The History of the Worthies of England, Part 2 · County 46 · Section 7 – Section 10
Saints.
HILDA was daughter unto Prince Hererick, nephew to Edwin King of Northumberland, and may justly be counted our English Huldah, not so much for sameness of sex, and name-sounding similitude, as more concerning conformities. Huldah lived in a*2 Chron. 34. …. Colledge, Hilda in a Convent at Strenshalt in this County; Huldah was the Oracle of those times, as Hilda of her age, being a kind of a*Sir Henry Spelmans Councils. Moderatresse in a Saxon Synod, (or conference rather) called to compromise the controversie about the celebration of Easter. I behold her as the most learned English Female before the Conquest, and may call her the She-Gamaliel, at whose feet many Learned men had their education. She ended her holy life with an happy death, about the year of our Lord 680.
BENEDICT BISCOP was born saith Pitz amongst the East Saxons; saith*In his flowers of the Lives of the Saints pa, 47. Hierome Porter in Yorkshire, whom I rather believe. First, because writing his life ex professo, he was more concerned to be curious therein. Secondly, because this Benedict had much familiarity with, and favour from Oswy King of Northumberland, in whose Dominions he fixed himself, building two Monasteries, the one at the influx of the river Were, the other at the river Tine into the sea, and stocking them in his life time with 600 Benedictine Moncks.
He made five Voyages to Rome, and always returned full fraught with Reliques, Pictures and Ceremonies.
In the former is driven on as great a Trade of Cheating, as in any earthly Commodity, in so much that I admire to meet with this passage in a Jesuite, and admire more that he Met not with the Inquisition for writing it. Addam, * nonnunquam in Tem plis, reliquias dubias, profana corpora pro Sanctorum, (qui cum Christo in Coelo regnant) exuviis sacris fuisse proposita.
He left Religion in England, Braver, but not better then he found it. Indeed, what Tully said of the Roman Lady, That she danced better then became a modest woman, was true of Gods Service as by him adorned, the Gaudiness prejudicing the Gravity thereof. He made all things according (not to the Patern in the Mount with Mose's, but) the Precedent of Rome; and his Convent, being but the Romish Transcript, became the English Original, to which all Monasteries in the Land were suddenly conformed.
In a word, I reverence his Memory, not so much for his first bringing over Painted Glass into England, as for his bringing up Pious Bead in his Monastery. Being struck beneath the Girdle with the dead Palsey, his soul retired into the Upper Rooms of his Clay Cottage, much employed in meditation, untill the day of his death, which happened Anno 703.
Saint JOHN of Beverley, may be challenged by this County, on a threefold title, because therein he had his
1. Birth, at Harpham in this County, in the East-Riding.
2. Life, being three and thirty years and upwards, Archbishop of York.
3. Death, at Beverley in this County, in a Colledge of his own foundation.
I remember his Picture in a Window in the Library at Salisbury, with an inscription under it (whose character may challenge to it self three hundred years antiquity) affirming him the first Master of Arts in Oxford, and Alfredus Beverlacensis reporteth as much. Arts indeed were, and Oxford was (though hardly an University) in that age; but seeing the solemnity of graduating was then unknown, a judicious*Bishop Godwin in the Arch-bishops of York. Oxonian rejecteth it as a fiction. More true it is, that he was bred at Strenshalt under Hilda aforesaid, which soundeth something to her honour, and nothing to his disgrace, seeing eloquent Apollos himself learned the Primer of his Christianity, partly, from†Acts 11. 26. Priscilla. He was afterwards educated under Theodorus the Grecian and Arch-bishop of Canterbury. Yet was he not so famous for his Teacher, as for his Scholar, Venerable Bede, who wrote this Johns *Hist. Eccles. lib. 5. cap. 2, 3. &c.life, which he hath so spiced with Miracles, that it is of the hottest for a discreet man to digest into his belief.
Being very aged, he resigned his Arch-bishoprick, that he might the more effectually apply his private devotions in his Colledge at Beverley, for which he procured the Freedstool from King Athelston. Yet such Sanctuaries (though carrying something of holiness in their name) had a profane abuse for their very use, making Malefactours with their promise of impunity, and then protecting them from justice. Saint John died May 7. 722. and was buried in the Porch of his Collegiate Church. A Synod held at London 1416. assigned the day of his death an Anniversary Solemnity to his Memory.
THOMAS PLANTAGENET. Before I proceed, I must confess my self formerly at a great loss, to understand a passage in an Honourable Author, speaking of the counterfeit Reliques detected and destroyed at the Reformation.
Lord Herbert in the life of King Henry the eighth, pag. 431.
The Bell of Saint Guthlac, and the Felt of Saint Thomas of Lancaster, both remedies for the Head ach.
But I could recover no Saint Thomas (saving him of Canterbury) in any English Martyrology, till since on inquiry I find him to be this Thomas Plantagenet.
He was Earl of Derby, Lancaster, Leicester, and (in the right of Alice his Wife) of Lincoln. A popular person, and great enemy to the two Spencers, Minions to King Edward the second, who being hated as Devils for their pride, no wonder if this Thomas was honoured, as a Saint and Martyr, by the*In Sanctorum numerum retulit vulgus. Cam. Brit. in Yorkshire. common sort. Indeed he must be a good Chymist, who can extract Martyr out of Malefactour, and our Chronicles generally behold him put to death for Treason against K. Edward the 2d. But let him pass for a Saint in this Shire, though never solemnly canonized; it being true of such locall Saints, what Servius Honoratus observeth of Topicall Gods, Ad alias Regiones nunquam transibant, They travailed not so far as to be honoured in other Countries. His beheading, alias his Martyr…ome, happened at Pontfret, Anno Dom. 1322.
RICHARD*Bale de script. Brit. Cent. 5. Num. 80. ROLE alias HAMPOLE had his first Name from his Father, the other from the Place (three Miles from Doncaster) where living he was Honoured, and dead was Buried, and Sainted. He was a Heremite, led a strict life, and wrot many Books of Piety, which I prefer before his Propheticall Predictions, as but a degree above Almanack Prognostications. He threatned the Sins of the Nation, with suture Famine, Plague, Inundations, War, and such generall Calamities, from which, no Land is long free, but subject to them in some proportion. Besides his Predictions if Hitting, were Heeded; if Missing, not Marked.
However, because it becomes me not foreign, let him pass for a Saint. I will adde, that Our Saviours *Mat. 21. 25.Dilemma to the Jews, may partly be pressed on the Papists his Contemporaries. If Hampoles Doctrine was of Men, why was he generally reputed a Saint; if from God, why did they not Obey him, seeing he spake much against the vitiousness and covetousness of the Clergy of that Age? He died Anno Domini 1349.
JOHN of BIRLINGTON or BRIDLINGTOM was born hard by that Town, bred two years in Oxford, where he profited in piety and learning above his age and equals. Returning home, for a short time he was teacher to a Gentlemans Sons, untill the twentieth year of his age he entred himself a Canon-Regular in the Covent of Bridlington, where he grew eminent for his exemplary holiness.
It was his happiness that such offices always fell to his share, as did not retard but quicken his devotion, as Chaunter, Almoner, &c. At last he was cho…en Prior, but refus'd the place, alledging his own unworthiness, professing he had rather be beaten in pieces with blows, then accept thereof, so that another was put into the place. This new elect dying soon after, our John was chosen again in the vacancy, and then took it, fearing there might be as much peevishness in rejecting, as pride in effecting it, and hoping that Providence which fairly called him to, would freely fit him for the discharge of that office.
He used to treat strangers at his table with good chear, and seemingly kept pace with them in eating, morsell for morsell, whilst he had a secret contrivance, wherein he conveyed his exceedings above his Monasticall pittance. Being demanded of one why he did not enter into more strict and austere Order, Surely, said he, A man may lead a sincere and acceptable life in any order, and it were arrogancy in me to pretend to a severer discipline, when I cannot observe as I ought, this easier course of life. My*Harpfields Eccl. Hist. p. 577. out of whom his life is extracted. Author saith, that Martha and Mary were both compounded in him, being as pious, so provident to husband the revenues of their house to their best advantage.
Going to view their lands in Richmond-shire, he gave a visit to a woman lately turn'd an Ancorist, and renowned for her holiness; she told him, that now her vision was out, who the night before dreamed, that an Eagle flew about her house with a label in his bill, wherein was written Jesus is my love, and you, saith she, are the person who so honour him in your heart, that no earthly thing can distract you. To whom our John returned, I came hither to hear from you some saving and savoury discourse, but seeing you begin with such idle talk, farewell; and so waved any farther converse.
However, I must not dissemble, that the prophesies fathered on this our John are as fabulous and frivolous as her dreams, witness that deadly passage in an excellent*Camden… … in York shire. Author,
In Johannis de Bridlington vatis monastici vaticinales rythmos omnino ridiculos incidimus: yet no doubt he was a holy man, and could one light on his life unleavened, before heaved up with the ferment of Monkish fiction, it would afford many remarkables. He died in the sixtieth year of his age, 1379. and was reputed (though I believe not solemnly canonized) a Saint, amongst his own Countrimen.
WILLIAM SLEIGHTHOLME. It is pity to part him from his last named dear friend, such the sympathy of amity and sanctity betwixt them. Once this William demanded of his friend John, what might be the reason, that the Devil in their days afrighted few, if any, with his terrible appearance, who in former ages was very frequent with formidable apparitions? reflecting in this his question, perchance on Saint Pauls messenger of Satan sent to *2 Cor. 12. 7.buffet him, but chiefly on those usuall [reported] personall combates of the Devil with Saint Dunstan, Guthlake, &c. To whom his friend return'd, We are grown so remiss in goodness, that the Devil needs not put himself to such pains, seeing less and lighter temptations will doe the deed. It is recorded*Harpfield Eccl. Hist. p. 577. of this William, that he was one of singular piety, and after his death wrought many miracles at his Tombe in the Monastery of Bridlington, where he was buried about the year 1380. I will adde no more, but that I have a learned friend William Sleight holme Doctor of Physick living at Buntingford in Hartfordshire, but born in this County, whom I believe remotely related to this Saint.
Expect not here, that I should adde to this Catalogue that Maiden, who to secure her virginity from his unchast embraces that assaulted it, was by him barbarously murdered, whereby she got the reputation of a Saint, and the Place, the Scene of his Cruelty, (formerly called Horton) the Name of Hali-fax or Holy-hair. For the credulous People conceited that the Veins which in form of little threds spred themselves between the Bark and Body of that*Camdens Brit. in York-shire. Yew-tree, (whereon the head of this Maid was hung up) were the very hairs indeed of this Virgin head, to whom they flock in Pilgrimage.
Oh! how sharp sighted, and yet how blind is Superstition? Yet these Country-folks fancies had the advantage of*Ovid Metam. lib. …. fol. 9. Daphnes being turned into a Laurell-tree.
In frondem cri…es, in ramos brachia crescunt.
Into a bough her hair did spred,
And from her Armes two branches bred.
But here she is wholly omitted, not so much because her Name and Time are unknown, but because the judicious behold the whole Contrivance devoid of Historicall truth.
Martyrs.
The County (and generally the Province of York) escaped very well from Popish persecution, which, under Gods goodness, may be justly imputed to the tempers of their four succeeding Arch-bishops.
1. Thomas Wolsey, whom all behold as a person more proud, then cruell; not so busying himself to maintain Popery, as to gain the Popedome.
2. Edward Lee, more furious then the former, persecuting many to imprisonment, none to death, save two, of whom*See Martyrs in the City of York. hereafter.
3. Robert Hollgate, who was, as they say, a parcell-Protestant, imprisoned and deprived for being married.
4. Nicholas Heath, a meek and moderate man, carrying a Court of Conscience in his bosome, long before Queen Mary made him Chancellor of England.
Hereupon it came to pass, that the Diocess of York was dry with Gedeon's fliece, whilst others lying near unto it, were wet in their own tears and blood.
Confessors.
Where no fish, there no fry, and seeing here no Martyrs, which are Confessors full blown, no wonder if here no Confessors, which are Martyrs in the bud.
Cardinalls.
JOHN FISHER was born in the Town of Beverly in this County, his father Robert Fisher was by condition a Merchant, and lived in good reputation. He was afterwards bred in Michaell-house in Cambridge, whereof he was the first Chancellor pro termino vitae, and Bishop of Rochester. How this Fisher was caught afterwards in the net of Elizabeth Barton, (commonly called the holy Maid of Kent,) thereby made accessary to her dissembling; How stiffe he was against King Henrys Divorce and Title of Supream head of the Church; How the Pope sent him a Cardinalls Cap, and the King Cut off his head, hath been so largely related in my Ecclesiastical History; and being I hope pardoned by the Reader for my former tediousness, I will not now contract a new guilt by offending in Prolixity on the same person. The rather because his Manuscript life written 80. years since by Richard Hall of Christs-colledge in Cambridge, is lately set forth in Print under the name of Thomas B…ily D. D. in which book as I doe not repine at any passages, (though Hyperbolicall) to the praise of this Prelate; so I cannot but be both angry and grieved at the many false and scandalous reflections therein, on the worthy Instruments of our Reformation. This learned Bishop was beheaded in the year 1535. the Threescore and seventeenth year of his age.
Let me adde he was tryed by an Ordinary Jury, and not by his Peers, whereof severall reasons are rendred. Some thought he forgot to demand his Priviledge herein, (disturb'd with grief and fear) as Edward Duke of Somerset forgot to crave the Ben…fit of the Clergy, or, that he neglected it as surfetting of long life, and … of his Dissolution. Others, because he preferred death in a Direct Line before a Circumferential Passage thereunto, (as Certain though not so Compendious) being assured that the Lords durst not displease the King in acquitting him. But most imput… it to his suspicion that if desiring to be tryed by his Peers, it would have been denyed him, as not due to a Bishop. And yet that worthy Lawyer, Judge Stamford in his Pleas of the Crown *…ibro tertio Fol. 153.leaveth it doubtfull, and seemeth inclined to the Affirmative. Besides Sir Robert Brook in his Novell Cases *30. M. 10. p. 465.affirmeth in Express Terms, that a Bishop is Peer of the Realm, and ought to be tryed by his Peers. The best is, our Charity may be Confident, that our Bishops will so inoffensively behave themselves, and God we hope so secure their innocence, that there will not hereafter be need to decide this Question.