The History of the Church of Great Britain, History

The History of the Church of Great Britain · History

p. 423Of thoſe Engliſhmen that have been Cardinals of the Church of Rome.

1. THE firſt Leader of this Band is Pope Joan, called by Sabellicus, Biſh. Godwyn.and ſome others, John the Seventh, but by Platina and other Writers, John the Eighth; who being but a Woman, became not onelyonly Cardinal, but Pope of Rome: She was born at Mentz in Germany, the Daughter of an Engliſh Prieſt, who having a Wife whoſe Parents dwelt at Mentz, bringing his ſaid Wife to ſee her friends, ſtayed there ſo long, till ſhe was delivered of this Feminine Prelate, named in her Baptiſm Joan, as moſt ſay; Gilberta as others; or as Fulgoſus delivereth, Agnes. In her youth ſhe fell acquainted with an Engliſh Monk of the Abbey of Fulda, with whom travelling in Man's apparel to diverſe Univerſities and Monaſteries, as well Greek as Latin, ſhe ſetled in the end at Athens, where ſhe became Famous for Learning, and continued there with him untill the death of her ſaid Paramour. Then coming to Rome, and, by Reading, Diſputing, and other Exerciſes, having purchaſed to her ſelf the reputation of a great Clerk, upon the death of Leo the Fourth, ſhe was choſen Pope, Anno 855. and held that place two years five moneths and three days; in which mean time ſhe was gotten with child by a certain Cardinal: and going in Proceſſion hapned to be delivered of her burden in the open Street, in which place ſhe inſtantly died, viz. between the Coliſco and St. Clement's Church: the ſhame and turpitude of which diſgrace unto that holy See, hath moved all the Biſhops of Rome ſince that time to lengthen a little the walk of their Proceſſion, and to go a way much farther about, rather than they will endure to paſs, by that place. And to prevent the like inconvenience in time to come, they have ordained every Pope after his election to be ſearched by the Junior Deacon in a Marble-chair, made hollow for the ſame purpoſe. Spectatur adhuc (ſaith Sabellicus) in Pontificia domo marmorea ſella circa medium inanis, qua nobis Pontifex continuo ab ejus creatione reſidat, ut ſedentalis Genetalia ab ultimo Diacono attrectentur. This Hiſtory (howſoever impugned of late by the Papiſts) is delivered by Marianus Scotus, and Martin of Poland, who lived Anno 1320. Sabellicus Faſciculus Temporum, Petrarch, and divers others. And Platina recounting this Story, ſaith, Quod omnes fere affirmant, that it is obſerved almoſt by all Writers.

2. The next in time is one Ʋlricus, an Engliſh-man, who being Cardinal, came into England as the Pope's Legate, Anno 1109. and brought the Archiepiſcopal Pall unto Thomas the younger Archbiſhop of York, p. 424and cauſed him to conſecrate Turgod Prior of Durham unto the Biſhoprick of St. Andrews in Scotland.

3. Robert Bullen of Puley, a very Learned Man in his time; unto him the Univerſity of Oxford is much beholden: for whereas in the Reign of King Harold it had been ſo waſted, as that for many years it lay deſolate and forſaken of Scholars, he was a means to draw them thither again: and leaving the Univerſity of Paris, took great pains in Reading, Diſputing, and Writing divers Learned Books; whereby he became ſo famous even in Forreign Nations, as by Pope Innocent the Second he was ſent for to Rome; by Celeſtine the Second, made Cardinal Sancti Euſebii, Anno 1144. and by Lucius the Second, appointed the Pope's Chancellor; he died Anno 1150.

4. Two years after the preferment of Bullen, Nicholas Breakspear was made Biſhop, Cardinal of Alba, and a while after Pope: he was born in Hartford-ſhire at Abbots-Langley, near unto St. Albans; a younger brother of the houſe of Breakspear, and the Son of one Robert a married Prieſt, the which Robert waxing old, and having loſt his Wife, became a Monk in St. Albans, at which time his Son Nicholas was but a tender youth, reſorting to his Father for relief and maintenance; the old man out of a ſuperſtitious conceit that the next way to Heaven was to renounce all care of Friends, Children, and all things elſe, ſave what by the rule of their Order was enjoyned, in a rude and churliſh manner caſt him off, willing him to try his fortune abroad, without expecting from him any manner of ſuccor. He being thus turned off to the wide World without all means of livelihood, went over into France, and travelling through the Countrey found no entertainment till he came to Valentia in Provence, where the Monks of the Abbey of St. Rufus ſeeing him a beautiful and towardly child, witty, and for his age very induſtrious, took him in, and in proceſs of time not onelyonly admitted him into their fraternity, but alſo choſe him firſt Prior, and afterward Abbot, having in the mean time by painful ſtudy attained to much learning.

But many differences grew between him and his Monks, who accuſed him of many things unto the Pope, that then was Eugenius the third. He after examination of the cauſe acquitted the Abbot, and ſharply reprehended the Monks as froward fellows, charging them hereafter to yield unto him as their Governour all dutiful obedience, notwithſtanding which after a little while they renewed their complaints. And as before, ſo now, the Abbot anſwered all their accuſations, and that with ſuch eloquence, diſcretion and modeſty, as the Pope taking a great liking of the man, he told his Accuſers they were unworthy of him; and therefore willing them to ſeek for ſome other for his place, with whom they might better agree; he created him Biſhop, Cardinal, of Alba, Anno 1146. Soon after which time, upon experience of his great Wiſdom and Learning, he ſent him as his Legate into the Countries of Denmark and p. 425Norway, the Inhabitants whereof being then Pagans, he converted unto Chriſtian Religion. At his return out of thoſe parts Anaſtatius the Pope, who (Eugenius being dead in the mean time) had ſucceeded him, together with his Cardinals, received him with great honour, much approving his doings. It hapned that within a few moneths after his return, the ſaid Pope died alſo: and this man alſo taking upon him the name of Hadrian the Fourth, was choſen Pope in hi room. This was He that brought under his entire obedience the Citizens of Rome; that compelled the Emperor Frederick Barbaroſſa to hold his Stirrup, and appointed the Abbot of St. Albans to be the firſt Abbot of England, as St. Alban to whom the Abbey was dedicated, was the firſt Martyr of England. Having ſate four years nine moneths, he died at Anagnia, being choaked by a fly in his d…ink.

5. Some report, that Geoffry of Monmouth, the Author of the Britiſh Hiſtory, was a Cardinal at Rome. This can hardly be made good, but this is evident, he was conſecrated Biſhop of St. Aſaph, Anno 1151.

6. Buſa an Engliſh-man, ſaith John Bale, Nephew unto Pope Hadrian, was made a Cardinal and the Pope's Chamberlain, Anno 1155. his Titles were firſt S S. Coſmae & Damiani, then S. Crucis in Jeruſalem, afterwards S. Pudentianae. Through his endeavour chiefly Alexander the Third was choſen Pope, by the voices of nineteen Cardinals: yet another Antipope was ſet up againſt him, having four voices onelyonly: Under him, the ſaid Alexander, he lived in great authority and favour, and died Anno 1180.

7. The book entitled, Antiquitates Britannicae, aſcribed to the late moſt Reverend Archbiſhop Matthew Parker, reporteth, how that William Corbet, Archbiſhop of Canterbury, being deceaſed, Henry de Bloys Biſhop of Wincheſter, and Brother unto King Stephen, procured himſelf to be made a Cardinal, and appointed Legate a latere from the Pope.

8. Herebert, born at Boſham in Suſſex, brought up in Oxford (where he proceeded Doctor in Divinity) was Secretary unto Thomas Becket, Archbiſhop of Canterbury, at the time of the ſaid Becket's ſlaughter; the Hiſtory whereof he wrote (beſides divers other works) mentioned by John Bale. Pope Lucius the Third made him Cardinal, Anno 1178. and beſtowed upon him the Archbiſhoprick of Beneventum.

9. John Cummin, an Engliſh-man, and Archbiſhop of Dublin, was created a Prieſt-cardinal by Pope Lucius the Third, at Velitum, Anno 1183. as teſtifieth that vertuous, learned, and eloquent man Giraldus Cambrenſis.

10. Stephen Langton, afterwards Archbiſhop of Canterbury, was created Cardinal S. Chryſogoni, 1212.

11. Robert Curſon, a Gentleman well deſcended, and an Oxford-man, was made Cardinal of S. Stephen in Coelio monte: he was a good Divine, and eminent Preacher. From Oxford he went to Paris, where he proceeded p. 426Doctor of Divinity: Anno 1219. he was with King Lewis, the French King, at the taking of Damiata in Egypt; after that, in the time of Honorius the Third, he was here as Legate in England: he left behind him a ſum of Divinity, and a Diſcourſe touching the ſalvation of Origen, certain ſolemn Lectures, and ſome other Works much eſteemed.

12. Robert Somerſcot made Cardinal of S. Euſtachius, Anno 1234. he was a man (ſaith Matthew Paris) diſcretus & circumſpectu omnibus amabilis merito & gratioſus. He was to have been elected Pope, after Pope Gregory the Ninth, but that ſome of the Cardinals cauſed him to be poiſoned in the Conclave, where the Cardinals were aſſembled to make the election.

13. Matthew Paris maketh mention of an Engliſh Cardinal, called John, that when the Pope was very angry, becauſe King Henry the Third withſtood a certain exaction of His, and threatned to do great matters againſt him, ſought by many effectual reaſons to divert him from his publick courſe, but to no purpoſe, till at length the King for fear of his thunderbolts, was fain to yield. This man died at the Council at Lyons, Anno 1274.

14. Atcherius, Archdeacon of London (where John Bale ſaith he was born) was created Cardinal of S. Praxedis, Anno 1261. He died at Rome, November 1. 1286. and was buried in the Church to which he was entitled.

15. William Bray Doctor of Divinity, an Engliſh-man, between whom and the ſaid Archerus had been a long continued Band of friendſhip even from their childhood. Being Archdeacon of Rhemes he was created by the ſame Pope, Cardinal of S. Mark, Anno 1262. He died at Civita Vecchia, Anno 1282. in the time of the vacancy.

16 Robert Kilwarby, being Archbiſhop of Canterbury, reſigned his ſaid Archbiſhoprick, to be Biſhop, Cardinal of Portus, whereunto he was appointed by Pope Nicholas the Third.

17. Hugh de Eveſham, being a Phyſitian of the greateſt renown of any then living in the Chriſtian World, as alſo well ſeen in the Mathematicks (eſpecially in Aſtrology) was ſent for to Rome, by Pope Martin the Fourth, to give his opinion in certain doubts, and queſtions of Phyſick, which he performed ſo learnedly and readily, as gave great ſatisfaction. He was created Cardinal of St. Laurence in Lucina, Anno 1280. and was poiſoned.

18. John Bale reporteth of one Theobaldus an Engliſh man, that (as he ſaith) was created Cardinal S. Sabinae in Aventino, by Pope Martin the Fourth Anno 1289.

19. A Catalogue of Engliſh Cardinals, in the Hiſtory of Archbiſhop Parker, mentioneth one Bernard de Auguiſcello, that being Archbiſhop of Arles, was made Biſhop, Cardinal, of Portua, Anno 1281. and died 1…90.

p. 42720. In the ſaid Catalogue we find alſo one Berardus made Biſhop, Cardinal, of Praeneſte: Anno 1268, he was ſometime Canon of York: he died in June 1291.

21. The Regiſter of Ralph Baldock, containing a Catalogue of the Deans of St. Paul's, reporteth, that one Arnoldus de Cantilupo, Dean of Pauls, was a Prieſt Cardinal, Anno 1306.

22. One Leonardus Guercinus, is likewiſe mentioned in the ſame Catalogue, he was made a Prieſt Cardinal by Pope Clement the Fifth, Anno 1310.

23. Pope Benedict the Eleventh, who himſelf had been a Friar-preacher, and General of that order, made William Macklesfield a Friar-preacher (a Batchelour of Divinity at Paris, and Doctor at Oxford) a Cardinal S. Sabinae, Anno 1303. whereas he had been dead then four moneths before. His Cardinals hat notwithſtanding was carried to London where he was buried, and with great ſolemnity ſet upon his hearſe. He was born near Coventry.

24. Upon the news of Macklesfield's death, the Pope ordained in his place, and to the ſame title one Walter Winterburn, born in Sarum, a Friar-preacher (as was the other) a Doctor of Divinity, Confeſſor to King Edward the Third, and Provincial of his Order. He enjoyed his honour not paſt fifteen moneths, died in the eightieth year of his Age, Anno 1305. and was buried at London. A man of great learning, whereof he left ſome Monuments in writing not yet periſhed.

25. Thomas Joyce the next Provincial, of the Friars-preachers in England, ſucceeded Winterburn not onelyonly in the place, but in his Cardinalſhip too; being likewiſe Doctor of Divinity, and Confeſſor to the King: being employed in an Ambaſſage to the Emperor, he died on the way, Anno 1307. and was buried in the Church of the Friars-preachers in Oxford, where he had been brought up. He had ſix brethren Preachers, by the ſame Mother, whereof one named Walter, became Archbiſhop of Armagh: Diverſe of his works are remembred by John Bale.

26. Sextorius a Britan, that in his youth became a Franciſcan Friar, of which Order he was choſen the nineteenth General, Anno 1339. Then by Pope Innocent he was appointed firſt Biſhop of Marſilia, after that Archbiſhop of Ravenna; then Patriarch of Grado, and laſtly Cardinal: September 17. 1361. but he died the ſame monethmonth. He wrote a Commentary upon S. Auguſtine de Civitate Dei, Expoſitions upon divers parts of the Bible, Sermons, Lectures, and divers other diſcourſes.

27. Pope Ʋrban the Fifth, named William Griſant, was (as Thomas Walſingham affirmeth) an Engliſh-man: he was the Son of a famous Engliſh Phyſitian, named alſo William Griſant, brought up in Merton-colledge. He died December 19. Anno 1370.

28. The firſt Cardinal created by the ſaid Ʋrban, was one Anglicus Grimaldi de Griſacco, who was ſuppoſed to have been an Engliſh man: p. 428but all acknowledge that he was the Pope's brother's ſon, and ſo Engliſh by deſcent. He was Cardinal S. Petri ad Vincula at firſt and afterwards Biſhop Cardinal of Alba: he died at Avignon, Anno 1387. having held in Commendam many years the Deanary of York.

29. Bale ſuppoſeth John Thoresby, Archbiſhop of York, to have been created a Prieſt-cardinal S. Sabinae.

30. Simon Langham, Archbiſhop of Canterbury, was created a Prieſt-cardinal by the aforeſaid Ʋrban in September 1368. and afterward preſented to be Biſhop Cardinal of Praeneſte by Gregory the Eleventh.

31. Adam Eaſton, a Benedictine Monk of Norwich; born in Hereford-ſhire, proceeded Doctor of Divinity in Oxford, wrote much; a man of great wiſdom and learning: he was created Cardinal S. Caeciliae, Pope Ʋrban apprehended at one time no leſs than ſeven Cardinals (this Cardinal being one) and after long impriſonment, cauſed five of them to be ſowed up into ſacks, and with barbarous cruelty to be thrown into the Sea. But this man (whoſe good fortune it was to eſcape) he committed to cloſe priſon, till, by the earneſt entreaty of King Richard the Second, he was allowed ſome more liberty, all his Livings being taken from him. In that poor eſtate he continued five years even untill the death of Ʋrban. His next ſucceſſor Boniface the Ninth, ſet him quite at liberty, and reſtored him to all his preferments again; which thing was ſolemnly declared to the Eſtates aſſembled in Parliament at Weſtminſter, Anno 1390. after which time he lived ſeven years in great proſperity, and died September 19. 1397. and was buried in his own title, where he hath a Monument of Marble with his Armes and Picture, and this rude Epitaph.

Artibus iſte pater famoſus in omnibus Adam,

Theologus ſummus, cardique nalis erat.

Anglia cui patriam, Titulum dedit iſta Beatae

Coeciliae que — morſ que ſuprema polum.

Anno 1397. menſ. Septemb.

He left in writing above twenty ſeveral Volumes, whereof the greateſt part were either written in Hebrew, or Tranſlations out of Hebrew; or at leaſt ſome diſcourſes concerning the Hebrew Tongue. Among the reſt it is ſaid, that he Tranſlated all the Old Teſtament out of Hebrew into Latin.

32. William Courtney, then Biſhop of London, was alſo made Cardinal by the ſame Ʋrban.

33. Philip Repingdon, ſometime Abbot of Leiceſter, conſecrated Biſhop of Lincoln, March 29. 1405. having been heretofore a great defender of the Doctrine of John Wickliff, was created Cardinal, S S. Nevei & Achillei, September 18. 1408. by Pope Gregory the Twelfth, who p. 429before had taken a ſolemn Oath to make no more Cardinals, till the controverſie concerning the Papacy was ended: but being forſaken by all his Cardinals except onelyonly five, the better to ſtrengthen himſelf, he created ten in one day, whereof this man was one.

34. Thomas Langley, Biſhop of Durham, was created a Prieſt-cardinal, June 6. 1411. by Pope John the Twenty ſecond. He died Anno 1437.

35. Robert Halam, Biſhop of Sarum, was alſo created a Prieſt-cardinal, the ſame day he died, in the Caſtle of Gotlieb near Conſtance, being at the General Council there, September 4. 1417. having ſate Biſhop of that Church nine years.

36. Henry Beaufort, brother to King Edward the Fourth, and Biſhop of Wincheſter, was created Cardinal of S. Euſebius by Pope Martin the Eighth. June 23. 1426. He died April 11. 1447. and was buried in his own Church.

37. Henry Chichely was created Cardinal, Anno 1428. ſaith the Author of Antiquit. Britan.

38. John Kemp, Archbiſhop of York, was ordained Cardinal of S. Euſebius, August 9. 1439. long after being Archbiſhop of Canterbury, he was removed to the Title of S. Ruffinus.

39. Thomas Bourchier, Archbiſhop of Canterbury, was created by Pope Paul the Second, Cardinal S. Syriaci in Thermis, Anno 1464. He died March 30. 1486.

40. John Morton, Archbiſhop of Canterbury, was, by Pope Alexander the Fifth, created Cardinal S. Anaſtaſii, Anno 1493. He died Anno 1500.

41. Chriſtopher Bainbrigg, Archbiſhop of York, was made a Cardinal S. Praxedis, Anno 1511.

42. Thomas Wolſey, Archbiſhop of York, was created Cardinal S. Coeciliae, September 7. He died November 29. 1530.

43. John Fiſher, D…ctor of Divinity, and Biſhop of Rocheſter, was made Cardinal S. Vitalis: for refuſing the King's ſupremacy, and diſſallowing his marriage wi…h the Lady Anne Bolen, he was beheaded on the Tower-hill, 1535.

44. Reginald Pool, afterward Archbiſhop of Canterbury, was created Cardinal by Pope Paul the Third, May 22. 1536. and had three ſeveral Titles: the firſt S. Nerei & Achillei; then S. Mariae in Coſmedin; and laſtly S. Priſ…ae. He died November 7. 1558.

45. Peter Petow, a Friar, was made Cardinal by Pope Paul the Fourth, June 13. 1557. and alſo nominated by him unto the Biſhoprick of Sarum; and all to croſs and diſgrace Cardinal Pool. He died in France within the compaſs of the ſame year, and might never ſet Foot in England, to make ſhew of his red Hat, as (doubtleſs) he greatly deſired to have done.

p. 43046. William Allen, born in England: He raiſed a great combuſtion in our Church. This fugitive was born in Lancaſhire, and brought up in Orial Colledge; he ran away beyond the Seas, for his treaſonable practices againſt his Countrey: he was by the Pope and other Enemies of the ſame, promoted to divers Eccleſiaſtical preferments; and laſtly had a Cardinal's hat beſtowed upon him in Auguſt 1587. He died a Prieſt-cardinal S. Martini in Montibus 1594. and was buried in the Church of the Engliſh Colledge at Rome.

Of the ſeveral Orders and Monks that have been in England.

Ex Fuleri Eccleſ. Hiſt. 1.MAthew Paris tells us, that in his time, Tot jam apparuerunt ordines in Anglia, ut ordinum confuſio videretur inordinata; there then appeared ſo many Orders in England, that there ſeemed to be an inordinate confuſion of Orders.

1. The Benedictines, or black Monks, the primitive Monks in England, ſo called from St. Benedict or Bennet, an Italian, firſt Father and founder of that Order. Auguſtine, the Monk, firſt brought them ov…r into England; and theſe black Monks firſt neſted in Canterbury, whence they have flown out into all the parts of the Kingdom. For (as Clement Reyner obſerveth rightly) all the Abbies of England before King William the Conqueror (and ſome while after) were filled with this Order: and though the Auguſtinians were their Seniors in Europe, yet they were their Juniors in England. The ſame Order was afterwards ſet forth in a new edition, corrected and amended under the names of.

Firſt, Cluniacks, Theſe were Benedictines refined, with ſome additionals invented and impoſed upon them, by Odo the Fourth of Clugny in Normandy, who lived Anno 913. But theſe Cluniacks came not into England, till after the Norman Conqueſt, and had their richeſt Covents at Barnſtable in Devon-ſhire, Pontefract and Meaux in York-ſhire, &c.

Secondly, Siſtercians, ſo called, from one Robert living in Ciſtercium in Burgundy. He the ſecond time refined the droſſie Benedictines; and Walter Eſpick firſt eſtabliſhed their Order, in England, at Rival in York-ſhire; beſides which they have had many other pleaſant and plentiful habitations at Warden and Woburn in Bedford-ſhire, Buckland and Ford in Devon-ſhire, Bindon in Dorſet-ſhire, &c. The Bernardine Monks were of a younger houſe, or under-branch of the Ciſtercians. King John built an Abbey of the Ciſtercian Order at Beaulieu in Hant-ſhire.

p. 431Thirdly, Of Grandmont, which obſerved St. Bennet's rule. Theſe were brought into England, Anno 1233. and were principally fixed at Abberbury in Shrop-ſhire.

Theſe Benedictines with their ſeveral branches were ſo numerous, and ſo richly endowed, that in their revenues they did match all the Orders in England, eſpecially if the foundations of Benedictine Nuns be joyned in the ſame reckoning.

2. The Auguſtinian Monks ſucceed; it is conceived that Eudo the Dapifer, or Sewer to King Henry the Firſt, firſt brought them into England, Anno 1105. and that St. Johns at Colcheſter was the prime place of their reſidence. Doctor Fuller ſaith, that Waltham Abbey (for Benedictines at the firſt) had it's Copy altered, and beſtowed on Auguſtinians. Theſe Auguſtinians were alſo called Canons Regular. This Order in England brought forth ſeventy eminent Writers, and one in Germany worth them all in effect: I mean Martin Luther, who gave a mortal wound to all theſe Orders, yea to the root of the Romiſh Religion.

3. Gilbertine Monks, a mongrel Order, obſerving ſome ſelect rules,Camden in Lincoln-ſhire. partly of St. Bennet, partly of St. Auguſtine, ſo named from Gilbert (ſon to Joceline a Knight) Lord of Sempringham in Lincoln-ſhire. Being backed with the Authority of Pope Eugenius the Third, he ordained a Sect conſiſting of men and women, which ſo grew and encreaſed; that himſelf laid the foundations of thirteen Religious houſes of this Order.

4. Carthuſian Monks, much famed for their mortified lives, and abſtinence from all fleſh. Bruno firſt founded them in the Dolphinate in France, Anno 1080. and ſome ſixty years after they were firſt brought over into England. William de long a Spata, Earl of Salisbury, founded the firſt houſe of Carthuſian Monks at Heltrop; whoſe wife Ela after his death founded the houſe of Nuns at Lacock in Wilt-ſhire, and there continued her ſelf Abbeſs of the place. The Books of the Engliſh Carthuſians were many, there being no leſs than eleven hundred Authors of them, their writings tend much to mortification; and out of them Parſons the Jeſuite hath collected a good part of his reſolutions.

Of the Benedictine Monks, there is reported to have been of that Order, twenty four Popes of Rome, one hundred eighty two Cardinals, one thouſand four hundred ſixty four Archbiſhops and Biſhops, fifteen thouſand and ſeventy Abbots of renown. Pope John the Twenty ſecond ſaith, there have been of this Order five thouſand ſix hundred fifty ſix Monks Canonized, and made Saints.

The cloathing and rule of the Cluniacks was according to the appointment of St. Benedicts rule.

The Ceſtercians wear red ſhooes, and white rochets on a black coat: they are all ſho… ſa…e a little circle.

p. 432The Order of thoſe of Grandmont, is to lead a ſtrait life (as Monks uſe to do) to give themſelves to Watching, Faſting and Prayer; to wear a coat of Males upon their bodies, and a black cloak thereupon.

The Auguſtinians, or Regular Canons, their cloathing, by their firſt foundation, was a white coat, and a linnen rotchet under a black cope, with a ſcapular to cover their head and ſhoulders.

The Gilbertines may boaſt, that whereas Benedictines are by original Italians, Auguſtinians, African, Carthuſians French, Dominicans Spaniſh, &c. they are pure Engliſh by the extraction of their Order.

The life of the Carthuſians was outwardly full of painted holineſs, in forbearing fleſh, in faſting from bread and water every Friday, in wearing hair-clothes next their body; they were addicted to much ſilence and ſolitarineſs, never going abroad, refuſing all women's company, with other like ceremonies.

Of the ſeveral ſorts of Friars that have been in England.

HEre it will be neceſſary to premiſe, what was the diſtinction between the Monks and Friars. The moſt eſſential difference is this: Monks had nothing in propriety, nor in common, but, being Mendicants, begged all their ſubſiſtence from the charity of others. Indeed they had houſes or cells to dwell in, or rather to hide themſelves in, but they had no means thereunto belonging.

But it may be Objected, That many Convents of Friars had large and ample Revenues, amounting to ſome hundreds (though never thouſands) by the year. I Anſwer, That from the beginning (of the Inſtitution of Friars) it was not ſo. Theſe additions of Lands unto them was of latter date: not of their ſeeking, but of their Benefactors caſting upon them.

We begin with their four elemental Orders. Wickliff commonly inveigheth againſt Friars under the name of C. A. J. M.

C. Carmelites,

A. Auguſtinians,

J. Jacobines,

M. Minorites,

or

Dominicans,

Franciſcans.

An uncharitable Rythmer thus lets fly at them.

Per decies binos Sathanas capiat Jacoboinas,

Propter & errores Jeſu confunde Minores,

Auguſtienſes, pater inclyte ſterne per enſes,

Et Carmelitas tanquam falſos Heremitas,

p. 433Sunt Confeſſores Dominorum, ſeu Dominarum,

Et ſeductores ipſraum ſunt animarum.

1. Of theſe,Anno 1221 the Dominicans were the firſt Friars which came over into England, being but twelve in number, with Gilbert de Fraxineto their Prior; firſt landed at Canterbury, fixed at Oxford, but richly endowed at London. They were commonly called Black Friars, Preaching Friars, and Jacobine Friars. They took their name from St. Dominick, born at Calogora in Spain: and Hubert de Burgo, Earl of Kent, was their chief Patron, beſtowing his Palace in the Suburbs of London upon them, which afterwards they ſold to the Archbiſhops of York reſiding therein; till by ſome tranſactions between King Henry the Eighth, and Cardinal Wolſey, it became the Royal Court, now known by the name of Whitehall. Afterwards by the bounty of Gregory Rockſley Lord Mayor of London, and Robert Kilwarby Archbiſhop of Canterbury, they were more conveniently lodged in two Lanes on the bank of Thames, and ſtill retaining the name of Black Friars; no fewer than eighty Engliſh writers are accounted of this Order at this day. As beyond the Seas they are much condemned for being the ſole active managers of the cruel Spaniſh Inquiſition; ſo they deſerve due commendation for their Orthodox Judgements, in maintaining ſome controverſies in Divinity of importance againſt the Jeſuites.

2. Franciſcans follow, commonly called Gray Friers, or Minorites: either in alluſion to Jacob's words, ſum minor omnibus beneficiis tuis; or from ſome other humble expreſſions in the New Teſtament. They received their name from St. Francis, born in the Dutchy of Spoletum in Italy; Canonized by Pope Gregory the Ninth; about two years after whoſe death the Franciſcans came over into England, and one Diggs (Anceſtor to Sir Dudley Diggs) bought for them their firſt ſeat in Canterbury, who afteward were diffuſed all over England. They were well-skilled in School-divinity, and had a curious Library in London (built by Richard Whittington) in that age coſting five hundred and fifty pounds.

One Bernard of Siena, about the year 1400. refined the Franciſcans into Obſervants. King Edward the Fourth, firſt brought them into England, where they had ſix famous Cloyſters; ſince which time there have been a new Order of Minims begun beyond the Seas, Recollects, Penitentaries, Capuchins, &c. ſeeing they had their riſe ſince the fall of Abbies in England, they belong not to our preſent enquiry, &c. This Order afforded in England a hundred and ten Learned Writers.

3. Carmelites, or White Friars, come next; ſo named from Mount Carmel; brought over into England, in the Reign of King Richard the Firſt, by Ralph Freeborn; and placed at Alnwick in Northumberland, in a wilderneſs moſt like unto Carmel in Syria, whoſe Convent at their p. 444diſſolution, in the Reign of King Henry the Eighth, was at low rates in that cheap County, valued at one hundred ninety and four pound and ſeven ſhillings per Annum; Speeds Catal. p. 795. Reyner. de Apoſtolatu Benedictinorum. p. 164 Vide the Catalog. in Fullers Church Hiſt. l. 6. p. 272by which we may ſee, that even Mendicant Friars had houſes endowed even with Revenues. Hi cum primis Monachis Britonum & Scororum ex Aegypto & Paleſtina in Britanicas Inſulas Monachatum intulerunt. It is ſaid in the praiſe of our Carmelites, that they were moſt careful in keeping the Records of their Order. Let them thank John Bale herein once of them, who in his youth made the Catalogue out of love to his Order, and in his old age preſerved it out of his affection to Antiquity. This Order was vertical, and in the higheſt exaltation thereof in the Reign of King Edward the Fourth, under Nicholas Kenton their twenty fifth Provincial. They reckoned no fewer than one thouſand five hundred of their Order. But when John Milverton, his ſucceſſor, began, in favour of Friary, furiouſly to ingage againſt Biſhops, and the Secular Clergy, the Carmelites good Maſters and Dames began to forſake them, and they never recovered their credit till they were utterly diſſolved. John Bird, the one and thirtieth Provincial of this Order, zealouſly impugned the Pope's Supremacy in his Sermons, for which he was made the firſt Biſhop of Cheſter, and was ejected that See in the Reign of Queen Mary, becauſe he was married. The Carmelites boaſt very much of one Simon Stock of their Order,Stow's Survay of London, p. 821. a Kentiſh boy, which being but twelve years old, went out into the Woods, and there fed on roots and wild fruit, living in the trunk of an hollow Tree, whence he got the Sirname of Stock. Having a revelation that ſoon after Some ſhould come out of Syria, and confirm his Order, which came to paſs when the Carmelites came hither, he afterwards became Maſter General of their Order (to whom the reſpective Provincials are accountable) and, is ſaid to be famous for his miracles.

4. Auguſtinian Eremites, they entred England, Anno 1252. and had their firſt habitation at St. Peters in the Poor in London; Theſe probably taking the denomination of poverty (otherwiſe at this day a very rich Pariſh in the City) becauſe the ſaid Auguſtinian Eremites went under the notion of begging Friars. Mean time what a mockery was this (as Doctor Fuller obſerveth) that theſe ſhould pretend to be Eremites, who inſtead of a wide Wilderneſs, lived in Broad-ſtreet London, where their Church now belongeth to the Dutch Congregation. Theſe Auguſtine Friars were good Diſputants.

Peacon's Relicks of Rome.The Order of the Dominicans is without all ſhame to beg, and forſake little by wilful poverty, that they may obtain much, and to wax rich of other mens labours, they themſelves being idle, lazy and unprofitable drones of the Earth. Their coat is white, their cope and coule is black. The new guiſe of their veſture made Pope Innocent to wonder. But Pope Honorius the Third by his Bull honourably admitted the black Order of the Black Friars.

p. 445The Gray Friars, or Franciſcans, go barefooted, as Francis their founder did, and gird themſelves with a cord, wearing a little coule, whence ſome think they are called Minorites. Some of them be called Friars Obſervants, and are counted of more holineſs than the common ſort of Gray Friars are, which are called Minorites. At firſt the colour of their cope was ruſſet, but afterward was turned into white by Pope Honorius the Third. This Order (ſaith the Dutch Chronicle) is to begg, to take of every man, and to do nothing again for it. They lye, diſſemble, and beguile the people with flattering words under the pretence of long prayer.

William Duke of Aquitain, and Count of Lectavia, invented or rather renued the Order of the Auguſtine Friars, which had been before long decayed. This William firſt dwelt in the Wilderneſs with his Brethren, chaſtiſed his fleſh, and ſubdued it with a coat of male on his bare Body, Praying, VVatching, and Faſting night and day, ſo that he was called a Father and Reſtorer of that Order. Thus much for the four principal ſorts of Friers.

The following Orders were but additional Deſcants upon the former, with ſome variations of their Founders, among whom were.

1. THE Trinitarians, for whom Robert Rookſley built firſt an houſe at Mottingden in Kent: they were called alſo de Redemptione Captivorum; whoſe work was to beg money of well-diſpoſed people for the ranſoming of Chriſtians in captivity with the Pagans.

2. The Crouched Friars, who came over into England 1244. with the Pope's Authentick and this unuſual priviledge, that none ſhould reprove their Order, or upbraid them, or command them under pain of excommunication. Some ſay, they carried a croſs on their ſtaves, others on their backs, called, in French, a Crouch, the place of Crouched Friars in London ſtill retaineth the Name.

3. The Bonhomes, or good men, being alſo Eremites brought over into England, by Richard Earl of Cornwal, in the Reign of his Brother King Henry the Third, ſo ſtiled becauſe of their ſignal goodneſs. Theſe Bonhomes, though begging Friars (the pooreſt of Orders) and Eremites the moſt ſequeſtred of begging Friars, had two, and it is believed, no more Covents in all England (Monks onelyonly excepted) the one at Aſheridge in Buckingham-ſhire, now the manſion of the Right Honourable the Earl of Bridgewater: it was valued, at the diſſolution. yearly at four hundred forty ſeven pound eight ſhillings half-penny. The other at Eddingdon in Wilt-ſhire, the late habitation of the Lady Beauchamp, valued, when diſſolved, at five hundred twenty one pound twelve ſhillings half-penny.

p. 436In the year 1257. aroſe two new Orders, both of them were fixed in Cambridge: the firſt, the brethren, De paenitentia Jeſu (otherwiſe Fratres Saccati, brethren of the Sack) whoſe Cell is ſince turned into Peter-houſe. Matthew Paris gives this account of them, at their firſt coming into England; Eodem tempore quidam novus ordo fratrum Londini apparuit, & incognitus. Papale tamen autenticum palam oſtendens, ita ut tot ordinum confuſio videretur, qui, quia ſaccis incedebant induti, Fratres Saccati vocabantur. It is moſt likely, that this avaritious Pope Alexander, inſtituted this new Order to help fill his bag and Sachel by theſe Fratres Saccati, employed to promote his rapines and revenues, as the Friars Minorites, and Predicants were.

The other were the Bethlemites, dwelling ſomewhere in Trompington-ſtreet, and wearing a Star with five raies on their backs.

I will conclude with the Robertines, who owe their original to one Robert Flower, who had been twice Mayor of York, who forſaking the fair Lands left him by his Father, betook himſelf to a ſolitary life about the rocks in Nidſdale in York-ſhire, and it ſeemeth) at Knaresborough the firſt and laſt houſe was erected for his Order.

Of the Templars, and Hoſpitallers.

THE Inner Temple and Middle Temple, in London, do now ſtand in the very place, where, in times paſt, in the Reign of King Henry the Second, Heraclius Patriarch of Jeruſalem Conſecrated a Church for Knights Templars, which they had newly built according to the form of the Temple, near unto the Sepulchre of our Lord at Jeruſalem. For, at their firſt inſtitution, about the year of our Lord 1113. they dwelt in part of the Temple hard by the Sepulchre, whereof they were ſo named; they vowed Poverty, Chaſtity, and Obedience, to defend Chriſtian Religion, the holy Land, and Pilgrims going to viſit the Lord's Sepulchre againſt all Mahometans and Infidels: whereupon all men moſt willingly and moſt cordially embraced them: ſo that through the boun…eous liberality of Princes and devout people, having gotten in all places very fair poſſeſſions, and exceeding great wealth; they flouriſhed in great reputation for Piety and Devotion; yea and in the opinion,Gamdens deſcription of London. both of the holineſs of the men and of the place, King Henry the Third, and many Noble men, deſired much to be buried in their Church among them: ſome of whoſe Images are there to be ſeen with their leggs acroſs; for ſo they were buried in that age, That had taken upon them the Croſs (as they then termed it) to ſerve in the holy Land, or had vowed the ſame.

p. 437But in proceſs of time, when with unſatiable greedineſs they had hoorded up great wealth, by withdrawing Tithes from Churches, appropriating ſpiritual livings to themſelves, and other hard means, from Almes-men they turned Lords: and though very Valiant at the firſt (for they were ſworn rather to die than to fly) afterwards they grew lazy, they laughed at the Rules of their firſt Inſtitution, as at the ſwadlingclothes of their Infancy, neglecting the Patriarch: at length, partly their vitiouſneſs, and partly their wealth, cauſed their final extirpation. Pope Clement having long ſojourned in France, Fullers Supplement of the Hiſt. of the Holy War, l. 5. c. 1.had received many real Courteſies from King Philip the Fair; At laſt Philip requeſted of the Pope all the Lands of the Knights Templars through France, forfeited (as was pretended) by reaſon of their horrible Hereſies, and licentious living. The Pope was willing to gratifie him in ſome good proportion for his favours received: and therefore being thus long the King's Gueſt, he gave him the Templars Lands and Goods to pay for his entertainment. On a ſudden all the Templars in France are clapt in priſon, damnable ſins are laid to their charge, and they moſt cruelly burned to death at a ſtake, with James the Grand Maſter of their Order. All Europe followed the Copy that France had ſet them. Here in England King Edward the Second, of that name, ſuppreſſed the Order, and put them to death. So by vertue of a Writ ſent from him to Sir John Wogan, Lord Chief Juſtice in Ireland, were they ſerved there: and ſuch was the ſecrecy of the contrivance of the buſineſs, that the ſtorm fell upon them ere they were aware of it.

In England their poſſeſſions were by Authority of Parliament aſſigned to the Hoſpitaller-Knights of St. John of Jeruſalem; leaſt that ſuch Lands given to good and pious uſes, againſt the Donour's will ſhould be given to other uſes. At the North-ſide of the City of London, John Briſet, a rich and devout man, built an Houſe for the Knights Hoſpitallers of St. John of Jeruſalem, which in time grew ſo great, that it reſembled a Palace, and had in it a very fair Church, and a Tower-ſteeple raiſed to ſo great height, with ſo fine workmanſhip, that while it ſtood, it was a ſingular beauty and ornament to the City. Theſe Knights Hoſpitallers, at their firſt Inſtitution, about the year 1124. and long after, were ſo lowly all the while they continued poor, that their Governor was ſtiled ſervant to the poor ſervitors of the Hoſpital of Jeruſalem, like as the Maſter of the Templars, who ſhortly after aroſe, was termed, The Humble Miniſter of the poor Knights of the Temple.

The Hoſpitallers ware a white Croſs upon their upper black Garment, and by ſolemn profeſſion were bound to ſerve Pilgrims and poor people in the Hoſpital of St. John at Jeruſalem, and to ſecure the paſſages thither; they charitably buried the dead, they were aſſiduous in prayer, mortified themſelves with watchings and faſtings; they were p. 448courteous and kind to the poor,Camd. deſcrip. of London. whom they called their Maſters, and fed with white bred, while themſelves lived with brown, and carried themſelves with great auſterity: whereby they purchaſed to themſelves the love and liking of all ſorts, and through the bounty of good Princes, and private perſons, admiring their piety and proweſs, they roſe from this low degree to ſo high an Eſtate, and great riches, that they did after a ſort wallow in wealth and riches. For about the year of our Lord 1240. they had within Chriſtendom nineteen thouſand Lordſhips, or Mannors, like as the Templars nine thouſand. And this eſtate of theirs grown to ſo great an height made way for them to as great Honours, ſo as their Prior in England was reputed the prime Baron of the Land (called the Lord of St. Johns) and able with fulneſs and abundance of all things to maintain an honourable Port, untill that King Henry the Eighth gat their Lands and livings into his own hands, like as he did of the Monaſteries alſo.

They out lived all other Orders, yet at laſt they fell into a Praemunire: for they ſtill continued their obedience to the Pope (contrary to their Allegiance) whoſe Uſurped authority was baniſhed out of the Land.

They were forced to reſign all into the King's hands: He allowed to Sir William Weſton, Weavers Monum. p. 114.Lord Prior of the Order, an annual penſion of One thouſand pounds. But he never received a penny thereof, but died inſtantly, ſtruck to the heart when he firſt heard of the diſſolution of his Priory, and lyeth buried in the Chauncel of Clarkenwell, with the pourtraiture of a dead man lying on his ſhroud, moſt artificially cut in Stone: others had rent aſſigned them of two hundred pound, one hundred pound, ſixty pound, fifty pound, twenty pound, ten pound; according to their ſeveral qualities and deſerts.

Queen Mary ſets up the Hoſpitallers again, and Sir Thomas Treſham, of Ruſhton in Northampton-ſhire, was the firſt and laſt Lord Prior after their Reſtitution: for their neſts were plucked down, before they were warm in them, by the coming in of Queen Elizabeth.

p. 449Of the Engliſh Nuns.

I Come now to Nuns, almoſt as numerous in England, as Monks and Friers, as having (though not ſo many Orders) yet more of the ſame Order. The weaker ſex hath ever equalled men in their Devotion, often exceeded them in their Superſtition.

At Liming in Kent the Daughter of King Ethelbert took the veile, and became the firſt Engliſh Nun.

There was an Hermophrodite Order (as is aforeſaid) admitting both Men and Women under the ſame roof, and during the life of Gilbert their firſt founder, for ſeven hundred Brethren there were one thouſand one hundred Siſters entred into that Order. Doctor Fuller divides the Nuns into three ſorts.

Firſt, The Antienteſt.

Secondly, The Pooreſt.

Thirdly, The lateſt Nuns in England.

1. Of the firſt ſort, he accounteth the She Benedictines, commonly called black Nuns. Bennet the Monk, after he had placed himſelf and his Monkiſh Brethren in a certain Noble and Famous Cloyſter upon the Mount Caſſinus, raiſed up alſo an Order of Nuns, and made his Siſter Scholaſtica Abbeſs over them. The apparrel of theſe black Nuns is a black coat, cloak, coule, and veyl: and leaſt the Scripture ſhould deceive her and hers, it was commanded, that none of that Order ſhould read the Holy Scripture, without conſent or permiſſion of their Superior.

2. The pooreſt follow, being the ſtrict Order of St. Clare, a Lady living at the ſame time, and in the ſame Town with St. Francis; ſhe aſſembled and gathered together a Congregation of poor Women, and gave them an Order of life, like unto the rule that Frier Francis gave his Covent. Their garment is gray, their Order admitteth none but women-kind, except it be to ſay Maſs.

3. The Nuns of St. Bridget were the lateſt in England, firſt ſetled here in the ſecond year of King Henry the Fifth, Anno Domini 1415. diſſolved with the reſt, Anno 1538. ſo that they continued here onelyonly one hundred twenty three years. Bridget, Queen of Sweden gave them their name and Inſtitution, Men and Women living under the ſame roof; the VVomen above, the Men beneath. They were ſeated at Sion in Middleſex, which King Henry the Fifth (having expelled from thence the Monks Aliens) built for Religious p. 440Virgins, to the Honour of our Saviour, the Virgin Mary, and St. Bridget of Sion. In this Sion he appointed ſo many Nuns, Prieſts, and Lay-brethren divided apart within their ſeveral VValls, as were in number (forſooth) equal to Chriſt's Apoſtles and Diſciples, viz. eighty five.

I. Siſters, Sixty.

II. Prieſts, Thirteen.

III. Deacons, Four.

IV. Lay-brethren, Eight.

Having beſtowed ſufficient maintenance upon them, King Henry provided by a Law, that contenting themſelves therewith, they ſhould take no more of any man: but what overplus ſoever remained of their yearly Revenue, they ſhould beſtow it upon the poor. Thomas Walſingham ſaith:Walſingh. in Henric. V. if afterwards the whole VVorld ſhould proffer them Farmes and poſſeſſions, it was utterly unlawful for them to accept any thing thereof. This Order had but this one Covent in England: and ſo wealthy it was, that at the diſſolution it was valued yearly worth one thouſand nine hundred forty four pounds eleven ſhillings eight pence farthing. This Order conſtantly kept their Audit on All Saints Eve, October 31. and the day after All Souls, being the third of November.

No Covents of England more carefully kept their Records than the Priory of Clarkenwel, Speeds Catal. of Religious, Houſes, p. 793.to whoſe credit it is regiſtred. There is a perfect Catalogue, from their firſt foundation to their diſſolution, of all their Prioreſſes, defective in all other houſes.

Sir Thomas Chaloner not long ago built a ſpatious houſe within the cloſe of that Priory, upon the frontiſpiece whereof theſe Verſes were inſcribed.

Caſta fides ſuperest, velatae tuta ſorores

Iſta relegatae deſeruere licet.

Nam venerandus Hymen hic vota jugalia ſervat,

Veſtalem que focum mente fovere ſtudet.

Chaſt Faith ſtill ſtay's behind, though hence be flown

Thoſe veiled Nuns who here before did neſt:

For reverend Mariage wedlock-vowes doth own;

And ſacred flames keep's here in Loyal breaſt.

Here I ſhall ſay little of the Houſes for Leprous people; though indeed they deſerved more charity than all the reſt. Burton-lazars of p. 441Leiceſter-ſhire was the beſt endowed houſe for that purpoſe: for ſo they uſed to tearm people infected with the Leproſie.Camden in Leiceſter-ſhire. Here was a rich Spittle-houſe, or Hoſpital; under the Maſter whereof, were, in ſome ſort, all other Spittle-houſes, or Lazar-houſes in England, like as himſelf alſo was under the Maſter of the Lazars in Jeruſalem.

It was founded in the firſt age of the Normans, by a common contribution over all England; and the Mowbraies eſpecially did ſet to their helping hands. But as that Diſeaſe came into England by the holy VVar, ſo it ended with the end thereof.

FINIS.