyters,  not  having  the  three  essentials  to  episcopal  government 
insisted  on  by  his  majesty. 

As  for  Ignatius,  he  cannot  distinctly  be  known  in  Ignatius''s 
Epistles,  such  their  insincerity,  adulterate  mixture,  and  interpola- 
tions; and  take  him  in  gross,  he  is  the  patron  of  such  rites  as  the 
church  in  that  age  never  owned. 

They  professed,  that,  in  their  last  answer,  they  related  not  to  a 
school-nicety,  utrum  episcopatus  sit  ordo,  'cel  gradus^  the  question 
being  stated  by  popish  authors,  to  whom  they  had  no  eye  or  refer- 
ence. 

They  humbly  moved  his  majesty,  that  the  regiments  of  human  tes- 
timonies on  both  sides  might  be  discharged  the  field,  and  the  point 
of  dispute  tried  alone  by  dint  of  holy  Scripture. 

They  honoured  the  pious  intentions  and  magnificence  of  his 
royal  progenitors,  acknowledging  the  ornamental  accessions  to  the 
persons  made  no  substantial  change  in  the  office ;  but  still  is  remained 
to  be  proved,  that  primitive  episcopacy  and  present  hierarchy  are  the 
same. 

They  affirmed  also,  that  the  power  of  episcopacy  under  Christian 
and  Pagan  princes  is  one  and  the  same,  though  the  exercise  be  not ; 


24  CHARLES  I.  BOOK  XI.   CENT.  XVII. 

but  acknowledging  tlie  subordination  thereof  to  the  sovereign  power, 
with  their  accountableness  to  the  laws  of  the  land. 

They  conclude  with  thanks  to  his  majesty's  condescension  in 
vouchsafing  them  the  liberty  and  honour  in  examining  his  learned 
reply ;  praying  God,  that  a  pen  in  the  hand  of  such  abilities  might 
ever  be  employed  in  a  subject  worthy  thereof. 

Some  days  after,  his  majesty  returned  his  last  paper ;  wherein  he 
not  only  acknowledgeth  the  great  pains  of  these  divines  to  inform 
his  judgment,  according  to  their  persuasions,  but  also  took  especial 
notice  of  their  civilities  of  the  application,  both  in  the  beginning  and 
body  of  their  reply. 

However,  he  told  them  they  mistook  his  meaning  when  they 

of  a  writ  of  partition,  as  if  his  majesty  had  cantoned  out  the  episcopal 
government,  one  part  to  the  bishops,  another  to  the  presbyterians 
alone ;  whereas  his  meaning  was  that  the  office  of  teaching  is  common 
to  both  alike,  but  the  other  of  governing  peculiar  to  bishops  alone. 

33.   Tanta  Fides ^  quaritus  Author. 
I  know  not  what  truth  there  was  in   (and  by  consequence  what 
belief  is  to  be  given  to)  their  intelligence,  who  have  reported  and 
printed,  that,  in  order  of  a  pacification,  his  majesty  condescended, — 

1.  That  the  office  of  ordination  for  the  space  of  three  years  should 
not  be  exercised  by  the  bishops  without  the  assent  of  the  presbytery  ; 
and,  if  this  did  not  please, 

2.  That  it  should  be  suspended  until  twenty  of  his  own  nomina- 
tion, consulting  with  the  synod,  (assembled  by  the  appointment  of  the 
Houses,)  should  determine  some  certainty  touching  some  ecclesias- 
tical government. 

S.  That,  in  the  mean  time,  the  presbytery  should  be  settled  for 
experiment-sake. 

4.  That  though  he  would  not  suffer  bishops'*  lands  to  be  sold  and 
alienated  from  the  church,  yet  he  permitted  them  to  be  let  out  for 
ninety-nine  years,  paying  a  small  price  yearly  in  testimony  of  their 
hereditary  right  for  the  maintenance  of  bishops. 

5.  That,  after  that  time  expired^  they  should  return  to  the  crown, 
to  be  employed  for  the  use  of  the  church. 

Here  some  presumed  to  know  his  majesty's  intention,  that  he 
determined  with  himself,  in  the  interim,  to  redeem  them  by  their  own 
revenues,  and  to  refund  them  to  ecclesiastical  uses,  which  is  propor- 
tionable to  his  large  heart,  in  matters  of  that  nature.* 

*  For  he  gave  the  diike  of  Richmond  the  entire  revenues  of  the  arclibishopi-ic  of  Glas- 
gow in  Scotland,  to  hold  them  until  he  should  furnish  him  with  lands  of  the  same  value 
expressing  then  his  resolution  to  restore  them  to  the  church. 

2k2 


500         CHURCH  HISTORY  OF  BRITAIN.         A.D.  1648, 

84—38.  The  King  fetched  from  the  Isle  of  Wight,  and 
condemned  at  London.  Extremum  liunc  concede  mihi.  He 
heareth  the  last  Sermon ;  and  receives  the  Communion. 
Is  patient  when  affronted. 

Many  now  did  hope  for  a  happy  agreement  betwixt  the  king  and 
Parliament,  when  Divine  Providence,  whose  ways  are  often  above 
reason,  but  never  against  right,  had  otherwise  ordered  it ;  and  seeing 
it  was  God's  will,  it  shall  be  ours  to  submit  thereunto.  O  what  can 
a  day  bring  forth  !  Prov.  xxvii.  1 ;  especially  some  pregnant  day  in 
the  crisis  of  matters,  producing  more  than  what  many  barren  years 
before  beheld.  The  king's  person  is  seized  on  and  brought  up 
to  London,  arraigned  before  a  select  committee  for  that  purpose, 
indicted,  and,  upon  his  refusal  to  own  their  authority,  finally 
condemned.  But  these  things  belong  to  the  historian  of  the  state  ; 
and  this  subject  in  itself  is  not  so  amiable  and  tempting  as  to 
invite  us  to  trespass  in  the  property  of  others,  in  courting  the  prose- 
cution thereof. 

My  cue  of  entrance  is  to  come  in  where  the  state-writer 
doth  go  out,  whose  pen  hath  always  followed  the  confessors  into 
the  chambers  of  dying  people ;  and  now  must  do  its  last  devoir 
to  my  gracious  master,  in  describing  his  pious  death  and  solemn 
burial. 

Having  received  in  himself  the  sentence  of  death,  Dr.  Juxon, 
bishop  of  London,  preached  privately  before  him,  at  St.  James's,  on 
the  Sunday  following,  January  28th ;  his  text,  Romans  ii.  16 :  "In 
the  day  when  God  shall  judge  the  secrets  of  men  by  Jesus  Christ, 
according  to  my  Gospel." 

Next  Tuesday,  January  30th,  being  the  day  of  his  dissolution,  in 
the  morning  alone  he  received  the  communion  from  the  hands  of  the 
said  bishop.  At  which  time  he  read  for  the  second  lesson,  the 
twenty-seventh  chapter  of  St.  Matthew,  containing  the  history  of  the 
death  and  passion  of  our  Saviour.  Communion  ended,  the  king 
heartily  thanked  the  bishop  for  selecting  so  seasonable  and  comfort- 
able a  portion  of  Scripture,  seeing  all  human  hope  and  happiness  is 
founded  on  the  sufferings  of  our  Saviour.  The  bishop  modestly 
disavowed  any  thanks  due  to  himself,  it  being  done  merely 
by  the  direction  of  the  church  of  England,  whose  Rubric  appoint- 
eth  that  chapter  the  second  morning-lesson  for  the  thirtieth  of 
January. 

His  hour  drawing  nigh,  he  passed  through  the  park  to  Whitehall. 
As  he  always  was  observed  to  walk  very  fast,  so  now  he  abated  not 
any  whit  of  his  wonted  pace.  In  his  passage  a  sorry  fellow  (seem- 
ingly some   mean    citizen)  went  abreast  along  with  him,  and,   in 


24  CHARLES  I.  BOOK    XI.       CENT.    XVII.  501 

an  affront,  often  stared  his  majesty  in  the  face,  which  caused 
him  to  turn  it  another  way.  The  bishop  of  London,  though 
not  easily  angered,  was  much  offended  hereat,  as  done  out  of 
despiteful  design,  to  discompose  him  before  his  death,  and  moved 
the  captain  of  the  guard  he  might  be  taken  away ;  which  was  done 
accordingly. 

39 — 42.  His  last  Question^  and  Speech  falsely  printed.  Trou- 
ble well  prevented.  His  Corpse  carried  to  Windsor, 
Entering  on  the  floor  of  death,  he  asked  of  colonel  Tomlinson, 
who  attended  there,  whether  he  might  have  the  liberty  to  dispose  of 
his  own  body,  as  to  the  place  and  manner  of  the  burial  thereof. 
The  colonel  answered  that  he  could  give  his  majesty  no  account  at 
all  therein. 

His  majesty  held  in  his  hand  a  small  piece  of  paper,  some  four 
inches  square,  containing  heads  whereon  in  his  speech  he  intended 
to  dilate ;  and  a  tall  soldier  looking  over  the  king''s  shoulders  read 
it,  as  the  king  held  it  in  his  hand.  As  for'the  speech  which  passeth 
in  print  for  the  king''s5  though  taken  in  short-hand,  by  one  eminent 
therein,  it  is  done  so  defectively,  it  deserveth  not  to  be  accounted 
his  speech,  by  the  testimony  of  such  as  heard  it.  His  speech  ended, 
he  gave  that  small  paper  to  the  bishop  of  London. 

After  his  death,  the  officers  demanded  the  paper  of  the  bishop ; 
who,  because  of  the  depth  of  his  pocket,  smallness  of  that  paper,  and 
the  mixture  of  others  therewith,  could  not  so  soon  produce  it  as  was 
required.  At  last  he  brought  it  forth ;  but  therewith  the  others 
were  unsatisfied,  (jealousy  is  quick  of  growth,)  as  not  the  same  which 
his  majesty  delivered  unto  him  ;  when  presently  the  soldier,  whose 
rudeness  (the  bad  cause  of  a  good  effect)  had  formerly  over-inspected 
it  in  the  king's  hand,  attested  this  the  very  same  paper,  and  pre- 
vented farther  suspicions,  which  might  have  terminated  to  the 
bishop''s  trouble. 

On  the  Wednesday  se'nnight  after,  (Febmary  7th,)  his  corpse, 
embalmed  and  coffined  in  lead,  was  delivered  to  the  care  of  two  of 
his  servants,  to  be  buried  at  Windsor ; — the  one  Anthony  Mildmay, 
who  formerly  had  been  his  sewer,  as  I  take  it ;  the  other  John 
Joyner,  bred  first  in  his  majesty's  kitchen,  afterwards  a  parliament- 
captain,  since  by  them  deputed  (when  the  Scots  surrendered  his 
person)  cook  to  his  majesty.  This  night  they  brought  the  corpse 
to  Windsor,  and  digged  a  grave  for  it  in  St.  George's  chapel,  on  the 
south  side  of  the  communion-table. 


502  CHURCH    HISTORY    OF    BRITAIN.  A.D.  1G48. 

43__50.  The  Lords  follow  after  it.  The  Governors  Resolution. 
The  Lords^  with  much  searching^  find  a  Vault.  The  De- 
scription thereof.  One  of  the  Order  buried  therein.  Pre- 
sumed to  he  King  Henry  VIII.  The  leaden  Inscription 
on  his  Coffin.     The  Corpse  deposited. 

But,  next  day,  Thursday,  February  8th,  the  duke  of  Richmond, 
the  marquess  of  Hertford,  the  earls  of  Southampton  and  Lindsey, 
(others,  though  sent  to,  declining  the  service,  so  far  was  their  fear 
above  their  gratitude  to  their  dead  master,)  came  to  Windsor,  and 
brought  with  them  two  votes,  passed  that  morning  in  Parliament ; 
wherein  the  ordering  of  the  king's  burial,  for  the  form  and  manner 
thereof,  was  wholly  committed  to  the  duke  of  Richmond,  provided 
that  the  expense  thereof  exceeded  not  five  hundred  pounds.  Coming 
into  the  castle,  they  showed  their  commission  to  the  governor, 
colonel  Wichcot,  desiring  to  inter  the  corpse  according  to  the  Com- 
mon-Prayer Book  of  the  church  of  England  ;  the  rather,  because  the 
Parliament's  total  remitting  the  manner  of  the  burial  to  the  duke's 
discretion,  implied  a  permission  thereof.  This  the  governor  refused, 
alleging,  it  was  improbable  that  the  Parliament  would  permit  the 
use  of  what  so  solemnly  they  had  abolished,  and  therein  destroy  their 
own  act. 

The  lords  returned,  that  there  was  a  difference  betwixt  destroying 
their  own  act,  and  dispensing  with  it,  or  suspending  the  exercise 
thereof;  that  no  power  so  bindeth  up  its  own  hands  as  to  disable 
itself,  in  some  cases,  to  recede  from  the  rigour  of  their  own  acts,  if 
they  should  see  just  occasion.  All  would  not  prevail,  the  governor 
persisting  in  the  negative,  and  the  lords  betook  themselves  to  their 
sad  employment. 

They  resolved  not  to  inter  the  corpse  in  the  grave  which  was  pro- 
vided for  it,  but  in  a  vault,  if  the  chapel  afforded  any.  Then  fall 
they  a-searching,  and  in  vain  seek  for  one  in  king  Henry  the  eighth's 
chapel,  (where  the  tomb  intended  for  him  by  cardinal  Wolsey 
lately  stood,)  because  all  there  was  solid  earth.  Besides,  this  place, 
at  the  present  used  for  a  magazine,  was  unsuiting  with  a  solemn  sepul- 
ture. Then  with  their  feet  they  tried  the  choir,  to  see  if  a  sound 
would  confess  any  hollowness  therein,  and  at  last,  directed  by  one  of 
the  aged  poor  knights,  did  light  on  a  vault  in  the  middle  thereof. 

It  was  altogether  dark,  (as  made  in  the  midst  of  the  choir,)  and 
an  ordinary  man  could  not  stand  therein  without  stooping,  as  not 
past  five  feet  high.  In  the  midst  thereof  lay  a  large  leaden  coflfin, 
(with  the  feet  towards  the  east,)  and  a/ar  less  on  the  left  side  thereof. 
On  the  other  side  was  room,  neither  to -spare  nor  to  want,  for  any 
other  coffin  of  a  moderate  proportion. 


24    CHARLES  I.  BOOK    XI.       CENT.    XVII.  503 

Tliat  one  of  the  Order  was  buried  there,  plainly  appeared  by  per- 
fect pieces  of  ^purple  velvet  (their  proper  habit)  remaining  therein  ; 
though  some  pieces  of  the  same  velvet  were  fox-tawny,  and  some 
coal-black,  (all  eye  of  purple  being  put  out  therein,)  though  all  ori- 
ginally of  the  same  cloth,  varying  the  colour,  as  it  met  with  more  or 
less  moisture,  as  it  lay  in  the  ground. 

Now  a  concurrence  of  presumptions  concluded  this  great  coffin  to 
contain  the  corpse  of  king  Henry  VIII.  though  there  was  neither 
arms  nor  any  inscription  to  evidence  the  same. 

1.  The  place  exactly  corresponds  to  the  designation  of  his  burial, 
mentioned  in  his  last  will  and  testament.* 

2.  The  small  coffin,  in  all  probability,  was  his  queen's,  Jane  Sey- 
mour's, by  whom,  in  his  will,  he  desired  to  be  buried  ;  and  the  room 
on  the  other  side  seems  reserved  for  his  surviving  wife,  queen  Cathe- 
rine Parr. 

3.  It  was  never  remembered,  nor  recorded,  that  any  subject  of 
that  Order  was  interred  in  the  body  of  that  choir,  but  in  by-chapels, 

4.  A  hearse  stood  over  this  vault,  in  the  days  of  queen  Elizabeth, 
which  (because  cumbering  the  passage)  was  removed  in  the  reign  of 
king  James. 

I  know  a  tradition  is  whispered  from  mouth  to  mouth  that  king 
Henry's  body  was  taken  up  and  burned,  in  the  reign  of  queen  Mary, 
and  could  name  the  knight  (her  Privy  Counsellor,  and  then  dwelling 
not  far  off)  muttered  to  be  employed  in  this  inhuman  action.  This 
prevailed  so  far  on  the  lord  Herbert's  belief,  that  he  closeth  his  His- 
tory of  King  Henry  VIII.  with  these  suspicious  words  :  "To  con- 
clude, I  wish  I  could  leave  him  in  his  grave."  But  there  is  no 
certainty  hereof,  and  more  probable  that  here  he  quietly  was  reposed. 
The  lead  coffin,  being  very  thin,  was  at  this  time  casually  broken, 
and  some  yellow  stuff,  altogether  scentless,  like  powder  of  gold,  < 
taken  out  of  it,  (conceived  some  exsiccative  gums  wherewith  he  was 
embalmed,)  which  the  duke  caused  to  be  put  in  again,  and  the  coffin 
closed  up. 

The  vault  thus  prepared,  a  scarf  of  lead  was  provided,  some  two 
feet  long  and  five  inches  broad,  therein  to  make  an  inscription.  The 
letters  the  duke  himself  did  delineate,  and  then  a  workman  called  to 
cut  them  out  with  a  chisel.  It  bare  some  debate,  whether  the  letters 
should  be  made  in  those  concavities  to  be  cut  out,  or  in  the  solid 
lead  betwixt  them.  The  latter  was  concluded  on,  because  such  va- 
cuities are  subject  to  be  soon  filled  up  with  dust,  and  render  the 
inscription  less  legible;  which  was  "King  Charles,  1648." 
The  plumber  soldered  it  to  the  coffin,  about  the  breast  of  the  corpse, 
within  the  same. 

■  See  it  in  tlie  end  of  king  Henry's  reign,  "Church  Histoiy,"  vol.  ii.  page  118. 


504  CHURCH  HISTORY  OF  BRITAIN.  A.  I).  1648. 

All  things  thus  in  readiness,  Friday,  February  9th,  the  corpse  was 
brought  to  the  vault,  being  borne  by  the  soldiers  of  the  garrison. 
Over  it  a  black  velvet  hearse-cloth,  the  four  labels  whereof  the  four 
lords  did  support.  The  bishop  of  London  stood  weeping  by,  to  tender 
that  his  service  which  might  not  be  accepted.  Then  was  it  deposited 
in  silence  and  sorrow  in  the  vacant  place  in  the  vault,  (the  hearse-cloth 
being  cast  in  after  it,)  about  three  of  the  clock  in  the  afternoon ; 
and  the  lords  that  night  (though  late)  returned  to  London.* 

•  About  twenty  years  ago,  in  consequence  of  some  excavations  which  became  needM 
at  the  interment  of  the  Duchess  of  Brunswick,  in  St.  George's  chapel,  Windsor,  this 
vault  was  discovered  by  the  workmen  ;  though,  according  to  Lord  Clarendon,  the  most 
diligent  search  had  been  instituted  for  it  in  vain,  on  the  accession  of  king  Charles  II., 
"Who  expressed  a  strong  filial  desire  to  pay  due  funeral  honours  to  the  mortal  remains  of 
his  royal  father.  When  this  discovery  was  announced  to  the  Prince  Regent,  (afterwards 
king  George  IV.,)  his  royal  Highness  intimated  his  intention  and  wish  to  be  present  at 
the  opening  of  the  tomb,  and  personally  to  inspect  the  operations  necessary  to  ascertain 
the  identity  of  the  body  of  the  murdered  monarch.  The  investigation,  scientifically 
conducted,  served  in  a  very  satisfactory  manner  to  estabUsh  the  conclusion, — that  the 
decapitated  body  was  that  of  king  Charles  I.  The  select  company  of  spectators  per- 
ceived and  acknowledged  its  identity  as  soon  as  the  attendants  raised  the  head,  (which 
it  was  evident  had  been  dissevered  from  the  trunk  by  a  powerful  instrument  at  one  blow,) 
and  as  soon  as  the  face  was  disencumbered  of  the  cere-cloth,  which  had  preserved  the 
features  remarkably  entire.  Sir  Hemy  Halford,  Bart.,  was  one  of  those  who  had  the 
honour  to  be  summoned  on  that  solemn  occasion ;  and,  at  the  command  of  his  prince, 
composed  a  very  lucid  and  elegant  account,  which  was  immediately  circulated  in  the  form 
of  a  pamphlet,  but  which  has  since  been  embodied  in  his  small  volume  of  "  Essays  and 
Orations."  In  that  pamphlet,  no  reference  is  made  to  FuUer's  plain  narrative  of  the 
whole  of  the  melancholy  transaction,  though,  when  compared  with  the  facts  detailed  by 
Sir  Henry,  it  proves  to  have  been  more  accurate  and  copious  than  that  which  he  has 
copied  from  Clarendon  and  Herbert. 

With  this  recent  examination  of  king  Charles's  tomb,  is  connected  an  incident,  to 
which  the  Christian  moralist  must  feel  some  reluctance  to  allude  except  for  admonitory 
purposes  ;  and  which  shows  that  any  act,  however  praiseworthy  and  weU-intended,  may, 
by  the  reckless  lampooner,  be  converted  into  an  engine  for  the  more  adroit  discharge  of 
personal  malevolence.  It  furnished  the  ribald  wit  of  the  late  Lord  Byron  with  a  tempta- 
tion (which  his  malignant  genius  could  not  resist)  to  exhibit  his  rancorous  hostility  to  the 
Prince  Regent,  in  a  copy  of  verses,  as  remarkable  for  the  coarseness  of  the  allusions 
which  they  contain,  as  for  the  obvious  injustice  toward  that  illustrious  personage  ;  whose 
greatest  oflfence  then  seemed  to  be, — that  his  former  course  of  life  had  been  nearly  as 
gay  and  thoughtless,  if  not  quite  as  vicious,  as  that  of  the  noble  lord  himself !  Yet  his 
royal  Highness,  with  all  his  faults,  did  not  merit  the  censure  which  the  epigram  conveyed, — 
that,  libidinous  as  Henry  VIII.,  tyrannical  as  Charles  I.,  in  his  royal  person  were  con- 
centrated the  worst  vices  of  those  two  monarchs.  In  matters  both  of  law  and  equity, 
the  accuser  is  required  to  come  into  court  with  clean  hands ;  how  much  more  is  this 
necessary  in  foro  conscientice,  before  the  accusation  is  framed  !  Every  other  mode  must 
be  considered,  not  as  the  dignified  reproof  of  the  virtuous,  but  as  the  futile  attempt  of 
the  wicked  to  correct  the  ungodly. — Edit. 


END    OF    THE    CHURCH    HISTORY. 


DESCRIPTION    OF    THE    PLATES. 


PLATE  I. — Frontispiece  to  Vol.  I. 

The  west  front  of  LicMeld  Cathedral.  The  episcopal  coat  of  arms 
on  the  left,  and  Sir  Elias  Ashmole's  on  the  right. 

Fuller  s  inscription  on  the  folio  plate  is :  Liclifieldensis  ecclesice 
cathedralis  (in  agro  Staffordiensi  in  Anglid^  fades  occidentalis. 

His  grateful  inscription  on  Ashmole's  arms  is :  EUcb  Ashmole, 
Arjtiigero,  Mercurio-philo  Anglico,  accepta  refundit     T.  F. 


PLATE  II.— Vol.  I.  Page  17- 

COATS   OF   ARMS    OF    THE    PATRONS   OF    THE     FIRST    EDITION,    TO    WHOM 
THE   TARIOUS   SECTIONS    OF    THE    HISTORY    WERE   DEDICATED. 

The  figure  prefixed  to  every  name  denotes  the  numher  of  the  shield 
belonging  to  each  individual,  who  was  one  of  the  original  patrons  ;  and 
the  figure  which  follows  refers  to  the  page  of  the  volume  in  which  the 
dedication  to  that  person  occurs. 

PAGE 

1.  Robert  Abdy,  of  London,  Esq 17 

2.  Mr.  Simeon  Bonnell,  Merchant 27 

3.  Theophilus  Biddulph,  of  London,  Esq 30 

A.  Thomas  Bide,  of  London,  Esq 46 

5.  Douse  FuUer,  of  Hampshire,  Esq QS 

6.  Amico  suo  Gr.  B 86 

7.  Thomoe  Adamidi,  Senatori  Londinensi 141 

8.  Mr.  William  Christmas,  Merchant,  London    1 63 

9.  Mr.  Robert  Christmas  163 

10.  Jacoho  Langham,  Armigero    187 

11.  Baldwino  Harney^  Medicince  Doctori 212 

12.  Simoni  Archeri^  Equiti  Auratn^  antiqnitatis  Cultori,  et  in 
digmafogr aphid  exercilatissimo^  nee  non  lectissimce  Domince 
Annce.     T.  F 233 


506  DESCRIPTION    OF    THE    PLATES. 


PAGE 


13.  Johanni  Fitz- James  de  Leuston,  in  Comitatu  Dorset.  Armi- 
gero   285 

14.  Domi?io  Joa?iJii  Wyrley^  de  Wyrley-Hall^  in  Comitatu  Staf- 
ford.    Eqniti  Aurato  318 

15.  Mr.  Jolin  Robinson,  of  Milk  Street,  London,  Mercliant    332 

16.  ThomoB  Hanson^  Amico  meo 347 

1 7.  William  Robinson,  of  tbe  Inward  Temple,  Esq 369 

J  8.  Clement  Throckmorton,  the  elder,  of  Haseley,  in  AYarwick- 

shire.  Esq 391 

19.  Ricardo  Seymere^  Necessario  meo  406 

20.  Mr.  Thomas  Williams,  of  London,  Merchant 416 

21.  Mr.  William  Vanbrugh 416 

22.  Sir  Gerard  Napier,  of  Dorsetshire,  Baronet    472 

23.  Thomas  Rich,  late  of  London,  Esq.*  501 

24.  John  Ferrars,  of  Tamworth  Castle,  Esq 525 


PLATE  III.— -Vol.  I.  Page  252. 

THE   NAMES   AND    ARMS    OP   FORTY   SOLDIERS   OF    KING    WILLIAM    THE 
CONQUEROR,    WITH   AS    MANY   MONKS. 

1.  The  brother  to  William  Earl  of  Warren,  with  Monk  Leofric. 

2.  William  the  Conqueror. 

3.  St.  Ethelburge. 

4.  St.  Ethelward,  Bishop. 

5.  Robert  Orford,  the  thirteenth  Bishop  of  Ely. 

6.  Opsal,  Captain  of  the  Cross-bow  men,  with  Monk  Godfryde. 

7.  Belase,  General  of  the  Soldiers  against  Ely,  with  Monk  Utwald. 

8.  Picot,  Bridge-Master,  with  Monk  Huskettle. 

9.  Argentine,  Surgeon-General,  with  Monk  Elfrick. 

10.  Gerard  de  Longo  Campo,  with  Monk  William. 

1 1 .  Talbot,  (often-time  sent  ambassador,)  with  Monk  Duff. 

12.  Adam,  Chief  Marshal  of  the  Army,  with  Monk  Seda. 

13.  Guido  de  St.  Leodigaro,  with  the  holy  Monk  Adelmere. 

14.  Hastings,  a  soldier  skilful  in  Navigation,  with  Monk  Nigel. 

15.  Walter   Lacey,    Shield-Bearer    to    the    Conqueror,   with    Monk 

Occam. 

•  Mr.  Rich's  coat  of  arms  is  taken  from  that  of  his  relation,  to  whom  the  folio  plate 
containing  "  the  seals  of  arms  of  all  tlie  mitred  abbeys  in  England,"  is  thus  inscribed  : 
Edwino  Rich,  Armigero,  uni  e  Majistris  Curice  Canceliariie,  benefactori  meo  7Hunifico, 
in  fjratitudinis  tesseram.      T.  F. 


DESCRIPTION    OF    THE    PLATES.  507 

16.  Pamell,  Captain  of  three  hundred  Footmen,  with  Monk  Ednode. 
17-  Ahmude,  Son  of  Alan,  with  Monk  Burthrede. 

18.  Abraham  Pechy,  with  Monk  Ethelbert  the  elder. 

19.  Bardolph,  Master  of  the  Workmen,  with  Monk  Recke. 

20.  Seward,   an   Englishman,   Victualler  of  the   Camp,   with   Monk 

Reoffine. 

21.  Fides  de  Furnival,  a  Lombard,  with  Monk  Osulp. 

22.  Blount,  Captain-General  of  .the  Foot-men,  with  Monk  Willnote. 

23.  Brian  Clare,  an  old  Soldier,  with  Monk  Cliton. 

24.  Hugh  Mounteforti,  Captain  of  the  Horsemen,  with  Monk  Odon. 

25.  Pagan ,  Standard-Bearer  of  the  Horsemen,  with  Monk  Athel- 

gale. 

26.  Bigotte,  Captain  of  three  hundred  Horsemen,  with  Monk  Con- 

dulph. 

27.  Dunstan  le  Grosmuneus,  with  Monk  Egbert. 

28.  Richard  de  Ponteful-Conis,  with  Monk  Leoffric  the  younger. 

29.  Eucas  de  Novo  Burgo,  with  Olane,  the  holy  Monk  of  the  Monas- 

tery. 

30.  Tucked,  Captain  of  the  Bowmen,  with  Monk  Osbume. 

31.  Nigellus  Hamtaindote,  with  Monk  Donald. 

32.  Eustalias  the  black,  with  Monk  Edwin. 

33.  Eustalias  the  white.  Master  of  the  Scoutmen,  with  Monk  Swan. 

34.  Bigotte,  third  son  of  Bigotte,  with  Monk  Edmund. 

35.  Robert  Marshall,  with  Monk  Renulph. 

36.  Beamunde,  Master  of  the  Conqueror's  horse,  with  Monk  Gurthe. 

37.  Kenulphus,  a  German  Soldier,  with  Monk  Uskettle. 

38.  John  of  York,  an  Englishman,  with  Monk  Felix. 

39.  John  Malmaine,  Standard-Bearer  of  the  Footmen,  with   Monk 

Otho. 

40.  Anthony  Longsword,  with  Monk  Alfred. 

41.  Luey,  a  Noiman,  Admiral  to  the  Conqueror,  with  Monk  Constan- 

tino. 

42.  Alexander  Demorite-Vignite,  with  Monk  David. 

43.  Lucamalsus,  Captain  of  the  Billmen,  with  Monk  Oswald. 

44.  Nasi,  Captain  of  two  hundred  Footmen,  with  Monk  Orme. 


508  DESCRIPTION    OF    THE    PLATES. 


PLATE  lY.— Vol.  I.  Page  499. 

Lichfield  Cathedral.  (Side  view.)  With  a  description  of  the 
various  parts  of  the  structure  and  its  locality. 

In  the  folio  plate  Fuller  has  repeated  Ashmole's  coat  of  arms,  and 
has  appended  the  following  curious  Latin  verses ;  in  one  column  of 
which  he  personates  the  weeping  prophet,  and  in  the  other  the  smiling 
historian,  grateful  to  his  brother  antiquarian,  at  whose  expense  the 
drawing  had  been  finished,  and  the  plate  engraved.  This  is  the  only 
ornament  of  the  kind  which  adorns  Fuller's  Church  History ;  and  the 
reason  of  this  gratifying  exception  is  to  be  found  in  the  circumstance — 
that  Ashmole  was  a  Lichfield  man,  on  whose  mind  the  venerable  struc- 
ture, and  the  holy  services  connected  with  its  former  condition,  had 
made  an  indelible  impression. 

Lichfieldensem  ecclesiam  Sed  qualis  olim  floruit 

En,  lector,  pictam  graphic^  !  Ut  innotescat  jiosteris^ 

Qua  Sol  in  orhe  Anglico  Tarn  sacro  cadaveri 

Aspexit  nihil  venustius  :  Hoc  Tnonumentum,  sumptihus 

At  cujus  nunc,  pr oh  dolor  !  Eli^e  A^umoi^e  positum  : 

Deformitate  splendidcB  Qui  redivivum  suscitat 

Ruince  vix  super stites.  Phopnicem  e  cineribus. 

Sic  deflevit  Sic  gratulatur 

T,  F. 


PLATE  v.— Frontispiece  to  Vol.  II. 

COATS   OF    ARMS    OF    THE    PATRONS    OF    THE    FIRST    EDITION,    TO    WHOM 
THE    VARIOUS   SECTIONS    OF    THE    HISTORY    WERE    DEDICATED. 

PAGE 

25.  Mr.  Thomas  James,  of  Buntingford,  in  Hertfordshire 24 

26.  Sir  Richard  Shugborough,  of  Shugborough,  in  "Warwickshire     42 
27    Mr.  Henry  Barnard,  late  of  London,  Merchant 58 

28.  Clifford  Clifton,  Esq 91 

29.  Ralph  Sadleir,  of  Standon,  Esq 166 

30.  Lady  Ann  Sadleir 166 

31.  Lady  Mary  Fountaine  200 

32.  Lady  Elizabeth  Powlet,  of  St.  George-Hinton  237 

33.  T>om'ino  Thomae  Trevor,  jimiori,  Equiti  Aurato 265 

34.  Thomas  Dockwray,  of  Bedfordshire,  Esq 283 

Sf).  Carolo  Cheney^  de  Comitatu  Buck.  Armigero    346 

36.  Mr.  Thomas  Bowyer,  of  the  Old  Jewry,   Merchant 390 


DESCRIPTION    OF    THE    PLATES.  509 

PAGE 

37.  Sir  Henry  Wroth,  Knight 408 

38.  William  Honeywood,  Esq 478 

39.  Mrs.  Anne  Danvers,  of  Chelsea  501 

IN    VOL.    III. 

40.  Mr.  James  Bovey,  of  London,  Merchant 3 

41 .  Daniel  Harvey,  Esq.  High  Sheriff  of  Surrey 29 

42.  The  Master,  Wardens,  and  all  the  Members  of  the  honourable 
Company  of  Mercers,  of  London 60 


PLATE  yi.-.yoL.  II.  Page  229. 

SEALS   OF   ARMS   OF   THE   MITRED   ABBEYS   IN   ENGLAND. 

1.  Tavistock  in  Devonshire. 

2.  Glastonbury  in  Somersetshire. 

3.  Middleton  in  Gloucestershire. 

4.  Abingdon  in  Berkshire. 

5.  St.  James's  Abbey,  Reading  in  Berkshire. 

6.  Battle-abbey  in  Sussex. 

7.  St.  Augustine's-abbey,  Canterbury  In  Kent. 

8.  St.  Peter's-abbey,  Gloucester. 

9.  Tewkesbury  in  Gloucestershire. 

10.  Winchcomb  In  Gloucestershire. 

11.  St.  Albans  in  Hertfordshire. 

12.  Westminster-abbey  in  Middlesex. 

13.  St.  John's  of  Jerusalem. 

14.  Waltham-abbey  in  Essex. 

15.  St.  John's-abbey,  Colchester  In  Essex. 

16.  St.  Edmund's  Bury-abbey  in  Suffolk. 

17.  St.  Benet's-in-the-Holme  in  Norfolk. 

18.  Thomey-abbey  in  Cambridgeshire. 

19.  Ramsey-abbey  in  Huntingdonshire. 

20.  Peterborough-abbey  in  Northamptonshire. 

21.  Crowland-abbey  In  Lincolnshire. 

22.  Shrewsbury-abbey  in  Shropshire. 

23.  Selby-abbey  In  Yorkshire. 

24.  St.  Mary's-abbey,  York. 


Fuller  regrets  that  he  could  not  present  his  readers  with  the 
arms  of  the  abbeys  of  Malmsbury  in  Wiltshire,  of  Hide  juxta  Winton, 


510  DESCRIPTION    OK    THE    PLATES. 

of   Cirencester  in   Gloucestershire,   of  Bardney  in   Lincolnshire,  and 

of  Evesham  in  Worcestershire ;    a  sight  of  which  he  was  unable  to 
procure. 


PLATE  YIL— Frontispiece  to  Yol.  III. 

COATS    OF    ARMS    OF    THE    PATRONS    OF    THE    FIRST    EDITION,    TO    WHOM 
THE    TARIOUS   SECTIONS   OF    THE    HISTORY   WERE   DEDICATED. 

P.A  G  E 

43.  Mr.  H amond  "V\^ard,  of  London,  Merchant  92 

44.  Mr.  Richard  Fuller,  of  London,  Merchant 92 

45.  The  Lady  Anne  Archer,  of  Tan  worth  in  Warwickshire    134 

46.  Matthew  Gillye,  Esq 198 

47.  ThoJiice  Dacres,  de  Cheshunt^  Annigero 227 

48.  Edward  Lloyd,  Esq 248 

49.  Mr.  Peter  IMoroloys,  of  London,  ^Merchant 279 

.50.  Mr.  Thomas  Ro wse,  of  London,  Merchant 279 

51.  Samuel  Mico,  of  London,  Alderman   295 

52.  Thomas  Shugborough,  of  Byrdenbury  in  Warwickshire,  Esq.  313 

53.  John  Carey,  of  Stansted,  in  Hertfordshire,  Esq 359 

54.  Henry  Puckeringnewton,  son  and  heir  to  Sir  Henry  Pucker- 
ingnewton.  Baronet 402 

55.  Domino  Thomce  Fisher^  Baronetto 425 

•»•  Mr.  Giles  Vandeput,  of  London,  JNIercliant,  Las  a  vacant  shield,  Fuller  not  having 
been  ahle  to  discover  the  existence  of  bis  coat  of  arms. 

bQ.  Mr.  Edward  Clegat,  of  London,  Merchant 445 

57.  Mr.  Peter  Matthewes,  of  London,  Merchant 445 

58.  Roger  Price,  Esq.  High  Sheriff  of  Buckinghamshire 479 

59.  The  noble  Lady  Eleanor  Roe,  relict  to  the  honourable  Sir 

Thomas  Roe 493 


THE    END. 


London  : — Printed  by  James  Nichols!,  46,  Hoxton  Square, 


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The  church  history  of  Britain  :  from  the 


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