Cathedral News from Canterbury, Title page – Dedication
CATHEDRALL NEVVES FROM CANTERBVRY: SHEWING, The Canterburian Cathedrall to bee in an ABBEY-LIKE, Corrupt, and rotten condition, which cals for a ſpeedy Reformation, or Diſſolution: VVhichWhich Diſſolution is already foreſhowne, and begun there, by many remarkeable paſſages upon that place, and the Prelats there; Amongſt which paſſages of wonder is, The Archbishop of Canterburies Paſsing-Bell, Rung miraculouſly in that Cathedrall.
Recorded, and Publiſhed by RICHARD CVLMER, Miniſter of Gods Word, dwelling in Canterbury: heretofore of Magdalen Colledge in Cambridge, Maſter of Arts.
Luk. 19. 40.
If I ſhould hold my peace, the ſtones would immediatly cry out.
Printed at London by Rich. Cotes, for Fulk Clifton, 1644.
Imprimatur,
John White.
I Have peruſed this Relation of Cathedrall Newes, and therein obſerve, that the hand of providence hath, indeed, wrought a new thing in our Iſrael, worthy to bee looked upon by all, with a due mixture of wonder, and thankfulneſſe and therefore conceive it neceſſary to bee publiſhed to the view of all.
Joſeph Caryll.
TO THE HONORABLE COMMITTEE OF THE HOVSE OF Commons Aſſembled in Parliament, Concerning plundred Miniſters.
Worthy Sirs,
FInding that the Honorable Houſe of Commons aſſembled in Parliament hath referred to your conſideration, and examination, ſome matters touching the Reformation of the Cathedrall in Canterbury: out of my zeale to that worke, I have preſumed to hold the Candle to you (Phyſitians of value) a little to further your diſcovery of that Cathedralls corrupt conſtitution, that you may more perfectly cure the malignant diſeaſe, called the Cathedrall evill. The worke is begun, the numerous Idols, (dunghill-gods, as the Scripture calls them) which defile the worſhip of God there, are ſweeping out apace. And Oh that you would further cleanſe that Augean ſtable, by removing the Idol Shepheards; Let not the oyle of the fat revenues of that Cathedrall Covent any longer feed ſuch darke Lampes, and Lanthornes, but let it ſupply burning, and ſhining lights, to enlighten thoſe many miſerable adjacent Pariſhes, which have a long time ſate in darkeneſſe, under that huge, dry, flintie Rocke, called a Cathedrall. I have the enſuing Hiſtory (for the moſt part) from mine owne obſervation, and have beene punctuall in examining the truth of what I have by information. My ayme is to further the downefall of Babylon, and that Sion, which dwelleth with this daughter of Babylon, may deliver her ſelfe. So moſt humbly intreating your acceptance of this my obliged ſervice, I remaine
Yours to be commanded, RICHARD CVLMER.
CATHEDRALL NEWS FROM CANTERBVRY.
HAving ſeene bookes of newes from ſeverall places, as newes from Hell, newes from Rome, newes from Court, newes from Ipſwich, &c. I have made this following hiſtorical Eſſay of newes from the Cathedrall in Canterbury, preſented with what brevitie I could, hoping that others will impart Cathedrall newes from Yorke, London, &c.
The Cathedrall, called Chriſt-Church, in Canterbury, being a Covent of Monkes, at the time of the diſſolution of Abbeys, in the reigne of The Cathedrall of Canterbury once a Convent of Monkes.King Henry the eight, it was then (in ſtead of Prior, and Covent) turned into Deane, and Chapter, that is, a Deane, and twelve Prebendaries, or Canons; to which were added Pettie-Canons, Subſtitutes, Lay-Clerkes, Veſterers, &c. Theſe Prelaticall ſucceſſors of the Idolatrous, proud, lazie, covetous Monkes, as they ſucceeded them in place, ſo they followed them in practiſe, whereby they have a long time cauſed the godly neare them to groane under their tyranny, ſuperſtition, and ſcandall. For remedy whereof, the enſuing Petition (being ſubſcribed by very many well affected Citizens of Canterbury) was exhibited in Parliament, againſt thoſe Cathedrall Prelates, in the yeare 1640.The Citizens of Canterbury petition the Parliament againſt the Cathedrall there.