Fanatic Moderation Exemplified, Part 2
A Taste of the rude Behaviour of the Sectaries, towards some of the Episcopal Clergy.
GRiffith Williams, Bishop of Ossory in Ireland, was Barbarously us'd in the Time of the Rebellion, being fetch'd away from his House at Apethorpe in Northampton-shire by a Troop of Soldiers (for writing his Vindiciae Regum) and carried Prisoner to Northampton; where the Committee, before which he was Summon'd, had the said Book in their Hands. After this he retir'd to Oxford, when the Soldiers from Northampton went and plunder'd his House, and all his Houshold-Stuff at Apethorpe, where his Wife and Children then resided, and Sequestred his Lands for the Use of the Parliament. Upon the declining of the King's Cause, he was brought very low; and tho he had Offers made him of very considerable Preferment, if he would but have submitted to the Parliament, yet he utterly refus'd them. Soon after he retir'd into Wales, where, for twelve Years together he had not 20 l. per Annum in all the World, to maintain himself and his Servants, and was forc'd to live on a little Tenement of 2 l. 10 s. a Year, and 4 l. Land of his own; so that he liv'd worse than a poor Curate, with Oaten-Bread, Barley-Bread, Butter-Milk, and sometimes Water; being not able to keep one drop of Ale or Beer during Ten Years together. He went also Attir'd in very mean Cloaths, and was forc'd to do many servile Works himself, about his House, Garden, and Cattle.
He surviv'd all his Troubles, and was restor'd to all his Preferments at his Restoration.
Thomas Howel, Bishop of Bristol, met with barbarous Usage from the Hands of the Rebels; His Palace, which was then cover'd with Lead, they uncas'd, and sold the Lead; so that he was expos'd to the Weather Day and Night. His Lady they knew to be then in Childbed, in which Condition it rain'd freely upon her. After many other Indignities, they pull'd and hawll'd him violently out of the Palace, of which they made a Malt-House, and a Mill; for there they Ground as well as made great quanties of Malt many Years, as many yet living in Bristol well remember. In a Word, their Usage towards him was such, that he did not long survive their Cruelty; but died soon after, being a Person of a mild and tender Disposition.
William Laud, Arch-Bishop of Canterbury, The blessed Martyr, He was revil'd, calumniated, imprison'd in the Tower four Years, put under Sequestration, both for his Temporals and Spirituals, most unjustly accus'd, and contrary to all Law, at last sentenc'd even to the Halter: But on his repeaetd Petitions (at first rejected) he had the Favour of the Ax granted him by his Bloody Murderers. He witness'd with his Blood to the Truth of the Church's and His Majesty's Cause, on Tower-Hill, Jan 10th 1644-5.
Thomas Morton, Bishop of Durham, when the Rebellion broke out, was an early Sufferer under it; and in the Year 1640, there was an Order of Parliament for seizing his Rents. Being one of the Protesting Bishops, he was committed to the Black-Rod, where he continued four Months, and was taken into Custody for Baptizing a Child of the Earl of Rutland's, according to the Order of the Church of England, &c. He was turn'd out of Durham-House by the Soldiers, when they came to make a Garrison of it; and in one of the Tumults in London, was in danger of his Life from the Rabble; who cried out, Pull him out of the Coach; and whilst others cried, No, he is a good Man; they answered, 'Tis no matter for that, he is a Bishop. And himself afterwards said, he verily believ'd he should not have escap'd alive, had not a leading Man among them, cried out, Let him go and hang himself.
Matthew Wren, Bishop of Ely, was one of the most early Sufferers of all the Clergy, and the very first Bishop that was depriv'd by the Rebel Parliament. Upon a Petition of the Inhabitants of Ipswich, a Committee of Parliament was order'd to draw up a Charge against him; and July 5th 1641, He was Voted unworthy to hold any Spiritual Promotion; Being one of the Protesting Bishops, he was Imprison'd with the rest, till May 5th, they were all releas'd on Bail, by the House of Lords, afterwards retiring to his House at Downham, he was soon Apprehended by a Party of Soldiers, and brought back again to the Tower, where he continued to the end of the Year, 1659, without any Charge or Accusation form'd against him. His Plate was seiz'd by the House of Commons, and order'd to be melted down for the Use of the Common-wealth. His Goods were Plunder'd, his Estate seiz'd, and he was so miserably persecuted and oppres'd, that in the Year 1660, when his Son Thomas was created M. D. at Oxford, the Chancellor's Letter for that Purpose, acquaints the Convocation, That the Pressures under which his Father lay for Seventeen Years together, were such, that he could not (his Estate being taken away) allow his Children Bread, &c He surviv'd all his Troubles, and was restor'd (with His Majesty) to his Bishoprick.
George Coke, Bishop of Hereford, during the Rebellion, Suffer'd in common with the rest; was one of the Protesting Bishops, and accordingly Imprison'd on that Account: When Colonel Birch took the City of Hereford in 1645, he rifled the good Bishop's Palace, and afterwards took up his Habitation there till the Restauration. The Bishop had likewise a Temporal Estate in the Parish of Eardsley, call'd Quistmore; which the Committee of Herreford laid their Paws upon. By this, and such other Methods, he was reduc'd so low, that tho he was otherwise a very thrifty Man; yet he had wanted, had not his Relations supported him. This hard Usage hastned his Death, in 1646, He bore his Sufferings with admirable Calmness and Serenity; and had the Character of a Pious and Learned Man.
Morgan Owen, Bishop of Landaffe, was likewise one of the Protesting Bishops, and was accordingly imprison'd in the Tower, and Impeach'd of High Treason. He continued there about four Months, and afterwards retir'd into his own Country, where his Palace at Mathern near Chepstow was seiz'd by one Green of Cardiffe, together with all his Revenues. One Reese, John David, the Agent and Sequestrator, (who liv'd in the Parsonage House, managed the Glebe, and receiv'd the Tythe) remov'd a very fine Font of Stone out of the Church of Bedwas; and when himself and his Man could not break it to pieces, he caus'd it to be brought under the Yew-Tree, where it was us'd as a Trough to water his Horses and Cattle in.
Robert Wright, Bishop of Lichfield, was one of the Twelve Protesting Bishops, and spoke a very handsome Speech on that Occasion, at the Bar of the House of Commons; but all in Vain. For he was, notwithstanding, sent to the Tower, where he continued 18 Weeks a Prisoner at his great Charge. He is said to have devoted half his Estate to his Majesty's Service; and that he was one of the strictest Bishops that ever sate in the See; that he was a Man of Painfulness, Integrity and Moderation; that likewise his Vertues were such, that the Vices only, and not the Men of the Times were his Enemies.
Robert Skinner, Bishop of Oxford, was one of the Twelve Bishops that made the Protestation, for which he was imprison'd in the Tower eighteen Weeks, to his great Charge. His other Sufferings from the Faction, we have no Particulars of.
John Towers, Bishop of Peterborough, was likewise one of the Protesting Bishops, for which he underwent the same Usage with the former; but after some time, obtaining his Liberty, he betook himself to His Majesty at Oxford, where he continued till the Surrender of that Place, and then returned again to Peterborough, but found his Revenues all seiz'd upon: Nor was that thought enough, for he was more-over continually Alarm'd with Threatnings and Molestations, to the time of his Death. January, 10th, 1648.
John Warner, Bishop of Rochester, When the Seeds of Rebellion and Anarchy began to Reign, in 1641, He shew'd himself a most Zealous Asserter of Episcopacy in the House of Lords, speaking for the Function as long as he had any Voice left, and very pertinently and valiantly defended the Antiquity and Justice of Bishops Votes in the House of Parliament. Afterwards, he did not only Suffer with his Brethren, by having the Lands of his See taken away; but by compounding for his Temporal Estate, which was considerable. However, by thus parting with some of his Estate to save the rest, he was enabled to assist his suffering Brethren; and was accordingly a great Support to the sequestred Clergy, and their Families, as well as to other indigent Persons, often using this homely Expression, That he did eat the Cragg End of the Neck of Mutton himself, that he might leave the Poor the Shoulders. He out-liv'd his, as well as the Kingdoms Troubles; and died in the 86th Year of his Age.
William Piers, Bishop of Welles, was one of the Protesting Bishops; as likewise of the Number of those who were singled out from among the rest of the Clergy for the utmost Persecution; in order to increase the Clamour of the People, by rendring them Monstrous and Odious, as well as to wreak their Malice and Sleep upon them. And accordingly this Reverend Prelate felt the Effects of it as early, and to as great a Degree as any of them; being continually for some time harass'd and perplex'd by the House; was one of those who were Imprison'd for that most just and necessary Remonstrance: And the High Crimes which he was accus'd of, were no other than, Suppressing Factious Lecturers, ordering the Communion Tables in the Churches, of his own Diocess, to be railed in; and things of this Nature.
John Prideaux, Bishop of Worcester, was promoted to this See in 1641, but the Troubles were at that time so far advanc'd, that he receiv'd little or no Profit from it, to his great Impoverishment: For adhering stedfastly to His Majesty's Cause, and pronouncing all those of his Diocess, who took up Arms against him, Excommunicate; it is no Wonder that he not only Suffer'd in common with the rest, but even beyond most of his Order; Being Plunder'd, and reduc'd to such great Streights, that he was forc'd to sell his Excellent Library to subsist himself and his Family: Of which there goes this memorable Story. That towards the latter end of his Life, a Friend coming to see him, and saluting him in the common form of, How does your Lordship do? Never better in my Life, said he, only I have too great a Stomach; for I have eaten that little Plate which the Sequestrators left me, I have eaten a great Library of Excellent Books, I have eaten a great deal of Linnen, much of my Brass, some of my Pewter, and now I am come to eat Iron; and what will come next I know not. He died in 1650, leaving his Children no Legacy, but Pious Poverty, God's Blessing, and a Father's Prayers, as it appears by his last Will and Testament.
Roger Manwaring, Bishop of St. Davids, was first call'd in Question by the Parliament for two Sermons Preach'd before King Charles I. (which he afterwards Publish'd under the Title of Religion and Loyalty) being Charg'd with endeavouring to destroy the King and Kingdom by his Divinity, and censur'd to be Imprison'd; was Fin'd 1000 l. and Order'd to make his Submission, and was disabled to have or enjoy any Preferment or Office. Notwithstanding which, the King soon after Pardon'd and Advanc'd him; But the Party were not forgetful of him; and in 1640, his Troubles were reviv'd in Parliament; and the old Grudge still lay at the bottom of the Persecution, yet the New Crimes of Popish Invasions, Conversing with Papists, and being Sociable and Jovial, were Trumpt up against him. Upon which he was Apprehended suddenly, Confin'd severely, Fin'd heavily, Plunder'd violently, and persecuted from Place to Place continually; insomuch, that for the two last Years of his Life, not a Week pass'd over his Head, without a Message or an Injury; which he desir'd God not to remember against his Adversaries, and adjur'd all his Friends to forget. Under these his Troubles, he had nothing but a small Temporal Estate left to Support him, and died at Caermarthen, after he had endur'd many Miseries, July 16, 1653.
Thomas Westfeild, Bishop of Bristol, accepted of this Bishoprick in the worst of Times, as hoping to do some Service to the Church, tho he had refus'd the Offer of it, which was made him Twenty Years before. In the beginning of the Rebellion, he was abused in the Streets, Sequestred from St. Bartholomews, and forced to fly. He was a Sufferer for his own and His Majesty's Cause, the Profits of his Bishoprick being unjustly detain'd from him, tho afterwards by a Committee of the Rebel Parliament, order'd to be restor'd; and when he came to make his Will, it ran thus: As for my worldly Goods, (which as the Times now are) I know well not where they be; I give and bequeath, &c.
James Ʋsher, The Celebrated Archbishop of Armagh, upon the breaking out of the Irish Rebellion, fled into England, where, in Consideration of his great Losses in Ireland, he had the Bishoprick of Carlisle conferr'd upon him, making a shift to subsist upon that little he could get, until the Rebellion grew prevalent; at which time the Houses of Parliament having seiz'd upon the Bishops Lands, their Agent (or those who took upon them to be so) collected all the Arrears and growing Rents of the Bishoprick for their own use. The Chief of those who were employed, was one Barker; who destroy'd the Woods, pillag'd the Castle of Rose (the Bishop's Residence) and carried off many of the Stones to build his own House and Barns. And as he suffer'd in his Revenues, so he did in Person likewise; for being sought after in London, he was forc'd to fly from Place to Place; and whilst in Wales, he was plunder'd of his chiefest Books and Manuscripts He was deliver'd out of these and all his other Troubles at Rygate in Surrey, and was buried at Westminster, as 'tis generally thought, at the Charges of the Protector; who did, indeed, Order 200 l out of the Deodands for that purpose; but it was never paid.
George Coke, first promoted to the Bishoprick of Bristol; and then of Hereford. During the Rebellion, he suffer'd in common with the rest of his Order; and was one of the Protesting Bishops, and accordingly Imprison'd on that Account. When Colonel Birch took the City of Hereford, in 1645, he rifled this good Bishop's Palace, and afterwards took up his Habitation there till the Restoration; and what is more, had great part of the Revenues of the Bishoprick to his own Use; and to this Day the Mannour of Whitbourn, by the sorry Compliance of some who might have prevented it, continues in his Family. By this and such other Methods, he was reduc'd so low, that tho he was otherwise a very thirfty Man; yet he had wanted, had not his Relations supported him. This hard usage hasten'd his Death, 1646, tho he bore his Sufferings with admirable Calmness and Serenity; leaving the Character behind him of a Pious and Learned Man.
Accepted Frewen, First advanc'd to the Bishoprick of Lichfield, by K. Ch. 1st. and afterwards to the Arch-Bishoprick of York, at the Restoration. He was a great Loyalist, being concern'd in sending the Plate from Oxford to his Majesty, whilst he was President of Magdalen College; and was forc'd afterwards to Fly for it, to avoid being taken into Custody. His Temporal also, as well as his Bishoprick, was put under Sequestration.
Walter Curle, Bishop of Winchester; when the Rebellion prevail'd, he became a great Sufferer for Monarchy and Episcopacy; was in the City of Winchester, when it was besieg'd by the Parliament Forces; and upon the Surrender of that Place, retir'd to Subberton in Hampshire, where he Died in 1647. He had a Temporal Estate which was also put under Sequestration; nor was he allow'd to compound for it, because he would not take the Covenant. He was a Man of very great Charity to the Poor, and expended large Sums in the Repairs of Churches.
John Williams, Arch-Bishop of York; was promoted to this See, in 1641. From that of Lincoln; and was at the Head of the Protesting Bishops soon after; for which he was Eighteen Weeks imprison'd in the Tower, and afterwards suffer'd much for his Majesty's Cause. He was once Assaulted, and had his Robes torn from his Back, He was also plunder'd, as I find by an Order of the House of Commons, dated Feb. 18. 1643/4;, which commanded his Plate to be melted Down, for the Use of the Commonwealth.